Chapter 1
Lila Mae Thompson tightened her grip on the reins as she rode across the sun-drenched plains of Whispering Pines Mountain, North Caroline. The wind swept through her auburn hair, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and pine. Her heart pounded with a mix of excitement and trepidation. She had returned to this land of memories and heartaches with a mission to save her family's ranch. Yet, deep down, she knew there was another reason she had come back—a reason with piercing blue eyes and a rugged charm that time had only deepened. Jackson "Jax" McCoy, the cowboy she once loved and left behind, was still here, and their unfinished story was about to be rewritten.
Only, the way she left a few years ago after college would he still be interested? Lily Mae patted her horse’s neck a beautiful tan mare called Princess and shook her auburn hair over her shoulders. She honestly thought that by moving to the big city that her feelings for Jax would play down but being back here having to come home to help her folks out on the ranch and to set up her local rodeo charity event brought back all those feeling she had for the boy that she had loved since was all of six years old.
“Hey Girl.” She heard her daddy’s voice as he rode towards her on his Arabian stallion, Hercules. “You had a nice ride out on Princess?” Her father with his green eyes with crinkles around his tan skin from too much time out in the sun, gave his youngest daughter a winning smile. He was her heart.
“It’s good to be back daddy. So good. I missed Princess. Being back just for the odd weekend or on the holidays well it isn’t the same.”
“No it is not and your mother and I are so happy to have you back and what with the charity rodeo event your planning, well we are so proud of you, Lily Mae. So damn proud.” She honestly thought her father’s chest was swelling. A little lump formed in her throat.
“How is Jax?” The words were out before she had time to rein them back in. Her father chuckled.
“Still carrying a torch for that young man are you Lily Mae?”
“No. Of course not. It’s been six years, I left when I was eighteen daddy a lot has happened since then. I’ve been running a successful event business and working my way up that corporate ladder. I’ve dated.” She didn’t need to give her father the details of her dating life. So far it had proven uneventful and unsuccessful.
Not that Lily Mae hadn’t been dating just nobody could do to her what Jax could with his big cowboy hands and well not to mention other parts of his anatomy. She shook her head.
“He’s fine, busy as ever here on the ranch. Looking to buy himself a plot of land and start up on his own with the money his folks left him. Sad story that indeed.” Her father told her.
Lily Mae had heard how his folks had been hit by a truck on the interstate about a year ago. His father had been killed on impact, his mother had lasted a few days in the hospital but the injuries were too much for her. Lily Mae suspected that knowing the love of her life had died instantly, Jax’s mother didn’t want to carry on life without him and gave up. Leaving Jax behind, the eldest of the three kids they had.
Jax being the eldest now at twenty-four, the same age as Lily Mae and his younger brother, Ralph who would now be twenty-two and Rose their kid sister. Lily Mae guessed that Rose would be around eighteen or nineteen now. She used to babysit her when Rose was a little girl at times and the boys were out doing their own thing. It helped Lily Mae save to go to the city and start herself a new life there in events working her way up until she became a manager.
Now her folks needed her here to help out as her daddy could only do so much in a day and also she needs to get this charity rodeo event underway that she promised her manager she could handle. It’s a big call but if anyone can do it, Lily Mae is the girl to get it done.
“Let’s head back, Honey. Your mother will have breakfast waiting for us.”
“Fantastic, I’m looking forward to pancakes.” They both steered their horses in the direction of the large ranch house. Lily Mae taking in the mountains that dominated the skyline. She was home and it felt good as she took a deep breath of fresh, clean mountain air. Here on Whispering Pines Mountain was the cleanest, purest air you could get.
They guided the horses into their stables and Lily Mae took a carrott out of her pocket to give to Princess who nuzzled her neck before taking it. “There’s my girl.” She said and gave her beautiful horse a kiss on the nose.
“Ready when you are.” Her father, Jake Thompson said as he patted his stallion one last time. They’d come and brush the horses down later and clean out the stalls, even though he had people who did this for him, Jake liked to tend to his own special horse.
Lily Mae bounced up the four steps that led to the large ranch house, a two story, sprawling building, opened the door and collided with something firm and rock hard. She looked up and was greeted by the bluest eyes a girl ever did see. Her legs almost buckled with the swoon she was experiencing. Her heart raced and her mouth went dry.
“Well, well, well. Lily Mae is back in town. Heard you got back.” Jax said as he held her shoulders and took a good look at her as if he was taking a long, slow drink of water.
“Er, yes. Last night as it happens.” Was she flustered? She sure did sound flustered to Jax and blushing too. Well, he never thought he’d see Lily Mae the girl with the golden tongue flustered or caught for words.
“You okay there Lily Mae?” He chuckled his gaze not leaving her eyes for a second. He knew what he was doing but still he couldn’t help himself. Even though this was the girl who broke his heart by leaving for the big city. Something he could never understand.
“Of course I am okay. Honestly, I didn’t see you and why are you blocking the door in any case? Let me through.” She huffed and shoved him out of the way. Her father just raised his eyebrows at Jax and shrugged.
“Guess she’s not that happy to see me right, Mr Thompson.
“You never know with that girl Jax. I think she’s just a bit flustered is all.” The men made their way into the large kitchen with its oak cabinets and large pine table dominating the middle of the space. Mrs Eliza Thompson dressed in her customary mom jeans, a pink t-shirt and her auburn hair the same color as her daughter’s in a high-ponytail turned from the range.
“Guys you made it. I didn’t hear the door creaking.” She went over and planted a kiss on Jake’s cheek. He patted her ass. Cute, thought Lily Mae. Her folks had the closest relationship of everyone she did know, especially the folk in the city. It seemed to her that they got married and divorced before the ink was even dry on the paperwork.
“It’s so good to see my Lily Mae back in this here kitchen and with Jax. What a wonderful way to start my day.” Her mother’s voice was full of the joys of this Spring season.
Lily Mae crossed her arms in front of her chest. “We are not together, Ma.” She said and took a seat at the table.
“Yet.” Murmured Jax.
“What was that?” Asked Lily Mae.
“Oh, nothing. I was just saying how good the pancakes and breakfast smell.” He replied.
Lily Mae narrowed her eyes at him. Part of her was still mad that he had even let her go those years ago, she had hoped he would beg for her to stay but Jax never did.
He took a seat next to her, stretching out his long legs and putting his cowboy hat down on the table. She noticed how his forearms flexed, the veins that popped up as he did and those long muscular legs of his were setting her pulse racing. She could feel the closeness of him and noticed that he had gotten broader over the years, his square jawline had enough scruff to be damn hot and sexy, her heart was having mild palpitations at his closeness.
“You always come here for breakfast?” Her tone pointed. Jax turned to look at her.
“Huh? Why wouldn’t I?”
“You’re still the ranch hand, right?” Lily Mae had one leg crossed over the other, her top leg flicking around.
“And what is that supposed to mean, Lily Mae? You got something to say?”
“No, just asking is all.”
“Hey, stop it. Jax is welcome in this house any time he likes. He is more than the ranch hand around here, you of all people should know that Lily Mae.” Her mother intervened. “Pay no mind to her Jax, Honey. I think that girl has gone and left her manners behind in the city.”
Jax chuckled and looked at Lily Mae, his mouth upturned. Lily Mae huffed and turned away.
Well, he thought. It’s going to be like that then is it?
