So Right With You by Maggie Kaye Read Free Book Online Page B

make you feel uncomfortable.”
    “It’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting it. I’m fine.” She stared at the ground.
    “Chloe, please look at me.”
    She raised her head and saw that his expression was serious. “I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you. I just thought it would be harmless, maybe even a little fun. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry. About the boutique, I was really just trying to do something nice for you.”
    “I know.”
    “Can’t you just let me pay for it?” His eyes pleaded with her to give in.
    “I’m sorry. It wouldn’t feel right. It may take me some time, but I plan to pay you back.”
    “Okay. Are we still all right?”
    “Yes. We’re still all right.” Chloe nudged him with her shoulder and he nudged her back. Things were right back on track, friends like always, or were they? He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something had changed between the two of them.

CHAPTER FOUR
    It was nearly seven. Chloe was in her car, following Garrett’s SUV to his house. They had left the Houston area approximately thirty minutes ago. After retrieving her car and her laptop from the office, they had stopped at a grocery store to pick up a toothbrush and other necessary hygiene products for her. They had also bought some groceries to tide them over for the next few days.
    They were now in the community of Millstone, Texas, home of 1,569 people. She had read the sign when they first entered the town.
    As they drove past gated mansions, she figured they would be stopping soon, but Garrett continued on. The terrain became rural. They were now passing open pastures. She was glad she had almost a full tank of gas. Garrett had made sure of it before they had left. He had also bought a gallon of water in case her car overheated. One could never be too careful in dry territory. She wondered how much farther away their final destination was.
    At last, he turned onto a narrow road with a wooden arch marking the entrance. The arch read “Rainbow Star Ranch.” The name seemed familiar. Garrett must have pushed a remote in his car, because the metal gate blocking the entrance swung open.
    She’d never imagined him living on a ranch. She was aware of the high-rise penthouse apartment he kept in downtown Houston. Somehow she had envisioned him as more of an urban playboy. The whole cowboy scene didn’t seem to fit him. When he’d mentioned the house, she’d assumed it was like one of the mansions they had passed earlier.
    His SUV came to a stop in front of a large but modest ranch-style house. She parked next to him. He exited his vehicle, headed toward hers, and opened her door. “Welcome to Rainbow Star Ranch. I take it from your expression this is not what you were expecting.”
    “Not exactly. I suppose those times you said you weren’t to be reached because you were going fishing, you really were?”
    He tilted his head and frowned at her, confused. “Yeah.”
    “Oh.” She felt stupid. She had always thought he was off with one of his current girlfriends.
    “I inherited the ranch from my grandparents. I like it. It’s always been home to me.” Opening her car door, he said, “Come on. I’ll show you around.” He reached for her hand.
    “Okay.” The man continued to confound her. He was such a mixture of contradictions. That was for sure. Putting her hand in his, she again experienced a heightened sense of awareness. He enclosed her hand tighter in his to assist her out of her car. His hand felt warm and slightly callused. Looking at him, she found him watching her. He grinned at her widely, breaking the spell.
    “I hope you’re not allergic to animals. I guess I should have asked you that before bringing you all the way out here. Lack of foresight on my part if you are.” He looked amused at his own expense as he swung her car door closed.
    “No. I actually like animals very much. My family grew up with quite a menagerie of pets. My younger brothers once brought home a