“Needy. Very,veryneedy.” I set my beer down and rested my elbow on the table, turning my body fully toward her. “The resort is a whole other ball game to the ranch. I hope you’re prepared for it.”
“I think I’ll be okay. I can manage assholes with egos as big as their wallets—especially when I get to be outside all day while doing it.” She picked up her beer, peering at me as she took a long pull from the bottle.
I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my mouth. “You used to say you’d live outside if you could.”
“That hasn’t changed.” Her tongue darted out to lick her upper lip. “I just stopped dreaming of that ever happening and accepted my fate as an office drone.”
My mom made a disgusted noise. “You’re too young to give up your dreams.”
Zara laughed. “I feel about a hundred. But I don’t think dreaming of spending my life outside is very practical.”
“Dreams don’t have to be practical.” My mom turned on the gas stove and grabbed a pan. “God, how boring would it be if I fantasized about wearing granny panties, eating salad for every meal, and going to bed at a sensible hour? I might as well crawl into my grave.”
Dad chuckled. “You’d still be sexy in granny panties.”
I closed my eyes, letting out a heavy breath. “Really? Not only is your son here, but we have a guest.”
He knocked me on the shoulder with the back of his hand. “Your mom brought up panties. It can’t be helped.”
“Besides,” Mom added, “Zara isn’t a guest. She’s family.”
“I think you guys are sweet,” Zara said. “You remind me of my parents, so I’m used to it.”
Mom folded her arms. “Thank you, darling. At least someone appreciates having parents who adore each other.”
I tossed my hand out. “I appreciate it, I promise. I’d just like to acknowledge it’s a little gross sometimes.”
Zara’s soft burst of laughter drew my eyes straight to her. I hadn’t heard that kind of laugh from her in so long. Years, really. The kind where her cheeks flushed and her eyes shone.
She shook her head, bringing her beer back to her lips. “I think we had this exact conversation when we were fifteen.”
Dad grunted. “Nice that some things don’t change.”
“Yeah.” Her smile faded slowly as she gazed at me from across the kitchen. “Most do. It’s a nice surprise to uncover things that haven’t.”
My mom put her hand on Zara’s shoulder. “The carrots are good, darling. I’ve got this. Why don’t you go sit down and enjoy your beer?”
Since arguing with Elena Kelly was useless, Zara reluctantly crossed the kitchen and took a seat at the table opposite me, her beer clutched in both hands. She leaned back, sliding down in her seat, looking small and tired. So damn tired.
It irritated me more than it should have, but this was all wrong. Everything about the situation: the dark circles under her eyes, my tied tongue…that slightly darker freckle on her cheek—a glaring reminder of the days I spent staring at it, imagining it would be the first place I kissed her.
“You said you’ve been riding back home?” Dad asked.
“I have.” Zara sat up, placing her beer on the table. “I haven’t been working the last few months. My career is a mess—actually, my life in general is a mess. The only thing that made sense was to plant my feet in nature. I started hiking again, and that led togetting back to riding. Before I got here, I was going out a few times a week and teaching lessons.”
“You stopped hiking?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, but goddamn, I was too surprised to help myself.
“I did.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I haven’t really been myself for a while.”
“Good you’re in a place you can be you now,” Dad said.
“I hope so.” Zara offered him a wobbly smile. “When I was explaining to Zane why I wanted to spend my summer here—”
I laughed. “Let me guess—he didn’t get it.”
“Of course not.” Her laugh was breathy and soft. “Zane would build tunnels between every building in Portland to avoid setting foot outside if he could, and if he could have the summer he spent here wiped from his memory, he’d be more than amenable.”
Elena feigned a gasp. “I’m so offended. That boy spent more time helping me in my office than he did out on the ranch. I showed him a fabulous time.”
