Not My 1st Rodeo Read Free Page A

everything seem suddenly, deliciously intimate. Something sizzled in the air between them. Was it too soon to be feeling any sort of attraction? And yet it was there, pulsing in the air around them, a tension that was as delicious as it was unnerving. Maybe she wouldn’t need Leanne’s help with that date after all.
    He lifted his coffee cup and took a drink. She watched him, her gaze focused on his full lips as they touched the porcelain cup. Muscles tightened in familiar places. The words dry spell flitted through her mind, though she found she didn’t care a whole lot.
    Still. It was a first date. No sense in getting carried away. Much. She raised her mug and hid behind it for a few seconds, telling herself to get a grip.
    â€œSo,” he said, sounding remarkably conversational. “You’re an English teacher.”
    â€œYes,” she said, following his lead in the get-to-know-you portion of the date. “In Helena. I’ve been renting an apartment there since…” She swallowed tightly. The dating site was for second chances after all. “Since my divorce.”
    â€œYou seem too young to be divorced,” Brett said, his brows pulling together. His gaze swept over her. “And far too pretty.”
    She absorbed the compliment and considered. How open should they be on a first date? What if there wasn’t a second? She measured her answer. “I was young and a bit dazzled by him, I suppose. I met James when I was in college. He was charming and sophisticated and interesting. He liked nice restaurants and fast cars, and I guess I thought I did too. At least for a while.”
    Huh. She hadn’t really thought about it in that exact way, but the failure of their marriage hadn’t been all James’s fault. He’d lied and he’d hidden things from her, but she’d been pretending to be something she wasn’t too.
    â€œYou don’t like those things?”
    â€œFor a treat? Maybe. As a way of life? I’m not much into flash.” She decided to keep the bankruptcy part to herself. No need to reveal everything all at once. “I’m a lot simpler, really. I’m a farm girl at heart. I realized I prefer big skies over bright lights. Food I can pronounce and identify over the latest fusion fad.”
    â€œYou were raised on a farm?” Brett seemed both surprised and pleased by the knowledge.
    She nodded and relaxed a little. She loved talking about home. “My parents have a small ranch about a half hour from here. I grew up growing my own vegetables and raising chickens too.” She grinned. “Actually, one of the things my ex-husband was most shocked at was that the eggs didn’t come out all nice and clean and white like those from the grocery store.”
    She was gratified when Brett chuckled. She’d far rather talk about her upbringing than James. Especially now. Her dad’s heart condition made it harder and harder for him to work, and he was set on selling the ranch, no matter how much she protested. It made her heart hurt just thinking about not having the place to call home anymore.
    â€œHow about you?” she asked. “Your profile says you’re a rancher.”
    â€œYes, ma’am. A beef ranch not far from here.” He nodded. “You had a bit of a drive if you came from Helena,” he acknowledged.
    â€œNot that bad. I’m at the north edge of the city.” She shrugged. “I’ll probably stop at Mom and Dad’s on the way home. Helena’s close enough for me to visit lots. It’s a nice day for a drive. ”
    So it was. Late spring was beautiful in Montana. Everything turned newly green and lush, with clear blue skies and rolling farmland and jagged mountains. Melly loved her job, but this time of year, she always found herself missing all the spring activity. Right now, her mom would be putting in the vegetable garden. There was something so satisfying