Letting Go (Vista Falls #3)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “Whoa!” His eyes widened as he stepped back. “Where the hell did that come from? I was caught up in a nice little fantasy about us, and you dump a bucket of cold water on me by asking me about other women?”

  She shrugged, wishing she could take it back. She didn’t want him thinking about other women he’d slept with either. “Forget I asked.”

  “No, there’s nothing you can’t ask me.” He sighed, running a hand over his head. “Uh, I guess it was a couple of months.”

  “Huh.” At least he hadn’t jumped into bed with someone else as soon as he left town. That would have made her feel as though their time together meant nothing to him.

  “Okay, your turn. How long for you?”

  “Uh…” She should have known better than to open this can of worms. Naturally her question would lead to him grilling her about her sex life. Or lack thereof. “I don’t sleep around. You should know that by now.”

  He clutched his coffee cup as he shook his head slowly. “You’re not saying that…”

  “You were my last lover?” She forced herself to look him in the eye even though she would have preferred to crawl under the counter instead. “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. But don’t go assuming that’s because I wasn’t over you. What happened between us was one lousy night. I never made it out to be any more than that.”

  “It was one incredible night.”

  “Now you’re arguing semantics with me? Really?”

  “I think it’s an important distinction, don’t you? An incredible night we can build on. A lousy night? Not so much.”

  A subject change was definitely in order. She couldn’t allow herself to consider building anything with Colt. It was too risky. “Uh, you said you took my advice. About what?”

  “I went to see my mother.”

  “Oh really? How did that go?” His slight smile told her all she needed to know. “Well, I take it.”

  “She’s changed.”

  “Yes, she has.”

  “You’ve gotten to know her?”

  Back in high school, Gabby had rarely seen Colt’s mother. She’d been too ashamed to show her face in public given her husband’s antics, and Gabby had never been a welcome guest at Colt’s house. But no one was. Not even Wes.

  “It’s a small town,” Gabby said before taking a sip of her coffee. “Our paths cross now and then.”

  “What’s your perception of her?”

  Since Colt seemed genuinely interested in her opinion, she said, “I think she’s trying hard to change. I can tell she’s shy, but she’s coming out of her shell more and more, trying to get involved in the community.”

  “Have people been receptive to her, or have they held her accountable for my old man’s sins?” Colt’s voice held a hard edge now, as though his protective instincts had been awakened when he thought of someone being cruel to his mother.

  “From what I’ve seen, everyone’s been nice enough.”

  “Have you heard anyone say anything behind her back?”

  Gabby shook her head, questioning whether she would have told him even if she had. Giving Colt reason to be angry seemed like a bad idea in light of how he described his temper. “You really think I’d name names even if I had heard anything?”

  “I’d like to think you would. You’re one of the few people I’ve always believed I could trust.”

  She was flattered to think he still trusted her even though there was so much they didn’t know about each other now. “Coming back here means laying the past to rest, doesn’t it? You have to accept that people are going to have their opinions whether you like it or not. About your father, your mother, us.”

  “Us?” His entire demeanor changed as a smug smile curled his lips. “Does that mean there’s an us?”

  “No.” She sighed when his grin widened as though he was toying with the idea of calling her out on the lie. Whether she was willing to admit it or not, something was definitely happening between them. She just didn’t know what that was yet and was in no hurry to label it. “Would you get out of here? I have work to do.”

  “On one condition.”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “Come to a party with me?”

  “What?” That sounded an awful lot like a date, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to go there. “What kind of party?”

  “A retirement party for one of our employees. He’s one of the few people who came with us from Houston. He’d planned to stay on another five years or so when he made the move, but his son had a stroke recently, so he and his wife have to move back to help take care of him.”

  “Oh my God, that’s terrible. How old is his son?”

  “Thirty-eight, if you can believe that.” Colt winced. “Five years older than us. Crazy, huh?”

  “Yeah, crazy.” That served as a reminder to Gabby that she didn’t have an unlimited amount of time to sort her life out even though she kept telling her mother she did. There were no guarantees, and Gabby didn’t want to have any regrets about the chances she didn’t take.

  “Wes is really bummed that he can’t be here for the party, but he understands why Bob has to get back ASAP. He’s already been off most of the month anyhow, back in Houston with his son. This will just be his official send-off.”

  “Of course I’ll come.” She looked at the counter still scattered with flowers. “Is there anything I can do to help? Supply the flowers, maybe?”

  “I’m not sure. We’re going to be having it at the inn, and Taylor is helping me plan it. Is it okay if I ask her to give you a call about the flowers?”

  “Absolutely.” Gabby had become friendly with Wes’s future sister-in-law while they were planning Sage and Wes’s wedding, but she and Taylor hadn’t had an opportunity to spend much time alone together. “In fact, I was thinking about closing up a bit early today. Maybe I’ll pass by the inn and see Taylor. When did you say the party was?”

  “Saturday.”

  That only gave her three days to prepare. Neglecting to ask the date before accepting his invitation probably sent the wrong message—that she would make herself available to him anytime. “Wow, that’s short notice.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. This party was a last-minute thing. We’d expected him to stay on ‘til the end of the month, but Bob’s wife is staying in Houston, and it’s too difficult for her to manage their son alone now that he’s home from the hospital.”

