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On the walk back to the truck with Jana, Knox had seen a light peeking through the barn door. That meant the light had either been left on, or someone was in the office. When he saw Holt’s truck in his parents’ driveway, Knox’s heart sank. Why was Holt here in the middle of the night? Was something wrong?
He didn’t bring it up to Jana. He was fighting enough battles with her—primarily to get her to come to San Antonio. There, he believed, they could go out, spend time together while not surrounded by everything that reminded them of their shared past. And his past that ultimately drove them apart and prevented any reconciliation.
He wanted to make new memories with her, fresh ones. He hated that she’d hesitated more than once tonight. Yet, it told him she was thinking about their relationship, deeply. This was a good thing in the long run, he decided. He wasn’t planning on letting Jana go anytime soon. He just had to prove his true intentions and prove that his old life was completely over. Dead. Gone.
“Here we are,” Jana said as he stopped in front of her house. A couple of lights were on inside, and the house looked cozy and cheerful. Like a place he could feel welcomed and comfortable.
“Here we are,” Knox repeated, looking over at Jana’s profile.
She sold herself short—she always had. Her comment about being “plain Jana” was so far from the truth that he’d almost laughed. But he’d known she was serious, and whatever her insecurities were, he hoped to completely erase them.
“Call me tomorrow morning?” he said, just to see her reaction, because he definitely planned on calling her. A lot. And texting. Until he saw her again.
Her gaze shifted to his, and her pretty mouth curved. “Won’t you be sleeping in?”
“No,” he said. “I’ve got to check into the arena early for my practice time. And then I’ll be wondering when you’re coming up.”
“I can’t just drop everything.”
“Is there pickup on Sunday?”
“No…”
Knox grinned. “See, perfect. I’ll book you a room, and you can stay the night, then drive back Monday morning.”
Jana shook her head, but she was smiling. “Knox…”
He leaned over and kissed her, lingering, breathing her in. He couldn’t believe how hard it was to say goodbye to her right now. When he couldn’t find her after the rodeo, he’d been truly worried—wondering if she’d blown him off. If things were over before they’d really started. But then she’d agreed to go for a ride, and he knew that there was no turning back—at least for his heart.
Being around Jana felt comfortable. He felt like he could be his true self. Not that guy who everyone looked up to for being a rodeo star, and not the guy who everyone in his family looked down on for screwing up things with Macie.
Yet, Jana had misgivings. That was as plain as day.
“Knox, I should go,” she said, still close enough to kiss. “Drive safe and good luck tomorrow night.”
He grasped her waist before she could pull away. “Is that it? Good luck?” he teased.
She smiled and rested her hand on his jaw. “Things are complicated.”
“They’ll always be complicated,” he said. “But let’s do complicated together.” He stole another kiss, or two.
Until she sighed and pulled away. “Tempting.”
“Is that a yes?”
Jana smirked. “It’s a good luck tomorrow.”
Knox groaned, but then he walked her to the front porch. Hugged her, stole more kisses, then walked away feeling like he was both walking on water, and dragging an anchor behind him. He was gratified, though, when Jana remained in the doorway until he pulled out of the driveway. He’d start heading to San Antonio soon enough, but first, he wanted to see if Holt was still at the ranch.
When he pulled up to the ranch, the glimmer of light from the barn was still visible.
Knox hoped whatever was going on, it would be fixable. Did Holt often work in the office in the middle of the night, or was something wrong?
He knocked on the barn door before opening it, even though the office was its own interior room. But Holt had heard him and was at the office doorway by the time Knox walked in.
His brother wore no cowboy hat and looked as if he’d been scrubbing a hand through his brown hair. His shirt was rumpled, rolled up at the sleeves, and open at the collar. His blue gaze tracked Knox as he crossed to him.
“Is everything okay?” Knox asked. “I saw your truck and the light in here.”
