2. Luke
Chapter Two
LUKE
I watch Jasmyn turn away, her shoulders stiffening like she’s been slapped.
Shit.
My gut twists with regret. But my boots might as well be nailed to the floor. Pride and stubbornness keep me rooted in place, even as every instinct screams at me to go after her.
“Alright, girls! Break time is over!” Jasmyn calls out. Her voice is bright despite the tension I can see in her spine. “Let’s get into first position!”
The little girls scurry back onto the dance floor and Maisey sets her water bottle down and runs to join her friends, her pink tutu bouncing with each step.
She flashes me a grin over her shoulder before taking her place at the barre. “Don’t forget to watch me, Daddy!”
I force a smile, pushing aside the tension with Jasmyn. “I’m watching, baby girl. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Jasmyn takes her place at the front of the class. She scrolls through her phone, queuing up the music, and I can’t tear my eyes away from her.
My gaze traces the lush curves of her body, lingering on the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the enticing roundness of her ass. The leotard clings to her like a second skin, and I feel my jeans growing tighter by the second.
What I wouldn’t give to run my hands over those curves, to feel her softness yield to my touch, to hear her gasp my name as I...
Fuck.
I drag a hand over my face, trying to banish the images flooding my mind.
But it’s no use.
I’ve been obsessed with Jasmyn from the moment I laid eyes on her at Maisey’s first dance class. The second she walked into the studio with her delicious curves and bright smile, my pulse kicked into overdrive.
Then I saw the sweet bond she formed with Maisey, and I was a goner.
Jasmyn has this way with the students, this gentle but firm guidance that brings out the best in them. She’s sweet, patient, and always ready with an encouraging word or a comforting hug. Maisey adores her, and seeing their connection makes my heart ache in the best way.
I’ve tried to keep my distance. But it’s getting harder every day. Every time Jasmyn throws her head back and laughs at something one of the girls says, every time she catches my eye and gives me that secret little smile...I fall a little bit harder for her.
But I can’t go there. No matter how much I want her.
At thirty-five, I’m a decade older than her. My life revolves around running the ranch with my brothers and raising Maisey. I don’t have time for a relationship. And even if I did, what could I possibly offer someone like Jasmyn?
She has her whole life ahead of her, filled with endless possibilities and opportunities. The last thing she needs is to be weighed down by my baggage.
No, Jasmyn deserves better than a rough, broken man. She deserves someone who can give her the world, who can sweep her off her feet and take her on adventures. Someone young and carefree, without the responsibilities and burdens that come with my life.
Which means that, no matter how much I want her, I have to keep my distance. It’s the right thing to do, for both our sakes.
For the last half hour of class, I do my best to keep my expression neutral. It’s not really necessary though, since Jasmyn is clearly avoiding looking at me. She keeps her gaze fixed on the girls, her voice light and melodic as she calls out instructions and corrections.
When the final song ends, the entire studio erupts into enthusiastic applause. The girls swarm Jasmyn, their little arms wrapping around her waist and legs in a giant group hug.
Maisey’s voice rises above the chatter. “We’re going to miss you so much, Miss Jasmyn!”
Jasmyn bends down to gather the girls close, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’m going to miss you all too, sweetheart. So, so much. You’ve brought so much joy and light into my life.”
She drops a kiss on the top of Maisey’s head, then straightens up and claps her hands. “Alright, my little sugar plum fairies! Let’s finish up with some cool down stretches, okay?”
The girls nod and scurry into formation, their slippered feet pattering against the hardwood floor.
“Deep breath in,” she instructs, her voice soothing. “And exhale, letting all the tension melt away.”
I wish it were that easy. My body’s wound tighter than a new fence wire, every muscle coiled with the urge to go to her, to apologize for being such an ass earlier. But I can’t. I won’t. It’s better this way, keeping my distance. Safer.
Even as I think about it, I know I’m lying to myself. There’s nothing safe about the way Jasmyn makes me feel, nothing simple about the connection sparking between us.
A blur of pink tulle and bouncing pigtails interrupts my brooding. Maisey’s beaming face appears in front of me.
“Daddy! Did you see me? I did a real pirouette!” She grabs my hand, tugging insistently. “Come on, I want to show you!”
I force a smile, pushing thoughts of Jasmyn to the back of my mind. “That’s great, sweetheart. Show me what you learned.”
Maisey launches into a twirl, wobbling slightly but managing to complete the turn. My heart swells despite the turmoil churning inside me.
“Impressive,” I say, ruffling her hair. “You’re gonna be the star of the rodeo if you keep that up.”
Maisey giggles. “Daddy, there are no ballerinas at the rodeo! The rodeo has cowboys and horses and clowns!”
I chuckle, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “You’re right, baby girl. What was I thinking?”
