Chapter 9
Miranda
Iwake with a start to the sound of my phone’s alarm blaring from right beside my head.
Four in the morning comes early, no matter what time you get to bed.
I don’t even remember falling asleep. What I do know is I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.
It didn’t take long before I stopped being so aware of the man in the bed beside me.
We watched TV and talked about nothing. It was nice.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I turn over and am surprised to find Hayden still asleep.
I always pictured him as the type to naturally wake at this ungodly hour, springing out of the bed and ready to start the day.
But as he sleeps soundly beside me, I take advantage of the opportunity to take him in.
His hair is unruly from sleep, and I resist the urge to find out how it would feel between my fingers.
Allowing myself just a few more moments of indulgence, my eyes drift to his thick dark lashes and then the slight bump at the ridge of his nose—likely due to a break.
He stirs a bit before I get a chance to fully appreciate the perfect curve of his lips.
“Are you watching me sleep?” he rasps in a voice thick with sleep.
Shit. It hasn’t even been a full twenty-four hours, and I’ve already been caught staring twice. Scrunching my nose, I sit up and do my best to look disgusted at the idea of watching him. “Your snoring woke me up. I turned to see where all that noise was coming from.”
A laugh rumbles out of him, and the slight movement of his shoulders draws my eyes straight to the way his T-shirt clings to his chest. My body immediately responds, letting me know my moment of indulgence needs to end right now.
“I don’t snore.”
I shrug my shoulders and laugh before slipping out of the bed. “How can you be so sure? You don’t have to sleep with you.”
Hayden sits up and swings his feet to the floor. He says nothing until I make my way to his side of the room for my suitcase. “You think I’ve been sleeping alone for the past forty-two years?”
Heat rises to my face, so I busy myself with my suitcase. “I haven’t thought of you sleeping at all, let alone with who.”
He lets out a low chuckle. “Right.”
Before I can come up with anything witty, he walks past me and into the bathroom.
I quickly get dressed while he’s in there and kick myself for the way that conversation went.
I’ve mostly recovered by the time he comes out of the bathroom, and I’m fully composed by the time I finish my turn in there.
We’re both quiet as we check out of the hotel and get back into the truck to head to the ranch.
The sky is still a dark shade of purple, so it’s hard to tell if storm clouds have drawn near.
I’m crossing my fingers because my plan allows for a stop about four hours in and then the cabin for overnight.
And then the final few hours in the morning.
We could do the trip in less time, but I don’t want to stress out the horses.
I keep my worries to myself during the short drive.
As we pull into the ranch, the first hints of daylight tease from behind the trees.
It’s too early for sunrise, but the sky is no longer too dark to make anything out.
I can sense the impending storm the moment I step out of the truck.
Slightly humid air stirs in the ominous breeze.
“Miranda?”
Turning around, I find a weathered, brown-skinned woman wearing worn jeans and a sweatshirt making her way toward me. She appears to be in her early fifties, with some gray in her natural coils. She’s pretty.
“Yes,” I respond, reaching out my hand to shake. “And this is Hayden. He’s tagging along in case I need some help.”
“Sarah Johnson. It’s nice to meet you both. Your father told me to expect the two of you. I’m glad you didn’t make the trip alone. I know I wouldn’t want to get stuck on the side of some of these roads all by myself. Anyway, follow me.”
Turning, she leads us towards the large stables.
We step into the first building on the left, and I’m amazed at the size of the facility.
It didn’t seem this large from the outside.
Once we’re inside, Sarah stops and points out the two end stalls where two beautiful chestnut mares stare back at us with interest. There’s no stopping the smile that spreads across my face. I’m already in love.
“Ready to get them loaded?” Hayden asks from beside me.
“Yeah, let’s get this party started,” I answer with a grin.
Hayden chuckles as he makes his way inside the stall nearest to us. I head for the other one and attach a lead to the halter. They don’t give us any trouble, which is a relief considering time isn’t on our side if we’re going to get ahead of the weather.
“You shouldn’t have any issues getting them loaded; they both have a calm temperament,” Sarah says as we reach the back of the trailer.
She’s right. While some horses are fearful and need some coaxing to get them inside a trailer, these two walk right in despite not knowing us.
We get them loaded and situated, and by the time we step out, the threat of rain is heavy in the air.
I make eye contact with Hayden, and no words are needed.
We close up the trailer, shake Sarah’s hand, and make a beeline for the truck.
We aren’t going to miss the rain, but hopefully, we stay ahead of the worst of it until we can stop for the night.