Page 6 of Disarming The Rancher

This seemed like a good time to remind herself that Brax Firebrand had been a royal pain growing up. He’d always been quick tempered, as well as quick to make up his mind about something. The word obstinate came to mind. So did bull-headed.

“Being back here must seem small-time compared to being on the road.” He interrupted her thoughts, his voice sliding over her, causing her arms to goose bump.

She cleared her throat to ease the dryness. Brax should not be making her mouth feel like she’d just licked a glue stick. Was it getting hot in the barn?

“Are you kidding? Being here is everything.” She heard her own voice crack.

He shot her a confused look.

“I love my career, don’t get me wrong. But this feels like home.” She looked around the barn thinking how it seemed smaller too. Cozy. “Did you know it all started here?”

“Wait a minute. Here? I had no idea. How is that even possible?” He quirked a brow and it was dangerously sexy.

Seriously?

“I wrote my first song up there.” She nodded toward the loft.

“That’s news to me,” he admitted.

“Because I can count on one hand how many people know that particular piece of information.” She held up two fingers, one for him and one for her. She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to share, except being home caused her to relax. She didn’t realize how tense she’d become on the road even before the bomb situation.

“Who is the lucky second?” he asked with a damn sparkle in his eyes that made her want to stare at him for days.

“That would be me.”

“Well then, I’m honored.” He stood up straighter and his voice changed.

“Do me a favor,” she said.

“Depends on what it is,” he countered.

“Just treat me like you used to. Like nothing’s changed.” She felt her shoulders deflate a little when she said the words.

“You got it, Red Streak,” he teased.

Brax could be real annoying when he wanted to be.

“Good. Thanks,” she said with a smile. She might not love that nickname but it sure was nice to see Brax.

“Can I ask a question?” He stood there, arms over his chest.

“Shoot,” she said.

“Why do you call Austin home?” he asked. “I got the impression you were embarrassed about being from such a small town.”

“Nope.” She responded without hesitation, catching his gaze. “Some things are sacred, you know? You just don’t want to share them with the world. Plus, I always wanted to protect Nana and her piece of serenity here. Since I have my dad’s last name, we don’t…didn’t match. She could fly under the radar without having reporters or groupies hanging out on her fence, trying to find out what I was like when I was a young girl or if I was about to come home for a visit.”

“Explains why no one’s ever connected you to the town,” he said after a thoughtful pause. He smiled, like he approved of the decision. For some reason, that small smile made her heart leap with joy. What the heck? She chalked it up to being happy to be home, and back at the barn, and not the fact that being here with Brax had her pulse pounding.

“Least I could do,” she said.

“It was nice of you to protect your nana,” he continued. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen someone as proud as she was.” He lowered his head for a few seconds before looking up and catching her gaze. “I was sorry to hear of her passing.”

“Thank you, Brax.” That frog in her throat feeling returned.

“Work must have kept you on the road during…”

His voice trailed off but she knew what he was going to say next.