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She let a barely audible gasp escape. “So, um, what’re you two up to today?” she asked, hooking her own pinky in Jax’s.

It sent a rogue wave of heat straight to his stomach. That was also pretty cool.

“We’re headed on a small tour of the property, then I figured we’d grab some lunch at Mae’s. I saw on the board last night her special’s a flatbread pizza.”

“I love pizza. You think they’ll have pepperoni?” Ren chimed in.

Jax remembered being able to zone out as a teen only to come back when someone mentioned food. They were so similar in ways that Jax hoped to still discover long into Ren’s twenties.

That was only five years away.

“I’m sure they will,” Jill said, releasing Jax’s pinky. “Mae knows food like your dad knows horses.”

“He’s gonna let me ride one,” Ren said. “Some horse named Lightning. Sounds fast.”

Lightning was named ironically, since he was the slowest horse on the ranch. Which, of course, made him perfect for new riders like Ren. Jax winked at Jill, gesturing with his finger to his lip. She bit back a giggle of her own. Yep, she’d keep his secret.

Let Ren keep his cowboy dreams a little longer.

“You want to join us for lunch?” Jax asked.

Jill bit her lip and his stomach flipped. When her cheeks turned a rose pink, his pulse kicked up in response.

You sure you can do this? his brain asked. Just be kissing friends?

It was all he could do, so yeah, he had to be. Because the alternative? Giving her up all together? That wasn’t happening.

“I think I’ll let you guys do this one on your own, but I’ll—” She mouthed the rest silently see you tonight?

“Sounds great.” The heat in his cheeks dove south. Please don’t let this excitement show in the front of my jeans. “Well, Ren, shall we? I want to show you the canyon entrance by the creek. Do you mind if we cut through your property?”

“Never. Have fun and watch out for black bears,” she teased.

Ren shot up, leaving Gander rolling on his back in the dust by himself.

“Bears? This place is seriously the best.”

Jill shook her head. “You two are cut from the same cloth. I don’t mind the bears anymore, but I don’t think I’ve ever said they make this place the best.”

Gander disagreed, barking. Lily looked on with what Jax would only describe as a smile. Like she loved the mutt even though he embarrassed her from time to time. Maggie often smiled like that at Bennett. Jax snuck a look at Jill. Did she ever look at him like that?

Did he want her to?

Yeah, his heart sang.

Nope. No time for that, his brain argued back.

“Alright. Let’s head out. Thanks, Jill.”

“Always.”

The word hung between them like a promise as Ren reached out to shake her hand again.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Henley.”

“Call me Jill. And nice to meet you, too, Ren. I’m really glad you’re here.”

The boy blushed and then each of his features went wide with discovery.