Page 152 of The Brothers at Horseshoe Ranch

“Yeah, definitely. But if I had a daughter first, and she wanted to and was capable, who’s to say no?”

“You’re open-minded.”

“Does that surprise you?”

“Yes and no. I didn’t think you’d be so open to . . .” She paused.

“Change?” I said quietly.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “I always thought people in Montana were just small-minded hicks.” She covered her mouth quickly. “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “And yeah, there are some people here in my state that are small-minded and that are hicks. But to be a hick or to be country doesn’t mean you’re small-minded. It doesn’t mean that you don’t think of anything else. We just all like to celebrate family first here.”

“You’re not the only people that think family should come first, you know.”

“I know,” I said. “But we actually practice that, and we make it a point to take care of our family and to be with our family.”

“And you’re saying that in New York, we don’t?”

“Well, do you?”

“Yeah, I’m close to my family. And Lucy and her mom, well, they were best friends. But we didn’t have the sort of family that you have, you know?”

“Sorry,” I said. “I hope this isn’t a sore subject.”

“Not at all,” she said with a bright smile. “I love your family. They’re wonderful. They’re welcoming, they’re caring. I couldn’t think of a more picture-perfect family.”

“Thank you,” I said, touched by her words. I could tell that she meant them, and that was something special to me. I was glad to meet someone who appreciated the obnoxious, loving, and affectionate Hamilton brood as much as I did. “They all love you as well,” I said.

“Thanks. So, are we going to go home now, or are we going to go see the spot you have picked for the eco-retreat?”

“Neither.” I shook my head and took a step closer to her.

“What are you doing, Beau?” Her eyes widened as I took her hands and pulled her toward me.

“A morning kiss.”

“One kiss,” she said, her eyes glowing. I leaned down and kissed her hard and passionately. I cupped the back of her head as I deepened it. She kissed me back fervently, and I felt her hands on my back before I pulled away from her.

“I can give you a second one if you want.”

“I guess one more is fine,” she said with an impish little smile.

I gazed at her for a moment before kissing her again. This was the most romantic sunrise I’d ever had in my life, and she was the most perfect woman to be here with. I ignored the voices in my head that were screaming at me to get home as soon as possible, that this was a mistake. The more time I spent out here kissing her, the more time I got to know her, the deeper I was falling. And if the look on her face said anything, the deeper she was falling for me as well.

I didn’t want either one of us to get hurt. I didn’t want her to want something more from me, and I didn’t want to regret not being able to give her anything else. I was going to spend today with her, and then I was going to back away for both of our sakes. No matter how much I wanted to be with her, I needed to protect us both.

She was absolutely perfect, and I knew I was going to have a hard time letting her walk away at the end of all this.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Olivia

“Morning, Olivia,” Lucy beamed at me as I entered the kitchen. “Want some coffee?”

“Yes, please. Morning, ladies.”

“Good morning.” Amelia beamed at me. “How was your ride?”

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