by Jane Porter
“I don’t think Gram would approve.”
“I won’t tell her.”
“Ha! Somehow I doubt that. I think the two of you are in a league of your own.”
“Maybe we are,” she said with a wink, before taking off, sprinting down the path paralleling the river.
She heard him closing in behind her, so she kicked it into higher gear, and ran faster, harder, harder than she’d gone in a long time, running as if the finish line was just ahead and a first-place finish was at stake. She ran the last mile that way, arms and legs pumping, heart pounding, and it was electric. She felt fantastic, strong and free. Mandy only slowed when her path took her up to the courthouse in Crawford Park, the historic copper dome gleaming in the sunrise. Turning, hands on her hips, she glanced behind her, and there was Tyler, right on her tail.
He flashed her a grin. “Nice way to finish the run,” he said. He wasn’t breathing hard at all. His cheeks weren’t even red with exertion.
“I thought I lost you.”
“Not a chance. Was having too much fun.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, so she let the comment ride. “I’m going to grab a coffee from Java Café before I head home. If you feel like tagging along, I’ll point out places you might want to know about.”
“Sounds good,” he answered. “Especially the coffee part.”
They crossed the park with Amanda pointing out landmarks. “Our courthouse, and then to the right is our library, built around the same time as the courthouse, in the 1880s. Most of Marietta was constructed during the big copper boom of the 1880s-1890s. The oldest building on Main Street is Grey’s Saloon. I think that one dates from the late 1870s. Grey’s has been written up in numerous Montana magazines as one of the oldest bars in the state that still pours liquor today.”
She glanced at him as they crossed Court Street and started down Main, debating whether she should mention drinks and pool tonight at Grey’s. Did she want him there? What would he think of the invite?
Still uncertain, she pointed out other businesses. “Main Street Diner is an institution in Marietta. It’s been a diner since the 1920s or 30s. Before that it was a grocery store and mercantile. Great big breakfasts until eleven, and home-style cooking the rest of the day. I rarely go for dinner but Charity and I always head to the diner for pie after movie night. On the left is my friend Sadie’s shabby chic business, Montana Rose. Her space was once part of the old antique mall, which was turned into our first Mexican restaurant. The restaurant just opened but I haven’t been there yet, not sure why as I heard it has amazing carne asadas and hand-shaken margaritas.”
“The only kind of margarita,” he replied.
The tour continued as they crossed First Street. “Grey’s is on our right, and our Bank of Marietta is on the left. Best cowboy boots in town are here, at Marietta Western Wear and then the pharmacy on this corner—I’ll tell you more about that later—and Java Café is just ahead, on our right, with world famous Copper Mountain Chocolates on the other side of Main, next to the florist.”
“Is the chocolate shop famous?”
Amanda grinned and shook her head. “Not world famous, no, but here in Marietta, it’s a big deal. I love the salted caramels. Charity loves the hot chocolate. And everyone loves Sage, the owner. You’ll have to stop in and introduce yourself.”
“Your salon isn’t far from here.”
“Nope. Just one street over.” She smiled at him. “I spend a lot of time here at Java Café. Their coffee is so much better than mine and they have a great rewards program for customers. Every sixth coffee is free.”
Once inside the Java Café they ordered their coffees and Tyler also ordered breakfast to go.
While they waited for his toasted egg bagel sandwich he asked her, “What do you think I should know about Marietta?”
“What did your dad tell you about Marietta?”
“Not much. He wasn’t particularly fond of Marietta.”
“Really? Why?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t talk about it much. I got the impression that it’s quite conservative.”
“It’s not the most liberal town, no, but I’ve found it’s also surprisingly open-minded.”
“And it’s small, so small that everyone knows everyone else’s business.”
“Well, there is some truth to that. We have our share of gossips, and when things get slow in winter—we have really long winters some years—people talk. It’s not necessarily malicious… at least, most of it isn’t. Carol Bingley and her friends are another matter.”
“Carol Bingley?”
“She and her husband own the drugstore we just passed. She seems to know everything, about everyone, so my tip to you, is go to the new CVS pharmacy in the shopping center and skip Marietta Drug downtown if you don’t want to become fodder for the rumor mill.”
“Completely agree.”
“Wow. That’s a first. We actually agreed on something?”
“I think there’s a lot we agree on.” He ticked his points off on his fingers. “We both love my grandmother.”
“True.”
“It seems we both like to start our day with a morning run.”
She was trying not to smile. “Okay.”
“And apparently we both like a good margarita.”
“You say that, but how do I know if that’s true? I have no evidence.”
He smiled at her, his smile warmed his green eyes and made him altogether too appealing. “Do I need to prove myself?” he answered. “Take you to Rosita’s for a tequila taste-off?”
She laughed. Yes. “No.”
“It sounds as if I do. It sounds as if my masculinity has been called into question—” He broke off as she giggled, and his eyebrow lifted. “I’m determined to defend my honor. Rosita’s tonight, six thirty?”
“I can’t. I’ve plans. And I thought you were having dinner with your grandmother tonight?”
“We are, at five fifteen, for the early bird special.”
