He shoots me a sideways glance, flashing me an excited grin. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get the full tour.”
“Sounds like fun.”
twenty-one
Despite the coolbreeze swirling through the cab of the truck from the cracked windows, I can’t seem to slow the beat of my racing heart. And I’m a little sweaty, which just adds to the frustration.
I can’t remember the last time I was this nervous. Jax said no pressure when it comes to us and sex this weekend, but I know it’s going to happen. I want it to. But since this was his idea, I’ll let him be the one to make the first move.
As we head east, leaving Lakeside behind, the landscape gradually changes, shifting from dense forests to rolling hills dotted with farms and ranches.
When we exit the main highway onto a long, winding dirt road, I roll my window down all the way, inhaling the crisp mountain air.
As the truck bounces and jostles through towering pines and sprawling meadows, something tight I hadn’t realized was coiled inside me starts to unwind.
“Almost there,” Jax says. The excitement in his voice makes me smile.
My stomach flutters with anticipation as he turns onto another dirt road, breath catching as we crest the next small hill.
Stretched below us is a picturesque valley framed by majestic mountains rising like sentinels against a clear blue sky.
The ranch itself is nestled at its base, featuring a collection of rustic wooden buildings arranged around a main house that resembles something straight out of an old-timey western.
“Oh, wow,” I breathe, leaning forward in my seat.
A wooden arch branded with the words “J & R Ranch,” rises above us in a graceful curve as my eyes, wide in amazement, take in the expansive property as we rumble down the gravel driveway.
The main house is a large, rustic two-story structure with a wraparound porch. To the left, there’s a massive red barn, with horses grazing in paddocks nestled in the middle of the sun-drenched fields nearby, manes flowing in the gentle breeze.
Scattered across the property are several smaller cabins, and off in the distance, a lake glitters in the afternoon sun.
“Jax, this is incredible,” I say, unable to keep the awe from my voice.
He looks at me, his expression softening in a way that makes my heart lurch, and grins. “Welcome to my home away from home.”
Dust billows around the truck as we pull up to the main house, and Jax cuts the engine.
Still a little nervous, I take a deep breath. This place clearly means a lot to him, and I’m about to meet people who are important to him. “Should we grab our bags?”
He shakes his head. “Nah. We’re not staying here in the main house, and I want you to meet Hollis and Meg first.”
I trail behind him as he marches up the stairs and onto theporch.
Up close, the house is even more impressive. Full of rustic charm, there are a few hanging plants, a wooden bench swing, a couple of well-worn rocking chairs, and what appear to be floor-to-ceiling windows.
Jax opens the door and steps inside. “Anybody home?”
“In the kitchen!” a woman calls from somewhere at the back of the house.
We make our way through a cozy living room with its massive stone fireplace surrounded by comfy-looking couches and chairs, into a large country kitchen.
The house feels warm and inviting, and the smell of something delicious hits my nose just as I see a petite older woman with silver-streaked dark hair pull a tray of cookies from the oven.
“Jax!” Setting the tray down with a clatter, she hurries over, wiping her hands on her apron before pulling him into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Hey, Meg.” He hugs her back with such genuine affection it makes my heart squeeze. “Where’s the old man?”
“Out in the barn, where else?” As she pulls back, her kind eyes shift over to me. “And who’s this lovely young lady?”
