“I never thought I did, and I’ve never been any good at asking for help.But something about you is different,” Miranda admitted, and he could feel her eyes on him.
“Maybe you’re the one helping me.I came to Sandy Point looking for the family I didn’t know, because I needed to see what I might be missing.”
“What did you find?”
“I’m starting to think I was missing even more than I thought.”
“See now that doesn’t sound like you’re just talking about friendship, and every time I fall for some sweet talk it always turns out to not be real.”
“Well, I’m real.”
“But you’re not sure how long you’re staying in Sandy Point, and I don’t know that much about you.”She turned her body to face him.“You said you were out of work and taking a break, but a break from what?”
But before Renn could answer there was a loud pop and the sound of a rock hitting the glass windshield.Miranda yelped and he pumped the breaks as the glass splintered with a web of cracks from the middle out.
“Oh crap, that can’t be a good sign,” Miranda said.
“Don’t go down that road.We’re about an hour from our destination.I can either keep going and find a garage once we’re in Athens, or look for something along the way?”
“Are you okay driving with it like this?”
“As long as it doesn’t spread much further, we’re good.”
“Not exactly the best way to make an entrance in the arena—with a shattered windshield,” Miranda said.
“Just focus on your salesmanship and I’ll take care of the repair once we unload the horses.No one will even know,” Renn said, trying to project confidence so she didn’t get any more discouraged than she already was.She reopened her notes and shuffled the pages.
“So run through your pitch, why are the Beautiful Beasts the horses I need for my ranch?”he prompted.
For the next hour Renn listened as Miranda practiced her pitch about each of her stud’s pedigrees and stats, until he pulled the truck into the arena.The entrance was busy and there were dozens of other horse breeders already there setting up their designated stalls where they would make themselves and their horses available.
“I think if you lead with your passion and knowledge about your horses, and highlight their bloodlines, you can’t lose,” Renn said as he parked next to their assigned three stables.
“I hope you’re right.”
Renn cut the engine and reached into the back seat.“Before you head out there, it’s important to remember one thing.”He pulled out a brand-new black Stetson he’d picked out for her.“Fake it ’til you make it.”
Her face lit up with a smile, but she could still see her nervousness.“That’s your big advice?”
“Yep, and it has served me well.”
“Won’t a fancy new hat just make me stand out?”
“You won’t need a hat for that, but it’s a good thing here.Lean into that.Mama always said, first you get their attention then you hold it with your intelligence and wit.”
“Are you telling me your mama was a looker and used it to her advantage?”
“Don’t we all?”
“You surprise me at every turn.”
“Ready?”Renn asked as he nodded toward her door and an event official approached to greet them and check her paperwork.
“As I’ll ever be.Time to wow them.”
Jumping down from the truck, Renn was struck with a wave of nostalgia.He’d spent years attending similar events with his mama when he was in high school, and he missed her every day.But it was nice to spend time with someone who understood this world he was raised in.Miranda was definitely a leading reason to stick around Sandy Point longer.He was enjoying getting to know his brothers and Gran, but he probably wouldn’t still be in town if it weren’t for a certain cowgirl with long blonde hair and a mouth he wanted to kiss.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
