Page 82 of One Lucky Cowboy

“Maybe, or partly, at least. That whole thing is complicated, but it’s why I’m leaving the ranch so I can be there in the city with you.”

“You don’t have to protect me, you know. I’m almost old enough to drive, and I—” He twisted his lips. “I like someone, too.”

“Oh yeah? What’s their name?” Jax asked. He didn’t want to make any assumptions about who his son was or the type of person he might like. But that didn’t mean he was prepared to have the birds, bees, and wear-a-condom conversation already, either. Man, this parenting thing was going to keep him on his toes, wasn’t it?

“Florence.”

“You kids and your millennial parents. So, what’s she like?”

Ren dove into the conversation with a gusto he usually reserved for animals. Jax just listened, took notes, and marveled at how this kid—his kid—had more insight into love and women than Jax ever did.

But all the while, he kept glancing at where he imagined Jill was hard at work, bent over her computer trying to make her dreams come true. Would those dreams ever include a roaming cowboy, or was Jax heading toward a cliff at a breakneck speed with a woman who was gonna throw him off at the edge?

Because he loved her, or at least he thought he did. If wanting to be with her all the time, thinking of ways to make her life easier or happier, and imagining a future with her was love, then yeah, that was what he felt.

Except…

He’d better figure out for sure—and maybe how she felt, too—before he plunged down a ravine he wouldn’t make it up from.

Chapter Eleven

Jill wrapped the reins around her hand as tight as she could without cutting off circulation. She was the only Texas girl she knew who wasn’t entirely comfortable on the half-ton beasts, even though she loved them. Still, she might not be at home on horseback, but she loved a long ride around the property, especially now that the teachers were onboard with a senior-year program that would give students who earned an internship both pay and school credit that would transfer to a college or university.

It was win-win. Jill still had to run it all by Maggie, of course, but how could her friend find fault in a plan that would integrate them in the community as well as keep the business afloat? She’d been feeling better the past day and a half, so Jill figured she’d swing by tonight and fill her friend in.

A flash of blue in the corner of her vision flagged her attention. Something had been nagging her since her first night with Jax, something she felt like she was forgetting, but that was probably just because she wasn’t used to her new rhythm with him. Everything on her list had been taken care of, and she could wait for the last phone call from the district on the back of the horse.

“C’mon, girl,” she said to Betty Blue, the recently rescued horse that had been boarding at Maggie’s. “Let’s take advantage of this nice day and see what we can see.”

She nudged Betty Blue’s sides with her heels and guided her out of the small arena and onto the dirt path that led along the creek on the east side. Upstream was a crossing she’d wanted to check out, but for now this was perfect riding weather and scenery.

And a welcome break from thinking about a certain hunky cowboy ad nauseam. An endless loop of every touch, caress, and kiss she and Jax had shared nagged her with bids for attention.

That would be fine, if she had a darn clue how to deal with it.

Needless to say, this ride was exactly what she needed.

“As long as our carnivorous friends don’t try to join us,” she said, more to herself than Betty Blue, who ambled along as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

The day was beautiful and likely one of the last of its kind they were slated to get that year. Fall was in full bloom along the valley floor. Indigo-blue Texas bluebells still cuddled up next to tender white and yellow blackfoot daisies, the latter resembling clouds in a bright, blue sky. They were framed by tall, lime and jade-green grasses with pale white tops just waiting to spread their seed. And alongside the picturesque flora, the river danced and sang with unrushed purpose.

“With days like this, I can’t recall why I liked the city to begin with,” she said. Betty Blue neighed in response, her easy manner seeming to agree with Jill’s assessment of their surroundings. “I mean, I liked the nightlife and there’s nothing like the noises of a city to remind you you aren’t alone in the world. But this is kinda perfect.”

Betty Blue chose to park on the edge of the path to chew on the grass rather than put in her two cents.

“Speaking of perfect,” Jill muttered under her breath.

Up ahead, Jax and Ren were at the creek side that bordered the Marshall property. Jax wore a tight white T-shirt and a backward ball cap instead of his usual ball cap. Each of his muscles was on display and in use, and she sent up a little word of thanks to whatever deity was in charge of hunky cowboys that her neighbor, work partner, and kissing friend was such a fine-looking specimen.

Both men had a pair of reins in their hand, but only Jax had successfully tied his up to a tree so the horses could get a drink. He showed Ren how to tie the knot so the horse had some lead but not enough that he could get into trouble. Not that Lightning was much trouble unless you wanted him to, say, move faster than a tortoise.

She snapped a photo with her camera.

As she watched Jax’s hands twist and bend to work his knot, her body recalled what they’d felt like on her body the night before.

He’d come over with a bottle of wine once Ren had fallen asleep, as he’d done each night that week. Thankfully, Ren was so tired with all the fun and adventure the two got up to, he didn’t seem to notice his dad sneaking out like a horny teenager in the early evening.

Last night, after more wine and laughter than she’d had in a long time, they’d made their way to the bedroom and spent most of the night using each their hands and lips and tongues to satisfy the other. Nothing terribly different than they’d been doing, on the surface anyway.

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