She was bursting to tell him about the boarding invitation, but she kept her lips sealed and nodded instead. Memories of last night, the kisses under the stars, the confession of past wishes made, it all made her feel so much hope.
If she turned down the promotion, there was no coming back from that. But she felt no fear in that realization. Only hope for a future with the man she loved.
“I’ll help with morning chores,” Reese offered. If she was going to stay, she needed to pitch in where it mattered. They had a few challenges to overcome with the ranch, but they’d do it together. “Just let me grab my hat. Looks a little chilly outside.”
Reese made it halfway down the hallway before she noticed a folded paper on the floor outside Hudson’s door. She stared at it a moment before bending to pick it up, but Jed beat her to it.
“That’s Hudson’s,” he said, his eyes wide with panic.
Odd.
“I’ll give it to him,” she said, refusing to loosen her tight grip. If Jed tugged any harder, whatever this stapled bundle of papers was would rip. Judging by Jed’s manic expression, it was something important.
“No, really. He’ll want it right away. Let me take it.”
“Whatisit?”
“N-nothing.”
Reese pinned him with a stern stare that made even her fiercest business competitors back down. “If it’s nothing, you won’t mind if I have a look.”
“Can’t. Strict orders.”
Curiosity was giving way to concern. “Whose?”
“I know nothing.” Jed let go of the paper and rushed down the hall. She heard the miserable screech of the front screen door. Whatever it was, it had to be quite serious for him to skip out on coffeeandhis morning sandwich.
Reese considered taking it right to Hudson, but Jed’s strange behavior bothered her. She unfolded it, promising she’d only steal a quick glance. But that quickly went out the window when she found her name in a dozen places at a glimpse.
“What is this?” she mumbled.
The more she read, the harder her heart pounded. It was an itinerary of her week in Starlight. All of her favorite things on a schedule. Chocolate-covered strawberries, a recipe for deep-dish pizza, pinot grigio, the Rolling Range concert.
“Did you scare off Jed?” Hudson teased.
“What is this?” She held out the paper at him.
Hudson’s smile disappeared completely. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”
“What is it?” she repeated, a heavy layer of ice coating her words.
“Funny story.” Hudson rubbed the back of his neck. “I might need another cup of coffee first.”
“It looks like a—a cheat sheet or something.”
“You could call it that.” Hudson let out a sigh.
The longer they stood there in the hall, the clearer everything became. “This was all a setup. The wine, the shopping, the horseback riding. All of it was meant to convince me to give upeverythingto stay here. To give up the biggest promotion of my career.”
“No, Reese—”
“The timing, the favor to help you, the job offer.” She shook her head, feeling hot tears sting her cheeks. “Did Ronnie make this?”
“Yes, but—”
Reese darted into her room, grabbed her keys and purse, and rushed out to her car. She ignored Hudson’s pleas for her to wait. Her heart squeezed painfully as she sped away down the dirt road toward Starlight. Only when she hit the city limits did she realize it was too early for most of the town to be awake.
She pulled into a spot a short walk from Ronnie’s main office and waited.
