Sunlight (Haven River Ranch)

The growl that echoed across the IGA’s parking lot sounded more animal than human. “I’m calling the cops.”

What the hell? The grocery store’s double doors slid closed behind me just as I spotted Carla, the owner, facing off with another woman. Both clutched opposite ends of a shopping cart teeming with paper bags.

“I’m not stealing.” The other woman gave the cart a tug. “I swear. Please. I just need to borrow this. I will bring it back.”

Carla huffed. “You expect me to believe that bullshit?”

My truck was parked on the other end of the lot, but rather than head home, I walked toward the commotion instead.

“Give. This. Back.” Carla jerked on the cart with each word, yanking so hard that the woman was nearly pulled off her feet.

“Please. These are my groceries. I just bought them. I only need to take them home.” She flung out an arm. “It’s three blocks. I’ll be there and back in less than fifteen minutes.”

“You’re not stealing my cart.”

“I’m not stealing—”

“Ladies.” The tug-of-war stopped the instant I put my hand on the cart’s metal basket. “Everything all right?”

“No, it’s not all right.” Carla’s face was flushed as she whipped her attention in my direction. Her cheeks were as red as her fiery hair. “She’s stealing my cart.”

The other woman opened her mouth, then clamped it shut, taking a breath as she composed herself. Then she looked up to me, and my heart skipped.

Beautiful brown eyes. Long, straight hair in the same rich chocolate shade, the strands so sleek they reflected the bright afternoon sun. A heart-shaped face with delicate features and a dusting of freckles across her cute nose.

Damn. Who was she? Definitely not someone I’d seen around town before. Hers was a face I would have remembered.

“I walked from my house to the store.” She enunciated every word with a calm, smooth voice. Every syllable worked to defuse the tension.

Any other person and she probably would have succeeded. Except Carla was . . . Carla. Rationality was not on her strengths list.

“I assumed the bags would be plastic,” the woman said.

Ah. There was the mistake. Carla hated plastic.

“I hate plastic.” Carla seethed. “It’s bad for the environment.”

The woman held up one hand while the other kept a firm grasp on the cart’s handle. “I’m not arguing. I just assumed the bags would be plastic, and I could carry more than one at a time to my house three blocks away. I cannot carry all of these paper bags.”

The cart had at least six plus a gallon of milk.

“You checked me out,” the woman said, her pretty gaze pleading with Carla. “I bought ice cream to celebrate moving. I just want to get it home and in the freezer before it melts.”

Carla pursed her lips.

“Okay.” I dug out my wallet and plucked out a hundred-dollar bill. “Carla, how much are these carts?”

“Two hundred and seventy dollars plus shipping.”

Of course, she had the price memorized. Carla might not be exactly levelheaded, but she ran her business with an iron fist.

“Take this.” I took out two more hundreds and held up the money. “It’s a deposit. I’ll escort the cart to this woman’s house and back. If I never return, you’ll have enough to buy a new cart.”

“Fine.” Carla snatched the bills so quickly that she almost gave me a paper cut. Then she shot the woman a lethal glare before storming away.

“Oh my God.” The woman let go of the cart, finally, lifting both hands to rub her temples. “I don’t know if I should be furious or mortified.”

I chuckled. “Carla gets a little worked up at times.”

“Wow.” She blew out a long breath. “Should I expect this every time I come to the store?”

“Nah. The only other time I’ve seen her this fired up was when she caught her son shoplifting condoms when we were teenagers. She still likes to throw that in his face, but it’s only been fifteen years.”

“Only fifteen?” The corner of her pink mouth turned up. God, she was pretty.

“Eventually Carla will let this go. It might take a couple decades, but I wouldn’t give up hope.”

She dropped her gaze to the cart, that faint smile still on her lips. “Thank you.”

“Welcome.”

“You don’t need to escort the cart to my house. I promise to return it.”

“Carla is, without a doubt, watching from the window. I’m not taking a chance that I’ll land on her bad side, so you can either let me drive you or we can walk the three blocks. Just know that if you choose the ride, I’ll immediately dive into a lecture about getting into vehicles with strangers.”

“No lecture needed. I’ll walk, thanks. But I’m not sure I want a stranger who I met in the grocery store’s parking lot to know where I live either.”

“Fair point.” I chuckled. “I can produce references. The sheriff is a good friend. We can give him a call to come down and attest to my character. Though, chances are, your ice cream won’t survive the wait.”

“Then I guess for the sake of my cookies and cream, the walk is a risk I’ll have to take.” She gripped the cart’s handle and started for the sidewalk. “Sorry about this. I’m keeping you from your own shopping.”

“It’s all good. My shopping is done.” I dug the scratch tickets I’d bought inside from my jeans pocket, holding them up before tucking them away again. “I have a deal with my grandpa. Every week, I buy him lottery tickets from the two gas stations in town and the grocery store. In exchange, my grandma cooks me dinner once or twice a week.”

“So your grandfather has the chance to win money, and you get free meals. What about your grandma? Seems like she’s getting shortchanged.”

