by Liz Isaacson
“I can see you forming a question.” She lifted her soda to her lips and waited. Graham usually didn’t hesitate to vocalize what he was thinking, something Laney liked. If she was too old to get up in the middle of the night with a new puppy, she was definitely too old to play games.
“Would you get up in the middle of the night with a baby?”
She choked and flinched, soda spewing from her mouth and slopping onto the back of her hand.
Graham’s face colored, but he gazed at her evenly. “You’re the one who mentioned marriage and that you didn’t want another man abandoning you and Bailey.” He shrugged like this conversation was no big deal, but Laney felt like she’d just sprinted up the hill to his place.
“I, well, to be honest, I’d never thought about it.”
“Having more kids?”
“Yes. In fact, I never thought I’d get married again.”
Graham stuffed his hat lower onto his head and ducked his chin toward the table, hiding his eyes. Laney didn’t like that, but she felt powerless to say the right thing.
“What about you?” she asked. “You’re forty years old and unmarried.”
“Thanks for pointing it out.”
“I didn’t think it bothered you.”
He looked up. “It doesn’t. It…didn’t.”
Laney felt like he’d splashed cold water in her face. “What are we talking about?” She’d liked Graham forever. Sure, their paths had diverged for years, and while she hadn’t obsessed over him, the moment he’d moved back to Coral Canyon, her heart had been singing for him.
“We’re just talking.”
“Do you want children?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment, and then he nodded, that adorable ruddiness coming back into his face. “I think I do.”
And Bailey probably wouldn’t be enough for him. Laney bit the inside of her cheek, wondering if she could have another baby. If that was even possible at her age. If she should even risk it. She knew about the issues and birth defects that came later in life when women got pregnant.
“Noted,” she said coolly, hoping she didn’t come off as too icy. But kids? With Graham Whittaker? She hadn’t even spent a second thinking about it, and she needed more time to process.
They ate, and he drove her to the ranch, where she was just going to run the bag in, dump everything in the laundry basket, and come right back out.
But a strange truck sat in her snowpacked driveway. “Who is that?” she wondered aloud. The plates on the vehicle were from Idaho, and Laney didn’t know anyone in that state.
Graham reached to unbuckle his seatbelt. “Want me to come in with you?”
Laney peered at the truck. There didn’t appear to be anyone sitting in the cab. No footprints leading up the front door, but a set that went to the garage. Her pulse reacted as though she’d been hit by lightning.
“They’re in my house.”
Graham pulled out his phone. “I’m calling the police.” He lifted the device to his ear. “You’re sure you don’t know who they are?”
“Could be Gentry, I suppose,” Laney mused, but the thought felt false. Her sister would not return to Echo Ridge Ranch, a place she’d despised since the day she was born. “But I don’t think so.”
Something seethed beneath her skin, and she put her hand on Graham’s arm. “Ask Sheriff Bentley to come out. Something’s not right.”
Who would know how to get in her house, through the garage, with the code?
Someone who’s been here before, her mind whispered.
“Hi, yeah,” Graham started. “I need someone to come out to Echo Ridge Ranch. There’s a suspicious vehicle in the driveway Laney doesn’t recognize, and it looks like a person went in her garage.”
“It’s Mike,” she blurted out, her mind working overtime now. Desperation clawed its way up her throat, and she felt frozen in this expensive, leather seat inside Graham’s SUV.
Graham looked at her, clearly trying to listen to someone on the phone and make sense of what she’d said. “Yeah, okay,” he said and hung up.
“It’s Mike,” Laney repeated. “He’d know the garage code, and he’s just arrogant enough to show up out of nowhere and go straight inside my house.”
Graham frowned, his expression turning darker by the moment. He finally turned and looked at the truck in front of them again. “When’s the last time you saw him?”
“Over three years ago.”
“Last time you talked to him?”
