~ Jorie ~

This is a mistake. This is a mistake. This is a mistake.

The mantra wouldn’t stop echoing through my head. Why was I going to the Lazy D? Why was I basically going into enemy territory? Why was I so melodramatic?

Rolling my eyes at myself, I followed the road out of town to the Lazy D. I knew the path like the back of my hand. God knew, I’d taken it over and over for years. Gran had been great about bringing me out to the Davidson’s place before I could drive, and once I could, I headed over most days of the week.

An odd mix of anticipation and dread knotted in my belly. I wanted to see the old place, see how it had changed, maybe say hi to Nash’s parents. But even though Missy had said Nash would be away, I worried over the possibility of seeing him. What would I say to him? How would things be?

I couldn’t claim I hadn’t thought about that many times over the years. I’d had conversations and arguments with him in my head, but that didn’t mean I was ready. I was so, so far from ready for being face-to-face with him again.

Before I was mentally prepared, I was turning down the gravel road that led to the ranch’s gate. Butterflies took off inside me at the sight of the large wooden arch emblazoned with an L and a slightly reclined D at the center of the gate’s upper beams. My car slowed as I took it in. Once a rustic, natural wood, the entry was now painted in shiny, white-and-red lacquer.

“Fancy,” I murmured. What other changes would I find?

Missy had told me to park near the house, and she’d meet me there to give me a tour before our lunch. She’d given me the code for the gate so I didn’t need to wait for someone to let me through. After pulling up to the keypad that hadn’t been around five years ago, I punched in the required numbers. Immediately, the iron gates swung open, an invitation into paradise—but what perils did that paradise hold?

Strains of Hotel California ran through my head as I drove. It was an old song, but I knew it well since Ryder had been practicing the long guitar solo for years. What looked like paradise wasn’t always, and once there, you could never escape. Seemed like maybe that was Mason for me. I’d tried to leave, but even while physically in Michigan, I’d always been here. The Lazy D was only an extension of that, an even more perilous extension. Not physically of course, but certainly emotionally.

The house was a couple miles in from the gate, and overall, everything looked the same as I remembered. Long stretches of lush pastures, divided periodically by split-rails and jack-fences. Mountains lay in the distance, adding to the picturesque landscape. Sunshine, green pastures, rolling hills and the bluest of skies for as far as the eye could see. If Missy hadn’t been waiting on me, I would have pulled over and gotten out of my little car just so I could soak it all in. There was nowhere in the world as beautiful as here.

I was tempted to slow for a whole other reason as I grew closer to the buildings, the big red horse barn, the sprawling brick building where they cared for sick livestock and heavily pregnant cattle, the main house, the blue equipment barn I’d rather forget and some other smaller ranch structures. The drive bisected the group, with the house to the left and the others to the right.

Pulling through, I headed for the white, two-story with its wraparound porch. Not a moment later, I turned into the short, curved drive. That’s when I noticed the extension that had been added to one side. There was no mistaking what it was since a small sign with black letters said “OFFICE” beside the door.

Missy had mentioned the office being over here. This was where she’d said to meet her. I’d thought she meant in the house, since that’s where Nash’s dad used to work. Apparently, the Lazy D had grown up some.

I didn’t see her anywhere.

Getting out of my car, I looked around. Several men on horses were silhouetted in the distance, too far away for me to make them out. They clearly weren’t fixing fences, though, as they galloped around, so I figured Nash wasn’t with them. Still, I couldn’t figure out what they were doing. It didn’t look like any ranching I’d ever witnessed. They looked like they were just horsing around. I’d seen and done plenty of chores here when I was younger. Nash’s dad had often put us both to work. If you practically live here, you get to work like everyone else, he used to joke. I’d loved it, learning all I could so I’d know what to do when I lived here when I grew up.

Shaking my head, I shut my car door, ready to track down Missy. I headed for the office, thinking maybe she was inside. Before I made it more than a few yards, a hard voice from behind me stopped me in my tracks.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

I froze, that voice sinking straight to my core, angry or not. Slowly, I turned. Nash…

I couldn’t stop from taking in all the changes five years had wrought. His stormy grew eyes glared at me, but I didn’t hold his gaze. Immediately, I scanned a glance over him. The brim of his hat was fisted in his large hand, revealing the same dark-brown, sun-streaked hair. Taller and broader, he’d gone from boy to solidly muscled man. Dressed in jeans and a red thermal with the sleeves pushed up, he had a hardness to him now that had been absent in high school even when he’d played football for Mason. And God…he was more handsome than ever, just as handsome as I’d always remembered when I’d imagined my life with him.

But I couldn’t have a life with him, could I? He’d betrayed me. Played me. Used me.

I was nothing to him.

That was more than obvious from his less than happy greeting.

