The innocent question hits me like a punch to the gut, sending heat straight to my groin. Does she have any idea what she does to me? “Ranch work,” I manage to say, my voice coming out rougher than intended. “Cleaning stalls, checking fences, the usual.”
“Sounds perfect.” She falls into step beside me as we head toward the barn. “I’ve missed this place more than I realized.”
“It’s missed you too.” The words slip out before I can stop them, and I see her glance up at me with surprise.
We work in comfortable silence for a while, me showing her which stalls need attention, her falling back into the rhythm of ranch work like she never left. But I’m hyperaware of every movement she makes, every soft grunt of effort, every time she pushes her hair back from her face.
This is going to be a long day.
As we head back toward the house for lunch, I catch sight of Denver near the east pasture, right where our “package” is grazing. He’s got his tools with him, ready to start the delicate work of branding and tagging. The sight reminds me of exactly how complicated my life has become, keeping secrets from the woman I can’t stop thinking about, while trying to save the ranch that means everything to all of us.
“Jesse?” Aubree’s voice pulls me back to the present.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for last night. And for today. I know I’m probably not much help yet, getting back into the swing of things.”
I stop walking and turn to face her, taking in the genuine gratitude in her expression. “Bree, you’re always welcome here. This is your home.”
She smiles, and it’s like the sun coming out from behind clouds. “I’m starting to remember that.”
As we continue toward the house, I make a silent promise to myself. Whatever it takes, I’ll keep her safe. Even if it means keeping secrets that could destroy everything between us.
SEVEN
AUBREE
I worriedthat I wouldn’t sleep well out here, without the sounds of the city around me. Worried that it would be too quiet, or I would be thinking too much about everything I left behind. Surprisingly, none of that bothered me, and I slept better than I have in the past two months.
Heading downstairs, I smell coffee, and I know it’s not from Truett. Taking the steps quickly, I rush around the corner, and smile when I see the older gentleman I always thought of as my grandfather figure. “Cookie!”
“Hey, girlie! Welcome home.” He rushes forward, opening his arms up for me.
I wrap him up in a hug and then pull back, looking up at the big, burly man. The years since I’ve been gone show in the deeper wrinkles on his face and the snow-white tint of his hair, but those kind brown eyes are still the same. “Thank you. I missed you.”
“Missed you too. Coffee? What do you want for breakfast? I figure being a big-city girl, your tastes may have changed.”
He’s right. A lot about me has changed, but there’s one breakfast that always makes my mouth water. “Same as always,Cook. Egg sandwich, tomatoes, hash browns, and coffee as black as my soul.”
He throws his head back, laughing. As he smiles over at me, for the first time, I feel like everything is going to be okay.
Cookie bustles around the kitchen with the same energy he’s always had, cracking eggs with practiced precision and sliding bread into the ancient toaster that’s been on this counter since I was ten years old. The familiar sounds and smells wrap around me like a warm blanket, erasing the years and heartbreak that brought me back here.
“So,” he says, settling across from me with his own cup of coffee. “How’s it feel to be back?”
“Different than I expected.” I take a sip of the strong black coffee and sigh contentedly. “Good different, though. I forgot how peaceful it is here.”
“Peaceful’s one word for it,” Cookie chuckles. “Though I’d say it’s been anything but peaceful around here lately. Your brothers have been working themselves to the bone trying to keep both ranches running.”
A pang of guilt hits me. While I was off in the city, pursuing my own dreams and dealing with my own disasters, Truett was here carrying the weight of everything our parents left behind. “I should have come back sooner.”
“Nonsense.” Cookie waves a dismissive hand. “You needed to spread your wings, see what else was out there. Can’t fault a person for that. Besides, you’re here now when they need you most.”
The eggs sizzle in the pan, and Cookie flips them with a practiced flick of his wrist. “Speaking of which, how’d your evening go last night? I saw you and Jesse out on the swing.”
Heat creeps up my neck at the memory. That brief kiss has been replaying in my mind since the moment it happened. “It was…nice. We just talked.”
Cookie gives me a knowing look but doesn’t push. He’s always been good at reading between the lines, understanding what people don’t say as much as what they do. “Jesse’s a good man. Loyal as they come. Been like family to us since your parents took him in.”
