Innocence Lost (Lone Mountain Ranch Book 1)

Chapter 2

Kylie remembered the day she met Zane like it was yesterday. It was the first day of high school, and she was nervous about being the new girl in town. She was gorgeous with dirty blonde hair, large, brown eyes and, perhaps, a bit too innocent looking since she radiated sweet, country-girl charm.

When the day arrived, Kylie was unsure of what the other city kids would be wearing. The night before, she fretted over her outfit and barely slept. She wanted to fit in and start her new life on the right foot.

The morning of, she decided on a blue jean skirt, a pink and white floral top and pink ballet flats. She felt overly self-conscious about her outfit like it was the only thing people would see. She was sure they would not bother to notice her inviting smile and her warm eyes.

When she arrived, she felt out of place in the crowd of super cool, city kids. At her previous school, Kylie and her friends wore jeans, button downs, and cowboy boots, so they were ready to go riding the second they left their last class.

Every morning in Idaho, Kylie woke up early to go to the barn to feed her horse, Aurora, and clean out her stall. Those early mornings were some of the happiest times she had growing up. She loved the silence of the surrounding countryside. While brushing Aurora, Kylie told her all about the dreams she had the night before.

Now, Kylie woke up early to get ready for school. She blow dried her hair and wore it down. It hit right below her shoulders with some face framing layers. Her makeup was perfect. It highlighted the few freckles dotting her cheeks and nose, a reminder of the time she spent riding in the sun.

The entire morning, she felt uneasy. The same feeling nagged at her throughout the summer, which she spent holed up in her room reading and listening to music. She did not have any friends or her horse to occupy her time with. Her parents were busy working.

It was a tough transition for Kylie. No one liked going to a new school, but this was a whole new way of life for Kylie. In the city, pavement replaced the dirt roads she used to take everywhere. Trucks and trailers were replaced with fancy cars and SUVs. Everything was different, even the air smelled differently.

She arrived early on her first day for a tour with Thalia, the student body president. She pretended to be enthusiastic when she was actually very nervous about her new surroundings. The tour ended on the top of the stairs of the main entrance. Kylie scanned the students rushing to class when she saw Zane across the way. The crowd seemed to part perfectly in front of them, clearing the way for their eyes to meet. When his black eyes locked intently into hers, Kylie felt her body quiver. Zane was so hot.

Kylie blushed and smiled at him shyly. Zane's lips moved into a crooked smirk in return. She felt a fluttering in her stomach. She could have floated into the air, her body felt so light and tingly which was different from the anxiousness she already felt. She had never experienced a sensation as intense as this one before, not even with Tyler, her first love. Compared to what she was feeling now, what she had with Tyler was just a crush. Her desire began to build with intensity as he stared at her like she was already his.

In an attempt to hide her flushed skin from Zane, Kylie looked down at her ballet flats. Not knowing what to do next, she turned her face towards Thalia, feigning interest at what she was saying while sneaking glimpses of him out of the corner of her eye. Thalia did not seem to notice, continuing on with her tour.

Zane's eyes never left Kylie. She could feel them boring into her while he looked her up and down. It felt as if he was staring right through her.

The bell rang and Kylie let out a heavy sigh. She wondered how long she had been holding in her breath. Thalia offered to escort her to her first class. Kylie took one last look at Zane before moving her eyes back to her feet, making sure she did not trip on herself as she walked away.