Page 13 of Captured by the Billionaire Cowboy (The Secret Billionaires #7)

She grasped a soft petal and stroked its velvety surface.

“I still can’t believe Rowan offered the ranch.

Actually, I can believe it. He pretends he doesn’t care about horses, but I see past the facade.

He suppresses his emotions, always wearing a mask.

His father taught him to only show his hardness, but he isn’t like that, not really. ”

Only who was he? Hazy memories conjured two images, the serious but sweet boy who had stolen her heart, and the callous teen who had broken it.

Was the man either of those? “Can I tell you a secret?” she whispered.

“I’ve dreamed of kissing him for years, to see if it was as fantastic as I remembered.

I acted like it was nothing, but it was amazing.

Seriously hotter than a sizzling Irish summer. And Rowan? He’s become one sexy hunk.”

She laughed softly. “Please don’t tell anyone I said that.

But it’s more than just physical attraction.

There’s something between Rowan and me, always has been.

Once I thought…” The words drifted into the aquamarine sky, as she closed her eyes, opened them to no elucidation.

How could she ever allow him to hurt her again? “What am I going to do?”

Then the horse, who until now had been very patiently listening, snorted in distress.

Ciara rose from the log bench. “Easy girl. What is it?” Had she sensed something?

Heard or smelled someone? Horses had a more acute sense of scent than humans.

Rustling sounded from the entrance, sparking new concern. Her breath hitched…

As Rowan walked in.

Ciara breathed out. She had always dreaded the day someone would arrive and claim the garden, banishing her like she’d been exiled from the ranch. Yet relief soon melted into unease as her earlier words resurfaced.

Amazing kiss.

Hotter than a sizzling Irish summer.

Sexy hunk.

Oh. Crap.

If he’d heard her, he didn’t immediately show it. “Hello, Ciara.”

“Hi Rowan,” she said cautiously, before he displayed any shock, unease or pure male satisfaction. When he didn’t jump in joy, break into song or immediately start patting himself on the back, she continued, “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” he replied casually. He glanced around. “Is someone else here? I heard voices.

“Voices? No, you must be mistaken. There’s no one here.” Goodness, she was rambling. “Well, except for me. I was talking to Jasmine.”

“Of course,” he said smoothly. “About anything in particular?”

How sexy you are. Oh, and what an amazing kisser you are. The word “hunk” may have been mentioned. She cleared her throat. “What did you hear?”

His eyes sparkled. “What did you say?”

That you’re a sexy hunk. That your kiss was hotter than a sizzling Irish summer. That you are the absolute perfect specimen of a man. No, wait I didn’t say that last one. But I was thinking it.

There had to be an escape. Or a distraction.

At this point, she’d take a mischievous leprechaun hunting for a pot of gold.

Although if she captured one, perhaps he would grant a wish for his release.

She would ask for something logical, like Rowan forgetting anything he might’ve heard.

She most certainly wouldn’t wish for another kiss.

Definitely not a dozen more kisses. A hundred more – out of the question. “Um, nothing in particular.”

“Are you sure?” His biceps thickened as he crossed his arms over his chest. She stared for an hour and a half before she forced her gaze up to his knowing one. His smile turned wolfish. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you tell me what you said, and I’ll let you know if I heard it?”

He was definitely teasing her. Yet for the miniscule chance he hadn’t heard, she would play along. “I think I mentioned something about the weather.”

“The weather?” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “It’s been very hot lately, hasn’t it?”

“Really hot.” Why had she said that? “Intensely so.” Did he know she wasn’t referring to the temperature? “Really, really hot.” Now she was rambling again. “How did you find me?”

Thankfully, he didn’t ask more about the heat of his own making. “It wasn’t hard. When I didn’t find you at the house, I thought of where you used to ride. This was your favorite place.”

After all these years, he remembered. How unexpected – and unexpectedly satisfying. “For both of us,” she said softly.

His smile faded, nameless emotion flashing, before he glanced away. He smoothed invisible wrinkles out of his sleeves. “I brought King. He took to the tack really well.”

She said nothing at the sudden change of subject.

Apparently, she was not the only one uncomfortable with sharing.

