Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) (16 page)

“Yeah, go for it,” said Tristan. “They do good work down there. Ya sure about donating? Not only that, keep an eye out for the owner, Kathy. I can tell ya, she’s got an eye for single guys and she ain’t shy.”

“Hey, I can handle her. And yep, almost sure about donating. This one didn’t cost me much. They plan to expand down there and another horse will help a little.”

Tristan slapped his brother’s back. “You’re a good man, J.C. I’m glad to see you’re back.” Tristan got in his truck and left.

“I’m back!” Jase watched after him, pleased with himself. He headed to the barn to at least get the horse on a lunge line before cleaning up for dinner. Having a horse on a rope and the thought of a hot blonde in his mind, he walked to the outside ring on a cloud.

***

Wearing his best dark blue, boot cut Levi’s, light blue shirt, and brown boots, he checked himself out and knew he looked good. To top it off, he wore his most expensive cologne, too. Jase was ready by time that hot rod idled in his driveway.

He came out of the barn with the gentlest of all his horses, tied her to a hitching post, and sauntered over to the car. Leaning into the window, he said, “I’m proud of you, Brenna.”

Her innocent fragrance hypnotized him, the smell of passion and purity, just like her.
I’m lost and she hasn’t been here two seconds.
Wrapping his hand around the back of her neck, he leaned forward to kiss her, not a quick kiss. He meant to absorb the warmth and fullness of her plump lips against his, to taste—bring her into his psyche. This could be dangerous now that
he
was back.

Not wanting it to end, he found a way to pull away before she called him an animal. He licked his lips, feeling the thickness of her lipstick. When her soft fingers touched the side of his clean-shaven face, he closed his eyes. “Mmmm, so nice to see you,” he said opening his eyes again. This woman was like magic to his soul.
Weak fool.

“Hey there. You brought a horse out of the barn.” She peered around him to get a better look. “Pretty.” Pressing on the accelerator, she asked if he was trying to compete in horsepower.

He sensed her uneasy breathing, swallowing, jittery voice…and his heart did a flip-flop. Opening her door, he said, “Ah ha, a good one! You’re a joker.” He took her hand when she got out. “She’s a gentle beauty. Kind of like you.”

He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Come meet her. Keep in mind, if you’re walking around the back of a horse, put your hand on its back so it knows you’re there. Better yet, don’t walk too close behind.”

Brenna eased her hand over the horse’s neck when she came up to her, and ran her fingers through her mane. “What’s her name?”

Jase raised his arm to block the sun. He became lost in the sparkle when the sun blasted into her eyes, causing a shimmer of light green shards that appeared deep within her blue, something he hadn’t noticed before. Her beauty made his breath catch in his chest.

When she poked him in the arm, he came out of his muse. “Oh, yeah, her name is…ah, Poppy.” He needed to put a bridle on himself. “Do you want to get on her back? I saddled her for you.”

He took delight in her widened stare. “Come on, you can do it. Either I can give you a boost or you can use the stand over there.” He pointed toward the barn.

Brenna nodded excitedly. “You can give me a boost. Will she stand here when I get on? What do I do if she takes off?”

“She won’t go anywhere.” Jase leaned over, threading his fingers together. “Glad you don’t have heels on. Hold my shoulder, and the horse with the other hand. Step in and I’ll lift you.”

Doing as he asked, he lifted her higher. When she got on the horse she peered down at his arms. “Your muscles are so big. You’re strong. Do you lift colts or something?”

“Nothing but weights. A lot of weights. Maybe a hay bale or two.” He winked and untied the horse, took a hold of the harness, and walked it to the outdoor ring. “How does it feel?”

“I like it. Makes me want to learn to ride.”

“We can make that happen.” Jase might have grinned bigger than he had in more than six months. “So where are we going for dinner?” He let the rope out when he got to the middle of the ring. “Let her lead ya around in a circle and get the feel of her. She’ll keep to a walk for now. You know, maybe I can help your sister after all.”

Watching her in a slow walk around the ring made his insides shudder. Her excitement multiplied his. To see her experience something for the first time brought an overwhelming gladness over him. When he had Poppy walk around a couple times he wrapped the rope up and sauntered in closer. “Where are we going for dinner? We both smell like a horse now.”

