“Come on, Ne-ne,” Lou cajoled. “You could use the excuse to get off the ranch.”
“Cool it with the nicknames, Lou. They never sound right. And tonight I’m not doing anything that doesn’t involve my pajamas and my mattress.”
Brenne knew she should take her friend’s advice. Sitting around and sulking about her broken heart wasn’t getting her anywhere. But she didn’t have the energy to put on a brave face. She wanted to be able to wallow in her misery without an audience.
She was wondering whether she’d ever be able to look at Alex again without wanting to punch him, or kiss him, when a noise drew her attention to the window. Brenne sat up and looked in time to see two more projectiles hit. Someone was throwing pebbles at her window. She went over to open her window and stuck her head out of it.
Her eyes widened as she took in the scene in the backyard. Alex was seated on Ghost’s back, a buttery brown cowboy hat on his head. He was holding Comet’s reins in one hand and waving with the other. “Miss Brenne. Nice night for a ride, isn’t it?”
“What the heck are you doing here, Alex Parsons?” Excitement exploded inside her, but she tamped it down. “Remember what happened the last time you showed up?”
“I’m courting you. Now come on down and let’s go for a ride.” He gestured for her to join him.
Brenne leaned on her elbows, shaking her head. “You’ve got a lot of gumption coming here again.” She was surprised at the levity in her tone. It was serious business, what was happening, but part of her couldn’t help but be charmed. He came back. After saying it was over, over and over again, he came back.
Maybe it isn’t over after all.
“Come down and let’s talk.”
“Aren’t you afraid of my brothers skinning your hide?” It was a legitimate question, given the circumstances. It would have taken a lot of courage to come here, considering the fact that several of her brothers were inclined to respond to his presence with violence.
The window to her left opened, and Jack’s head appeared. “I don’t think he has to worry about that,” he said with a smile.
Brenne turned in Jack’s direction. “How can you be so sure?”
Before he could answer, the back door swung open and Jameson strolled into the backyard. Brenne held her breath. Her heart leapt into her throat. He’s going to kill Alex.
Except he didn’t.
“How you doing, Alex?” Jameson drawled, tipping his hat at his friend. “Nice night for a ride.”
“That’s what I told your sister. Now that she’s heard it from your mouth, maybe she’ll come down.”
Brenne shook her head. “I don’t know what you two are playing at but—”
The window next to the one Jack was in opened, and Mark stuck his head out. “Just go with him already. I’m trying to study and y’all are making too much racket!” His head disappeared and the window slammed shut.
Jack looked at her, chuckled, then went back inside, lowering his own window. Brenne gave Alex one more look, then closed her window. Should I do it? Should I give Alex one more chance?
She was downstairs in about five minutes, which was how long it took to put on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Jameson nodded in her direction. “Sis.”
“You want to tell me what’s changed? I thought you’d planned to murder your friend here.”
Her eldest brother smiled. “He told me that me and our other brothers meddle in your life too much. He said you didn’t deserve that. And he was right.”
Brenne jumped on her brother, hugging him closely. “Thank you,” she said softly.
Jameson nodded. “Enjoy your ride.” He headed back into the house, leaving her alone with Alex. Brenne took Comet’s reins from him and climbed up into the saddle.
Alex took the lead, turning Ghost in the direction of the trail that veered off toward the lake. Brenne joined him, and for a moment, they rode in silence. The sun was sliding behind the horizon, but there was still plenty of light to see by. There were so many questions she was dying to ask, but she kept them to herself, letting the rhythm of the horse’s steps relax her.
“It wasn’t right, the way I treated you,” he said after a while. “And the things I said to you, they were completely out of line.”
Brenne appreciated the apology, but it was only a start. “You said you’re here to court me. Is that correct?”
He nodded. “If you’ll have me.”
“What about Gavin Jeffries?” The last time he’d been there, he’d accused her of dating Gavin for his money. “Aren’t you worried he might not like you courting me?”
“Frankly, I don’t care neither a diddly nor a squat for Mr. Jeffries. I’m going to prove to you that I’m the right man for you and he’s not.”
His words sent shivers up her spine. Brenne turned her attention to the trail when he veered left at a fork in the path. She realized then that they were on the trail that connected her ranch to his farm. He’s taking me home.
Despite the spark of hope that lit in her chest, Brenne refused to give in so easily. “What’s changed?” she asked him softly.
“Everything,” he replied, his voice steady. “The threat of IG is no longer hanging over the town. I’ve explained to Emma that I made a mistake. And Jameson, and your other brothers, have given me the green light.”
“What’s changed between us?” she said, putting a finer point on her question. “You told me we didn’t suit, that you were the wrong man for me. So what’s changed your assessment?”
“What’s changed is that I was a goddamn fool, and now I’ve seen the light.” Alex turned to her, his voice filled with heavy emotion. “Brenne, you were the best damn thing to happen to me, and I was an idiot to throw it away. I lo—”
A sudden flash of lightning was the only hint they got before the rain started pouring down. “Goddamn it,” Alex hissed, then dug his heels into Ghost to propel him faster. “Let’s get inside before we’re soaked.”
Brenne snapped the reins and Comet took off, following close behind Ghost as twilight darkened to full night. The rain came down in fat blobs that turned the trail to mud. She was relieved when she could see outbuildings in the distance. It took five more minutes, though, to reach the clinic, and by the time they got their mounts inside, she was soaked through to the bone.
“I’ll get these two some feed and water,” Alex said, shaking out his mane of hair. “The stall should be big enough for the both of them. It will have to make due for now, until the storm breaks.”
Brenne went to stand over the drain built into the concrete floor and wrung out the bottom of her sweatshirt. Water sluiced from the fabric onto the floor, but her jeans were filled with water and tight on her body.
“Come on upstairs,” Alex said once the horses were secure. “I’ll get us some towels.”
Brenne followed him up the stairs, aware that she was being invited into his private space for the first time. She was surprised at how cozy the loft appeared. Alex had always struck her as a minimalist guy, and she’d expected all modern lines like the clinic below, but the long open stretch of living space was filled with overstuffed furniture, quirky knickknacks, and books as far as the eye could see.