Page 23 of Carly's Heart

“We’re going to the ranch?” He caught her puzzled look from the corner of his eye.

“Yes and no,” he replied. “There’s something I want to show you. I promise it’ll be warm and dry, and I can find you something less glittery to wear.” He chuckled lightly.

God, this was such a risk. Nobody outside his immediate family had ever been inside the house he had spent six years building on the section of land adjacent to his family’s ranch, and he was dragging her out to see it while she was half drunk and out of sorts.

She was his baby sister’s best friend, and he knew so much about her. He’d fallen for her on sight, but she didn’t know him at all. He didn’t see her as often as he wanted. He’d spent years pining for her, and waiting until she was ready, somewhere along the way he lost his nerve and had never worked up the courage to ask her out, and now he was going to show her his new home. He was an idiot. Nothing like skipping all the middle steps of courtship.

Bringing her here was like baring his soul. He’d been working on the house in his spare time for years, and now, it was almost finished. When you did the work by yourself, or with a few friends, building a large house took time. He was in the home stretch, pardon the pun. A bit of interior painting and some landscaping was all that remained. He wanted her help with that, but it was ridiculously premature to ask her opinion before asking her out.

“Where’s Layla?” he asked, more to divert his own thoughts than anything.

“With Mike. They’re having a sleepover.” Her laugh tinkled like bells. “That kid does love sleepovers. She wanted to come to the wedding. But I had too much to do and would have neglected her. Mike will keep her busy, they’ll have a blast.”

“He’s a good father?” He already knew the answer, but wanted to keep this conversation going, it was the deepest and most personal they’d gotten in an eternity.

“Surprisingly, yes. Our marriage was great to start, but at the end, Mike was hell to live with. Now, as a father, there’s none better. He even cancelled a date to watch Layla. He didn’t have to do that.”

“I’m glad, for all of you.”

“Mike’s been dry for the better part of two years. I trust him with Layla. He’s returned to the man he used to be before the booze. He goes to meetings three times a week. They keep him strong.” She frowned, then smiled. “I’m thankful that he straightened out. I don’t want him back, but I don’t begrudge him time with our daughter.”

“You’re a big-hearted woman,” he said.

“What am I, a country song?”

Her laugh rang off the small confines of the truck, sending arousal racing up his spine. She must be drunk, or close to it, to be so easygoing around him. He’d watched her with Tanya, open and carefree, but around him, she froze up like a water trough in a blizzard. She hadn’t been shy when they met, but after her divorce, she’d changed. She’d distanced herself and he didn’t know why.

“If you mean beautiful, kind, and enticing, yes, you are a country music song.” He glanced over at her. She blushed bright pink, from the low V of her dress to the tips of her ears. He wondered just how low that blush went. He pushed the thought aside. Carly wasn’t some casual date or hookup. She was a wonderful person, and he was determined to finally get to know everything about her. He felt guilty that her horrible day had opened the opportunity for him to do so.

“Hey, wasn’t that the driveway to the ranch?” she asked, pointing to the small road they’d just passed.

“It is.”

“I thought that was where we were going.” The bright moon revealed the confused frown on her sweet face.

“We are, but we’re going to my ranch, not the family ranch.” He couldn’t keep pride from ringing in his voice.

“You have a ranch? Are you kidding me? How did I not know this?”

“The section next door came up for sale seven years ago. Dad didn’t want it, so Grampa and I snatched it up and built a barn on it. I’ve added a house.” He slowed and turned up a gravel drive. They drove under an enormous wrought iron sign declaring they had arrived at the Triple Z Ranch.

“Wow. Impressive.” She turned her head to look at the sign. “Did that come with the place?”

“No. I had it made for me. I want my clients to be impressed.”

“Clients?” He loved the eagerness in her voice, like she wanted to know more about him.

“Clients. I breed, raise, and train horses. Everything from casual rides to racehorses. I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager. I mentored under my grandfather. We had a partnership. Our horses are getting very popular and winning races all over the world. When he passed, I inherited the horses and his share of the land. I was very lucky to turn that inheritance into a thriving business.”

“That’s incredible.”

“Thank you. I’ve worked hard and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.” They rounded the final turn and his house popped into view. Yes, he was definitely proud of himself, with good reason. He’d built that house himself. He’d worked under the guidance of his grandfather and a contractor, doing most of the work himself. He couldn’t wait to see if she loved it as much as he did.

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