“Not a problem. I chose an excellent spot with delicious food. And, the big one…I know how to get there.”

“Whenever you’re ready to get down, we’ll get Poppy put away, wash our hands, and go.”

“We can go now, but only if you’ll let me do this again.”

“Yeah, no doubt. Wanna ride her over to the step stand or fall into my arms?” He opened his arms wide.

“Do you have to ask?” Brenna’s smile was the kind that smacked a guy right in the face. He dropped the lead rope to the ground and stepped on it. “Come on. Keep your left foot in the stirrup and swing your right one over. I got ya on this end.” When she followed his instructions, he grabbed her by the waist, not minding the view of her cute ass in those light colored jeans as she swung that foot over.

He lifted her right out of the stirrup. Holding her off the ground, he twirled in a circle, her back against his chest. She laughed and he got a whiff of her perfume when her pretty hair blew in his face. Time to release her to the ground before he hauled her off to the hay loft or…bedroom—if only to do nothing but lie beside her.

They embraced. “I have so much fun with you. Thanks! You’re so big, I feel like a sack of potatoes in your arms.”

“Oh, hell, I’m only six-foot-one. I don’t weigh all that much.” Jase had no other words, did nothing but give a smirky grin and took up the lead rope. “Let’s walk in. I’ll untack her and we’ll get outta here.”

“I meant the muscles.” Brenna clenched his bicep and squeezed.

“I don’t let just anyone squeeze my muscles.”
Wait till she sees my six-pack and not the ones I gave away.
He took a sideways glance her way. Removing her hand from his arm, he entwined their fingers. She had some things he’d like to squeeze, too. He tried to keep his bad inside. Each time together made it harder to resist this woman.

Jase opened the door for her, but instead of getting in, she dropped the keys into his hand. “I’m driving?” Hell yeah! So many times he wanted a sports car but not with the kids. Brenna stood in front of him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He took her hand and walked her around the car, opening the passenger side door. Keeping his gaze on her each minute until she sunk down in the seat. “Looking good in this car. It was made for you.”

“Let’s say for the next twenty miles or so it was made for you. Enjoy.”

Her smile was the best thing he ever saw. Shaking it off, he hurried around the car and slid the seat back before trying to get his long legs in. Once sitting, he turned the key, revved the damn thing for the hell of it because he loved the sound. Turning to her, he asked where they were going.

“My place. You know the way.”

There went that lifted chin and her wide-eyes staring directly at him. No way could he ever resist that confident persona. “Let’s get out of here.” He put it in reverse then headed down his driveway, hitting the 60.

“We’re not having fast food. I know I don’t have an oven, but I think you’ll be pleased. Of course, I don’t know what you like so this is risky on your part.”

“Part of the challenge.” He squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips. “As long as it doesn’t have tomatoes, cheese, or onions.”

He caught her gasp. “Oh, no. We best go get something else.”

“You take to teasing so well, honey.” He winked. “I can eat anything. Relax.” Jase chuckled. “That was too much fun.” A couple miles down the road, he looked out the rear view mirror. “Oh, fu…dammit, the sheriff. Tell me again you aren’t a wanted serial killer.”

“Worry about you, not me.” She twisted around.

Jase pulled over while she reached for the registration. “He’s not expecting to see me here. All he saw was out of state plates on a hot car. I wasn’t speeding. I call my truck come-get-me-red. A red Mustang
can’t
be any better.” He rolled the window down. “Hey, Leon.”

“Jase Carlson? What the heck you doing in a car with out of state plates? Never expected to see you behind the wheel.”

Jase glanced at Brenna and winked. “This car belongs to the young lady. Meet Brenna Page, Sheriff. She’s new in town and will be working at the elementary school. She’s a teacher—first grade. She might have your little one in her class.”

“Well, I’ll be darn.” He stuck his hand out, reaching in front of Jase, who leaned as far back in the seat as possible. “Nice to meet you, Miss Page. Welcome to Canyon Junction. I’m Sheriff Leon Thompson.” He pulled himself back out the window. “Just making sure everything’s okay. Keep it at the speed limit.”

“Yep. Have a good one.” He rolled the window up, watching him through the side mirror walk back to his 4 x 4. “If I was in my truck he might’ve given me a ticket.”

“Why? You weren’t speeding.”

