She slowly got up from the floor. “It isn’t a little spider,” she said quietly. “It’s huge.”
“You lived in the outback most of your life, and still scared of spiders.” He shook his head and scooped up the offending creature, taking it outside. “I need to get dressed, and then I’ll be back.”
He walked away still shaking his head in disbelief.
It wasn’t long before he reappeared, fully clothed. “Ready to go out to dinner?”
She stared at him. “I thought we were eating here? Never mind,” she said, shaking her head.
Eating in presented too much temptation. They’d be in a confined space together, and that might not end well.
Okay, so it probably would from his perspective, until it came time for them to separate again in a few weeks time.
“There’s a newish restaurant in town, Angel’s Kitchen, have you been there?” He hadn’t eaten out forever. No point going alone.
She shook her head. “I haven’t really had time, with everything else going on.”
He guessed she meant the funeral and such. Plus she’d been staying with Mel, and likely eating there too. “If you’re happy with that, we’ll head on over.”
She agreed, and they were soon on their way.
* * *
Good old-fashioned meals. That’s what they had at Angel’s Kitchen. He’d have to keep that in mind. Might be worth popping in now and again.
If Sierra was able to accompany him, even better.
Angel turned out to be a 70-year-old grandmother named Joyce Kingston, who had retired but quickly become bored.
Braxton found it quite amusing. But thinking about it, Angel’s Kitchen had a better ring to it than Grandma’s Kitchen or Joyce’s Kitchen.
He ordered the beef stew, and Sierra followed suit. It was the best meal he’d had for months. “The food is fantastic, Angel. Er, Joyce,” he said with a grin. “I’ll definitely be coming back.”
“What about you, honey,” the older woman asked.
Sierra stared at him and licked her lips. “I’m leaving town in a few weeks,” she said. “But I’ll make the effort to come back before I go.”
“I’ll get her back before then,” Braxton said. “Your food is delicious.”
She handed him the dessert menu. “Go your hardest, sonny,” she said with a grin, then walked away.
Sierra looked at him over the top of the menu. “Any recommendations,” she asked.
“It all looks good,” he said. “This place is a great find. I’ll definitely keep it in mind.”
It wasn’t long before Joyce was back to take their orders. “What’ll you have, sonny?”
Braxton grinned at Sierra, then looked to their host. “The apple pie sounds fantastic. I’ll have that.”
“Made with my own two hands, sonny. What about you,” she asked Sierra.
“Same, thanks.”
She returned a short time later with their desserts, and two coffees. “Drinks on the house for first-time visitors,” she announced, and disappeared again.
They tucked into their desserts and sat sipping their complimentary coffee. “I had a wonderful day, Brax,” Sierra told him.
He reached across the table and covered her hand with his own.
She stared at their entwined hands. “Brax,” she warned. “Friends, remember?”
He grimaced and chose his words carefully. “Is there any chance you might stay after all?” His heart raced while he waited for her to respond.
“None at all. I have a job to go back too.”
He quickly pulled his hand away. “I know,” he said. “I just hoped you’d changed your mind.” He leaned back in his chair.
“I can spare a few hours tomorrow if you want to sort out your grandmother’s place a bit more?”
She jumped at the chance. “That would be fabulous. Thanks so much for the offer, Brax.”
Braxton knew the next few weeks were going to be hard, really hard, but what could he do? They led totally separate lives, and there was no point getting too cozy together when fate was going to tear them apart. And in the not too distance future.
Chapter Six
Sierra had thoroughly enjoyed herself yesterday with Braxton, and wished there could be many more like it.
It had been a day of firsts for her – first time watching a horse being born, first time alone with Braxton in his house, and first time seeing his very bare, very muscled arms and chest.
She needed to get the latter out of her mind, and quickly.
She was not going to let herself fall for him all over again. She was not!
Try as she might, she had to admit it was already too late. In all these years she hadn’t been able to totally eradicate thoughts of him from her mind.
She mentally shook herself; he was still there, still weaving his magic over her.
Ten years. They’d been separated by distance for ten years, but she knew he was still the one. She’d dated plenty of men over that time, but they never lasted more than three dates. No one ever lived up to her standards of what she expected from her dates. From potential partners.
Braxton had spoiled her all those years ago. Spoiled her for other men. He was more man than she ever wanted.
When he’d ran into that kitchen to protect her, her heart fluttered. Okay, so it was only a spider he was protecting her from, but he was there for her.
He’d always been there for her.
She’d needed him the day of the funeral, and he’d come through. He’d gone with her to Gran’s house for support, too. Looking back, he’d always been there, when no one else had, except for Gran of course.
Braxton was just Brax, always knowing what she needed, and when she needed it.
Her stomach did a flip-flop. It felt like there were a bunch of butterflies fluttering around in there.
She put her hands to her stomach and looked down. What would it be like to have Braxton’s baby growing inside her?
She shook that thought away. She was leaving in less than three weeks. She had no time for fanciful thoughts such as babies. Her career had always taken precedence over all else.
