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She blinked. Could he be just as annoyed at being put with her? How dare he be pissed that they were tossed together. It wasn’t like she begged Mirabelle for him or was coming on to the man. A new thought sprang to mind. Maybe women who traveled to places like this alone were looking for cowboy lovers, and he’d had enough. She almost laughed. Yeah, right, if that was the case, then all the single men would welcome it as often as it happened, even some married ones.
Remembering how even the sweetest-looking men were cheating bastards, she figured this sexy cowboy would have the women drooling over him. She was not stupid enough to fall for him.
“Nice to meet you,” she said to be courteous and turned her back to the man.
Ryan responded with a grunt and threw the truck in gear to begin the short drive down to her cabin. In less than two minutes, Ryan pulled up to Keena’s cabin, a small square building constructed with actual wooden logs stacked atop each other. On both sides of the door were small windows, and hanging beneath each was a rectangular flower pot. The tiny porch offered a swing facing the pond, and around the front and sides of the cabin was simple landscaping that gave the place a homey feeling.
Keena paused before entering to breathe in the fresh air, to listen to the birds chirping in the tall trees, and to just appreciate the fact that there were no honking horns, no crying babies, no women yelling to each other out the window, and no blaring music. Best of all, she didn’t have to jump each time the phone rang because of knowing it was Steven.
Ryan moved up beside her carrying her bags. She blinked at him realizing he now wore a Stetson over his dark curls. The effect made her woozy.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Is something wrong?”
“Uh, no.” She spun away and hurried up onto the porch to let them into the cabin. For the second time, Keena caught her breath. The inside was also paneled with wood, and the furniture was sturdy yet looked comfortable. Beautiful landscapes hung from the walls, and even a deer head, which made Keena shiver. However, the stone fireplace dominating the sitting area caught her attention. She imagined snuggling under a blanket there and reading a book on cool nights.
Also in the sitting area was a small table, paired with two chairs, and a chess set was situated on top. Beyond this was the bedroom with a queen-size bed and a private bath. The place was just what she needed. Since there was no kitchenette, she assumed that everyone was encouraged to take meals in the main dining area or at the open-fire meals that had been mentioned.
“You’re hurting.”
She froze with her back to him and then slowly turned around. Perhaps she’d heard him wrong. “Come again?”
His eyes, which had been sea blue when she first met him, were darker now. It might be a trick of the shadows inside the cabin. He lowered his head so she couldn’t see his face.
“Sorry, my mistake.”
“No, why did you say that?” she said, pressing him.
He tapped his fingertips at his thigh, and Keena imagined those large hands caressing her. She shook her head—just a bit lonely, that was all. Ryan tapped the brim of his hat and swung toward the door.
“Enjoy your stay.”
The cabin door clicked shut behind him, and seconds after, his Jeep engine rolled over. Keena crossed to the curtains at the window and pulled them back to watch him go. Was it a mistake to have come here? How did a man who appeared to be cold as ice know that she was hurting from a few moments in her presence?
Chapter Three
Keena unpacked her clothes, took a short hour-and-a-half nap, and was ready to see what Luna Mountain Ranch had to offer by four that afternoon. She showered and changed to a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and upon advice from Mirabelle before arriving, hiking boots. Then she headed out of the cabin to take the short trek to the Trading Post, the ranch’s general store. This was also the place where she could sign up for various activities.
Keena strolled through the entrance to find racks lined with T-shirts, fleece vests, jackets, and sweatshirts. Hanging from the walls were baseball caps and Stetsons of various sizes, and in the back of the shop were glass cases displaying souvenirs. She decided to explore those later, closer to when she was ready to go home. It shouldn’t be too hard to find something for Aunt Delores. She loved jewelry, which there seemed to be plenty of in Native American styles.
She crossed to the counter, where a woman stood helping another guest, and waited her turn. When the other person left, the woman turned to Keena. “Welcome, I’m Linda.”
“I’m Keena.”
Linda smiled as if she was genuinely glad to have met Keena. “Looking to learn what activities we have all ready for you while you’re here?” At Keena’s nod, she went on. “Well, most people would like to go horseback riding. We have some classes going on right now over at the ropin’ and ridin’ arena.”
She pointed in the general direction, and Keena agreed to check it out, but Linda stopped her before she could leave.
“What about chaps or chinks? Did you bring yours?” Linda asked.
Keena paused, not having a clue what she was talking about. Linda laughed, probably used to newbies. She pointed to a rack to her left where a line of leather leg coverings hung.
“Those will protect against the brush you encounter on the trails while riding, from the weather changes, rope burns, most anything you come across. Plus, the men feel they’re not authentic unless they have them, and the women want all the barrier between them and painful skin they can get. How about it?”
Keena hesitated. Wouldn’t she look like an idiot with those over her jeans and her just learning to ride for the first time? It wasn’t likely that she’d be doing that much out in the wild the first day anyway. More concerned about looking stupid than anything, she continued to stand there undecided.
A bell tingled, one she didn’t notice when she entered the store. Keena looked up into the eyes that were
already haunting her and she hadn’t been here half a day. Ryan’s gaze swept over her as if she was invisible, and then Keena picked up on the simpering at his side. She dragged her attention from Ryan to the slinky piece wrapped around his arm.
