Page 4 of His Tenth Dance

He stood there, his hand in hers and his heart flopping around inside his chest, anchorless.Wait, he told himself.Wait for her to say something before you blurt out too much.

two

Kristie Higgins had hallucinated. Straight-up gone into fantasy-land. Otherwise, how else would she be standing inside the lobby of the administration barn, holding hands with Mission Redbay?

The warmth of his skin against hers sent a shiver through her body, and she quickly released his hand, suddenly aware of how forward she’d been. No fantasy-land. Just her asserting herself in probably an unwelcome way.

She reminded herself that Mission had picked her up off the floor of the barn and carried her across the farm to his house, fed her, and then insisted he drive her back to her van.

Months ago, she told herself. They’d been friendly enough since then, but Kristie didn’t truly know Mission. He made it very difficult for someone to get to know him.

She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry,” she said, taking a step back. “I shouldn’t—you don’t have to tell me anything.” She watched his eyes, noting how he didn’t look away from her. He didn’t flush or duck his head. “I thought maybe you needed a moment.”

Mission’s dark eyes fired with emotion, which Kristie actually liked. He’d been such an enigma, this mystery cowboythat had spent so much time camped out in her head. Seeing him show emotions made him so much more human, more relatable, and she settled her weight on her back leg to put a bit more distance between them.

“It’s okay,” he said so softly it almost sounded like a hum. “I’m okay.”

Kristie nodded, unsure of what to say next. She’d acted on impulse, wanting to comfort this man she barely knew but felt inexplicably drawn to. Now, standing alone with him, a flutter of nervousness assaulted her stomach. “Okay, well, it’s your party.”

“My parents—it’s complicated.”

“Most families are.”

“Can I tell you another time?”

“Of course. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” She’d simply wondered if his parents would be joining the party when his grandfather had.

“It’s fine,” he said, but it didn’t feel like it was. He turned and looked over his shoulder and then faced her again. Everything about him, from his neatly trimmed beard to the energy in his eyes to that sexy navy jacket, called to her, which surprised her so much. She hadn’t liked him much in the past, and now she found herself hoping he’d ask her to dinner.

“I should get back,” he said. “I think Deac’s gonna make an announcement and everything, as if everyone here doesn’t already know tomorrow is my first day as the foreman.”

Kristie nodded, a twinge of disappointment winging its way through her guts. “Right, of course. Let’s go back.” She wasn’t sure what people would think if they saw her and Mission sneaking out of this barn. Part of her wanted to go down the long hallway and out the back, where she could rejoin the party without all the eyes on her. She didn’t normally mind having people look her way, but she knew Mission did, and she didn’t want to cause him any issues.

“I’m just going to head to the restroom really quick.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “I’ll see you out there, okay?”

Mission met her gaze again, and he saw right through her, she knew. “Okay,” he said.

Kristie held her head high as she walked in the opposite direction, trying not to feel like she was scampering away from the gorgeous cowboy.

Once she made it back outside, Kristie stood in the shade of the tent, out of the way but still part of the party. She wasn’t a Hammond, but she knew all of them. She’d been coming to Pony Power and the farm for a few years now, and she’d been to Travis and Poppy’s farm as well as Mike and Gerty’s.

“You okay over here?” a man asked, and Kristie turned toward Keith Whettstein. He smiled at her and added, “You won’t drive all the way to Blackhorse Bay, will you?”

She grinned at him and leaned in for a hug. “I’m not sure where that is.” She glanced over to the woman at his side, and she knew they’d gotten married a couple of years ago, but Kristie couldn’t remember her name.

“Have you met my wife, Lindsay?” Keith asked.

“I’m not sure.” Kristie shook her hand, her smile as wide as possible. “So tell me where Blackhorse Bay is.”

“It’s a big boarding stable about an hour north of here.”

“Not as far as Tuck’s place,” Kristie said. “I’d come if you needed me.” She glanced back out to the party and then focused on Keith again. “You’re telling me a ‘big boarding stable’ doesn’t have a vet on-staff?”

“We have two,” Lindsay said. “But one of them is having a baby next month, so we’re looking for someone else.”

“A full-time position?” Kristie met Lindsay’s gaze. “I own a roaming veterinary office. I have appointments at variousranches and farms every day, with emergency appointments available same-day.”

“My dad says you’re great.”

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