Besides, Braxton had never voiced his wish for babies. Or if he had, he’d not made her privy to those thoughts.
She studied herself in the hallway mirror, Gran’s beloved full-length mirror, then like a wistful teenager, shoved a pillow up her shirt. Her body clock was ticking, but she wasn’t willing to have just anyone’s baby. It was Braxton’s or none.
She pulled the pillow out and again stared at her reflection. “What the heck are you going to do, Sierra West?” she asked. “You can’t have it all. Make a choice, Braxton or a career?”
She shook her head and walked away, shoulders slumped. If she could have both she’d be happy. But in her heart of hearts, she knew that wasn’t true. All she really wanted was Braxton. Her first love, and if she got her way, her last.
* * *
“You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?” Austin’s voice broke through Braxton’s thoughts.
He looked down from his horse, at the intrusion to his very private memories.
Thoughts of Sierra kept flooding his mind to the point he couldn’t concentrate on work. He’d done the exact same thing when she left ten years ago. His mind had drifted off to places it shouldn’t drift.
To holding her, kissing her, and just being with her.
Austin interrupted his wayward thoughts once more. “Boss,” he said a little more loudly. “We’ve got another mare gone AWOL. There has to be a broken fence somewhere.”
This time he was on full alert. “Round up a few of the boys to come with me. We’ll go check it out.”
He turned Amos around and headed for the ranch house to get some supplies while the other farm hands saddled their horses. “Tell them to meet me at the ranch.”
Losing a mare broke Braxton’s heart. The animals he bred were worth money to him, he admitted that, but he hated to see any of his animal f
amily in pain or suffering.
It had cut him to the gut the other day when he thought he was about to lose both mother and baby. Standing by, watching the mare suffer, was almost more than he could bear. Thankfully it had turned out well, no small thanks to his wonderful veterinarian.
He was grateful Sierra had been able to share the experience of a new life with him. He got to do it on a regular basis, but it was totally new for her.
The look of utter joy on her face was almost more than he could bear. The look of love. It was the same look he’d seen all those years ago, when they dated, and she looked at him.
He prayed he would get to see it again and wondered if there was a way to convince her to stay. If he could coax her to stay for a few more weeks, he might persuade her to stay forever.
At least he hoped he could.
If he couldn’t do that, then there was no chance for them.
Braxton did a final check of his supplies, then handed out water and snacks to all the men, who had assembled at the ranch.
They would bring the tools and equipment for any necessary repairs.
He checked the satellite phone was fully charged and clipped it onto his belt.
He couldn’t afford to be without it. It could have been a catastrophe for that mare if he hadn’t been prepared.
Tightening the cinch, he glanced up to check if the others were ready to leave. They were.
He needed to get his mind back on the job, because his work was important. If the missing mare got out, it could mean her demise. Beyond his property was barren land. She would not survive out there alone.
Mounting Amos, he joined the men and they set out. He was determined to sort things out with Sierra but forced himself to put her to the back of his mind for the next few hours.
He knew that was going to be a tall order.
“Over here, Boss.” One of the workers called back over his shoulder after they’d been riding for some time. Braxton jumped from his mount.
The worker pulled wire and pliers from his saddlebag and immediately got to work on the hole in the fence.
The other men rode the length of the fence checking for other breaks but found none. Braxton sat atop Amos and looked about, trying to spot the mare, but had no joy.
One thing was certain, as far as he could tell, she hadn’t left the property. She was nowhere to be seen outside his property line.
“Check over there, Charlie” he instructed one of his men. “Take Frank with you.” There was a small hill in the distance, and it was impossible to see beyond it.
As they disappeared into the valley, Braxton held his breath, wondering what they were going to find. Hopefully not a dead mare.
He nearly hadn’t ridden out here today but had to get his mind off Sierra and back on the job. It almost worked.
When he had nothing to do, his mind drifted to the blonde beauty he wanted to be more than his friend.
He felt certain she felt the same way too, but they were going in different directions. He had his property to run and wanted to stay in the outback. Sierra had her high-powered job in the city, managing one of the largest hotels in the state.
They were more than five hours apart – a long-term relationship was not possible. It wouldn’t work for either of them.
The more he thought about it, the bigger the headache. And the headache was becoming more like a migraine, the more he thought about their dilemma.
He glanced up to see one of the workers waving at him to join them. Braxton flicked the reins and rode toward them.
As he rode over the hill, he spotted the mare. She looked to be fine, which was a relief. Charlie hooked a rope around her neck and led her back to the rest of the group.
The worry of the mare off his mind, he went back to thinking about Sierra and their future.
What was he going to do if she didn’t stay? His heart was already shattering.
* * *
Bent over a dusty box, Sierra blew her hair out of her face.
She’d been at it for hours, endeavoring to sort out Gran’s possessions. It was heart wrenching; her grandmother’s life had been reduced to a few dozen boxes. And now, here she was, contemplating what to do with Evelyn’s treasured possessions.
