Page 6 of A Montana Childhood Promise (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #3)

CHAPTER FIVE

Noah’s gaze lingered on Jane as she set back to work. She really loved her job, that much was clear. And she was good at it.

Really good.

And why wouldn’t she be?

Jane had always excelled at everything she put her mind to. She’d been a straight A student. When they were in school together, she went out for student government, and she won.

Well, this was just great. The more time he spent in her company, the harder it was to get her out of his head.

His feelings had never really gone away—that much was clear.

He could tell himself that he needed to leave her alone, but the chance of that happening was worse than expecting it to snow in July.

He scrubbed at his jaw. There was so much to unpack right now when it came to his feelings about her.

Their friendship was easy right now. There was a give and take—a flirty sort of back and forth that continued to draw him to her.

But that was how she was. She was kind and welcoming.

She’d never push him away. In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if that was how she treated everyone.

He heaved a sigh and turned his back on her. Watching her wasn’t going to do him any good. Distance. That’s what they both needed. He could do that.

Right?

If he forced himself to go home and not come out, then he could manage it.

When night fell, Noah finally allowed himself to leave the confines of his home. It had become suffocating to be locked away in his house when the tug to just watch Jane when she was in her element pressed in on him.

The air was cool when he stepped outside. Thankfully, they’d gotten their usual work done before his charity had come to set up for the gala. Unfortunately, Noah needed to expel some energy. And the best way to do that was to get in the saddle and feel the sting of the air as it blew past him.

Noah cocked his head, gazing up at the deepening colors in the sky.

It was still light enough that a ride shouldn’t be out of the question.

If he were honest with himself, he would admit that the dark wouldn’t stop him from the opportunity to clear his head.

Jane would be here again tomorrow for the gala.

She’d likely be dressed to the nines, and he’d have to keep his hands to himself.

Already he could feel the headache of that restriction coming on.

When he was a kid, he’d thought he’d find a way to make her see he was worthy of her affection.

But then Mack had to go and cross to the dark side.

After he’d started hanging with the sort of friends Jane’s parents didn’t approve of, Jane stopped coming by.

He thrust his hand through his hair, running it back and forth as he made it to the barn. He’d been a fool. She wasn’t his friend. She’d been Mack’s friend. Jane merely tolerated him.

Noah stopped, his breath catching in his throat when he caught sight of her.

Jane stood at the far side of the barn, her eyes locked on a horse.

Not just any horse.

His.

The horse was a tall, ebony beauty. His coat was completely black, and his mane was long and well-groomed. He was a sweet horse and loved attention, which was probably why he had his whole head out of the stall where he was kept.

Jane rubbed his nose and scratched his neck. She was cooing something at him, and he was lapping it all up like the rascal he was.

“His name is Caspian.”

Jane gasped, whirling to face him.

Noah smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he moved toward her. His boots scuffed against the concrete at his feet, brushing aside bits of straw that were left un-swept. “And he’s spoiled rotten.”

She smiled, looking toward the horse once more. Her hand glided up and down Caspian’s nose. “Caspian, huh? It suits you.” Jane glanced at Noah out of the corner of her eye as she worked his way toward her. “Is he yours?”

He gave her a curt nod. Caspian might possibly be the most valuable horse on the property. “He’s a Friesian. His breed is native to a Dutch province, and once upon a time, they were war horses.”

Jane let her gaze sweep over Caspian’s large form, but she wouldn’t be able to see just how graceful he was unless Caspian came out of his stall and trotted around for her. Knowing Caspian’s personality, Noah figured the animal would be up for the challenge. He was not only spoiled, but a showoff.

He reached Jane’s side and held out a hand to pat his horse’s neck. “What are you still doing here?”

She glanced at him from beneath her lashes but continued to face the horse. “We just finished up a little bit ago. I…” She smiled and turned to him fully. “I’m a sucker for animals, and I wanted to see these guys before we got too busy tomorrow.”

Noah jerked his chin toward Caspian. “You ride?”

Jane blinked several times. “What?”

“Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

She shook her head. “I can’t say I have.”

“Would you like to?” He shifted closer to her—near enough that he could smell her perfume.

The soft floral scent permeated his senses, and all he wanted to do was inhale every bit of it.

His voice had been low, husky. His resolve to steer clear of her was waning even now, and he steeled himself for her to decline his offer.

“Could I?” she whispered. “I know it’s getting late, but?—”

“We wouldn’t have to go far.”

The smile that lit her face was enough to drag him right back into the thick of it. He’d do anything to see that smile fill her face. Nothing would make him happier than being the source of that smile every single day of his life.

“I’ll get him saddled.”

When it was clear he didn’t plan on getting two horses ready for a ride, Jane started to fidget. She shifted and opened her mouth a few times while he tightened the belt of the saddle beneath Caspian’s belly.

“Something wrong?” Noah inquired.

“It’s just…” She swallowed and shuffled her feet some more. “Will there be another horse? We’re… not…” Jane cleared her throat. “Are we riding together?”

Noah straightened. “You’ve never ridden a horse before. And like you said, it’s getting late. I don’t think Mack would forgive me if I lost you or you got hurt.”

He wouldn’t forgive himself, either.

“Will that be a problem?” he asked. He could see the hesitation in her eyes, but he couldn’t decipher the reasons she might be feeling that way. Had he made her uncomfortable with his flirting earlier? Or was she just nervous about riding altogether? Could be both reasons or neither one.

She considered his question for a while then shook her head and offered him the smile he had grown so used to seeing when they were younger. “Nope. No problem.”

Noah patted Caspian’s rump. “Good. Because we’re ready. Put your foot there.” Caspian was taller than most of the horses they had at the ranch, and it took a little bit of effort for Jane to get situated in the saddle before he jumped up behind her.

