Arizona Cowboy Read Online Free

voice quivered as she spoke.
    “We’ve only been here an hour. Just hold your—”
    “This one.” Holden’s dad’s voice interrupted as he shoved a CD into Irene’s hand.
    “Bette Midler’s ‘The Rose’?”
    Irene closed her eyes and began to sway slowly as a song Holden hadn’t heard since he was a young boy spilled from her lips. He looked at Ava, whose face reddened as her aunt’s voice grew in volume. Irene did sing beautifully, but Holden knew Ava hated to be the center of attention.
    The words of the song struck Holden as he stared at his woman. Love, a hunger, an aching need? Yes, he knew that ache, that desperate need. How many times since Ava ran had he wanted her to come back to Surprise? He’d planned to marry her. Share the burdens of the ranch. Share his concern for his dad. Share his faith, his home, his children. Young or not, he’d wanted her.
    Holden grabbed her arm and pulled her several steps away from her aunt and his father. Startled, she looked up, and he peered into her eyes. “We have to talk.”
    “Yes, we do.”
    “I’m going to come get you and take you to dinner. Tonight.”
    Holden expected her to argue, to make up an excuse to stay away from him, but he was determined. He would talk to her tonight even if he had to spend the night sitting outside her aunt’s house until Ava opened the door.
    To his surprise, she nodded. “All right.”
    A bump to his shoulder shifted his attention to a tall brunette with freckles splattering her nose and cheeks. She batted her eyes. “Holden Whitaker, seems like months since I’ve laid eyes on you.”
    “Hey, Jess, I’m pretty sure it’s only been a few weeks.”
    Jessica Thomas laced her arm around his elbow. “Haven’t seen you with Jakey, either. The two of you have a fight?”
    She knew good and well what had happened between him and Jake. Holden had never wanted to take his best friend’s little sister on a date, but the two of them had hounded him until he’d finally agreed. When Holden didn’t promise to waltz her down the aisle after a couple of challenging dates, Jake had gotten mad. Exactly what Holden expected to happen, which was why he hadn’t wanted to take her out to begin with. Twenty-three or not, she was still like a little sister to him.
    “I’m sorry. I must have missed your friend.” Jess released his arm and extended her hand to Ava. “I’m Jessica Thomas, a good friend of Holden’s, and you are?”
    Ava reached for her hand, but Jess pulled back and cocked her head. “Wait a minute. I know you.” She snapped her fingers. Her face blanched. “You’re that...”
    “Ava Herbert.” Ava took Jess’s hand and shook it. “You might not remember me. It’s been a few years since Holden and I dated.”
    Ava’s cheeks bloomed bright pink. Holden chewed the inside of his cheeks, trying not to laugh aloud at her expression. He could still read her thoughts, and right now, she was realizing how much she sounded like a jealous teenager. He didn’t mind. Even kind of liked it.
    Holden clapped Jess’s back. “Tell Jake I’d love to hear from him.”
    “Sure.” All signs of flirtation had left Jess’s countenance as she headed down the aisle. “See ya later.”
    Holden turned back to Ava. “Seven o’clock, okay?”
    “You dated Jessica Thomas. Isn’t she a little young for you?”
    “She’s not all that young. Just three years younger than you.”
    Ava’s cheeks flushed again, and she shook her head. “I’m sorry. Of course she’s not too young. It’s none of my business, anyway.”
    She tried to step away, but Holden grabbed her wrist. She gazed up at him. Mesmerized by her eyes, yearning to touch her soft cheek, he swallowed. “We’re going to dinner. Seven o’clock. All right?”
    She lifted her hand to his cheek. Warmth surged through him at the feel of her soft touch. She whispered, “Please forgive me.”
    “I already have.”
    Sadness clouded her eyes and her expression fell. She