Page 24 of Ranch Rules

Chapter Four

Riding a horse waseven better than she’d remembered, even though she hadn’t thought that possible. There was something about being atop such a powerful animal that made her feel like she was flying when they began to gallop. There was nothing better in all the world, and by the time they stopped for their picnic, Natalie’s cheeks were flushed, her mouth hurt from smiling, and she felt as carefree as she ever had as a child.

“Let me help you down.”

Without hesitation, she took Thomas’s hand and allowed him to help her dismount.

“We still have a little bit of a walk. Do you mind?”

Still smiling despite numb facial muscles, she shook her head.

“Good.” He took her hand, intertwined his strong fingers with hers, and they began to walk. “Did you have fun?”

“Oh, yes.” She nodded eagerly.

“Better than bein’ in a courtroom?”

She knew he was teasing her and didn’t care. “Almost better than winning,” she said with a giggle.

Thomas’s brows rose. “Well, if that isn’t high praise I don’t know what is.”

Could this day get any better? She’d had the most delicious breakfast she’d had in years, made a new friend, gotten to go horseback riding, and now the light pressure of Thomas’s hand in hers was making her so giddy she was nearly dizzy with it. It was a wonderful day to walk, too. With the fresh air and warm sun beating down, it felt a little bit like paradise.

“Has it been awhile since you rode?”

“Ages.”

“How come? If you love it so much?”

Natalie shrugged a shoulder. “I work a lot. There isn’t much time left over for... well, anything.”

“No hobbies, got it. Well, what about friends?”

“Don’t have any.”

“Oh, I don’t believe it,” he scoffed. “A pretty, smart thing like you?”

She laughed, more at herself than what he’d said and the realization she must be getting used to his cowboy speak. Any other time she would have flown into a fit being called a thing—pretty or otherwise. But somehow, she knew he meant it as a compliment. “Afraid not. I mean, I exchange pleasantries with my neighbor every now and again, if I have to see her, or the mailman. Otherwise, it’s just me and my depositions. Unless... do the other partners at the firm count as friends?” She grinned to show him she was teasing.

“Hmm... afraid not. A boyfriend, then?”

Was it her imagination or was there just a bit more emphasis to that word, more intensity to this question? Natalie dismissed it as wishful thinking. He was just being nice, which was part of his job. “Nope. Not in years.”

“Do you trust me?”

Natalie’s brow furrowed at the sudden turn in the questioning. “What?”

“I’m going to cover your eyes now, but only if you trust me.”

She laughed at the childish absurdity of it, but wasn’t that a part of the magic of this day? Being free to do whatever she wanted without any nagging responsibilities getting in the way? “Okay.”

Thomas covered her eyes with a hand, his other arm looping around her waist as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

For a moment, she thought she might swoon. Get ahold of yourself, Winthrop. But even her own scolding didn’t change the hopeful excitement flowing through her.

“Just another couple of steps,” his deep voice encouraged. “We’re almost there.”

Was it her imagination or did he sound as excited as she felt? No, it wasn’t possible. Her heart was pounding too hard, her pulse racing, and Thomas was too steady, too sure of himself to be feeling even half of what she was.

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