Page 5 of Long Hard Road

“I’ve been called a lot of things, but charming wouldn’t be at the top of the list.” He went behind the bar and opened the sales till and began counting the cash. When he was done, he placed it all in a metal box and jotted something in a ledger. “I need to lock this up in the office. I’ll be right back.” He shot me a pointed look. “Please don’t go anywhere.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

Nate was only gone for a minute and he came back wearing a heavy winter coat with a logo on the left side in the shape of a horseshoe. When he got a little closer I saw that the words Sullivan Ranch stitched beneath the arch.

“You might want to think about getting a heavier winter coat, Madison.” He eyed my fashionable but not practical leather jacket. “Do you want to borrow mine?”

“I’m not taking your coat, Nate.” I was not surprised that Mr. Gentleman had offered me his coat just as we were about to step out into a snowstorm. “Where I’m staying isn’t far.”

“You’re in one of Maggie’s cabins, aren’t you?” Nate pushed open the door and held it for me.

“How do you know that?” It suddenly became apparent to me that the one thing more dangerous than walking home alone in a snowstorm might be allowing a man I had just met to walk me home.

“There are no hotels or other rentals that would be an easy walk from this place,” he explained smoothly. “Maggie’s cabins are nice. A good place to enjoy some time in the country while not being far from downtown.”

“Have you lived in Crestwood your whole life?”

“No. I lived here until I went to college and then after I graduated, I joined the military as an officer. I lived away from here for about eight years.” Nate put a hand around my elbow as we stepped onto the snowy sidewalk.

“Why did you leave the military?”

Nate was quiet for so long that I thought maybe he hadn’t heard me. “It was what I needed to do.” He cleared his throat and the expression on his face shifted from tense to relaxed in an instant. “My dad had a stroke a couple of years ago and I decided to move back and help my older brothers with the family ranch.”

“That was a selfless thing to do.” I could tell there was something that Nate wasn’t telling me about his decision to return to Crestwood, but we didn’t know each other well enough for me to start prying. “Is your dad doing okay now?”

“Yeah, he is. The old man is too stubborn to stay down for long.” Nate’s affection for his father was evident in his light chuckle. “He stepped back from working the farm after the stroke and just recently handed over operations to my sister’s best friend. Lily is a genius and business is going great.”

“You didn’t want the job?” I did my best not to let my teeth chatter. Part of me was really wishing I’d accepted Nate’s coat offer.

“Not even a little bit.” His answer was swift and genuine. “I’m not a sit-behind-the-desk guy. I like working with my hands.”

I made the mistake of looking at him and found it impossible to look away. Snowflakes dusted his dark hair and his cheeks were flushed from the cold. I watched as he blinked away a flake that landed on his absurdly thick lashes.

“Too frozen to speak?” he teased when he caught me staring at him in stunned silence.

“You’re absurdly attractive,” I said, the alcohol taking control of my mouth before I could stop it.

Adorably, Nate’s cheeks turned even redder as he looked away in embarrassment. “Um, thanks?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Or myself. I just sometimes say things before running the words through a filter.” My publicist was forever reminding me to think before I speak.

“Don’t be sorry.” He flashed a sexy crooked smile. “You should feel free to compliment me anytime you want, angel.”

Now it was my turn to blush and look away. “This is my cabin.” I gestured toward it and was surprised when Nate continued to guide me up the driveway. “You don’t have to walk me to my door.”

“I just want to make sure you get there safely.” He gripped my elbow tighter when one of my feet slipped a little. “Don’t worry, this isn’t some sleazy way of trying to get you to invite me inside.”

“I didn’t think it was.” But only because Nate had already been clear that he had no desire to hook up with someone my age. “I’m not your type, remember?”

“I never said that.” His normally enigmatic smile was a little sad. “I just think you’re too young and innocent to be ruined by a man like me.”

I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant by that and I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out. “Well, thanks for walking me home.”

“My pleasure.” He dipped his head like he was tipping a nonexistent hat. “If you need anything, just give me a shout.”

“Um, how?” It wasn’t like we had exchanged numbers.

He hooked a thumb toward the cabin next to mine. “I’m your neighbor.”

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