“Well . . . I do give her hugs when I go over for dinner.”

She raised two perfectly arched eyebrows.

I leaned in closer. “I’m really good at hugs.”

Her eyes sparkled as she let out a quiet laugh. She settled into a swift, natural pace.

The cart’s wheels were a rattle along the concrete, drowning out the muffled thud of my cowboy boots as the first block disappeared too quickly.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone who walks as fast as you.” Normally, I’d shorten my stride to walk beside a woman, but not this one. “I’m guessing it has nothing to do with the ice cream, does it?”

“I walk fast.” She shrugged as we reached the first corner, each of us checking both ways before crossing the intersection. Then we were on the sidewalk again, already barreling down block number two.

Except I wasn’t ready for this walk to be over quite yet. Not quite so fast.

“Tell me a lie.”

She slowed—mission accomplished—and her eyebrows knit together. “Huh?”

“A lie. Tell me one.”

“Why?”

“Why not? A lie seems more interesting than small talk.”

“No one has ever asked me to tell them a lie before.” A ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. “All right. I love grilled cheese.”

“What?” I came to a dead stop. “You don’t like grilled cheese?”

“Not even a little bit.”

I smacked a hand to my heart. “That’s one of two things I can actually cook.”

“What’s the other one?”

“Breakfast for dinner. I’m really good at hugs and pancakes.” And delivering orgasms, but that was something I preferred to show women, not tell.

“I’ve never had breakfast for dinner,” she said.

“Excuse me?” My jaw nearly hit the concrete sidewalk. “You’ve never had breakfast for dinner. That’s . . . a travesty.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” She smiled, wider this time, and continued walking.

“Tell me a secret.”

“Secrets and lies? This might be the weirdest conversation I’ve ever had with a stranger.”

Weird. But, hopefully, unforgettable.

She pondered it for a few moments, then said, “I don’t like cats.”

“You’re a monster.” I feigned horror, slapping a hand to my heart again. “Carla was right. You were going to steal this cart, weren’t you?”

She laughed, and it transformed her, like she’d turned on a light and it radiated through her face. Those brown eyes dazzled, revealing flecks of gold and cinnamon. Her straight white teeth flashed as pink colored her cheeks.

Well, fuck.

Now I was in trouble.

“In my defense, I’m allergic,” she said. “But I’d rather have a pet spider than a cat, and I’m also terrified of spiders. Not that I’m scared of cats. I just don’t like them. They’re too independent.”

“What about kittens?”

“They’re cute. But not as cute as puppies.”

“So you’re into dogs. Thoughts on horses?”

“I’ve never been around them before.”

Never had breakfast for dinner. Never been around horses. Both were problems I wanted to solve.

Except before I could invite her out to the ranch for a ride and dinner, she pointed to a duplex building ahead with tan siding. Somehow, blocks two and three had gone faster than the first. “That’s my place.”

It was an older home, but the yard looked freshly mowed, and other than the junk car in the neighbor’s driveway, the street seemed quiet. Across the road, her other neighbor had crammed their yard with inflatable Halloween decorations.

“I’ll just run these inside quickly,” she said, stopping at the mouth of the walkway that led to her front door.

“Want some help?”

“No, that’s okay.”

“All right.” Maybe someday she’d invite me inside. But until the day I wasn’t a stranger, I wasn’t going to push.

She took two trips with the bags, rushing them inside, until everything was unloaded, and she rejoined me on the sidewalk.

“I can take this back,” I told her, turning the cart.

“Mind if I tag along? At this point, my honor is at stake.”

Hell yes. “Who am I to deny you your honor?” I grinned as she fell into step at my side, letting me push the cart on the return trip.

“Your turn. Tell me a lie,” she said.

“I never lie.”

“Is that the lie? Or are you saying you can’t tell me a lie because you never lie?”

I winked.

“That’s not an answer.” She rolled her eyes. “Fine. How about a secret?”

“I have no secrets.”

“Everyone has secrets.”

“Not me.” Certainly not in my small hometown. Around here, everyone’s dirty laundry hung out on the line, side by side, mine included.

She studied my profile as we walked. “You’re really not going to spill?”

“I told you. I can’t lie, and I’ve got no secrets.” I kept my gaze straight ahead, fighting a smirk.

When was the last time I’d flirted with a woman like this? College, maybe? The girls around town were sweet, but flirting wasn’t exactly required. My good looks were usually all it took to get a woman in bed. That, or my last name.

But damn, this was fun. Refreshing. There was something different about this woman. She’d challenge me, wouldn’t she?

At the moment, I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do than work for it. Hell, I didn’t even know her name.

“You’re having ice cream tonight. How about dinner first?” I asked. “They don’t have pancakes, but the Thirsty Turtle makes great burgers.”

She stayed silent and kept walking.

With every step, my heart ratcheted higher and higher toward my throat. My nerves spiked. Was she thinking about how to turn me down? For the first time in a long damn time, I was about to get rejected, wasn’t I?

