Page 22 of Worth the Trouble

His boyish grin did things to her that she had no right experiencing. She went fluttery and her whole body heated with an emotion she wasn’t prepared to diagnose. So rather than dwell too deeply on it, she settled back against the couch beside Jason and rested her cheek against his shoulder.

They sat in utter silence for the next two hours as they watched a movie about a woman finding love and a fresh start in her hometown after being betrayed by her husband. At some point, Jason’s hand dropped from the back of the couch to Cecelia’s shoulder. His fingers started trailing up and down her arm, drawing goose bumps from deep inside her.

Cecelia closed her eyes, reveling in being touched by another human being even if it was as innocent as two friends sitting side by side while watching a movie. The musical score and the actors’ voices from the movie lulled her into a state of complete relaxation and her breathing deepened.

She wasn’t sure when she fell asleep. The next thing she knew, sun was filtering through the crack in the drapes that blocked the large glass doors that opened up to the balcony in her room. Cecelia sat up with a gasp and glanced around her room. There was no sign of Jason, and she was covered by not only the throw blanket, but another from her bed. On the coffee table in front of her was a slip of paper with the lodge’s letterhead.

Cece,

Thanks for the most relaxing evening I’ve had in a long time. You don’t know how much I needed it. Hope you have a better day today. I know I will.

-J

She brought the paper to her lips and giggled. He was right. They hadn’t spoken much at all last night. No recap of how hard their days had been. And it had been so refreshing. To be able to spend an evening with no expectation was something she knew she would never take for granted. And to find it with a guy like Jason? Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to continue fostering this newfound friendship they had.

CHAPTER TEN

Jason coiled the rope around his hand and elbow as Tate led Rylee off toward the path between the two properties, the same as he’d done every morning that week.

Brent’s truck pulled into the drive as the two of them disappeared into the trees. Brent hopped out, looked at the spot where they’d gone, and strode toward Jason.

Jason tossed the rope to the dirt, a cloud of dust lifting into the air, before he headed for the barn. Brent came up behind him, but he didn’t turn around. They had a few clients coming today, and Jason had a number of things to set up before they arrived.

He grabbed a rodeo saddle and turned to find Brent leaning in the doorway, a brow arched and a small smile touching his lips. “So, I take it that it’ll be just the two of us? Again?”

Sighing, Jason continued toward the door and brushed past his friend. “It appears that way.”

“And Tate? Is there a reason he can’t be here?” Brent followed Jason. “This is his business, right?”

At that, Jason paused. Then he turned to face Brent fully. “Technically, the business belongs to both of us.”

Amusement shone in Brent’s gaze. “Yeah,” he drawled, “but last time we talked, you were asking me about starting a business that’s all your own. You never did tell me what it was, though.”

Jason adjusted his hold on the saddle. “I don’t know if that’s something I want to do.”

“Oh, that’s a load of you know what,” Brent said. “Your heart isn’t in this as much as my heart isn’t in competing. That’s why I’m here. I like teaching kids. I’m good at it. And Tate is good with the adults. But you?”

Jason remained quiet. He didn’t have to add to this conversation anymore. Brent was going to continue making assumptions and pointing out stuff he knew nothing about. Sometimes people talked too much and Jason simply preferred to let them get it out of their system.

Brent sighed. “You might be good at training because you’ve done it for most of your life. But honestly, I can tell your heart is somewhere else. Have you talked to Tate about how much time he’s been taking off?”

Jason shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”

“The heck it does⁠—”

“Rylee needs his help. Her house needs work and he’s good at that stuff. If he can help her with that, then I’ll hold down the fort here. Besides, I have your help, don’t I?”

“That’s not the point.”

“Sure it is. We hired you because you’re good at what you do. You said it yourself. And that means Tate can prioritize other things when he needs to.”

Brent sighed and glanced over to the trail where Tate and Rylee had disappeared. “I suppose it makes sense.”

“What?”

“Why he’s helping out instead of doing this.” He spread his arms out wide. “This company is his baby. He’s always put this first. But now?”

“Rylee,” Jason said.