Page 33 of The Maverick’s Legacy

“What… Who did you just text?” she asked.

“Dex. I told him to stop pressuring you and if he didn’t, he’d have me to deal with.”

Carly cracked a smile for the first time since last night when she’d danced in Jesse’s arms. Long ago, Dex had represented Amy as well. He’d never gotten away with bossing her sister around.

“Thanks,” Carly said. She felt exhausted and regretted getting up so early.

Amy sat back down next to her and nudged her with her elbow. “That’s what big sisters are for.”

* * *

Later that day as she was leaving the barn after a nice long ride on Nieve, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out of her jacket and looked at the text. Jesse had sent her a picture of two constellations. Her brow furrowed for second, and then a flutter of warmth bloomed inside her.

Perseus and Andromeda, whose love story was forever remembered in the night sky.

Three dots appeared before another text from Jesse popped up.

These two are my favorite.

Did he know what they meant? He had to. Carly smiled, her earlier trepidation easing.

Despite Amy’s advice, Carly’s head was spinning over this man.

She responded by typing, I like your choice. Who doesn’t love a man who’d slay a dragon for the woman he loves?

Three more dots appeared before disappearing. This happened a couple more times. Carly wondered what Jesse was writing. Or, rather, rewriting. She reread what she wrote and groaned. What if he took it as her wanting him to slay some fictional dragon for her? That wasn’t what she had meant at all. She could slay her own dragons, thank you very much. Her fingers hovered on the keys, trying to think of what to say to cover her mistake. He responded before she could think of anything.

What are you doing Friday evening?

Carly bit her lip. What had Amy told her earlier? Something about not setting expectations too high when his headspace might not be in the same place as hers?

But that was before he sent her a picture of one of the greatest love stories in Greek mythology.

Nothing important.

Can I take you out again?

Carly didn’t hesitate this time: Absolutely.

Chapter Twelve

When Carly chose her outfit for her date Friday night, she made sure she was dressed to the nines. Jesse had texted her that he was taking her somewhere nice, so she wore one of the rare dresses she had for nice dinners with sponsors. It was a black pencil dress with ruffled capped sleeves, a ruched middle, and more ruffles that ran along the left side, down to her knees. She had put her hair into a twist and wore dangling black beaded earrings to complete the look.

She eyed her reflection in the mirror critically, looking for any imperfections. She looked a little tense, but other than that, she couldn’t see anything that could turn a man off.

If Jesse Abernathy didn’t kiss her tonight, then she had the answer she’d been asking herself from the moment she met him.

He just wasn’t that into her.

Maybe he asked her out for companionship. Or perhaps he was looking for friends, him being new to town like her. If that was what he wanted, then that was what she would give him. Even if it broke her heart. Especially if he started dating someone he actually was interested in and he came to her—his friend—to tell her all about the woman he did care about.

As usual, Jesse took her breath away when he greeted her at her door. Tonight he wore a black button-down shirt with matching black slacks. For once, he’d left his cowboy hat at home, leaving her fingers aching to run through the locks of his thick hair.

They were soon on their way. Carly fiddled with her purse in her lap, running her finger over the cool metal clasp.

“Everything okay?” Jesse asked as he drove the truck toward town.

“Yes,” she replied, forcing herself to relax. Carly took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of fresh soap and Jesse’s cologne. He smelled amazing, like amber and patchouli.