Page 8 of Sunrise & Serenity

“Yep.”

My hand tightens on the dash, and I turn toward him, making the connection. “Let me guess. It’s you.”

His terse nod has me slumping back into my seat. What did I do to deserve this? The next three months are supposed to be my reset. A chance to step away from the wreckage of my relationship and my career and spend time with Mia and Ruby.

It’s not like I expected life out here to be just like New York. I wanted an escape from the city. I just didn’t expect to be stuck with a grumpy-as-hell cowboy for company instead of my friend and her daughter.

Which reminds me. As soon as I get to this cabin of mine, I’ll need to charge my phone and call Mia to let her know I’ve arrived safely.

Though as we jounce over another bump in the road, I reconsider the safely part.

Eventually, the silence starts to get to me. “I’m surprised there are cabins this far away from the main ranch.”

“Most of them are closer,” he says without looking away from the road. “The new guest cabins are on the valley floor. These are mostly used as temporary accommodation during spring and summer roundups, when we hire extra hands.”

“Does that mean you’re staying here temporarily?”

I should probably cool it with the questions, but I’m curious by nature. Especially now that I know Holden is going to be my unfriendly neighbor. I need to figure out what makes him tick.

“It’s where I live,” he replies.

I assume that’s all he’s going to say, but he keeps going.

“I like the peace and quiet—and not having anyone around.”

I do my best not to roll my eyes. Now that I’ve regained my equilibrium, his grumpiness is almost funny. At least it’s not fake like Graham’s smooth charm turned out to be. But I’m here to do a job, and I’m going to do it well. If this guy wants to keep me at arm’s length, I’m okay with that. It doesn’t mean I’m going to tiptoe around him just because he’s got an attitude.

A few minutes later, the truck’s lights flash across a clearing, turning the falling rain silver, then skim along the wooden walls of a small log cabin. Holden pulls up so that the front of the building is illuminated. As I take it in, my heart gives an unexpected bounce. Maybe I should be dismayed by how rustic it is compared to my apartment in New York, but I’m not.

Three low wooden steps lead up to a porch that runs the width of the cabin. A rocking chair tucked into one corner has me imagining curling up there with a book and a coffee. The windows might be dark, but they’re large. I’m sure they let in plenty of sunlight during the day.

This might not be so bad after all.

Forgetting who I’m with, I beam at Holden. “It’s so cute.”

His brows knit together, and he glances from me to the cabin and back again, as if he were expecting a more horrified reaction. Given the comments he’s made, he’s clearly made assumptions about me.

Well, I’ll show him where he can shove his assumptions.

Without waiting for a response, I swing the truck door open and jump out.

Unfortunately, I miscalculate how high I am and how slippery the ground is. My sneakers slide out from under me, and my knees hit the dirt. I yelp as gravel bites into my skin through the thin fabric of my skirt.

A muttered curse comes from behind me, followed by the squeak of the driver’s door.

I close my eyes and hang my head, focusing on breathing. So much for disproving his assumptions.

He squats in front of me, and even the sting in my knees doesn’t stop me from noticing how the damp denim tightens around his muscular thighs.

Seriously? I’ve just embarrassed myself in front of a man who already thinks I’m useless, and I’m noticing his thighs. Damn it, I can’t be distracted by a man in a good pair of jeans right now.

“Are you hurt?”

He actually sounds concerned, which, after everything that’s happened, is enough to make the backs of my eyes prickle. When he grips my chin and tilts my face up to his, I blink away the tears blurring my vision before he can see them.

Pulling away from his touch, I carefully push myself to my feet. “I’m fine.”

Surprising me again, he takes my hands and holds them palm-up, his thumbs ghosting over them in a way I’m not sure he’s aware of. He gently brushes away some grains of dirt, and the roughness of his calluses sends the smallest shiver down my spine.