Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Tate’s MIA again, huh?”
Jason glanced over his shoulder toward Brent. “He’s with Rylee.”
“They’ve been holed up in that farmhouse an awful lot lately.”
Smiling, Jason coiled the rope their client had used to wrangle the plastic steer heads in their training corral. “Newlyweds.”
“Must be nice.”
“Of course it is.” That caught the attention of them both, and they looked up. Faith was smiling wide at each of them. Jason scowled at her.
She winked at him and her eyes danced with mischief. In several long strides, Brent was at her side and pulling her close for a claiming kiss. The sight of them got to him.
Faith and Brent were perfect for each other. They’d found love after building a foundation on friendship. He’d thought it would be strange to see his sister with someone, but he couldn’t have been more wrong.
If anything, the two of them made his own desires that much louder in his head.
They broke apart with Faith’s laugh. She gave her husband a gentle shove and then turned to Jason. “What about you?”
He reached for another rope and started coiling it. “What about me?”
“Any female acquaintances that you can’t get enough of?”
Jason’s whole body went rigid. He knew better than to believe it was a coincidence that his sister was asking him about his dating life.
Mostly because she usually kept herself out of it unless she thought he was messing up.
There hadn’t been anyone worth her asking about before, so she’d been quiet.
He didn’t know how, but Faith knew, and it didn’t bother him. Turning, he gave her a blank look. “And who would I date?”
She shrugged, her eyes alight. “I don’t know. But there is always the revolving door of tourists. The rodeo is always a fun place to meet people.” The teasing wasn’t lost on him. And apparently, it wasn’t lost on Brent either.
“Leave your brother alone. He’s got a lot on his plate as it is.”
Faith’s eyes didn’t leave Jason as she continued, ignoring her husband’s request. “You know, if there is someone worthy of your time, I don’t know why you’re here and not spending as much time with her as you can.”
Yup. She definitely knew.
Jason’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve got work. And Tate isn’t pulling his weight.”
She held the railing in front of her and leaned over, serious now. “This isn’t about Tate. This is about taking life by the horns and running. You’re not getting any younger.”
The silence after that was deafening. But after the dust settled, Brent was the first to laugh. “Babe, I don’t think that statement is going to carry the same weight as it does with women.”
She shot him a dark look. “All I’m saying is that if there’s a girl, and if that girl doesn’t live here permanently, he’s wasting his time when he could be with her.
” Faith waved a hand in Jason’s general direction.
“He’s literally the boss. He can reschedule appointments or make sure that Tate is around for more. Heck, he can put more on you.”
“Hey!” Brent shot back.
Jason shook his head as he gathered the rest of the supplies so he could take them to the barn.
In the background, his sister and brother-in-law continued their banter.
He’d never admit it, but Faith was right.
At least when it came to this subject. There was no telling how long Cece would be in town.
Especially since Tate was doing everything in his power to keep that development from happening.
At some point, Cecelia’s father was going to leave. And she’d go with him.
He dropped everything on a nearby work table.
The thought of never seeing her again hit hard.
He’d been taking his time. Admittedly, he’d wanted to make sure he did this right.
Cece was too important to make mistakes with.
Jason could see a future with her, and they hadn’t even gone on an official date.
He glanced toward the entrance where his sister was laughing at Brent. Faith was too smart for her own good. And he’d waited long enough.
With that thought in mind, he showered and dressed. Then he stopped by the Sweet Everything Bakery before he headed for the lodge.
He arrived just in time to see Cece exiting the building clad in yoga pants and running shoes. Her hair was pulled back from her face, and she had a look of utter determination. Her jaw was set and her eyes were focused.
It was the second time he’d stopped by to see her without telling her beforehand. He was lucky she was here at all.
He stayed in his truck for only a moment, considering his options. Then he threw caution to the wind and climbed out of his truck with his bag in hand.
Cece’s head swiveled at the sound of his truck door shutting and the confusion in her eyes turned to excitement. There was no hesitation on her part as she strode toward him, a smile on her face. “Hey there. What are you doing here?”
He lifted the bag from the bakery. “They had your favorites today.”
She arched a brow before she laughed. “This late in the day? I’m not buying it.”
Whenever he was around her, Jason’s grin came as easy as breathing. “You’re right. I might have called in an order ahead of time.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?” Then her focus darted to the bag. “For me?”
“There’s no one else.” He said it low, but apparently not low enough, because her attention was once again glued to him.
She searched his face, but he wasn’t sure what she was looking for.
She wouldn’t find a lie, because he’d long since come to terms with his feelings.
Now all that was left was to do what Faith suggested and take advantage of the time he had.
Jason held the bag out to her. “It looks like you’re on your way out.
I can—” He thumbed over his shoulder, but her hand shot out, her long, delicate fingers wrapped around his wrist.
“Don’t,” she murmured.
