Read Online The Cowboy's Girl Next Door: A BWWM Cowboy Romance by Monica Castle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Monica Castle
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Jess was right: they needed to move past this. She needed to move past this. Determined to be better, she rose and ran after him.
“Jess! Wait!”
He stopped and turned, a blank look on his face as he waited for her to catch up with him. His heart was pounding at the sight of her running toward him, but he tempered his emotions, not knowing if he was in for an epic scolding or an offer of peace.
Her eyes were shining, and she extended her hand in friendship. “When you’re finished, and when Thalia’s saddled to go, I’d love to see your orchards. Would that be a good step toward a fresh start?”
He took her hand, grinning as he shook it vigorously. “Yes, my lady, a very good beginning.” He tipped his hat to her and continued on his way.
Chapter 8
After finishing up his work at Heart’s Home, Jess went back to the stable office to talk with Big Hank about starting on the barn in the morning. He gave instructions to Lacey about the financial implications of the legal agreement, ignoring her raised eyebrows when she saw the total cost of the barn demolition and replacement. The ranch could easily afford it. Then he headed to the house to clean up, stopping only to tell Jasper to get Horatio saddled up for a ride out to the orchard later.
He’d moved into his parents’ bedroom a few years earlier. It was comforting to be there at the end of the day, and the room was filled with memories. The massive four-poster bed, built by his great great grandfather, made him feel safe and secure. There were photographs on every surface, pictures of Hardys past and present, treasured reminders of the family heritage.
Soldiers in Confederate uniforms sat comfortably next to those of the family members who’d fought for the Union. A lesson, his father had always said, about the importance of remembering all of your past to ensure you didn’t make the same mistakes in your future.
He turned on the hot water in the shower and removed his clothes. The bathroom was filled with steam by the time he was ready to step inside the enclosure, and he welcomed the hot needles that pounded his skin. As he washed, his mind turned from the past to the afternoon that lay ahead.
Maybe taking Horatio out was a mistake, but he wasn’t feeling inclined toward much prudence. If they were going to be neighbors, their horses would need to be on friendly terms, and while Claire was certainly stubborn, he could be too. It would be a fresh start for all of them, including the horses.
He was eager, too, to see Claire ride, up close. He wanted to know more about how she’d come to horses, her big city background an unusual place from where such interests would emanate. He smiled as he imagined a younger version of the beautiful woman, curls sneaking away from her tight ponytail as she trained for her first show. That image was soon replaced, though, with the smile she’d given him earlier, and he felt a flutter of excitement at the memory and his surprise at her offer.
A puzzle, that’s what she was, and he was eager to find out everything there was to know about Claire Robinson. She might want to just be friends, but he was starting to think he wanted so much more. He switched the tap to cold, rinsing off quickly, then wrapped a towel around his waist.
Fifteen minutes later, he was ready and composed. He’d chosen a deep green shirt and his best dark jeans. He’d shaved carefully, but stopped himself from adding a splash of the cologne Cella had given him last Christmas. “This isn’t a date,” he reminded himself. Satisfied that he looked every bit the friendly rancher taking his new neighbor on a tour, he went back to the stables.
Claire and Thalia were already there, rider deep in conversation with Jasper and Lacey while the mare stood quietly by, her gentle nickers and loving nuzzles to Claire’s arm evidence of the deep trusting bond they shared.
He paused to take in the
“Jess! Wait!”
He stopped and turned, a blank look on his face as he waited for her to catch up with him. His heart was pounding at the sight of her running toward him, but he tempered his emotions, not knowing if he was in for an epic scolding or an offer of peace.
Her eyes were shining, and she extended her hand in friendship. “When you’re finished, and when Thalia’s saddled to go, I’d love to see your orchards. Would that be a good step toward a fresh start?”
He took her hand, grinning as he shook it vigorously. “Yes, my lady, a very good beginning.” He tipped his hat to her and continued on his way.
Chapter 8
After finishing up his work at Heart’s Home, Jess went back to the stable office to talk with Big Hank about starting on the barn in the morning. He gave instructions to Lacey about the financial implications of the legal agreement, ignoring her raised eyebrows when she saw the total cost of the barn demolition and replacement. The ranch could easily afford it. Then he headed to the house to clean up, stopping only to tell Jasper to get Horatio saddled up for a ride out to the orchard later.
He’d moved into his parents’ bedroom a few years earlier. It was comforting to be there at the end of the day, and the room was filled with memories. The massive four-poster bed, built by his great great grandfather, made him feel safe and secure. There were photographs on every surface, pictures of Hardys past and present, treasured reminders of the family heritage.
Soldiers in Confederate uniforms sat comfortably next to those of the family members who’d fought for the Union. A lesson, his father had always said, about the importance of remembering all of your past to ensure you didn’t make the same mistakes in your future.
He turned on the hot water in the shower and removed his clothes. The bathroom was filled with steam by the time he was ready to step inside the enclosure, and he welcomed the hot needles that pounded his skin. As he washed, his mind turned from the past to the afternoon that lay ahead.
Maybe taking Horatio out was a mistake, but he wasn’t feeling inclined toward much prudence. If they were going to be neighbors, their horses would need to be on friendly terms, and while Claire was certainly stubborn, he could be too. It would be a fresh start for all of them, including the horses.
He was eager, too, to see Claire ride, up close. He wanted to know more about how she’d come to horses, her big city background an unusual place from where such interests would emanate. He smiled as he imagined a younger version of the beautiful woman, curls sneaking away from her tight ponytail as she trained for her first show. That image was soon replaced, though, with the smile she’d given him earlier, and he felt a flutter of excitement at the memory and his surprise at her offer.
A puzzle, that’s what she was, and he was eager to find out everything there was to know about Claire Robinson. She might want to just be friends, but he was starting to think he wanted so much more. He switched the tap to cold, rinsing off quickly, then wrapped a towel around his waist.
Fifteen minutes later, he was ready and composed. He’d chosen a deep green shirt and his best dark jeans. He’d shaved carefully, but stopped himself from adding a splash of the cologne Cella had given him last Christmas. “This isn’t a date,” he reminded himself. Satisfied that he looked every bit the friendly rancher taking his new neighbor on a tour, he went back to the stables.
Claire and Thalia were already there, rider deep in conversation with Jasper and Lacey while the mare stood quietly by, her gentle nickers and loving nuzzles to Claire’s arm evidence of the deep trusting bond they shared.
He paused to take in the