“In that case, stop by Grey’s tonight and I’ll introduce you to Charity. We’re meeting up around seven.”
Chapter Four
Tyler walked back to the Graff, carrying his breakfast sandwich and coffee. He smiled at the doorman, and then held the elevator doors open for a mother with a big stroller and a tearful toddler who didn’t want to exit the elevator.
As he headed up to his room, he whistled part of a tune and then smiled ruefully as he realized he was whistling. He had no idea why he was in such a good mood, because he was in a great mood this morning. He’d slept surprisingly well, and he’d had a good run, and he’d enjoyed the tour and banter with Amanda. So it was hard to say why he was feeling relaxed, and even happy. He rarely felt happy, not because he liked being unhappy, but simply because it was an emotion he didn’t focus on.
He tended to focus on work. He hadn’t had a date since before he moved to Texas. If he went out in Austin, he went with a group from the office. Work was consuming. It had always been consuming, not because there was any external pressure to succeed, but just because he loved what he did, and he found it hard to balance work and personal life, so his personal life became his professional life, and vice versa, allowing him to focus on work all the time.
In his world, there was always another game, another challenge, another opportunity, to the point that his sole identity was that of being Tyler Justice, of Justice Games. He didn’t have a life outside of his company, and it’d been this way for years, and he didn’t mind… or at least, he hadn’t thought he minded until he got to Texas and realized there were huge holes in his life, holes where people and hobbies were supposed to be.
It was why he wanted Gram with him, and it was why he’d built the guesthouse in his backyard for her. He had a large property just south of Austin and her new house would give her a great deal of independence. She could entertain her friends, and come and go. She’d love his neighborhood, too. Best of all, she’d be safe, and
he could keep an eye on her.
But now that he was in Marietta, he was beginning to understand why Gram loved it and how moving her to Austin wasn’t exactly the slam dunk he’d thought it was. And then there was the fact that he’d lived in Austin two years, and if it didn’t yet feel like home, how did he expect his eighty-year-old grandmother to settle in?
“So is he coming?” Charity asked that evening as they nursed drinks in a corner booth at Grey’s.
“He said he was,” Amanda answered, flipping her long hair back over her shoulder, telling herself she wasn’t eager or excited or interested in Tyler in any way, because he was unsuitable in every way. “He’s coming after dinner with Bette. They were going for an early bird special somewhere.”
“Who does an early bird special in Marietta?”
“I think the Chinese restaurant does, and then Flintworks was trying something… more of a happy hour kind of thing, but maybe Bette thought Tyler would like it.”
“So what does he look like?”
“He’s tall, at least six feet one, with a great bod.”
“Brown hair, light eyes, great face?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I think your Tyler Justice has arrived and is on his way to our table now.”
Amanda glanced over her shoulder, and her pulse did a wicked jump as she spotted him. He was wearing a black button-down shirt beneath a dark jacket, faded denims, and work boots and looked more like a model in a fashion catalogue than an ordinary man.
“And he is really good-looking,” Charity mumbled under her breath. “No wonder everyone’s talking.”
“It’s the haircut. You should have seen him before he came to me,” Amanda deadpanned.
Charity laughed and Amanda scooted over in the booth, making room for Tyler. “You made it,” she said.
“I did.” He dropped into the booth next to her, filling the space she’d just created. The man was big, and his shoulders were so broad she felt the need to scoot further to put space between them. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice.
“Gram wasn’t sure why she wasn’t invited, though,” he added, removing his jacket.
His black shirt was only unbuttoned by a few buttons but the fabric was snug over his shoulders and fitted across the chest, emphasizing muscles and how physically fit he was. “We can go get her,” Amanda answered a little breathlessly, pulse still not quite steady.
“No, she’s ready for Wheel of Fortune and then bed. She’s tired. Today was movie day.”
“Did you go?”
“I did, and met eighteen of her closest friends.” He looked across the table to Charity and smiled, showing his dazzling white teeth. “I’m Tyler,” he said, extending his hand, introducing himself.
“Charity,” she said, giving his hand a shake. “The middle Wright sister.”
“The clothes designer sister,” he said. “Amanda wore one of your dresses last night.”
Charity blushed, but looked pleased. “I just sketch them. Mandy sews them.”
“You did the cuffs and buttons,” Mandy protested. “I still can’t get my buttonholes perfect.”
“That’s because you get frustrated and give up.” Charity turned to Tyler. “Mandy has the temper in the family. You don’t want to make her mad.”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “I don’t have a temper.”
Charity grinned and shrugged. “Just saying, don’t make her mad.”
“Noted,” he answered.
The waitress came around and they all ordered a beer and sat talking for the next hour, the conversation easy, particularly as Charity and Tyler hit it off, almost a little too well, Amanda thought, battling envy. It was just that Charity was normally the shy one in the family, but tonight she was positively gregarious, and glowing as if she was that famous Farrah Fawcett poster from the 70s, the one of Farrah wearing nothing but a red swimsuit, her thick tousled golden mane, and a perfect smile showing white perfect teeth.
