The Cowgirl's Redemption by Mindy Obenhaus

Author:Mindy Obenhaus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-06-09T20:44:28+00:00

Chapter Nine

Gloriana stood in her mother’s kitchen, her hands shaking as she struggled to tuck the contents of the picnic supper she’d prepared into the insulated saddlebags. Why was she so nervous? It wasn’t like Justin had asked her on a date. He’d simply suggested an evening ride.

And then she’d been the one to take things a step further by adding supper to the mix.

Her entire being cringed. What was she thinking?

That you enjoyed his company and wouldn’t mind getting to know him better.

As if that was supposed to make her feel better. She’d rarely dated since her divorce. When she did, it was only on the rare occasion when she was expected to have a date. Things like parties or charity events. Not just because.

I thought this wasn’t a date.

A groan escaped her lips. This would be so much easier if she and Justin were still at odds with one another. Of course, then they wouldn’t be going at all, and she was looking forward to seeing Hideaway Cove. She hadn’t been there since right after her high school graduation. Tori had just gotten engaged. The two of them had spent the afternoon swimming and munching on pimento cheese sandwiches and Mom’s chocolate chip cookies, all the while sharing their secret hopes and dreams.

Justin didn’t strike her as the kind of guy who would be satisfied with a simple sandwich, though. So, after scouring the refrigerator, Gloriana shredded some leftover roast beef and piled it high on a couple of po’ boy rolls, then topped the meat with pepper jack cheese and pepperoncini slices. Some baby carrots, red-pepper hummus and the brownies Mom and Kyleigh had made rounded out the meal, along with a couple of bottled waters. As she was about to head out the door, though, she found herself second-guessing the hummus and added some chips to the mix in case Justin wasn’t a fan.

With the saddlebag draped over her shoulder, she said goodbye to Mom and Bill and exited the house a little before six fifteen. She’d showered as soon as she got home from painting at the dance hall, then stressed over what to wear, not wanting to appear as though she was trying too hard. After asking herself what she’d wear if it was Tori she was going riding with, she opted for a red-and-white-plaid shirt over a white tank top, faded jeans, and the old Ariats she’d only recently begun to consider replacing.

The evening air had cooled slightly, a refreshing change from earlier this afternoon and perfect for a ride. She and Justin had agreed to meet at the barn, yet as she rounded the side of the house, she spotted him coming up the drive atop Chester, his buckskin gelding, while holding Shadow’s reins as she moseyed alongside them, head bobbing.

Gloriana settled a hand over her racing heart. Did that man look fine in the saddle or what? He’d traded his paint clothes for a pair of medium-wash jeans and a black T-shirt that further emphasized his muscular biceps.

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