“Aaron, I think you’re right. Trying to focus on the business aspect of our relationship while we’re sexually involved may be problematic. I’m going to see if I can rectify that rightnow.”
“What are you going to do?” Aaron’s question rang out through the air, posed to a retreating picture of Slade mounted on hishorse.
With a bright smile plastered across his mouth, Slade clicked his tongue and used his heels to gently alert Queen-Sorrel of Slade’s desire to move. As the horse moved forward, Slade turned his head slightly over his shoulder to capture Aaron’s confused gaze. “I’m on my way to see a woman about ahorse.”
* * *
Mandisa walked to the stables after watching Slade bring his horse inside and was surprised when he nearly collided withher.
“Damn, cowboy. Where’re you off to in such a damnhurry?”
“Funny enough, I was coming to seeyou.”
“Huh?”
Mandisa wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. In her current state of mixed emotions it was completely believable that she’d misheard or misinterpreted something he’d said. That was exactly what she’d done this morning. She’d completely overreacted. Her nap had given her time to thinksensibly.
After she’d woken, she’d stood at the large patio windows and looked out over the horizon of his beautiful land. She’d been focused on a thick spread of lush, green trees when she’d seen him riding his horse back toward what she presumed were thestables.
Now, eager to apologize, Mandisa jogged quickly down the stairs and headed in the same direction she saw Slade riding in. Back at the house, alone in her room, saying I’m sorry seemed much easier. But standing here directly in front of him, she couldn’t find the words to express herregret.
“I was just coming to ask if you’d want to go riding with me sometime.” His words were a good deal slower than the hurried pace he’d justdisplayed.
When he steadied her, he stepped back and motioned for her to follow him out of the stables. He was silent as they walked back toward the house. His quietness intriguing to her, she followed his long gait with quicker steps to keep up withhim.
“So what’s this aboutriding?”
“I’d like to make sure you get the full ranch experience. You can’t really do that on foot, or car,” he added. “The roads only give you a small amount of access out here. Some of the terrain can only be covered on horseback. If you want to start later this evening, there should be enough light after supper for us to take a slow ride for a couple of hours. We can take dessert with us and talk a little by the stream. Or we can start first thing tomorrow. Whenever you feel up to it. I’d just love to spend some alone time together showing you some of myland.”
She couldn’t help the smile broadening on her lips. Coming from a concrete kingdom such as Brooklyn, she didn’t have much frame of reference for exactly what this scenario entailed. But just the thought of him sharing something he obviously felt passionate about with her kept her cheeks lifted until her smirk turned into a full-ongrin.
“I hope that smile means you’reinterested.”
“It does.” The satisfactory way his face lit up told Mandisa Slade was happy with her answer. “What do I need todo?”
“First, we should probably go downtown and get you a few things. As much as I’m loving those denim shorts you’ve got on, walking around all day with that exquisite skin exposed can cause damage. You’ll need to change into your denims. Never go out during the day without some sunscreen on.” He stepped away from her and scanned his gaze from the top of her head to her sneaker-covered feet and shook his head. “You’ll need a hat, preferably one with a wide brim. You’ll need to get some boots,too.”
She shook her head. “What for? It’s hot as hellhere?”
“The terrain here can be difficult. Tennis shoes aren’t really going to give you the traction you need to walk safely around the ranch. If cowboy boots aren’t your thing, we can get you a pair of construction boots instead. I’d just hate to see you sprain one of those lovely ankles, orworse.”
Mandisa shook her head as she sat down on the porch steps. “I’m a concrete princess from Brooklyn, Slade. Why the hell did you think it was a good idea to bring mehere?”
His smile brightened, as if he’d been waiting for her to ask him that very question. He didn’t seem the least bit disturbed by her smart-assed comment. “Because I wanted you to get to knowme.”
Slade motioned for her to move over. When she made space for him, he sat close to her, allowing their hips and legs to touch. He moved his arm around her shoulder and pulled her even closer tohim.
“If concrete makes you more comfortable, I can take you to my downtown loft.” He lifted her chin with his finger again. It was a simple touch, but so much intimacy accompanied it. It forced her to look him in the eye, allowing him entrance into her soul. “But I brought you here to the ranch because my apartment is where I stay when I need to be near work. This ranch is my home. It’s the place I get to be me, amongst the people and creatures Ilove.”
“Slade—” She attempted to interrupt him, but he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips, ensuring hersilence.
“I’d hoped you’d see my actions and realize you’re being here wasn’t all about a potential businessdeal.”
She leaned in and kissed him, needing so desperately to connect with him at that moment. “I want to believe that. It’s just very hard to forget that you want my company. It makes me second-guess everything you do and say. It makes me feel guarded. I don’t like that feeling being associated withyou.”
He moved his hand from her shoulder and laced his fingers with hers, and then used his other hand to span the horizon of his land. A sea of greens, browns, and golds spread out much farther than her eyes could see. The land was so vast. It was a bit overwhelming to think of how small they were in comparison to the huge patch of earth that made up Havenheartranch.
“This land was the first thing I purchased that had any real value to me. I had to work for it. I had to save for it. The fight to get it forced me to put my heart and soul into it. If you get to know it, you’ll know me. It’s as simple as that. The only question that remains is do you want to spend time getting to know it andme?”
