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“A second job, or something?” Knox pressed. “With that laptop?” He didn’t know why he was so curious, but he was.
“I write a column,” she said, glancing at him, then away. “So I really should get back to it. Good luck with everything, Knox.”
“Whoa,” he said. “Are you about to tell me to have a nice life?”
Her hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight, her knuckles were turning white. He rested a hand atop hers. She flinched, and he pulled away.
“I think that’s amazing,” he said. “You’re a writer. I’m not surprised. I don’t think I would have passed English if it weren’t for you.”
Now, her cheeks were definitely pink, and then he remembered. Most of their study sessions had turned into kissing sessions.
“Well,” she said, smoothing her hair behind her ear, “thanks.”
“You coming to the rodeo tomorrow?” he asked, thinking it was a pretty standard question, but her eyes darted to him, then away.
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged, and he wished he could see what was going on in that pretty head of hers. “I’ve really got to go.”
Knox could take a hint, or three. He popped open the door and climbed out, but before leaving, he leaned back in and said, “When you make up your mind about the jam, call me. You got my number.”
She bit her lip. “Okay.”
“I can be to your place in five minutes,” he teased.
She didn’t laugh, though. “Where you staying? Prosperity Ranch?”
They both knew it was on the other side of town, hardly five minutes away. “Uh, no. Not quite ready for that much family bonding. Things are… complicated in that neck of the woods.”
He didn’t blame her for the curious look she gave him.
“So you’re staying at the bed and breakfast? You’re lucky you got a room there.”
“Not exactly,” he said. “It was booked, and so was everything else within miles around.”
A line appeared between her brows, then her eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re sleeping in your truck?”
“You caught me,” he said nonchalantly. “Keeps me humble. Now, have a good rest of your day, ma’am, and don’t delete my number.”
Jana only stared at him, and he couldn’t guess what was going through her mind. He straightened then shut the door, heading to his truck. He sure hoped that the new U-joint would do the trick. The last thing he needed right now was a major truck repair.
He didn’t look up when Jana’s SUV turned around in the road and headed back the way they’d come. But his thoughts stayed with her. He wondered what might have happened between them if he had confronted her all those years ago in high school about the rumors he’d been told. Would they have stayed together? Would he have ever asked Macie to the dirt dance? Or would he have been with Jana instead?
So many ifs, and he hated to think of a life without Ruby. He’d messed up too much and for too long. He was done with that. He didn’t know where he fit in with his family anymore, because things were beyond complicated between him and Holt. But being able to spend time with Ruby would be worth the other barriers he had to push through.
Somehow, the gods of Prosper heaven were smiling down on him, because the U-joint worked. Knox thanked his lucky star, whichever one it was, as the truck purred to life. He was back in business. First stop was back to the mechanic’s shop so that he could buy an extra bottle of oil. As he drove, the memories of Prosper flooded back. The high school. The café where he’d hang out with his friends. The bar… Racoons was closed up this time of day, but he had no doubt it would be hopping as soon as the sun set. Especially with so many people in town for the rodeo.
But Knox was finished with the bar scene. The booze, the late nights, the women… If there was one thing his divorce taught him, it was that some mistakes couldn’t ever be corrected. It took his own ex-wife marrying his brother to send the final message through Knox’s stubborn brain that there were some pains that could never be dulled with drinking.
He’d never made it to his brother’s wedding, but that day had become a banner day for him, and he hadn’t touched alcohol since. He just wished the road hadn’t been so hard to making that change in his life.
Still, his hands felt jittery as he drove past the bar. Even though he’d been clean for months, that didn’t diminish the pull. The temptation. The way he knew it would make him feel—throw him into a blissful oblivion where he didn’t have to dwell on how he’d been a lousy husband and even worse father to an innocent little kid.
Knox’s jaw was clenched tight by the time he stopped in front of the mechanic shop. He needed to push past the haunting memories, both good and bad. He needed to exist in the present and only look toward the future.
As he climbed out of his truck, his phone chimed with a text. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. He’d already told his mom he wouldn’t be at the ranch for dinner, but he’d come shortly after to pick up Ruby and spend some time with her. Knox wasn’t too keen on making polite conversation with Holt and Macie at the same time, with his parents looking on.
