Loving You (Love Wanted in Texas) (10 page)

Reynolds Breeding.

“Do they know we’re coming?”

Walker grunted. “Of course they do. Jesus, Jase. I’m not that unprofessional to just show up.”

With a shrug, I grinned and mumbled, “Just checking.”

As we pulled up, I couldn’t believe the massive house in front of me. “Wow. This place is nice.”

Throwing it in Park, Walker opened the truck door and jumped out. Walking around the front, he shook his head. “Damn. Reminds me of your parents’ house.”

“It’s fucking huge,” I said under my breath as the front door opened and an older man came walking out along with a younger guy.

“Walker Moore?” the older gentleman asked as he extended his hand.

“Yes, sir.” They shook hands as he replied, “Scott Reynolds. This is my son-in-law, Colt Mathews.”

That caught my attention. “Colt Mathews, as in the Mathews Cattle Ranch?”

Colt smiled and nodded. “Yes. Gunner Mathews is my father.”

“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” I said as I shook his hand. “Jase Morris.”

Scott and Colt both lifted their eyes as Scott replied, “Don’t tell me your dad is Layton Morris?”

It must have then hit Scott who Walker was, because he turned to Walker. “Reed Moore. It’s all coming together. Jesus, the last time I saw you two boys you were running around playing cowboys and Indians.”

Everyone laughed.

“I’m sorry I didn’t put the name together when you mentioned Llano.”

Walker lifted his hand. “Nah, don’t even think twice about it.”

“Your fathers have some pretty good racehorses. We worked together a number of years ago.”

“Yes, sir, they do. I’ve always been interested in that side of the business as well, hence the reason I’m here today.”

Scott nodded his head. “Then let’s get right to business. From what you’ve told me about Lady’s lineage, I’d say you’ve got a great start in her.”

“I have a feeling. I know that might be crazy to hear, but something tells me with the right stud, she could foal a real racehorse.”

Scott grinned from ear to ear. “Then, son, do I have the stud for you. Let’s go meet Whiskey. He’s in the main barn right behind the house.”

“Whiskey and Lady . . . what a combo,” I mumbled under my breath as Colt laughed.

We walked behind Walker and Scott and made our way to the barn. “So, you work here, Colt?”

“Yeah, horses have always been my kind of thing since I was young. Don’t get me wrong, I love the cattle business, but this is where my heart is.”

“I admire you for following your dreams.”

Colt smiled weakly and asked, “You haven’t?”

“Oh, there were a brief few months where I declared I wanted to do something other than ranch. It’s in my blood though, and it didn’t take me long to come to my senses.”

Colt placed his hand on my shoulder and gave me a slight push. “Once that shit is in your blood you can’t get it out.”

With a nod, I agreed. “Amen to that.”

Lifting his gaze to in front of him, Colt lit up and smiled like a man in love. Turning, I saw a beautiful girl with blonde hair round the corner coming out of the barn. The way she looked at Colt, I knew that must have been his wife.

“Lauren, this is Walker Moore,” Scott said as Lauren shook Walker’s hand.

Why did she look so familiar to me?

Turning to me, her smile dropped as she gasped. “This is Jase Morris. Jase, my daughter, Lauren. She is the one really in charge.”

Her eyes looked me over as her mouth snapped shut for a brief moment before she flashed a brilliant smile and said, “What a crazy thing fate is. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you formally, Jase.”

Frowning, I looked over at everyone else with a confused expression before focusing back on Lauren. “I’m sorry?”

The air around me instantly changed as I saw her walking out of the barn. When our eyes met, she came to a stop.

“Taylor,” I whispered as her eyes widened in shock.

Her mouth opened and shut quickly as she looked around. Lauren walked up to her and said, “I told you that, girl; fate has a way of taking care of things.”

My eyes snapped over to Walker who wore a huge grin on his face.

Clearing her throat, Taylor asked, “Wh-what are you doing here?”

