A Taste of Pink (Shades Book 4)

by Stephanie Hoffman McManus

  He shook his head, “Now you’re getting there.”

  “Please don’t tell me you think you’re coming to Montana,” I groaned.

  His smile widened. “Don’t tell me you think I’d really let you take off on your own after someone, probably Baker, tried to run you off the road.”

  “You’re not coming.”

  “I am. In seat two-B, darling.”

  “How the hell did you know what flight I’m on, let alone get the seat next to mine?”

  “Easy, looked at your phone when I took your bags out to the car, got your flight information and a few phone calls took care of the rest. Now that we’ve determined I am going with you and there’s nothing you can do about it, accept it, move on, and let’s get out of here. The more images of you that end up online, the sooner Luis figures out where you are.”

  I blew out an angry snort because he had me there. “Fine, but once I’m safely in Montana with my dad, you’re leaving.”

  “Sure thing.” The way he said it made me think he did not mean it, but I let him tug me away from the bar anyway. I did my best to ignore him right up until we boarded, and he did the same. Once on the plane I tried to order a glass of wine, but he shut that down.

  It was going to be a long flight. I didn’t even have my headphones.

  I was left to flipping through the provided magazine, which kept me busy all of five minutes before I stuffed it back in the pocket. James apparently had the forethought to bring a book and was nose deep, perfectly content to continue the no talking thing we had going on. Well, so was I.

  I tried to get some sleep, but without the wine, I found it impossible to sleep on the plane. I also couldn’t stop stealing glances at James while he read, but his peripheral vision was excellent, because he caught me every time.

  “Stop it,” he murmured without tearing his eyes from the page. I leaned my seat back and closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. I wished Jayne was here to talk to.

  How was I supposed to do this with no one on my side?

  I finally dozed off for real just long enough to be supremely cranky when the captain announced our descent. The only relief was knowing I was so close to home. The place my heart would always recognize as home anyway, even if I lived a thousand miles away.

  Dad was waiting for us, and like all the times I was a little girl with a scraped knee, a broken toy, or monster under my bed, everything was better just seeing him there. Always my Superman coming to the rescue.

  He didn’t say anything, not with his mouth anyway. His expression spoke volumes. His eyes the same color as mine were so full of concern and tenderness and relief. I felt something crumble inside of me, something I’d been trying to hold together because I didn’t want to be weak, but it gave way all at once. Immediately he tugged me into his arms and held me close while I blinked back tears. A few escaped and were soaked up by his flannel, so soft after years of wearing. Dad had one fashion statement, and flannel was it. He wore them until the threads were coming apart. I breathed in his familiar, comforting scent and let the tears dry up before pulling back. I wiped at my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket and awkwardly gestured at James who had stood back and watched that exchange.

  “Dad, this is James, my, uh, bodyguard, I guess. James, this is my Dad, Eric.”

  They did the nod and handshake thing, before Dad tucked me under his arm and led us out to his truck. “It’s good to have you home, baby girl.”

  I squeezed him around the middle. “It’s good to be home. I needed this more than I realized.”

  “Everything will work itself out, Aves, you’ll see.”

  I hoped so, but right now it was hard to see how.

  The drive out of Missoula to Thompson Falls passed slowly, but I couldn’t deny the peace that entered my soul as I took in the familiar scenery, the highway winding along the Clark Fork River through the woods and Cabinet Mountains. Thompson Falls was a tiny town situated just between the Kaniksu National Forest and the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. The Clark Fork split them, and you could follow the winding river right to the edge of Dad’s property on the outskirts of town. The ranch home I’d grown up in sat on twenty-four acres just east of the river, and the moment we turned onto Buffalo Meadows Drive, I sat up straighter in the front of the truck waiting for the break in the trees and the house and barn to come into sight.

  “When did you get the lane paved?” I asked, noticing the truck wasn’t bouncing along, dodging potholes in the gravel.

  “Just before the bad weather hit this winter, didn’t I mention it?”

