by Vivian Arend
Cleaning up and heading back to the truck brought a little more laughter because she made him bring the condom rather than bury it somewhere in the bushes.
She put the truck in gear, heading back to the cottage. “My sister brings my nieces up here, and none of us want to explain why there’s funny deflated balloons tucked in the trees.”
Finn snickered. “If you think we’re the ones who broke in that bench, you’re delusional.”
She gave him a tap on the arm. “Let me keep my innocence.”
“Ma chérie, you just debauched me on a park bench. Your brand of innocence rocks my socks off.”
They held hands and listened to the radio on the short trip home.
They weren’t done talking yet—she still needed to tell him the rest of her news. She grabbed them drinks while Finn went outside and got the fire pit burning. This time instead of side by side in Adirondack chairs, she settled on the bench across from him so she could see his face.
The sun was well and truly gone behind the mountains, and the stars glittered overhead. To the north, the lights of Black Diamond made the distant horizon glow faintly.
In the barn and arena beyond main house, the horses and animals they’d started to assemble moved quietly. Nighttime noises that fit so perfectly with this location.
Karen fell a little bit more in love with Heart Falls.
Or maybe it was the man across from her. Flames from the fire between them flickered, highlighting his satisfied expression.
“You look content,” she teased.
He leaned back, breathing slowly as his eyes flashed. “Building a good memory is a fine thing.”
She raised her glass lightly. “Here’s to building many more.”
He offered her a toast in return. “I can’t get this cast off soon enough. I don’t want you sitting way the hell over there. I want you in my arms where you belong.”
“We have plenty of time for that,” she reassured him.
Concern drifted into his face. “No more working so hard,” he said. “We’re taking the time we need for us. Especially since you’re only around until the end of September. At that point, you’ll get busy with school, and all, but I will be there with you. The first few weeks it’ll be a little touch and go as I get things tidied up around here—”
Oh my God. Karen held out a hand as if stopping traffic. “Wait. What?”
Determination flashed. “I told you I wasn’t ever walking away again. Since you’ve got to go somewhere for your training, I’m going with you. I’ll give you your space, but—”
“Finn. Stop.” She shook her head hard. “This is what I had to tell you. I’m not going to school.”
He didn’t say anything, just sat there staring at her, shocked.
“This is what started this whole thing. I think the program is a fantastic one, and, yeah, I was excited at first. It’s a good job, and maybe it’s something I want to do down the road. But I think Old Karen latched on to going away to school because it was something people would approve of as a good enough reason to abandon the Coleman clan.”
He wasn’t laid-back anymore but leaning forward, listening intently.
And now she had to run off at the mouth, but whatever. It wouldn’t be the last time she had to explain.
She stared at the fire. “I liked working for the family to some degree. But because it was tough to deal with my dad, even the family who appreciated my skills had to walk on eggshells to make sure they weren’t stepping over boundaries with him or with the other old-timers in the community. Whiskey Creek ranch was filled with so many bad memories that I wanted out. Applying for equine therapy hit all the right buttons to get everybody’s approval. It was horses, and giving, and a fantastic service to others. Part of me feels horrible for not following through, but every time I imagine going, I nearly get sick. And not nervous sick, like a thing that I haven’t experienced before, but physically sick in that I know it’s not right for me.”
“Not right for you now, and maybe not right for you ever. That’s not something you need to apologize for.” Finn said it softly but firmly.
She met his gaze. “New Karen knows that. Old Karen is kind of shaking in her boots and wants to apologize left, right, and center.” She straightened. “But more to the point, I’m not going away. I’m staying here. So you don’t have to drop everything or give up your work for my sake. Because I don’t want you to do that either.”
“Oh, ma chérie. You amaze me. And you humble me, and I’m so glad I don’t have to live without you.” A whisper, but so, so sweet. He held open his arms. “You know the routine.”
She crossed the distance between them quickly, carefully resuming her position in his lap.
Finn curled his arms around her, tilting her head to kiss her. Gently this time. Sweet, like a sugary icing on the top of the cake. Then he pressed her head against his chest and sighed softly. Just holding her.
Another thought struck. “By the way. I plan to get the wild foal back from Sonora as soon as possible.”
A small sound of amusement escaped him. “You plan on keeping him in the house along with Dandelion?”
“Maybe.” She tilted her head back to smile up at him. “Nahh. I’ve already got one awkwardly limbed creature in my house. I don’t need two.”
A sharp pinch nipped her butt.
She laughed softly then snuggled in tight again.
In front of her, the fire danced, yellows and golds reaching skyward toward the twinkling stars overhead. There were still decisions to be made, and her not-so-secret school news to share with others, but right now, she’d told the most important person and made it clear what her priorities were going forward.
The most important people—Old Karen had been given her walking papers that night.
It was time to take a leap of faith and push all the secrets aside.
19
It seemed a queen-size bed wasn’t big enough for him, Karen, his cast, and a two-pound bundle of fur.
Finn knew exactly which of the four he wanted gone. He was counting down the days until he could roll over in bed and pull Karen into his arms the way he wanted to, no awkwardness or fiberglass involved.
