Page 28 of Snowed In With the Maverick
The engine rumbled, Seth flicked on the headlights and guided them back to the road.
Seth cleared his throat. “Where’d you learn all that about the constellations?” he asked, turning onto the highway.
Andrea relaxed a bit in her seat. Thankfully, Seth wasn’t going to let it be weird, but she had to reach for her words through the thick blanket of attraction that was still threatening to tamp down all rational thought. “I took all of the astronomy courses I could as my electives in my undergrad,” she said. “I signed up for this trip over the winter break to the Atacama Desert in Chile. But then I got a wicked case of pneumonia and missed it.”
“So, a bucket list destination now?” he asked.
“Definitely,” said Andrea. “But this was a nice close second.” The stargazing was indeed amazing. But how much would she regret her decision to pull back on that most perfect of kisses, the soft rumble of Seth’s satisfaction, the warm tingle of his breath and light stubble against her skin? She looked sideways at the sharpness of his jaw lit up by the glow of the SUV’s dashboard, his strong hand resting on the gearshift.
“A close second?” Seth grinned. “I’m glad.”
He’d wait for her, he said. How long would he wait? A man this handsome? This thoughtful, strong andpatient? Probably not long. But she wouldn’t rush herself. She couldn’t. In the meantime, she had to get to know him better.
“How about you?” she asked. “What’s a bucket list trip for you?” She felt silly right after saying it. Clearly what had just happened was messing with her head. The Taylors had probably traveled all over the world, and Seth could afford a first-class ticket to any part of the globe.
“I’m not a great traveler, to be honest,” Seth said. “Planes kind of freak me out.”
Andrea smiled to herself at the idea that this tough rancher would have an issue getting on a plane. “So, more of a road trip kind of guy?”
“Exactly,” he said.
She pictured packing up his SUV, and driving south to California, whipping down Highway 1 and making stops in some of her favorite places, like Santa Barbara and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
“Our family didn’t do too much traveling when we were kids, with the ranch and all. Which, honestly, was probably for the best. My dad’s not the easiest person to be around.”
“What do you mean?” said Andrea.
“He’s a bit of a… How do I say it? He’s not the kind of guy who likes being challenged. And he’s always right, no matter how wrong he is. To be honest, all my siblings have had to have each other’s backs to survive our dad.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s a saint. But I sometimes wished she’d stand up to him a bit more. I guess she did, recently, when my dad wasn’t doling out unconditional love when Daniel brought up his boyfriend.” Seth shrugged. “But she could do better. I get it, though. Relationships are tough. And through it all, my mom loves her kids more than anything in the world, so putting up with him and his bullcrap is part of the deal, I suppose.”
Andrea considered his words carefully. She knew people made compromises in relationships, but what Seth described felt strikingly one-sided. Was it a total red flag that a man like that had been the dominant role model in his life? Still, the fact that Seth could see the flaws gave her some reassurance.
“How about your family?” Seth asked.
“Not much to speak of,” said Andrea. “My parents are both gone. I was an only child, and my only aunt and uncle live on the East Coast.”
“I can’t imagine a life with no siblings,” Seth said. “They drive me crazy sometimes, but over the years I’ve come to see them as an important part of my life.”
Andrea smiled faintly. The Taylors sounded messy, sure—but what family wasn’t? It struck her, though, how honestly Seth spoke about them. He didn’t shy away from the hard truths, yet his words carried an unmistakable affection. That kind of balance, she thought, said a lot about him.
When they approached the turnoff to her ranch, Seth lowered the already quiet volume on the stereo.
“Listen,” he began, his voice warm and steady, “I know you’re not feeling ready to get into anything serious. And I can respect that. But I hope you’ll still consider spending some time together tomorrow night. At the Hoedown.” He glanced her way briefly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I think it’ll be fun.”
Andrea turned to look at him, catching the moment his gaze flickered from the road. His blue eyes were as inviting as a summer sky, filled with something that made her heart stir. Maybe it was time to trust her instincts again. Seth had been perfect all night. Thoughtful, open, kind, attentive. The memory of his lips brushing hers sent a shiver through her, leaving her both exhilarated and terrified of what it might mean to let him in.
One step at a time,she told herself.
“Alright,” she said softly, as he pulled up the driveway in front of the ranch. “I’ll see you there.”
She half expected him to offer to pick her up, or walk to her door, but instead she looked over and found him looking at her, his eyes filled with warmth, and something else—restraint. There was no denying that he wanted to kiss her again just as much as she ached to press her lips against his once more.
“I very much enjoyed tonight, Andrea,” he said. “You have a good night.”
Wishing him a good night in return and stepping out of his vehicle felt like the hardest thing she’d done all night, but she did it. It might not have been the easiest decision, but it didn’t feel wrong either.