Besides, he belonged to Missy now. I glanced at his bare ring finger. That didn’t mean anything. They still might be married. He might not wear a ring because of his ranch work. Some didn’t. Or they might be together and not married.

Didn’t matter. I shouldn’t be here.

I steeled myself, hiding my hurt. “Obviously, I was making a big mistake.” Turning on my heel, I marched back toward the safety of my little Kia that suddenly seemed a million miles away. “Tell Missy I’ll call her,” I gritted out.

I was so out of here.

* * * *

~ Nash ~

Fuck. The first time I see her in five years, and I’m an ass. Great.

I’d just gotten back from town again where at least eight more people had needed to “run into me,” just so they could tell me Jorie was back. As if I didn’t know? A few of the older ladies had even given me messages for Jorie to the tune of come over and visit. As if Magnolia couldn’t tell her that? I knew for a fact Jorie’s grandma was friends with each of the women. I’d tried to tell them I didn’t even know if I’d see Jorie, and they’d just patted me on the shoulder and told me not to forget to relay what they’d said. It was as if they were all reading the same script!

What was this? A man couldn’t go into town for a French toast breakfast at Miss Maye’s and to pick up a few things at the grocery in peace? I just wanted peace and to forget Jorie.

After I’d gotten back, I’d needed to check on one of the mares. When I’d come out of the horse barn and headed for the house, my dream—my nightmare—had come true. Jorie. On my ranch. Right here before me.

And the first words from my mouth: What the fuck are you doing here?

That was the nightmare.

For a moment, I stood frozen, watching Jorie storm toward her flimsy little vehicle that wouldn’t last a year on a ranch. As she fled, I felt strangely as if my world were washing away like sand through my fingers. Again. Screw that noise. I rushed after her, dodging right around her then plopping my hat on my head and leaning against her door before she could get there.

“Move,” she growled.

“No.”

“Nash, this isn’t funny.”

“Neither was you taking off with no word five years ago. Now, you’re here. Now, we’ll talk.”

She stared at me in scornful disbelief. “I don’t think so. I don’t know what you could possibly imagine there is to talk about?”

“Oh, I don’t know… How about…that I left you alone in bed for a few minutes only to have you take off? That not only did you run away, but I don’t see you again for five fucking years? I think that’s a good place to start.”

She glared at me and her arms crossed as she put up a defensive wall with which I was all-too-familiar. Until today, she’d never used it on me, but I knew it was her first protection against anyone who’d hurt her.

“Five years ago doesn’t matter now,” she replied, her voice unnaturally calm…flat…no, more like dead. I hated it. Her tone just raised my hackles higher.

“The hell it doesn’t! It matters, Jorie. It matters a hell of a lot.”

“Nash—”

We both looked up as a truck barreled in then barely skidded to a stop before Missy leapt out. “Jorie, hey, I’m sorry I got—oh shit,” she said as she realized I was there between Jorie and her car. “Nash. What are you doing here?”

“My ranch. I live here. I’m the one who’s supposed to be here.” So was Jorie—once upon a time, anyway.

Still is, my inner voice chided. She’s still supposed to be right here with you.

One look at her, and I’d been fucked all over again. That girl owned me. Always had and probably always would.

“No, I mean here,” Missy asserted her finger jabbing toward the ground. “I promised Jorie you’d be out fixing fences until tonight. That’s why I invited her. I wanted to show her the new operation without you around.”

Promised I’d be away…? Because she hadn’t wanted to see me? That pissed me off even more. My arms crossed over my broad chest, and I couldn’t help noticing Jorie’s glance at my thick biceps and bulging pecs before she quickly averted her eyes.

“I think that’s a bad idea,” I growled.

Jorie flinched, and I tried to ignore it. I wanted to be the one to show her around. I should be the one showing Jorie everything I’d done, not Missy. At the same time, I wasn’t so sure I could handle spending time with Jorie with no forewarning. Still, if anyone was showing her my place, it was me.

Missy huffed. “Well, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. We need help. She has a hospitality degree, you know? Did you know that? And guess what she was doing yesterday? Sending out resumes. To places around here. It’s perfect!”

“Missy…” Jorie quietly admonished, slowly shaking her head. “No…”

“No, I didn’t know,” I replied. Jorie had always planned to major in journalism, so she could write about travel to Texas. She’d thought everyone should visit all the special, unknown places here. She’d called them Texas Treasures.

“And if nothing else, maybe, she can give us some advice on how to streamline things around here,” Missy went on as if neither of us hadn’t spoken. Jorie and I both stared at her, and I got the feeling Jorie was as taken by surprise by Missy’s plan as I was.

“Yeah, that’s a really bad idea,” she murmured, echoing what I’d said earlier.

