Page 15 of Marrying the Accidental Groom
“You handled them fine,” Barry corrected. “But it wouldn’t kill you to post a warning up there.”
Gideon bit the inside of his cheek and nodded. “I’ll talk to Cassie about signage.”
The silence stretched. Barry shifted, like he was building up to something heavier. Gideon braced.
“You know, Gid, there’s more you could be doing around here.”
And there it was. Gideon exhaled slowly.
“I mean, you’re good with people. They like you. They trust you. That’s a rare thing. But the tours aren’t the only thing that needs leadership. I’m only a third owner of the company becauseyou refuse to get married and take your place at the table. One day, you’re going to need to step into my boots.”
Gideon gave a half-smile. “They’re a little big.”
“You’d grow into them.” His dad’s voice was laced with sincerity and confidence.
He didn’t say what he was thinking—that he didn’t want the boots. Or the burden. Or the expectations that came with them.
Thankfully, a distraction arrived in the form of Jason, Gideon’s brother-in-law, who strolled up holding some paperwork and sporting a crooked grin.
“Hey, Barry,” Jason said, “can you come take a look at Goldenrod? She’s limping a bit, and I want to know if you think we need to call Lucy.”
Barry turned instantly, the weight of fatherly expectation shifting gears into full ranch mode. “Limping? Did you check her shoes?”
As the two of them headed off, Gideon let out a breath and shook his head. Jason had joined the family eight years ago when he married Gideon’s sister, Cassie. Jason loved the ranch and the animals more than Gideon ever would. But his dad would never be satisfied that Gideon loved the land itself more than the ranching operation.
He was more than content leading tours for the guests. Mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking. He’d even been considering offering some paragliding or hang-gliding experiences. The cliff above the east side of the south pasture would be perfect for it, with a huge open landing zone for inexperienced flyers.
He considered the logistics as he headed to the lodge. His brother Zeke was working in the kitchen today at Ridgeline Grill, and he wanted to run the idea past him.
Gideon only made it halfway to the side path before he saw her.
Standing at the edge of the main lot, suitcase in hand, blouse too crisp for the dusty gravel around her. She looked like she’d wandered off the pages of a resort catalog. Or maybe straight out of a dream.
Like the dozens he’d had about her since the island.
His heart did a strange little hiccup. Maybe he’d hit his head a little harder on that branch on the trail than he’d thought. There was no way he was seeing what he thought he was.
“Juliana?”
She turned at the sound of his voice. Her expression was unreadable—calm on the surface, but something fierce churned beneath.
“Hello, Gideon.”
He blinked, then a lazy smile spread across his face as his long strides ate up the distance between them. “Fancy seeing you here,” he teased.
Her gaze flicked over him, from his dusty riding shoes to the sweat-streaked shirt. “You look like you fell off a mountain.”
He grinned, because of course she was mad. “I didn’t fall. I jumped.”Note to self: take Juliana paragliding.
Juliana paused, as though determining how truthful he was being. Then she rolled her eyes. “I came to talk.”
“Oooh, sounds serious.”
She set her suitcase down with a thud. “Can you stop making jokes for like, fifteen minutes?”
Gideon’s grin widened and he held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, sorry. You caught me off guard. What do you say we go grab some lunch?” He eyed her suitcase. “Maybe get you checked in? Looks like an overnight stay is on the itinerary.”
She huffed. “Gideon.”