She sat stiffly in front of him, indicating just how little she was drawn to him at least compared to his own feelings. Noah reached around her and took the reins from her hands. He must have been going crazy because he thought for a moment he heard the softest intake of breath from her throat.

Yes, definitely crazy.

“Ready?” he murmured next to her ear.

Jane nodded, her hands tightening around the saddle horn before her.

He grinned, shifting the reins to one hand and slipping an arm around her middle.

She didn’t push him away. In fact, it almost felt like she was leaning into him.

The notion was thrilling, to say the least. His core tightened with a fresh wave of desire, and it took all his control not to become distracted by the situation.

Noah pushed his heels into Caspian’s flanks, and they were off. They walked out of the barn, then Caspian shot forward into an easy canter.

Jane released an exhilarated gasp, and her hands tightened over the arm he had around her waist.

“Relax,” he murmured close to her ear. “Follow his movements with your own. Feel the beat of his hooves against the earth.”

She exhaled at his words, and her hands relaxed against his arm, but she didn’t release him.

Noah let Caspian run, giving him the freedom they both desired since the sun had gone down. The rhythmic beats of Caspian’s strong steps eased the tension that hung in the air. The longer they rode, the more relaxed Jane became.

He could almost believe that she was softening to him, feeling something more for him. But how could that be when all they were doing was taking a ride? It’d be unwise for him to hope for such things.

By the time they got back to the barn, the moon shone bright in the sky.

It was the only light offered to them, but it was enough.

Jane had kept quiet for the ride—it would have been difficult for them to speak, anyway, with the pace they’d kept.

He wanted to talk. He wanted to ask her more about what had happened in her life between the last time he’d seen her and now.

He craved her company, her friendship like nothing he’d wanted before.

Those thoughts weighed heavy on him as he pulled Caspian to a stop in the barn. Noah dismounted with ease, then reached toward Jane. Without giving it much thought, he placed his hands at her waist and lifted her to the ground. She was pressed between him and the horse at her back.

“That was amazing!” She brushed some loose hair from her face and let out a laugh. “You get to do that every day?”

He chuckled. “I do.”

Jane shook her head with another laugh. “I can’t even imagine what that could be like. What else do you get to do?”

Neither one of them had moved from their position.

She peered up at him with curiosity and excitement, and he couldn’t decline her request. “We take care of the herd of cattle, mostly, but my cousin has plans for expansion. He wants to do a little bit of everything. My brother has been working on unique formulas for animal feed. We have some fields where we grow crops for the animals, but I think they want to add some other crops, too.”

“And you? What do you focus on here?”

One side of his mouth quirked upward. He was only here because he loved his family.

Did he enjoy this lifestyle more than he would living the billionaire life in a big city?

Absolutely. But he wasn’t going to tell her any of that.

Not yet. People acted different when they found out about his wealth.

“I just like being a cowboy,” he said softly.

Her eyes lifted to meet his, shining with something that he couldn’t read. They were bright and open. It was almost like she was asking him a question. She liked that answer, that much was clear. Was she seeing something more in him?

Noah could have sworn that she leaned into him at that moment. So, he did the same. She didn’t pull away, and he hooked his finger beneath her chin, tilting it upward. Her eyes widened just before he got close enough to brush his lips to hers.

Both of her hands came up between them, and she pushed him hard enough that he took a step backward.

“Noah,” she rasped, her face flushing. “I—we can’t.”

He frowned. Hadn’t she just been giving him ‘kiss-me’ eyes? Jane hadn’t pulled away. She’d let their eyes remain locked on one another. There was no way he’d read her wrong.

She side-stepped, tossing him an apologetic smile. “I should probably get going.”

That was it? She wasn’t going to tell him why? Had she heard about his money? What was holding her back?

So many questions raced through his head, and he didn’t even get a chance to tell her he was sorry for making the assumption that she wanted him to kiss her.

Dang it all! This wasn’t how the night was supposed to go. He’d let his feelings take the wheel, and after he’d taken one step forward, he’d now gone ten steps back.

He watched her go, feeling cold and confused.

The following morning, he stared into his coffee, still dwelling on how he’d managed to screw this up so royally.

“You look like you didn’t get much sleep last night,” Mack chuckled as he entered the kitchen. “Is Mom around?”

Noah shrugged, not lifting his eyes from his drink. “I haven’t seen her.”

“Will you let her know I need to talk to her?”

“Yeah, sure,” he mumbled. Noah heard his brother’s steps move across the kitchen toward the fridge, then the sound of it being pulled open. If anyone could answer his questions about Jane, it would be Mack.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Noah lifted his eyes, and Mack glanced at him. “Why do you think Jane hasn’t married anyone?”

Mack laughed. “That’s a strange question. I have no idea.”

“What about her aversion to dating someone with money?”

That gave Mack pause, and he faced Noah, leaning against the now closed refrigerator.

He folded his arms and tilted his head. “I guess it has something to do with who she is at her core. She’s always focused on helping others.

She’s seen people get corrupted by money, and she doesn’t like it.

She’d always wanted to settle down in a small town.

You know, the kind of place where everyone knows your name?

” Mack grinned. “I guess it makes sense that she moved here. I wouldn’t be surprised if she found someone to settle down with soon enough.

” His grin turned into a knowing smirk. “Why? You interested?”

Noah shrugged, but his brother read him too well.

“It’s a good thing you don’t fall into the category of entitled, rich jerks, huh? You might actually have a shot.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Noah muttered.

Except that wasn’t true. He might have been able to convince Jane to give him a chance, but if she was so against wealth, then that small opportunity was all but lost.