“The day he left. No, the day he was served with divorce papers, a few weeks after that. He called, surprised.” She gave a bitter laugh, and it hurt her throat, her chest, her stomach. She felt seconds away from seeing her lunch for a second time that day. “I told him to sign the papers or come home. He signed while we were on the phone.”
Graham reached over and threaded his fingers through hers. A simple hand-hold. He squeezed, another simple gesture. “It’s okay, Laney.”
She looked at him, and while she wanted to believe him, she wasn’t sure how she could. “I don’t want him to see Bailey.” Her words felt tiny, barely made of air and letters, but she said them again, louder the second time.
“He’ll destroy her, and he’s already done it once.”
“Let’s go see what he wants. Maybe he’ll leave without a fuss.”
Laney scoffed but reached for her seat belt anyway. “You don’t know Mike McAllister.”
“No, I don’t, but he doesn’t know me either.” The beast had added a growl to the words, and a tidal wave of relief and hope hit Laney that maybe, just maybe, she could face Mike and come out the victor—as long as she had Graham at her side.
They got out of the SUV and walked through the snow to the garage. She keyed in the code and waited for the door to lift. It seemed to take an enormously long time.
She finally ducked under and took three steps before the door to the house opened, and her ex-husband stood there, a can of soda in his hand.
“There you are,” he said as if she’d just run out for groceries. His eyes flicked to Graham and stuck. The two men stared at each other, and Laney had no idea what to do.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Passing through.” Mike never gave a straight answer, and Laney wondered if he needed money. She had no idea what he’d been up to for the last three years, and she honestly didn’t care.
“Keep driving, then,” she said. “We don’t want to see you.” She couldn’t believe she’d once found him attractive. He’d put on at least twenty pounds since she’d seen him last, and his brown hair had started to lighten into gray. His blue, blue eyes glared at her, but she didn’t flinch. Or breathe.
He indicated the house behind him like he owned the place. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
“The Sheriff is on his way,” Graham said. “You should probably leave.”
Mike looked like he might snarl. Then his face smoothed over and he leaned against the doorway and took a long drag of his soda. “Karl Bentley is coming? I think I’ll stay and say hello to an old friend.” With that, he turned and went back into the house, letting the door slam closed behind him.
Laney couldn’t move. Her legs felt numb, and she wanted to turn around and go back to the lodge. Anywhere Mike wasn’t. What was he doing here?
And more importantly, how could she get rid of him before he destroyed everything she had—again?
Chapter 16
Graham couldn’t seem to let go of Laney’s hand. She turned toward him. “It’s all right.” She tipped up onto her toes as if she’d kiss him right there. He caught the sweet scent of her skin as she pressed her cheek to his.
“Will you please make sure Bailey is okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She settled back on her feet, her grip on his fingers tight, tight.
He ducked his head and angled his hat toward the door just in case Mike reappeared. “How will you get back?”
“I’ll call you.”
“No.” He shook his head, not caring if he was going to be labeled a beast. “I’ll wait in the car. Heck, I’ll come in with you.” The desperation he’d held back swelled, rose, and threatened to choke him.
“I can handle Mike McAllister.”
“I know you can.” He glanced toward the door, but it remained stubbornly shut. “You just shouldn’t have to. Not by yourself.”
Lord, he prayed as he watched the indecision march across her face. Please let me help her. How, he didn’t know. But he knew God did, and that He hadn’t inserted Laney into Graham’s life for no reason.
“I’m coming in with you.” He faced the door and even took a step toward it. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
She went with him, but they were both walking pretty slowly. “He probably just wants money or something.”
Graham grunted. Yes, he knew a lot of people who came out of the woodwork when money was involved, but he kept his stories to himself. There’d be a time for them, but this wasn’t it.
Laney climbed the few steps first and opened the door, Graham right behind her. Warmth greeted them, a good sign, but so did the scent of browning beef, definitely not a good sign. He went with Laney down the short hall that led into the kitchen, where they found Mike panfrying hamburgers.
