License to Love: Holiday Box Set (Contemporary Romance) Read online

  “Did you eat dinner yet?” Where had that come from? That was worse than inviting her into town. One look at her expression in the yard light confirmed that she was not going anywhere alone with him. He spared them both. “Guess not. Are you heading back?”

  She nodded and he continued walking beside her.

  “So you didn’t grow up in a city?” He remembered her expensive suit, the glitter on her ears and fingers, and the perfume that made him want to lean in closer to sniff.

  With a laugh, she asked, “You don’t believe me?”

  “Tell me about it.” The fancy clothes and jewelry were gone, but she still smelled like that perfume. It was a light smell that seemed to evade him. He got whiffs of it here and there.

  “Not much to tell, really. My dad owned cattle, but we didn’t live on a ranch.”

  He could tell her mind was going off somewhere.

  “Did you want to?” Could that be what she was sad about? He knew so little about her.

  “No, not at all. I wanted to go somewhere bigger and better. So I went off to the closest city at the first chance I got.”

  Maybe that’s where things went wrong. He was sure something had somewhere along the line, but he didn’t know how to ask her about it.

  She looked at the ground like she was ignoring him, but she started talking. “I think that’s why our father left his money to Ben.”

  “Whoa, because you didn’t want to live on a cattle ranch?” he asked, hearing the hurt in her voice. A picture of her came to mind, when she came to his house the first time, and looked so hurt and lost.

  “Ben chose a more traditional lifestyle, and our father was proud of his Nez Perce heritage.” She shook her head as if she wanted to end the conversation. But she added, “I didn’t mean to insult that, I just wanted excitement. I was raised as an only child, and it was quiet. All the time.”

  Hearing this made him want to reach out to her, but again, his instincts told him she’d freeze up on him if he did. “Most young people do.” And she did look young, maybe twenty-five. Her age didn’t agree with the hurt he saw in her eyes sometimes.

  “That’s why I didn’t come here sooner . . . to see Ben.” She rubbed her nose again to warm it up, but she still didn’t look at him. “Our father left everything to Ben. I didn’t even know about him until Dad died so I didn’t want to know him at first.”

  They reached her house and she turned to say goodbye.

  “Missy, I got the wrong impression of you.” He didn’t like saying he was wrong, but he figured that came pretty darn close.

  “Thanks, I think.” She tried for a laugh and turned. He didn’t want this to end and grabbed for something to keep her talking.

  “What about your job? What happened there?”

  She glanced back while keeping her hand on the door handle. “Listen, I appreciate your interest, or concern if that’s what it is, but there’s certain things I can’t share with you. Goodnight.”

  The door shut before he could answer. Yeah, things went wrong for her alright, and it had to be her old job, and the boss she’d mentioned. Russ.

  Turning, he started back. So they both had their secrets.

  * * * *

  She left the cabin when the morning light was strong enough to see. Brent hadn’t mentioned what time he started in the morning, but she usually found him working when she headed down to the stables.

  Though he’d never admit to it, she felt certain he was taking it easy on her, and that was both endearing and disappointing. When she said she wanted to prove herself, she meant it.

  The high, thin cloud cover cracked here and there, showing off stretches of innocent blue. She couldn’t ignore the sweet scent in the air or the bright colors all around, from the thick green grass to the array of oranges in the autumn oak leaves. A squirrel stopped on the road ahead of her and clicked as she approached. She always loved autumn and the feel of change in the air. It was even more pronounced here and had her dreaming of apple cider, pumpkin pie and eggnog.

  The road took her past Brent’s house on the way to the stables. She looked over when a door shut. Brent jogged down the stairs and came her way, wearing a bulky green coat that hid his torso, but his jeans didn’t hide anything about his legs.

  He touched his hat when he reached her. “Morning, Missy. You’re up early.”

  She got a shiver when he said her name, but she blamed it on the cold. “Yeah, I’d thought I’d come by and try to catch you in the shower.” She hoped for his grin and wasn’t disappointed. She even detected the slightest blush—so he was embarrassed about yesterday!

