Those hours on that barn were no less than a godsend. And Luke made a habit of thanking the man upstairs for it daily.
After the quick rinse of his razor, Luke twisted the handle until the water shut off. He redirected his thoughts to the dilemma with the Kellers. If someone would’ve said he’d have half of the celebrity family under his roof one day, he’d have never believed it. As frustrated as he may be over Payton Keller’s ridiculous expectations to bring her brother home, he had to admit there were other feelings brewing as well. Something in the heat of the argument between them. In the familiar desperation he saw in her face.
In the kitchen, when her eyes started to tear up, he had to fight the urge to pull the gorgeous woman into his arms and hold her until the pain stopped.
He could give her that much: as spoiled and childish as her behavior might be, Jason’s sister was in pain. And heaven help him, Luke wished he could stop it. He’d extended a challenge to her that night, to spend some time with Jason on the ranch. There was more riding on that challenge than he wanted to admit. If she was able to step past her pride and into a day in the life of her brother, there might be hope for her after all.
Payton sighed as she settled into bed, this time beneath the freshly washed sheets in Doug’s room. She breathed in the clean scent of detergent before shrugging onto her side. She already knew what would capture her attention there on the nightstand—the photo. She reached for it, and spent a moment taking in the kind faces once more. Her eyes settled on the one she assumed was Doug. He had a dimple in his cheek. Had she noticed that before? Dang, that was a nice smile. A movie-star smile on a face that would never meet the big screen.
It made him all the more desirable, in a way. Payton rubbed shoulders with celebrities on a regular basis. But folks like Luke and Doug … it wasn’t often she met guys that weren’t already enamored with her in one way or another. Payton wasn’t ignorant to the fact that some men were simply attracted to her money and lifestyle. In fact, most people didn’t have much else to go off of until they got to know her personally.
With another sigh—this one heavier somehow—she set the frame back in place and reached for the lamp switch. In one short flick, the room went from gold to black, the darkness bringing with it a recollection of Luke’s words: Go spend a day with him on the field.
That was his suggestion? Payton didn’t like it. In fact, spending an entire day on the dry land while sweat dripped down her face sounded like … not only torture, but also a complete waste of time. She was here to bring him home. Sure, she’d heard of the whole if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em campaign, but Payton fully intended to beat this one.
At least this suggestion was better than the one he’d given her on the night she’d arrived. Telling her to go sleep in the barn with the animals, after distracting her by ripping off his covers, no less.
But Payton had to admit, there was something in Luke’s gaze tonight. Something kind. As frustrated as the cowboy might be with her, he was nicer than she would have expected. And like it or not, Luke seemed to genuinely care about her brother. He felt a degree of loyalty toward Jason, which she couldn’t help but admire.
Still, he was standing in the way of Jason and her family, and that was not going to fly. What she really needed to do was play along. If the guys saw that she was willing to put forth the effort, perhaps they’d be flexible as well. One of them was bound to cave. Jason would decide to come home, or maybe Luke would see her sincerity and encourage Jason to give med school another try. Either way, it could be a winning move.
There. It was settled. She’d stay at least one more day, maybe two if need be.
She closed her eyes, but before Payton could even pull in a breath, she was struck by a recollection of Archie with the blonde. As if her mind had been saving the image for the one second of the day she’d forgotten about it. Payton groaned. What was she going to do about the fact that her fiancé didn’t love or want her anymore? Or the awareness that she didn’t really love or want him either? They couldn’t exactly go through with things now. What, did Archie think he could marry her and keep the blonde as a mistress on the side?
Stop, Payton. She thought back on the traffic light she’d envisioned during her trip there. Archie’s a red light right now. Just stop.
She scrambled for something positive to shift her focus to. Not Shades or her parents or the horrible messes in her life. Surely there was something … she forced her thoughts back to the man in the framed photo, relieved as it offered not only a distraction, but a surge of hope. Payton clung to it, imagining who the mystery man might be as she dozed off.
Chapter 11
Luke wasn’t sure what he’d expected this morning. Heck, he and Jason were usually up by the crack of dawn. Not like he could expect the California princess to rise and shine with the sun. He’d just thought more of her, was all. Hoped that maybe she’d make an effort to see what Jason’s life was like here on the ranch.
A quick glance at the sun said it was around ten o’clock, which meant they’d already been at it for close to four hours.
“Would you look at what we have here.” Jason’s words were soaked in awe.
Luke sunk the spear of his shovel into the dirt with his boot, pausing to glance over his shoulder. He’d heard a car approaching behind him, but didn’t think for a minute he’d see the woman who sat in the passenger seat beside his brother.
Taylor pulled his beat-up truck to the side of the road, eyeing the downed fencepost before setting his squinted gaze back to Luke. “You forgot one, didn’t you? Never leave a man behind. That’s the rule, isn’t it?”
Payton cranked the door open, revealing a pair of tight-fitting jeans, cowgirl boots, and a short-sleeved shirt knotted just above her navel.
Luke had removed his shirt to catch the breeze a while ago, but that did nothing for the heat that flared in his face as he caught sight of Payton in all her cowgirl glory. She looked amazing, but even more affecting was the fact that she’d shown. She had. Payton had made an effort to understand Jason’s side of things, and Luke liked that a whole lot more than he wanted to admit.
