Page 1 of A Montana Childhood Promise (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #3)

CHAPTER ONE

Sun filtered through the puffs of clouds overhead, causing bits of shadow to slide across the grass. Three white canopies had been erected specifically for Mack’s wedding. Champagne flutes clinked as guests toasted to the happily wedded couple.

Noah held up his glass and smiled at Mack over the heads of several guests. Mack did the same. They had a tighter connection than they’d had in years, and that could all be thanks to the secrets that Noah had kept for his brother—and the matchmaking, too.

He grinned. No one deserved a happy ending like Mack and Lacey. They were so good together—so deeply in love.

It would have made Noah sick if he wasn’t so proud of his brother for going after what he wanted. Mack had finally made a decision to chase that happiness, and he’d won.

Air filled Noah’s chest as he sucked in a deep breath and let his focus shift to the one woman he’d always loved. Of course he’d never tell anyone that. His brothers would only laugh at him, and his folks would look at him like he’d sprouted a second head.

Jane had been Mack’s friend growing up. Not only was she a couple years older than he was, but she had come from a strict family—highly religious. Her father had been the town’s pastor, and she’d been the perfect eldest daughter of their family.

Noah’s family hadn’t been super religious, and they’d not gone to church every Sunday. It wasn’t that they didn’t believe. Their family had simply been busy keeping a roof over their head, and when his parents had to work, that fell on Sundays quite often.

Jane had been a vision even when they were younger. He’d developed a crush on her the first second she walked onto their property when she’d been in ninth grade and he’d been in seventh. Noah had used every excuse in the book to spend time with her when she hung out with Mack. And she’d allowed it.

Often, he’d wondered if she might like him more than she’d let on. But reality crashed down on him when she stopped coming over and her friendship fell away from Mack due to his brother’s poor choices.

Noah knocked back the drink as he continued to watch Jane Ashley with some of the other guests.

She’d had a simple beauty to her when she was younger, and it had flourished into something more as she’d grown.

Her brown hair seemed highlighted with strands of gold, and her brown eyes had matching flecks in their depths.

He’d caught sight of them when he’d been seated beside her during the vow exchange.

She’d smiled at him, and his mind went completely blank. He’d wanted to flirt with her, get closer to her, and find out why she was in Rocky Ridge when they’d all grown up miles from here.

He refused to believe that she’d come just for the wedding. What friend would seek out another after so many years of no contact?

Jane pulled her brown tresses over her shoulder, and her eyes locked with his. They crinkled at the corners, and for a brief moment, time stood still. His heart stuttered. It practically tripped over itself when she looked at him like that.

The worst part was that her smile was one she gave everyone. It wasn’t made special for him, even if deep in his soul he’d always thought God had made her to be a big part of his life.

Noah swallowed at the lump in his throat and flashed her a smile. His nerves had gone into hyperdrive for no other reason than his crush on that woman.

All around him, people mingled. They chattered on about the happy couple. These people were humble working folks—nothing like the wealthy people he’d occasionally had to spend time with.

He turned his focus to his brothers, who were now speaking.

Mack and Caleb had no clue that their baby brother had become the one billionaire to live in the state of Montana.

In fact, no one in this group of people knew that Noah Reese had spearheaded one of the biggest charities that had grown in popularity across the country.

And they never would.

He didn’t need recognition. He didn’t want it, either. Noah would remain content in the shadows and allow his board of directors to be the face of all the good he did in the world.

It wasn’t just because he wanted privacy. He knew better than to let people know what he had. He’d seen the way others treated people with money. They could usually be put into two categories. Those who wanted something and those who didn’t know how to treat them like humans.

The second his family found out, they’d definitely treat Noah differently. They wouldn’t demand anything from him—he knew that well enough. But they’d act differently all the same. With money came problems—problems he had zero interest in dealing with.

So, he lived with his parents, worked his cousin’s ranch, and moonlighted as a mysterious benefactor of sorts.

As if against his will, Noah’s focus shifted to the girl he’d always been drawn to.

She was gone.

Noah straightened, his drink forgotten as his gaze swept through the crowd of people. She couldn’t be gone. He’d needed to talk to her. When they’d been seated by one another, he hadn’t had a chance to say anything more than hello. If she’d left, then how on earth was he going to see her again?

How could he have let her slip through his fingers? He wasn’t the inexperienced kid who had attempted to flirt with her—admittedly very poorly—when he was younger. Now, he was older, wiser, and… who was he kidding? He was just as full of nerves as he’d been all those years ago.

He dragged a hand down his face and spun around, searching for her again only to nearly collide with her.

Jane gasped, a soft laugh trilling from her as her hand flew to her chest. “Careful, Freckles. You nearly made my drink spill.”

He grimaced. He’d always hated her nickname for him. It made him feel small and insignificant, like he wasn’t worth her attention.

She laughed again, and it was almost enough to ease the ache caused by that word.

“Sorry.” Jane tilted her head, her eyes scanning his features.

“You don’t really have them anymore, do you?

” She stepped closer, and her eyes narrowed.

“Oh! Nope. They’re still there. Just harder to see.

” She winked and pulled back, tearing away their moment of closeness and making him feel colder than before.

Noah stood there like a smiling idiot.

Speak. Say something. She’s standing right there, and you’re acting like you don’t have a thought in your head.

Her lips curled upward, and she folded one arm over her stomach as she held her glass in the other.

“Mack said that you were going to be my date today. But the only time you’ve been with me was when we were seated for the ceremony.

Then you slipped away like a little mouse.

Am I such bad company that you couldn’t?—”

Noah gaped and immediately shook his head. “I didn’t—that’s not what?—”

Jane laughed again. “Calm down, Noah. Don’t be so serious. I recall a time when you were so outgoing that you offered to marry me once.”