Graham felt like he was living in some sort of alternate reality. Who was this guy? What gall did he have to enter his ex-wife’s house and start eating her food?
“I brought the meat,” Mike said as if he could read Graham’s thoughts. “I just need somewhere to crash for the night.”
“Get a hotel,” Laney said coldly, and Graham looked at her. He’d thought she’d been icy with him in the past, but he realized now he had no idea how bitter she could be. He didn’t blame her; he’d just never heard her speak in such a pointed tone.
“No money.” Mike threw her a quick smile and went back to slicing a tomato. He stalled and turned back toward them. “How rude of me. Are you two hungry? I can throw on more burgers.”
“We just ate,” Laney said. “The furnace has been out, so I was dropping off my clothes and we’re headed back to the lodge.”
A huge grin stretched Mike’s face, but it wasn’t borne of happiness. Graham stiffened and took a half-step to put himself partially in front of Laney. Something wasn’t right with this guy.
“I didn’t know the furnace was out.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know,” Laney said. “And you can’t stay here.”
“Why not? You just said you’ll be at the lodge.”
“Because I pay the mortgage. It’s my house. And I don’t want you here, not even for a night.” She folded her arms and cocked her hip. “Sheriff Bentley is on his way here, and he will escort you off my property.”
Mike seemed like he didn’t have a care in the world. He finished smearing mayonnaise on his bun and then slid the burger straight from the pan onto it. He layered lettuce, tomato, and avocado on top and smashed the whole thing together with the top bun.
As he took his first bite, Laney said, “Mike,” in a warning voice Graham had also never heard. Watching the man eat introduced a level of disgust into Graham’s life he hadn’t felt in a while.
The other man finished chewing and swallowed just as someone knocked on the garage door.
Graham’s heart leapt, as the situation was about to get real.
“Sheriff’s here,” Laney said in a smug voice, and she turned to go let him in. Graham didn’t want to take his eyes off Mike until the man was in cuffs. Or headed down the road, his tail tucked between his legs. Graham wasn’t sure either would happen, and his anxiety sprang around inside him.
“Laney,” Mike said, and Graham never wanted to hear the man speak again. “One night. You give me this one night, and you’ll never see me again.”
She turned back to him, her expression wary. Graham felt the same unease dripping through him.
“But if you let that Sheriff in and make me leave, I promise I’ll make your life difficult.”
Graham believed him. He wasn’t sure what kind of man Laney had married seven years ago, but the man in front of them wasn’t to be trifled with.
“Difficult?” Laney marched back toward him. “Mike, my life has been difficult for years. No one to help with Bailey. A ranch on the brink of financial collapse.” She took two menacing steps toward him with every sentence.
In that moment, Graham wasn’t sure who he was more afraid of. Her or Mike.
She held up a third finger. “A furnace that’s about to go out. Winter ranching by myself. Everything by myself. You send no money, no cards, no gifts. How much more difficult can my life get?” She stood chest-to-chest with him, a fact that made Graham very, very nervous.
“One. Night,” Mike hissed. “Get the Sheriff to go away. Go back to your lodge. I’ll be gone in the morning.”
Several seconds of silence followed.
She finally asked, “Are you in trouble with the law?”
The man’s blue eyes blazed with angry fire, and Graham stepped forward, tugging Laney backward and putting himself between the two of them. “Laney,” he said, but she wouldn’t look at him. “It’s one night. Let him stay. You two will be safe at the lodge.”
He wasn’t sure why he felt like he needed to get her away from Mike, or let the man stay in the house, but Graham knew it like he knew the sun would rise tomorrow.
“Laney.”
She finally tore her gaze from Mike and looked at Graham. He squeezed her shoulders. “Let him stay.” He didn’t mean to beg, but that was how his voice sounded.
“Listen to your boyfriend,” Mike said, the squelching sound behind him indicating that he’d taken another bite of his burger.
