Page 29 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

"No. It's just that... I don't tend to stay anywhere for too long, not anymore."

When they reached the top of the next rise, Ford swept his arm out in a gesture that took in the view before them. The last steep stretch of trail had brought them up above the old quarry. And he was right, it did look like a lake, and it was beautiful.

"Wow," she breathed, "I love it."

He smiled, as if she'd paid him a personal compliment. "Are you ready for a picnic?" He adjusted the backpack he was carrying.

"I am," she told him. "That easy little hike of yours has made me ravenous. What?" she asked. "What's that smirky little smile for?"

He chuckled. "I'm just glad you're hungry. I didn't know if you'd be one of those people who eats like a bird."

She rolled her eyes. "You mean, one of those women who won't eat more than two lettuce leaves at a time in case they gain a pound?" She slapped her ass and said, "I'm definitely not one of them."

Chapter Seven

Ford finished the last bite of his sandwich and brushed his fingers off before leaning back on his elbows to stare out at the view.

"You had enough?" Amelia asked.

He nodded.

"Mind if I take the last sandwich, then?"

He chuckled. "Have at it. I'll pack more next time." He'd thought that he'd overdone it with the sandwiches, that he'd brought too much food. But Amelia hadn't been kidding when she said that she wasn't one of those women who only picked at food. She'd put away as many sandwiches as he had. He turned to her with a smile. "I should warn you first, though, there's coffee cake in there if you need to save room for it."

She laughed. "Not a problem. I've got room. Do you want another drink?"

She took a soda out of the cooler and handed it to him, surprising him by opening the can first.

"Thanks."

"What?" she asked. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

He shrugged. "You're not what I thought."

She frowned. "In a bad way?" she asked.

"No, in a good way. I didn't know enough about you, so I guess I kind of slotted you into a box... but you don't fit there." She lay on her side on the blanket that he'd brought and propped her head up on her elbow as she turned to him. "What kind of box did you have me in?"

He thought about it for a moment before he spoke. "City girl, I guess. No offense or anything. I mean, you're obviously an intelligent woman, and you've proven several times over that you can step up when there's a crisis. I just thought you might be more..." He searched for the right word. "Refined," he said.

And the look on her face told him that that wasn't the right word.

She laughed. "You're saying that I'm not refined?"

"No, just that I didn't expect you to be this down to earth. And I like it."

"Okay. As long as you like it, it's all good." She held her pinky finger out as she brought her sandwich to her mouth. "I can try to be more of a lady, if you like."

He laughed. "I never meant that you're not a lady."

She grinned and took a big bite of her sandwich, smiling happily as she chewed.

"You are easy to be around," he said after a little while. "I think that's what I didn't expect."

She held his gaze for a long moment while she finished chewing, then asked, "Were you thinking that there was something about me in particular that I wouldn't be easy to be around?"

He thought he knew what she meant. "You might have a point there. There aren't many people I find it easy to be around."