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She understood that, even though she felt a pang of regret for their time together ending. But she had plenty to do as well, before she could take up his challenge on the ranch.
“You going to be all right?” Liam watched her with a steady gaze.
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “You go on. I’ve got my car, remember? Should be dried out enough to use. And if it’s not, I’ll call my dad, get a ride to my apartment.”
“I don’t like leaving you,” he admitted, and Chloe lit up inside like a sparkler. Then it was doused when he added, “I’d feel better if I made sure you got home safe.”
Okay, not that he didn’t want to leave her, but his protective instinct to keep her safe was kicking in. Nice, but a little disappointing anyway.
“Don’t worry about it,” Chloe assured him. “I can take care of myself. You’ve got things to do and so do I. So, let’s do them so we can start the ranching challenge as soon as possible.”
He tipped the brim of his hat back, and gave her a half smile that she’d seen a few times in the last couple of days. And it did what it always did to her—sent licks of flame dancing along her skin.
“You’re still set on doing this?” he asked.
A soft, warm wind rushed past them, and Chloe tucked her hair behind her ears. From down the street, a car horn blasted and next door, glass was being swept off the sidewalk.
“Of course. I’m going to prove to you that I can do everything I want those girls to learn,” she said.
“All right then.” He nodded, though he didn’t look convinced. “Let’s say you head out to the Perry Ranch in three days. That should give us each enough time to take care of business.”
“That works,” she said, and held out a hand to him.
He glanced at it and grinned. “Shaking hands now, are we? Thought we’d gotten well past that last night.”
Those flames burned hotter now, especially when he took her hand in his and shook it. “Yes, we did,” she agreed. “But a handshake on the streets of Houston is probably more acceptable than what we’ve been doing.”
“Not nearly as much fun though,” he murmured, and gave her hand one last squeeze before releasing her.
“I’ll see you in three days,” she said.
“You might regret this,” he warned.
No, she wouldn’t, Chloe thought. This was the last step she had to take to make her dream come true. But it wasn’t just about the camp. This was her chance to live the life she’d always wanted. The little girl she’d once been, dreaming of riding horses and wearing cowboy hats and staring up at a starlit sky, was about to get exactly what she’d wanted. So no, she wouldn’t regret it one bit.
But once she passed this test of his, Liam might not be thrilled with the outcome.
“One of us might regret it,” she agreed, and smiled.
“You do surprise me, Chloe.” He tipped his hat in an old-world gesture of respect, then started walking. “See you soon.”
She watched him go, and couldn’t quite help the little sigh that slid from her throat. The man had an exceptional butt that deserved a sigh of appreciation. His long legs encased in those worn jeans that stacked up on his brown boots...the too long hair curling from under his dust-brown Stetson. Oh yeah. He was the whole package.
And she couldn’t wait to unwrap him again.
* * *
Houston had been hit hard, but within twenty-four hours, the city was coming together, cleaning up and clearing out. Online donation accounts had been set up, and the entire state was reaching out to Houston. Crews were coming from all over Texas and money was pouring into the help fund.
For two days, Chloe performed an amazing juggling act. She spent a lot of time at her ruined office, conducting business on her tablet and phone. Her father, though he disagreed with her life choices, came through for her in the end, hiring a disaster cleanup crew to come in and set it all right. That crew was in demand in the city, but her father made sure she was one of the first people served.
Her landlord had a construction crew in to do a rehab, and she was grateful she wouldn’t have to be there while the work was going on. If nothing else, when they were finished, she’d have double-paned windows and floors that didn’t creak when you walked on them.