Still, waking up to see happiness shining on her face was amazing. Karen giggled as she shifted her fingers slowly under the quilt while Dandelion Fluff stalked the moving bump. Outright laughing when the kitten pounced.
It was a bit of perfection, and Finn soaked it in.
Her gaze slid upward. Her happiness grew brighter. “Morning.”
“Morning, ma chérie.” He crooked his finger. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come to the mountain.”
The evil woman grinned. The next thing he knew, a hand was sliding across his hip, and fingers rested oh-so-teasingly on his morning wood. “Definitely a mountain.”
One thing led to another in the best way possible, after the kitten had been put firmly on the floor.
They were sitting across each other at the breakfast table an hour later, Karen’s expression still something sweet enough to make everything in him vibrate with happiness.
“I asked Zach to come over this morning,” Finn told her.
Shock flew across her features. “Okaaaaay.”
A chuckle escaped. “Don’t worry, I’m not sharing bedroom secrets, but there are a few other secrets I do want to spill.”
“And Zach’s part of them?” Karen looked thoughtful at his nod. “Just so you know, he truly is a good friend. He’s never once talked out of school about you. He thinks you’re amazing.”
“Of course he does.” Finn poured himself a top-up on his coffee and leaned back in his chair without saying anything else.
Across the table from him, she snickered. “I love you.”
He knew he was grinning, which wasn’t usual for him, but the fact she got his sense of humour and would still admit she loved him made her even more perfect. “I know.”
The comment earned an epic eye roll as she rose. �
��Excuse me while I go buy you some new cheesy lines.”
“There’s no cheese like old cheese.”
She stripped off the shirt she wore, tossing the balled-up fabric at his face before turning and heading to the bedroom.
“If you’re starting a floor show, you’re walking the wrong way…”
“Zach’s coming over,” she called over her shoulder. “I’m not greeting him in my pyjamas, aka, your shirt.”
He leaned forward to enjoy the view of her hips swaying the entire way down the hall.
Damn, he was a lucky bastard.
She showed up, fully dressed, right as Zach arrived.
The doorbell buzzed. Karen opened the door, her amusement clear. “What? Are you not feeling well?”
Zach paused on the welcome mat, carefully removing his boots. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”
She made her way back to the chair Finn had dragged to his side, settling next to him like a dream even as she teased his friend. “That’s the first time I’ve actually heard you use the doorbell. Oh, wait. You knocked once but opened the door and walked in before anybody answered.”
“You told me to make myself at home,” he reminded her. He spun the nearest chair around and sat on it backwards. He folded his arms along the top rail and tossed them a broad grin. “You two have fun at the wedding last night?”
“Shut up,” Finn rumbled softly. “What about you, twinkle toes? What time did you roll in last night?”
“And you better have treated Rose right,” Karen said, smiling with bared teeth. “Otherwise her girl posse will get you.”
Zach’s hands shot in the air. “I did my as-per-purchase duty and danced the girl’s night away. Then I took her home and dropped her off.” He leaned forward as if about to tell a terrible secret. “The instant I parked Delilah, Rose turned and said she’d had the best time, and I was a great dancer, and if I ever wanted to let her drive my car, she was fully on board.”
Finn offered Karen the head tilt. “Girl’s got good taste in cars.”
A deep ha! burst from Zach. “And then she said there was no need for me to get out of the car, because her sister was right there, and this wasn’t the kind of date that ended with a kiss.”
“Awwww. That’s sad,” Karen said.
Zach looked startled. “You wanted me to kiss her?”
“Well, I can’t see you ever allowing her to drive Delilah, so she should’ve gotten some bonus out of the evening.” Karen wiggled away from Finn’s fingers. “Stop tickling. Just calling them as I see them.”
Considering how important Zach was in Finn’s life, it was good to see his people bonding.
Now for a test of how quick Zach was on his feet. Finn deliberately linked his fingers with Karen’s.
His friend’s gaze flickered down then back to Finn’s face. A slow smile curled Zach’s lips, but he didn’t say anything. Just waited.
“Been a few changes around here, but this one affects you,” Finn said. “Karen’s all in on the dude ranch. She’s sticking around permanently, which means adjusting plans for hiring once she figures out exactly which job she wants full time.”
His friend’s pleased grin said it all. He knew this announcement wasn’t just to do with Karen staying at the ranch but staying in Finn’s life.
Zach’s gaze shifted to hers, and he dipped his head. “Never been happier to hear any news in my life. Welcome aboard.”
Karen looked a little wild-eyed. “Thanks.” She glanced at Finn. “That wasn’t what I expected.”
“That’s just the start, because now we get to the meat and potatoes. Remember I told you about Bruce Travers?”
She nodded instantly, looking at them both. “Your mentor.”
Zach’s face brightened with understanding. “Is this about that thing we weren’t talking about?” he asked
A snort escaped. “I damn well hope so, because if it wasn’t, that was a dumbass thing to say.”
Karen’s fingers tightened in his. “Secrets?”
