by Elena Aitken
“No, I don’t. That’s why I asked.” She wasn’t going to let it go and Colt knew that every second he hesitated would make Sunshine more suspicious. He needed to say something concrete. Something that would distract her.
“Just… practicing.” Shit, that wasn’t what he meant to say.
“Practicing what?” If he’d wanted to distract her, it had worked, but not the way he wanted. She settled in, waiting to hear more.
Cole searched his mind for something—anything—to fill in that blank. Sunshine raised an eyebrow like he had when he’d grilled her. “Practicing…” His mind flipped through possibilities and discarded them one after another. Baseball? Too snowy. Archery? Ditto. What the hell were they practicing?
“Line dancing,” Rob blurted.
Cole sent his friend a disgusted look. Sunshine blinked. Then smiled a gotcha smile. Now they were well and truly trapped.
It was Morgan who spoke. “Why would you be line dancing?”
“It’s… a surprise,” Rob squeaked.
Cole wanted to bang his head against the table. Line dancing? That was the most idiotic thing he’d ever heard.
“Well, that’s pretty interesting,” Morgan said, obviously not buying it for a second. “In fact, I think you all should join our Christmas performance. You can do your dance after we play our song.”
“I… don’t think that’s a good idea.” Cole looked to Rob for help, but Rob had popped up again and was searching the refrigerator for… something. Cole didn’t know what, and he had an urge to boot his friend and slam the door shut on him. Some help he’d turned out to be.
“Too late,” Sunshine said sharply. “If we have to play, you have to dance.” She grabbed a packaged salad from the takeout bag, and sailed out of the kitchen into the living room.
“Where are you going?” Cole called after her.
“To watch TV. I’m pooped.”
“Me, too,” Morgan said. She grabbed the remainder of the fast food and followed Sunshine into the other room.
“Well, now what the hell are we going to do?” Rob asked.
There was nothing for it. “I guess we’re going to learn how to dance.”
Sunshine could barely keep her eyes open as she sat in front of the television. Her body ached from the unusual activity of working on the house, she was still hungry despite the salad she’d eaten, and she’d never felt so alienated from Cole.
This new trick he was playing cut her to the quick. Bad enough what he’d said about not wanting children. Now he was lying, too?
And he was definitely lying. Line dancing?
No way in hell. Not her fiancé. He knew the same basic set of steps it seemed everyone in the west learned as teenagers, but that was as far as he got. He sure wouldn’t spend hours with his friends coming up with a new routine.
So what was he hiding?
Or who?
Fran’s sharp features filled her mind, along with her cleavage threatening to spill out of her suit jacket. Is that where he’d gone? To see his old girlfriend?
Bitter jealousy curled its fist in her chest. He’d better not have.
She realized it had been weeks since they’d even discussed setting a date for their wedding. Had he lost interest?
She wanted to slink off to their room, but Sunshine stayed in the living room and watched show after inane show on the television, even after Morgan went to put Jack to bed and Rob followed her soon after. Cole went upstairs not long after Rob did, but Sunshine didn’t want to face him, so she stayed downstairs.
Around ten she gave up, turned off the TV and the lights and made her way carefully up to the guest room on the second floor. She’d hoped Cole would already be asleep, but a light shone under the door.
Sunshine sighed.
When she opened it, Cole was stretched out on the bed, his clothes still on. He was reading a paperback he must have found on the shelf near the window.
“I’m going to bed,” she said, and went to open her suitcase.
“Sounds good.” His voice was even, but he didn’t sound happy.
Well, neither was she.
They got ready with little more talk and slid under the bedclothes silently. Cole shut off his bedside lamp. “Night.”
“Night.”
She thought about reaching out to him. Surely one hug could make all the trouble between them disappear.
Fran’s face flashed into her mind again and she found she couldn’t do it.
She curled on her side and tried to fall asleep.
