Chapter 4

James

Rose was still hounding me to check out the dating website she set me up on, so when she asked to go into town for some shopping, I immediately agreed. On the condition that she stop talking about my love life and I could wait for her in the bookstore.

Reading on a tablet was certainly convenient, but I still loved paperbacks. Getting lost in a mystery or an action packed western just seemed like a different experience when you could feel the book in your hands. Turn each page. Smell the paper. My tablet had plenty of novels on it, but in my office, I had three bookshelves with many of my favorites.

I’d been wandering for about half an hour when I bumped into Sarah Carlton. She and her husband, Tony, lived out on a ranch in the area. He was a renowned horse trainer, you couldn’t get anyone better to break in an unruly horse.

Sarah walked over to me and smiled, the little dimples in her cheeks popping out. She was a classically beautiful woman, with warm brown eyes, long, curly blonde hair, and a bright, friendly personality. She was impossible not to like.

“Howdy, James! Long time, no see.”

“Sarah,” I greeted with a nod. “How’s marriage treating you?”

Her eyes went dreamy and she grinned, lighting up like the Fourth of July. “It’s inspiring.”

I raised an eyebrow at that response and she blushed furiously. “I mean, it’s great. Awesome.”

Sarah was a romance writer and I had a feeling her answer had something to do with that. I didn’t want it to veer into uncomfortable territory so I asked, “How are the books going?”

Her smile grew but she shrugged modestly. “They do alright.” Then she laughed and winked at me. “Everybody loves a cowboy romance, right?”

“I can’t say as I’ve ever read one, but if I ever have a mind to, yours will be the first.”

A chuckle danced from her lips again and her eyes darted around before coming back to settle on me. “Speaking of cowboy romance. What are you doing spending your Saturday night at a bookstore? No hot date?”

“Seeing as how you’re taken, I don’t know who I’d be out with,” I teased her.

Sarah’s expression turned sly. “I hear there are some pretty intense sparks between you and your new neighbor.”

I frowned and mumbled, “Rose talks too much.”

Sarah laughed and shook her head. “She didn’t say anything else, I swear.”

“Sarah.”

Before I could reply, we were interrupted by Tony calling her name as he walked swiftly toward us.

“I turned around and you were gone,” he reproached, then rolled his eyes. “Knew right where to find you, though.” He dragged her into his arms and gave her a quick, hard kiss. When he lifted his head, he seemed to finally notice my presence. “Evening, James.” He smiled and turned Sarah in his arms so she had her back pressed to his front. I couldn’t help but notice the way he splayed his hands across her stomach possessively.

“So,” Sarah urged. “Are you going to tell me more about your neighbor?”

I folded my arms across my chest and stared at her steadily. “No.”

Tony glared at me, clearly unhappy with my tone when speaking to his wife. He hugged her in a little tighter and she casually patted his hand. An ache had already started growing in my chest, but when he kissed her temple and she sighed happily, her hand joining his over her flat belly, it became a sharp stabbing.

The emotion was unfamiliar, so I almost didn’t recognize it for what it truly was. Envy. I’d been content with my life for thirty-four years, why was I all the sudden feeling hollow and lonely?

“Well, perhaps giving her a chance is something to mull over,” Sarah mused, watching me knowingly.

“I’ve got to get my wandering wife home,” Tony announced. “It was good to see you, James.” We shook hands and I watched them until they disappeared outside.

My mind drifted to Lia. Damn she was gorgeous. And, according to Rose, she was funny, intelligent, and sweet. Rose swore that I didn’t know all the facts and was judging her too harshly. Maybe she was right and I should give Lia a chance to show me who she was.

Or maybe, a night with her was all I would need to get rid of the cloud that had been hanging over me. Images of her beautiful body played in front of me like a slide show. My pants became tight and I hurried to the register to pay for my books and get to my truck before someone noticed the woody trying to break through my zipper.

Rose met me in the parking lot just as I exited the store. She’d gotten done with her shopping early and was thankfully, ready to head home early. As I drive, she chattered about everything under the sun, but my mind was spinning with thoughts of Ophelia.

After running through every instance when we’d been in each other’s presence, I finally decided I’d burned that bridge. I sighed, gaining myself an odd look from Rose.

“Everything okay?” she probed.

“Fine and dandy, Buttercup,” I lied, cracking a smile to enforce it. She studied me silently, so I reached over and tweaked her nose, laughing when she batted at my hand like a little kitten with a ball of yarn.

We arrived home and dug into the leftovers that Cookie had saved for us. Then Rose decided she was going to veg out and watch a movie. “Want to watch with me?” she asked hopefully.

I tapped my lips with a finger as I pretended to think things over. “Depends on what movie, Azalea.”

“Magic Mike?”

I made the sound of an obnoxious game show buzzer. “Wrong answer.”

“Umm...Pale Rider?”

“Eastwood. Now you’re talkin’.”

We made popcorn and watched the big, bad, Clint do his thing. When the credits were rolling, Rose stood and stretched, then kissed my cheek. “Night, big brother.”

I hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, Magnolia.”

Gathering up the dishes, I took them to the kitchen and put them in the dishwasher. Intent on going to bed, I ambled toward the stairs to the second floor, but my feet had other ideas. I ended up in my office, pacing in front of my computer. Eventually, I stopped, sat down and reached for the power button. Only to snatch my hand back, stand, and resume pacing.

An image of Ophelia appeared in my mind, and I felt that nagging ache again. Shoving her away, I plopped down into my seat and turned on my computer. I waited for it to load, then opened a web browser and navigated to Ranchersonly.com