Page 104 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

“Because this trip is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “And I was wondering what was yours. It’s called making conversation.”

Jared glanced away. “I’ve never had much excitement in my life.”

“Oh, come on,” she said. “Enough of the strong silent stuff. Tell me a story.”

She reached out and rested a hand on his forearm in a light caress. Jared glanced up. Her enormous eyes were soft and inquisitive. A man could get lost trying to follow the patterns of color swirling in her irises.

Think of her as a little sister, he told himself. An annoying little sister at that.

“Please, tell me,” she said.

Jared shifted away from her touch.

“Okay, I don’t know if this was the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, but it was the most profound,” he said.

“I’m all ears,” she chimed and propped her chin on her hand, poised to listen.

“My mother died when I was very young.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“No, it’s all right. My father kept her memory alive for me with stories of how she used to sing to me when I was little and play all sorts of games. I have wonderful loving memories of her. She was an amazing mom.”

“That was good of your father.”

“Yeah, he’s the best,” Jared agreed. “It wasn’t easy for him. I was what you might call a handful.”

“You?” Cat looked at him with mock surprise.

“I remember when I was seventeen and full of back talk and attitude.” Jared gave Cat a wry smile. “I decided I didn’t need to take orders from anyone anymore, especially from my father. Like all teenagers I bucked every direction he gave me and did my best to make our lives a living hell.”

“He never gave in. He just worked me harder. I had packed a bag and was about to take off for parts unknown, when one of our mares began to foal. My curiosity dragged me to the stable, and my father immediately gave me the task of pulling a newborn colt into the world. To see a life begin...it was the single most amazing moment of my life.” Jared paused, reliving that incredible day in his mind.

“My father never mentioned the packed bag I’d shown up with, and I never left. It was at that moment I realized, that despite the hell I’d put him through, my father trusted me enough, loved me enough, to let me perform one of the most vital functions on the ranch. I don’t think I ever talked back to him again.”

A cicada buzzed somewhere in the field behind them. Night had settled in and the glow of lanterns illuminating the courtyard made the moment intimate. Unaccustomed to revealing his innermost self, Jared felt immensely uncomfortable. Cat gazed at him with understanding, but still he felt raw and exposed.

“Your father must love you very much,” she observed. She reached out and squeezed his forearm again.

When she would have let go, Jared stopped her and wrapped his hand around hers. The sound of her voice and feel of her touch soothed him. Her mysterious eyes were warm, and he knew she understood the memory was sacred to him.

It was strangely uplifting to meet a woman so intuitive. There was no judgment in her eyes, just acceptance. She didn’t try to tell him how he should feel. She just embraced what was.

She threatened a man’s sanity with her taunts and her teasing, but her sensitivity and warmth just about unhinged him. And if he had to spend another night in a room with her, he was going to be a prime candidate for the ha-ha house.

Abruptly, Jared pulled away. His gaze was centered somewhere over Cat’s left shoulder, and he muttered something about needing to clear his head. She watched in dismay as he began to walk away.

“But where are you going?” she protested.

“For a walk.”

Just like that the man shut her out and walked away. Feeling her temper rise, Cat glared at his back. He just couldn’t stand to share one little crumb of his life with her, could he?

“Jared!” she yelled across the yard, oblivious to the other motel guests watching them with rapt attention. “Thanks for sharing!”

If he heard her, he didn’t acknowledge it. Unlatching the gate, he strode out of the courtyard without even glancing back at her.

Defeated, Cat sank back down onto the grass. When would she learn to butt out? She’d obviously driven Jared away with her incessant grilling about his life. Confidence had to be won. It couldn’t be badgered out of a person. Unfortunately, whenever Jared was around, her curiosity always got the better of her.

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