Adrian faced the railing, bending to rest his arms on it. Goldie rose from the swing and stood beside him.
“I wanted that faster pace,” he said. “I wanted the opposite of seclusion. To be immersed in the high life, the glamor of it, the streak of fast cars and high rises and gossip columns. My father never understood it. Why would I crave that kind of attention when I had a perfectly good inheritance waiting for me here?”
He gestured to the full scale of the ranch surrounding them. The emerald haze of grasses, the grazing horses, the lazy trees and widespread solemnity.
“That would be my question too,” Goldie said. “Why did you leave?”
“I needed the right place to build my business, where other savvy investors were doing the same. I moved to Chicago, where I attended business school. I invested well. I was thriving like a good metaphor.”
Goldie took a sip of her Coke. “What happened? Why did you come back?”
She squinted through the sunlight, centering her rapt attention directly on him.
Adrian tipped the glass bottle to his lips. “You probably heard from my mother or Kimmy. I don’t think I told you directly, but my father died.”
“Kimmy mentioned it. I’m so sorry, Adrian.”
“I’ve spent as much time here as I could, to help my mom, to be with my brothers. Aside from my business, this ranch, my family, is the only stability I have left. But I need to head back. My team has been handling everything, and things are managing just fine thus far, but I want it to stay that way, you know? Plus, I miss Chicago. This is—it’s just too stifling here.”
She touched her throat. The ranch’s full glory ranged before them, seeming to go on for miles and touching the edges of the sky. She gestured to the open air. “This seems to be the opposite of stifling.”
He kept his gaze on the surrounding grassland. “I miss the thrill of it all. I liked standing out on the balcony after a successful day of negotiations. With the city spread below me, the cars, the buildings, it glittered like Christmas.”
She angled her head as if considering. Part of her was sure that was true, but she had the sense there was something else. It didn’t make sense for him to dislike a place like this as much as he claimed too, just because Chicago was sparkly and fast. There had to be more to it.
“Does it have to do with your dad?” she asked.
Adrian fidgeted under the question’s pressure. It wasn’t as though it was her business, but she had to admit, she didn’t like the thought of Adrian returning to that life. They weren’t much more than acquaintances. He owed her nothing. But here in this country time bubble of fields and lemonade, of birdsong and an indulgent view of his sculpted arms, chiseled jaw, and eyes that teased, she couldn’t help wondering what things would be like with him.
Adrian Bear was a full-fledged hottie with decent manners and a kind heart. What would it be like to have moments like this in permanent ink?
This isn’t real, she reminded herself. Last night was a one-time thing. Why should she want him to stay when she herself would be leaving for Wisconsin in less than a week? He was just a nice guy helping her out while she waited for her aunt’s return email. That was all.
He glanced away from her, not answering. Goldie pursed her lips. Too hot. Too cold. Too big. Too small. From the way she saw things, Adrian’s life here in Two Pines was just right. What was it about his home that made him want to leave? He seemed to get along with his brothers, and even his mom well enough, which led her to conclude it was his dad.
He still hadn’t answered.
Goldie lowered her head. “Adrian, I’m sorry. I never should have pried. I’m already overstepping as it is by taking advantage of your hospitality.”
His warm hand closed over hers. The gesture was so natural, it caught her by surprise only after he’d done it. Was this a fake boyfriend move, or was it sincere?
His hazel eyes slid to hers. “You’re not taking advantage.”
He met her straight in the eye until, feeling the security behind the words, she nodded. He glanced at their hands. When she didn’t pull free, he slid his palm beneath hers and wove his fingers into the vacancies.
Goldie’s stomach sizzled. She couldn’t do this. She needed to leave, to find a hotel and wait for her aunt’s email where she was more comfortable. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t let go of him. She couldn’t remember the last time any man had shown interest in her, not like this.
“And you’re not prying,” he went on. “Things between my father and I weren’t the best. Our relationship was always strained.”
“That must have made his passing harder on you.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “It’s okay,” he said. “My brothers and I have been helping my mom resolve his business affairs, find passwords to his accounts, settle the family trust, that kind of thing. I’ve just had to keep on top of my own business affairs too, and I’m trying to find a different route to deal with that since I’ve been out here so long.” He shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t intend for our conversation to take this serious of a turn.”
“I don’t mind,” Goldie insisted. “Though I can’t say I’ll be that much help. Business was never really a strong suit of mine.”
He smiled. “What do you do in Wisconsin?”
“I’m an English teacher.”
“My worst subject.”
“Eleventh grade.”
“My worst year.”
Goldie laughed and punched him in the arm. “Liar.”
He settled closer to her on the porch and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. Her low belly heated at his proximity. “Okay then. But I’m only lying about one of those. Which is it?”
“You mean which admission was a lie?”
His lips twisted. She
