Page 10 of Her Second Chance Cowboy

Colin shook his head. “Jessie had to do some shopping, so she volunteered to take Bex to school for me.” He screwed the top on his thermos. “You know, I was up half the night thinking about you.”

Heat speared through her. “Oh yeah?”

He nodded. “I’m really impressed with some of the notes you left for me in my binder. I thought event planning was negotiating with caterers and sending out invitations, but you’re like an artist-engineer-diplomat. It’s amazing you don’t lose track with all of the hats you wear in a day.”

Nancy wasn’t sure if he was being serious or not. He wouldn’t be the first person to make fun of her job, for sure, but his expression was so sincere. “Thank you,” she said.

Colin grabbed his binder and started telling her about his thoughts for the light system he was going to install—now that the dance floor was in the back of the barn, away from the doors, he had more roof height to play with in constructing the lighting configuration. Nancy nodded along as he spoke and tried to pay attention, but she kept getting distracted by the way his hair hung in his face and the way his tanned arms looked against the soft white material of rolled sleeves. She didn’t notice that she was staring until Colin asked, “Are you okay? You’re looking a little flushed.”

Well, that’s embarrassing.“It’s hot,” she mumbled. “I didn’t sleep very well.”

The knowing smile that grew on his face almost sent her running back to the guest house. “I’ve got just the solution for that,” he said. “You up for a ride?”

The picture that came to mind had nothing to do with horses and would certainly do nothing to help the heat pulsing inside her. Nancy flushed even more, and his knowing smile turned into an all-out grin. “I have so much to do,” she said dazedly.

“It won’t take long,” Colin promised. “Besides, I could use your opinion on this. Trail rides will be a big part of the experience here, and I want to make sure the route I have planned is up to scratch.”

Nancy knew that they were both busy, but she couldn’t say no to him. “I haven’t been on a horse in years.”

“Even better,” Colin teased. “I’ll need to know how to train up the city folks, after all.”

That he thought of her as “city folks” made her ache in a way she didn’t expect. She never felt like she fit into Windy Creek’s small-town life, but she was born and raised here. Surely she couldn’t bethatdifferent. “Do I need to change?”

His eyes dragged her up and down. Nancy felt like she was going to combust under the intensity of his gaze. “No,” he said. “You look great.” Her throat felt tight, and she swallowed as best she could. “Come on,” he said, and together, they walked out of the main house and down the short gravel road to the stables.

Colin went into the stables and came out with two beautiful horses: a large brown gelding called Sampson and a pretty mare with white patches called Gwendolyn. Nancy patted the mare on her nose, cooing at her, while Colin triple checked the straps on the saddles. Then, he helped her up into the saddle. It had been years since she’d done that, but it felt like riding a bike. Muscle memory.

Colin mounted Sampson, and they set off on a trail that looped Mustang Crossing’s property. She’d forgotten just how pretty the ranch was: the hills that rose to sharp mountains in the distance were dotted with yellow wildflowers. Just as Nancy was getting a little too hot under the sun, they rode into a patch of forest, and the tree branches made a lovely shade overhead. Nancy remembered this trail; she and Colin would ride through here all the time. “Is this—?” she called out to him, but then they broke through the trees, and she saw the answer to her question.

They emerged into a clearing that held a small, natural lake. Seeing it brought back so many memories, she was almost overwhelmed. “Care for a swim?” Colin asked.

Nancy smiled. “You brought me all the way out here for a swim?”

Colin dismounted, winking at her. “Maybe. Interested?” He helped her down. His hands on her body, even for the few moments that it took for her to slide to the ground, made her shiver. “You good?” he asked, and his breath brushed the back of her neck. Nancy nodded, unable to speak, and they tied the horses’ reins to a low tree branch.

Then, Colin started on the buttons of his shirt. “What are you doing?” she squeaked.

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “We are swimming, right?” he asked. “Did you expect to do that in your jeans?” Nancy hadn’t thought that far ahead. She looked down at herself. Riding back to the ranch in soaking-wet jeans would be horribly uncomfortable. Colin shucked off his shirt, and her mouth dried out.

He winked and headed toward the lake’s edge. She watched his broad shoulders and strong back as he moved before she reached for the button on her jeans with shaking fingers. He jumped into the water, disappearing beneath the surface for a moment. When he surfaced, Colin glanced back at her, and she snapped, “Don’t look!”

He put his hands up and turned back around. “Hurry up, Nance! The water’s great!”

Nancy pushed off her sneakers, socks, and jeans and ran toward the water. Her toes sank into the mud, and she yelped when she stepped into the water. “It’s freezing!”

“It’ll get better if you jump in,” Colin said, back still turned, “and you should do that soon because I do want to turn around and check on the horses, and you’re kind of in that direction.” She whined softly and tried to walk further into the water, but it was too cold. Colin was right: she either had to jump in or get out entirely.

With a shriek, Nancy dove into the water. For a second, she was enveloped in freezing, silent haziness, and then she breached the surface again and took a gulp of air. Colin glanced at her, grinning, and she smiled back in kind. They’d swum here dozens of times growing up, most of which happened after they started dating. It was their getaway from it all. “Perfect on a hot day,” she said and splashed him.

“Oh, you’re in for it now,” he laughed and grabbed at her. She let out a scream, and they spent the next half hour swimming around and splashing, just like they did when they were teenagers. It was easily the most fun that she’d had in months. Maybe years.

* * *

After their swim, Colin and Nancy sat on the rocks on the shore to dry out. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. They listened to the birds and the wind. It would be easy to fall asleep in such a peaceful place. “It’s funny,” she said into the quiet.

“What?” Colin looked at her; he wore a dreamy look that matched the way she felt.

“I keep expecting your dad to come riding up any second, calling us in for lunch.” She felt more than saw him freeze and knew that she had messed up. Again.God, why is my foot so at home in my own mouth?“Colin, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

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