“I could’ve been in my truck.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “My truck goes fast.”

Brenna laid her hand on his arm. “Hey, a news flash. So does my car.”

Jase held back until the sheriff pulled out and headed down the road. He kicked her fast pony in the ass as if to prove the owner right. “Yep, she’s a fast one.”

“You take it easy on my Becky. She’s not used to this.”

“And out of curiosity—why do you have a car like this if you don’t drive it fast?” Jase shook his head. “This needs a name like Wild Thang, not Becky. We’ll have to work on your vehicle names, girl.” He pulled into the parking lot at her hotel. “Did Nora mention when you can move in?” He shifted into park and removed his seatbelt.

“Nora said the end of the month. This will give me time to get home, and when I get back with Chloe, we should be able to move right in. But we won’t have a bed until my furniture arrives.” She pushed longer strands of hair out of his face. Her fingertips sent him into a spin.

When they got out, Brenna nudged his arm. “To answer your other question, why do I have this car?” She gave a confident smile. “Because I can.” She shrugged and left it at that.

He dropped the keys into her hand and they headed toward the door. “So what are we having?”

“You can count on a little cheese, maybe an onion here and there, definitely tomatoes.” She shoved into his side. “I can guarantee a lot of garlic. I grabbed this from that little Italian restaurant out of town. Yes, I went there all by myself and didn’t get lost…much.”

“Much?” Shaking his head, he wasn’t surprised. “Tell me,” he asked as she slid the card to unlock the door to her room. “Did you get lost…much coming to my ranch?” He waited but she remained quiet with a glance his way. “So, ya did, huh?”

Breanna used her forefinger and thumb and said, “Just a wee bit.” She turned away, looked out the window and pressed the button on her key fob to lock her car. Facing him, she half shrugged. “I kind of saw what could’ve been your brother’s house. Bigger than yours, huh?” She snickered, taking a dish out of the fridge and stuck the casserole into the microwave.

“It depends on which one you saw. The new one or where the ranch office is.” She probably saw his mom’s house since it was easier to get to at the moment. “Only bigger because we built an office for his magazine. And my dad built the dormer. It was my parent’s home until my dad died. Tristan bought it, but my mom remained there to lend a hand.” Jase walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I, on the other hand,
built
mine on
my
piece of property.”

“Touché!”

“Did you see my brother while you got lost just a wee bit?” Everyone always said they looked alike. They did except for Tristan’s crazy eye color
.

“No, I turned around right away. Why, is he an ogre?”

Jase gave a hardy laugh. “Oh, quite the opposite. He’s a good-looking guy, or so I’ve heard.” He’d leave it at that. She’d know soon enough, especially if Destiny was in her class.

The microwave beeped and Brenna stuck something else in there. Jase enjoyed watching her mess around in the small kitchen. Something smelled delicious and he was starving. “Can you cook?” He took a seat at the table behind where she stood at the counter.

“Excuse me?” She faced him with a salad fork in her hand.

“Hey, I asked if you cooked. I mean if you had a real kitchen, would you cook?” Sometimes he stuck his big foot into his mouth. “Curious is all, not trying to be nosy.”

“I’m a great cook. I love doing it, too. Even my bratty sister likes my cooking.”

“Speaking of her— Chloe, right? Where is she now?” The expression on Brenna’s face changed, a furrowed brow giving her away. Maybe she didn’t want to discuss her sister yet. He’d not push this. Changing the subject, he asked, “What’s your favorite food? I love steak, but as I said, I try to eat leaner.” When she turned and ran a gaze over him, a chill shattered his insides like a piece of glass. Was she aware of the little quirk forming on her lips? He should kiss those lips. She stretched across him to set something on the table and he held back from grabbing a hold of her.

She took a step back and peered at him with a softness in her eyes. “You smell real good. What is it you’re wearing?”

He took her hand. She smelled of lemons, a hint of garlic. “Um, it might be…I’m not kidding about this, but it’s called Allure something…maybe Sport.”

“Hmm. Allure, huh? It works.” Brenna turned back to the counter.

Jase slid the chair out and laid his hand against her back. “You keeping our dinner a secret?” If it came from the Italian restaurant in The Valley, no matter what it was, it’d be worth the wait. “It smells like lasagna.”