That evening, they made camp not far from a road where Grandpa had some old corrals. His men had driven up trailers full of food, water, and equipment. While she was getting her horse ready for the night, Jaxon strolled over. “Do you need help with that saddle?”
“No, I’ve got it.” To show him, she hefted the saddle from her horse’s back and carried it to the equipment trailer. When she came back with a bucket full of supplies, he was still there.
Jaxon took the bucket from her. A perfect dimple flashed in his cheek. “You didn’t just get pretty, you got strong too. I suppose you developed those muscles beating away boys.”
She began using the currycomb on the horse’s neck. “Sadly, I haven’t needed many muscles for that task.”
Jaxon took a brush to the horse’s flanks. “I don’t believe that. Not for a hot minute.”
“You can believe it for hot minutes and cold minutes and lukewarm-ish, in-between minutes. I’ve never even had a boyfriend.” A few guys at her school talked to her, but nothing more. Maybe they still saw her as the awkward, slightly-unpopular girl. Maybe she still was that girl.
“Seriously?” Jaxon asked. “What’s wrong with the boys in Seattle?”
She curried the horse’s shoulders. “It’s a mystery. Although it might be my fault. The last time I tried to flirt, the guy ended up with a concussion.”
Jaxon moved to the horse’s other flank. “Flirting must be different in Washington.”
She sighed. “You know how sometimes a guy will tease a girl and then she smacks his arm playfully? I was trying to do that, but I guess I smacked Andrew too hard, because he jerked away from me, stumbled into a cafeteria chair, and hit the ground. He ended up going to the nurse’s office, and he never talked to me again.”
Instead of offering any sympathy, Jaxon chuckled. “The guy was a wuss. Next time you want to flirt, try a rancher. We don’t blow over in the wind.”
It was perhaps a mark of her naiveté that she didn’t realize he was talking about himself. But earlier in the day, Dillon had given him a hard time about some girl named Brittany, so Kate had assumed he had a girlfriend.
“You mean your brothers?” The idea was almost laughable since they were all so mature, aloof, and drop-dead gorgeous. “I can tell how impressed Landon is with me. This morning while I saddled up, he told me my boots weren’t proper riding gear; they were a fashion statement I’d regret by nightfall. Honestly, you’d think I’d showed up in stilettos.”
Jaxon held out his hands, presenting himself. “If you want to learn how to attract a guy without inflicting injury, look no further. I can give you flirting lessons.”
Right. Like that was a topic which could be taught as easily as horseback riding. “You’ve never given a flirting lesson.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Andrew will be eating out of your hand.”
Eating out of her hand. Such lovely words. Kate curried the horse more slowly. Maybe flirting was something that actually had rules and techniques, and she’d just been too oblivious to figure them out. If anyone could teach her about the subject, Jaxon could. The boy clearly had expertise.
“I’ll tell you what,” Jaxon went on, “tonight after everyone turns in, meet me behind the trailers for your first class.” He smiled, all smooth charm, and left her to think over the proposition. And she couldn’t do anything else but think about it.
That night when she left her tent, flashlight in hand, she wasn’t sure Jaxon would really be waiting behind the horse trailers. Most likely, he’d been joking about all of it. She padded through the camp, half convinced she was an idiot for not being able to tell when a guy was kidding.
She rounded the corner of the horse trailer, and her flashlight beam found him reclining on a hay bale, staring at the sky. A blanket lay over the top of the bale, although she doubted it made the hay much more comfortable.
“You came,” she said.
He sat up and patted the spot next to him. “Were you afraid I might be called away on business?”
She took a few hurried steps over to the hay and plopped down beside him.
“Right,” he said. “We’ll work on your walk later.”
“What’s wrong with my walk?”
“You need to show guys that you have confidence. Shoulders back, head up. You’re a work of art and men should admire you.”
“Wow,” Kate said, awe rustling her voice. “You’re so good at this, you can criticize my posture and still make it sound like a compliment. I definitely came to the right person for flirting advice.” She put her flashlight on her lap, beam pointing to her stomach. The night air chilled her cheeks, and she shivered. She should have brought a thicker jacket.
“Are you cold?” He reached over, took hold of the edge of the blanket near her, and draped it over her shoulder. Then he scooted closer, took the end near him, and pulled it across his lap. The two now sat so close their shoulders touched. “Better?” he asked.
Kate nodded and didn’t know what else to say, but then that was the whole root of the problem—not knowing what to say to guys. And Jaxon’s nearness was making her wonder if he was interested in her. But, no. Not when he had a girlfriend. His offer of help must be exactly what it seemed.
“Lesson number one,” Jaxon said. “The come-hither stare. Use it when you want a guy’s attention. First, you just let your gaze slide over him, real casual-like.” His eyes traveled over her while he talked, showing what he meant. “Your eyes stop on his. Then you give him a slow smile, like you can tell he’s been waiting all his life to meet you.” He gave her a knowing grin, one that hinted at all sorts of possibilities.