Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“I’m not nervous,” Cecelia muttered to herself as she paced in front of her hotel bed staring at the options she had for outfits as if saying it aloud would be enough to convince her racing heart.
Jason had asked her out. She’d been so close to making the move herself, too. Maybe that was why she wanted to make sure this went right. She craved control and tonight she’d be relinquishing it to a man who saw the deepest parts of her without even trying.
Granted, she had a nasty habit of talking too much when he was around, but he didn’t mind and that only endeared him to her further.
She picked the dress Wendy had talked her into at the boutique, the one that would go with boots, and spent an hour on the rest. By the time she made it to the elevator, her hands were clammy and all she could think about was how this evening would end.
With a kiss.
She touched her lips just as she stepped out of the elevator and strode forward, not paying attention to where she was going. Unfortunately, that meant she ran directly into a hard chest.
“Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry,” she mumbled immediately. Her eyes darted up to the man before her. He was distinctly familiar, but she couldn’t place him. She frowned. She nearly asked him if they’d met before, but then her name was called and they both turned at the intrusion.
Jason strode closer, having eyes only for her. It was in how he took her in, how his smile tugged at his mouth as only Jason’s did.
The gentleman she’d bumped into mumbled under his breath before hurrying toward the exit.
She tossed him one more glance but seeing as she could only catch a glimpse of the back of his head, she wasn’t able to place where she’d seen him before.
Stranger still, there had been a flash of recognition in his eyes as well.
Why didn’t he speak? Introduce himself? Unless he was just as thrown as she was. Maybe he recognized her but didn’t remember her name and wanted to save face.
“Ready?” Jason murmured so close the hair on the back of her neck lifted.
They were out in the open, surrounded by guests and people who worked at the lodge, and yet Jason made the space so small.
He filled it with his cedar and leather scent.
There was a hint of citrus that lingered in the air between them that got even more potent when he leaned in closer still. “You look exquisite.”
She nibbled on her lower lip warming under his gaze and the compliment. Then she reached up to his styled hair. “You clean up nice, too. Though I have to say I’ve grown accustomed to your hat.”
His lips twitched. “You have, huh?”
Cecelia nodded. “Desperately so.”
Jason banded his hand around her waist and turned her toward the exit. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time. And if we’re taking requests,” he mused with an arch of his brow.
She laughed. “And what would you request?”
He dragged a thumb along his lower lip, pausing long enough to let his gaze sweep over her. “I’ve always been partial to PJs.”
Cecelia barked out a surprised laugh. “You’re kidding. What are we talking, silk robes—”
“Oh, I’m all for the footie pajamas.”
She laughed, unable to help it. Jason was once again disarming her, and she was here for it. “Who knew? The quiet cowboy has a sense of humor?” Cecelia couldn’t be certain but a blush might have crept across his features.
But it was how he looked at her that sobered her right up.
Everything in his gaze only confirmed what she’d hoped was happening between them.
No more questioning. No more fretting over whether her feelings for him would be reciprocated.
And when he brought her hand to his lips, she allowed herself to fall even deeper.
It might look as though they were taking things slow, but in her heart she knew better.
These feelings she had for him were growing at an exponential rate.
They arrived at a beautiful Italian restaurant that had outdoor seating near a water feature.
The ambient sound only added to the romantic mood.
Soft instrumental music played as she perused her menu.
Every so often she’d glance up and find his eyes on her.
Maybe she should have been nervous under his scrutiny, but she wasn’t.
She’d gotten used to his quiet, observant behavior.
Did that mean she was content for things to stay as they were? No. Honestly, she wanted to see him open up more, to give her more to latch onto. Communication was important. He didn’t have to be a chatter box, but she wouldn’t mind more easy conversation.
Cecelia placed her menu on the table, already knowing that she’d get her usual. She was a sucker for fettuccine. He mirrored her movements, releasing his menu as he smiled at her. When she went to speak, he beat her to it.
“Tell me about yourself.”
Snorting out a laugh, she eyed him with amusement. “That sounds very professional of you, Jason.”
He shrugged. “I’m nothing if not precise.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She rested her elbow on the table.
“Tit for tat. How about you ask something and I’ll answer.
But then I get to ask something and you answer.
” She nearly expected him to turn her down and insist he was only interested in hearing about her.
That would make sense with his personality. But he surprised her again.
“Sounds reasonable.”
She beamed at him, and it was only made that much better when his smile widened. “Who’s first.”
He gestured for her to ask away, and she tapped her chin with her finger. “Oh, I know. Have you ever broken a bone?”
“I broke my arm once. Fell off a horse. Stopped my rodeo career right then and there.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m so sorry. How old were you?”
“Five,” Jason said with such conviction and a straight face she couldn’t tell if he was teasing her. Oh, she believed he’d been five when he’d broken his arm. But a rodeo career?
“Somehow I don’t see you as being the competitive type.”
His lips twitched.
Leaning forward, she whispered, “Maybe you should just admit that you don’t like being in the spotlight.”
A flicker of surprise darted across his face. “Honestly, I don’t.”
Triumph exploded within her. She knew him better than she’d thought she did. “Let me guess. That’s why you like training competitors rather than getting in the arena yourself.”
Jason tsked her. “I believe it’s my turn for a question.” There wasn’t even a second of hesitation when he asked, “Could you ever see yourself relocating here?”
That was a loaded question if she’d ever heard one.
The ironic thing was that she had in fact already considered what it might take.
And not to simply move to a small town like Rocky Ridge, but to move to this town specifically.
“Yes.” Her answer hung in the air between them.
If Jason was surprised, he didn’t show it.
In fact, she couldn’t tell if her answer even pleased him, at least not from the outside.
When he didn’t comment further, she allowed herself to relax into the seat at her back.
