Free Convincing the Rancher by Claire McEwen Page B

her from slamming the door in his face. Maybe they’d also soften the blow he was about to deliver—that Benson was trying to go solar powered.
    Late fall wasn’t the ideal time to find fresh flowers, but he headed to the grocery store and managed to grab a few of the least-wilted bunches. The hardware store was just closing but he begged his way in and, though they didn’t have a vase, he found a large mason jar—it would have to do. Once he’d wrestled the flowers into some kind of decent-looking arrangement, he drove to Tess’s cottage, wondering what kind of reception he would get. Part of him couldn’t wait to see her again. The naive, optimistic part that was still excited that the woman he’d dreamed about was right here in Benson. Another part of him kind of hoped she wasn’t home. He wasn’t looking forward to their conversation. If she was gone, he’d simply write a note of apology, leave the flowers on her doorstep and make his escape. He could deal with delivering the news about the solar panels another day.
    When she answered his knock, he knew the easy way out wasn’t an option. But suddenly it didn’t matter, because she took his breath away. Without makeup, her face had a softness he’d never imagined. Her wide blue eyes were rimmed with soft gold lashes that he realized now were usually covered in black mascara. A smattering of freckles decorated her translucent skin. Her hair hung past her shoulders in soft waves. Dressed in a plum-colored sweater and black knit pants, she looked relaxed, much younger and way more beautiful than ever.
    Her eyes widened at the sight of him. “Slaid, what are you doing here?”
    “Apologizing,” he said softly. “May I come in for a moment?”
    Her expression was guarded, and she glanced down with evident regret at her casual clothing, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear in a self-conscious gesture that was out of sync with the Tess he knew. “Okay.”
    She opened the door wider for him and he stepped into the entry, feeling like a fool standing there with flowers in his hands. But after the way he’d acted, he knew he deserved to feel like a fool. And worse.
    “These are for you.” He handed her the bouquet.
    “Why?” she asked sharply, taking the jar.
    “Because I was an idiot. I took that whole windmill thing out on you when I know it’s not your fault. Hell. You wouldn’t even still be here if I hadn’t put pressure on you to stay. I had no right to act like that, Tess. And I’m sorry.”
    He waited for her smile, wanting to see the corners of her lush mouth tilt up. But it didn’t come. Instead she looked troubled.
    “I don’t need flowers. We’re professionals, Slaid. You were just reacting to some bad news. I’m a big girl. I can take it. I definitely don’t need an apology.”
    Her words and tone jarred him out of his thoughts, which had been stuck on her mouth and the realization that he wanted to kiss her. He yanked his eyes away.
    “Maybe you don’t need to hear it, but I need to give it. I messed up and I know better.”
    “You really are a Boy Scout, aren’t you?” She set the flowers down on an end table next to a white armchair.
    “Eagle,” he said automatically before realizing how stupid that sounded.
    “Right. Well, Scout, apologies are for personal relationships, and we’re not personal. We’re business. So you do what you need to do, and I’ll do what I need to do, and we’ll just try our best to keep it civil. How’s that?”
    Scout. Her nickname had him feeling like a little kid. It didn’t help that she sounded as if she was explaining the ways of the world to a child. He’d come here with flowers, stood on her doorstep struck speechless by her beauty, and that was how she saw him. Some Boy Scout country boy who needed her to school him in being professional. Irritation ran up his spine and he stiffened. “That’s fine. And since we’re being civil, I think I owe you a