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Jackson didn’t know how to say what he wanted to Kayla, and it wasn’t about jewelry. Naturally, he was grateful for her insight into Morgan, but he needed to talk about the future and all the possibilities he was beginning to imagine.
Still, this wasn’t the right moment. The conversation he wanted would have to wait for a time when the family wasn’t expected.
“How did you know she’d enjoy jewelry like that?” he queried. “It isn’t her usual style.”
“I didn’t know for sure, but I saw her admiring fantasy items several times at the Yellowstone gift shops, so I took a chance and asked an artist friend in Seattle to send it.”
“Does your friend have a website? I’m lame at picking out things a girl would like, so it would be nice to have a good place to buy gifts for Morgan.”
“I’ll email the web address,” Kayla told him.
“Thanks,” he said, the reminder of her imminent departure causing his chest to tighten.
She seemed unaware of his restless energy, or perhaps she assumed he was just horny. And he was, but that wasn’t why he didn’t want her to leave.
“Kayla, when we get a chance, there’s something I’d like—”
“Yoo-hoo,” a cheery voice called as his parents walked in the open door.
“Hey,” he called back.
They warmly greeted Kayla and swept her off to look for Alex. She went without a backward glance, no doubt wanting to keep up the appearance there was nothing going on between them. And maybe from her perspective, nothing was going on.
It was his own fault. He’d been so determined to avoid meaningful relationships with women that he’d damaged most of his existing relationships in the process.
Hell, he hated knowing he’d turned into a cliché. He was just a guy with commitment issues who knew how to have a good time, and apparently everyone in Schuyler knew it.
But the worst part was realizing how much that cliché might interfere with the new things he wanted in his life.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ALEX SAW GRANDMA SARAH come into the backyard and smile at him. She kissed Morgan on the cheek and gave him and DeeDee a hug, her eyes looking watery.
His mom had warned him that some of the family might get emotional since they were leaving the next morning. It made him feel odd, so a little later when Morgan suggested they go for a last ride up to Halloran’s Meadow, it sounded pretty good.
“Jackson says it’s okay with him if we’re back by lunch,” he explained to his mom.
“All right, but don’t stay too long,” she warned. “People are coming over to say goodbye to you and DeeDee.”
He nodded. It would be rude to flake out on the whole day, but a part of him wanted to disappear. There was an ache in his stomach whenever he thought about going back to Seattle.
Morgan had the horses ready and they all left together.
“You aren’t going soft, are you?” Morgan asked when Sandy rode ahead of them with DeeDee and Keri.
“Nah, I’m not going anything, since I was already soft in the head before I got here. At least, that’s what Sandy says.”
Morgan giggled and then sighed. “I wish you were staying longer.”
“I thought you’d be glad to have your dad to yourself again.”
Her face scrunched up and she shrugged. “Sort of, but not really, if you know what I mean. It’s been kind of weird.”
“Gee, thanks for the Montana-size compliment.”
“You know what I meant.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Alex turned Betty as they approached the northwest slope and he realized he’d done it automatically, before Morgan could remind him which direction they needed to go.
Back home DeeDee had been anxious to start horseback-riding lessons with Keri but hadn’t been able to because of her soccer schedule. He’d thought wanting to learn was sort of stupid, but now he wondered if there was a way to go riding sometimes in Seattle. Not that it would be the same as riding on the ranch.
At least he’d gotten to see a foal only a few hours old. It would have been dope seeing it getting born, however gross it might have been. Morgan had teased, saying he’d have freaked out, but that wasn’t true. He wasn’t squeamish; he’d helped when the neighbor’s dog got hit by a car and the blood hadn’t bothered him. Well, the blood hadn’t, he’d just hated seeing Ranger hurting that bad. For a while he’d even thought about becoming a veterinarian. Maybe he should think about it some more.
“Let’s gallop and catch up with the others,” Morgan suggested.
“Sure.” Alex urged Betty into a faster pace and tried to forget his funny feelings about going home.
