Page 45 of A Montana Secret Admirer
She huffed out a laugh. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out.” Serenity tugged free of him, finding it harder than she’d expected, not because his grip was firm but because she wanted to keep this moment going. It was comfortable and exhilarating all at once. She put a decided step between them and nodded toward the other cowboys. “You might want to get to work. They’re looking at you.”
“Let them look.”
More laughter peeled from her lips, unbidden. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“And you wrapthe rope around there. Yeah, like that. Then pull it through.” Reese’s eyes found hers, and the pulse in her throat quickened. He wasn’t close enough to touch, and yet his presence—those eyes, that smile—it was all enough to set her heart into overdrive.
“Mom? Can I have more grapes?”
She glanced down at Jessi, who was holding up his plate. Tegan and Reese were once again engrossed in their knot tying lesson. Serenity nodded and scooped out a handful onto Jessi’s plate before he settled it in his lap with a grin.
The sun was shining, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was quiet out at Sagebrush Ranch today with most of the men gone. There was a sense of tranquility, and Serenity found herself reveling in what the day offered her.
She closed her eyes and turned her face to the sun. It had been a long time since she’d felt this way—like there wasn’t something bad lurking behind the corner. It made her wonder how her life would turn out if she allowed herself to follow the path she was taking.
Tegan grumbled, and Reese chuckled under his breath. “You almost got it that time. Here, let’s try it once more before we do a different one.”
“No. I want to figure this one out,” Tegan muttered. “You said it was the best one to use when you hogtie a cow.”
Her eyes opened, and she found Reese glancing in her direction. They shared a knowing smile. Tegan was stubborn. Even at seven, he seemed to be set in his ways. If either of her boys were going to have problems with her dating again, it would be him. But based on how much time he liked to spend with Reese, she wasn’t overly concerned.
“Okay, go slower this time so you don’t miss a step. I’m going to let you do it on your own.”
Tegan stuck the tip of his tongue out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrated on his work. Serenity closed her eyes again, relishing in this day, in the prospect for the future. Finally making a decision about going out with Reese had been the best thing she could have done.
They’d be going on a date with just the two of them soon enough. They’d spend the next several weeks getting to know each other, and then they’d tell her sons if things got that serious.
For now, she was going to bask in the sun and enjoy seeing her sons connect with the man who was quickly stealing her heart.
“Yes! I did it!”
Reese’s rumbling laughter brought a smile to her face, but she didn’t open her eyes. She could sense his attention on her before she felt his presence at her side. The boys’ shuffling footsteps darted away, their laughter and chatter fading the farther they got from their picnic location.
Keeping her eyes closed, she murmured, “What are they up to now?”
His light touch trailed along her arm, lazily moving up and down, causing all sorts of goosebumps and shivers to attack herbody. His voice hummed close to her ear, low and only for her to hear. “They went to get more rope.”
She opened her eyes then, looking at him. “Do they know where to find it?”
He shrugged. “They can’t get into much trouble on their own. If they’re not back in ten minutes, I’ll get them.”
Serenity straightened. “Ten minutes is a lifetime when it comes to boys their ages.” Before she could get to her feet, he placed a hand on her knee.
“It’ll be good for them to do some exploring. Trust me.”
She hesitated, searching his gaze for anything she could use to convince herself to stay put. She must have found it because she relaxed slightly and exhaled. “You’re sure? They won’t get into any trouble?”
He turned his focus to her arm again, dragging his fingertips up and down her sensitive skin. “Positive.” Then he leaned in close and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
There was no more wondering if this could really be happening. It was. And the most surprising thing of all was just how right it had started to feel.
Reese could be that piece in her life that she’d not known she needed. He would never replace what she had with Finn, but he could certainly come close. He cared about her boys, and he made her feel things she’d thought would remain dormant.
He didn’t have to say a single thing. When his eyes met hers, sheknew.
Theirs was a story she wanted to be told.