I couldn’t help but look her over quickly. She looked tired. Focusing back on her beautiful green eyes, I smiled. “Walker wants to breed a horse and asked me to drive along with him. What are you doing here?”

“Taylor works for us now.”

My head snapped over to look at Lauren. “Here?”

She nodded her head and wiggled her eyebrows. “She’s even going to be staying in the hunter’s cabin . . . isn’t she, Daddy?” Lauren asked as she turned to her very confused father.

All eyes went to Scott. “Um . . . yes she is, but do the two of you know each other?”

“Yes,” Taylor said sharply.

Colt clapped his hands together causing both Taylor and I to jump. “So, let’s look at that horse and let Taylor and Jase catch up, shall we.”

With a tip of my hat, I silently thanked Colt and stole a look at Walker. His eyes widened and he silently pleaded for me to talk to Taylor.

“I think I’ll head in with them in case Walker has any questions,” Lauren said.

Taylor reached out to grab Lauren. “Wait!” Lauren stopped and leaned in to whisper something to Taylor. I couldn’t help but notice how hard Taylor was breathing, and I wanted more than anything to pull her into my arms and beg her to start over.

With a sincere smile directed toward me, Lauren turned and headed into the barn.

Taylor pushed her long brown hair behind her ear and peeked up at me. “I . . . I’ve been wanting to . . . I mean.” Sighing, she turned her head away from me.

My heart couldn’t have been beating any harder than it was at that point. I knew deep in my heart Taylor deserved so much better than me, but I was tired of caring. I loved her and wanted her so damn much. “You look beautiful, Taylor.”

She slowly shook her head while pressing her lips together. I knew she was about to get upset. Walking up to her, I wrapped her in my arms and held her as her shoulders shook with sobs.

“I’m so sorry for hurting you, Taylor. I’d give anything to go back to that day in Paris and change it. I pray to God you believe me.”

Burying her face into my chest, she nodded. I moved my body and held her to my side as we walked over toward a gazebo. Stopping, I motioned for her to sit down.

The moment she looked into my eyes, I felt my stomach drop. She looked emotionally drained and her eyes were filled with such sadness. “I was so angry and I wanted you to hurt like you hurt me. I didn’t really want you to leave and I didn’t mean to . . .” Her eyes snapped shut as she slumped over and cried harder.

I knew she was thinking about the night she spent with that asshole. I’d love to punch his face. If I ever saw him again I probably would.

“We both did enough hurting of each other to last a lifetime . . . me especially to you, sweetness. Can’t we just forget all of that and start over? I mean really start over and do all of this right. I feel like fate is giving us a second chance.”

She sniffled and wiped her tears away. “What do you mean?”

With a grin, I looked around before turning back to her. “Are you really working here?”

Her expression softened as she nodded her head. “I am. And I guess I’ll be living here too. It makes sense since my parents live in Fredericksburg.”

Is this really happening?
Was Taylor going to be living less than thirty minutes from me? My heart beat rapidly in my chest at the thought. I’d never felt so happy in my life.

“Please tell me I’m not dreaming because there is no way fate would be so cruel.”

With a giggle, she shook her head. “Fate. Lauren was just talking about how fate always seems to step in where we’re concerned.”

A single tear rolled slowly down her cheek.

Lifting my hand, I wiped the wetness away and brushed my thumb across her skin. “I love you, Taylor. I’ve always loved you and hope you know that is why I acted so fucking crazy.”

Her smile faded. “I know you have. I’ve done something though and I think you should know. It . . . it might change how you feel about me.”

It killed me knowing she was beating herself up over what happened. “Nothing else matters except for you telling me right now you forgive me for being a total ass in Paris and all those other times I played tug of war with your heart. I’ll make you this promise right now . . . I will never be the reason you cry again unless they are tears of happiness.”

Her hand came up to cover her mouth. Closing her eyes, she said something I couldn’t understand.

“Sweetness, please don’t cry.”

