by Vivi Holt
Tim bumped his elbow and grinned. “So that’s Chantelle, huh? How come you never mentioned she was so hot?”
“Eh, I guess she is.” Heath wasn’t in the mood to talk about his ex.
“You guess?” exclaimed Tim, with a whistle. “I can’t imagine how high your standards must be if you think she’s mediocre.”
Heath shrugged and rubbed his eyes as they waited for the parking attendant to retrieve their vehicles. “I know she’s pretty. But when you get to know her …”
“Oh, I’d love to,” said Tim with a chuckle and a backward glance.
Heath’s eyebrows arched.
“Don’t worry, bro, I know the code – I won’t date your ex. No matter how hot she might be.” He sighed and held a hand to his heart as though it were broken.
Heath laughed. “In this case, I’d say you’re welcome to her. But I don’t think you’d be happy.”
Tim frowned. “Oh?”
“She’s only interested in a thick wallet, if you get my drift.” Heath shook his head. It had taken him longer than it should’ve to figure that out. But once he had – and once she’d aired her views on his beliefs – he’d parted ways with her and hadn’t looked back.
Tim nodded, his short brown hair shining in the bright morning sunlight and his blue eyes twinkling. “Ah, I get it. Only in it to win it, then. Shame …”
“It’s not like you don’t have your pick of women throwing themselves at you, Fireman Tim.” Heath grinned.
Tim laughed. “It’s not like that – trust me. Anyway, none have really caught my eye yet.”
“Yeah, me neither.”
“So what type of woman are you looking for?” asked Tim.
“Someone real and genuine, fun, down to earth … I don’t know. Just someone who isn’t impressed by my name, but who really sees me. You know?”
Tim, Adam and Dan looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. “And where do you think you’ll find someone like that?” asked Adam, one eyebrow raised high.
“That’s the question,” said Heath. “Probably not in a place like this.” He nodded toward the casino.
“You might be right about that,” replied Tim with a chuckle.
A beat-up blue truck rumbled into the space in front of them. The attendant jumped out, jogged around the front of the truck and up to Heath. “Here you go, Mr. Montgomery,” he said with a smile.
Heath handed him a tip. “Thanks.”
“Why do you keep this old thing?” asked Tim as he climbed in the passenger side.
Heath sat in the driver’s seat and shut the door behind him. He sighed and relaxed against the upholstery, glad to be back behind the wheel. It felt like home. “Because I like it. It’s comfortable.”
“You could afford to buy every truck on the lot,” replied Tim with a chuckle.
“So what? Shiny things don’t impress me. I want something that feels right, that I know I can depend on.” Heath pressed on the accelerator and glanced into his rearview mirror to see Adam’s car following them with Dan in the passenger seat. He pulled out onto the main road, his mind wandering over everything they’d discussed.
His own words rang in his ears – is that what was missing? He’d dated plenty of women through his twenties, but none had ever felt quite right. Since Chantelle, he’d sworn off dating – he was sick of the awkwardness, the games, and how it never resulted in anything but heartache. He was older now, and knew what he wanted. Someone genuine, a woman he could depend on, who was loyal and loving and real.
Heath sighed as he remembered Adam’s words. Where would he find a woman like that?
Heath turned the truck into the Lucky Diner lot and shut off the engine. “Does this place look okay?” he asked.
Tim nodded and licked his lips. “It looks fine to me. I could eat a horse and chase the rider, I’m so hungry.”
Heath chuckled. “Where on Earth did you pick up that saying?”
“In Australia. I was there last year running a collaborative training program for disaster preparedness.”
Heath arched an eyebrow. “You really do live a crazy life, you know that?”
Tim shrugged. “I guess. I’m traveling more than I’d like to – staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, meeting different people everywhere …”
“My heart bleeds,” replied Heath with a laugh.
Tim chuckled. “Okay, I do love it. But lately it’s been a bit lonely.”
“I guess I can understand that.”
They climbed out of the truck just as Adam’s Prius pulled up beside them. The two tall, strapping men climbed out, Dan unfolding his limbs with a groan. “Did you buy the smallest car you could find?” he grumbled. Adam lunged for him, but Dan danced out of the way.
Heath smiled. Those two were always going at it, trying to one-up each other. They’d been that way even in high school, both so competitive, neither willing to give in. Even though Dan was two years younger, he’d always tried to keep up with the older group of friends.
