Most Eligible Cowboy (Peach Valley Romance Book 1) (7 page)

He chuckled. “Well, then you should get a different pair. Got it?”

“I will. I will.” She laughed, enjoying their banter.

“So what did you bring?” It was then Maya noticed he carried a covered bowl in his hands. He set it on the table next to the salads. Whatever it was, it smelled like brown sugar and bacon.

“Peanut butter balls.” Maya pointed at them feeling self-conscious. Looking at them now, she wondered what she had been thinking. Normally she sprinkled them with powdered sugar and then topped them with chocolate sauce, but that’d seemed too messy for a picnic.

He picked one up and popped the whole thing in his mouth. Chewed it slowly. His features became animated. He chewed and nodded. Then swallowed. “Those are amazing.”

“Really?” She giggled like a five year old who’d just been told her painting was genius.

Jackson took another, this time eating it more slowly. “So good,” he said between bites.

“What’d you make?” Maya went over to his pot. “Did you make this or did your mom?” She gave him a teasing look.

“I make the best franks and beans in the county,” Jackson said, turning back the foil and allowing the aroma to fill the space between them. “The secret ingredients are mustard and bacon.” He grabbed a plastic spoon, scooped some and held it out for Maya. “Try it.”

Maya tried to take the spoon from him, but he shook his head. “Open.”

She wiggled nervously, but opened her mouth wide. He spooned it in. She closed her mouth around it and sighed. “Whoa.” She covered her mouth while she chewed. “That is yummy. I love it. That’s all I’m going to eat.”

Jackson chuckled happily. “Told ya.”

There was a lull in the conversation. It wasn’t awkward, but she had so many things she wanted to say, she couldn’t decide where to begin. “So—”

“So—”

They both laughed.

“How would you feel about going horse back riding tomorrow?” He started walking away from the table toward the gazebo.

Maya paused, her heart beating so hard she couldn’t hear anything else. Had he just asked her out? She went after him. “Like, with you,” she said when she caught up with him. It was a stupid question, but it was too late to take it back.

“That’s the plan. Your aunt asked me to check out two horses she just purchased, gauge how they handle, and make sure they’re fit for people to ride.”

It wasn’t an actual date. That she could do. “Sure, sounds great. I’ll be taking pictures of the Palace in the morning, but maybe after lunch?”

“Great. I’ll come find you.”

“Or text me when you’re ready,” Maya said.

“Good idea. Let me give you my number.”

Maya handed Jackson her phone and he entered his number, then handed it back. “Great.”

“Jackson, there you are. I’ve saved you a seat.” It was Scarlett. She gave Maya a look that could disintegrate pavement. “Two seats. She will have to find her own place to sit.”

“No problem. I’ll go sit with my aunt.”

“Great, see ya, Maya.” Jackson tipped his hat before walking off.

She felt like a yo-yo with him. One minute they were having a great conversation and the next he was off to sit with a hot bimbo. “See ya.” She again felt five as she stomped over to her aunt.

“How was your chat with Jackson?”

“Good. Fine. He asked me to go horseback riding tomorrow.” She threw up her hands. “The man is confusing.”

“He’s probably spinning. Milly told me his phone has been ringing off the hook since the ultimatum,” the woman sitting across from her aunt said.

Aunt Patty nodded. “It’s important we give them clear messages, so they don’t get confused. That’s what I did with Hank and we always got along famously.”

Maya patted her aunt’s hand. Hank had died nearly a decade ago. “So what are you saying?”

“If you like the guy, let him know.”

“I’m…” She wasn’t sure. It seemed to soon to have feelings for a new man. “We’ll see.” She’d hang out with him tomorrow and go from there.

B
efore returning home
, Maya went back to the grocery store, hoping to find frames. She’d decided to give him the picture of the bee on the daisy and the one of him near the bonfire. Her aunt allowed her to use her company printer. They’d turned out beautifully. She wrapped them in white tissue paper and tied them with the yellow bow he’d put on her boot box. All she needed now was the right moment to give them to him.

Monday morning, Maya woke feeling better than she had since the day she’d arrived. She got ready, ate a slice of peach pie for breakfast, and drove into town. There was only the one grocery store and she parked in front and went inside. It had a little of everything she’d discovered last night, but the best part was that the store stocked local produce, fresh baked bread and preserves. She bought a loaf of whole wheat that was still warm along with butter, something called strawberry freezer jam, apples, peaches, carrots, celery, and an onion, some beef, milk, and eggs. Then she went to the candy aisle. They had all sorts of candies but none of the butter mints she’d been craving for days. She sighed as she took her haul up front. A young man stood at the check out counter. He was on his phone. She waited, but he continued to ignore her. “Hey, mind if I purchase these groceries?” It’d been a rhetorical question, one meant to be slightly sarcastic; in the hope that’d he’d get to work.

