Close Enough to Touch (Jackson Hole 1)

“Cole.”

“It’s fine. I can’t even believe you’re bringing it up. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be back out there.”

Not liking the way Easy was looking at him, Cole shook his head and picked up the rake again. “Come on, Easy. If that’s what you’re worrying about, set it aside. Jesus.”

He felt a little strange. Dizzy. He didn’t want to talk about this anymore, but Easy just kept staring.

Cole started to turn away to finish his work, but one of the ancient barn doors swung open and there she was. Madeline Beckingham herself stood in the doorway, hands on her hips.

Cole and Easy were both frozen for a moment, caught by the dramatic sight of dust motes dancing in front of her gilded silhouette.

“Cole Rawlins, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Are you hiding from me?” She laughed as if the idea were hilariously ludicrous. Cole didn’t crack a smile. “Come on. I need to find a horse to ride out to that little bridge past the tree line.”

“I thought that’s what all the trucks were here for.”

“Documentary shoot,” she said. “A horse is going to look a whole lot better than an SUV. Plus it’s been nearly a year since I’ve ridden, and you know how much I love horses.”

Yeah. She loved horses. Or she loved the romance of them. The drama and style. The same way she loved the cowboy boots and tasseled belt she was currently wearing. Her family had owned a home here when she was a kid, but that didn’t make her a local.

“Come on!” she said, waving both her arms.

Cole glanced at Easy. “You letting her use the horses?”

“If she can ride, I don’t see a problem with it.”

“Great.”

Though everything inside him told Cole to move away from Madeline, he walked toward her.

“You’re a lot more serious than you used to be,” sh

e said, looping her arm through his to turn him toward the distant corral. Seemed they were going to take a leisurely stroll.

“I’m not a kid anymore,” he said darkly.

“Yeah? I thought you were pretty nicely grown-up back then. But I have to admit, I kind of like your new dark and dangerous side.”

He clenched his teeth and kept walking.

“We never got to say goodbye, you know.”

“Somehow, I didn’t think you noticed.”

“Oh, come on, Cole.” She squeezed his arm tighter against her, making sure his muscles pressed into her breast. “You know how much I liked you.”

He did know, as a matter of fact. Because she’d discussed it with her friend during sex. With him. With both of them.

Jesus, he’d thought he’d died and gone to heaven when he’d figured out exactly what the “special date” was. Her girlfriend was in town from London to discuss financing a film, and apparently they liked to have fun together. Lots of fun. Cole had been more than willing, but it had also been…surprising. And strange. They’d talked about him as if he wasn’t there, even as they’d used his body. They’d commented on him, cracked private jokes, told him what they wanted and when they were done.

Strange or not, he’d been happy to contribute. But once the thrill had worn off…

She nudged him to get his attention. “I have a dinner tonight, but why don’t you come by afterward. We can have drinks. Get reacquainted.”

“No,” he said immediately.

“Are you seeing someone?”

He thought of Grace. “No.”