“You’re twisting my words. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I haven’t wanted to.”
“Why not?”
She smiled. “Because I’m enjoying my summer so much. That’s why.”
He smiled too. “Me, too. But, Irene, I would like to see you again after the summer is over.”
The last week of September was Irene’s last week at the ranch. Emotions ran high as the staff readied to leave. New friendships formed every summer, and even if a lot of them came back the next year, it would never be the same. Different guests, new personalities among the wranglers, there was beauty in it, but there was sadness too.
Jace had a great attitude, as he did about most things. Nothing much rattled the man. He went back and forth, season to season, doing what he loved. In the summer, he was a wrangler. In the winter he was a skier.
In between he hiked fourteeners and traveled to exotic place around the world. Money didn’t seem to be an issue for Jace, although he never talked about it.
“Come to Aspen for a couple days before you head home. Let me show you around,” he said a few days before they were scheduled to leave.
No one was waiting for her at home. Her mom was still out on the rodeo circuit and Ben was with her, which meant his boys wouldn’t be coming to the house. So why not?
“Sure,” she answered, as though it was the easiest thing in the world.
“Wow.”
“What?”
He laughed. “I didn’t expect you to say yes so quickly.”
“Want to rescind your offer?”
“No way! I was wondering what else I could ask you while you’re so agreeable.”
Was she usually disagreeable?
He tweaked her nose. “There’s that sour face again.”
A week later Renie followed Jace out of the ranch and was glad she was going to Aspen with him. It made the end of their summer much easier. She was afraid she might have cried if she’d had to say goodbye to him along with everyone else.
The thing between Jace and Renie wasn’t a very well-kept secret. Consequently, Renie hadn’t gotten close to the other wranglers. She was friendly, she liked everyone well enough, but there wasn’t anyone else she’d keep in touch with after she left.
It took them two hours to get to Aspen. She followed him to the base of the mountain, where his condo was.
“Nice digs,” she said, getting out of the car. “Am I okay parked here?”
“For now, I’ll put your car in the garage later. I have a parking permit on mine, so it can stay on the street.”
“You don’t have to do that—”
“Not a big deal, Irene.”
Nothing was for him. He had to be the most easygoing man she’d ever known.
“How do you do it?”
“What?”
“Nothing ever bothers you. It’s not normal.”
“Plenty of things bother me.”
“Name one.”