“You want to build window seats?
“And walls around the fireplace. Box it in over the stone. Make it a focal point.” Reese waited as Hudson studied the picture. “We would have to build the whole thing, but I think it would go well with the vibe of the room. Put the TV above the mantel. Hide all the cords inside.”
“I have a vibe?”
“Do you trust me?”
Hudson looked into her eyes, alerting Reese to how close they stood. But her feet refused to budge. She was frozen, lost in those chocolatey brown eyes. This close, she could see gold flecks in his irises. “I do trust you,” he said.
“Let me build this?”
“You have power tool skills?”
“A little,” she admitted, her gaze dropping to his lips for a fraction of a second. Long enough for her to remember how her entire body tingled from one brush of his lips. “Thought we might pick up some lumber when we’re in town. If anything’s open, anyway.”
Hudson hadn’t moved back. He was close enough to remind Reese how the top of her head didn’t reach his shoulders. She enjoyed how it felt to have her cheek tucked against his hard chest. “I can make a call.”
“Thank you.” If she reached her hand to his cheek, she could draw his face down to her. “Your beard is longer,” she said in hardly a whisper, fingers rising of their own accord.
“Ready to go,” Jed announced.
Reese hopped back two steps, more startled by Jed than she had been by the wild turkey.Be careful, Reese. This is a sign. “Great!” Reese’s voice squeaked again, and she cleared her throat. “Let’s get some lunch. I’m starving.”
* * *
Reese looked longingly back toward the house as she followed Hudson to the stables. The lumber sat piled in the front yard, secured under a tarp due to a twenty-percent chance of rain overnight. Building the frame for the fireplace project would keep her mind busier than riding horses.
“You don’t want to hurt Lucy’s feelings,” Hudson said as they stepped into the stable.
“I’m trying to relax,” Reese promised.
“You’re not supposed to be miserable doing it.” Hudson did a full circle inside the stable.
“Where are the horses?”
“Good question.” Hudson pulled his phone from his pocket, but before he could do anything with it, Reese reached for his arm because she’d spotted them outside.
“Look.”
They moved quietly together to the opposite end of the stable, discovering Ginny and Lucy with a pair of riders. “I gave him the day off, but he didn’t mention taking the horses out for a ride.”
“He’s with a girl,” Reese whispered excitedly. “You didn’t tell me he has a girlfriend. Doesn’t seem like he should be old enough for that.”
“I didn’t know. Jed’s never mentioned a girl, but come to think about it, he has been acting a little goofy lately. Might explain some things.” They watched the pair trot slowly away from the barn and down a trail, standing there until they disappeared behind a grove of trees. She waited for Hudson to elaborate, but she didn’t press when he didn’t.
Hudson pocketed his phone. “We can ride tomorrow,” he said.
As eager as Reese felt to get back to work on the fireplace project, she sensed Hudson’s reluctance. He’d been ready for a ride. “Why don’t you show me around a little?” Reese suggested. “I’ve really only seen the barn and the house. What else does your three-hundred-acre ranch have to offer?”
“I suppose we could take a walk if you’re up for it.”
Reese ignored the buzzing in her jeans pocket. No doubt Vanessa had reviewed her email from last night and had a new list ready for Reese to tackle. It could wait until Monday. “Lead the way.”
“I’ll give you the short tour. We’ll save the longer one for the trail ride.” They set out on foot to tour the small outbuildings, an old tractor, and a massive garden that looked sorely neglected. Reese had never tried gardening beyond a few small pots of herbs, but already her imagination ran wild with possibilities.
She had to remind herself that this was Hudson’s ranch. Not hers.
“Some of those sheds look like they’re in rough shape,” she said.
