Page 59 of The Rancher's Heart

“Jonas! This is wonderful. Congratulations!” She handed the letter back, came around the table and hugged him, then quickly stepped back.

Nathan looked over his shoulder. “Congratulations for what?”

Jonas just handed his brother the letter without pulling his gaze away from the flush on Sloane’s cheeks.

“Well, I’ll be darned. I’m not sure I believed the DNA testing would give us the results we needed.” Nathan headed for Blake. “Look what came in the mail today.”

After Blake read the letter, his brothers did a high five and then gathered their women close.

As good news as it was, Jonas had something more important that he had to do. He maneuvered until he stood next to Sloane. “Have dinner with me tonight. Just you and me.”

“I don’t know.” She gave him a dubious look. He hoped that meant he’d be able to change her mind. She glanced at her watch. “It’s time for Dad, Iris, Clara, and me to head for the backpacking class.”

Gathering up the others, she took off. Jonas caught Nathan’s eye and waved his hand at Sloane’s disappearing back. “I’m going with them.”

Nathan gave him a thumbs-up. Jonas hurried to catch up to the woman who had amazingly claimed a spot in his heart. It would be a challenge, but he had to convince Sloane that they were more than BFFs.

When he caught up with them, he whispered close to her ear, “I have reservations.”

Chapter Sixteen

Ihave reservations.

Well, dang it. Jonas sat next to her as they claimed seats in the open room in the activity center set aside for the introductory class. The activity center was near the main arena where the riding events would be held. Chairs were set up down the middle of the room and a table had been placed in front.

Her dad, and his new friend, Iris Booker, a retired school principal, Carla, Sloane, and now Jonas, took up half of the third row.

Her dad and Iris laughed as he told her about his last Hawaii trip. Sloane hadn’t seen him this happy in a long time.

Clara looked around Sloane to sayhito Jonas.

Was this a game he was playing? Sending flowers and food from Luke’s Diner to the garage?

Sloane refused to look at him. If he thought trying to get her attention at the eleventh hour was a good idea, she didn’t want to play. She’d never—well, hardly ever—been one to agree thatbetter late than neverwas acceptable.

“Why are you here?” she hissed in a desperate whisper, leaning toward him but keeping her gaze on the front of the room. She’d known he was coming, of course, but had hoped he would change his mind at the last minute. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have him there. It was that she just didn’t know what to do with all the feelings being close to him aroused.

Being in love had turned into too much work. She was better off giving up now instead of continuing to ache over Jonas’s choices. At least until she and Clara were more accustomed to each other. Maybe in three, or four, or ten years down the road.

He leaned toward her until their shoulders touched and whispered back, “I’m taking this class with you.”

Right.He couldn’t wait to go backpacking with her.Sloane shook her head.

He laced his fingers with hers, starting an avalanche of prickles that skidded straight to her toes. “Come to dinner with me tonight, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“About what?”

He smiled into her eyes. So, this is what it felt like to have Jonas’s full attention. “About you and me and our future.”

“We don’t have a future. We’re breaking up, remember?” she asserted.

“Not tonight. I’m hoping we’ll be celebrating.”

She sucked in a breath. “I don’t get you.”

“I know. That’s okay. We’ll straighten everything out.” He squeezed her hand, and dang it, she liked the feel of his hand engulfing hers.

Edging away from Jonas, Sloane turned to Clara. “Jonas wants to take us to dinner.” If her sister went with them, whatever he planned to say would be one conversation she could avoid.

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