Page 24 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

CaDee saw the changes in her body. She felt and looked healthier than she had in a long time.

It also helped that she and Sharp snuck away to be with each other as often as possible.

Although he ’ d found the tracker on her car, there had been no sign of Dante in Fin ’ s Creek.

She sat underneath the shade of an oak tree and looked at her hands. They were dry, cracked and her nails were broken, but she didn ’ t care. She was at peace.

Every evening after she ’ d put Carsen down to sleep, she ’ d come here to her sacred spot to jot her thoughts in a journal.

Writing seemed to help her, ease the tension.

Ursula had joked one evening that CaDee should write an inspirational book to help other women who ’ d been in a tough spot with a partner.

Opening to a blank page, she paused her pen, but nothing came to mind. Usually, she had so much to write that she couldn ’ t keep up.

She leaned her head back against the rough bark of the tree and stared up into the full branches.

When she turned her head, she spotted Sharp.

He was working late finishing up the last bit of painting.

He lifted the brush high on the wall and the muscles in his back flexed, embellished by his slick, sweat soaked skin.

His worn and faded jeans tightened across his firm bottom.

He gave her creative juices a tweak.

She wrote on the page…

A stranger.

A good looking stranger.

She stretched her gaze to him again, admiring his body. They ’ d explored each other in every way since they started their…what? Neither had used the term relationship.

He squatted to wet his brush from the can and her mouth salivated. Only in her dreams had she imagined it possible for a man to have such a broad chest.

Sexy, she wrote.

I wonder what it would be like to marry Sharp.

She caught herself laughing and quickly covered her mouth, not wanting her muse to see her there. There was some distance between them, but she had a feeling he had a dog ’ s ears.

Watching him paint relaxed her. Imaging those hands on her body made her want to go to him and sneak off to one of the barns.

Instead, she sat there and ogled him like a toasted cheese sandwich. Her favorite snack.

Turning the page in her journal, she started a list. A bucket list.

Entry One.

Have sex again with Sharp.

She ’ d lost count how many times they had in the last month. Each time it got better.

Entry Two.

Let go of the past to focus on the future.

She wouldn ’ t allow Dante to ooze into her presence any longer.

There came a time for every woman to expect respect.

Sharp showed her every day how much she meant to him.

Although they hadn ’ t told anyone about their relationship, he brought her flowers, her favorite candy, made sure she ate dinner, and always made sure she was okay.

Dante had done those things at first, but it fizzled quickly.

Entry Three.

Come into the open about her feelings for Sharp .

She scratched out the entry.

Was she really ready for everyone to know that she and Sharp were seeing each other?

She didn ’ t care what everyone thought except for Carsen. She just didn ’ t want him to get hurt.

Yet, it was a good thing for Carsen to see her in a positive relationship.

She rewrote the entry.

She didn ’ t want to keep Sharp hidden. He deserved more than that.

Entry Four.

Dye hair.

CaDee didn ’ t see anything wrong with women who wanted to go their natural color, but at thirty-five, she didn ’ t want to feel so old. She wanted to get back a part of her youth and innocence that she lost to Dante.

Entry Five

Buy a sex toy and use it with Sharp.

What harm would come of exploring? The one time she ’ d mentioned a sexy toy to Dante he ’ d been angry enough to not speak to her for two days.

Milo ’ s gaze was on her as if he could read her thoughts.

“ Don ’ t look at me judgmentally,” she said to the dog.

One ear perked up.

“ You heard me. You might be okay living your life single and alone, but I miss the fun stuff.”

She shook her head. Now she was talking to dogs.

The only thing she was missing was a glass of wine.

What was stopping her?

Piper had an entire shelf of homemade dandelion wine.

“ Milo, watch my journal and no peeking. You hear?”

He groaned and fell back to sleep.

She stretched her gaze to the barn but Sharp was no longer there.

Where had he gone?

She hopped up from the grass and strolled toward the house. Unaware that she was being watched. Inside, she took down a mason jar, scoped out the flavors of wine and settled on the one labeled raspberry. Pouring herself a small amount, she drank it fast.

She liked it.

She poured more and took it with her outside.

Grabbing the basket by the back door she went to the garden.

Milo joined her while she picked tomatoes and cucumbers to marinate for tomorrow ’ s dinner.

Setting the full basket near the door, she crossed the grass barefoot toward the tree to retrieve her journal, but it was gone.

She looked all over for it.

Behind the tree. Near the weeds.

“ Milo? Did you do something with my journal?”

The dog stared at her blankly.

Anger coursed through her as she stomped over to the barn to Sharp.

“ Did you take my journal?” she accused.

He dropped the brush into the bucket and wiped his hands off on a rag. “ Journal?”

“ The one I was writing in a few minutes ago.”

He looked toward the tree then returned his gaze to her. “ I haven ’ t seen it.”

Embarrassment flooded her. She could never face Sharp if he read what she ’ d written. “ It didn ’ t grow legs and walk away.”

“ I ’ m a little lost here.”

“ I left it under the tree and walked into the house, grabbed some vegetables from the garden and when I came back it was gone.”

He blinked. “ I walked away to get more paint.”

She rubbed her aching forehead. “ There was no one here but you and me.”

“ And I said I didn ’ t take it. Why the hell would I want to take your journal?”

“ Maybe because you wanted to read what I wrote.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “ I ’ m not Dante. I know boundaries and trust. Maybe you should check your distrust.”

“ You ’ re saying this is because I don ’ t trust you? I had the journal and it ’ s missing.”

“ Maybe Milo took off with it?” he said.

Milo whimpered and laid down at CaDee ’ s feet. “ Why would he?”

“ Right? And why would I?” He grabbed up the materials. “ If you can ’ t trust me after everything we ’ ve shared then I don ’ t think you ever will. I should have known this would happen.” He stomped off toward the house.

She caught up to him. “ What does that mean?”

“ It means you ’ ll find some kind of reason to end things.”

“ That ’ s not true.”

He stopped and looked down at her, frustration made the wrinkles around his eyes deeper. “ No? When do you plan on divulging to people that we ’ re a couple?”

“ We ’ re a couple?” She didn ’ t mean for the words to come out so harshly, but they did.

“ What do you call what we ’ re doing then?”

“ I ’ ve never tried to put a label on it,” she admitted.

He laughed. “ Don ’ t you mean you don ’ t even care enough to bother figuring out what we ’ re doing?” He took off again.

“ Maybe this is you finding a reason to stop seeing me,” she said to his back.

He stopped and turned. His eyes were lasers. “ You accused me of stealing your journal. I ’ ve asked you not to compare me to your ex-husband. Are you ever going to be able to let go of the harm he caused you?”

This time she let him go.