Page 23 of A Montana Secret Admirer (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #4)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Falling.

No, that wasn’t right.

This was more than that.

Serenity had started out as a small little snowball, gently bouncing down a slope that quite possibly wouldn’t have gone anywhere, but at some point, she’d veered completely off course, and now she was gaining speed.

She was catapulting down the steep incline, and there would be no stopping the massive destruction that would await her at the bottom.

She was falling, all right. But she was also on a collision course—and one she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to avoid.

Tegan was still moody—far moodier than any seven-year-old should be. He’d refused to talk to her about how his ride with Reese had gone.

Nope. He had remained as tight-lipped as possible. And when she’d given Reese a questioning glance, she wasn’t given anything she could work with. He’d simply shrugged. What was she supposed to do with that reaction? How was she supposed to help her son when she didn’t know what was wrong?

They spent the evening out at the main house with all the cousins. Bo and his wife Gabby had insisted on hosting a barbecue for everyone. Even some of the employees who weren’t family had shown up. Serenity had practically tripped over children three times already.

At this point, she was content to sit at a table with her sister and Hallie, who she’d learned was Noah’s cousin. Boy, they had a big family.

Hallie’s eyes were on a young man who stood with some of the cowboys who worked the ranch. Every so often. he’d look in her direction, and Hallie would look away.

Jane hadn’t seemed to notice. Instead, her eyes were pinned to where Reese was playing with Jessi and a few other boys who had all decided now would be the perfect time to tackle Reese to the ground.

He could have left the pileup at any moment, but he hadn’t yet.

Nope, the man she was quickly falling for was flat on his back with four boys who were all under the age of five dog-piling him. He was laughing and groaning, the latter causing the children to laugh along with him.

When Serenity glanced back to Jane, she startled. There was a contemplative look on her sister’s face, her lips thinned into a line. “Why are you smiling like that?” Jane asked.

Serenity attempted to wave her off, especially now that Hallie had decided this was the time to actually participate in their conversation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jane smirked. “We both know that’s not the case. You can’t lie to me.”

“And that smile isn’t doing you any favors, either,” Hallie laughed. Her focus shifted to Reese, and she shook her head. “He’s always been good with kids.”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard,” Jane mused. “Noah insisted he would be the best fit for the therapy program we’re working on.”

“How’s that going?” Hallie asked, mercifully drawing Jane’s focus away from Serenity and her goofy grin.

All wasn’t right in Serenity’s world, even if she was smiling more and enjoying the attention of someone who might be able to heal her broken soul.

Serenity shot a look over to the swing set, where Tegan was rocking back and forth beside a little girl who looked to be about his age.

She belonged to one of the Reese men who ran the ranch.

Bo, Jack, and Daniel all had daughters, based on the observations Serenity had managed to make thus far this summer.

Tegan wasn’t smiling, but the girl was. Their swings were synced up at the moment.

Serenity frowned as she continued to watch them.

If he would smile just once, then she’d force herself to give him space and accept that he just needed time.

Lately, his smiles had gotten fewer and further in between.

She heaved a sigh, turning her attention back to Jane and Hallie.

Hallie laughed. “I’m not surprised about Leo. He’s one of the most stubborn guys I know.” Her eyes inadvertently flicked to the man she’d been watching. This time, Jane did notice, and her eyes narrowed as she smiled at Hallie.

“What about him ?”

“Who?” Hallie asked so innocently that Serenity couldn’t help but believe her.

Jane jerked her head toward the cowboys just as the guy looked in their direction. Hallie picked up a grape from her plate and popped it into her mouth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You mean who .”

“Hmm?” Hallie asked, still chewing.

“Who’s that guy?”

She didn’t even bother looking. “I think his name is Jacob? I don’t know. He’s Mack’s friend.”

“And you two…” Jane drawled.

Hallie rolled her eyes. “Nothing. There is nothing between us.”

Jane glanced to Serenity, and Serenity was grateful to be on the other side of the teasing for once. She didn’t need Jane’s scrutiny regarding the heartthrob who was still goofing off with the kids in the grass. She’d much rather interrogate Hallie about that Jacob guy.