She made me wait, my dinner invitation hanging between us as we crossed the last intersection and walked all the way into the IGA’s parking lot.

“You’re risking your reputation by being affiliated with a suspected thief,” she finally said.

Fuck yeah. That was a yes. I was taking it as a yes.

“A risk I’m willing to accept.” I held out my hand. “I’m Jax Haven.”

“Haven.” Something like panic flashed across her expression, her eyes flaring wide. “As in Haven River Ranch?”

“Yes,” I drawled. Most of the time my last name worked in my favor. So why was the color leaching from her face?

“Oh. Um.” She worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she took a step away, then another. “Thanks. But I think I’d better stick to my ice cream. Nice to meet you.”

Wait. What? Before I could ask for an explanation, she turned and walked away.

I stood with my hand latched on the shopping cart, my jaw slackened, until she disappeared from view. “What the actual fuck?”

No. She’d told me no?

Had I read that wrong? We’d been flirting, right? What the hell was happening right now?

My good mood turned to shit as I pushed that cart back to the rack and stalked inside, then held out my hand for Carla to return my money. The moment she slapped it into my palm, I left without a word, stomping to my truck.

I drove to the ranch, bruised ego riding shotgun. Then I made myself pancakes for dinner and did my best not to think about the dark-haired beauty who should have been sharing them with me.

“How long is this going to take?” I asked West.

“I don’t know. Ten minutes.”

I sighed. “Why am I even here?”

“Because you’re an owner of this resort.” He gave me a sideways glance. “What’s wrong with you today?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

My brother frowned. “Then stop being so damn grumpy.”

“Now you sound like Dad,” I muttered.

I loved West, but the problem with me being nine years younger was that there were times when he treated me more like his son than his brother.

We were standing in the lodge’s lobby beneath the glowing antler chandelier. Smiling guests were milling around, sipping coffee and hot cider. A family of four was at the desk, luggage waiting at their feet as they checked out.

Everyone was so damn happy this morning. Everyone, except me.

“Let’s just get this meeting over with.” Then I’d disappear to the stables to saddle my horse and go for a long, hard ride. Maybe a day spent outside, enjoying the crisp fall air, would help me forget about the woman I’d met yesterday at the store.

Her rejection gnawed deeper this morning, somehow worse than it had last night as I’d tossed and turned, replaying every minute of that walk. I couldn’t even cuss her name because I didn’t fucking know her name.

Yet she knew mine. And clearly, it was reason enough to run in the other direction.

Was she friends with a woman I’d hooked up with before? Maybe she knew I had a preference for one-night stands, and she’d wanted to steer clear. But how? She was new to town, right? Unless I was more infamous in the single-female circuit than I’d realized.

“Stop.” West smacked my arm.

“What?” I barked.

“Stop scowling. Plaster on a smile, for fuck’s sake. This is important to Indya.”

I showed him all my teeth.

“Shithead,” he muttered.

Relaxing my lips, I did my best to soften the frown that I’d been wearing since yesterday. “I don’t know why we needed to hire a manager. I told you that I’d take over while Indya was on maternity leave.”

“You’ve got plenty on your plate. And I’ve got plenty on mine. We need help at the rate we’re growing. Having someone who can be here to manage the lodge and resort will make all our lives easier.”

“Fine.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “He or she better not boss me around.”

“She. And I’m sure she won’t.”

“Indya bosses me around.”

He chuckled. “Me too.”

The only woman in the world West would gladly take orders from was his wife. And maybe their daughter, once she was born.

Voices drifted from the hallway that led toward the executive offices, and West turned, a smile stretching across his mouth as Indya’s curly blonde hair came into view.

Normally, I’d tease him for being such a goddamn sap when his wife was in the room.

Except it was impossible to form words with my jaw on the floor.

Beside Indya walked Grocery Store Girl.

Beautiful. Striking. As perfect as yesterday.

Fuck me sideways.

Indya’s smile brightened as she came to stand by West’s side. “Guys, I’d like you to meet Sasha Vaughn, our new manager. Sasha, this is my husband, West, and my brother-in-law, Jax. Together, the three of us own the ranch and resort.”

Together was generous. I owned a mere fraction of this place compared to West and Indya. But those details didn’t really matter today. Not when I was staring at stunning brown eyes and that splash of freckles across smooth skin.

Sasha. Her name was Sasha.

“Nice to meet you.” West shook her hand. “Glad you’re here.”

“So am I, Mr. Haven.”

“West. Just West,” he corrected.

“West.” Sasha gave me a polite smile as she faced me next. There wasn’t a flicker of surprise or familiarity on her face. Not that there would be. She knew who she’d be meeting this morning. Me?

Totally fucking clueless.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She extended a hand in my direction.

So that’s how she wanted to play this, huh? To pretend like yesterday hadn’t happened?

Fine. I’d play that game. For now.

“Nice to meet you too.” The moment our hands touched, tingles raced beneath my skin. The widening of her eyes said she felt it too. I smirked as I held her delicate fingers for a moment too long, then let her go. “Welcome to Haven River Ranch, Sasha.”