Missy shook her head. “Why? Because there’s some mysterious disagreement between you two? If nothing else, it’ll be work experience to put on your resume. I’ll even write a letter of recommendation for you, put it on ranch letterhead. And you know what? Both of you need to grow up. Nash, you need help. Jorie, what exactly are you doing right now? Lying around Magnolia’s? Weeding her flowerbeds? I know for a fact Max does her yardwork every week.”

“I’m on vacation,” Jorie defended.

Missy lifted a brow at that. “On vacation? In Mason? Right.”

Jorie didn’t answer, and Missy looked between the two of us as our silence prolonged.

“Oh my God! You two! You’re so infuriating!” She threw her hands into the air. “You need to figure this out!” She turned and stormed back to her truck then took off.

When I looked over at Jorie, she had her lips pressed together, obviously trying not to laugh at Missy’s tantrum. “So…I guess we’re not having lunch,” she deadpanned.

“She’s been a little…hormonal.”

“I’ve heard that can happen with pregnant women.”

“She told you?” I asked in surprise. It wasn’t news Missy had been freely spreading around.

“Yeah, told me she had an appointment this morning. You didn’t go?”

“Why would I?”

“Oh…I don’t know…” She trailed off and shrugged, her raised brows suggesting I should know exactly what she was talking about. Nope. Not a clue.

“How about I give you a tour?” I offered, changing the subject. “You can look at my disaster in the office, I’ll show all the new stuff we’ve put into operation, then I’ll make you some lunch since I guess I messed up your plans with Missy.”

She looked around. I was sure she was about to decline, instead she said, “Sure.”

Though I’d expected her to shoot me down, I was sure glad she’d agreed. Her walls were still up—way up. But maybe I could get her to lower then for me. Get some answers. Maybe.

She held herself carefully away from me, her arms crossed, hands cupping her elbows as she studied the land around us. Defensive. Withdrawn. I had hard work ahead of me if I wanted to fix our relationship. I just wished I knew what I was fighting, why she’d left in the first place. From the words we’d exchanged so far, I doubted she’d just tell me if I asked.

And fix us? Yeah, I guess I did want that. I really did. The longer I stood here with her, the more I needed it.

First, the tour then I’d get her to relax a little.

My hand swept around our surroundings. “First up, you should be pretty familiar with this area. It hasn’t changed much other than coats of paint since the last time you were here. Main house. Horse barns. Clinic. Equipment barn. Feed stores. The office is new, though.”

“Mostly the same,” she agreed. “But spiffed up. The new gate was pretty shiny.”

“Yeah…” I took off my hat and ran my hand through my hair. I needed a haircut. Jorie’s fingers curled as she watched, and her thumb ran along the backside of those digits. Did she want to touch me? When we’d started dating, she’d run her fingers through my hair while we’d lain under the stars of while we’d watched a movie or kissed. She’d told me she loved the feel under her fingers.

I jammed my hat back on my head, cutting off my thoughts. “Missy thought it would be more appealing to guests. I’m not sure—”

“Why do you need your spread to be more appealing?”

She didn’t know the whole operation had changed? I stared at her. She didn’t know…

“We’re a vacation ranch now. Tourists come in, and I give them the Texas ranch experience—a watered-down version anyway. I mean, who really wants to shovel manure? Sometimes, we host weddings, do fishing expeditions, riding lessons, give the basic cattle ranching adventure—we make it sound all fancy to be a cowboy. Of course, if someone wants to just have a laid-back week away from city life, we can do that, too.”

“A dude ranch?”

“A guest ranch,” I corrected, fighting the need to grit my teeth. “A vacation destination.”

Her lips quirked, and I knew I’d hear about this again. “Okaaaaay.” She looked at the house. “And they stay here?”

“Oh hell no. I don’t want no strangers in my space. That’s why I built the office extension.”

She nodded, her dark-brown eyes dancing. A breeze lifted loose strands of her hair, and I longed to reach out and brush them from her face. She swiped them back and tucked them behind her ears. “And where do they stay? In the office? Tents?”

“Cabins. Quarter mile that way.” I pointed to the long structure, just barely visible in the distance. “Eight rooms, all with quad occupancy. The dining hall and kitchen run along the back. We’re booked solid most weeks. We’ve got a bunch of bachelors here this week, before the rest of wedding party gets here for the weekend.”

“You’re hosting a wedding this weekend?”

I shrugged. “We’ve done quite a few the past couple years. The fucking wedding planner for this one is driving me crazy. Eventually, I’d like to do it in-house; tell people if they have their event here, they have to use our planner. Pipe dreams.”

