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Zander
Hannah’s wide eyes and bow-shaped lips drawn into an O-shape were more than enough indication that Zander had scared her. That was the last thing he’d intended, but declaring what his plans were was the closest he could come to telling her the truth.
She glanced away from him, toward the glassy water. Her eyebrows knitted together to make a small crease just above the bridge of her nose. The moonlight took over the pinks and oranges from the sunset, glowing on her hair and enhancing the cream of her skin.
Zander took a deep breath. He’d gone too fast and too far. He couldn’t help it. He’d been at Bella Acres a week already and hadn’t made any progress. His foreman wasn’t sure if six weeks would be doable and frankly, Zander didn’t want to wait that long.
He leaned forward, trying to snag her attention. “Hey, what are you thinking?” He’d already said too much. He needed a response from her. Something. Anything but the blank stare she directed at the scenery.
Half-shrugging, Hannah turned to face him fully. She lifted her chin. “All of that is interesting. I’m thinking how much I wanted that two years ago, dang, even eighteen months ago.” She shook her head. “I’m trying to do other things now. I was done waiting around for Prince Charming then and I’m not going to count on it now.”
Zander nodded, carefully aware that he could be watching his own dreams wash into the marshy shores, if he wasn’t more cautious. “I’m not asking you to give up your dreams or even be exclusive with me. All I’m wondering is if it’s feasible to see if I’d be able to fit among your plans.” He offered an off-kilter smile and loosely dangled his hand over his knee.
A wry smile curved Hannah’s lips. “But everyone leaves, Zander. What’s going to keep you around?” The aching truth in her tone stung and Zander realized just how harshly she’d been hurt.
He slowly stood from the boulder. She had no idea that he wanted her to join him. If he went anywhere, he wanted her with him. The more he got to know her, the more he realized Nathan had no idea who his sister was and all the better for Zander. He stopped in front of her, reaching up to cup his hand around the base of her neck, his thumb just along the curve of her jaw. “I’m not a runner, Hannah.”
She searched his face and he hoped the deceit about her brother wasn’t present. Could she one day return Zander’s affections? The more he got to know her, the more he wanted their lives to mix together. He didn’t need marriage right away, but he would like things to move that direction.
She stared, licking her lips before slowly pulling away. “It’s late.”
Zander nodded, registering the dark that had settled around them. Maybe she couldn’t. Maybe she couldn’t care for him the way he wanted her to.
He’d probably destroyed his chances with her by scaring her off. He hadn’t meant to, but with only a few weeks left to make an impression, it was go big or go home and in Montana... cowboys went big – especially filthy rich ones with everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Hannah and her family were Zander’s dream and he didn’t want to lose out on the one thing money couldn’t buy. Family.
They walked along the soft grass leading to their quiet mares. Was that her answer? The tension mounted between them, or maybe it was just Zander as he tried to figure out what to do so he didn’t lose the ground he had to hope he gained.
Another fifty feet stretched before them. Zander took a deep breath, wishing they still stood at the edge of the pond with the water trickling into the deep cool pool. Zander kept his gaze down, watching where he stepped, once every few seconds he would catch a glimpse of Hannah as she walked beside him.
More steps passed and Zander wanted to slow down. How did he slow the night down? He didn’t want the time with her to end.
Startling him, Hannah reached out and took his hand in hers, her fingers warm and comforting. Zander shot her a bewildered glance, his eyes wide. She smiled nervously at him like she had no idea if what she was doing was okay. Her smile faded and she chewed on her lower lip as she slowly started to drop his hand. They stopped walking and she tried to turn away.
Shaking off his shock, Zander squeezed his fingers so she couldn’t take her hand back. He shook his head when she glanced at him. Their gazes locked and Zander tugged her slowly forward to fall back into step with him. She didn’t fight him, going along and the smile returned to her lips.
Maybe, just maybe, Zander would finally get his happy-ever-after.
Big risks might be all the pay-off he was going to need.