before Scott died. She had been only eight when her sister drowned while they were swimming. On their family vacation to the beach, they’d both gone out too far. A riptide pulled her sister out and it was all her father could do to save Alexa from being swept under as well. Years of remorse and counseling had held her family together.
So Alexa recognized the brokenness Hayes displayed.
Alexa gripped her reins and enjoyed the steady trot. They were going a bit faster than before and she figured Hayes had urged his horse to speed up and hers had followed suit. Someone like Hayes wouldn’t ask permission first, but he kept glancing her way to check on her.
“So you’re the only one around today?” she asked, needing to break up the thoughts swirling around in her head about the sexy man brushing his thigh against hers.
“There are a few workers milling about,” he replied. “I just happened to be the only one in the stables.”
“But you weren’t working.”
He threw her a glance and adjusted his hat. “I’d just gotten done at my house and decided to take a break and ride.”
So he had been planning on going out alone. “You could’ve told me to come back later.”
“I could’ve, but as you said, there’s a storm coming in later. You would’ve thought I was a jerk.”
Alexa couldn’t help but laugh. “You wouldn’t have felt bad for sending me away?”
Hayes shrugged and turned his horse slightly. Alexa followed. “I don’t have feelings anymore, but this is my family’s ranch and I know how hard they’ve worked.”
“So it’s about respect, then.” When he remained silent, she went on. “Whatever it is, I apologize for taking you away from your personal time and I appreciate you showing me the grounds.”
As they continued toward the back of the property, the sky darkened slightly and thick clouds rolled in. Texas weather was crazy; pop up showers and storms were the norm. She didn’t think it was supposed to do much until later this afternoon.
If it was stormy over the next few days, as predicted, she could lounge in that oversize garden tub in her suite back at the B and B. The moment she’d stepped foot in the house she could tell no expense had been spared. The beauty of the house and her bathroom—hello, heated floors—made her want to move in and bring Mason with her.
The first fat raindrop landed on her nose. Then, before they could find shelter, the skies opened up and Hayes cursed. The next thing she knew, he’d plunked his cowboy hat on top of her head. The gesture shouldn’t have touched her, but beneath his gruff exterior and grunting dialogue, he had a big heart. The fact that he was a true gentleman warmed something deep inside her, something that hadn’t warmed in quite a while.
“Storm came sooner than I thought,” he called over the sound of the pouring rain. “Follow me.”
He and Doc took the lead and started trotting faster. Alexa gripped her reins tighter and kept up, her bottom bouncing in the saddle as the rain continued to soak through her clothes. She wasn’t comfortable with the faster speed, but all she could do was hold on for the ride and pray they weren’t going far.
They rode another few minutes and Alexa was starting to wonder where they were heading. Then, up ahead, she saw an old two-story farmhouse. Hayes’s house. She didn’t have to ask—she knew. It was just as she’d imagined an old farmhouse should look.
The white home with black shutters had a first and second-story porch and a pitched gable right in the center of the roofline. So adorable, and much different from the grand home his brother lived in on the other side of the property. This house seemed simpler, tucked in the back of the ranch as if protected.
Is that why Hayes chose to live here? So he could be away from everything and remain safe? The man might scream badass, but even after their short acquaintance she could tell he was on guard at all times. Just how deep did his pain run?
Beneath the brim of the borrowed hat, Alexa took in the beauty of the house...even through the raindrops. The brook ran alongside the home and the river flowed behind it. The house and a barn were nestled up on the hilly part of the land.
Hayes rode straight to the small barn at the side of the house. As the showers continued to pummel them, she followed and before she could hop down, he was at her side. His hand landed on her thigh, doing nothing to help with those tremors she’d been experiencing since meeting Mr. Elliott.
That hand slid up to her waist as she swung one leg over and dismounted. The brim of the hat bumped against him and fell off her head to land at her feet. His hands remained on her hips to steady her and Alexa gripped his biceps...and those muscles were just as impressive as she’d thought they’d be.
His eyes darted to her lips and Alexa didn’t care about the rain anymore. She didn’t care if snowflakes started falling from the sky or a tornado ripped through. She wanted to stay just like this—it wasn’t like she could get any more soaked—and have Hayes look at her like he desired her.
Oh, this was lust at its finest, but it had been so long since anyone had looked at her lips, she didn’t care. Lust was a welcome emotion at this point. After two years of nothing, the idea that someone might find her attractive was quite the turn-on. The defined, taut body beneath her fingertips didn’t hurt, either.
The muscle clenched in his jaw beneath that dark stubble. “Get up on the porch.”
The angry tone left her wondering just what, or who, he was upset with. The fact they got caught in the rain or the fact that he clearly wanted to kiss her and opted to have restraint?
“Tell me what to do.” She reached for the horse’s reins. “In the barn?”
He shook his head and swiped his hat off the ground before striding back to his horse. Hayes led them into the barn and secured each horse in their own stall.
“Hopefully the rain will pass soon.” He didn’t even look at her as he closed the stall doors. “The bigger storm wasn’t forecast until much later. You can wait here or go onto the porch.”
A rumble of thunder had her wondering just how quickly this would pass.
Hayes jerked his gaze toward the opening of the stable at the storm’s approach. She hadn’t taken him for someone who was afraid of storms. Pop-ups weren’t uncommon in Stone River, but since it was supposed to rain all weekend, she wondered if the storm had already begun. They might just have to ride back in the rain.
“We can go back,” she told him. “I mean, it’s not like I’m going to get any wetter. Or I can ride back alone. I know the way.”
Hayes turned to focus on her now, and man did those dark eyes focus. He raked his gaze over her like he was one leap away from pouncing. Alexa’s skin heated just the same as if he’d touched her with his hands.
Mercy sakes, she’d known the man maybe an hour. Clearly, she needed to get out more if the first good-looking rancher made her want to sit up and beg.
“When you go back, you won’t be going alone,” he told her. “We’ll wait. It’s a downpour and a long ride back.”
The showers beat down on the old metal roof and there was something calming, refreshing about being out here without a care in the—
“Oh no.” Alexa cringed. “My cell phone.”
She patted the pocket where she’d stored it, but her pants were wet. She only hoped her cell had survived. She couldn’t be cut off from contact with her son. This was her first trip away. She needed to cling to texts and video chats.
“Texts to your boyfriend can wait.”
Alexa squared her shoulders and swiped her damp hair away from her face. “That wasn’t subtle, if you were asking if I was single.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
Yet