“Both. How about you?”
“Same.”
“Alcohol or non?”
“Non. I want to keep my wits about me.”
“Gotcha. Lemonade?”
“Perfect.”
“The stand’s right over there.” He pointed to it. “Did you have fun at the meeting this morning?”
“I had a blast. Your grandma and aunties are something else.”
“I knew you’d get along with them.” Her scent, light and flowery, stirred memories that had him thinking inappropriate thoughts for the public setting. “I’m sorry I didn’t mention you to anybody?—”
“Kat thinks it’s because you’re still carrying a torch.”
“She does?” He hadn’t considered his reaction in those terms. Or that his aunties would have already formed an opinion about it.
“Ezzie warned me that Kat’s a matchmaker.”
“That’s a fact. I’ll have a talk with her. I don’t want her?—”
“You don’t have to.”
“I think I do.”
“She promised not to interfere after I explained our situation.”
“No kidding?” He stopped in his tracks. “What did you say?”
“That we recognized five years ago that a relationship wouldn’t work. We have different goals. I’m here for the holiday celebration, the H&H tour and the M.R. Morrison signing. Period.”
That set him back. “So I have nothing to do with your decision to drive down here?”
A soft blush made her eyes look very blue. “I wouldn’t say nothing. I like you. I was curious about how things were going for you. And ever since I learned about your dad, I’ve wanted to?—”
“When did you find out?”
“When I went on the site to adopt the horses. There’s that beautiful page dedicated to him.” Her gaze softened. “I’m so sorry, Luis. I could tell you idolized him.”
“I did.” Her empathy touched a very tender place in his heart. He cleared his throat. “I still do. Whenever I’m working with the horses, I hear his voice.”
“That’s lovely.”
He damned near pulled her into his arms. He’d forgotten how easily he dropped his guard when she looked at him like that, as if he was the only person in the world.
Within minutes of being alone with her, he’d lost himself in the soothing warmth of her gaze. He felt validated, understood. Seen.
At twenty-five he’d thought his obsession with her was based on sex appeal. But he was beginning to suspect Jordan aroused a response that went much deeper. He had no strategy for controlling it, and if he didn’t find one soon, no telling what kind of fool he might make of himself.
Forcing himself to break eye contact, he tugged down the brim of his hat. “We should get that lemonade.”
Chapter Six
“Yes, we should.” Jordan was very curious what Luis was thinking, but she didn’t ask. Instead, she accepted the large glass of lemonade he bought her and suggested they go find a shady spot where they could sit and talk. Holding the lemonade in both hands would help her keep her mitts off him.