He rolled his eyes. “I guess.” He tucked his phone in his back pocket and began ringing up the items. When he finished, she paid.

“Thanks,” Maya said, and took her groceries out to her car.

The guy grunted a reply. By the time she pulled away, she noticed through the window that he’d already gone back to typing on his phone.

Maya had perishables so headed back to the cottage where she put her groceries away. Feeling slightly accomplished, she took out her camera and used her special cloth to clean it, paying special attention to the lens. Finished, she checked her phone. No texts. No messages. She put it in the back pocket of her Capri skinny jeans, grabbed her camera bag and headed over to the Palace.

When he reached the front steps, she paused, admiring once again the beautiful place her aunt had dreamed up and brought into reality. She snapped a few pictures. Went up the steps. The large double doors had double wreaths hanging on them. They were made of blue lavender, marjoram, thyme, sage, pepperberries, and orange safflowers. She snapped a photo of the front doors and then just one. The two guys she’d seen three times now opened the door. She felt like she should know their names.

“Hello. Welcome to the Palace at Peach Valley. Can I get your bags?”

Maya glanced down. “You’re joking, right?” She smiled. Then stuck out her hand. “I’m Maya. Remember we’ve met before. My aunt is Patty Montgomery. What are your names?”

“I’m Chip and this here’s Davis.”

“Of course we remember you. But we still got to practice for our job. We don’t want Miss Patty firing us before the official opening.”

“You think she’d do that?” Maya shook their hands.

“She said she would. She doesn’t like it when people aren’t committed to their work.”

Maya thought that made sense. “Good to meet you both. Is Patty inside?”

“Yep, follow me.” Chip held the door open and Maya went through. “She’s this way.”

Aunt Patty took Maya on a tour of the house. It was beautiful, filled with dark wood, wallpaper, and finishes reminiscent of the Victorian Country look. Everything was cozy, but not too small. The furnishings were ornate, but not overdone. In the bedrooms and bathrooms, everything was high quality and gorgeous. Aunt Patty had themed each room. Maya had heard of themed bed and breakfast establishments before. She’d even been inside one. It’d been cheesy and Maya had worried her aunt might fall into the same trap. But that wasn’t the case. Each suite was themed with the name of a peach. According to her aunt, there were more than two thousand varieties to choose from. Maya had always thought a peach was a peach, so she found that interesting. The room names were excellent and well thought out choices, including, The Cardinal Room, The Desert Gold Room, The Empress Room, The Honey Babe Room, The Reliance Room, The Golden Gem Room, and The Bonita Room. As Patty showed her each room, she told her about the coloring and flavors of each peach. Maya also found out that the variation Patty had in her orchard, and that was most common in Peach Valley, was the Reliance. The reason was mainly because they could survive the climate better than other variations.

Aunt Patty also showed her how they would check in guests, the amazing, gourmet kitchen, the dining room, the laundry, and the cozy common area where couples could read or chat or just relax by the fire. Without a doubt the place was beautiful. Maya would have no problem taking some amazing pictures.

Once aunt Patty finished showing Maya around, she ran back to her place for her lighting equipment. She set up and got started. For the next several hours she took dozens and dozens of pictures, only pausing long enough to eat the most amazing salmon in lemon butter sauce with wild rice and asparagus spears she’d ever tasted. Chef Logan Garrison had prepared it as a possible lunch contender. Maya made sure to let him know that if she had any say, that was a keeper. Everything tasted so delicious. He’d thanked her, fed her a piece of strawberry rhubarb pie and sent her on her way. She’d been so full, she thought about trying out one of the beds, but resisted and got back to work. The time flew by. It was the most she’d enjoyed photography in months. Around three o’clock that afternoon, Jackson texted her, letting her know he was at the stables, if she wanted to meet him there.

Maya texted back,
Nearly finished. Be down in five.
She finished the shot she’d been working on. Placed everything back in its original position, cleaned up and carried her stuff downstairs. As she passed her aunt’s office, she paused. Patty stared at the computer, her reading glasses on her face, her eyes intent on her work.

“I’ve got some really great pictures, aunt Patty,” Maya said.

Patty pushed her glasses onto her head and smiled. “You’re finished?”

Maya nodded. “I am in here. I’m still going to take photos of the barn, the pond, and the orchard, if that’s all right?”

“More than all right? Did you need some help?” A flash of worry crossed Patty’s face and Maya guessed it was because of the last time she’d gone out walking alone.

“Well, Jackson is at the stables now. We’re going to go horseback riding so I won’t be completely alone.” Maya forced herself to keep a straight face, not wishing to give her aunt any romantic ammunition.

“Oh,” her aunt began, sliding her glasses onto her nose. “Carry on, then.” Maya saw the hint of a smile.