Gran had seen the end coming and instructed Sierra to throw out what she deemed to be rubbish, and donate the rest. A handful of heirlooms and much-loved pieces had already been sorted and put aside for Sierra, long before her frail grandmother had left her decades-long home.
She straightened up, brushing aside the dust and the wayward tears. She knew it would be hard but had no idea it would be this difficult.
Equally tough was deciding about her future. There weren’t many options available to her. Being a small town with few employment opportunities, and none in her line of work, she would eventually have to leave.
Not only would she be leaving this beautiful house behind, but also Braxton. Her heart ached, and she hadn’t even left yet.
Her head snapped up at the banging on the door. “Sierra? It’s Brax.” His voice was loud and strong, and she wondered what he wanted.
She opened the door and stared into his face. It was a welcome relief. “Hey Brax.”
He reached out and brushed his hand across her face. “You’re covered in dust.” He stared into her face. “You have tear streaks. Are you okay,” he asked as he shoved the stray hair back behind her ear.
She ignored the question.
“You really look a mess,” he said, laughing as he pushed his way into the house.
“Why don’t you come in?” Sierra said sarcastically as he strolled inside.
He chuckled and looked around, then whistled low. “It’s a bit of a mess,” he said. “What have you decided to do?”
She looked to the floor. “Honestly? I can’t decide. I really don’t want to sell this beautiful place. Gran loved it so much, and so do I.”
Braxton wandered about, then began to climb the spiral staircase.
“I know your old bedroom is up here, but what else? It’s so long since I’ve been up here, and I can’t recall.”
Sierra followed behind. “Mostly bedrooms, but a couple of bathrooms,” she said. Her interest was piqued. “What are you thinking?”
He reached the top of the stairs and stopped, glancing about. “Not sure yet. Give me time.”
She waited at the top of the staircase and studied him as he scurried from room to room.
“This was your room, right?” he called back over his shoulder.
She stood frozen to the spot and swallowed. This was so much harder than she’d expected. “Yes,” she said softly. So quietly she was convinced Brax wouldn’t be able to hear her response.
By this time, he’d entered the room, but popped his head around the corner. “Are you okay,” he asked as he approached her.
His arms went up as though he was about to hug her, to comfort her. She shook her head vigorously. If she let him in, there would be a waterfall of tears. Once she started, she wouldn’t stop.
The time since Gran’s death had left her emotionally drained.
She had to be strong. Had to get this place sorted and leave. She had less than three weeks to achieve that goal, but she was determined to make it happen.
She ducked back down the stairs and felt more than a little guilty when she looked up to see the hurt expression on his face.
By the time he joined her again, she had sat herself on a sheet-covered chair. At least she wouldn’t have to clean the furniture before disposing of it.
“Sierra, I…” he began to speak but she stopped him.
She shook her head again. “We can’t do this. I can’t do this,” she said. “I’ll be gone again before we know it, and we’ll both be left with broken hearts.”
He settled himself close to her, then fidgeted with his hands. He suddenly turned his head and stared into her eyes. “What if there was a way for you to stay?”
Her heartbeat accelerated, and her belly
fluttered. Was it possible? Could Brax make that happen?
Moments after the excitement of possibility, she felt the thud of disappointment.
He’d seen the disappointment on her face, she couldn’t hide it. He reached over and covered her hands with his own. “What do you do for a living,” he asked gently.
He knew – they’d discussed it only days ago. She looked at him quizzically. “I manage a big hotel in the city. You know that. But what does that…”
He interrupted her. “You said you wanted to keep this place, and rightly so. It’s a beautiful piece of history. Your history, and the town’s history.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly.
She nodded.
“Have you thought of turning it into a B&B? A bed and breakfast. Or a small hotel. You’ve got the credentials, the expertise. You could make a go of it.”
She felt light-headed with happiness. Why hadn’t she thought of it? She knew the answer almost before she asked herself the question. She’d been consumed by grief at the loss of her sweet grandmother, as well as by guilt at not spending as much time with Gran as she wanted.
There were so many regrets troubling her, not the least being working and living so far away.
“Do you think it’s possible?” she asked softly, suddenly standing and gazing about the room. “I mean, right now it’s a horrible mess.” She suddenly felt giddy with excitement.
Brax stood and put his arm around her. “You’d need to get someone in to access the place before you could make any solid decisions,” he said. “Each room may need to have its own private bathroom, I’m not sure.”
She nodded, barely taking it all in. All she could think was this was a way to keep Gran’s place and stay home. This home - Oakdale. The place she’d grown up in and loved more than life itself.
She never had, and never would consider her tiny unit in the city to be home, despite having lived there for over a decade.
Sierra straightened her shoulders and stood tall. “Let’s do it,” she said confidently. Much more confidently than she felt.
* * *
The house was a buzz of activity.
Together they’d sought out an architect, who had his own regular builder. The pair were upstairs right now doing their first walk-though.
A Bride for Braxton Page 4