  It wouldn’t bother her to spend some time appreciating his easy style and charm while she was here. Nothing wrong with that, right?

  “What gross or painful chores do you have planned for today?” She thought about the first time she’d seen him. At least they weren’t enemies now. Friends? With the hormones zinging between them, she wasn’t sure they could ever be friends, but a truce was nice.

  “I’m going to check the paths and fences. Thought you said you’re ready to take a horse out of the corral.”

  He looked like he enjoyed watching her expression, so she sucked it up. “Sure, why not?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m good at teaching. It’s part of what we do out here, remember?”

  She kept a good two feet between them as they walked. They had flirted and eyed each other the past few days, but she wanted to put a stop to it. If they got involved, how would she get a fair chance here? How would she trust him?

  He glanced over several times. She bet her thoughts were written all over her face, but that was a good thing, at least this time. He needed to know how things were between them.

  “How long are you planning on keeping that rental?” He asked as they neared the stables.

  “I need a vehicle.” She needed something to remind her she could leave if she chose, and that she was here by her own decision.

  “There’s a pickup we keep around. Why don’t I give you keys to it?”

  She met his eyes, uncertain of his intentions. It would save her money, at a time when she didn't have it coming in. Still, she said, “I don’t know.”

  “I hadn’t thought about it, but Ben paid cash for it last year. Just a little truck, about fifteen years old, but it runs. Suppose it’s yours.”

  Uncomfortable, she tightened her scarf and thought it over.

  “I guess . . . Then I can take the rental car back and not worry about it anymore.” She didn’t like how awkward it felt at times, to use Ben’s things. Did it bother Brent? When she looked back at him, he met her gaze, probably seeing her doubt.

  “It’s just the way it is. I was pissy when you got here, but it wasn’t about you. Believe me.”

  Unable to answer with words, she nodded. At the stables, he took her around to the tack room. “We keep the keys right here. Here’s an extra set.”

  He dropped them in her hand. Thank you stuck in her throat. Just a few days ago, he had wanted to run her off. Now he was handing her keys to one of the ranch vehicles.

  He watched her face, so she nodded like it wasn’t that big of a deal.

  “You can take Speckle today. She’s gentle and isn’t particular about who rides her.” He pulled equipment down for them to use.

  “Speckle?”

  “She’s an Appaloosa like Jeffrey, and she came with the name. She’s your horse, now, so I guess you can rename her but she might not like it.” He waited for her to lead the way into the stables. She noted he’d grabbed one saddle. “Remember the pad first.”

  Since he held it out to her, she assumed she was going to learn how to saddle a horse. So she laid the blanket over the horse’s back. The black horse, across the way, watched and protested loudly. Missy gave Brent a look since she didn’t get horse talk yet.

  “He wants to go, but I’m not taking him out with you along.” He didn’t elaborate on why, but Missy turned to the angry beast, remembering it had be
en Ben’s horse.

  “What’s his name again?”

  “Dancer.” He flicked a look back at the horse and turned back. She hadn’t seen him pay attention to Dancer at all, now that she thought about it.

  “He misses Ben,” she said, wanting to sooth the horse but didn’t dare reach out to him. Brent waited with the saddle, so she went to work.

  Judging by the look in Brent’s eyes and the emotional charge to the air, he missed Ben too.

  She heaved the saddle up and adjusted it the way he’d shown her several times now.

  “Hook the stirrup,” he said, pointing. Once she was done, he said, “Looks good.” He tugged on it here and there. “Lead her out. I’ll saddle Jeffrey.”

  Outside, she easily mounted the horse on the first try. It was easier without Brent standing behind her where he could stare at her bottom. She’d done much better since that first day, when she was so nervous.

  “Hey, Speckle,” she said to the horse and rubbed her neck to get acquainted. They needed to trust each other. Trust wasn’t something she gave away easily, but this felt different.