“I will.” Maya shifted her equipment before continuing. “Once I’ve got all of the photos taken, it shouldn’t be more than three or four days to edit. By the weekend, I should have several pictures to show you.”

“That’s wonderful honey.” She spoke while keeping her eyes on the screen. “Have fun with Jackson.”

Maya finally smiled. “I intend to.”

Aunt Patty looked up. “Have you ever ridden a horse?”

“Not even once,” Maya admitted.

That put a frown on her aunt’s face. “Please be careful.”

Maya stuck out her tongue. “See you later.”

“Have fun, honey.”

She walked out, heading past the barn to get to her place. Her gaze instantly found Jackson when she rounded the corner and her heart skipped and began to gallop with excitement. He wore faded jeans, his regular hat and boots, and a navy button up shirt. Basically, he looked incredibly handsome. She tried to remember what she’d chosen to put on that morning. She’d dressed with the intent of riding with him later so her outfit was similar to his. She’d worn the yellow boots he’d given her, a pair of newish dark jeans, and a loose fitting plaid shirt.

“Hi,” she said as she walked by.

Jackson had one of the horses out of its stall and was brushing it. He looked up when she spoke and smiled. “Maya.” He noticed everything she carried.

“I’m going to put this stuff away and I’ll be back.”

He nodded once and went back to brushing the horse. It sounded like he talked to the horse as well.

After she dropped off her equipment, she ran a brush through her hair and put on some lip-gloss, thinking fresh lips never hurt anyone. She put her camera around her neck and headed back outside. By the time she returned to the barn, he’d put away the brush and was inspecting the horse’s foot. “What are you doing?” Maya asked, coming up beside him.

Jackson dropped the foot and stood. “Have you ever been riding?” His face was stern.

“No.” She suddenly felt worried. The movies made it look like so much fun.

He grunted and she thought perhaps he was mad. “If you’d rather go alone, I can stay here and take photos, then walk out to the pond. I don’t want to cause you any stress.”

“It’s not that, but I think for today, you and I can ride one horse together.” He smiled. “After I give you a quick lesson in horse etiquette.”

Maya felt her eyebrows raise in question.

“First, you need to let the horse get to know you. So come here.” He held out his hand.

Maya paused as nervous anxiety ran through her.

“Come on. The horse shouldn’t bite.”

“Not encouraging,” she said.

Jackson chuckled, taking her hand. When their fingers and palms touched, tingles ran up her arm, like wild fire in an open field. He had her stand in front of him. “Horses prefer you touch them on certain parts of their body to say hello. It’s good to hold out your hand first and it never hurts if you have a sugar cube.” He produced one from his front pocket and placed it on her outstretched hand. “This is Shadow.” When Jackson spoke, the horse’s ears twitched and he clopped forward. He’s an appaloosa and is seven years old.” While he spoke, he came up behind her so that their bodies nearly touched, his hand cupped hers, holding her hand completely flat. Shadow sniffed before taking the sugar with his lips. The soft skin around his mouth touched her palm. It was soft, softer than she thought it would be and the horse’s whiskers tickled. “Do you know why when you feed a horse you should keep your hand flat?” His voice came right against her ear and she shivered.

“No.”

“It’s so that the horse doesn’t accidentally bite your skin. He wouldn’t mean to, but if it’s near the food you’re trying to feed him, he might mistake your hand for the sugar and you could get bit. So it’s a safety precaution. Okay?”

“Got it.”

Jackson stepped away and she took a step back, feeling off balance without his presence near.

“Second, never be at the back of a horse. You’ll scare it and end up getting kicked. That is not something you want to experience.”

She nodded, swallowing.

“If you need to pass around the back side of a horse, place your hand here and walk around.” He demonstrated. “This way the horse knows where you are at all times.”

Maya crossed her arms, hugging herself.

“Now let me show you how to saddle a horse.”

She watched with increasing horror as he checked each of the horses hooves, explaining that he wanted to make sure they were clean before riding so that they wouldn’t get thrown. Then he put on the reins, followed by the saddle blanket and the saddle. It had to be buckled tight so that it wouldn’t slide off, but not so tight as to make the animal uncomfortable. When he finished, he showed her how to climb on, while he held the reins. Jackson actually let her sit in the saddle, which felt weirder than anything she’d ever sat in while he sat behind her, promising that it would be fine.

“I’ve already assessed that this horse is sweet, and actually likes people. Patty did a good job purchasing this horse. Shadow was an excellent choice.” As he spoke he leaned forward and scratched the horse between the ears. Maya’s skin burned as his arm rested against hers.

Shadow nickered, shaking his head.

“They like that a lot,” Jackson added.

“Can I try?”

“Go for it.”

She reached up and scratched softly, enjoying the warmth of the horses fur. He was soft and she decided she liked horses. “That’s it, Shadow,” she cooed.

“Very good. Now it’s time to move. You ready?”

“Sure.”