Colorado Sunset (Peakview Series Book 1)

by Jill Haymaker

  “I’ve got to say, she startled me a little when she rode up on Blaze this morning. We’ve been sitting here discussing all of our amazing children.”

  Luke smiled and turned to June, “Good news. Howard says your car will be ready by five. I’ll drive you into Peakview to pick it up.”

  Good news? She sure would have felt that way a couple of hours earlier. But now? She was so enjoying getting to know Jeff. It was a fantasy, but one she wasn’t quite ready to have end. Not just yet.

  Jeff glanced at his watch. “That’s alright, Luke. Why don’t you go in and get cleaned up, while I drive June into town. I’ll come back and fix us a nice dinner.”

  “June, you’re more than welcome to spend another night with us. These little mountain roads aren’t the best place to be driving at night and you’ve got quite a ways to go until you reach I-70. It would be better to start out fresh in the morning.” Inwardly, he realized he was scrambling for any excuse to spend a little more time with this woman. There was an irresistible something about her. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye. After all, he was just starting to get to know her.

  June agreed. She would be more awake to start her trip after a good night’s sleep besides, she wouldn’t mind a few more hours in the company of this sexy man. Typical of a true gentleman, Jeff headed down to the barn and pulled his black pickup up to the house for June to jump in. As they headed down the road, Jeff said, “I’m thinking about grilling some steaks for dinner. You up for making a salad?”

  “I’d be happy to. It’s the least I can do to repay some of your hospitality. But I don’t think you have any fresh veggies, I had to scrounge around to find something to cook for me and Luke last night. Is there a grocery store in Peakview?”

  “Not much of one, but my neighbors—the Andersons, always have fresh produce. We’ll stop by there on the way.”

  “You don’t have a garden?”

  “No, we used to. Susan had a real green thumb, but after she passed, the boys and I gradually gave up. Too much work, especially when Ann Anderson always has extras for us. Her vegetables are amazing.”

  She gazed out the window at the beautiful ranchland. Luke had told her that it had been eight years since his mom had passed, but Jeff referred to her as though it had been yesterday. Why hadn’t he moved on by now?

  June looked up from her thoughts as they turned into a dirt lane and pulled up in front of a pretty little house, surrounded by white fence and multiple beds of flowers of every color and size. A short, chubby woman about her age opened the door with a welcoming grin on her face. “Look who’s here. JW, it has been too long. Where have you been keeping yourself?”

  At June’s quizzical look, Jeff said to her, “Short for Jeff Walker. It’s what everyone around here calls me.” He gave Ann a hug. “Unfortunately, I’ve been traveling. Brought home a couple great new yearlings though. You and Gary should stop over and see them.”

  June had no reason to be jealous of Ann, but oh how she wished she could figure out how to get one of those hugs he seemed to give out freely to those he cared about.

  “Ann, I’d like you to meet June Meyers. Her car broke down, and she has been staying at the ranch for a few days while Howard finishes her repairs. We are in need of some of your delicious produce. June has graciously agreed to make a salad for our dinner tonight.”

  “Nice to meet you June. You’re in luck, everything is ripe right now. Come on out back and take whatever you want.” Ann handed June a wicker basket. As Jeff and Ann shared some neighborhood gossip, June filled it up with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce and carrots.

  “That should be plenty,” June said.

  “Don’t be shy. This time of year everything ripens faster than I can make use of it. I’m going to open a little stand down by the main road this weekend. JW, I’ll put those on your tab. Do you want to come in for something to drink? I just made a fresh batch of lemonade.”

  “Thanks, but we’re headed into town to pick up June’s car. We better get there before Howard closes up shop or else we’ll have to drive all over the county to track him down!”

  “He does tend to close up early on warm summer days. Nice to meet you June. Enjoy the veggies.”

  As Jeff pulled back out on the road and headed into town, June wondered if there was anyone in this county who wasn’t extremely friendly. If there was, she hadn’t met them yet.

  Howard was leaning against the wall of the garage as they pulled up, wiping grease from his hands with a rag. June was surprised to see that he looked like he was well into his sixties. She had pictured someone much younger.