He continued, “We started slowly, with a quiet, steady trail ride on even ground. King was literally chomping at the bit for more action. I didn’t want to bring him to a full gallop since I wouldn’t be able to properly cool him off, but you can see he’s ready. ”

“That’s wonderful.” They were testing the horses well-suited for riding, and King was at the top of the list. It would be far easier to find homes for horses that could be ridden, since that was why most people purchased horses.

“No doubt he’ll soon be outracing the best of them.

We’ll have to find an owner who can give him a lot of exercise. ”

“Actually, I’m thinking about keeping him.”

“Really?” She leaned against a tree, its soft foliage a pillow against her back. “I didn’t know you were looking for a horse. He must have made quite an impression.”

“He’s fine,” he gave the apathetic response, emotionless and impassive, as if it didn’t matter at all. A breeze of sorrow whispered through her. Why couldn’t he just admit he cared for something?

Someone?

“I left him outside because I didn’t want to make Jasmine nervous,” Rowan quickly went on. “He’s happily drinking from the spring. How is Jasmine doing?”

She glanced at her equine friend. The skittish animal snorted and stomped, exuding nervous energy. “She’s okay. The noise stressed her a bit.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” She touched his arm softly, instinctively.

Corded bicep flexed beneath the linen shirt, defined power and strength.

She swiftly retreated, focusing her attention back to the horse.

“She needs to learn the difference between real and imagined threats. Hopefully she’ll stop overreacting in time. ”

“If anyone can help her, it’s you.” He pivoted around the breathtaking garden. “I still can’t believe this place is exactly the same.” He stopped, lowered his voice to a murmur. “Some things never change.”

Her breath caught. Was he referring to the garden… or something else?

He captured her in his gaze, in the thrall of those gorgeous sapphire eyes. Amidst magical surroundings, it would be easy to surrender to emotions, to unnamed feelings and endless urges. But reality’s cost was too great. She had to resist.

“This hasn’t changed.” She moved forward through the lush surroundings, smoothed her hand over the weathered bark of a tree where initials were carved into the wood. “Do you recall how we used to make up stories about the mysterious C and F?”

Now he grinned. “You insisted they were pirates who buried their treasure underneath the geraniums.”

“And you thought they were foreign spies battling an evil mastermind.” She gestured dramatically. “You claimed they built the garden to hide their secret lair. We spent hours looking for a hidden passageway.”

“It still could be true,” he drawled. “I’d say the odds are at least fifty-fifty.”

She laughed. “That was quite an elaborate story. You even gave the villain a name. What was it again?”

He instantly sobered. “Who knows? It was long ago and–”

“Miles!” she exclaimed in triumph. “You dubbed the evil mastermind Miles.” Her breath hitched. “Your dad’s name was Miles.”

He didn’t say anything, yet no admission was necessary. Of course, the villain had been named for his father. Rowan may have been flush with money, wealth and power, but she was the truly rich one. He received so little love, while she lived surrounded by it. “I’m sorry.”

He looked up sharply, and somehow she knew he was going to mask his feelings again. To pretend he didn’t know why she was sorry, or why it even mattered. It was what Rowan did. Power against obstacles, a solid steel front against the world. “It was a long time ago.”

But it mattered. She couldn’t change the past, yet maybe she could give him a little of what he lost as a child. Even after all that had happened, it still seemed right.

She would start by simply being his friend.

“You’re not like him, you know.”

He stiffened. “What?”

For a moment, the neutral mask slipped, replaced by pure emotion.

She shouldn’t intrude, shouldn’t say anything, yet beneath the facade something raw blazed, pain no amount of years could erase.

She continued in a low, even voice, “You’re not your dad.

The kindness you’ve shown to me, to others without them even realizing it, is amazing. You’re not him, not even close.”

“My father just wanted me to be strong.” He waved his hand, yet the words were forced, the tone tight. His dad was far worse than a stern man. She’d literally never seen him perform an act of kindness.

She didn’t break his gaze. “You are strong.”

“Am I?” His stance softened, his features easing, as she fought not to blush. She might as well have called him a hunk. Again.

“Umm, yes? I have another theory about the initials,” she hurried out. “What if they were time-travelers from the future, and they came back to enjoy a real vacation? You see in the future, everyone has perfect teeth, so they don’t have the luxury of dental vacations.”

He looked upward. “I’ll be hearing about this for the next decade, won’t I?”

She grinned broadly. “Undoubtedly.”