FOUR
Colt twisted the forgedwrench on the wagon wheel axle as he listened to his father telling the others in the barn of experiences he had gone through as a boy. Some of the stories he had heard before, but a few he hadn’t. His mind drifted quite a bit which was normal. He hadn’t been able to focus since the masquerade party four days ago.
It irritated him to think he had an incredible moment with Cleopatra and shared a perfect kiss, only to have her just disappear. She hadn’t met him back in the barn as she’d promised. Instead, she’d disappeared, and the only other Cleopatra at the party was Susan, who he refused to meet.
He hadn’t been dreaming that night because he could still feel her in his arms, and he could still taste the punch on her lips. They had danced so well and talked so easily, as if fate was trying to match them. Yet, if fate was at work, then why couldn’t he find her?
Colt had ridden through town several times, looking for the angelic woman with black hair and a slender body. He would know her when he saw her. Yet, it hadn’t happened.
Sighing, he rubbed his forehead and shifted on the stool. He tried to focus on tightening the wagon’s axel and listening to his father’s stories, but after two sentences, he hadn’t heard a word.
Colt glanced at the others. Emma and Dakota had joined them in the barn today, and most of the morning they had complained about getting their dresses dirty. Teddy and Leroy were hard workers, for which Colt was surprised and yet delighted that they hadn’t relied on him to do everything. And Blaze...
Grinning, he rested his gaze on the tomboy, who would probably never change. Blaze would rather wear men’s trousers and shirts than wear a pretty dress. However, her body had matured over the years, and the pants fit snug against her thighs and backside, and the man’s shirt emphasized her womanly curves almost as much as a dress would.
It was a good thing other men weren’t around to ogle her. Colt would have to step into the role as best friend and chastise the men if that were the case. Colt would not have men looking at Blaze as if she were a fine steed to be purchased. In fact... He tightened his fingers around the wrench and clenched his jaw. He’d make sure her mail-order groom respected Blaze before they exchanged their wedding vows.
She wore her hair in a ponytail, as usual, but for some reason, he rested his gaze on her slender neck. Blaze had the kind of neck Colt enjoyed brushing his lips across. And her heart-shaped mouth appeared perfect for kissing. Her big hazel eyes and long lashes would be tempting to gaze into while cuddling with her at night gazing at the stars.
What am I doing?Colt shook the improper thoughts out of his head. This was ridiculous. He was supposed to be daydreaming about Cleopatra, not his best friend.
She would make her soon-to-be husband a fine wife. She was fun to be around. Blaze made Colt laugh more times than he could count.
She paused from filing the wagon wheel and looked up at his father. Whatever his father had said made everyone laugh, but all Colt could hear was Blaze’s laughter. He smiled. He’d always enjoyed making her laugh. He really liked hearing the light flutter to her laugh...
His mind paused as another memory popped into his head. Cleopatra had the same kind of laugh that lifted at the end.
Colt sat up straighter in his chair. Cleopatra’s body was warm and cuddly in his arms, just as Blaze’s had been the other day when that rude woman bumped into her. Blaze’s lips were the same shape as Cleopatra’s. What were the odds that he’d found his dream woman from the other night?
Blaze would have attended the party that night with Lisa’s family. After he had returned home that night, Blaze hadn’t been there. What were the odds that she had dressed as Cleopatra, too?
Excitement pumped through his heart as he fit the pieces of the puzzle together. But he had to test her in some way to see if his Cleopatra and his good friend were the same person.
He returned to the axle, but he still glanced her way often. Her focus was on her wagon wheel, which was all right. That gave him time to plan out how he could get her to confess. Perhaps he’d invite her to go for a ride with him later today. Then again, he couldn’t make it appear as if he was purposely trying to get her alone, which meant they’d have to go riding with her cousins.
He grumbled to himself. That wouldn’t work.
Perhaps the only way was to accidentally run into her when she was alone. That way, it wouldn’t appear to be contrived. She trusted him, and he didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. However, maybe he could convince her to give him another kiss...
He grinned. Now that sounded like a good plan.
* * * *
BLAZE RODE HER HORSEthrough the countryside, thrilling in the feel of the wind on her face and her hair whipping behind her. She had taken her hair out of the ponytail, mainly to feel the freedom from the restricted tie. In times like this, she could breathe easier and remove life’s worries from her mind. She loved riding. She always had.
However, today she had so much on her mind that she would scream if she couldn’t wade through her thoughts in private. She’d been treading carefully around Colt since the kiss at the masquerade party four days ago, but today, as she worked in the barn, a different atmosphere hung around them. As she repaired the wagon wheel, she felt as if Colt was looking at her, but his focus was on fixing the axel when she glanced his way. Yet, he had a grin on his face every time she looked at him.
Was he really watching, or was she just feeling guilty?
Once the excitement had worn off after she’d left the masquerade party, she had cried herself to sleep that night. Kissing him had been the worst idea she had ever had. And she was paying dearly for it. Night and day, Colt Masterson was all she could think about. Every time she’d talked to him since that night, she found it awkward. It was hard to pretend to be herself without gazing dreamily at his mouth and wishing he was kissing her again.
Something had to be done, and soon. She couldn’t live this way.
She slowed her horse as she neared the stream. It had been some time since she was carefree enough to kick off her boots and stockings and wade through the water. Dare she do that now? They were caught up with repairs in the barn today, which was why she was able to take this much-needed break in the day. Nobody was expecting her back anytime soon, so... she may as well make the best of a warm, lazy afternoon.
Pulling on the reins, she stopped her horse. She jumped down and led her horse to the water to drink. After hooking the reins around a tree limb, she sat on the bank and proceeded to remove her boots.
Not far away, she heard another horse’s neigh. Swinging around, she searched the clearing on the other side of the trees. When she saw the unexpected visitor, she groaned. The beating of her heart thudded excitedly against her ribs. Although she loved Colt, seeing him now would just make her jumpier. Yet telling him to leave her alone would make him curious. She couldn’t have that.