Serenity nudged Hallie. “Well, based on the way your voice hitched, I’d say there is something there. Can’t be nothing when you’ve looked over at him more than a dozen times?—”

“A dozen?” Jane scoffed. “I counted at least eighteen.”

Serenity snickered, and Hallie blushed.

“I’ve only talked to him a handful of times, okay?” She squirmed in her seat.

“Must have been some conversation,” Jane mused.

Hallie threw her hands into the air before getting to her feet. “Whatever. I’m not going to be made fun of over nothing.”

Serenity wanted to feel bad, especially after Hallie ran off with her cheeks burning like that. But the second she turned the corner of the house, Jacob left the group of guys he’d been speaking to and headed after her.

Jane and Serenity exchanged looks one more time, then they both burst into laughter. “A couple of times, my eye,” Jane muttered with amusement. “There’s definitely something there.”

Serenity nodded, still watching the area where Jacob had disappeared. When she returned her focus to Jane, she startled, finding Jane watching her with serious eyes again. She gasped, and her hand flew to her chest.

“Okay, spill.”

“Spill… what?”

“How are things going with you and Reese?”

“What? I?—”

“Don’t bother denying it. Last we talked, you were feeling guilty about having feelings for him when that secret admirer also had your attention.”

Serenity flinched. The last week or so, she hadn’t heard from her admirer. She didn’t know if she ever would after the last date she’d gone on with Reese, and at this point, she couldn’t decide if that even upset her.

“So…” Jane pressed. “How’s it going?”

“It’s—going,” Serenity sighed with a smile.

“Slower than I want it to…” She nibbled on her lower lip, finally admitting something aloud that she’d been keeping to herself.

In the beginning, she’d wanted it to go slow.

She’d needed it to, otherwise she wasn’t sure she’d be ready to let it go anywhere. But now?

Her focus slid to Reese, who was finally getting to his feet, albeit a bit breathlessly. The kids clung to his legs and jumped for his arms. He still laughed, and it warmed her heart.

Jane cupped her chin in her hands as she waited for Serenity to continue. “Does this mean you might consider staying?”

“Staying?” Serenity’s eyes darted to Jane. “I couldn’t move in with?—”

“In Rocky Ridge,” Jane murmured. “Would you want to stay here in town and get a job or something?”

Serenity blinked a few times. “I hadn’t thought about it… but I suppose… I could.”

Jane smiled softly.

The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind.

She was here only for the summer, but if she moved out here permanently, then she could continue to explore this new relationship with Reese at her own pace.

They could take it slow or move faster. They could ease her sons into the idea in a way that would do right by them.

“Do you really think I could find something? A place to stay, too?”

Jane covered Serenity’s hand with her own. “You know you’re welcome to stay with us or Noah’s family as long as you need to while you look for something that works for you.”

“I couldn’t?—”

Jane squeezed her hand. “You can . If that’s what you want, then you can. I’ll talk to Noah?—”

“No.” Serenity balked, and Jane’s brows rose. “I mean, not yet. I don’t know if that’s what I want to do. I think I’ll need to… I have to look at this from all angles. It’s not just me. The boys…” Her voice trailed off as she glanced once more over to Tegan.

“How are they doing?”

Serenity shrugged. “I thought they were doing great. But over the last couple of days… I don’t know. I think Tegan is struggling with something, and he’s not willing to tell me what it is.”

Jane frowned, her eyes following Serenity in that direction. “Do you know what could have triggered it?”

“Not a clue,” Serenity sighed. Reese hadn’t given her details. He’d simply told her that Tegan missed his dad. But that wasn’t a surprise.

“You don’t think it could have anything to do with Reese’s attention, do you?”

Serenity’s eyes flicked back to Jane. “What? Why would you say that?”

Jane lifted a single shoulder. “It’s common for kids to feel displaced when their parents get a divorce and find someone new. It happens even if they don’t lose a parent to death.”

