That Fine Line (Pride and Pranks, #1)

by Cindy Steel

The image of my favorite meadow on my dad’s pastureland came to mind.

He would stand out like a sore thumb wearing his Italian leather boots in the middle of my dad’s pasture.

While at home, ranching seemed so normal. At school, I spent my life chasing a degree and dating a suit coat.

Swept away by grand ideas and pretty words; I had forgotten how real I felt sitting on top of a horse, riding a fence line with dirt under my nails. It had been a long while since I had ever felt this alive.

I’m not saying that decision was good or bad, but for some reason, it felt like the right choice for you. You just need to figure out why. And I know you will.

The double life I was leading was exhausting.

I had finally gotten to a good place where my body was concerned and now it seemed it still wasn’t good enough.

It’s easier to keep things the way they’ve always been.

the Kelsey from Moscow and the Kelsey from Eugene had begun to collide, shattering walls and rebuilding with the best parts of both, and I wasn’t quite sure which world this new Kelsey belonged in.

I stopped trying to decide if the major was right for me and dove in headfirst.

Could four years of college erase a lifetime of memories? Erase a lifetime of a person’s core identity? Did I really want it to?

I don’t quit things. I was raised to be a finisher. To see it to the end.

Why was it that the people you walk the most on egg-shells with are the ones you are the most nervous to disappoint?

My dad was a use-it-until-it’s-broken kind of guy. Even if it gets broken, he’s the type of guy to fix it again and again until it’s really broken.

“You keep the world out. Open up and let the sunshine in, Red. I’ll only bite a little bit.”

Trying to resist Cade Williams when he got his flirt on was like eating pancakes without slathering it first in maple syrup. It could be done, but then all you had to eat was dry, bland tasteless pancakes. And I hated dry pancakes. I could almost hear my dad laughing from here.

“You were always… mine… to tease… you had always been mine and… I don’t know, Red. I think they knew I was a bit… possessive of you. Well, at least Ramsey figured that out.”

There were so many things I wanted to say with this kiss. So many things that were difficult for me to say any other way. I kissed him for saving my life. I kissed him for making me laugh, for putting me in my place, and for teasing me. I kissed him for making me feel special. And for this date. This glorious

and magical and most confusing date that I wished could go on forever. But mostly, I kissed him for me, because I was starting to wonder if Stitch really was right about that fine line between love and hate.

sometimes it takes a wrong turn to go in the right direction. Sometimes home is exactly where you left it.