  Brent emerged with Jeffrey.

  “Hey, look at me. I’m getting good at riding a horse.” She was teasing again, even after she had decided to keep her distance emotionally. But, then again, she couldn’t remember the last time she felt gleeful. She breathed in the cold air, feeling snappy and alive.

  “I am looking.” He mounted his horse and clicked. She almost missed his comment, but suddenly did a double take at him.

  She started to say something about it, but she did ask for it, didn’t she? One side of his mouth lifted, and he moved his horse up next to hers.

  “Speckle knows what she’s doing,” Brent said, tilting his head to look at her, “So you’ll be getting used to sitting up there on the trails.”

  They rode out along the pasture and then turned into the forest of cedar and pine. Ferns grew in clumps on the ground under the forest canopy. Water dripped off everything. Brent glanced over every few minutes, but he never commented. She hoped that meant she was doing okay.

  “I love this.” She didn’t want to look so happy in front of him, but when he gave her an honest, friendly smile, she couldn’t hold it in.

  “I thought all this would be hard for you.” He ducked under a pine branch. “You sure you’ve never done this before?”

  She shook her head.

  “Missy?” he persisted.

  “All right. I wanted to ride when I was younger.”

  “Your father wouldn’t let you?”

  “We didn’t have any horses. They used four wheelers. And feedlots. I couldn’t stand to see the cattle in their pens. It seemed like they were always slaughtering.” She turned her face away. She didn’t care how friendly they got, she wasn’t going to cry in front of him.

  “Sounds like it’s a good thing this is a horse ranch.”

  They rode in silence until they reached the top of a hill, where she could see the ocean far below, rolling in wave after white wave. She’d never smelled the ocean before, and could only describe it as a salty deep sea smell.

  The water jetted up where it hit giant boulders. Cold. Dangerous. And breathtaking. Since he let her sit for several minutes to just gaze out, she forgot that he watched her.

  The water stretched endless to the north and south while it faded into the sky in front of them. She couldn’t distinguish the line where ocean and sky met.

  “Now do you see why I love Oregon?” Brent’s soft voice drifted into her thoughts like the waves moving inland below.

  Turning, she hoped her expression worked for an answer. Something so vast, mysterious, and alive left her without words for it.

  So did Brent. He looked magnificent with the pale blue sky behind him and his blue eyes reflecting all the color around them. He sat with such ease, but his eyes weren’t relaxed. They were fixated on her like the wind might steal her away.

  Well, she gawked right back, so she couldn’t sass him about it.

  “I’ve never seen the ocean this way.” Her whisper mixed with the singing breeze and the soft, subtle ocean music. “Just from an airplane. This is much better.”

  “I’d have to agree.” He held her still with his gaze. Just then the breeze brought his scent to her nose. Man, hay, and something refreshing. Her hair whipped across her face, and she joined reality with a jerk.

  Something was brewing . . . weather-wise.

  “Well, we got half a day of clear skies.” Brent still didn’t look away and now she burned all over. “Guess we oughta get back before you get soaked.” The corners of his mouth twitched.

  “Yeah, I’d need another long, hot bath.” She turned just before she smiled.

  * * * *

  “Brent?”

  He heard her call from the stable entrance. His hands paused as he filed Dancer’s hoof, but he fought the desire to look up at Missy.

  He waved instead of calling back since the horse was a bit jumpy. Dale and Ivan had held off on taking care of Dancer until he could get there. All three of them were wary of the horse. It missed Ben something mighty.

  “Sounds like she’s done brushing Speckle already.” Dale jabbed him. “You can go on with her.”

  “I started this.” Brent kept working, knowing Missy would come over to talk to them. “Ivan, don’t let her get too close to him.”

  He glanced up to see her, but then he couldn’t get his attention back on the job at hand.

  She stood by the corner to look for him as she gathered her hair over one shoulder. Her petite body looked delicate, but her eyes said right away not to mess with her. As he watched, she stuffed her hands in her pockets and started his way.

