Warmth filled her face. Then a small surge of a different kind of warmth ignited in her abdomen as she recalled how happy she had been with Daniel three years ago.
No, it wouldn't be a bad thing.
But she needed to deal with her trauma first, and she had a feeling Daniel was keeping secrets of his own.
Lottie pushed two gallon-sized bags across the island. "Okay, here are yours and Daniel's lunches. It's going to be a long day for you two, so I put plenty of snacks in there for this afternoon." She slid two more smaller, foil-wrapped packages toward Riley. "And here's your breakfast."
A grin covered Riley's face as she picked up the warm, heavy, foil packages. "Your breakfast burritos are the best, Lottie."
The housekeeper reached out and grabbed one of the lunch bags as Riley prepared to stack them in her arms.
Riley's gaze jumped to her face, questioning.
"Zane and I approve too."
"What?" Riley's eyes flew open.
"I heard what Jake said to you even though he tried to be sneaky, and I want you to know, we—Zane and I—wholeheartedly approve of you and Daniel getting back together. I think it would be good for both of you."
For some silly reason, hearing this from Lottie, who could be rather strict at times, brought tears to Riley's eyes. She tried to blink them away before the older woman noticed, but Lottie was too astute.
She rounded the counter and wrapped her arm around Riley. "Hey, we're not going to push you into something you don't want."
"It's not that." Riley sniffled. "I'm just not in a very good place right now."
Lottie's embrace tightened. "I know, honey, but sometimes a friend can help guide you to a better place."
A friend.
Riley wasn't sure she could classify her relationship with Daniel as friends yet. But Jake and Lottie wanted them to be more? She liked the idea, but she wasn't ready to consider anything more than friendship right now.
"I'll keep that in mind." Riley set down the burritos and returned Lottie's side hug. "Thanks for everything."
When she walked out the back door a few minutes later with her arms loaded, she found Daniel near the stables with three horses tied to the hitching post. Samson, a strong black Morgan horse, was loaded with fencing materials. Misty and Rebel waited to be saddled.
Before long, they were on their way. They talked as they rode, making casual conversation that was impersonal and superficial. Riley wanted the comfortable, easy-going friendship they used to have, but it felt like there was a gulf between them, physically and emotionally. She could tell he often censored his words and went out of his way to avoid getting too close to her. He also had a habit of rubbing his jaw and swiping his hand over his mouth as though he'd developed a nervous tic.
They rode a full two miles before they had to stop and make a minor repair, tightening and reattaching the strand of barbed wire that ran along the top. Despite the chill that lingered in the early morning air, Daniel shed his flannel shirt as soon as he slid down from the saddle.
Thanks to Jake and Lottie's comments, Riley couldn't help noticing the flexing of Daniel's biceps and forearms as he twisted thick wire strands together. A little curl of desire warmed her stomach as she watched the way the sunlight danced on his skin. She even caught herself admiring the fit of his Wranglers.
By mid-morning, the day had grown warm enough that she shed her flannel shirt and stuffed it in her saddle bag. When lunch timeneared, they guided their horses to the river. This area was one of the prettiest spots on the ranch, and Riley's favorite. The fresh air became crisper and more refreshing near the river, and thanks to the shade of the trees, the rising temperatures stayed bearable.
After letting their horses drink, they tethered them in a small meadow near a copse of trees and pulled their lunches from the saddlebags. They sat on the riverbank where it widened, creating a small swimming hole. She and Daniel swam here countless times when they were young.
While they ate, Riley searched for a way to break down the barriers between them. She wanted her friend back. Even if they never got back together, she didn't want to continue to feel like she worked with an almost stranger. It was going to be a long enough summer as it was.
"Do you remember how we used to come swimming here when we were kids?"
"Of course, I remember." Daniel tossed his apple up in the air then caught it. "We came at least once a week during the summers. I also recall the summer after you turned eleven. You suddenly started demanding I turn around and close my eyes while you undressed and darted into the water."
Riley smiled at the memory. "My dad had started calling me his little lady. I knew that meant I was supposed to act differently even though I hadn't started to develop yet. But I definitely wasn't ready to give up swimming in the river." She laughed. "You on the other hand at thirteen, didn't bat an eye at stripping down in front of a girl. You simply pulled off your shirt and jeans and walked into the water like it was no big deal."
He shrugged. "It wasn't at the time. You’d seen me in my underwear loads of times. It wasn't like something had changed overnight. Besides, I didn't think of you asa girl. You were just Riley back then. You were my best friend, when Paige wasn't around."
Riley laughed. Daniel and Paige had always fought over the title of Riley's Best Friend, which made her feel special. She loved hanging out with Daniel every day on the ranch, but Paige was her only femalecousin on her mom's side. They were only a month apart in age, so they often dressed alike and told people they were twins even though Paige's hair was blond. They even got away with it a time or two because they both looked like their mothers, who were triplets, along with their Aunt Charity.
They continued to reminisce about their childhood while they ate, and Riley's longing for the friendship they used to have grew stronger.
