ago. I am worn out and desperately need rest and relaxation. As for a lifetime partner, he’s still out there wandering around somewhere.”
“I’m sorry about your father. You have my deepest sympathy. If he loved this ranch, maybe I knew him. I’ve met most, if not all of our guests. What’s his name?”
Sniffling, China wiped her nose with a napkin. “Brody Braxton.”
In racking his brain, Zaire recognized the name but he couldn’t put a face to it. Looking closely at China, he tried to see if she reminded him of anyone. “If it’s not too hard on you, please tell me a little about your dad.”
China’s heart overflowed with sweet memories of her dad. “Brody was a wonderful father. He raised me alone, meeting my every need.”
She cut it off there. No one needed to know her dark, personal despairs.
“He loved to horseback ride and he lived to conquer the ranch’s mechanical bull. Unfortunately, he was dominated by it.”
“Most men are. Now Mom and my aunts give that bucking mechanism pure hell. The ladies practice riding it a lot, timing each other to chart the length of time they stay on during each ride.”
China roared with laughter. “I can actually imagine them riding the bull. They’re a feisty bunch of women.”
“Getting back to your dad, I believe I may’ve met him. Do you have a picture of him?”
China dug into her tote and pulled out her wallet. Flipping to the picture compartment, she came up with her favorite one of Brody by himself. “This is Dad,” she said, handing the billfold to Zaire. “Does he look familiar?”
Zaire’s eyes flared with instant recognition. “We’ve had a lot of interaction over the years. My brothers and I simply referred to him as Mr. B. He was an amazing storyteller, weaving some of the best yarns we’ve ever heard.”
China was thrilled to know Zaire clearly remembered Brody.
“I remember Mr. B. so well. He loved to help out around here. You’re right about his love for this place. He even talked about moving back to Texas after retirement to build a house on the several acres he owned. Are you selling his land?”
“I’ve thought of it but haven’t made a final decision. I don’t know what else I can do. I’m a city-loving girl from L.A. I can’t begin to imagine Texas as my home.”
“Life around here is a far cry from city living. I worked in the city for years but was constantly drawn back to my roots. I retired soon after I came up with a viable business plan to build on the vast acreage we own. I like peace and quiet. Our starry nights are unrivaled.”
“I can see why you’d feel that way. Serenity is a perk of being way out here. I’ve never felt this kind of peace. What kind of work did you do before retiring?”
“Architectural engineering. I still do consulting work.
My education paid off when we drew up the plans to turn this place into an enormous entertainment venue. My work is my passion. I can barely wait to wake up to get my day started. At nightfall you can either find me around a campfire, involved in some activity with the guests or on my back patio stargazing. I easily lose myself to these surroundings.”
China imagined Zaire seated in front of a campfire or relaxing on a patio. He obviously appreciated and preferred the simpler things in life. Ranching was his admitted passion. What else was he ardent about?
It was hard for China to picture him a loner. A sexy woman on his arm was an easier image to conjure up. He was masculine, steeped in virility. She had missed an opportunity to inquire about his possible partner when he’d boldly asked about hers. It wasn’t like her to let too many things get by, but Zaire kept her in a tizzy.
The urge to reach over and squeeze one of Zaire’s rock-hard thighs had China edgy. She wanted to stay with him—and she also wanted to run away from his strong presence, all at the same time. China needed to will her mind to blankness. Zaire occupied way too much room inside her head.
Zaire looked at his watch. “It’s time to get back. I have a riding lesson.”
“I know. I signed up for the riding session to conquer my fear of horses. Getting on one is the only way I can do it,” China confessed.
Zaire’s eyes filled with admiration. “When something scares us, finding a way to deal with it is smart. I promise to make your first riding experience a good one.”
China grinned. “Thank you. And I promise to hold you to your promise.”
Getting China up on a horse wouldn’t be anywhere as easy as Zaire had initially thought. Each time she backed away from Ebony Dancer, she put more and more space between her and the jet-black filly. The other students had already mounted—and she was holding up the class.
Zaire took China aside. “In the interest of time, I have to start the class. There’s an hour and a half break between this riding session and my calf-roping event. Let me work with the others, then give you a private lesson. Okay?”
Though relieved by his gracious suggestion, China looked embarrassed. “I’ll stay and watch. Maybe it’ll help get my nerve up.”
He pointed at the white fence. “Stand on the other side or sit on it. Just be careful. Don’t want you to fall off and get hurt.”
Giving Zaire a thumbs-up, China scurried from the corralling ring and propped herself comfortably on the pristine fence posts. Watching the lesson was better than tackling it, especially while fear still ran rampant through her.
Several minutes into the lesson, China recognized Zaire as a master at his work. The first thing he’d accomplished was gaining the riders’ trust in his abilities to instruct. Thoroughly explaining each step he’d take them through, his tone was steady, calming.
Children didn’t look the least bit scared, making China feel rather silly. She looked forward to the private lesson and hoped Zaire didn’t think it was a contrived plan to get him alone. As she thought more about it, she easily concluded being alone with him wasn’t such a bad idea.
Walking over to the fence, Zaire helped China down. “Now you can have my undivided attention. Here’s what we’re going to do. I think you should ride with me before you attempt to get on a horse alone. We’ll move along at a slow pace.”
Picturing herself on the same horse with Zaire, China’s heart leapt. “I love your idea.” Then her smile turned to a frown. “But I’m still scared.”
“Wait here. Be right back. It’ll be okay,” he said, his tone soothing, promising. He and two ranch hands led the horses inside a gray metal barn right behind the corral.
Seated atop Thunder, galloping at a steady pace, Zaire rode back to China and rapidly dismounted. “I need you to trust me, China. Can you do that?”
Literally shaking in her boots, China nodded. “I’ll try.”
Taking her by the hand, he led her over to Thunder. “Stay, boy,” he commanded calmly. Taking a minute to think about whether to put her on the horse or get on first and help her up afterward, he decided on the latter. Remounting, he reached down a hand to her. Fear still written in her eyes, she reluctantly joined her hand with his.
In the next instant, Zaire had China seated in front of him. Putting her on the back of the horse couldn’t guarantee her safety, so he thought it best to guide from the rear. She was a little thing. Her size left him plenty of room to maneuver.
China felt exhilarated with Zaire seated right behind her. It was hot and muggy, but being on fire for him had her even hotter. Without thinking of consequences, she laid her head back against his chest. The wind tousled her hair from behind and above. China didn’t care what she looked like, not while she felt such peace.
This was not the China Braxton she was used to. Usually every