Page 8 of A Rainfall Promise

Don’t go thinking I was a virgin, I was not. But this feeling, it went beyond just desire or lust, and that’s what scared the shit out of me. That’s me wishing I could turn tail and run back to myhouse and lock the door, never letting anyone in again. But I had a feeling she was going to change the very rules on me now and I really didn’t know how I felt about that.

“So, why be a loner?” she asked, fiddling with the straw in her strawberry milkshake.

“I know you won’t let me slide with the simple statement that it’s easier, but it just is. I guess growing up, being a lifer here, I just had so many people who knew my family’s business before I even did, and I was over it. It sounds dumb, I know. But it’s how I felt. Almost intrusive so by the time I got control of the ranch, I was ready to be done with people. I talked to those that were helping me maintain the land, and that was it.”

“I can understand that. But is it really easier? I mean, it’s a small town, no matter what, so everyone is going to know everything in days. But days like today, and season like now, is it really easier to do it all on your own?”

I took a sip of my ice tea. I wanted to tell her yes, it was, but the truth was, no, it just wasn’t. I didn’t want her to get a big head over the idea, but it felt nice to see the people I kept at arm’s length rallying behind me to help. I wasn’t sure they would have come if I asked, but they did it for her.

“You don’t have to pretend with me, Jose.”

My eyes lifted to her and she smiled, making something odd happen in my chest again.

“No, I guess it’s not easier. But I’m not the type to be all friendly like you. Which is so annoying.”

“It might have been, but I’ve grown on you. You can admit that.”

“Not really.”

She giggled before she tilted her head.

“Today, the people came because you asked. They wouldn’t have if it was me asking.”

“And that, Mr. Vasquez, is where you are wrong. They would have come if you asked. We’re a community, we pride ourselves on helping each other out. If you had swallowed just a bit of pride and said, ‘I need help’, no one would have judged and all would have come running.”

“We’re a community. Vicky, you haven’t lived here that long. And yet you talk as if this place is your home, as if you wanted to be here. How is that possible? And though I give you crap about learning from books, I’ve caught a tour or two. What you talk about isn’t in a book. So why not enlighten me as to how you really came by your information and why you feel like this is your community.”

Chapter 6

Vicky

“Now you want to know the answer to that, huh?” I teased, looking down at my milkshake.

“I bug you enough about it, but I also know I’m wrong.” That had my head snapping up and he laughed. “Don’t give me that look. I can admit when I’m wrong. And I was. Am. So, how do you know so much?”

“I lived here.”

I watched as his brows snapped together in confusion and I couldn’t help but smile at that. The moment I could throw that in his face, I didn’t think it would look like that, but it was priceless. Hell, I was half tempted to take my phone out and snap a photo just to keep the memory there.

“You lived here?”

“I did. Moved away when I was about five years old, actually. But this was always my home, and this is where I wanted to come back to. My dad lost his job here and it is a small place, so we moved in with family in Texas, but it never felt right. When I told my parents I was coming back, they weren’t surprised.”

“Do you have people here you know?”

“I do. Crystal is my best friend.”

“The same Crystal that works…,” but instead of finishing, he just trailed off and I couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Yup. She’s the one who lends me her horses. Well, Blaze is mine actually. I’ve been paying for him for years. But yes, that same lady.”

“That makes…far more sense. Of anyone I can see you being friends with, it’s her. She’s so much like you; annoyingly cheerful.”

“Don’t do that, Jose,” I told him, flinging a fry at him. “Just because some of us enjoy being pleasant and happy doesn’t mean it’s bad. Besides, this wonderful personality that I have brings a lot of tourists to town. And whether you like it or not, it keeps the town alive.”

He sighed before he leaned back in his seat, his fingers running through his hair and I fought not to lean over and do thesame. Why did this older, grouchy, rancher have to be so hot? Why couldn’t I fall for guys closer to my age? Instead, there was a good ten plus year age gap between us, and I had no doubt that he would shut me down if I tried.

And honestly, he could be seeing someone for all I know. Jose kept his cards pretty close to his heart.