That sounds about right.
I finish arranging the lunch on plates while Noah tells me more about her. He takes a plate from me, his calloused fingers brushing against mine—and my girlie parts release a dreamy sigh.
I jerk my hand away.Down, girls.
The last person in the world I need to get involved with is a cowboy.
Especially one who likes to irritate me half the time.
He’s only here having lunch because I’m being a good hostess and because he chased that icky bat out of the attic, I remind my body.Don’t get used to him being around.
We sit at the table. Noah hangs his hat off the back of the chair next to him.
“Have you lived in Copper Creek your entire life?” I take a nibble of my bread and cheese.
“No, I left for a while after high school. I returned a few years ago, after my grandfather died, to help my brothers with the ranch.”
“Tilly mentioned your ranch has horses.”
“That’s right. My grandfather used to breed cattle, but my brothers and I switched to quarter horses. Do you ride, Princess?” His mouth twists into a cocky smile.
Because he already knows the answer to that.
“Of course not.”
I wouldn’t mind riding him, a voice in my head says—and my body thoroughly agrees.
Focus, Kate. Don’t think about what it would feel like to ride him.
“Would you like to?” he asks and my face heats up.
No, no, no, he’s not talking about ridinghim.He’s talking about the horses.
“No, that’s okay.” I scramble out of my seat, face still hot. “You know what? I really should get going. I need to drive to Golden Falls to replace my phone. But don’t hurry on my account.”
And with that, I hightail it upstairs.
9
Kate
Later the next morning,I’m back in the attic, making up for lost time after I spent yesterday afternoon replacing my phone.
But at least now I’ve rejoined the twenty-first century.
A bead of sweat rolls down between my shoulder blades, and I wipe my hand across my damp brow. Even with the window open, the room is heavy with dust and heat.
A large part of me wants to ignore the attic, to go downstairs and see if the key I found fits the lock for the box I discovered up here. Cleaning out the attic isn’t fun.
Solving a mystery? Now that sounds exciting.
But I can’t do that. I have a responsibility to pack up the house—because Charlotte willed me the place and because no one else in my family has time to do it. My brothers and stepbrothers have careers. As does my father.
So the quicker I’m finished here, the sooner I can put the house on the market and return home.
The sooner I can go to a spa and have lunch with friends.
The sooner I can shop in my favorite stores.
