Steal My Heart (Prosperity Ranch Book 2)

by Heather B. Moore

  She pushed through the double doors of the building leading outside. Her pace only quickened when she saw Carson waiting for her by his truck, right where she’d left him. Although her car was now out of the shop, he’d offered to drive her, and she’d accepted.

  No cowboy hat or boots today—he was back to looking like the typical college student. Well, there was there was nothing typical about Carson Hunt. He looked all hunky, with his broad shoulders and rolled-up sleeves exposing his sculpted forearms.

  He was leaning against his truck, his eyes on his phone, but he looked up as she neared.

  And she couldn’t help but grin.

  He pocketed his phone and straightened to his full height as he scanned her, his dark eyes on hers. His brows lifted, but before he could ask how her interview went, she threw her arms about his neck.

  Carson chuckled and drew her close. “That good, huh?”

  “They offered me the job on the spot,” she breathed against his warm neck.

  “Wow,” he murmured. “But I’m not surprised, sweetness. Did you show them your sample designs?”

  Evie drew away enough so that she was still in his arms, but she could see his smiling face. “I did. Mr. Glen said he was going to present them at the staff meeting this afternoon.”

  “That’s amazing news. You’re going to be a huge asset to them, you know.”

  Evie’s stomach fluttered with nerves, and something else . . . something like guilt? Regret? She couldn’t exactly identify it.

  “Are you really so happy to get rid of me?” she said.

  Carson slid his hand slowly across her back. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  A smile tugged. “No . . .”

  “Good,” he said. “Because I’m not going anywhere.” His mouth found hers, and the warmth of his kiss and the press of his body against hers made her head spin.

  “Carson,” she whispered against his mouth. “Wait.”

  He lifted his head.

  “What do you mean you’re not going anywhere?”

  “I just got off the phone with my grandad,” he said. “I officially turned down his offer. Maybe Prosper will work for us down the road, but right now, I’m here with you.”

  Evie drew in her breath. “You can’t just . . .” But she could see in his eyes that he had.

  “Evie, I’m in love with you,” Carson said, his gaze boring into hers. “You’re my number one, sweetness.”

  Tears burned in Evie’s eyes. She wasn’t sure why she was crying, because she felt insanely happy. “I don’t know what to say,” she said in a choked voice. “I can’t believe you did that for me.”

  “Believe it,” Carson said, his half-smile appearing. “I sent out a bunch of resumes early this morning, and I’ve already had two companies reply. So . . . it looks like we’ll both be hanging out in San Antonio.” He winked.

  So she kissed him. They were in a public place, but Evie was good with that.

  She’d never felt more secure, more at home, more comfortable and confident than she did when she was with Carson. She sighed as he drew back to gaze at her.

  “Can you ditch a class and go celebrate?” he asked.

  Evie gazed into the dark eyes of the man she was sure she’d fallen in love with. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I kind of have a surprise.”

  Her brow wrinkled. “What have you been up to?”

  “Come with me, and I’ll show you.”

  She loved the way he was looking at her, the way his hands were resting on her hips, the way he was waiting for her approval. So she said, “Okay.”

  He opened the passenger door for her.

  Once he climbed into his side, she reached for his hand, and he threaded their fingers together. Her heart was full, and her throat burned with emotion. Carson Hunt was planning on staying in San Antonio, and she could barely comprehend that. It was hard for her to argue with him, because she really wanted him with her. All the time.

  When they reached a small Mexican restaurant, Evie said, “I’ve heard of this place, but haven’t tried it yet.”

  “It’s excellent,” Carson said, flashing her a grin.

  They walked hand in hand toward the restaurant, and Evie wondered why there weren’t any other cars in the parking lot. “Does this place open late?”

  “Not that I know of,” Carson said, pulling open the front door for her.

  She stepped inside to find a charming restaurant with bright colors and glittering lights overhead. There was a huge banner above the hostess stand that said Congratulations. Must be a party going on later? Before she could comment to Carson, a huge shout of “Surprise!” made her snap her head to the left.