“It’s good for the environment,” Adam growled as the foursome marched into the diner. “Anyway, my wife picked it out.”
A bell rang over the door. Heath glanced up at it and his eyes narrowed. A sprig of mistletoe hung beside the bell. It was July.
The smell of fried potatoes mingled with apple pie and coffee distracted him from the incongruous greenery. He stopped, wondering if they should seat themselves or wait to be seated. After a few moments, when no one came to assist them, he led the group to an empty booth against a window at the far end of the diner. Adam and Dan were still rough-housing. He glared at them, slid in beside Dan and quietly dug an elbow into his brother’s side.
The waitress walked over, tugged a pencil from behind her ear and held up a pad of paper, barely looking up as she asked for their order. Heath studied her with a half-smile. There was something about her that intrigued him. She was beautiful, but not in an obvious way. She wore no makeup, her blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and dark circles lined her eyes – it made her seem almost plain at first glance.
The other men gave their orders. Finally, it was Heath’s turn. She glanced up at him, then back at the pad. He smiled, watching her closely. She looked tired. Not that he knew what she usually looked like, but she seemed a couple of years younger than him and those dark circles couldn’t be there for any other reason. He wished he could ask her about it. “What do you recommend?” he asked.
She arched an eyebrow and chewed on the end of her pencil before answering. “Um … the waffles are good.”
He nodded. “Waffles then, please, and two eggs over easy.”
“Coffee?”
“Yes, please, with cream.”
With a curt nod and brief smile, she turned and headed for the kitchen.
Heath pushed himself out of the booth and jogged after her. “Excuse me?”
She faced him with a startled frown. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry. I noticed you’re not wearing a name tag – just wondering what we should call you, since you’re our server and all.”
One eyebrow arched. “Gwen. You can call me Gwen.”
“I’m Heath. Pleased to meet you, Gwen … is that short for something?”
Her eyes narrowed. “No.”
He chuckled. He seemed to be striking out at every turn. She wasn’t interested in a conversation or anything else with him, that much was clear.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He yanked it out to see who was calling at such an early hour. He swiped his finger across the screen, nodding an apology to Gwen. She pasted a smile on her face and walked away. “Dad. How can I help you?”
“Where are you?” Graham Montgomery’s voice boomed down the phone line.
“I’m having breakfast.”
“It’s almost eight o’clock and there’s a senior leadership meeting at the office in ten minutes.”
Heath slapped his forehead. “Sorry, Dad – it’s my annual weekend with the guys from sch
ool. Dan’s with us too. We’re just having breakfast before heading home.” Silence on the other end of the line. “Hello? Dad?”
“So what have you been up to all weekend? All kinds of debauchery, no doubt.”
Heath frowned and shook his head. “No, Dad, we just played poker at Montana Nugget, and before that we were out at the ranch. I’m heading back to the ranch now and can be in the office within an hour or so. What’s the meeting about?”
“Forget it. Finish your breakfast.”
“Come on, Dad …”
“No. I’ll take care of it this time, son. But let me ask you … when are you going to take yourself seriously?”
“Dad …”
“I mean it. It’s time for you to settle down, son. You’re not twenty anymore.”
“I know that, Dad.” Heath took a quick breath. It was always the same thing. “I know I gave you trouble when I was younger, but like you said, I’m not a kid anymore. I work hard every single day, Dad. You know that. I’ve earned a weekend off.”
“You should be married by now. At your age, I had two children and was running my own ranch.”
His eyes closed and he frowned. “I know.”
“It’s time to take responsibility, son. Responsibility for your life, for the company … you can’t live this way forever. These weekends with the boys are just another symptom of you trying to hold onto your childhood. But you’re not a child any longer – you’re a man. It’s time you started acting like one.”
A hint of sarcasm crept into his voice. “And what does that mean, Dad, to act like a man?”
“It means… well, who are you bringing to your cousin’s wedding?”
“What?”
“The wedding this weekend. Who are you bringing? You do have a date, don’t you?”
Heath bit his lip. Not only didn’t he have a date for the wedding, but he’d forgotten all about the event. “Of course I do – I’ll tell you all about her soon. But right now I have to go.”
His father grunted into the phone. “Well, that’s good to hear. You’re not getting any younger, you know? I want to give you the CEO position and take a step back, son, but I’m still not convinced you’re ready. If you could show me you’re growing up … well, maybe we could finally take that trip I’ve been promising your mother.”