“It’s okay.” She pats my arm reassuringly. “Sometimes grown-ups get confused.”
“Well, thank goodness I have you to keep me straight.” I tap the end of her nose playfully, enjoying the way her face scrunches up in delight. “Now, let’s get your shoes on so we can head out, okay?”
Maisey plops down on the bench and starts tugging at the ribbons of her ballet slippers. “Aren’t you going to say goodbye to Miss Jasmyn, Daddy?”
I glance over to where Jasmyn is helping some of the other girls pack up their things. She’s kneeling down, her dark ponytail swishing as she zips up a sparkly backpack and hands it to a beaming little girl.
For a moment, I let myself imagine walking over there, pulling Jasmyn aside. I’d apologize for being such a dick earlier, tell her how much she means to Maisey...to me. I’d cup her face in my hands, brush my thumb over the graceful curve of her cheekbone, let myself get lost in the warm honey depths of her eyes.
But then reality crashes back in. I turn back to Maisey with a forced smile. “She looks busy, sweetheart. I don’t want to bother her.”
But even as the words leave my mouth, I know I’m making a mistake. One I might not get the chance to fix.
Twenty minutes later, we get back to the ranch. On a normal Friday night, things would be winding down by now.
But tonight, the ranch is bustling with activity.
Trucks rumble up the gravel drive. Ranch hands call out to each other as they unload supplies cases of beer and hay bales for extra seating.
Tomorrow is the annual Clayton Ranch bonfire.
Every year, we invite the whole town to come out and celebrate the end of a long, hard summer. There’s live music and dancing, a mechanical bull, and more food than we could eat in a month. We roast marshmallows over the massive bonfire, tap our boots to the twang of country tunes, and catch up with friends and neighbors.
For one night, it’s like the entire ranch is transformed. It’s Maisey’s favorite night of the year.
Hell, it’s a lot of people’s favorite night.
There’s just something magical about it, something that brings the whole community together. And Lord knows we could all use a little magic these days.
I pull the truck up to the barn, and before I can even kill the engine, Maisey is unbuckling herself from her booster seat, her eyes bright with excitement.
“Is it time for the bonfire?” Maisey asks, her words tumbling out in an excited rush. “Can we make s’mores? And will there be face painting again this year? Ooh, and pony rides?”
I chuckle as I climb out of the truck, coming around to help Maisey down. “Not yet, baby girl. The bonfire’s tomorrow night.”
Maisey’s face falls for a second, but then she perks up again, her eyes sparkling with a new idea. “Do you think Miss Jasmyn will come to the bonfire?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. Miss Jasmyn might have other plans.”
“We should invite her! I bet she would love the bonfire! She could meet Sparkles, and we could make s’mores together, and...”
“Who should we invite?” a deep voice interrupts.
I look up and see my younger brother Jace walking out of the barn. Jace strides up to the truck, a coil of rope slung over his broad shoulder and a look of amusement dancing in his blue eyes.
“Uncle Jace!” Maisey squeals, launching herself at him.
Jace scoops her up with one arm, spinning her around as she giggles wildly. “There’s my favorite ballerina cowgirl! How was dance class, darlin’?”
“It was so much fun! I did a pirouette and Miss Jasmyn said I’m getting really good!” Maisey gushes as Jace settles her on his hip.
“Well, I reckon that means we’ve got ourselves a real prima ballerina on our hands,” Jace says, tapping the end of her nose playfully.
Maisey beams up at him. “Uncle Jace, can we invite Miss Jasmyn to the bonfire tomorrow? Pleeease?”
Jace’s eyebrows shoot up and he glances over at me, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Miss Jasmyn, huh?”
I shift uncomfortably, trying to head off this conversation before it can gain any traction. “Jace, I don’t think...”
But Jace just holds up a hand, cutting me off mid-sentence. “Now, hold on there, big brother. I believe I was having a conversation with my adorable niece.”
He turns back to Maisey, his expression comically serious. “So, tell me more about this Miss Jasmyn. Is she as pretty as your daddy thinks she is?”
“Jace...” I growl in warning, but Maisey is already nodding enthusiastically.
“She’s so pretty, Uncle Jace! She has long dark hair and she smells like flowers and sunshine. And she’s really nice and funny and smart. Daddy thinks she’s pretty too, I can tell because he always gets this funny look on his face when he sees her, like he just ate a sour lemon but he still wants more.”
Jace throws his head back and laughs, the sound ringing out across the ranch yard. “Is that so? Well, it sounds like Miss Jasmyn is a very special lady.”
“She is!” Maisey agrees emphatically. “So can we invite her? Pretty please with a cherry on top?”
Jace glances over at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, I think that can definitely be arranged.”