Page 12 of Sunrise & Serenity

I refuse to let that be true.

Shoving Graham firmly out of my mind, I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready for bed. After sliding under the covers, I set my alarm to make sure I’m up and ready before Holden arrives. I’m determined not to give him another reason to scowl at me.

Despite how exhausted I am, the darkness and unfamiliar sounds outside make it hard to fall asleep. I closed the curtains before I got into bed, but now I climb back out and pull them aside.

A light still glows through the trees.

Holden.

I snuggle back under the covers, and this time, with the knowledge that Grumpy McCowboy is only a short distance away, sleep comes for me quickly.

CHAPTER 4

SAGE

My eyes open before my alarm goes off. Maybe it’s the unfamiliar bed, or maybe it’s the nerves of starting a job unlike anything I’ve done before. Either way, I’m awake, if a little groggy.

It’s when I stumble into the kitchenette that I discover a problem. A short, frantic search confirms it. I find an ancient-looking French press with its glass stained brown at the back of a cupboard, but even if I wanted to use it, there’s no coffee.

I groan. The last thing I need is to be caffeine-deprived on my first day. As tempting as it is to crawl back under the covers, I square my shoulders and return to the bedroom.

After stripping off my pajamas, I peel the bandages from my knees and check them. Not too bad. I shower quickly, then find the first-aid kit under the sink and apply fresh bandages. It may be overkill, but I’d rather not bleed through my clothes on the day I meet my new employer.

With my towel wrapped around me, I stand in front of the open wardrobe, considering what to wear.

In New York, I usually wore sleek pantsuits and tailored dresses—clothes Graham said reflected his and the gallery’s style. I happily donated most of them after the breakup, keeping only a few of my most comfortable outfits. But when I took this job, I knew I’d need more than yoga pants and crop tops.

I searched online for women’s ranch outfits and ordered what seemed to be the essentials: jeans and denim shorts, a handful of shirts in pretty colors and patterns, and hiking boots. I nearly bought a cute pair of cowboy boots as well, but decided against it at the last minute. I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard.

This morning, I decide on a pale-blue long-sleeved shirt and pair it with jeans. Once I’ve shimmied into the stiff denim, buttoned my shirt, and laced up my boots, I return to the wardrobe to check my reflection in the mirror on the inside of the door.

I frown. The outfit looks nice enough, but everything feels too new and constricting. I should have broken in my clothes and boots before I came, but I didn’t have much time between accepting this job and leaving New York. I didn’t expect to feel this uncomfortable, either.

Or maybe that’s because I thought I’d have Mia for moral support. Too late to do anything about it now.

The knock I’ve been waiting for comes while I’m doing half-squats at the foot of my bed in an effort to loosen the denim. With one last glance at my reflection and ignoring the twist in my stomach, I head for the front of the cabin, snagging my camera bag on the way.

As soon as I swing the door open, my gaze lands on Holden. He’s leaning against the porch railing, his tanned arms crossed, the sleeves of his black T-shirt straining across his biceps. The same dark brown cowboy hat he wore last night is pulled low over his eyes.

My hormones immediately perk up and take notice, but I tell them to calm down. He might be unfairly good-looking, but the way his cool gaze sweeps over me from head to toe has me self-consciously brushing my hands over my denim-clad thighs. He’s wearing jeans. I’m wearing jeans. Why do I feel like I’ve done something wrong?

He straightens. “You ready?” he asks, as brusque as he was last night.

I inhale deeply, determined not to let this day get off to a rougher start than it already has. “As I’ll ever be.” I give him a bright smile, another attempt to be friendly.

His attention cuts to my mouth for a moment, but he only jerks his head toward his truck before striding off.

I narrow my eyes at his broad back, tempted to stick out my tongue. Then I remember I’m an adult, so I reluctantly follow.

He surprises me by stopping to open the passenger-side door for me.

Taking a page from his book, I merely give him a polite nod as I breeze past. But this close to him, I’m inundated with his scent—soap and something else. Something fresh and wild that makes me want to close my eyes and breathe it in more deeply.

Rather than doing something as creepy as that, I boost myself into the cab and wait for Holden to climb in on the other side.

“Did you sleep well?” I ask him once we’re on our way.

He shoots me a glance. “About the same as usual.”