“I hear you, Dad – I just don’t agree. I have matured. I’ve been busting my tail running the company and we’re bringing in higher profits than ever before. We’ve added four ranches to our portfolio in the past twelve months, along with half a dozen feed and produce stores, and we’ll be expanding into more stores in other states next year. Business is good and it’s getting better. That should be all you need to know to make your decision. And if you can’t see that, I don’t know what to tell you.”
Graham seemed to sense he’d crossed a line. “Now, son …”
But now Heath was boiling. His father had a way of bringing out that side of him and he didn’t like it, yet couldn’t seem to stop it. “Since you insist on nosing into my private life, I’ll be sure to keep you updated on my relationship status from now on. If you like, I can even get Social Security numbers so you can run background checks.”
His father sighed. “I know you’re doing well, Heath. I keep up with what you’re doing at work. I just have some concerns. I want you to be settled, happy. And I’m looking forward to meeting this mystery date of yours.”
“She’s no mystery, Dad. Look, I have to go – I’m being rude to the guys, and our food is on the table.”
His father rang off with a promise to let him know how things went in the meeting. And Heath wandered back to the booth to find Gwen setting plates on the table. He slid into his seat, the aroma of freshly-made waffles with maple syrup and butter drifting up to greet him. His stomach growled and he smiled at Gwen.
She returned his smile half-heartedly as she finished delivering the meals. “I’ll be back with your coffee – let me know if you need anything else,” she said, wiping her hands on the apron tied neatly about her trim waist.
He watched her leave, then sliced off a piece of waffle. As he put it in his mouth, Tim glanced up at him from his stack of pancakes. “Who was that on the phone?”
“Dad.”
“You didn’t look real happy about whatever he was saying,” Dan added between mouthfuls of egg.
Heath chewed, swallowed and cut another piece. “Yeah. You know the usual – when are you gonna get married, settle down and grow up?” He was tired of hearing about it, from both parents. According to his mother, thirty was far too old to be a respectable bachelor; according to his father, it showed he wasn’t sensible enough to run the company. Never mind that he’d basically been managing it for two years already, since his father’s heart attack slowed him down.
For some reason, they were both so invested in the idea of him marrying and having a family, they couldn’t swallow the idea that perhaps he was the man they wanted him to become already, just single. And they never gave him a break about it, let alone the benefit of the doubt.
Dan chuckled. “I’ve heard that speech before. So what are you gonna do?”
“Find a date for our cousin’s wedding this weekend. Seeing as I already told him I had one, just to get him off my back.”
“I get that. Who do you have in mind?”
Heath shook his head. “No one. But I’d better fix that, and fast.”
Keep reading…
Also by Vivi Holt
CONTEMPORARY SERIES
Email-Order Romance
The Billionaire’s Email-Order Date
The Billionaire’s Email-Order Bride
The Billionaire’s Email-Order Wife
Make-Believe
Make-Believe Fiancé
Make-Believe Wedding
Make-Believe Honeymoon
Make-Believe Husband
Make-Believe Proposal
Make-Believe Marriage
Cowboys & Debutantes
Dalton
Eamon
Parker
HISTORICAL SERIES
Cowboys & Debutantes (Historical)
Della
Hattie
Pearl
Paradise Valley
Of Peaks and Prairies
Winds of Paradise
Lost in Laredo
Cheyenne Reckoning
Forgotten Trails
Cutter’s Creek
The Strong One
The Betrothed
Cherished
Season of Love
Captivated
Beguiled
Orphan Brides Go West
Mail Order Bride: Christy
Mail Order Bride: Ramona
Mail Order Bride: Katie
Mail Order Bride: Holly
Visit my website at www.viviholt.com for an updated list of my books
About the Author
Vivi Holt was born in Australia. She grew up in the country, where she spent her youth riding horses at Pony Club, and adventuring through the fields and rivers around the farm. Her father was a builder, turned saddler, and her mother a nurse, who stayed home to raise their four children.
After graduating from a degree in International Relations, Vivi moved to Atlanta, Georgia to work for a year. It was there that she met her husband, and they were married three years later. She spent seven years living in Atlanta and travelled to various parts of the United States during that time, falling in love with the beauty of that immense country and the American people.
Vivi also studied for a Bachelor of Information Technology, and worked in the field ever since until becoming a full-time writer in 2016. She now lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and three small children. Married to a Baptist pastor, she is very active in her local church.
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Copyright © 2019 by Vivi Holt
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