“I never in a million years thought I’d see bison in Chance Creek,” Cole said the next day, as he leaned on the fence that penned in several of the giant beasts. He’d said good-bye to Rob first thing that morning before making his way to the Mortimers’ place. He’d asked him to keep his secret. Rob had promised to do so.
“Aren’t they beautiful?” Evan Mortimer said. “Just think what it must have been like in the days when herds stretched for miles.”
“A sight to behold.”
“Bison meat is making a comeback. I supply restaurants all over Montana now. Bison aren’t nearly as hard on the environment as cattle are.”
“That’s terrific. And you said it was Jake’s idea to start a herd?”
“His wife, Hannah’s, actually. She rescued a bison that was going to be hunted.” He used finger quotations around the word. “There wasn’t any real hunting going on, though. Some guy paid a bundle to shoot it in a pen. Hannah set the animal free before that could happen.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, wow.” Evan chuckled. “The women around here…” He didn’t finish the thought.
Cole wished Sunshine knew more of the women in town. He was glad she’d met Autumn, Claire and Morgan, but it took more than a quick visit to make the kind of friendships women seemed to require. “You met Bella during a reality television show?”
“That’s right.” Evan looked sheepish. “I needed a wife—fast. My assistant convinced me it was a good idea.”
“Guess she was right.”
“In the end she was, but it was a hell of a fight. Bella gave me a real run for my money.” He made a face. “She ended up winning, actually. She got the money she needed to expand her veterinary practice and animal shelter and since we’ve been married, we’ve pooled our funds to do all kinds of projects together.”
“Someday soon I hope to have land,” Cole said, wondering if he’d made a huge mistake buying the restaurant for Sunshine. The way things were going she’d never cook there. Maybe he should have been selfish and bought a ranch instead. Well, he still would, come hell or high water. “I need to make a plan for how best to use it. Any suggestions? Maybe bison?”
“Maybe. You’d need a big spread, though. Bison require a lot of grazing room. Have you considered windmills?”
“No, can’t say I have.” He pictured the big wooden tourist traps he and Sunshine had seen in Holland, but he figured Evan meant something more modern.
“I’ve heard some ranchers make more money selling green energy back to the power companies from wind turbines than they make by traditional methods these days. I plan to bring some in soon. I’m also studying German farm and ranch practices. They create power from manure and composting, too. They’re way ahead of us in efficiency and energy production.”
“Huh.” He’d never given windmills a thought, but it made sense. “Thanks, I’ll look into that.”
“Let’s get together again soon and talk about it. Maybe we can help each other with research, or get some kind of discount if we buy them together.”
“Sounds great. Listen, I need to head into town.” He described the restaurant he’d bought for Sunshine and his plans for it. “The contractors are coming today to work on the floor. I’d like to be there to supervise.”
Evan looked at his watch. “I can join you for a while. You can put me to work—how’s that?”
“I’d appreciate it. But I’d like to go before Sunshine gets here.”
&
nbsp; “I think you’re too late,” Evan said, bringing Cole back to the present. “That looks like Morgan’s car coming up the drive.”
“Don’t say a word to her,” Cole cautioned him.
“I won’t. I’ll tell her you’re helping me with an errand in town. Can’t ruin a Christmas surprise.”
He led the way back up toward the house to meet Morgan and Sunshine. Cole made the introductions between them, and Bella came out of her veterinary practice to say hello.
Cole was ready to make excuses for their departure when Bella invited Sunshine to tour her practice and the kennels. Morgan said her good-byes and a few minutes later, Cole and Evan were able to slip into Evan’s truck without being seen.
When they reached the restaurant, Ethan and Jamie were already there, as was the contractor whose job it was to sand down and refinish the hardwood floor in the dining area. While the contractor and his assistants got busy on that job, the men swarmed over the large kitchen, scrubbing every appliance, cupboard and counter. Cole had decided that the functional stainless steel appliances would stay. They didn’t need to be swapped out like the furniture and decorations in the dining room. Several hours later, he judged that they were a third of the way done. He thanked the other men and sent them on their way, knowing they all had chores to do. “Remember, you were line dancing,” he told them on their way out.
