by Milan Watson
Dusty zoned out as her scent and proximity made him forget about everything in front of him. All he could think of was if she still tasted as sweet.
He drew in a sharp breath and stood back. “It looks good. I like the function venue. That way if people want to celebrate or have a party, the noise is still far enough away from the cabins.”
“That was my thought exactly.”
Gemma flashed him a million dollar smile that had him reaching for his coffee again. He took a sip of the bitter liquid hoping it would wash her sweetness from his mind.
“For the pathways I thought we could use bark mulching. We edge them with bricks or pavers, and then keeping in line with the surroundings use bark to line them. The cabins…” she paused and pulled away the first sketch to reveal the floor plan of a cabin. “It’s in the shape of an ‘L’. Two bedrooms on this side, and then a living area on the other side. I’ve kept the living space open plan with folding doors. That way they can let nature inside during the day. For the colder months there is a fireplace in every cabin, allowing them to warm up and still see the beauty of winter through the large windows.”
“What’s this?” Dusty asked, pointing to a circle outside the house.
“A fire-pit. Of course you’ll have strict instructions about open fires and managing them, but I thought it would be a nice touch for each cabin to have its own. Just imagine, Dusty, they can have s'mores and tell stories…” Gemma let out a wistful sigh. “I know this isn’t what you had in mind… but when I got the idea I kinda just ran with it.”
Dusty leafed over to the third sketch and listened as Gemma explained about the visitors centre and function venue. For the next thirty minutes she talked about cosmetics and not intruding on the integrity of nature. Dusty was blown away but he refused to let her see how impressed he was.
When she was finally done she placed the sketches back into her bag and turned to him with a questioning look. “You’ve barely said a word. If this isn’t what you want we can work on a different idea.”
Dusty nodded and held her gaze. He felt the familiar heat spark between them, but ignored it. This was business, just business he reminded himself as he drew in a deep breath. “It can work.”
He wanted to add how impressed and how grateful he was for all the time she had put in, but he didn’t say another word.
“Does that mean you’d like to make changes or that you’d like to proceed with the plan?” Gemma asked hesitantly.
“What plan?” Clayton asked coming from his office. “Oh, hello Gemma didn’t see you there. Dusty mentioned you might be stopping by with the preliminary sketches.”
“Hello, Mr. Caldwell. That’s right, yes, they’re here if you’d like to take a look,” Gemma said, already reaching for the folder again.
Clayton turned to Dusty with an arched eyebrow. “You like the pictures she drew?”
Dusty couldn’t stop the grin that tugged the corners of his mouth. Only his father would equate an architect’s work with pictures. He nodded. “I think it can work.”
“Great,” Clayton said as he turned to Gemma. “This is Dusty’s project. I’ll take a look when it’s done.”
Dusty expected his father to nip at his heels for the entire duration of the project and couldn’t help but be surprised at his words. “Sure you don’t want to take a look? We’re starting with six cabins, a visitor centre and a function venue.”
Clayton shook his head. “As long as them city folk don’t come knockin’ on my door, you go ahead with your plans.” Clayton started towards the kitchen.
Gemma turned to Dusty with a questioning look. “Does that mean I can start on the blueprints and get some contractors involved to quote?”
Dusty nodded. “Yeah, I want to think about the pathways and perhaps adding a small porch to the cabins, but I’m happy with the buildings and the design.”
“Great.” Gemma smiled.
“Hey Gemma, how’s Alice and Burke doing? I hear he’s in retirement now, making your ma crazy yet?” Clayton asked as he came out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand.
Dusty saw Gemma’s face light up at the mention of her parents. “Yeah, he’s driving mom nuts. When he isn’t repainting the siding he’s re-landscaping her entire garden. But otherwise they’re doing well.”
“That’s good to hear. Heard too many times of folks going into retirement and retiring from life at the same time. It’s good he’s keeping busy. Say, we’re having a grill-out tonight with Kelly, that’s Ford’s fiancée, why don’t you stay for dinner.”
How hadn’t he noticed the time, Dusty thought glancing at the clock on the wall. It was already past five o’clock and Gemma had arrived a little after three.
Dusty turned to his father with an exasperated glare. “Dad, I’m sure Gemma has other plans. Besides, the sooner we get the blueprints done the sooner we can break ground.”
Clayton narrowed his gaze. “The sooner Gemma relaxes the sooner she can get back to it. Isn’t that right, Gemma?”
Gemma glanced from Dusty to his father and Dusty could see she was caught between a rock and a hard place. If she declined the invitation to dinner his father would be offended, if she stayed it would take their interaction from being strictly business to casual.
Finally Dusty nodded. “Dad’s right, stay for dinner. You can get back to your drawing board in the morning.”
Gemma shrugged with a hesitant smile. “I guess I’m staying for dinner.”
“Great,” Dusty said with the enthusiasm of a mouse about to step into a mousetrap, earning him a stern look from his dad. “How about I help you put those in your car and we grab something cold to drink.”
“Thanks.”
Chapter 7
Gemma had been cornered into many things in her life, but dinner with the Caldwell family wasn’t one of them. She knew them all from growing up in a small town but felt a little intimidated to grill steaks with them. Not because she couldn’t hold her own, but because she was certain that Dusty didn’t want her there.
