Page 9 of My Rancher Valentine

“I...I’m...” I took a long breath. Stuttering wouldn’t help.

The problem was that I couldn’t apologize for trying to protect her, and I wasn’t sure anything else was going to smooth things over.

“I think Daphne and Danielle are coming down tomorrow,” I said as I turned into the parking lot. Perhaps she would have more fun hanging out with my sister and one of her friends as opposed to Victor and his girlfriend.

“Okay.” She had her head turned toward the window.

“If you would rather hang out with them, I’m sure that would work, too.”

As far as I knew, Kat wasn’t friends with either of my sisters or their little pack of friends. The sassy six was what most people called them around Bliss Haven. The whole set was made up of my two sisters, Danielle and her best friend Ginger, Blair Cummings, who worked with Kat, and Sunny, although I think her real name was Sunday, who owned the local bookstore along with her husband. The group of them liked to get together and at the bookstore or whatever restaurant had the best happy hour drinks and gossip, if you asked me. If you asked them, they were solving the town’s problems.

Ginger had recently decided to move to Colorado, so there was a new opening if Kat wanted in, but they didn’t really seem her type. Maybe Sunday or Blair, but as far back as I could remember, Kat had always sort of kept to herself.

“What makes you think I need to hang out with anyone?” She turned toward me. “And for the record, this is only a pretend relationship. I don’t need you acting like there is something between us.”

I parked the car and faced her. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because no one is going to believe we are together if neither of us acts like there is something between us,” I pointed out.

She shook her head. “I still don’t get why this is so important to you. Doesn’t your family sponsor all your rides?”

I shifted in my seat. My head dropped back onto the headrest behind me.

“I love my family. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them, and I know they feel the same.” I was extremely lucky, and the last thing I wanted to come off as was some entitled spoiled rich kid.

“But...” I took another breath. “Did you know my mother bought all the furniture in my apartment? The whole reason I moved into the apartment above the barn was to get some space. I went away for three days to compete, and when I came back, she had furnished the whole thing and moved all my clothes. Daphne and Hailey came over with groceries as soon as I got back and proceeded to stock the fridge while asking about my trip and unpacking my luggage. Dad stops in every morning before going into the office to run down my day. As if I can’t figure out what needs to get done around the ranch without the two of us comparing to-do list.”

“No matter what I do, I will always be the baby to them,” I told her. “I don’t even know if they are sponsoring me because they really believe I have talent or because I’m the youngest. I can’t tell you how many times my father has mentioned riding as if it’s just a ‘phase’ I’m going through. Like puberty or pimples. Mom’s no better, and don’t get me started on Hailey. God, she acts like Daphne, and I are making the biggest mistake in the world not working at the creamery. Like they would have the farm fresh ingredients, they need to make everything without either of us supervising the ranch.”

I turned to face Kat. Her eyes were locked on me, and for the first time, I felt really vulnerable around a woman, but this was Kathleen Depner. Without saying a word, she reached overand put her hand over mine. That one small move took all the vulnerability away.

“I get this sponsorship, and it tells the world that I’m good. It lets everyone know that someone believes in me other than my family.”

“It tells the world, or it tells you?” Her soft voice floated across the car toward me.

“Both.”

A half smile lifted the side of her lips. “You don’t need a sponsorship to tell you that.” She squeezed my hand. “My boss doesn’t send me out to cover your rides just because your last name is Wynters, and you don’t win because your family owns Bliss Creamery. All of it is because you’re good, Beau.”

“Do you remember in sixth grade when the class took a field trip to your ranch?” I nodded. “You were awesome way back then. I remember the way your father put everyone on the horses to trot around. He didn’t have to touch you. You hopped up on the horse and rode that thing like you were a star. Riding is a part of you. You don’t need your family or anyone else’s approval for that to be true. You just have to get in the saddle, and everyone knows it.”

“Yeah?” I couldn’t believe how deeply her words touched me.

“Yeah.”

“Then maybe I need the sponsorship for the money,” I joked. I could feel the connection building between us inside the cab. This was supposed to be a fake relationship, right? If I wasn’t careful feelings I buried long ago would come rushing back.

“That I’d believe.” She laughed. The sound was just as soft and lovely as her touch. “You rich kids always want more.”

“Is that why you always give me shit? Cause you see me as some greedy rich kid?” Her answer felt like the most important thing in the world at that moment.

“Maybe.” She pulled her hand, but I held tight.

“Really?” It bothered me that she might see me that way.

Kat blew out a breath. “I don’t think that you are a greedy rich kid, but seriously Beau? How do you expect me to react when you walk around calling me Kitty Kat or Kitten? Every time I see you, it feels like you are the one giving me crap. With all the flirting that we both know you don’t mean. We both know it’s all a big joke to you. Then you up and come up with a scam like this. It would be easier if you just left me alone.”

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