  I shook my head just as we cleared the trees.

  Home sweet Home.

  How had Mom ever left this place? The most beautiful view in all of L.A. couldn’t compete with this sight. Even James let out a low whistle from the back of the cab where we’d crammed him in. “This is where you grew up?”

  I twisted in my seat to look back at him and grin the first real smile I’d smiled since shit hit the fan. “It’s wonderful isn’t it?”

  He nodded as his eyes took everything in through the windows. The house, shop, and barn were spread out in a small clearing on one side of the newly paved road. Fields lay on the other side and back of the property where the horses and cattle grazed.

  The house I grew up in was a simple, log cabin style rancher Dad built when he and Mom were first starting out. He’d remodeled and added on over the years, but it wasn’t anything grand. Dad was a simple man, he didn’t do grand or fancy, probably the reason Mom traded this life for the bright lights of L.A. The house looked like it belonged here, nestled among the trees. It was rustic and charming and full of so many memories. It’d been too long since I’d been home. Over a year. Not since . . . the last time I needed to get away.

  Cooter and Lady came bounding around the house as Dad pulled the truck up to it. Cooter barked at James until he got a good sniff in, and then he was all over me with excitement. I dropped to my haunches and he covered my face in dog kisses. Lady on the other hand, rolled to her back at James’ feet, basking in his attention, mouth hanging open, tongue lolling out as he rubbed her belly. I raised a brow at her. She had no shame.

  Dad unloaded our bags from the back and deposited them beside the truck. “I have to leave you to get settled in. I need to go check in with Rick. We’ve got a sick mare, and something, probably a coyote, got into the chicken coup last night. And we found a tree down on part of the fence at the back of the property this morning.”

  I grinned, not because I found it amusing, but because I really was home. “If it’s not one thing.”

  Dad grinned back. “Never a dull moment ‘round her for sure. You can show James around. I should be back in time to whip up something for dinner if I don’t see you before then.”

  “Don’t worry about dinner. I’ll fix something. Will Rick or any of the others be joining us?”

  Dad shook his head. “Rick’s got himself a lady these days and moved in with her, so I doubt he’ll stick around after quitting time. Joey, the young guy I’ve got working for me, likes to head into town and hit the bar after work. He’s got a place there and rarely stays in the cabin.”

  “What happened to Hank?”

  “Moved his family to Billings about six months ago.”

  I frowned. “So, it’s just the three of you?”

  “Don’t worry, we manage.” He ruffled my hair and started toward the barn.

  “Because you work too hard,” I called after him.

  He waved a wand over his shoulder. “See you at dinner, Aves.”

  With a shake of my head, I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and started wheeling it over the gravel toward the house with James and the dogs on my heels.

  I led him up the porch and shoved open the front door. “Well, this is it.”

  I set my bag at the foot of the stairs in the entryway, and then did a slow turn, trying to see everything as James did, wondering what he thought.

  “Where should I put thi
s?” He shrugged his duffel.

  “This way.” I clunked my own suitcase up the stairs and tried not to trip over Cooter. The second story was only over half of the house, so it was tight quarters up there. Two bedrooms and one shared bathroom. Real cozy. The master was downstairs. I should have thought this through and stuck James in the apartment above the shop if Rick wasn’t living in it anymore.

  I pushed open the door to the first room. “You can have this one, unless you’d rather have the apartment above the shop. It’s much bigger, and has its own bathroom, kitchen, and living area.”

  “This will be fine,” he brushed past me into the room and tossed his bag down on the bed. Lady leapt up on to the bed and stared at him, her tail wagging. “I think she likes you. Be careful with this one Lady. It’s the charming ones who are dangerous.”

  “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever accused me of being charming.”

  I fixed him with a flat look. “Don’t worry, it’s not likely to happen again.”

  “Eventually, we’re going to have to talk about it, Riley.” He sounded almost as tired as I felt.

