He led her into the main lodge, but Benjamin was nowhere to be found. “He probably left your room open for you.” They took the stairs to the second level, and he pushed her door open for her.

Jess stepped in and her eyes widened as she took in the king-size bed, the pretty floral bedding, handcrafted oak furniture, and a vase full of fresh flowers that he’d picked earlier that morning, when he’d thought this was a stupid idea.

She stepped up to the dresser and breathed in the bouquet. “Gorgeous,” she whispered. Turning, she leaned against the dresser and said, “This whole room is so…so pretty.”

“Not what you expected?”

“Let’s just say today has been full of surprises.” She walked to her bed, where Ben had left her suitcase. She unzipped it and pulled out another dress, knocking what looked like a journal to the floor.

It instantly sent his thoughts careening back in time, to the day he looked over her shoulder to glimpse a few words. Always curious to read more, to understand her needs better, he picked it up and flipped it open.

“Mac, don’t,” she lunged for it and held it to her chest. Her eyes were wide when she asked, “Did you read anything?”

He dipped his head. “What is it you don’t want me to see?”

She drew her bottom lip between her teeth. “Nothing.”

“If it’s nothing, why can’t I see?” She clutched it tighter.

“Because…”

“I thought you said you trusted me.”

“But it’s my…my most private thoughts.”

Interested to hear more, he prodded, “As in your private fantasies?” He watched her for a long moment, and then asked, “Do you trust me enough to let me read one? You can pick it out if you’d like.”

“I don’t think I could do that.”

Undeterred, he pressed, “Okay, how about you close your eyes, and open to a page.” He stepped closer, and she quivered as he ran his finger down her arm. “We only have a week here, and while I’d like to fulfill every fantasy you have in that journal, we don’t have time. If you show me, I could at least be sure to fill one or two.” Her hand loosened on the book, and in a soft voice, he commanded, “Show me, Jess.”

She blew out a shaky breath. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Closing her eyes, Jess pulled the book open and handed it to him.

She kept her eyes squeezed shut as Mac quickly read through the passage, his mind racing with ideas as he absorbed her words.

After a moment he said, “You can open your eyes now.”

When her lids flickered open, he closed the book and handed it back.

“What did you read?” she asked, nervousness and intrigue in her eyes.

“Time will tell,” was all he said, and then he jerked his thumb toward the hall. “My room is beside yours. I’ll get changed and be right back.”

Mac hurried to his room and pulled on a clean shirt and pair of jeans. He tugged on the collar as he thought about what he’d read. His heart beat a little faster and he raked a shaky hand through his hair, wondering if he’d be able to do that for her. It’s not like he hadn’t gone there in the past, done those things, but this was Jess…his Jess…and, well, that changed everything for him.

Once dressed, Mac hurried back to find Jess standing in her doorway waiting for him, that pretty pink flush still coloring her cheeks.

“Ready?” he asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said.

“Come on then.” He grabbed her hand again and led her to the barn. Her eyes widened, fascinated as he pointed out all the horses.

“You really love it here, don’t you?” she asked, eyeing him carefully, like she was actually seeing him, the real him, for the first time.

“I do.” He stopped in front of his mare’s stall and opened the door. “Meet Eleanor.”

Eleanor pushed up against Mac. “Hey, girl,” he said. “Have I not been giving you enough attention?” Eleanor whinnied and nudged Mac hard. He laughed and nearly fell backward. “She’s got an attitude,” he said to Jess.

She held her hand out. “Is it okay?”

“Sure.” Mac patted his horse and Jess rubbed her nose and said, “She’s beautiful. When is she due?”

“A couple of weeks.”

“Hey, girl,” she whispered to Eleanor, who seemed to take an instant liking to Jess. Not that he could blame her. Jess had such a calming, soothing demeanor. “Did you name her?” Jess asked.

He gave her a crooked grin. “Yeah, after my grandmother. She loved horses.” His heart hitched when he caught the soft smile on her face. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she said as Eleanor kept nudging Mac. “Do you think we can take her for a walk?”

“Really?” he asked, liking that she cared so much about something that was important to him. “You want to?”

She nodded eagerly. “I’m a city girl and I never get the chance. Besides, I think she’s trying to tell you something.”

“I think you’re right.”

Mac strapped her up and they led her from the barn. He turned toward the mountain and guided Eleanor and Jess along a path until they were at the crest of a hill overlooking the ranch.

As Eleanor turned her attention to the grass, Jess stood near the edge taking in the view. She went quiet for a moment, introspective, then cast him a glance. “Why now, Mac? After all these years, why did you arrange this, considering we haven’t talked in ages?”

“We used to talk,” he said. “Well, more like I talked, and you listened. But then things changed when we got older.”

She pulled a face. “I guess you intimidated me.”

“Why?”

“Because you became loud and wild.”

He dropped to the ground and pulled her down with him. He stretched out, propping himself up on his elbows. “It was the only way to be heard most times.” She gave him an odd look, and he went on to explain. “You were an only child. I grew up the youngest of six boys. If I wanted to be heard, I had to jump up and down and scream from the rooftops.”

Understanding passed over her eyes. “I guess I never considered that. It was always so quiet at my place.”

“I loved it at your place.”

She smiled at nodded her head. “Because of the quiet, right?”

“Yeah, but that’s not all.”

“No?”

“No. I loved it because you were there.”

“Oh,” she said, her cheeks flushing again.

He gave her a sheepish look. “I always made an excuse to come over when Mom visited.”

“She visited a lot to keep my mom company.” She pursed her lips and added, “My father was away a lot.”

When sadness entered her voice he asked, “Tell me about your dad. I never knew much about him.”

“He was a salesman and a serious workaholic. I mean, my mom and I appreciated that he worked to take care of his family, but there should be a balance, know what I mean?”

When her eyes met his, he said, “I do. Could he have changed jobs, or at least positions in the company he worked for?”

“He did, and promised he’d be home more, but that never happened. Once a workaholic, always a workaholic.”

“If I had a family at home, I’d learn to delegate more, because I’d always put them first.”

She nodded, but he didn’t get the sense that she believed him. She changed the subject and said, “For a guy who was always loud and boisterous, you seem pretty mellow right now.”

He picked a blade of grass and put it between his teeth. “It’s you, darlin’. You have this natural, soothing energy about you that relaxes people.” He gestured with a nod toward his horse. “Just look at Eleanor. She’s been so high-strung lately, and now she looks like she’s about to nod off.”

Jess laughed and cast a quick glance Eleanor’s way. “She does look a bit tired.” She looked back at the ranch below and went quiet.

“Tell me something,” he asked, his smile falling.

She nibbled her lip, like she was worried about what he was going to ask. “What?”

He grabbed her hand and brushed his thumb over her flesh. Heat moved into her eyes, and he felt the shiver that moved through her. “Why did you really decide to stay?” he asked, so damn anxious to give her everything she’d ever wanted, needed, and get her to finally open up to him.