  People appeared above tables where they must have been crouching. Evie stared at her family members, her mom, dad, her brothers Lane and Holt. Macie and Ruby. And even Carson’s grandad. Becca waved from her spot with a huge smile on her face.

  “What are you all doing here?” Evie asked, and then two others stepped forward from the back of the group.

  Her brother Knox, and her sister Cara.

  “Oh my gosh!” Evie’s eyes filled with tears. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re celebrating your new job offer,” her mom said in a wavering voice, coming forward to hug her.

  Evie embraced her mom. “I don’t understand, I just had my interview.”

  Her dad chuckled. “Seems that Carson thought you stood a good chance of getting the job.”

  Evie’s mind was spinning in ten different directions. Cara moved toward her next. They hadn’t talked much since Christmas, and their only communication had been on the family email or text strand. But Cara’s smile was wide, and her dark blond hair in its signature knot. “Congrats, sis,” Cara said before hugging Evie. “You’re amazing.”

  Now, Evie couldn’t swallow properly. She couldn’t remember the last time her sister had given her a true compliment. There’d mostly been teasing.

  “Hey, sis,” Knox rumbled to her right.

  And in an instant, she was hugging her brother, who’d only recently started interacting with family again. But somehow, he was here, for her. Even though Evie knew it had to be hard for him to see his ex-wife with Holt.

  Knox’s daughter was glued to his other side.

  “My daddy came to see me,” Ruby announced.

  “He sure did,” Evie said in a choked voice as she drew away from Knox and kissed the top of Ruby’s head. She would never correct the little girl, because despite the limited time that Ruby saw her biological dad, she certainly idolized him.

  “I can’t believe you’re all here,” Evie must have said a dozen times as she hugged each person in turn. When she got to Becca, she said, “Were you in on this?”

  She hadn’t even seen Becca since coming back from spring break. Becca had said she’d be going straight to class when she got to campus that morning.

  “I might have given Carson a few tips, but he did all the work.”

  Evie wiped at her cheeks, because it was impossible to hold back the tears. “How did you all get here so fast?”

  “Speaking for myself, I flew in,” Knox said, his tone amused.

  Cara smiled. “Me, too.”

  Evie looked over at Carson, who was leaning against one of the tables, his arms folded. His knowing grin told her everything.

  “We wanted you to know that we’re so happy for your success,” her mom said, “and that we’re excited to hear all about your new career.”

  “Well . . .” Evie cleared her throat because emotion was starting to take over again. “They want me to start part-time as soon as I can, and full-time once I graduate.”

  “Good for you,” Lane said, nodding. “I’m not surprised.”

  Macie stepped close and grasped her hand. “We’re coming to visit you a lot,” she said. “Ruby made me promise.”

  “I’d love that,” Evie said, looking around at everyone. “And of course, I’ll always be at Prosper for t
he holidays, or random weekends.”

  Her dad slung an arm about her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Whatever you decide, sweet pea.”

  “I thought I was your sweet pea,” Ruby said in a clear voice.

  Her dad chuckled. “You’re both my sweet peas, how’s that?”

  “What about me?” Cara said with a laugh.

  “Three sweet peas—anyone else interested?”

  Becca raised a hand while grinning.

  Everyone laughed, and Evie’s gaze caught Carson’s. He winked at her, and if the room wasn’t filled with her family, she would have thrown herself into his arms. Instead, she mouthed, “Thank you.”

  He tipped an imaginary hat, one that she missed him wearing.

  “Evie, darlin’.” Holt set a hand on her shoulder. “I hope you know you can count on me for anything. And I’m sorry for any past hurts or misunderstandings.”

  “I know,” Evie said in a quiet voice. “Thank you.”

  “Me, too,” Cara said, joining them. “I haven’t been the most supportive sister ever.”

  “You guys are going to make me cry some more.”

  Cara leaned in for another hug. “You got yourself a persistent man,” she said with a smile. “He thinks you walk on water, and he would be right.”

