Page 18 of Aisle Be The Groom
Dammit. How could I let him down when he seemed so eager to walk around on the ranch despite the hour?
“Let’s go this way.” I led him down the steps and turned to the right, guided by the lights from the house, the bright moonlight, and the stars. Ozzie fell into place next to me. Only a few inches separated us, so I deliberately shuffled to the right, creating more space.
“Whoa, has the sky always been like this?”
I craned my neck to see what was so special about the sky. “Pretty much looks the same to me.”
“Here, it seems brighter, more vast.”
“That’s because we lack the lights from the streets and buildings in the city.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember the last time I looked up at the sky.” He gave a rueful chuckle.
“What?”
The curve of his lips stretched wider. “I can see why you’d rather live here than in the city.”
“You say that just by looking up at the stars?”
“It’s not only the stars. Listen? I can hear myself think.”
“Hmm, you can also hear the sounds of the animals. Who knows? Maybe if you listen really well, you can hear the predators stalking the property.”
“Pr-predators?”
“You didn’t know?” I lowered my voice to sound mysterious. “Foxes, coyotes, maybe even a bear if we’re unlucky.”
A hand wound around my arm, and Ozzie closed the gap I’d created between us. Repressing my laughter didn’t come easy. “Are you messing with me, Gray?”
“Nope, but don’t worry. I’m here. What would I tell my son if I let anything happen to his fiancé?”
But he didn’t let go of my shirt. Instead, he moved even closer, practically nestled against my side, and held his grip firmly on me. The scent of sea breeze and coconut from his shampoo drifted into my nose. Warmth emanated inside me not just from his hand but from every part of him brushing against me.
My stomach clenched, and disgust and shame filled me. Why was life so cruel? All I wanted was to reconcile with my son. When did I ever ask for a man to catch my eye? I worked with so many men. Why not any of them?
I turned the flashlight on to illuminate the way, and Ozzie and I set off, our boots crunching the gravel. I’d been teasing him about wild animals on the ranch, but they were a serious threat. The beam of light danced onto the ground as we left the graveled path behind.
“It’s so peaceful out here,” Ozzie whispered as though afraid to disturb the night. “And a little nippy.”
I sniffed. “That’s because it’s going to rain.”
“How can you tell?”
“You can smell it in the air.”
Ozzie mimicked me, his nose wrinkled. “I don’t smell a thing. Or are you making fun of me again?”
“Not at all. When you’ve lived here for as long as I have, you become part of nature. Besides, it’s scientifically proven you can smell the rain before it starts to fall.”
“Don’t think I won’t look that up when I get back.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“I just can’t tell if you’re having fun at my expense.” A few seconds passed as we walked in silence. “You’re so different.”
“What?” He’d spoken so softly I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly.
He shook his head and pointed in the distance. “Is that a barn?”