“Howdy, boys,” she cheered, a gorgeous grin at her lips. She shot Luke a wink before spinning around and closing the passenger door on Taylor’s truck. “Thanks for the ride, stranger.” She gave the car two pats.
Taylor chuckled. “Any time. See you guys later.” And then he tore off down the road.
Luke stood paralyzed, his pulse revving harder than the ancient pickup. Sure, it was just a playful wink, but it had been aimed right at him, and he’d be danged if it didn’t put heat in his belly with thoughts of her.
Payton surveyed the fence for a moment before ducking to work her way between the top and bottom wire. Once at a full stand, she stepped through a patch of tall grass, eyes set on him.
He gulped as she neared, catching hints of cinnamon on her breath, and froze as she reached an arm out. In one quick motion, Payton swiped the hat off his head and plunked it onto her own. Two long braids dangled from either side. “Mending fences today, eh?”
Luke worked to squeak out a reply but failed.
“You’re going to help us?” Jason asked, sounding incredulous.
Luke glanced over, only then recalling the kid’s existence.
“Sure.” Payton pried the shovel from Luke’s grip. “Why not?”
Dang, she smelled good.
Jason chuckled. “You’re going to shovel in a pair of thousand-dollar boots.”
Payton shot Jason a glare. “Are you going to show me what to do or just stand there making lame comments?”
“I’ll show her,” Luke blurted.
Payton turned back to Luke, her expression tight and defensive.
“I mean, you. I’ll show you what to do. This is the final post we’re repairing today. After this, we can go back and ride if you’d like.”
Her expression changed in a blink. “Ride horses?” she asked, eyes wide and frightened.
Luke grinned. “Yeah. You know, giddy up.”
“Oh, this I’ve got to see,” Jason bellowed. “The one and only Ms. Payton Keller riding bareback in the Montana sun.”
Payton only smiled. “If you can do it, I’m sure I can too.” She leaned into Luke then, turning her back to Jason, and whispered in Luke’s ear. “You’ll help me with the horse thing, right?”
Her warm breath flittered over his cheek. Luke straightened up, risked a wink of his own, and shot a glance at Jason. “We’ll have you riding better than him by sundown.”
Payton stared down at the rope in her hands, her heart racing and aching in her chest. Luke and Jason had assured her Rudi was gentle, but how could they be sure?
“I’m afraid that it’s going to buck me off,” she admitted.
“Would you just do it already?” Jason groaned from across the corral. He prompted his horse to trot once more, this time counterclockwise along the gate. “He’s not going to hurt you.”
Payton tugged at the hat she wore—Luke’s hat. Taking it from him had been a playful gesture. In fact, she’d tried to give it back while he instructed her on replacing the post, but he’d insisted she keep it on. Something she greatly appreciated as she watched him squint against the sun while he worked. No wonder cowboys loved their hats.
She shifted her gaze to Luke, who stood beside her and Rudi, rubbing a hand over the massive animal’s face.
“Rudi’s real gentle,” he crooned, before glancing up at her. Those forest-colored eyes seemed to promise that very thing. He’d snatched a spare hat from the barn before saddling the horses, which Payton liked for two reasons: One—it relieved her of guilt. She felt awful for wearing Luke’s while he suffered beneath the blazing sun. The second reason was obvious—it looked good on Luke. Dang good. If she were to produce a line of cowboy hats, Payton wouldn’t be satisfied with any other model after seeing Luke in one.
“Let’s just start with a short walk,” he said. “I’ll keep a hold of him.” Luke clicked his tongue and began to walk, his grip on a rope attached to Rudi.
The horse’s great mass shifted beneath the saddle as he ambled forward, one hoof after the next. “It still feels like I’m going to fall off,” she blurted, adjusting her grip on the reins.
Luke chuckled under his breath. “You’re not. I’ll readjust the saddle in a minute after we gain a little distance.”
She couldn’t help but admire the relationship Luke had with Rudi, and the other horses, for that matter. He was so comfortable with them, you’d think they were a bunch of harmless pups. But Payton had heard enough to know the four-legged creatures were capable of doing a whole lot of damage.
“You need to relax,” Luke said, looking at her over his shoulder as they moved.
She shot him an irritated look. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you’re making Rudi nervous.”
Payton laughed. One short outburst. “Well, then, I guess we’re even, because he makes me nervous too.”
“Yeah, but if you calm down, then he will too. Horses can feel your energy, and it can dictate their behavior. If you’re skittish, he’ll be skittish too.”
The idea only scared her more. “Well, I don’t know how to stop being skittish, because I’m freaking out right now.” The statement grew truer by the second. Another weight-shifting step forward. And then the next. She was so high off the ground, and at any moment he could rear back and send her flying until she was flat on her backside in the dirt.
“Stop,” she finally blurted. “Make him stop, will you?”
Luke stopped walking at once.
Rudi did too.
Jason only picked up speed, Maggie galloping as dust kicked up beneath her hooves. Show-off.