Although he had piggy-backed on his father’s invitation it was clear he wanted her to leave. Now she was stuck spending the evening in his company while trying to ignore the way her body lit up whenever he looked at her.
After putting her sketches away she following him into the kitchen where he offered her a glass of wine. She was a little surprised that for a house full of men they had a pretty decent selection of wine on offer. At the first tart taste of the cold liquid she felt the tension ease from her muscles. She let out a quiet sigh.
“It’s Betty’s favorite,” Dusty said with a nod at her glass.
Gemma smiled. “Betty’s got good taste.”
Silence hung over the kitchen with unspoken words. Every time she was close to him Gemma couldn’t help but wonder what she had done wrong all those years ago. Their passion was blazing a mile high and then suddenly Dusty had turned to ice on her. She wanted answers but she also knew getting those answers might just cost her a dream project.
Anger was reverberating off him, making her quiver a few feet away. He didn’t want her here, that much was clear. She took another sip of wine before meeting his gaze. “If you’d rather I leave, I’d understand. I can make up an excuse for your father.”
Dusty shook his head. “If you can’t stand our company you’re welcome to leave, but the invitation stands.” His gaze held hers as if daring her.
Another corner, Gemma thought as she straightened her shoulders and searched for a smile. “I’ll stay then.”
If Dusty wanted to be angry about the past then she could be angry too. In fact who gave him the right to treat her as if she had wronged him? She had waited for weeks to get a text or call and he didn’t even have the courage to tell her he had moved on.
With whom she didn’t want to know, but two could play this game. She could find the anger she had buried for years and turn it on him as well, she decided. But even as he held her gaze she knew that was going to be hard
seeing as her bones seemed to melt in his vicinity.
“Oh good, another girl. I’m Kelly.”
A woman’s voice startled both Dusty and Gemma out of their stare down. Gemma cleared her throat and turned to the voice. The woman wasn’t from Saddleback Ridge, that much was clear by her designer jeans and perfectly styled hair, which begged the question who was she. “Hi, I’m Gemma Riley.”
The woman smiled brightly. She had blonde hair that looked like spun gold and her eyes seemed welcoming. “Kelly Peyton.”
Gemma nodded as the penny slowly dropped. “You’re Dusty’s….”
Kelly laughed freely as she shook her head. “He’s all yours, honey; I already caught myself a Caldwell. I’m Ford’s fiancée.”
Gemma couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping. “Ford’s engaged?” She turned to Dusty with a look of disbelief. She wasn’t sure if it was relief that tingled through her blood knowing the beautiful blonde didn’t have anything to do with Dusty except as his future sister-in-law.
“Yeah, it happened kind of quick. A whirlwind romance, as Betty likes to call it.” Kelly laughed as she took down a glass and poured herself wine. “And you are Dusty’s?”
Although she had just met Kelly, Gemma could see the mischief twinkling in her gaze. “I’m his architect. I mean… not Dusty’s architect. I’m just an architect.”
“Oh… interesting,” Kelly said, eyeing them both over her glass. “Dusty, I’m sure Ford needs help outside with the grill. Gemma, would you like to help me make the salad?”
“We got potatoes,” Dusty said with a frown.
Kelly shook her head patiently. “And if I was a rancher that burned about a gazillion calories a day I would rely on potatoes as well, but since I enjoy a salad and I’m sure Gemma would appreciate one, we’ll be making one.”
Dusty shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He glanced at Gemma one last time before he walked out of the kitchen.
Kelly’s soft chuckle made Gemma turn to her with a curious look. “I can’t believe Ford’s engaged. Where are you from?”
Kelly shrugged as she took out the makings for salad. “Colorado Springs. I came out here to land the deal of my career; instead I ended up falling for Ford, ditching the career and moving to a smaller company in the vicinity.”
“That sounds like quite a story. You’ll have to tell me all about it sometime.” Gemma laughed. Just with Dusty more than a few feet away she could already feel herself relaxing a little more.
Kelly chopped a tomato in half and cocked a brow. “The engagement party is at the end of summer, you should come as… Dusty’s architect.”
“I’m not Dusty’s anything,” Gemma said firmly.
Kelly laughed. “Honey, I’ve recently moved to a cattle ranch, I know the scent of dung when I smell it. Were you once… his anything?”
Gemma shrugged and took a fortifying sip of wine. “Once… perhaps. But that was a very long time ago and doesn’t affect the work we’re doing together now at all.”
“Really? When I walked in I think the plans brewing in this kitchen had more to do with ripping off clothes than building a dude ranch.” Kelly smiled with a wink. “But if you insist I’m wrong, I’ll concede.”
“You’re wrong,” Gemma said, suddenly wishing she’d bailed on dinner. Apparently Ford’s fiancée wasn’t only pretty but she was a straight shooter as well. And although Gemma thought the arrow to have landed far from the bull’s eye, she couldn’t help but wonder if it hadn’t perhaps hovered in the vicinity.