“Don’t tell me what to do.” Laney stepped away from Graham, anger evident in every move. “Neither of you. No one tells me what to do.” Her chest heaved and she looked back and forth between Graham and Mike.
Graham held up his hands in surrender and decided to pray again. He wasn’t even sure what words to use, but trusted that the Lord would be able to hear his pleadings anyway.
Mike laughed. “Good thing you brought him in with you.” He shook his head. “She’s tougher than you are, man.”
Graham faced Mike and said, “There are different kinds of strength.”
“Sure, whatever.”
The Sheriff knocked again and called, “Laney?”
“Get rid of him,” Mike said, returning his attention to his food.
As much as Graham didn’t want to, he agreed with Mike. They needed to get rid of Karl if they wanted to get rid of Mike. Laney looked at him, and Graham gave a slight nod.
She marched down the hall and pulled open the door a fraction of an inch. “Hey, Sheriff,” she said, her voice honey-sweet. “Sorry for the call. It’s my sister. She just had a rental and I didn’t recognize the truck.”
Low murmurs came from the Sheriff, and Laney said, “Yes, I’m sure. Sorry to make you come all the way out here.” A moment later, the door closed and Laney returned to the kitchen.
Mike stood there, eating, like he didn’t have a care in the world. But Graham knew he did. He was in trouble, somehow, and Graham had plenty of resources to find out what kind. He pressed his lips together and watched the other man, wishing the answers would just materialize on his forehead.
“You’ll be gone by breakfast,” Laney said. “And that comes early on a ranch.”
“Gone by breakfast,” he said in a bored voice and turned to put his plate in the sink.
“Come on, Graham,” Laney said. “Let’s get my bag and get out of here.”
Graham followed her outside and stood guard at the bedroom door while she ducked inside to do whatever she needed to do. Mike didn’t try to interact with either one of them, and as they drove back up the hill to the lodge, Laney said, “I sort of wish the furnace wasn’t working again.”
Graham started to chuckle, but Laney began crying, and that mad
e his whole heart shrivel. “Hey,” he said, pulling over. “Hey, hey, sh. It’s okay.” He gathered her as close as he could with the console between them, and stroked her hair. “It’s okay.”
Maybe if he said it enough times, it would come true.
“I don’t know,” he said for the tenth time. Usually Graham liked Beau and his relentless questions. Usually they were directed at someone besides him. Eli, Stockton, and Andrew had taken over the theater room for the evening, and a long six-foot table held more snacks than even he and his brothers could eat.
Graham bent over and lined up his pool cue with the ball. He and Beau had left the movie fifteen minutes ago, and it had only taken his brother thirty seconds to get Graham to spill the beans about Mike McAllister down the hill at Echo Ridge Ranch.
“You should go with her again tomorrow,” Beau said.
“I will.” Graham breathed out and didn’t inhale again, striking the cue ball solidly and sending it toward the striped ball he needed to knock into the corner pocket. It sank nicely, and he straightened. Any other time, and he’d be satisfied with this performance. But tonight, nothing seemed to bring a smile to his face.
Laney had eaten dinner with everyone, and then complained that she didn’t feel well and gone upstairs. He’d thought at least a hundred times about going up and knocking on her door, just to make sure she was okay.
Bailey was in the theater room, practically inseparable from Stockton, and while she knew she’d be going back to her house in the morning, she’d already asked Graham if she could stay for just one more day.
He hadn’t told Laney, and he’d chuckled at Bailey and told her to ask her mom.
“Your turn,” Graham said, and Beau shoved his phone in his pocket. He walked around the table once, and then positioned himself to hit the solid red three-ball. He scraped the table and the cue ball barely moved, lightly touching the red ball.
Graham laughed, and Beau scowled at him. “Some of us have day jobs.”
“I work all the time.” Graham was several strokes ahead, and he could mentally see the next three moves that would win him the game. Beau had an analytical mind, one good with numbers and figures and remember small facts no one ever needed to know.