  “Did he bribe you all or something?” Evie teased.

  “No, but he’s a straight shooter, in the best possible way,” Cara said.

  Her mom clapped her hands together from a few tables over. “All right, everyone, the buffet is just for us, and we have this place reserved for the next hour.”

  Evie stared at her mom, then swung her gaze to Carson.

  He gave her a small satisfactory nod.

  Evie crossed to him, no longer caring that every single member of her family was here. They wouldn’t be in this room without Carson. She approached, and when she stopped in front of him, she placed her hands on each side of his face.

  “How did you do all of this?” she asked, meeting that dark brown gaze of his.

  “Lots of texting.”

  “I don’t even know what to say, Carson,” she said. “I can’t even come up with the words to thank you.”

  Carson’s gaze was steady on hers. “The expression on your face is my thanks, sweetness.”

  She kissed him then, lightly, but it sent her pulse zooming anyway. Slowly, she drew away from him, wondering how she got so lucky to meet Carson Hunt.

  “I think someone wants to talk to you,” he said.

  Evie turned to see Mr. Hunt standing there, his cowboy hat in hand. “Congratulations, little lady,” he said. “When Carson told me about your goal and how he felt about you, I couldn’t push him out of Prosper fast enough.”

  Evie’s face warmed. “Are you sure about this? I mean, Carson was looking forward to working with you—”

  Mr. Hunt’s rough hand rested on her arm. “Don’t even go there, missy. You stole his heart, that’s what. And a good woman is always the best part of any man’s life. My happiness comes from seeing my only grandson happy, and I have you to thank for that.”

  Evie blinked back the tears in her eyes and stepped forward to hug his thin body. He patted her back, and it only made her smile.

  When she drew away, she was pretty sure he had tears in his eyes as well.

  “Let’s eat,” her dad announced, and they moved to the buffet on the other side of the restaurant.

  Evie noticed employees at one end of the buffet, waiting to help if needed.

  While everyone formed lines on both sides of the buffet, Evie was left alone with Carson for a few moments.

  “I can’t believe your grandad is being so great,” she said.

  “I told you he’s a great guy,” Carson said.

  “So are you.” Evie slid her hand into his, and they linked their fingers. Warmth zinged through her at the feel of his strong hand fitting with hers as if they were an unbreakable unit. With the rest of the family at the buffet, no one was paying them mind.

  Carson’s mouth lifted into a smile as his gaze soaked her in. “I like seeing you happy. And you deserve your family here to celebrate what you’ve accomplished.”

  “Are you trying to steal my heart, or something?”

  Carson lifted his brows. “Is it working?”

  She rested her free hand on his chest, right over his heart. “You stole it a while ago.”

  Carson leaned down until they were only a breath away from each other. “I like hearing that, sweetness.” He kissed her gently, briefly, but with a thousand future promises.

  Evie drew away with a sigh. She couldn’t look away from his dark eyes, and she couldn’t get enough of being around this man.

  “I love you, Carson Hunt,” she whispered.

  His eyes widened, but then his smile only broadened. “I love you right back, Evie Prosper.”

  She was grinning, and her heart was soaring as Lane called out to them.

  “Food’s getting cold, you two,” he said. “Better hurry before Knox and Holt finish off the entire buffet.”

  Her family members laughed, and Evie knew she was blushing by the time she turned to walk with Carson to the other side of the restaurant. Before meeting Carson, she’d been dead set against ever living in Prosper again, but now, she knew it might be a possibility. Someday.

  With Carson at her side.

  SNEAK PEEK!

  Want to know more about Holt and Macie?

  Read the first two chapters of One Summer Day now:

  Chapter One

  “Two-thousand is all I’m asking.”

  Holt Prosper shook his head even though his older brother Knox couldn’t see him on the other end of the phone call. “That’s what you said last month,” Holt said. “If I lend you another two-thousand dollars, you’ll be in deep four thousand.”

