Page 21 of Second Chance Spring in Paradise

My heart jumps like a bronc straight out of the chute.Prayin’ for eight out of the gate.I’ve heard and said it a million times, but never without a horse nearby. But I’m thinking it now, holding on to any chance I have of convincing Tessa to lean back and ride whatever second chance this may be.

“I don’t know what it takes to be a writer.” I swallow hard and let my thoughts roll out as smooth as I can make them.

“I do know what it takes to survive in Paradise without much money,” I continue. “Hard work, dawn to dusk. I’ve watched my parents do it my entire life, trying to keep their small ranch going. They supplemented the little income raising cattle brought in by taking on all kinds of other jobs. My brother and his wife are doing the same thing since they took over the ranch.”

Tessa tips her head toward me; a crease creeps between her brows.

“What I’m trying to say is…” I blow out my breath. I don’t want to mess this up. “It can be a hard life, but it’s a good life.”

Tessa chews the inside of her lips and her whole body rocks with her nod.

“If you think this might be your second chance, I’ll keep looking for places for you,” I say, though the confidence I say it with is a bluff. “If you really want to try fate, we can drive around and see if anything calls to you. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing I’ve done to find someone a house.”

Tessa sits up and shifts on my lap to look at me. “Actually, we passed a house I wanted to ask you about.”

My hope tips upward, and I sit straighter. “Oh yeah? Did it have a for sale sign?” I can’t think of any houses I’ve seen listed for sale in that area.

“No, it just…” Tessa’s eyes roll to the side, and her cheeks flush. “It did just what you said. It called to me.” She lets out a nervous laugh. “It sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.”

The excitement on her face lifts my hopes a little higher, and I shake my head. “It’s not stupid. I’ve seen it happen before. I know when clients have found the house meant for them. It’s no different from when a cowboy finds his hat. It just fits.”

“Really?”

“You bet.” I let my hand rest on her hip. “Now tell me what house called to you. Did you catch the address?”

“No, but it will be easy to find again.” Her words tumble out, and I may be falling a little in love with how her eyes are sparkling. “It’s right on the side of the mountain you took me up. The bright turquoise one.”

My hand tightens around her waist, and I grin.

“Do you know it?” she asks.

I nod.

It’s the same house I was thinking of for her.

Chapter 11

Tessa

“I know it,” Rowdy answers, smiling.

He’s hiding something with that smile, which makes me nervous. So I keep talking, in case he needs some convincing that the house might be a good fit for me. “It looks like it’s got a basement. Maybe it’s somewhere I could rent for a little while. See if I like it here…”

Rowdy goes silent but his grin spreads across his face, which only makes me more nervous.

“If I do…” I shrug and let him fill in the blank as I move from his lap back to my chair. “What do you think?”

“I think my lap is cold. Why’d you move?” He tugs on my hand, but I resist his efforts to pull me back.

“Because I’m being very vulnerable here, and I need you to tell me what you think.” I fight the smile that tries to escape as Rowdy gets out of his chair to stand in front of me, still holding my hand.

But I don’t resist when he pulls me out of my chair. He tips his head, so we’re eye to eye. “That house you want?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s mine.”

“You live there?” My heart pounds. One, because what are the chances that the house calling to me is his? And, two…did I just ask to move in with him?

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