“Ambitious, but not such a pipe dream,” she replied, almost under her breath. Her eyes lit with new wonder and little longing as she studied everything. I could almost see the thoughts running through her head. Could I lure her back? Promise her…what? A job? I wanted to slash away the years that separated us and promise her everything, including the relationship I’d always wanted us to have. I knew she’d run from that. It would be too soon, too.

We’d both grown and changed. Maybe, we wouldn’t be compatible anymore.

Bullshit.

One look and everything in me remembered—no, knew!—this was the girl I’d always been meant for, and her for me.

“And you run it all from here?” she asked. “You don’t think the office should be closer to the guests?”

“I still have the ranch to run,” I explained. “I need to be close to the crew. With my office here, I can run over to do paperwork and shit whenever I can fit in a moment. Which isn’t often enough—that’s what Missy was talking about.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re running the ranch, guest lodging and activities and doing all the admin? Who’s helping you?”

“I’ve got a good crew for the ranch op. Max leads a bunch of the expeditions and activities. Missy cleans, does all the cooking, helps out with some ordering and stuff. She gets stuck dealing with some of the event stuff, too, but she hates it. Now that she’s pregnant, I can’t have her doing so much. It’s not good for her or the baby. I’ll probably have to hire a couple temps to fill in for her—maybe to replace her, depending on what she decides to do when she’s further along. It’s up to her. Of course, I help with the guests a lot, too.”

“And who’s helping you?” she asked again. “With overseeing everything? With all the hands on? Your mom? Your dad?”

I shook my head. “Just me. Garrett Mathews gave me a lot of advice and help when I started out.” I wasn’t ready to talk about why or how I’d gotten here. I led her toward the ATV I used to run about the ranch. Guests got the all-horses-all-the-time experience, but for real life, this was more expedient.

“Climb on,” I said as I straddled it. I jerked my head to indicate she should climb on behind me. Biting her lip, she hesitated. I just waited. It wasn’t as if we hadn’t ridden together like this hundreds of times before. Fuck, I’d been eight the first time my dad had let me drive a four-wheeler alone. When Jorie had started coming out practically every day, she’d taken to riding with me.

I knew those memories had to be playing through her head, along with thoughts of our secret dates. Maybe the last time she’d had her legs around me. I started to get hard and shifted slightly. I turned my stare to the distance as I tried to get it under control. My groan was barely suppressed when she climbed behind me. Her long legs bracketed mine as she pressed to my back, her arms around my middle.

Immediately, her sweet citrus scent filled my senses. I was dying, and I didn’t know if this was heaven or hell. Her legs were finally around me again, her small, perfect breasts pressed against me, her hands on my abs.

Yeah, this was hell. I was overloaded by arousing sensations, and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it. I certainly couldn’t drag her fingers just inches lower and show her just how stimulated I was at having her close.

Trying to focus, I grabbed her hands and gave them a squeeze, using our silent communication for “hang on tight,” then took off toward the guest quarters.

Jorie laughed as the wind whipped around us, and I purposely took a rutted path to bounce us around, just as I would have when we were younger. The side-benefit was the way it jerked her body against mine. Okay, when I was a teenager, I might have taken the bumpy route for the same reason. I groaned aloud at the pleasurable friction, grateful she couldn’t actually hear me over the engine and the air rushing past us.

All too soon, I skidded to a stop behind the long building. A wide, covered porch spanned the length, with groupings of rockers, tables and chairs along the expanse. The dining hall’s large windows were flung open to allow fresh air and a bit of breeze to flow through the space. Inside, ceiling fans whirred overhead and kept the room remarkably cool. On particularly oppressive days, though, we cooled with forced air and kept everything closed up. This week it was mild, however.

Missy kept the space spotless, the wood surfaces gleaming and the floors polished, despite the boot traffic coming through on a near-constant basis. Rather than a lingering food smell, the pleasant scent of clean country air and lemon oil permeated the area. It was a space I could be proud of and added to the guests’ comfort and enjoyment during their stays.

Holding open one of the screens to the wide, double-doored entryway, I ushered Jorie inside. It hit me how gratified I was to be able to show this to her, to show her what I’d built and how successful I’d made this vacation-ranch venture. Sure, my office and paperwork were a dumpster fire, but financially, I was doing well. We’d been so profitable I’d even paid off my loans earlier this year. The ranch’s worth just kept growing. In the next couple years, I might even look at expanding the guest operation with a second set of guest lodgings. It’d be a lot of work, but with the right partner by my side…

I glanced over at Jorie then immediately nixed my thoughts. It was too early to think things like that, even with our history. Too much lay between us over these past five years. We had a lot to hammer out.

With her anger, I wasn’t sure we could ever be more than old acquaintances. Hell, I wasn’t sure we could ever be friends again. I had to find out what had happened to make her run away. I had to know how to win my cowgirl back.