Page 11 of Sunrise & Serenity

Though I can’t deny how gentle he was when he tended to my knees.

The memory of his hands on my skin brings his image to mind. With his blue eyes, darkly stubbled jaw, and the way his scowl tugs at his masculine lips, he’s the epitome of a brooding cowboy.

Not that I find that kind of thing attractive, of course.

I sit up straight and tug my pajama pants above my knees so I can inspect them. He placed the bandages neatly, and the sting has already eased. I’m lucky I didn’t do more damage. Imagine if I’d sprained an ankle and had to hobble around the ranch.

Thank goodness I didn’t give him the satisfaction.

God, why am I still thinking about Holden?

I push myself upright and wander over to investigate the kitchenette. A door on the other side that I assumed was a pantry turns out to be a little laundry room. Perfect. It hadn’t even occurred to me how I’d wash my clothes all the way out here.

As I turn, light filtering through the trees outside the window above the sink catches my eye. Another cabin sits tucked among the pines a short distance away, and the truck parked outside confirms it’s Holden’s. A shadow passes behind his window, and my pulse leaps. I should back away so he doesn’t catch me staring, but curiosity makes me linger, hoping for another glimpse of him.

I’m just edging closer to the glass when a sudden loud ring sends my heart into my throat. I spin away from the window and snatch my now-charged phone from the sideboard. Mia’s name on the screen makes me smile.

After detaching it from its charger, I throw myself onto the couch again and swipe to answer.

“Are you there? Are you alive?” Mia asks, her tone breathless.

A laugh escapes me. “Barely. But yes, I survived the wilderness.”

“When I told Ruby, she was sure you were going to be rescued by a cowboy on a white horse.”

I let my head fall back. “Close. Grumpy cowboy, muddy truck, and a glare that would have cracked my lens if I’d tried to shoot it.”

This time Mia’s the one who laughs. “Who was that?”

“Holden, apparently. Have you met him?”

“A couple of times when I’ve tagged along on a call-out with Doc. He didn’t seem overly grumpy. More reserved than anything else.”

“I guess I caught him on a bad day, then. Now I have to live next to him out here in the middle of nowhere.”

“Really?” Her voice brims with curiosity.

Sighing, I sling my feet up onto the cushion and stretch out. “It’s the only cabin they had available on short notice. Which means he has to drive me around until my car’s fixed.”

“I’m sure it won’t take you long to win him over. Who could resist you?”

She’s way too confident for my liking. Or maybe I’m just too tired and strung out to feel the same. Rather than keep talking about Holden, I murmur my agreement. My eyelids are drooping anyway. “I’d better get to bed. He’s picking me up at six, and I’m desperate for sleep.”

“Of course. I’m glad you’re here. Ruby and I can’t wait to see you.”

Just hearing that makes coming here worth it.

After planning to catch up on Monday evening, we say goodbye. As I hit disconnect, I spot a text notification that must have come in while I was unpacking.

Graham.

I roll my eyes, then quickly check the message. Not because I want to hear from him, but because if one of the last few pieces of mine still hanging in his gallery has sold, I’d like to know.

Ending our relationship was a lot easier than untangling our lives. Professionally, I’m still tied to his gallery. Even my email account is hosted there. It made sense when we were together. Now it’s one more thing I need to deal with when I get back to New York.

Sadly, he’s not contacting me about a sale. He just wants to know where I am and when I’ll be back in town so we can “discuss matters.” Without reading any farther, I delete it like all the others.

I’m sure the matters he wants to discuss are the same ones he brought up when I told him we were over. That I’m naïve. That I won’t get far without him opening the right doors.