Serenity studied her son across the yard.

She pursed her lips together. The timeline would add up, but Tegan hadn’t said anything about not liking Reese.

He hadn’t indicated that he even knew she was romantically interested in Reese.

That couldn’t be it, right? Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s it.”

“Just… keep it in mind. You don’t want something like that to fester.”

She nodded absently. “Yeah, okay.”

Jane was called away to speak to someone shortly after, leaving Serenity alone. Then Reese settled into the chair that Hallie had occupied. He leaned back in his seat and grinned at her.

She bit back a smile. The only person who knew she was interested in him was her sister. They couldn’t exactly make things public until her sons were ready for that sort of change. “Hey,” she murmured. “You’ve become quite popular this evening.”

Reese chuckled. “It’s been fun. You should take a turn.”

A very unladylike snort burst from her chest. “Yeah. No, thanks.”

He laughed again, deeper, and the sound reverberated through his chest in the most delicious way. “You’re missing out.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

His eyes danced with amusement before they lowered to her mouth. He’d inched closer to her, and his face was only a few inches from hers. Serenity found herself leaning toward him, too, but she stopped herself before they touched.

“How was the talk with your sister? I haven’t seen you two spending much time together lately.”

She scoffed. “That’s because my attention has been stolen by a certain cowboy.”

“Yeah?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and his eyes swept over her face. “He must be something special for you to give him so much attention.”

“Well, actually?—”

“Mom!”

Serenity stiffened, and her head whipped around.

There were other women who did the same.

Most of the kids sounded similar over the hum of conversation taking place in the backyard.

She wasn’t surprised to find Tegan standing a few feet from his swing.

His brows were pulled closer together, and he was frowning.

She glanced over to Reese apologetically. “I should probably…”

He nodded. “You should.”

Tempted to place her hand on his cheek, she lifted it but then thought better of her actions and let it fall to her side. “See you tonight?” she whispered.

Reese nodded again. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Their sunsets had become something of a habit at this point. He’d started showing up for them, and he hadn’t stopped. Sometimes they didn’t speak while they watched the light disappear from the sky, other times they’d chat late into the night. No matter how they spent the evening, she’d enjoyed it.

She grinned, and before she turned from him, she caught him winking at her.

A flurry of excited chatter occurred in her chest. It was like her heart was talking to the other parts of her body, riling them up until she had a hard time staying on her feet.

Reese leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. The last she saw of him was a horde of children attacking him to the point his chair toppled backward.

She laughed to herself as she moved closer to Tegan. When she reached him, she dropped down to a crouch and brushed his hair from his forehead. “What’s the matter, buddy?”

“My stomach hurts,” Tegan murmured. His focus darted to Reese, who was currently buried in giggling children.

“I’m sorry. Do you want to go home?” Serenity pulled his attention back to her.

“Yeah.”

She frowned. “Okay, I’ll go grab your brother, and we can head home. Then you can get right to bed, and hopefully, you’ll feel better in the morning.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

She brushed her fingertips around his face lightly and headed toward Reese. Jessi was part of the group of children who were so drawn to him that they couldn’t help themselves. She plucked Jessi from the fray, and he squirmed in her arms, laughing as he lunged toward Reese.

Serenity’s eyes locked with Reese’s for a moment, and she mouthed, ‘Goodnight.’

He mouthed back, ‘See you later.’

The whole way home, she smiled to herself. Their relationship wasn’t easy, and there was no telling if it ever would be. But for now, she was determined to enjoy it.

But then she got home, and there was a flower waiting for her on the front porch.

She picked it up, and Tegan gazed up at her.

“Who’s that from?”

There was a notecard with a single line scrawled on its surface.

Your happiness is your responsibility—love yourself enough to prioritize it.

Serenity ruffled his hair. “I don’t know, buddy.

Just someone who cares.” Now, more than ever, she wanted to ask Reese about the flowers, about the pond where they grew.

But she couldn’t. It might break the spell.

She brought the flower to her nose and breathed in deeply.

“Come on, boys. Let’s get ready for bed. ”