  “Hey, JW. Good to have you back. This must be Ms. Meyers. You’re ready to go young lady—with one shiny new fuel pump. Sorry, for the delay. I don’t keep too many parts in stock, especially for these newer model cars.”

  June smiled. It had been awhile since anyone had called her ten-year-old car a newer model. “Oh, it’s fine. I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I think it was just the break I needed.”

  “Peakview does tend to grow on you,” Howard said. “I ended up here by chance when I was in my 20’s and never left. I enjoy working for myself and making my own hours. The people in Peakview are generally very patient.”

  Jeff laughed, “Guess they have to be Howard, since you’re the only mechanic within 50 miles. That and the fact you always do an excellent job. Talk to you soon.”

  * * *

  While June settled up with Howard, Jeff headed over to the café for a quick cup of Violet’s potent coffee. He stared absently into the steaming cup. How did this woman appear to fit into his life so quickly? It felt so darn natural to have her along, and everyone seemed to enjoy her. And damn if she didn’t have the cutest little tush. She looked great in those jeans. Feelings that he had managed to suppress for the last eight years came bubbling up to the surface of his mind and his other parts. Good thing she was leaving in the morning because he sure didn’t need any complications in his life. After all, wasn’t he plenty happy with his life just the way it was? Still…. He couldn’t remember when he’d had such an enjoyable afternoon.

  “What brings you into town this time of day?” Violet interrupted his thoughts as she wiped off the counter in front of him.

  “We had a friend staying at the ranch for a few days. Her car broke down. Just dropped her at Howard’s to pick it up.”

  “Oh, yes. June is her name, right? I met her the other day with Luke. I thought she was heading up to Peaktop Ranch?”

  “I guess they filled up, so Luke brought her home. I’m used to him bringing home stray animals, but this is a first time he’s brought home a woman. She’s nice.” Jeff looked back down into his coffee, suddenly feeling awkward about the way the conversation was headed.

  “Well, she seemed very nice. Pretty, too.” Violet looked up as the door banged open and Jeff stood up to leave, throwing a couple bucks on the counter.

  “June, I hear you’re leaving us. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

  “You too, I’m going to miss Peakview. Maybe I’ll try and get back this way again sometime.”

  “Stop by anytime you’re in our neck of the woods. Have a safe trip and enjoy those grandkids.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Glad to be in her own little car again, June followed Jeff’s truck back to the ranch. She’d follow such a gorgeous cowboy almost anywhere. she carefully turned into the lane leading to his ranch. As they pulled up in front of the sprawling ranch house, she realized was still in her riding clothes from that morning and excused herself to go take a shower and freshen up. Although she loved the smell of horses, she was anxious to return to a more feminine scent.

  “I won’t take long. Let me wash off some of the dust, and then I’ll head to the kitchen and start on that salad.”

  “Take your time. There’s no rush. Luke and I are very flexible.”

  Climbing out of the steaming shower several minutes later, she caught a glimpse of herself in the full length m
irror and frowned. Sure she kept herself in shape and everyone said she looked young for her age. Fully clothed, her age was well hidden. But my, she didn’t look good naked! Where once there had been washboard abs, there was flabby skin from giving birth to three children. Her ample boobs, once perky, now had a droopy look when her support bra was off. It had been so long since any male had seen her without her clothes on—and then it had only been Ed, who had grown old right along with her. What would Jeff Walker think if he saw her naked for the first time like this? Good thing she wouldn’t ever find out.

  Snapping out of her negative thoughts, June rummaged through her suitcase and decided on a cute little flowered sundress, along with small white sandals. She quickly blow dried her hair and added a few curls. Looking in the mirror, she felt presentable. Grateful that she had remembered to pack a small bottle of White Shoulders, her favorite perfume, she dabbed some on her neck and wrists before heading downstairs.

  Deep male voices and laughter rose from the kitchen. June paused briefly and watched them in silence. She smiled to see the way Jeff and Luke appeared to enjoy each other’s company. She eagerly entered the kitchen to join them.

  “Wow,” both cowboys said in unison.