  The horse partially hid him, so maybe she wouldn’t see him stare. Her green sweater did something to her skin, made it richer in color. He thought of her almond brown eyes watching him as they sat on the horses by the ocean. Whatever was happening between them . . . well, it couldn’t be good if it consumed his mind every second of the day.

  Dancer snorted, so he made a soothing sound as he watched her.

  “Brent!” Dale jerked toward him.

  “Uhh!” His yell was cut short as he hit the ground. Pain shattered through his ribs, blocking out the pain of impact with the ground. Damn horse kicked him!

  He looked up at clouds, cursing his hormones, Missy, the horse, and his damn wandering eyes.

  He saw Dale and Ivan lean over him. “That’s one quick horse.”

  “Ivan, get the horse back!” Dale ordered and knelt down. “Brent?”

  He held a hand out so Dale wouldn’t touch him. He didn’t need fussing over, no matter how many ribs he’d broken. His side throbbed, but he couldn’t get a breath in to say so.

  “Brent?”

  At her voice, Dale laughed. Brent tried for an evil glare directed at Dale as Missy came close enough to see Brent on the ground.

  She looked so genuinely worried Brent wanted to smile, if he didn’t hurt so darn bad.

  “Holy crap! What happened?”

  “Not crap, ma’am. The horse kicked him.” Dale held eye contact with Brent and rubbed his chin, a nervous habit. “He wasn’t ready.”

  “Yeah,” Ivan joined in. “His mind must have been elsewhere.”

  Brent made a mental list of everything he’d say to them as soon as he could talk.

  “Aren’t you going to help him up?” She knelt beside him.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t move him just yet.” Dale, at last, sounded worried.

  Brent didn’t want all of them to worry over him, so he forced himself up onto his elbows. This time he couldn’t hide the pain.

  “It’s your side, isn’t it?” Dale didn’t wait for the answer, but braced Brent against him, pulled him to his feet, and started for the truck. He called back to Missy, “I’m taking him in to the doc, but don’t worry. He’s tough as nails.”

  “Do you want me to come along?” Missy offered. Brent wanted to reassure her, but h
e sure as heck didn’t want her at the hospital with him.

  He waited until Dale got him in the truck before he looked back. Ivan was putting Dancer away. Missy hadn’t moved and still watched as they drove away.

  “Gets you fast, doesn’t it?” Dale asked as he steered around a corner.

  Brent thought he meant the horse at first, until he looked over. Dale met his gaze with knowing eyes.

  “Yup, took three days for Alice to get me.”

  Damn his side. He wanted to argue the point, but instead he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Maybe the pain was good. He could think about it instead of Missy.

  * * * *

  She paced a while and then cleaned her cabin for something to do, since they’d taken care of the horses for the day. After a huge sigh, she started dinner. The least she could do was have something ready for him to eat. They’d been gone four hours when she walked to his house to leave dinner in his fridge.

  She was glad that he didn’t lock his front door. Of course, the horses didn’t need to break in and steal anything.

  She put his dinner away and couldn’t help but think of the first time she’d stood in his kitchen. How had so much changed so fast?

  Slowly, she walked into the other room and noticed how bare the house looked. It needed a few small paintings, decorative rugs, something. She shook her head at herself and left.

  Back in her house, she tried to finish a book but couldn’t. At eight, she went outside, thinking she’d missed the truck.

  The cold knocked her back inside, so she got her coat and stepped out again.

  A clear night. That didn’t happen too often. The stars were suspended in layers, some close and some distant. She stared up for a minute and listened to the night. A dove cooed several times as it settled in.

  She headed to the stables, noting that Brent’s house was still dark when she walked by. The horses were in their stalls, but they didn’t have blankets on them.

  She went stall to stall, securing the blankets on each horse. She thought of them more as coats with Velcro in the front to secure it, but Brent had called it a blanket. She didn’t worry about getting in the stall with Jeffrey, Speckle, or the other horses, but Dancer watched her with knowing eyes.