Sunset at Keyhole Canyon: A Mustang Ridge Novella Read Online Free PDF

exchanged far more than four words.
    “I feel underdressed.” And also keyed up, which was a surprise. But where he knew the rhythm and routine of city dating, this was different.
    Her lips curved. “I brought jeans in case this was too much.”
    “It’s great. It’s perfect. You look lovely.”
    She looked back toward the boathouse and the deep blue lake beyond. Fed from the fish-stocked stream that ran through the valley, it sported an L-shaped dock with several perky boats tied and waiting. “Are we going sailing?”
    “We can if you want. Not much beats a picnic dinner on the water.”
    “But . . . ?”
    “But that’ll put us in full view of the dining hall. I think the gazebo would give us a nice view of the sunset without serving us up as a floor show for the others.”
    Mocking a shudder, she said, “Sold. Lead on.”
    “Ladies first,” he said, but then took her hand so they were walking side by side. When her dress flared around her ankles and he caught a flash of leg, he covered the surge of heat with a chuckle. “Cool boots.”
    She paused to extend one foot, and studied a pointy-toed cowboy boot done in a purple hue that made him think of Easter baskets and neon Peeps. “They’re silly, but they make me smile. Not to mention, I’m helpless against the lure of ‘buy one pair, get a second half off.’ ” “
    “Ah. A second trait you share with my sister.”
    As they started walking again, she said, “Oh? What’s the first one?”
    “You’re also a fan of fried chicken, if I recall correctly.” Lifting the hamper, he ignored the twinge in his shoulder. “Country fried with all the fixings, plus brownies for dessert.”
    She made a sexy “mmm” noise. “I can see I’m going to need to watch it out here, or I’m going to come home from this vacation ten pounds heavier than I left.”
    “I thought that was one of the signs of a great vacation. Besides, I’d wager we burned off this many calories and more today.”
    “I know, right?” She rubbed her rear end, laughing. “You think the horse is doing all the work until you get off and your legs won’t hold you.”
    “Well, then, I vote we take a load off and dig into these calories.”
    “Motion seconded and carried, cowboy.”
    And, just that easily, they fell back into the fun, easy rhythm of their first date, the one that had made him feel like he was hanging out with a longtime friend with the added bonus of chemistry, and had left him thinking she wasn’t anything like the women he usually dated. At the time, he hadn’t been sure that was a good thing.
    Their bodies bumped as they mounted the three short stairs to the gazebo, which was a rustic octagon of stained logs, with a tongue-and-groove roof and deeply cushioned furniture set around a low table. He nudged a loveseat around so it faced the setting sun and put their backs to the rest of the ranch. “Have a seat and relax. I’ll serve.”
    He did the drinks first, pouring them each some of the wine that had been included when he requested a picnic for two. “We’ve got a Chardonnay, though I’m not sure what’s supposed to go with fried chicken.”
    “In my opinion? Everything.” Her open, happy smile and the way she tipped the glass in his direction put a strange pressure in his throat, like the air was trying to escape.
    Clearing his throat, he held out his glass. “A toast, then. To rustlers, fried chicken, and second chances.”
    She touched her glass to his. “To second chances.”
    •   •   •
     
    They chatted through dinner much as they had on their first date—easily, teasingly, so even the quiet pauses felt warm and natural, and a warm, bubbling excitement gathered inside Nina’s chest. She kept it in check, though. She had come away from their first date thinking she had found something special, only to discover that their connection hadn’t been as important to him as it had been to her.
He’s still the same guy
, she reminded