“Would you ever move to the city?” This time she knew what his answer would be without a doubt.
Of course he’d say no. Who in their right mind would move all the way out to a big city when they were grounded in a place like this?
“For the right reasons.”
Her mouth nearly hung open at that, and she leaned forward. “And what reasons are those?” Cecelia was well aware she was cheating by asking another question. She was also aware that she might look a little crazed based on how her hands had landed on the table.
But then Jason took one of those hands and placed it in his.
He let his thumb trail along the ridges of her knuckles as he stared at their joined hands deep in thought.
“A job wouldn’t be enough if that’s what you’re asking.
” His eyes flicked up to meet hers. “But perhaps for family. For the chance with a good woman.”
She studied him then. And when he finally leveled her with a steely look, she gasped. The man didn’t have to say what he was thinking because it was etched into those warm, brown eyes.
I’d move to the city for you.
Cece couldn’t bear to drag her gaze from the man in front of her no matter how much she wanted to. Not when he looked at her like that. And not when he asked his next question.
“Would you start your own business if there was nothing in your way?”
When her brows furrowed, because there wasn’t technically anything in her way and she’d told him as much, he explained.
“Not your father’s recommendations. Not financial worries. Do you feel like you could make it work?”
There wasn’t a question in her mind when she whispered, “Yes.”
His smile was quick, almost triumphant. She might have expected him to give her a speech about chasing after what she wanted but that wasn’t who Jason was at his core. At least not the Jason she’d come to know.
“And what about you? Would you start your business if there wasn’t anything, or anyone, holding you back?
” She was referring to his brother and they both knew it.
Her curiosity had been piqued when he’d brought up his interest in becoming a whisperer.
And it’d sat with her for a while because when she looked at him, she didn’t see a rodeo trainer.
She saw someone who was good with animals.
Someone who knew how to communicate in a way that wasn’t common.
It was a gift and one she didn’t want him to ignore.
Jason scrubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “I suppose I would. But it’s like you said. There are certain things you need to start a business. Especially one like that.”
They were reaching a topic they were both interested in, and the switch was immediate. His shoulders relaxed and his smile was easier.
“If I were to start it here, I’d need to make sure I had a clientele base.”
“That wouldn’t be too difficult seeing as people know you here,” she murmured.
He nodded. “There’s a need which is important.
But then there’s the initial overhead which I could take out a loan for.
Then there’s the advertising and marketing.
There’s the word of mouth. Heck, I’m not even sure people would realize I have a knack for it without showing proof.
” His warm gaze trailed over her. “Not like you.”
“What do you mean?”
Jason settled in his seat, admiration plain on his face.
“You’ve been at your job for a long time.
You’ve built a foundation of proof. There would be no need to ask for trust when your work shines for you.
Sure, you might not have the clientele base in a place like this, but from what I understand, you wouldn’t need it.
With some well-placed ads, you could find clients all over the country. ”
“And you couldn’t?”
That caught him off guard. His smile faltered as he started putting two-and-two together. She leaned forward again, speaking low, her eyes stern.
“Jason, people with your gifts travel the world. They’re called to different cities, towns, countries when they’re that good.
A few hard cases and you’d have the world eating out of the palm of your hand.
” Goose bumps rose on her arms, and she settled back in her seat.
She wanted to push him right then to go after his goal.
Heck, she wanted to offer her help in getting him seen and noticed by the right people.
But who was she to tell him what to do? And for a venture like that?
Well, neither one of them were exactly in the right place financially. And knowing Jason like she did, she couldn’t see him being willing to bite off more than he could chew. He’d want to start small and grow. It was smart, and she couldn’t fault him for it.
She changed the subject, sort of. “I’m going to talk to my dad about reconsidering his stance.”
Jason’s eyes widened with interest, and she laughed, excited. “I’m going to present him with evidence that will support my case.”
“That’s really great, Cece,” he murmured. “I can’t wait to see what you do with the opportunities.”
The thought of being an investor of his crossed her mind and it nearly spilled off her tongue, but Cecelia refrained. She was getting ahead of herself. And now was not the time to lose sight of what they were building.
The rest of the evening was filled with more conversation than she remembered Jason ever having with her.
He opened up about his brother and his brother’s new wife.
He talked about his sisters and it became all too clear how close they were to each other.
When he talked about training horses rather than people she could see how that idea lit him up.
Jason was restless in his current job and she made a mental note to make sure she gave him that little push before she left Rocky Ridge for good.
When they returned to her hotel room, the charge between them skyrocketed. Each brush of his fingers against hers. The low rumble when he chuckled at a joke of hers. His warmth. His smell. Everything collided together to create the most intoxicating creation, one she didn’t want to risk losing.
Cecelia leaned against her door and peered up at Jason. He rested a palm on the wood just above her shoulder and smiled down at her. There was a hunger in his gaze she hadn’t caught before. Or perhaps she had and she’d been too nervous to acknowledge it.
She wasn’t nervous now.
All she wanted now was to get the kiss he’d promised her when he’d asked her out.
“Cece,” he murmured, low and guttural.
“Yes?” she asked in a hushed whisper.
“You don’t know what you do to me. Every second with you is magic.” He reached up with his free hand and grasped a lock of her hair between his fingers. He studied it as if it held the mysteries to the universe before he dipped his focus to her eyes, her mouth, then back to her eyes once more.
She shivered under his stare. “The feeling is mutual.”
That desire she could see in his dark brown depths flared and flashed. The fingers that toyed with her hair moved to grasp her chin. Then without further warning, he crashed his lips over hers.
This wasn’t how she expected their first kiss to go. It was firm and unyielding. It stole her breath and her thoughts. She was a muddled mess only capable of melting beneath his electric touch.
Everything else faded away, leaving only one thought behind.
She wanted more.