“Autumn will never believe that,” Ethan said.
“Neither will Claire. I’m going to keep my mouth shut,” Jamie said.
“You’d better. If you spill the beans you’ll ruin everything,” Cole said.
But he had a feeling things had already been ruined.
“You’ve never owned a dog?” Bella asked Sunshine in disbelief as they toured her animal shelter. “Not even as a kid?”
“My parents weren’t animal people,” she explained, her mind still on Cole and how awkward things were between them. “And when I moved out I worked a lot. There just wasn’t time or space for a pet.”
“Well, I’m a sucker for animals. I couldn’t do without them.” Bella led the way further into the large building. Sunshine expected to see rows of cages, and there were separate places for all the different animals, but there were also plenty of spaces for the pets to be together—big spaces with different types of terrain and obstacles that the animals could explore. Several young adults were working in the shelter, too, some cleaning cages and dishing out food to the animals and others exercising and playing with them.
“This is amazing,” Sunshine said, taking in the scope of the building. “Oh, my goodness, there are so many.”
“We take in overflow from other shelters. We’re able to subsidize spaying and neutering and have a very progressive adoption program. It’s a lot to handle, though, now that I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Sunshine cast a sideways look at Bella’s flat belly. “How far along are you? This looks like a lot of hard work.”
“It is, but I have help, and I’m not due until July. Another vet is coming in to take over for the first three months after my baby is born. After that I’ll be right back to work. I’m looking for a live-in nanny and housekeeper.”
Sunshine wished she could afford help like that. The Mortimers were obviously well off if the log-house style mansion she’d seen when they drove in was anything to go by. She squashed a surge of jealousy. She’d traveled the world, after all, and by buying the ranch she was investing the rest of her money in something worthwhile.
She didn’t have time to wonder once again if she should sell to Carl; there was far too much to look at. When they entered the area where one of the volunteers was playing with several dogs, a large, shaggy yellow mutt bounded up and gave its paw to Sunshine.
“That’s Duke,” Bella said. “He’s a wonderful dog. I’ve only had him a week and haven’t put him up on our adoption website yet. I know the minute I do he’ll get snapped up. He’s a happy, healthy, loving animal that’s just right for a family.”
Sunshine shook the dog’s paw and let go, but Duke didn’t bound away. Instead he sat down in front of her and whined, as if asking for something.
“What is it, boy?” Sunshine asked. When the dog whined again, she knelt down to take a closer look at him, thinking maybe he was hurt, but that made no sense; Bella was a vet. Still, Sunshine couldn’t ignore his doggy pleas. “What’s wrong?” She pet him a few times and Duke’s joy was unmistakeable. His tail thumped on the ground and when he couldn’t restrain himself anymore, he licked her face.
Sunshine rubbed his fur and his tail thumped harder. Her attentions made him so happy, she finally plunked down on her bottom and wrapped her arms around his neck. Duke nuzzled her and his tail thumped even harder.
“Have you two met before?” Bella laughed. “This is starting to look like a reunion.”
“More like a reunion of kindred spirits,” Sunshine said. Bella was right; she felt like she knew Duke already—like she was greeting a long-lost friend. She knew instinctively that this dog was prepared to love her wholeheartedly for the rest of its life.
“Maybe you should adopt him.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.” Not the way things were. Even discounting the fact that the new home she’d bought needed renovation and she was pregnant, she wasn’t sure about her relationship with Cole.
And then there was Carl, who’d called her again. She’d put him off another couple of days.
“Why not?” Bella looked curious, not challenging.
“Because… I don’t know.” Sunshine rubbed her cheek against Duke’s fur, unwilling to express her fears.
“Don’t tell me you’re not staying.” Bella sounded upset.
Sunshine looked up in surprise. “Would it affect you if I went?”
“It would affect everyone I know. People talk about you two all the time.”
