A part of him wanted to throw caution aside and let the day unfold as it would. If he ended up kissing Emberly at some point, what was the harm in that? She seemed to be drawn to him as well. Perhaps they could have a goodbye kiss as a way to remember each other.
Max inwardly sighed. No. He could not allow it of himself. He had assured her he had no ulterior motives in having her help this past week, and he intended to be a man of his word. He would never want to give her even the slightest doubt about his honor.
Braun’s interruption had been well-timed and just what Max needed. He could not let himself get carried away with this beautiful American woman. Not now on the final day, and not after he had already resisted all week. He couldn’t let down his resolve at the last hour.
For the rest of his visit, he had to make sure he did not put them in any more compromising situations where he might be tempted to act upon his feelings for her. He had to keep his focus on being friends. Friendship with this incredible woman had to suffice.
That meant he also had to put an end to these flirtatious lessons. He couldn’t pretend any longer that he was thinking about another woman, particularly Sarah, every time Emberly gave him advice on how to be more affectionate and in love.
Because the truth was, during his lessons, the only woman that filled his mind was Emberly. He wanted to winherover with all her lessons, wanted to do everything authentically, wanted their time together to be real.
But that was not possible, was it? They lived half a world apart, and they had completely divergent lives. He could not give up everything to be with her, and he certainly would never expect her to give up everything to be with him. He also couldnot fathom having a long-distance relationship, not with how busy they both were.
Besides, she had never once hinted at wanting a relationship with him. He was arrogant for even thinking she might. In fact, she might be disappointed in him for hiding his true identity from her this past week, for deceiving her into thinking he was an average man. He had considered telling her a time or two early in the week, but mostly he’d forgotten it was even an issue.
The best thing was to stay firm in his decision to appreciate and enjoy her company while it lasted. Then he would return to his life in Karltenberg and finally make the difficult choice between abdicating his right to the throne or accepting and working on the arranged marriage with Sarah.
9
Perched on the split-rail fence on one side of the rodeo arena, Max tucked his new cowboy boots under the rail and watched as Emberly showed off her skills at breakaway roping.
The grandstands and the VIP boxes of the outdoor arena were empty. The bullpens and holding area were dark and deserted. Only a few stadium lights were on to highlight their makeshift rodeo, and they highlighted her in all her beauty.
With a rope in one hand and the reins in the other, she sat in the saddle of her American quarter horse, a stocky chestnut named Princess, that Emberly said she’d had since she was a teenager.
As Kade released the latch on the pen beside her, a bleating calf scurried out. In the next instant, Emberly began the chase, moving quickly and nimbly. At the same time, she skillfully twirled her lasso above her head and then tossed it and looped it around the calf’s neck. As soon as the ring was tight enough that it couldn’t come off, Emberly released her hold on the rope and let the calf go.
Kade gave a whoop from where he was sitting on the top post of the calf pen. “Eight and a half seconds!”
Emberly reined Princess to an abrupt halt, then tipped up the brim of her tan cowboy hat. She wore a pair of well-worn blue jeans, a thick wool flannel shirt, and cowboy boots. The outfit looked good on her. So good Max couldn’t stop admiring thecurve of her long legs and hips and waist, even though he knew he should not.
“You sure you don’t want to join me on the rodeo circuit?” Kade asked with a grin for his sister. “You’ve still got what it takes.”
Emberly veered Princess around and flashed a smile at Kade. The smile was wide and happy and full of life. The sight of it made Max’s chest tighten with the need to see her smile like that for the rest of his life—which he knew was irrational and could not happen.
It was as if pulling her down on his lap earlier had broken a wall he’d kept erected all week. Now that it had crumbled, he was struggling to keep his feelings for her under control and had been ever since they’d left the cabin for this last activity.
Since the ranch didn’t host rodeos during the winter months, Emberly had wanted to recreate one for him as much as she was able. First, they’d gone into town and shopped for authentic cowboy gear at an upscale place that had closed just for him. He’d had fun picking out and trying on different items before finally settling on what he was wearing.
They’d returned to the rodeo arena, where some of the staff had set up for the performance. Kade had started with his bull riding, for which he had made a name for himself. Another ranch hand had demonstrated steer wrestling. Then Emberly’s cousin Carissa had done barrel racing.
Apparently Carissa was extremely talented in training horses. She came from a branch of the McQuaids that had been interested in taming the mustangs that had once roamed the high country freely.
Emberly had explained that Carissa’s side of the family owned an enormous ranch on the Front Range near Colorado Springs. But she’d moved up to Healing Springs shortly after she’d discovered she was pregnant. Without the father of thebaby involved, she had stayed after the baby was born and gave horse-riding lessons at a ranch near town.
“And that’s how we do it here,” Emberly called as she directed Princess Max’s way, avoiding the few muddy spots left from the snow earlier in the week.
Good heavens. She was stunning. He may as well admit his thought. Whether holding a lasso or dressed in lace, she was always stunning. But for some reason today, now, she was especially enticing.
“What did you think?” she called.
“You were fabulous.” He almost added the worddarlingbut caught himself just in time.
She reined in only a foot away, her vibrance and youth and beauty so intense that he wanted to reach for her and pull her onto his lap again.
She eyed his lap, as if thinking the same thing.
His pulse spurted. Surely not.
