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And while his mother might be gone, Nova was very real and very much here. She deserved someone who could both appreciate those traits in her and encourage them. Not do to her what his father had done to his mother and betray the beauty in those gifts.
Which only reinforced his words earlier. He might have been ham-fisted in his approach, but he’d been honest. Nova Ellis Colton was a bright, shining light.
And he well knew he couldn’t have any part of it.
Chapter 12
Although something had whispered to Nova that she should drive herself to Rattlesnake Ridge Ranch, she’d ultimately acquiesced to having Nikolas take them in one car. Bowie had offered earlier to take her home and she assumed the offer would still stand if needed.
Which wasn’t like her, but, well, a woman had a right to change her mind when her feelings were hurt.
And hers were.
She had told Nikolas she forgave him for his freak-out at Marlowe’s earlier that day and she’d meant it. A few minutes thinking through his perspective and she’d innately understood why he had panicked. He didn’t know her and he had no reason to believe her reasons for being in Mustang Valley.
But to warn her off like he did? Over a kiss?
Well, that had her pissed.
Nova stared out the car windows at the vista that surrounded her. The three-story ranch house was visible in the distance, but it was the land that really ca
ptivated her. As someone who had been born and raised in New York City, she found the idea that there could be more than a street width between buildings mind-boggling. And here, for as far as she could see, was land.
Although Payne Colton and his family ran Colton Oil, she also understood that Rattlesnake Ridge Ranch was a working cattle farm. A rather successful one, by all accounts. It was an interesting juxtaposition, the cowboy-like nature of owning a farm along with the corporate responsibilities that came with running an oil company.
One more thing that fascinated her about the Coltons.
Nikolas pulled up in front of the house into a small parking area. With as many family members who lived here, they needed more room than just a standard two-car garage. As reinforcement of that, Nova saw several cars already parked in spaces.
“Well. I guess this is it.” Nova turned to Nikolas and she unbuckled her seat belt. “Time to meet more of the family.”
“They’re going to love you.”
“That would be nice. But for now, I’ll settle for getting through the evening.”
Nova didn’t want to be ungrateful, but she was still smarting from Nikolas’s reaction earlier. It wouldn’t do to get her hopes up that suddenly she was walking into a family reunion. A strong, self-effacing thought that carried her as far as the front door.
The thick, magnificent entryway was flung open before she even had a chance to knock.
“You must be Nova!” A pretty woman with long, chestnut-colored hair beamed at her through the doorway. “I’m Ainsley. I’ve been so excited to meet you.”
With barely a hello in return Nova was pulled into a tight hug and once again that sensation of being Alice down the rabbit hole struck with full force.
Was it possible that people could love so unconditionally? Could accept her so simply?
Based on the strong, welcoming circle that enfolded her, Nova had to believe the answer was yes.
“Come on in. Don’t let me leave you standing out here.” Ainsley waved them both in, shooting an eye toward Nikolas as she did. “Good to see you again, Nikolas.”
“You, too, Ainsley. How are things?”
“They’re better now.”
Nova followed Ainsley deeper into the house, marveling as she went. While the image her mother had painted in her stories of the house had been from nearly a quarter century ago, Nova could see how things had been contemporized. The living room was still an impressive centerpiece to the house, the paneled ceiling rising two stories above them. She suspected the furniture, the rugs and the wall hangings had likely been updated from the way they were initially described. Things were rustic yet carried enough modern sensibility to seem fresh instead of outdated.
In spite of its size, the room was warm. Homey. And even if her entire New York City apartment could fit into this room, it didn’t feel cold or spare.
Perhaps it was the people who lived here? The ones who, even now, surrounded her and talked to her, not at her.