Heat and electricity emanated from where she touched him. He stared down at the point of contact. If nothing else, that sensation solidified everything in his heart. There was no one like Cece. And no one had ever affected him this way.
She pulled away far too quickly, but as she did so, she blushed. She lifted the bag up in offering. “There’s a cute little picnic area on the trail. Do you want to join me?”
Jason nodded. “I’d like that.”
Dang, she was beautiful when she smiled. She was beautiful when she was mad, too, but he’d never tell her as much. He shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded toward the trail. And they started walking.
Cece looped her arm through his, immediately falling into that comfortable rhythm they had found. “I found out something interesting the other day. I had no idea that you knew Faith and Lydia.”
He tensed, but didn’t offer anything. For all he knew, his sisters might have said things about him that he didn’t want shared.
He didn’t think Faith would do such a thing, but Lydia was a different story.
They were closer in age, and she didn’t have any problem poking at him when she wanted to get a rise out of him.
She laughed. “When they say everyone knows everyone in small towns, I guess they’re right.
” Then her brows furrowed. “Except, that’s not completely true.
I suppose there are still cliques. Like the people I met at that party the night you—” She glanced up at him again.
“I know I thanked you already, but I really appreciated that you took me home that night.”
Jason cut her a smile and gave her another nod. “I’ll always be there for you. Just call.” The confession escaped him before he had a chance to pull it back. It was true but perhaps not the right time to say such a thing.
Contemplative, Cece slowed her steps. She didn’t release him. In fact, if anything, her hold on him tightened. Her brows drew together and as if she had more to say, but then she shook her head and huffed a small breath.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, only the sound of their shoes scuffling against the earth before she finally spoke up again. “I’ve been here for months now.”
He glanced at her, but she stared off ahead, apparently deep in thought.
“And you want to know what I like most about this place?” This time she looked up at him.
“Most people would say the landscape. Or the people. Because that’s what you come for, right?
When you decide to pay a visit to a place like Rocky Ridge, you don’t come for the shopping or the food.
You come so you can watch the sun rise over the mountains.
To breathe in the fresh air or smell the rain when it falls.
The colors are more vibrant. The people are genuine, if a little bit guarded.
” A teasing smile tugged at her lips, and she leaned in closer to him, her cheek resting against his upper arm.
“Those aren’t your favorite things?”
“Oh, they’re amazing. Don’t get me wrong.” She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. “You can almost get a high from being out in the fresh air. But no, I’ve realized that’s not what I like most about this place.”
“What’s your favorite thing about Rocky Ridge?” he asked.
“The way the mountains are just so unapologetic.” A bubble of laughter escaped her throat. “When I’m out here everything makes sense. That goes for the people too.” This time she gave him a pointed look.
That statement went right to his bones. While he’d been easily enraptured by her and everything she embodied simply because of who she was, this feeling ran deeper. So deep that he had to take a moment to drink it in.
Cece dropped to a murmur again. “And that unapologetic nature spreads to how outsiders are perceived.” She scrunched up her face. “Well, for the most part. I really don’t think I’d be welcomed back to Sagebrush if they knew why I was here.”
Jason stopped in the middle of the trail and turned to face her.
“The job you do for your father has no bearing on the person you are. Wendy enjoys spending time with you because you’re good and kind.
You don’t make anyone feel less than even though it’s clear you come from money and status.
One look at you and people can tell just how humble you are.
I don’t think you realize how easy it is to like you. ”
She was quiet for a long moment after his abrupt statement. Then she looked up so she could meet his eyes better. “And you? Is it easy for you to like me?”
There it was. The question of the hour. He could tell her he thought he might already be falling for her.
For her wit, her intelligence, her charm.
For her laughter, her smile, and the ease with which she put the people around her.
Heck, he could tell her she was beautiful and every bit as amazing as the next local.
But he wasn’t flowery. He never had been and never needed to be.
Saying less meant more. So instead of waxing poetic, he simply took her face in his hands and dipped his own closer to her.
He searched her eyes, making it clear how serious he was.
Then he murmured, “I really like you, Cece. More than I have any right to.”
Her lips parted and a soft exhale escaped. Color bled beneath her skin, flooding her cheeks as her eyes sparkled with surprise and something else.
Something more.
“Jason—” she whispered.
“Go out with me,” he interrupted, not willing to lose this momentum.
“Wh-what?” She blinked rapidly.
“Let me take you on a date. We can go anywhere you want. Dinner. A movie. Stargazing. Just let me take you somewhere I can hold your hand and kiss you goodnight.”
Her full lips curled into a smile. “You want to kiss me?”
He closed his eyes briefly, fighting the desire to do just that. “More than you know,” Jason murmured as he pressed his forehead to hers. “But I want to do this right.”
This time she grinned. “I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong way to do things.” The teasing made him smile, and she didn’t give him a chance to retort when she added, “I’d love to go out with you, Jason.”