Page 10 of Worth the Trouble

Chet nudged him with his shoulder. “She’s a natural,” he whispered. “Where did you find her?”

Jason stiffened. How Chet said it made this sound like they were more than that. And boy, did that notion sound better than it should. He’d only interacted with this woman twice, and he was already craving more. “At the bakery,” he murmured.

“Nice,” Chet whispered. “Hey, I’m going to head into the store. I’ll be back. You good here?”

Jason nodded. “We’ll wait for you to get back.”

“Thanks, man.” Chet disappeared without another word, leaving Jason alone with the woman who was quickly becoming someone he’d thought could only be concocted in his dreams.

“Wow,” Cece whispered. “I’ve never done that before.”

His brows shot up. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a horse before.”

“Not up close. My dad, well, he’s incredibly protective. Anything that could put me at risk wasn’t allowed. Sports? Yeah, right. Dangerous pets? Nope.” She twisted around to look at him again, her whole countenance shining bright. “This is so amazing.”

Right then, Jason vowed he’d give her more opportunities to try new things. At least while she was still in town, especially if she’d be here for a while.

She nuzzled into Lola’s face, her arms going around the animal’s neck. “Do you have a horse?” It came out muffled but he caught it loud and clear.

“I do,” he said. The offer to let her meet his horse was on the tip of his tongue, but with Chet’s arrival, he was interrupted.

“Thanks for keeping her company, guys. But I best be getting on the road.”

Cece rubbed Lola’s nose once more then stepped back. Her focus remained locked on the animal until the trailer doors clanged shut.

Chet shot them each another smile. “It was nice meeting you, Cece. And I’ll see you around, Jason.”

Jason dipped his chin and Chet drove away.

“That’s it. I’m addicted,” Cece muttered as soon as the taillights turned the corner up ahead.

He cut her a strange look.

“Horses. I want one.”

Jason chuckled, then he jerked his chin back the way they’d come. “Shall we?” This time she didn’t hold onto him and he fought the urge to be disappointed. Instead, she hugged herself, and he shoved his hands into his pockets.

They walked in a companionable silence. He wasn’t sure where she was leading him until it became painfully obvious she had no intention of sticking around.

“Well, this is me.” Cece hovered at the side of a car that was more sporty than practical. She peered up at him from beneath her lashes. “Thanks again for saving me, Jason.”

How his name sounded coming off the tip of her tongue could have ended wars.

He nodded again then started to ask her for her number when her phone vibrated in her purse.

She startled and pulled the device out. Her eyes widened and she gasped. “I’m so sorry, Jason, but I have to take this. Tonight was so fun.” She yanked open her car door and settled behind the wheel. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Before he could stop her, she pulled the door shut, waved, then answered the phone and started her car. Jason stepped back, giving her a wave of his own as she drove away.

CHAPTER FIVE

Her father came back from the town meeting looking like he’d just sucked on a sour lemon. He didn’t say how it went. He didn’t have to. He paced the length of the room twice, told her nobody there had recognized him.

“I’m in no mood to walk away from this parcel of land.” He stood at the window looking out at the mountains in the distance.

“You know what? I think some of those brownies from that bakery in town might be in order. I’ll be back shortly.” She walked out before he had a chance to say more about his disappointment in how this deal was going.

Cecelia headed straight for the bakery first, thrilled that the lights were on and people were inside. The second it came into view, Jason filled her mind. This was where they’d first met and she’d been hit with the hard reality that she no longer wanted her life to revolve around work.