Page 4 of A Montana Secret Admirer
To her credit, Serenity snorted. “Honestly? Jane would probably tell me to go for it. Based on how happy she’s been out here, I wouldn’t put it past her to play matchmaker.”
“Oh? Now why is that?”
At his question, she stiffened, and her cheeks flooded with a deep shade of red. Her lashes fluttered, and she looked away. Then she cleared her throat. “Because she thinks I need to start getting out there again.”
He watched her intently, not interested in pushing her past her limits. Reese wanted to know what she was comfortable with. Whatever it was, he’d be okay with it.
At least that was what he was trying to convince himself of.
When she didn’t continue, he murmured, “Maybe it’s meant to be.”
“What?” she whispered.
“You and me.” His voice was raspy despite his attempts to sound strong and sure of himself. “I’d like to take you out on a date, Serenity.”
Her eyes widened, and she looked about ready to bolt. But then she composed herself and pulled back enough to put some distance between them while they continued dancing. “Thank you for the invite…”
“I sense a ‘but’ coming.”
She gave him a pained smile. “That’s because there is one.” She took in a deep breath and exhaled. “My husband passed away several months ago.” She seemed to be waiting for his reaction, but when he didn’t say anything, she continued. “I’m only just getting to the point where I don’t feel suffocated by his absence. I’m… just not ready… for anything serious.”
The rejection stung.
No, it didn’t just sting. It felt like she’d slashed a dagger into his heart.
What was wrong with him?
Reese cleared his throat and flashed her his most charming smile. “I don’t need serious. And I’d never ask you to do anything you didn’t feel comfortable with.”
She pulled the corner of her lips between her teeth. “Thank you. But I don’t think a date would be a good idea.”
He nodded, shoving his disappointment where the sun couldn’t reach it. “Friends then?”
Serenity gaped at him. “What?”
Reese shrugged again if only to demonstrate just how little her rejection had hurt. “I don’t think I’ve laughed this much with someone in a long time. I’d like to continue spending time with you. Even if it means it’s nothing more than a friendship.”
A slow smile spread across her face, and in that moment, he knew deep in his soul that he’d made the right decision. “I’d like that,” she murmured. “And it works out, because I’ll be staying here for the summer.”
For the second time in his life, his heart stalled. “You… what?”
“Jane invited us to stay with her. She’s convinced that if we get out of the city, then we’ll be able to feel like we can breathe again.” The second those words fell from Serenity’s lips, her blush returned. Clearly, she hadn’t wanted to admit to such a thing. She made a sound that resembled a cough and a laugh. Then she tucked a strand of her golden brown hair behind her ear. “Anyway, I told her we’d do it. Who could pass up a summer vacation on a ranch, right?”
“Right,” he murmured.
Fate wasn’t dangling a carrot in front of him. It was moving heaven and earth to give him a chance to find love. Serenity would be living within seconds of his own home. This was his opening.
The song finished up, and he escorted her back to her table. Before he released her hand, he pressed a kiss to her knuckles. She gave him a strange look, but he didn’t let her make any comments about the way he was treating her.
She’d had one of the hardest losses one could experience in their lifetime. He could see that she was still healing. And he was going to do everything in his power to ensure that she found happiness again.
“Who was that?”
Reese jumped at the sound of his mother’s voice. He turned, finding her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Don’t give me that,” he chuckled. “The second I asked her to dance, you were doing your own detective work. You probably have her credit score and criminal history memorized by now.”
His mother laughed as she looped her hand through his arm. “Can you blame me? My two boys haven’t shown any interest in settling down despite half their cousins doing so. I just want you to be happy.”
Reese’s focus shifted over to Serenity once more, and he smiled when he caught her staring. “I don’t think you’ll have to wait too much longer, Mom.”