There were still a few to spill, and Finn was determined to get them out. “Remember that fancy-schmancy car that was here at the start of summer? The lawyer from Bruce’s estate gets in touch with us every now and then. He’s a good guy, Alan, but this time something in the will triggered, and it turns out we have a deadline to get Red Boot ranch up and running.”
Confusion was trickling in, but she still held his arm in a possessive grip. “I thought Bruce passed away a couple years ago. How can he do that?”
“Lawyers are brilliant at finding ways to make their billing charges last longer,” Zach drawled. “The whole deadline is not that huge a deal. Not if we keep things rolling.”
“When do we have to be operational?” Karen asked.
That was nice, the way she so easily accepted she was part of this.
“Thanksgiving.”
She uttered a particularly foul curse, and both he and Zach blinked.
“Seriously, guys? You’ve heard me swear before.”
Zach leaned forward and spoke softly. “I was just admiring the complete conviction with which you said it.”
She folded her arms over her chest and glared. “Back to the point, why on earth would you agree to that kind of a deadline? I mean, it’s not impossible, but rushing doesn’t seem the way you guys like to do things.”
The little tidbit about losing everything to Brandon got another burst of sailor-worthy salty language.
Zach’s grin grew bigger by the minute. “I really like you,” he told Karen.
“Stop flirting with my woman and get your own,” Finn grumbled, but he agreed one hundred percent.
“No way in hell is Brandon getting our ranch,” Karen said.
“That’s what I said.” Finn squeezed her fingers. “So. Load the cannons and full speed ahead. Nobody else knows about the deadline, but by Thanksgiving, we need to be ready to impress the socks off Alan and his family.”
“Nothing we can’t handle.” Karen’s phone went off, and she wrinkled her nose. “Sorry. That’s my dad. After skipping dinner the other night, I should take it.”
She slid from the table and went out on the deck, leaving Finn and Zach alone.
His best friend let out a heavy sigh. “It’s always so emotional when the fledglings leave the nest.”
“Shut up,” Finn muttered.
Zach leaned forward, honest pleasure spilling across his face. “I’m happy for you. I mean, I’m happy for what I think you’re telling me, which hopefully is that you finally fessed up and told the woman you couldn’t live without her.”
“Something like that,” Finn said.
Zach paused, looking thoughtful. “I thought Red Boot ranch was just another step along the way. Another project before you moved on again. I mean, I’m glad it’s not, but it seems like a big change. Sounds as if you’re planning to make this home.”
Well, hell. Finn’s brain had been so full of everything else that this little detail hadn’t quite registered. Yet, damn if Zach wasn’t right.
But when Finn thought about it, really thought about it, that sense of belonging in this community had been growing over the past months.
It wasn’t just about finding a place for Karen but a place where he felt at home as well. A place for the two of them to grow together. That was kind of—unexpected.
Perfect, really.
“It’s been building for a while,” Finn admitted.
“It’s been clear you missed the ranch,” Zach shared. “Finding a new home makes sense. Where you grew up isn’t a place you can ever go back to.”
“It’s not the idyllic, safe place I thought it was,” Finn added in agreement. He glanced out over the land, all the way to where the Rockies rose to the heavens. The summer day was full of beauty and happiness. “I need to build some new memories, and this place has got the potential.”
That got a laugh out of his friend. “And Bruce would tell you that potential is the most important thing to see
.” Zach spoke softer, gesturing toward Karen standing out on the deck, one hand driven into her hair. “That’s a memory that needed to become more. I’m glad you’ve got her back.”
Finn watched Karen carefully, the feeling in his heart big enough to push against his ribs. “She’s the very top of my list,” he told Zach. “Everything else got moved down.”
“Including me,” Zach returned firmly. “I’ve got zero problem with that. It’s exactly how it should be.”
Damn if Finn didn’t have everything he needed in his world. A beautiful woman who said she loved him, and a best friend who understood him to his core.
Finn wordlessly reached a hand across the table toward Zach.
Zach ignored it. Instead, he rounded the table then pulled Finn to vertical to give him a bro hug and a back pounding. “Me too, buddy. Me too.”
As far as conversations went, chatting with her dad went smoother than expected. He caught her up on a few of the goings-on at Whiskey Creek, including a shocking second of praise regarding her past work with some of their herd. That part was nice, and the part where she heard some of the family gossip.
But then he began bellyaching about his oldest brother, Uncle Mike, giving more and more responsibility and decision-making over to the next generation…
That’s the point where Karen reached her enough.
“Hey, Dad. It’s been great, but I was just finishing lunch, and I’ve got an appointment in fifteen minutes. Let me know the next time you plan to be in Heart Falls. Finn and I will take you out for dinner.”
Her dad grumbled for a moment then latched on to the topic change. “That reminds me. I tried to get hold of Richard Marlette the other day. The phone number I’ve got for him is out of service. Ask Finn for some new contact info, will you?”
“Sure. I’ll send it to you. Gotta run. Love you.”
The last bit of the conversation made her brain stumble for a moment. It only took a second to shove her phone back in her pocket and return to the kitchen, scooping up Dandelion to use him as her own personal touchstone. Stroking the little creature’s soft fur eased the tension while she leaned back against the door, eyes closed, searching for peace.
