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She did as he suggested. It was good to know that she didn’t always have to have her own way. Maybe there was a chance for them—oh, who was he kidding? Selling or not selling the land was a small part of their problems. They came from two totally different worlds. He could never make her happy long-term—eventually, the novelty of having a cowboy escort her around would wear off. But no matter how he rationalized it, he still couldn’t extinguish the desire to pull her back into his arms and show her what she was missing—what they were both missing.
As they started their ascent up the jagged cliff, Lexi asked, “Is there a name for this place?”
“I call it the Little Grand Canyon.” He paused to glance back at her. “If we hike to the top, you won’t be disappointed by the spectacular view.”
Usually, he’d meander around exploring for wildlife, but not today. With Lexi being an inexperienced hiker, he planned to take the most direct path. He led them at a steady pace, while skirting the patches of desert grass and scraggly brush. His boots safely deflected the sticker burrs with tiny, painful barbs. The only sound was from the wind whipping through the canyon and the stones crunching beneath their feet.
He paused about halfway up the wall of rock. “Do you need a break?”
“I’m fine. You can keep going.”
He didn’t stop until they reached the overlook with a spectacular view of the narrow canyon. He moved to a large rock, his favorite place to sit and take in the scenery. He set his backpack next to a boulder as Lexi caught up to him. She dropped her supplies on the ground. Her face was splotchy, and she looked exhausted. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so eager to share this spot with her.
He held out his hands. “Let me help you up on the rock.”
Not giving her a chance to protest, his hands spanned her waist. His gaze dipped, taking in her full bottom lip. If he were to lean forward a few inches, he could snag a kiss—one of those mind-blowing kisses that haunted him at night. He swallowed. Caving in to his desires now wouldn’t solve anything between them—it’d only complicate things further now that he had feelings for her.
With her settled on the rock, he turned his back. If he kept staring at her pink lips, he knew his resolve would crumble. Instead, he focused on the familiar beauty of the vast canyon. “You’re the first person I’ve shared this spot with. I’ve been coming here since I was old enough to take the horses out on my own. I’d lie on this rock and daydream.”
“You were lucky to have such an amazing childhood. I can definitely see what draws you to this spot. It’s like sitting on top of the world. I wish I’d had a spot like this to unwind and do some thinking.”
“You could have it now.” He turned to her, wanting her to take him seriously because he’d never been more serious in his whole life—for a variety of reasons. “Buy the couple hundred acres I have up for sale and build yourself a house. Consider it a retreat from the craziness of New York. Better yet, move here permanently and…and breed horses. You have a way with them.”
“Really? You think so?” He nodded but then doubt shadowed her eyes. “I’m no horse breeder or rancher. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
“Okay. Then start your own business—an Internet business. And when I finish up my chores for the day, I can head over to your place to share an evening meal.” Now where had that idea come from? But the thought of being able to see Lexi whenever he wanted had a smile tugging at his lips.
“And who’s going to be in charge of whipping up those supposed dinners?”
“Why?” How could he have forgotten that he was talking to a high-powered executive? Something told him that she didn’t eat dinner at home very often. “You don’t cook?”
She shook her head. “Not even a little.”
She certainly wasn’t making this sales pitch easy on him. “You could learn—”
“Save it. Me in the kitchen will never happen.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I’d be an utter failure.”
“Have you ever tried?”
She shook her head. “Are you saying this because you want me to move here or because you’ll do anything to stop the resort from being built?”
“Would it be so bad if it were a bit of both?”
“But you can’t make me into the woman you want me to be. I’m a businesswoman. I’m not a homemaker, not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just not the path my life has taken. I understand numbers and spreadsheets. I know nothing about recipes and measuring cups. Sometimes, I wish I was good at both. I always envy women who can balance everything life throws at them.”
“I didn’t say you have to be a homemaker,” he ground out. “But how do you know what you want if you don’t try it on to see how it fits?”
“You can’t expect me to change into something that I’m not. It won’t work.”
This wasn’t how he’d hoped the conversation would go, but what would it hurt to keep talking? “You know, exploring other interests doesn’t mean you have to change.”
She tilted her head to the side and looked at him. “If I were to consider your idea—and I’m not saying I am—but if I were, what do I do about HSG? My father and the investors are counting on me to bring home this deal and keep the company profitable.”
“I don’t have all of the answers.” Cord refused to be sidetracked. HSG wasn’t his responsibility. “If you were to buy the land for personal reasons, do you envision yourself living here or just flying back for the occasional vacation?”
“We’re talking hypothetically?”
He nodded, eager to have her give his idea real consideration. The more she talked about it, the more tangible the possibility would become for her—at least, he hoped so.
