Page 44 of Wrangling a Wild Texan

“Sophie’s really enjoying community service,” he said.

A soft smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I am too.” She leaned down and picked up the towel he’d left on a rock and held it out. “You have goose bumps.”

Those goose bumps increased when he took the towel and their fingers brushed. He quickly started drying off, grasping for any safe topic. “I guess Melba never came and got Jimmy Buffet. Sophie mentioned you still have him.”

“No. She says she doesn’t do birds.”

“So you’re keeping him?”

“Not forever.” She pulled her cellphone out of a bag at her feet. “But since I already invested in a cage, water bottle, and toys, I told her I would keep him until she could find someone to take him.”

“So he’s caged now?”

She glanced up from the cellphone she’d been tapping on—no doubt texting the Holiday sisters to see where they were. “Are you kidding? He only flies into it after I fall asleep. And only to eat and throw his birdseed onto the floor. The rest of the time, he sits on my easel and yells cusswords at me while I paint.”

He laughed, but then quickly sobered when her words registered. “You’ve been angry?”

Her cheeks flushed and she looked away. “No. Not angry art. Once everyone saw the Nothin’ But Muffins sign, they put in requests with the town council for me to paint new signs for them as part of my community service.”

“And here you thought no one liked your paintings.” He was teasing her, but when he saw her sad expression, he realized his teasing had fallen short.

“Yeah, I’m great at painting cupcakes, barbecue ribs, and tacos.”

“Hey, very few people can paint food as well as you do.” He hesitated. “I guess you haven’t been able to paint anything else.”

She shook her head. “And I’ve given up trying.” She hesitated. “I found a job in Dallas doing web design.”

He didn’t know why he felt like she had just slapped him hard across the face. “You’re leaving?”

She nodded, refusing to look at him. “But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to anyone until I’ve told my family.”

He stood there staring at her as an incoming text pinged her phone. She was leaving. Sunny was leaving. He should be jumping up and down with joy. Once she was gone, he could finally get on with his life and stop obsessing about her. Out of sight, out of mind. But it wasn’t joy that sat at the bottom of his stomach like a lump of coal.

“That’s weird.” She glanced up from her phone. “According to Noelle, there’s no Secret Sisterhood skinny-dipping party tonight.”

“Secret Sisterhood skinny-dipping party?”

Her pretty brown eyes widened. “Oops. That’s supposed to be a secret. Can you just forget you heard that?”

It was doubtful he’d ever forget the thought of seven beautiful women swimming naked. Or maybe it was just this beautiful woman swimming naked that he’d never forget.

And she was leaving.

He’d never again see her brilliant smile or hear her wind-chiming laughter or smell her lemony scent . . . or kiss her warm, sweet lips that had held nothing back from him.

“I don’t think you should leave.” The words just popped out, surprising him as much as they seemed to surprise her.

She tipped her head. “Why?”

He scrambled for a reason that didn’t involve the giant lump of coal in the pit of his stomach. “Because your family is here. And I’ve learned that family is important. I never realized how much until I lost my sister.” He ran a hand through his wet hair and sighed. “I wasn’t the best brother. I was too wrapped up in owning my own ranch to care about what she was going through. And I’ll regret that every day for the rest of my life. I don’t want you to make the same mistake. Everyone here loves you, Sunshine. And if I’ve learned anything since being here, it’s that success isn’t about owning a ranch . . . or selling a bunch of paintings. It’s about being loved.”

He didn’t know where the words came from, but he knew they were true. Love was much more important than ranches. And hurt feelings. He wished he’d figured that out before he’d cut off his sister for hurting his when she left home. He wished he’d tried harder to see her and Sophie. Tried harder to get them to come home. It wouldn’t have changed her getting cancer, butit would have given them much more time together before she passed.

If he had a chance to make sure Sunny didn’t make the same mistake, he was going to take it—even if he had to spend his days and nights obsessing about her. But before he could continue to persuade her, she did something he least expected.

She burst into tears.

Seeing sunshine turn to rain was the most heart-wrenching thing Reid had ever witnessed in his life. Especially when he was the one responsible.

---