Katie kept her eyes on the road. She told herself to act as if this wasn’t a big deal, because in the scheme of things that was anyone’s life, riding or not riding a horse didn’t much matter. Except this was Texas and ranch country and his grandfather had been on his case about learning to ride from the moment they’d moved to Lone Star Canyon.
“I think that’s great,” Katie said quietly. “When I was a little bit older than you, Jack taught me to ride a bike. He’s very patient and easy to learn from. I’m sure you’ll be riding like a cowboy in no time.”
“You think?”
“Absolutely.” She gave him a quick smile. “Jack’s the best.”
“Yeah, he is.”
Too late Katie realized she’d just added to Shane’s case of hero worship. She drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. There was no stopping it now, she told herself. Somehow she and Shane were going to have to work through their feelings about Jack Darby. The problem for Katie was that her feelings confused her. Plus she didn’t want her son hurt.
She stopped the Explorer in front of the house. Misty came running and jumped against the passenger door. Shane laughed as he hopped onto the ground and was immediately, lovingly attacked by the dog. They tumbled together in a blur of colors, clothes and fur. Shane scrambled to his feet and took off running, the Lab-shepherd mix racing at his heels.
Katie watched them go. She liked her son being happy and healthy. For a while she’d been concerned that he was too involved in computers and indoor activities, but that was changing. Despite Aaron, maybe she hadn’t made the wrong decision in moving back to Lone Star Canyon.
When Shane and Misty were out of sight she collected her gear. But instead of walking to the main house, she turned toward the barn and the office recently added at the back of the building. She told herself she just wanted to say thank-you. She told herself she was being polite and neighborly and that wanting to see Jack had nothing to do with the kiss that still kept her up nights.
As she’d suspected, he was working in his office. A single desk lamp illuminated the papers in front of him. His dark hair hung over his forehead and hid his face. He’d rolled up his long sleeves, and she could see his forearms and strong wrists. She told herself he wasn’t any different from the hundreds of ranchers across the state…but she knew she was lying. He was Jack Darby, and she had once been in love with him.
She set her bag on the floor and tapped on the half-open door. “Do you have a minute?”
Jack looked up. He didn’t smile when he saw her, but he didn’t tell her to go away, either. “Sure. Come on in.”
She stepped into the bright office, so different from her father’s paneled sanctuary, but didn’t take a seat. “Shane told me you were going to teach him to ride. I wanted to thank you for that. I know you’ll be giving up a lot of extra time you don’t have. Spring is always busy.”
Jack leaned back in his chair. “The work hasn’t picked up that much,” he said slowly. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m not doing anything I don’t want to do.”
His gaze was steady. Katie felt all shivery inside. She also felt confused. Why did this man have the ability to get to her? Why couldn’t she put him firmly in the past where he belonged? She found herself wanting to move next to him, to have him hold her tight so she could confess all that was wrong in her life. She didn’t need him to fix anything, but it sure would be nice to have someone to listen. And maybe offer a suggestion or two.
“He’s a good kid,” Jack said when she didn’t speak. “Don’t worry so much about him.”
She wanted to ask how he knew what she’d been thinking about Shane but figured it was probably obvious. “As you know, his grandfather doesn’t share your good opinion.”
“Aaron doesn’t like anyone.”
She smiled. “That’s what I tell Shane, which I have to admit is a pretty sorry statement about my father.”
“Aaron isn’t going to change. I’m sure he could if he wanted to but he doesn’t see the need. His ways have gotten him through all his life.”
Giving in to the need to stay awhile, Katie walked to the leather wing chair in front of Jack’s desk and settled on the seat. “He makes everything so difficult,” she admitted. “I’ve tried talking to him about Shane, but he won’t listen. All he sees is that my son is different. Aaron hates anything he can’t understand. You should hear the fights he and Robin have when she’s home on leave.”
Jack frowned. “She’s one of Suzanne’s daughters, right?”
“Yes. The Navy helicopter pilot. Robin has always loved the ranch and she thinks Aaron should consider using a helicopter at roundup. He won’t listen. He tells her that the day he takes advice from a woman, let alone one who wasn’t born on a ranch, is the day they can bury him in his hat.” Katie sighed. “Of course that hurts Robin’s feelings. Of all of us, I swear she’s the one who loves the ranch the most. But Aaron can’t see that, or the value of her suggestions. All he knows is that she’s not a Fitzgerald by birth and that she wants to change the way things are being done. He loves her but he won’t listen to her very valid advice.”
“I’m sorry,” he said simply.
She shrugged. “I’ve dealt with my dad all my life. I guess I should be used to it by now.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s going to get any easier.”
She looked at Jack, at his handsome face and the compassion in his eyes. There was a time when they knew everything about each other. “I’ve missed us being friends,” she said without thinking.
He averted his gaze. “That was a long time ago. We were kids.”
“Does that mean the friendship didn’t matter?”
“No, but…” His voice trailed off.
She got the message. “Don’t worry,” she said with a lightness she didn’t feel. “I wasn’t trying to weasel my way back into your life. Been there, done that. To say the least, it ended badly.”
She had to speak over the tightness in her throat and the pain in her chest. Despite the passion of their kiss and the way their bodies had fit together so perfectly, Jack wanted her to know that he had no interest in rekindling old flames.
She told herself that was fine. She wasn’t interested, either. She’d sworn off all men and that included him. Daydreams were dangerous, especially daydreams starring Jack. Why couldn’t she remember that?
“Katie, it’s not what you think,” he told her, leaning forward slightly and resting his forearms on the desk. He paused awkwardly. “I’m glad you’re back in Lone Star Canyon. I hope you’ll be very happy here. But if you’re thinking about what happened before. Between us. The kiss.” He shook his head. “That was a mistake.”
Ah, a not-so-subtle brush-off, she thought, trying not to wince. Her chest tightened until it became difficult to breathe.
“I couldn’t agree more,” she lied and rose to her feet. “Well, I should get to work. Your mom is going to wonder what happened to me.”
“Katie, don’t.”
She smiled brightly. “Work? But I have to. It’s why I’m here, right?”
“I didn’t mean that.”
She gave a quick wave and hurried toward the door. “Go back to your papers. I’ll see you around.”
She ducked out before he could say anything else. In the relative dimness of the barn, she leaned against the wall and tried to catch her breath. Okay, so she’d spent the past couple of nights unable to sleep because she’d been thinking about Jack’s kiss. Obviously he’d been spending the same amount of time thinking of ways to make sure she understood that there wasn’t anything between them and there never would be. Message received.
The trick was going to be making sure Jack never figured out how much his rejection hurt. She thought she would be used to having Jack turn her away. After all, he’d done it eleven years ago. Of course then she’d been crazy in love with him and now she was just…Katie sighed. She didn’t know what she was now, except possibly late for her therapy appointment. She collected her bag and headed for the house. On the way she vowed she would find a way to force any thoughts of Jack out of her head forever.
Jack swore under his breath. He doubted he could have found a way to handle that worse than he did, even if he tried. Had he said one thing right?
“So she wants to be friends,” he muttered to himself. “Is that so bad?”
The problem was, he didn’t want to be friends. He wanted her naked and in his bed or he wanted her gone. His body ached for her even as his brain screamed a warning not to get involved with her. She might be pint-size, but she was pure dynamite. His life was finally where he wanted it to be-he didn’t need any explosions just now.
