Page 78 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

Macie smiled. She’d never had this: bantering with a sister . . . college . . . dating guy after guy.

“Oh, look,” Cara said. “Speaking of men. There are our brothers now.”

Macie looked beyond the porch to see Holt and who had to be Lane coming out of the barn. Her heart hitched just seeing the tall form of Holt striding in the direction of the house.

In a few moments, they were at the porch, and Macie didn’t want to meet Holt’s gaze, because her emotions had surfaced again.

“Nice to see you again, Macie,” Lane said, extending his hand.

She shook his hand. “Great to see you, too. How’s school going?”

Cara rolled her eyes, and Evie groaned. “Don’t get him started.”

Lane cut them a glare. “What’s up with you two?”

“Come on, Evie, let’s get some food.” Cara smiled at Macie. “See you later.”

“Okay,” Macie said, smiling back.

“Come on, Lane,” Evie said, grabbing her brother’s arm. “Give them privacy, will you?”

Macie’s eyes widened. Had Evie just said . . . ?

The siblings disappeared into the house, and Macie was left alone with Holt. She turned slowly. His blue eyes were on hers, his expression both amused and curious. “Hi there,” she said.

“Hi, darlin’.”

His words made her skin feel like it was gradually burning. How was he always so effortlessly handsome? No cowboy hat tonight, and his hair looked like he’d ran his fingers through it plenty of times. The edge of his jaw showed a couple of day’s stubble, and his open-collar shirt revealed the base of his tanned throat.

Macie slipped her hands into her back pockets. “I was coming to look for you.”

One of his brows lifted, his eyes not missing a thing. “You were?”

“Yeah.” Macie exhaled. “I was, um, going to see how you were doing.”

His mouth curved. “I’m doing fine.”

“Good,” she said. “That’s good to hear.”

Holt nodded, still studying her. “Want to go for a walk?”

“Okay,” she said immediately.

“After you,” he said, motioning toward the stairs.

She moved past him, catching his familiar scent of soap and pine.

They walked around the barn and toward the arena. The moon was nearly full and cast everything into a pale yellow glow. Macie folded her arms, not that she was cold, but because she suddenly didn’t know how to be or act around Holt. When they reached the empty arena, she propped her arms on the railing.

Holt stopped next to her. “Beautiful night,” he commented.

So it was going to be small talk, she guessed. It was true, though. The night was beautiful—a velvety darkness with only a whisper of a breeze. The low hoot of an owl sounded far off. “It was nice to see Lane and your sisters again.”

“Uh-huh.” Holt leaned against the railing, facing the opposite way.

She glanced over at him, then away.

“I’m glad you decided to come,” he said.

---