Page 42 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

They broke apart at the distant sound of an engine.

“Hopefully, that’s Meg.” Lil resumed her position at the fence, her forearms resting on the rails.

Jordan did the same, but he frowned at the ground. He decided to take advantage of this moment when their guards were down.

“This does change things,” he said honestly.

Even though she didn’t look at him, he’d caught the small lift of her chin.

“But not for the worse,” he added. “I see it as honesty.”

Her lips pressed together as her gaze remained stubbornly fixed in the distance. “I can get behind honesty.” The engine grew louder. “I appreciate you being here. I appreciate a lot of things about you.” She paused. “I’m closer to thirty than twenty. I’ve been alone for most of that time, you know, dealing with things.”

He nodded and she surprised him again by touching her palm to his cheek.

“I enjoy your company.”

His eyebrows lifted. “My company?”

She nodded. “But I don’t have enough bandwidth for anything more than what I’m dealing with now.”

He covered her hand with his, then lowered their linked fingers to his chest. He knew what she was getting at. She wanted him around. She didn’t want him getting ideas about what a future might hold.

“Message received.” Even if it wasn’t directly in line with what he’d wanted to hear.

She let her forehead come to rest against his chest just above their hands for all of a heartbeat. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Chapter Ten

“Starting early?” Jordan stepped out of his trailer as Lil crossed the driveway to her truck.

The sun had topped the trees, but dew still clung to the blades of grass growing along the edge of the barn.

“I thought I’d get my rides in so that I can tackle a few things here. The ditches need to be mowed again.” And since Meg seemed to have a training or team meeting every few days at the school district, Lil was practicing running the ranch alone.

Except that she wasn’t. Alone, that was.

Jordan was there.

And she was getting used to his company.

It’d been a while since she’d been drawn to a guy, and she didn’t know whether to be alarmed or cautiously optimistic. Jordan, the accidental breaker of hearts, according to Aubrey, had taken a step back after the kiss. Was he regretting the action, or simply being sane?

“I could mow,” he said.

“I’m well aware.” She settled a hand on her hip. “But then what would I do?”

He smiled a little, as if thinking of things she could do, things that didn’t involve ranch chores. And yes, heaven help her, she was intrigued.

“It’s been quiet,” she said, forcing her brain away from hot cowboy land.

“It’s only been four days.”

Days in which he’d not only finished repairing the hole in the barn roof but had begun working his way through the rest of the repair list. His next project was reroofing the sheds. He was working on the place as if he owned it. Which he did.

“Still good with me staying here?”

She let her gaze sweep over him. “I think I can tolerate your presence for a bit longer.”