The Rancher and the Event Planner - By Cheryl Gorman Page 0,41
here? She’d tease Cade about it later. “Thanks for the treat, Ryn. And the conversation.”
Ryn smiled. “My pleasure.”
“Don’t run off on my account, JC. Take pity on a man who’s been sweating around ornery cattle all day. I’d love to entertain you and Ryn for a while.”
“You poor man,” she said giving him a hug. “But I have work to do myself.”
As JC left the restaurant, she realized how much Salvation and its people had changed since she’d moved away or maybe she was the one who had done the most changing. When she left town, the idea of ever spending time in, much less living here again, never entered her mind. She wasn’t the only person who ever had life troubles or shed a tear and she wouldn’t be the last. Linc had ordered her to stay and she had no choice but to stay and help Rafe. She had been so certain she was beginning to make him see how right they were for one another until what happened at the barbecue. She climbed in the car, cranked the engine and headed back to the ranch.
A few minutes later, she exited the car as a myriad of ideas sprang to her mind. While she whittled away the rest of her community service hours, she would do everything in her power to regain Rafe’s respect and help Salvation win the contest. The new resort would help stimulate the economy and bring in new business, but her other ideas would help as well.
Rafe McCord would realize what happened with Molly wasn’t her fault by the time she was done.
***
“Sure, sweet pea, I’ll see you and Uncle Linc in a few minutes,” Rafe said into his cell phone. He’d placed a work table beneath the shade of a large maple, while the crew tore down some walls in the main house. Construction noise echoed over the landscape and mirrored the anxiety bouncing around in his stomach.
He checked his watch. Jennifer’s voice drifted in the breeze as she chatted with some of the workers and then laughed at something one of them said. Right on time.
The sound of her laughter caused a crazy mix of I’m-in-cowboy-heaven and anxiety to frolic through his veins. When Jennifer stepped under the branches of the maple with Linc at her side, his heart bucked like a bronc trying to shake its rider. Excitement zipped through him. As much as he hated to admit it, he’d missed her, even though it had only been a few days since she’d moved out of the house. He’d caught a glimpse or two of her around the ranch and in town, but glimpses didn’t put a shine on a man’s hankering. Every time she was near, he’d drunk in the site of her. And now here she was, close enough to touch. And he wanted to touch her. Nothing in her expression indicated their conversation at the ranch had ever happened. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Shouldn’t he be happy?
She set her purse on the table, curled a lock of hair around her ear. White shorts displayed her gorgeous legs, a pale pink sleeveless top and her hair twisted into a messy knot, showed off her graceful neck. “Hi Rafe, how are you”?
“Fine, and you?” He was surprised his voice sounded normal and unaffected.
“I’m terrific. You know, I’ve really enjoyed living in Salvation again.” She smiled. “Never thought I’d say that. How’s Molly?”
Enjoyed living in Salvation, huh? He believed it. The woman glowed like she had a light inside her. Longing socked him in the gut. He was still attracted to her, very attracted to her and he didn’t want to be. But at the same time an odd sense of pride where she was concerned rose inside him. “Happy.”
Her gaze softened. “Glad to hear it. I have a lot to do this afternoon, so if we could get started checking out the site, that would be great.”
What a fine how-do-you-do. He wasn’t an acquaintance. He’d bared his soul to her and they’d shared more than one kiss. But that’s what he wanted, wasn’t it? Why did her indifferent attitude burrow under his hide? “Sure, no problem.”
They started with the first partially completed cabin viewing the open, airy interior with distressed wood floors and beamed ceilings.
Jennifer’s eyes widened and a grin spread over her mouth. “Wow, this is looking great.” She moved from the den into the bathroom. “Hi, Frank,” she said greeting one of the hard