  “Eventually isn’t right now. Right now, I’m going to lay down. You can make yourself at home. My room is across the hall, bathroom is the door in the middle. Kitchen is down—well you’re smart, I’m sure you’ll find it.” With that, I slipped from the room and took refuge with Cooter in the one right across the hall. The sky blue and cotton candy pink walls covered in posters of my favorite teen heartthrobs that greeted me like old friends made me cringe, but secretly comforted me. Except the poster of shirtless Hunter Foxx that grinned down at me. That had to go.

  Hunter would be relentless with the teasing if he knew. I tore it from the wall, wadded it into a ball and tossed it at the trash beside the dresser. It bounced off the rim and rolled aside. Cooter sniffed and pawed at it before trotting over and curling himself at the foot of the small twin bed. Flopping down on it, I closed my eyes and finally breathed easy. For a few minutes anyway. Until my gaze was reluctantly drawn to my purse on the dresser, where my phone sat ignored in the bottom. I stared at the bag. It stared back at me.

  Luis was probably having a full-on coronary about now.

  A barrage of messages, missed calls, and notifications came through when I turned it on. Most from Luis. A few from Angela and Jayne. Even Hunter had texted and called. To apologize for his bitch of a girlfriend? Half this mess was Mila’s fault.

  Ignoring all of the texts, I hovered my finger over Luis’ number. Better to let him yell at me on the phone than track me down and yell at me in person.

  “Riley, what the hell were you thinking?” Oh goody, yelling already.

  “I’m not going to rehab, Luis.”

  “Where are you? I hope not still drinking in an airport somewhere since clearly you don’t need rehab.”

  I ignored the barb. “I’m in Montana.”

  “At your father’s?” Obviously.

  “Yes. I needed to get away.”

  A heavy sigh came through the line. “Riley, don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic and irresponsible? Even for you?” There was so much disappointment packed into those few words.

  “No. I don’t. I’m taking care of myself, and my dad is the only one on my side right now.”

  He huffed, “Don’t be ridiculous, Riley. Of course I’m on your side. I always have been. But you can’t blame me for not coddling you this time. You’ve gotten yourself into quite the mess, but it’ll be okay. We’ll fix this as soon as you come back home. I’ll get you on a flight this evening.”

  “I am home, and I’m staying.”

  “For how long?” he ground out. I could practically hear his blood pressure rising.

  “I don’t know.” I sank onto the bed. Cooter jumped up and laid his head in my lap. I gave him a scratch behind the ear and listened to Luis biting back his temper.

  “That’s unacceptable, Riley. Have you even seen what the tabloids are saying this morning?”

  “No, because I don’t care.”

  “That’s just great,” he spat. “You don’t care. You don’t care,” he repeated shrilly.

  I heaved out a great big breath and dragged a hand over my tired face. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just need a break from everything Luis. Just a few days, maybe a week.”

  He was silent.

  “And I’m not coming back until you agree to stop trying to force me in treatment I don’t need. Check with the hospital. I ordered the blood test, peed in a cup, and gave them hair samples. I’m not on anything. I never was. Now, I need to rest because I was in a car accident yesterday. I’ll call you again tomorrow.” Or in a few days.

  After hanging up with Luis, or more like on Luis, I silenced my phone and gave into the pull of sleep, letting it drag my head down to one of the fluffy white pillows. I was out almost as soon as my eyes shut, barely aware of Cooter curling into my chest. I slept like the dead. Dad could have locked the bull in the house and I doubt it would have disturbed me.

  A few aches and pains lingered when I woke late in the afternoon, but my headache was finally gone, which was the biggest relief. I could live with a few sore muscles. Cooter was no longer in bed with me, and the house was silent when I ventured out of my room. I poked my head inside James’ room to find him absent. He wasn’t downstairs either.

  Rather than go in search of him, I headed into the kitchen to throw something together in the little bit of time I had before Dad would come looking for the meal I’d promised. I found his freezer and pantry fully stocked, which was surprising. Dad usually had only the bare necessities, which mostly consisted of meat and more meat. I found actual fruits and vegetables in his refrigerator that weren’t growing any mysterious substances on them. Weird.