Tears streamed down her face and it destroyed me. “Jase, that day you left.”

Shaking my head, I held up my hand. “None of that matters.”

She grabbed my hand and pushed it down. “Please let me tell you this because I don’t want anything between us. We’ve always had something between us and I don’t want that. Like you said, I want to start over clean, and the only way I can do that is if I tell you everything.”

With a slight nod, I held my breath and waited for her to tell me she slept with that asshole.

“I . . . I was angry and trying to prove something to myself. I slept with another man the night you left my office. The guy you saw me talking to, Clark . . . er . . . Mr. Burns. Oh no wait, that sounds creepy.”

Shaking her head trying to rid herself of the memory, she rolled her eyes. “Well, I mean I guess it doesn’t matter what his name was. It was only that one time and I regretted it so much. I’ve been so torn up about it because I didn’t really want you to leave my office!”

Walker was right. What you thought women wanted was the total opposite of what they really wanted.

Cupping her face with my hands, I pressed my lips against hers and kissed her. “Shh . . . none of that matters. I’m not going to let anything take you from me again. It wasn’t fate that brought us back together today.”

She wiped her nose and sniffled as I let out a chuckle. “It wasn’t?” she asked.

My thumbs moved across her beautiful face as I looked deep into her eyes that were filled with hope. “No. It was destiny.”

Taylor

My skin was on fire everywhere Jase touched me. I still couldn’t believe he was here. When I walked out of that barn and saw him standing there I lost all control of my emotions and it took everything out of me not to rush into his arms and beg him to kiss me.

Jase was looking at me liked he adored me. My heart felt light in my chest while the same feeling I felt after he made love to me came rushing back.

“Destiny,” I repeated.

Jase smiled lovingly at me and I knew he was right. I couldn’t contain the smile that spread across my face. “What do we do now?”

Jase’s eyes began to glow. “I think I should ask you out for dinner.”

“I am hungry.” She looked back toward the barn. “But I didn’t bring a change of clothes and I still need to figure out how to get my stuff from my apartment in Austin to my new place here.”

“Then consider that our first official date.”

“Moving me?”

His wide smile had me grinning so hard my cheeks were beginning to ache. “Why not? We’ve done everything else ass-backwards, why should our first official date as boyfriend and girlfriend be any different.”

Lifting my brow, I softly said, “Boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“Yes. Boyfriend and girlfriend.

Every single one of my nerve endings tingled at his words.

“I could call you my ball and chain if you’d rather.”

With a chuckle, I hit him on the chest.

“I’m perfectly fine with boyfriend and girlfriend.”

The wind blew my hair about as Jase pushed another piece behind my ear.

His eyes filled with love while they searched my face. “Kiss me and make it official then.”

I launched myself into him as our lips found one another. The kiss wasn’t frantic, but it wasn’t slow either. I wanted him more than ever. When we finally broke apart, our eyes searched each other’s face.

“Would Walker mind if you left with me?”

“Even if he did, I wouldn’t care.”

With a light-hearted laugh, I turned to the barn. “I should probably officially accept the job then.”

Jase stood up and pulled me up with him. “Yes! You really should.”

When his fingers laced with mine, I couldn’t ignore the way my heart was beating so rapidly. It felt like a million butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

We headed back to the barn and joined the others. Scott and I talked for a bit about the job, what I would be paid and what I would pay to live in the hunter’s cabin. It was dirt cheap and I could see it in his eyes he didn’t even want me to pay rent, but I had insisted.

Colt, Jase, and Walker hit it off instantly and talked non-stop. I got Lauren caught up on everything. When I told her the things Jase said to me, she got all teary eyed and said it sounded like something Colt would have said.

Never in a million years would I have dreamed Jase Morris was so romantic.

“You ready to go?” I asked walking up to the guys.

Walker slapped Jase on the back and winked. “Don’t forget tomorrow afternoon I’ll need your help with that fence.”