“I’m fine with you staying here. I can look for an apartment.”
“No. You stay.” His brown eyes fix on the cat as he says, “So. You want to help me name her?”
I’m a mess right now. Part of me wants to make a happy home with Jared and “our” cat on a ranch, and part of me needs to stay strong about how unrealistic this whole thing is.
But the dreamer side of Ashley Hill wins out.
“Let’s try it,” I find myself saying.
Jared glances over at me with eyes wide, and I know I’ve surprised him. In a good way.
“Try what?”
“You. Me. Louise.”
“Louise?”
“Our cat. A shout-out to our home state. And we could call her Louie for short.”
“Louie.” His lips twitch.
“What’s funny?” I nudge his leg with my bare foot.
I don’t expect him to grab my foot and hold on.
My stomach starts doing cartwheels.
“Nothing.”
He lets my foot go, and I exhale.
I’m relieved, not disappointed.
Right.
“I like the name.”
“You do?” I can’t help but smile.
“I do. It sounds a bit like Liam’s daughter, Lulu. Louie’s her cousin, right?”
“Her fur cousin.”
“Fur cousin.”
His eyes lock with mine.
Four beats pass, and the air in the cabin grows uncomfortably thick. Jared’s eyes are unfathomably deep with all sorts of emotions, and I can read all of them—pain, longing, sadness, fear, curiosity.
Crap. I’m jetlagged to holy Hell, and this man gets to me on a good day.
I jump up. “Didn’t you promise me a meal and some alcohol? I’ll grab my purse.”
CHAPTERSEVEN
My phone rings just as I enter the bedroom. I shut the door and pick up the call.
“How’s Montana, sugar?” Winter asks me before I’ve even had time to say hello. “Is it beautiful? Peaceful? Do you love your lodging…”