  I pulled together a simple meal of grilled chicken, veggies, and rice.

  Right on time, Dad walked in the door off the kitchen, rumbling with laughter, James on his heels, also laughing. Huh.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked, stirring the simmering rice.

  Dad repeated some joke about the Green Bay Packers, hardly able to get to the punchline through his laughter. Of course they’d managed to bond over sports. Dad walked to the fridge, pulled out three beers, offering one to James, who took it, before popping the tops off the other two and handing one to me.

  “So, you’ll have a beer with my dad? That’s not breaking your rules?”

  “Your dad’s not trying to get me drunk, Princess,” he winked, and my dad laughed.

  I ignored them and tipped my own bottle to my lips, noting the way James watched me.

  “What?” I asked him.

  “Nothing,” he shrugged, taking a drink from his bottle. “Just, whiskey and now beer? I didn’t think you drank anything but those pretentious, girly drinks.”

  Dad barked out another laugh. “Don’t let the guise fool you, she’s a beer and wings girl at heart.” Dad’s conviction that I was still his girl warmed my insides. Sometimes even I doubted myself and wondered just how much I really had changed. His faith in me never ceased. I hid a small smile and turned to grab the paper plates from the cupboard, ignoring the two of them, who seemed to have become best buds while I was napping. But there were real plates in the cupboard. Matching ones. There hadn’t been anything but paper plates in this house since he threw out his and my mother’s wedding dishes. Huh.

  Dinner consisted of more sports talk and embarrassing stories from my childhood. Dad was taking to James quicker than I think he took to me. Dad always teased that when my mom found out she was having a girl, he asked the doctor if the hospital had a thirty-day refund policy.

  “I’ll clear the table as long as you promise not to share anymore embarrassing stories,” I told my dad as I shooed them from the dining room and into the family room. I made quick work of cleaning up, listening to their continued laughter and chatter.

  I didn’t think James had ever been that easy and relaxed with me.

  Was I s
eriously jealous of my own father?

  Of course not.

  It was just astounding that James had the balls to sit there and pal around with my Dad as if he hadn’t fucked me, then accused me of being a drug addict and a liar—none of which he’d apologized for, I might add—in the course of twenty-four hours.

  The reminder was a punch to the gut, not that I’d forgotten. How could I when every time I looked at his face it was like being cut open all over again?

  I rinsed the last pan, placing it into the dishrack before drying my hands on the bright yellow dish towel hanging from the oven. It felt like a new towel. First, fruits and veggies in the fridge, real plates in the cupboards, and now yellow towels instead of the plain white ones that he usually got in bulk. Was my dad going soft in his old age?

  “You didn’t need to do all the washing too. I could have taken care of that.” Dad appeared in the kitchen, carrying his and James’ empty bottles, which he walked over and deposited in a real recycling bin under the sink and not a cardboard box. A recycling bin too? What was next? Oven mitts? An apron? If I went into his room was I going to find decorative pillows on his bed?

  “What’s up with the real plates and the towels?” I turned on him with a narrowed gaze.

  “Don’t kitchens usually have those things?” He retrieved two more beers from the fridge.

  “Not yours.” I folded my arms across my chest and leaned against the sink. “Not yellow towels.”

  “A friend got those for me.” He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal.

  I pushed off from the sink. “A friend? Is this friend a woman by any chance?”

  He wouldn’t look at me as he popped the tops on the beers. “Maybe.”

  “Oh my gosh, who is she? How long have you been seeing her? She must be something special if you’ve got real plates and yellow towels almost like you’re going civilized again.”

  He blushed. “She could be. I don’t know, we’ll see. Her name is Sue. Works at the Tractor supply store.”

  I slugged him on the arm. “Way to go Dad.”

  “And what about you and that fella in there?” He jerked his head toward the other room.