Luke leaned down, toyed with the straps of the saddle once more, and gave the animal a pat. “There you go,” he said under his breath. Payton wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or Rudi until he spoke up again. “Take your boot out of the stirrup for a moment, will you?”
Payton wriggled her foot free from the loop. She watched as Luke, in one swift move, hoisted his own boot into the dangling footrest and threw his leg over the back of the horse to settle behind the saddle.
She could hardly believe her eyes, but the heat of Luke flush against her back told her she’d seen correctly. Payton straightened up. “What are you doing?”
“Riding behind the saddle here to get you a little more comfortable.” His strong arms slid along either side of her as he grabbed hold of the reins. And there was that yummy scent again—Luke’s aftershave. Different from what Archie always wore. This was more … manly. There was no other word for it. Everything about Luke was manlier than Archie.
“Okay,” he murmured, his warm breath toying with the delicate skin at her neck. “We’re going to pick up a slow trot here. Don’t be nervous.”
Was he kidding? Payton was battling an entire new onslaught of nerves. Like, cute-boy-back-in-grade-school nerves. The I-wonder-if-he-likes-me-too type of feel. She chided herself as Rudi trotted toward the railing of the corral. Liked her too. What a dumb thing to think. Sure, her engagement was soon to be a thing of the past—officially—but she didn’t even like Luke.
Only that wasn’t exactly true. Payton had never had to guess if a guy liked her before. Most of the men who’d asked her out already knew her favorite color, high school GPA, and food preferences while she was still learning their name. With Luke, that knowledge didn’t exist. And it was … well, unnerving and fascinating all at once. Just like the experience of riding this massive horse.
Of course, she’d call her improv cowgirl stint more terrifying than exhilarating. Yet as the hour ticked by, Luke managed to bridge the gap between her and Rudi. With her handsome guide as a passenger, Payton followed Jason along the inside of the corral several times, her tense muscles melting like Lindor chocolates in the Porsche on a hot day.
“You’re doing great,” Luke said. He rested a hand on her arm, then slid his fingers along the length to where he grabbed her hand. “Now you guide him.”
She’d already been holding on to the other side, but as Luke let go of the rein completely, moved his hands to rest at her hips, a great thrill rippled through her. Guiding the animal on her own was one thing, but the feel of those strong hands at her waist—the sensation of his breath on her neck—it was an invigorating combination.
“There you go,” he said. “You’re getting the hang of it. Now tug on that right side so he’s not so close to the rail.”
She did as he said, amazed by how easily Rudi responded to the subtle commands.
“Looks like you two are warming up to each other,” Jason hollered, coming up alongside.
Payton yanked the reigns. Luke let go of her waist like it was burning his hands. And Rudi came to a stop with a loud humph.
“You and the horse, I mean,” Jason said with a laugh. “Geez, you guys look like a couple of guilty teenagers.” He laughed again before speeding away.
Rudi neighed and shook out his head. Payton could kill Jason for saying that.
“I think you’ve got it,” Luke said. “Hold on to Rudi real good while I climb off.” A few short moves and soon Luke was back on the dirt, adjusting the saddle once more. “You’re welcome to keep on riding. I’ll stay close by.” He gave her a short nod before turning to face the barn.
“Woo-hoo!” Jason hollered, gaining speed as he directed Maggie back out of the corral. “Catch you two later. I’m gonna go make us some lunch.”
Payton could hardly believe her eyes. First the comment about them looking guilty, and now this? “I should probably get down,” she said. “I don’t want to press my luck with him.”
Luke glanced at her over his shoulder, squinting against the sun. “You’re kidding,” he said with a laugh. “Rudi is just warming up to you. You should at least take him to the barn for a brush-down. You’ll hurt his feelings if you don’t, won’t she, Rudi?” He gave the animal a compassionate
stroke on the head.
“Oh, that was manipulative,” she said, leaning to look at Rudi’s face. His dark, glossy eyes reflected the blue sky. And if she looked closely, she could also see the muscular outline of Luke’s well-formed figure. She straightened up and glanced back to Luke, a challenge set on his finely chiseled face.
“Fine,” she said. “I don’t like giving up, so I’ll ride him to the barn, but if I get bucked off, you’re going to have my blood on your hands.”
He laughed. “You’re not going to get bucked off.”
“How do you know?” she asked, bumping her boots against the horse’s sides as Luke had shown her. He stepped forward in a slow walk toward the barn.
Luke followed alongside, but he didn’t grab on to the rope, only kept it tucked into its place beneath the saddle. “I know because he can sense your energy. You’re not scared anymore, so he’s not either.”
Luke said it with such confidence, Payton had to pause to consider it. “Huh,” she said. “You’re right. I’m not afraid anymore.”
“Atta girl,” Luke said with a wink.
Payton’s heart shot into action as her face flushed. Not only had the flirtatious wink unnerved her; his smile took things to a whole new level. Had she seen him smile before today? There was something familiar about it.
A sudden dose of relief poured over her at the reminder that she was free from Archie Kendall and his family and the binds their union portrayed. She imagined the stoplight turning from red to green. It was time to start taking action. But maybe yellow was more fitting; if she proceeded slowly, Payton could take time to consider the best action to take.
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