He flinched and made a face. There would be no hiding the heat that immediately blasted its way beneath his skin. “Yeah, well, you were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Could you blame me?”

Man, he loved the way she reacted to his statement. Her cheeks got their own little glow at his compliment, and her teasing tone disappeared as she murmured, “You’re sweet.”

“No, I’m honest. And for the record—” He leaned closer, “—the offer still stands.”

For a moment, the amusement in her gaze left her.

She blinked at him like he’d told her he’d take her to the moon if she asked.

Heck, he couldn’t say that he wouldn’t if she did.

Money could buy him anything. And if she wanted to go to the moon, he’d do everything he could to make that dream come true.

The coloring in her cheeks deepened, and he found his resolve strengthening.

Maybe he could sweep her off her feet after all.

His gaze drilled into her, and his smile deepened as he noted just how flustered she’d become.

“Unless, of course, there’s someone else in your life.

By my account, our pact would come into play in the next couple of months. You’ll be twenty-seven, right?”

“You remember my birthday?” she blurted.

He chuckled. “You’d be surprised what I remember about you.” Noah had said it under his breath, but by the way her eyes snagged on him, lingering on him with that imploring look, he wasn’t so sure she didn’t hear him admit it.

And she wasn’t running from him.

Yes, he definitely had a chance.

He’d have to thank Mack later.

The MC announced that the happy couple would be dancing together for the first time as husband and wife.

Jane turned away from him, but her arm brushed against his.

The warmth of her skin against his started a shiver that skittered down his spine.

He relished the reaction, exhaling with effort as his focus remained pinned on his brother escorting Lacey to the dance floor.

“They certainly look happy together, don’t they?” Jane mused. She brought her glass to her lips, letting it graze the smile there. “I’m glad he found someone.”

“Yeah,” he rasped, “they’re really good for each other.”

At that moment, Lacey’s son hurried toward them, and Mack let the boy cut in to dance with his mother. Noah’s mother moved forward to dance with Mack, and several other couples joined the dance floor.

Noah bumped shoulders with Jane. “Seeing as you’re my date…”

She lifted her eyes to his. Those beautiful, breath-stealing, soulful brown eyes that he still dreamed about. One side of her mouth quirked upward, making a dimple appear in her right cheek. “I’m not much of a dancer.”

He scoffed. “I doubt that.”

That dimple deepened as her smile stretched wider. “You’re right. There have been some occasions when I’m expected to be on a dance floor. But they’re not all that often.”

Noah arched a brow. That was interesting. “And are you going to tell me why you’re expected to dance sometimes?”

“It’s a work thing.” She returned her focus to those dancing.

“And you don’t enjoy it?”

She lifted a shoulder. “It’s not bad .”

“I see,” he drawled.

This time, she turned to him and laughed, too. “What does that mean?”

He faced her then, doing his best to show confidence when he was anything but. “I take that to mean you haven’t had a good dance partner.”

“Oh, really?” she purred, moving closer to him and completely destroying his resolve.

His breaths came in quicker at her proximity.

They were only a few inches apart now. He couldn’t tell if she was trying to tease him like she’d done so many times when they were younger, or if she was actually interested in him.

She wasn’t.

Not his Jane.

She couldn’t just be swayed like that.

And he wouldn’t allow himself to believe that this would be so easy.

So he’d play along.

Noah inched closer so their chests nearly touched. He leaned forward just enough to allow his lips a breath apart from her ear. “Really.”

Jane sucked in a sharp breath. It was small, and he wouldn’t have caught it if they weren’t so near to one another. She could probably hear the way his heart thundered in his chest—or she would have if the music wasn’t playing over the speakers.

This was all a game. But it wouldn’t be for long.

Not if he had his way.

“And you think that person is you?”

Noah shrugged, withdrawing from her. “Perhaps. But there’s only one way to find out.”

For one heart wrenching moment, he thought she might turn him down. These past fleeting moments had been more than exhilarating, and he wasn’t ready for it to end. Noah held out his hand. “Shall we?”

She stared down at his hand, then she made his world stop spinning when she took it within her own.

Noah didn’t waste any time. He tugged her right onto that dance floor and pulled her close. His hand slipped around her slender frame while he held her other one against his chest. They swayed back and forth while their eyes never left the other.

This was heaven.

He didn’t care what else happened to him, this moment right here would forever be his favorite one.

Her light perfume was intoxicating—just enough to make his head swim with ideas of pulling her into the shadows and stealing a kiss from her lips.

The way her body pressed against his had every nerve in his body electrified.

What would happen if he could get her to fall in love with him?

There was no predicting how he’d react to her then. His heart would probably explode, unable to survive the joy that would bring him.

Dang. His infatuation with her had only gotten stronger over the years of them being apart. And he couldn’t even admit to hating it.

The music stopped, followed by a song with a quicker beat, and yet they remained close. He was tempted to tell her right then how he’d pined for her, and that he’d meant every word of that childish pact he’d asked her to make all those years ago.

Those words were on the tip of his tongue when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Noah had half a mind to ignore the call, but he rarely got calls unless they were related to his charities. Jane stepped back, apparently having heard the interruption.

She offered him a smile. “It’s okay. Answer it. I’m not going anywhere.”

Those words did something to him that he wasn’t proud of. He wanted to believe with all his heart that she meant them but in a very different way.

He did as she said, only because she hurried off the dance floor. His eyes followed her as he dug the phone from his pocket. Sure enough, it was the head of his board of directors.

Noah heaved a sigh, shooting one fleeting look in Jane’s direction. His moment had been lost, and he knew it. By the time he got off the phone, there was no way he’d have the courage to tell her he was interested in taking her out. And she’d likely be dancing with someone else, anyway.

“Yeah,” he muttered into the phone. “What do you need?”