“Great, here you can wash the greens.” Kelly handed her the lettuce and Gemma breathed a sigh of relief that she’d let it go. “It’s so good to have a woman around. Betty’s been visiting her friend in Ohio so it’s been just me for a week. Luckily she’s coming home tomorrow.”
With the Dusty conversation out of the way Gemma soon relaxed into getting to know Kelly. Although everyone in town knew that there was something brewing between Clayton and Betty Taylor, Gemma was surprised to hear how often Betty actually stayed over.
Perhaps there will be another engagement party later this year, she thought as she and Kelly made their way out to the back porch to join the men.
“There she is.”
Gemma recognized Ford’s voice the moment he spoke. Ever since she could remember half of the women in Saddleback Ridge had a crush on the eldest Caldwell sibling. He was tall, with black hair and blue eyes, just like Clayton had once been. Never before had Gemma known him to be seriously involved but it was clear that he was head over spurs in love with Kelly.
Kelly chuckled. “I spend the day on the road meeting with clients and you act like I’ve been away for a year. You’ll make me go on the road more often.” She pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek before she took a seat in an Adirondack chair.
“Hey Gemma.” Ford smiled, recognizing her.
“Dad said you were coming to dinner. It’s good to see you again. Welcome back,” Logan said moving towards her.
Logan was the youngest of the Caldwell brothers. Although he took after his father in height and build, he had his mother’s brown eyes.
“Thanks Logan.” Gemma smiled, accepting his hug.
“Welcome back. Dusty says your plans are amazing. Should’ve known when you built that tree house in middle school that you knew what you were doing.” Drake tugged her hair as he flashed her that boyish grin that could make most ladies hearts stop, except hers.
“And I should’ve known you were a hell-raiser when you and your friends snuck into it one night and managed to break the support.” Gemma laughed, giving him a hug.
This was what she missed, she realized; being surrounded by familiar faces. In Denver she had the sights and sounds of the city. She had the culture and the entertainment and a few people she considered friends, but no one who shared her past. This was why she wanted to come home.
“Well Dusty’s just been telling us about your pictures. Sounds like it might just be a good idea after all. Must say didn’t think he’d be satisfied so soon, usually he likes to nit-pick,” Clayton said, rocking back and forth on a chair that must’ve been a hundred years old.
Gemma turned to Dusty with a frown. He had barely said two words about her design, she had actually expected him to call her in the morning and ask her to start over. Clearly she had read him wrong. Was that what happened all those years ago? Had she misread the signals? Hadn’t he been interested?
She had a flashback of them making out in the field. The fevered touches, the passionate kisses and the soft whispers… surely she hadn’t misread those signals?
Dusty turned to meet her gaze. His brown eyes were dark and unreadable in the fading light but they still managed to make her heart thud hard. For a moment everything around them disappeared and it was just the two of them. She could almost feel that snap of heat between them when he suddenly looked away.
“Chicago was it, no wait, Denver?” Drake asked, breaking the spell.
Gemma swallowed past the curious emotions that were flooding her system. “Denver.” She looked Dusty straight in the eye. “Since I left that summer after high school.”
Dusty cleared his throat. “Anyone else need a refill, I’m heading in.”
He walked into the house and Gemma hoped she had finally thrown him off balance, because ever since seeing him this afternoon it had felt as if she was doing a constant balancing act between the anger of the past and a barrage of attraction that still existed in the present.
Chapter 8
Dusty galloped towards the site for the dude ranch, cursing himself as he held onto the saddle horn. He couldn’t believe he was going to be a late again.
As the mare pushed herself more and more, Dusty admitted to himself that he liked horses more than people. Horses didn’t try to deceive, or trick you into believing they were something they weren’t.
If they were mean you knew it as soon as you slipped into the saddle, if they were kind the same rule applied. Some horses were feisty, some we
re fiery, and some were downright gentle to the bone. Sammy, on the other hand, had her days. Some days she was meek like a lamb and some days it was like she wanted to chase the wind, luckily today was one of those days.
As he crossed the small hill he could see Gemma already pacing the area. He glanced at his watch and cursed. He was almost twenty minutes late and even if she had called he wouldn’t have heard because his phone was in the stables. After a busy morning of working horses (and trying to forget he had a meeting with Gemma that afternoon) he had completely lost track of time.
Ever since she had stayed for the grill over a week ago he hadn’t stopped thinking about her. Every time he thought of her his anger just grew. By now it was an unrecognizable bubble of red that clouded his vision almost day and night.
He was angry at himself for falling for her, he was angry for letting himself believe they could have a future back then, but more than anything he was angry that he’d trusted her. She hadn’t even bothered to apologize or explain; she’d just boarded the bus and headed to Denver as if they had never happened.
She was the reason Dusty hadn’t let anyone come close, and over the years there had been a few girls who were more than worthy but Dusty hadn’t even given them a chance.
He pulled on the mare’s reins and brought her to a stop, steeling himself for facing her again. Her plans were good, and after receiving the blueprints by email Dusty was excited to get started. He just wasn’t excited to be working with her, especially because he couldn’t seem to focus on the project at hand whenever she was near.
He swung out of the saddle and saw her glancing at her watch.