  “But they put me on Granger,” Knox said. “You know that bull throws everyone. The rodeo judging was rigged in Montana.”

  Holt couldn’t hold back his scoff. His brother always had one sorry excuse after another. He’d chased his dream of becoming a big rodeo star, but that dream hadn’t gone so well. He had yet to qualify for the pro circuit. Somehow, Knox had weaseled his inheritance from their dad, blown through it, gotten the girl, even married her, and now they had a kid together.

  And now, Holt was standing in the living room of his family home, keeping everything together, being the go-to person in the family as usual. “I don’t know, Knox,” he said. The late-night call from his brother should have been warning enough. “Mom and Dad would be furious if they found out, and I don’t think I can keep four thousand under the radar.”

  Holt had stayed back in Texas—Prosperity Ranch to be exact—and managed the ranch for their dad. His younger siblings were off to college, following their own ambitions. Holt wasn’t one to complain. He loved the ranch. But he hated being everybody’s fall-back guy. Especially Knox’s.

  “I’m sending half of it to Macie,” Knox said, “if that makes you feel better.”

  At the mention of Macie’s name, Holt physically reacted. He should be over it by now. The gut-punch, the racing thoughts, the slow-burn of his pulse. Macie was . . . His gaze involuntarily strayed to the family picture taken at Knox and Macie’s wedding. Four years ago.

  Holt rubbed his forehead, which did nothing to dispel his growing headache. “Are you ever going to tell me why you divorced her? And don’t tell me what you told Mom.”

  Knox laughed.

  Sometimes Holt hated his brother. It was complicated. The Macie staring back at him right now was how he remembered her from their first meeting when she’d come to the town of Prosper that was named after his great-grandfather and attended the hometown rodeo. Holt had even talked to her first. She’d been sweet, curious. Beautiful. Full of questions and smiles. He’d been about to ask her to the dance that followed the rodeo when Knox’s name was called as the next bull rider.

  Holt had told Macie that Knox was his brother, an
d the old saying the rest was history turned out to be a real thing. It wasn’t the first time Knox had attracted a girl Holt had been interested in. But it was the first time Holt had cared.

  “First of all,” Knox drawled in a tone he usually saved for the ladies, “I didn’t divorce Macie. She divorced me.”

  Holt tore his gaze from Macie’s photo, which was mocking him with her dark brown eyes and stunning smile. He pushed out a breath. “And why’s that? I thought you were her dream cowboy.”

  Another laugh from Knox sent heat pricking the back of Holt’s neck.

  “Tell you what, bro,” Knox said with amusement. “Why don’t you ask her for yourself? She’ll be there tomorrow.”

  Holt stilled. It felt as if someone was dragging hot needles along his skin. “What are you talking about?”

  “Didn’t Mom tell you?”

  If there was one thing about Knox that drove Holt the most crazy it was his inability to answer a question directly. Right now, though, it was imperative that Holt get his shock under control. He couldn’t let his brother know how his thoughts had strayed to Macie more than once, both during her marriage to Knox, and well, now.

  “Mom’s been preoccupied,” Holt said. With cancer treatments. And now Macie’s visit might put a strain on his mom’s health. She always went all-out for guests at the ranch.

  Knox’s next words were contrite. “Yeah, I know. Mom said she’d pick up Macie and Ruby at the airport. But, you know, if she’s not feeling well, I was thinking . . .”

  Another pet peeve of Holt’s about his brother. Knox never asked things directly. He was a super-human-passive-aggressive type. If there was such a thing. “I’ll pick them up.” His tone might have come out casual, nonchalant even, but inside, all kinds of thoughts and emotions were brewing.

  On second thought, maybe his dad could do the airport run.

  “Thanks, man,” Knox replied. “About the two-thousand. I really need it by tomorrow, or Friday at the very latest.”

  Holt closed his eyes. Exhaled. He had his own savings account that was separate from the ranch funds. He’d been slowly renovating a house in town. Every penny counted. “All right.”