  “You clean up nice.” Jeff gave her an appreciative look that made her blush.

  He appeared to have also taken a shower and put on a clean, soft, plaid shirt and jeans. The pale blue in the shirt exactly matched the hue of his eyes. As she passed him, heading to where the vegetables sat on the counter, she caught a whiff of cologne and soap and smiled. She felt a little shaky. Why should she be nervous? This wasn’t a date, for heaven’s sake. To calm herself, she grabbed the vegetable basket.

  “I bet you guys are hungry. I’ll get this salad started.”

  Luke pushed his chair back from the table. “I think that’s our cue to head out to the deck and take care of the manly job of grilling steaks.”

  “What he means is he’ll watch and drink his beer as I grill them,” Jeff teased. “June, would you like a beer? Sorry, we don’t have any wine or other alcoholic beverages. We don’t have many female visitors.”

  “A beer would be great,” June replied even though she hardly ever drank beer or any alcohol for that matter. Maybe it would calm her nerves. Jeff grabbed a Coors Light from the fridge and tossed it to her as he picked up the steaks and headed out the back door.

  * * *

  Alone with his dad on the deck, Luke remarked, “June’s nice, don’t you think?’

  “Yes, very nice.” Jeff dropped the steaks on the grill and took a long, slow swig of his beer.

  “It’s nice to have a woman in our kitchen again, and she seems to like you.”

  “Knock it off. Don’t get any ideas of fixing up your dear old dad with this woman. I’m not in the market for romance. Besides she’s leaving in the morning.”

  “All I’m saying is maybe you should think about starting to date again. You know I may not be here to take care of you forever! Besides, you deserve to have some fun in your life.”

  “I’ll give it some thought. It couldn’t hurt for you to date more often either. Then maybe your girlfriend could take care of both of us.” With that, Jeff changed the subject to the new yearlings, and they discussed their stock until the meat was charred to perfection.

  When the men entered the house with the steaks, Jeff was surprised to see that June had not only made a yummy looking salad, but had also set the dining room table and even found a couple candles to light for atmosphere.

  “Wow, we’re eating in the dining room,” Luke said.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Do you want to eat in the kitchen instead? I just thought it would be nice.”

  “No, this is great,” Jeff added. “We don’t get the chance for formal meals very often except at holidays. Thank you for going to the trouble. I didn’t even know we had any candles.”

  “It took me awhile, but I found some in that drawer over there.”

  * * *

  The meal was enjoyable. June listened as Luke and Jeff reminisced about fun times on the ranch. She reveled in their laughter. She easily joined in with some entertaining anecdotes about her family and children. She cleaned her plate—she hadn’t eaten so much in a long time. She could have survived on just the salad, but she had to admit the steak was delicious. After the meal was finished, Jeff insisted that she relax while they cleared the dishes and he delegated Luke to wash and clean up. The sun was beginning to lower over the peaks to the west, emitting a golden glow in the air around them.

  “Want to grab a cup of coffee and join me on the porch to watch the sun go down? Our Colorado sunsets really are spectacular,” Jeff said.

  “Sounds wonderful, but I think I’ll go with some tea, if you have any. Coffee will keep me up all night, and I plan to get a good night’s sleep so I can be on the road bright and early.” June brewed herself a cup and carefully carried it out onto the porch. Jeff was already leaning back on the large wooden porch swing, his long, tanned arm slung over the back. Seeing her approach, he scooted over so she could join him.

  “Pretty isn’t it?” Jeff gazed off into the distance.

  “It’s amazing. The whole sky is lit. We don’t have sunsets like this in Ohio, or at least not ones you can see—too many trees to block your view. Have you ever been to Ohio?”

  “Can’t say that I have. Actually, I’ve never been east of the Mississippi. Born and raised right here in Peak County. I’ve traveled a fair bit—buying livestock mainly—but only over the western half of the U.S. Susan and I honeymooned on a beach in Mexico, but that’s about as far as I’ve ever strayed.” Jeff paused, a faraway look in his eyes. “Have you done a lot of traveling?”