Amanda silently scolded herself for being jealous. There was no reason to be insecure. It wasn’t as if she had feelings for Tyler, nor was she invested in him in any way. Bette had asked her to be nice to him, and show him Marietta, and she had. She was. If Tyler and Charity wanted to flirt, that was their business, not hers.
But after an hour of listening to Tyler and Charity talk and laugh, Amanda felt ready to call it a night. If Charity was going to fall in love with Tyler, she didn’t want to be here to watch it happen.
“I think I’m good,” she said when the waitress came by to see if they’d like another round. “Tomorrow is my long day, and I should head home and get some sleep.”
“I should head home, too,” Charity said, stretching. “I’m reading a great book and I’m dying to find out what’s going to happen next.”
“Oh? What are you reading?” Tyler asked, handing the waitress his credit card to cover the bill.
“Please don’t pay for us,” Amanda said, fishing in her purse for cash. “Let’s each take care of our own.”
“Yes,” Charity agreed, pulling out her wallet.
“I’ve got this one, one of you can buy next time,” he answered, before looking at Charity. “So what book did you say you were reading?”
“Taming His Fierce Forbidden Heart.” Charity gave him an innocent look. “Have you read it?”
For a moment Tyler looked nonplussed, and then he smiled crookedly. “No, no I haven’t.”
“It’s a romance,” Amanda murmured dryly.
“I gathered,” he answered.
“A very good romance, too,” Charity added, eyes bright with silent laughter. “I can loan it to you when I’m finished. It’s very romantic, and quite sensual.”
“I do think that’s my cue to leave,” he said, rising from the booth.
“Mine, too,” Amanda agreed, sliding out as well.
“Anyone need a ride?” he offered as the three of them walked toward the door.
“I have my car,” Charity said, holding up her keys.
Amanda zipped up her down coat. “I’m on foot, but I like the walk.”
“I’ll walk you home then,” Tyler offered.
“It’s one block over, Ty. I’ve got this.”
“I know, but my grandmother would never forgive me if she found out I let you walk home alone.”
“That is a valid point,” she conceded, smiling. As they started down the street she glanced at him. “What’s Austin like? I hear it’s a great city.”
“I’m still getting to know it, but it has lots of great restaurants and music scene. Sadly, I haven’t been out as much as I would have liked.” He grimaced. “I have a tendency to spend all my time at work, but the office downtown is nice. Big building, lots of windows, very modern.”
She shook her head. “A workaholic.”
“I do work a lot, but I love it.”
“So why did you sell your company to someone else?”
“I knew the only way for my company to reach the next level was to have more money, and I could take it public, or, I could sell it to a company already public. In the end, I decided that TexTron made the most sense.”
“Is it everything you hoped it’d be?”
He hesitated. “Sometimes we have to make hard choices. I don’t have the control I used to, but Justice Games can leverage its power and position in a way it couldn’t before.” He glanced at her. “I confess I have an ulterior motive for walking you home. There was something Gram said that I wanted to ask you about, if you don’t mind.”
The moon was full and bright in the sky, and their footsteps echoed on the pavement. “I don’t mind,” she answered. “What did you want to know?”
“Gram mentioned yesterday she was your business partner, and I was just wondering who you used as your attorney when you drew up your business papers.”
She shot him a confused glance. “Excuse me?”
“Gram said she’d gone into business with you—”
“No, she didn’t,” Am
anda said firmly. “Bette’s not my business partner. It would have been fun if she had become my partner, because she’s a great lady, and I enjoy her very much, and admire her even more, but she isn’t my partner in any size, shape, or form.”
“Why would she say she was your partner then?”
“Because she enjoys being around the salon, and likes being a part of things?”
He was silent as they crossed the street. “How much do you know about her finances?” he asked as they approached Church Street.
“Only what she’s chosen to tell me.”
“Which is…”
“That your grandfather left her comfortably well-off.”
“She didn’t show you any numbers, bank statements, savings statements, nothing like that?”
“No, nor would I want to see her financials. It’s none of my business.”
“But you’re aware that my grandmother is wealthy.”
“I see where this is going, and I don’t like it.” Amanda stopped in front of her gate, arms folding over her chest, indignation warring with hurt. “I have not befriended your grandmother for financial gain. She has been my client from the very beginning, which is nearing nine years now. I care for her, and enjoy her company immensely, and I would never exploit her friendship in any way. Good night.”
Chapter Five
Amanda had gone to bed outraged, and had woken up still upset, and hurt. It really bothered her that Tyler would think she’d take advantage of Bette in any way. They’d spent time together. Had dined together. Run together. Laughed together.
How could he still think so poorly of her?
Normally she didn’t run on Thursdays, but today she ran, going north on Collier, past the elementary school and junior high, passing the community park until she reached the high school track, where she’d run the stairs in the small stadium. She hadn’t run stairs in months but it was exactly what she needed today. Up and down, up and down she went, until her heart was pounding and her quads burned and she’d burned out the negative emotions.
Amanda wasn’t just calm, when she returned home, she was feeling cheerful, even buoyant, and after coffee and scrambled eggs, was ready for whatever the day would bring.