“Really?” She hadn’t realized that. She’d miss Chance Creek and its inhabitants if she left, but if she and Cole broke up she wouldn’t be able to stay here. Seeing him all the time with someone else would kill her. “Anyway, I don’t plan to leave.” Yet, she added silently, then gave herself a mental shake. She and Cole were far from splitting up. She was being overdramatic. Time to change the subject. “Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course.”
As Sunshine filled Bella in about the ranch and her efforts to spruce it up, Bella’s eyes shone. “I have an idea.” She bit her lip. “Or maybe not. I don’t want to offend you.”
“How would you offend me?”
“It’s just… Evan inherited a bunch of furniture last month from his great uncle. A lot of it was pretty great, so we’ve integrated it into our house, which means we have too many of everything. I’ve got extra couches and chairs and tables. All of it is practically new. I don’t want it to go to waste. Do you want to look through it and see if any of it works?”
“Sure. That sounds great. But how will I transport it without Evan learning where it went? None of the men can know until Christmas morning. They couldn’t keep a secret from Cole.”
“We’ll figure out something.” Bella watched Sunshine pet Duke. “So I heard a funny rumor. Something about you starting a rock band?”
“Oh, lord. Are you serious?” Rob must have said something.
“I’m dying to know what that’s all about.”
As Sunshine recounted what had happened, Bella snorted.
“It’s not funny,” Sunshine said, getting to her feet.
“Yes, it is. But you know what? I’ve actually got a couple of guitars. I’ve taken some lessons.”
“I took a few, too. I know just enough to be dangerous.”
“So let’s practice later. We can figure out a song.”
Sunshine shrugged. “Why the hell not? I don’t suppose you have a tambourine.”
“No, but we’ll order one tonight. Express mail.” She patted Duke’s head. “Tell you what. I’ll hold onto Duke for a week, too. That will give you a chance to think things over. If yo
u can’t take him, I’ll put him up for adoption then.”
“I don’t want you to waste your time…”
“Are you kidding? I love this dog. I’m not in any hurry to let him go.” Bella grinned. “Of course, I can say that for all the rest of the pets in the shelter, too.”
“You really are obsessed with animals.”
“Hey, I said I was a sucker for them, not obsessed.”
“Is there a difference?” Sunshine grinned back at Bella. It was hard to be depressed around her optimism and can-do attitude. “You know, I think I could get obsessed, too.” She nearly melted when she spotted a passel of kittens stumbling around one of the pens in the cat area.
“My suggestion is to come volunteer for me rather than getting knee deep in critters yourself.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Chapter 6
Cole was pleased to see that Sunshine was in a better mood at dinner, which Bella and Evan served in their elegant dining room. When he’d come home late again he’d found her taking a nap in the bedroom Bella had assigned them, something he’d rarely seen her do before. He’d been worried; she looked exhausted, but when he woke her up she claimed she’d only been resting her eyes for a few minutes.
Now she laughed at Bella and Evan’s jokes and she’d eaten two helpings of the vegetarian chili and cornbread Bella had whipped up.
“This is good practice for me,” Bella told them. “Evan’s whole extended family is arriving in town for Christmas and I’ve never hosted such a large group of people. I want to make sure I know what I’m doing. We always eat in the kitchen.”
“We’ll gladly be your guinea pigs,” Sunshine told her.
“Everything is vegan, including dessert,” Bella announced. “Morgan told me about your preferences, Sunshine.”
“Oh, I hope you didn’t go to a lot of trouble.”
“No, that was good practice, too. One of Evan’s cousins prefers gluten-free food, another is vegetarian and a third is doing the Paleo diet.”
Sunshine laughed. “That’s a tricky combination.”
“But I’m determined to pull it off. And I’ve got all kinds of activities and games planned. You should see all the holiday decorations I still have to put up. I actually hand-sewed a bunch of them.” Bella smiled sheepishly. “I’m not sure where this rush of domesticity is coming from. Maybe it’s the pregnancy.”