  “Oh goodness, not really. At least not like some of my friends. As a child, our family usually vacationed at lakes in Indiana near where I grew up. We didn’t venture too far from home. My former husband, Ed, and I brought the kids to Colorado and Wyoming one summer for a couple of weeks; we did the tourist attractions in Colorado Springs and then drove up through Yellowstone. Although Ed was a teacher and supposedly had summers off, he also coached, so in actuality he took very little time off each year. I’ve never been outside of the United States.”

  Luke walked out on the porch, wiping his hands on his jeans, and perched himself on the railing. Time passed in companionable silence as the sun slowly disappeared behind the mountains. The sky turned from gold; to orange; to red; to violet in a matter of minutes. Laddie entertained himself running around the yard and chewing on sticks, until he finally settled down under a tree.

  “Well,” Luke yawned, “I think I’ll head up to my room. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow. June, if I don’t see you in the morning, have a safe trip. It has been a real pleasure getting to know you.”

  “Same to you, Luke. Thank you so much for everything. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along.”

  Luke walked over to the swing and leaned down to give her a big hug. “We will miss you around here.”

  “I’ll miss you too. You have a good life.” She focused back into the setting sun until the last colorful rays vanished. The sky turned a deep, seductive blue, and stars could already be seen twinkling in the heavens.

  “You have a good kid there,” June finally said turning her attention to the very attractive cowboy sitting next to her on the swing. Even though they weren’t actually touching, she could feel his presence in every inch of her body. Just inches separating her from his warmth. She breathed deeply taking in the scent of the pine trees intermingled with his cologne.

  “He’s the greatest blessing of my life. Him and his brother Matt.”

  A comfortable silence returned. Jeff seemed to be as lost in his own thoughts as she was. June involuntarily shivered. Although it was early September, the temperature apparently dropped in these mountains as soon as the sun disappeared behind them.

  Jeff slid off the swing and grabbed a flannel shirt that was hanging on the porch rail.
Returning to his seat, he gently wrapped it around her shoulders. “Up here at 9000 feet, it gets chilly at night, even in the middle of summer. Occasionally we even see snow this time of year.”

  “I’m afraid I didn’t come very prepared for the mountains. Early fall in Ohio is just plain hot and muggy, even at midnight. This fresh mountain air is amazing!” She was feeling a little giddy. She didn’t know if it was from the beer, the mountain air, or the flannel shirt draped over her shoulders that smelled of men’s cologne—Jeff’s cologne. Probably all three. A slight breeze picked up whistling down through the pines. She couldn’t help shivering again, despite the warm shirt.

  Jeff slowly put his arm around her and pulled her against him. She leaned back against his warm, soft chest and felt an unaccustomed heat rising. Her body tingled from head to toe. She turned slightly and buried her face in his shirt, taking in his scent. This is what it felt like to be close to a sexy man. It had been so long, she had almost forgotten. Deep seated yearnings bubbled up inside her. Don’t let this moment end. She snuggled deeper into him, reaching over and touching his muscular arm with her palm.

  “Warmer now?” He rubbed her arm gently with his strong hand.

  June gazed up into his baby blue eyes, “Yes, perfect,” she whispered as he leaned down and let his lips gently brush hers. Sparks flashed inside of her like a firecracker. He gradually and oh so slowly deepened his kiss. She kissed him back, gingerly at first, but with an ever increasing intensity. Her throbbing, willing body responded with a hunger she had long since forgotten. As she lost herself in the magic of his kiss, Jeff gently lifted her legs and shifted her into his lap, kissing her all the while. She glanced up into his intense, steaming eyes and smiled shyly while wrapping her arms around his neck. His arms encircled her back and held her in the most magnificent embrace, as their mouths continued to crave each other. All her dormant senses exploded. She could feel him, smell him, and taste the saltiness of his tongue as it passionately explored her mouth. Time stood still. Nothing mattered but the two of them, kissing and caressing each other, the chill of the September night forgotten. All need for verbal communication vanished like the setting sun. This method of getting to know each other was so much more fun. She allowed herself to get lost in the feelings of the moment, not wanting this to ever end.