Page 15 of A Montana Secret Admirer (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #4)

She seemed to almost lean into him. Or maybe that was all in his imagination. The slightest exhale escaped her lips before her smile returned, and she lifted a shoulder. “Well, it’s a Wednesday afternoon. So I guess the boys will have their riding lesson and…”

“And?”

Her smile widened. “And…” she drawled.

Reese chuckled. “I’d like to take you and the boys out to do something later this week.”

Her happy expression faltered.

Shoot. Had that been the wrong thing to say? He frowned. “Unless…”

Serenity shifted her weight from foot to foot. “I don’t know that the boys are ready to see me… with… anyone.”

“I thought they liked me.”

She stepped forward and reached a hand toward him only to pull back. Still, she continued with her train of thought. “Oh, they do. They like you very much.”

“But they don’t want to see you dating me?”

He wasn’t sure, but he could have sworn that her lips quirked upward for a moment. “Dating?”

“That’s what you meant, right? When you said they don’t want to see you with anyone?”

Serenity glanced toward the house at his back and nodded. “Yeah, I suppose I did.”

“So…” He brushed up beside her, and his fingers grazed hers. “Does that mean that we can do something just the two of us? I’d really like to take you out again.”

She turned her head slightly and glanced at him over her shoulder. “I… yeah, I’d like that,” she whispered.

“Good.” He grinned. There was so much more he wanted to say.

And yet he couldn’t bring himself to say any of it.

His thoughts immediately shifted to the notes he’d been sending her with the flowers.

His alter ego didn’t have a problem telling her what was in his heart.

Then again, he was a faceless, nameless entity.

Serenity had no reason to be nervous with his advances.

But here? Right now?

She still needed him to take it slow. She was worried about her kids, and he could understand that on a deeper level.

Reese reached out, letting his fingertips clasp hers. “I’m not going to ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. If that means you want to keep your kids out of the equation for now? I’m okay with that.”

The utter hope in her eyes made him feel guilty for even expecting that she’d let him be part of their lives in a more official way. But the smile eased that ache. If they were alone without the risk of anyone seeing them, she might have given him a hug. “Thank you.”

“Mom!”

She tugged her hand from his with a sharp intake of air. He glanced over his shoulder to see Tegan on the porch watching them. Had the kid seen anything? No. Not likely. Just two people having a conversation.

Serenity shot Reese an apologetic look and hurried toward the house.

Later that night, Reese waited in the shadows until Serenity’s bedroom light went out. She hadn’t been spying on the front porch lately. It was as if she’d forgotten about her secret admirer. He’d been slacking.

Reese reread the letter he’d written.

Serenity,

You don’t know how special you are. I’m sure you’re wondering how I’d know of such a thing.

That’s easy. Among everyone at Sagebrush, you stand out.

You bring a light to this place that it doesn’t even deserve.

For someone who brings so much brightness into the world, you really should have everything your heart desires.

One day, I’ll make sure that happens. One day, I could be one of those desires.

The letter was a bit much. Even Reese could admit it.

He should probably crumple it up and leave just the flower, but he couldn’t bring himself to do that.

His heart was all but bursting with his feelings for this woman.

But if he were to tell her these thoughts, there was a really good chance that she’d push him away.

“Reese? What are you doing here?”

A curse slipped from Reese’s lips, and he whirled around to see Noah standing on the front porch with a beer in hand. He frowned, his eyes narrowed. Why did Reese have to choose this moment to hesitate at the bottom of the steps?

Noah’s eyes dipped to the flower in Reese’s hands, and he let out a groan. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

It was too late to hide the dang thing. There was no doubting that he’d been caught. Reese wasn’t going to be able to play this off as anything but what it was. He cleared his throat and took a step forward. “Please don’t say anything.”

“You’re the secret admirer, too?” He groaned again, dragging his hand down his face. “You can’t just ask me to keep this a secret.”

“Why not?”

“She’s my sister-in-law, Reese. What did you expect?”

Reese shrugged. “It’s not like it’s doing any harm.”

Noah stared at him with what could only be described as a somewhat hopeful expression—like he didn’t want to have to deal with the drama that would ensue after telling his wife who was behind the flowers.

“Please,” Reese whispered.

“You have to tell her,” Noah muttered. “Serenity should know who’s leaving those flowers.”

“She’s not ready.”

Noah huffed.

“And… I’m not sure I am, either.”

Another disgruntled sound came from his cousin before he took a sip of his drink. They eyed each other for several moments until Reese couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

“Well?”

Noah sighed. “You’ll tell her? When you’re ready?”

Reese nodded. “I swear it.”

“And how long will that be?”

That took more thought. He knew he had a timeline in mind. Serenity was only planning on staying for the summer. He had to do something about his feelings before then. He cleared his throat. “Before she leaves.”

Noah rolled his eyes at that. “So the end of the summer, then, huh?”

Reese nodded.

“Fine. But if this blows up in your face, I’m not taking the fall with Jane. She’ll skin me alive if she knew what I was keeping from her.” He watched Reese through hooded eyes. “Well? Are you going to leave your little note, or not?”