  “He wasn’t married?” Gabby asked.

  “He was divorced. No kids.”

  Sounded an awful lot like her situation. If something terrible happened to her, the burden of her care would likely fall on her parents since she didn’t have a life partner to count on and all of her friends had lives and families of their own.

  “What’s wrong?” Colt asked. “You look so sad all of a sudden.”

  “I’m just imagining how horrible it must be for their son… for all of them. It’s such a tragedy.”

  “Yeah, I was stunned when I heard the news. Allen, their son, is a great guy. He used to tag along on hunting and fishing trips with me and Wes all the time.”

  “Then you were friends?”

  “You could say that. That’s why we decided to help out with his medical expenses and rehab. Insurance only covers so much.” When she stared at him intently, he shrugged. “It seemed like the right thing to do.”

  “Whose idea was that?” she asked, setting her coffee down before stepping around the counter. “Yours or Wes’s?”

  “I don’t know. Does it matter?”

  She looped her arms around his neck, grateful she wore wedge heels so she didn’t have to strain her neck looking up at him. “It matters to me.” When he didn’t answer, she said, “It was your idea, wasn’t it?” He closed his eyes, tipping his head back, and she asked, “Why is it so hard for you to admit that you did something nice for someone?”

  “I don’t deserve any credit for doing the right thing. We can afford it. They need the help. End of story.�
�

  She brushed her lips against his before whispering, “What if it’s not the end of the story? What if it’s just the beginning?”

  ***

  Gabby was still thinking about her talk with Colt when she walked into the inn early that evening. Taylor was sitting behind the reception desk, and a smile lit her pretty face when she spotted Gabby.

  “Hey!” Taylor jumped up and crossed the lobby before pulling Gabby in for a hug. “I was so happy when you texted to let me know you’d be stopping by. I haven’t seen you since the wedding. How’ve you been?”

  “Busy.”

  “So I’ve heard.” Taylor winked as she led Gabby into a private office behind the reception desk. “Word has it you and Colt have been spotted out together. What’s that all about?”

  “Ugh,” Gabby said, plopping down in a worn guest chair in Rush’s office. “Gotta love small-town life. Nothing slips past the grapevine.”

  “Why? Are you two keeping it a secret? I know you’re not seeing Dave anymore. I just assumed it was because Colt is back. Was I wrong?” Taylor shook her head, her high ponytail swishing back and forth. “Forget I asked that. God, you must think I’m so nosy, getting all up in your business like—”

  “It’s no problem,” Gabby said, laughing. “We’re friends. That’s what friends do, right?”

  “I’d like to think we’re friends,” Taylor said hesitantly. “And I want you to know that I’m here for you if you want to talk. I know you have mixed feelings about Colt given your history, and sometimes it helps to have someone impartial to bounce ideas off of, right? I mean, I’m probably one of the few people who didn’t know you two when you were a couple.”

  “True.” Gabby was still trying to make sense of her feelings for Colt, and while she’d have loved to confide in Sage about it, she knew her best friend had very strong opinions about her ex. It wasn’t that Sage didn’t love Colt. She did. She was just afraid Gabby would end up nursing another broken heart if he left again without warning.

  “I still can’t believe you and Rush are engaged,” Gabby said, admiring the diamond twinkling back at her.

  Taylor laughed. “Is that your not-so-subtle way of changing the subject?”

  “No, not at all. I’m serious. I’m really happy for you guys.”

  “Thanks.” Taylor held her hand out, smiling at the sight of her ring. “I still can’t believe it myself sometimes.”

  Given everything Taylor had been through, losing her husband and kids in a tragic car accident, Gabby couldn’t think of anyone who deserved happiness more. “Rush is a great guy. He’s going to make you so happy. I just know it.”

  “He already has.”

  “You never did tell me how he proposed.”

  Taylor settled back in Rush’s swivel chair. “It wasn’t planned, to be honest. We were just sitting out on the deck one night, watching the sunset, and he reached for my hand. He told me that he wanted to spend every night like that, and I agreed. So he asked me what we were waiting for. I couldn’t think of a single reason to keep putting our life on hold.” She gave Gabby a watery smile. “No one knows better than I do that everything can change overnight.”

  Gabby wondered if that was what she was doing… putting her life on hold. After the divorce, she’d told herself she wasn’t in a hurry to start dating again. When she did start dating, she’d claimed she wasn’t interested in anything serious. Given the opportunity to be intimate with a great guy, she found excuses. A second chance with someone she’d once loved was staring her in the face, and she was too scared to act on it.

  “What’s wrong?” Taylor asked, looking concerned. “You look upset. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring you down.”

  “No, you didn’t.” Gabby reached across the desk to clasp Taylor’s hand. “You helped remind me of something important.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

  “That sometimes we have to take risks. It’s scary as hell, but the alternative is living half a life. Isn’t it?”

  “I think so.” Taylor studied her for a minute before she said, “You’re thinking about Colt now?”

  “He keeps telling me that he’s no good for me, and I’m afraid he might be right. But that doesn’t change the way I feel about him. I don’t want to make another mistake. But what if being with Colt isn’t a mistake? What if it’s the right thing for me?”

  Taylor’s gaze drifted to a framed photo of her and Rush on his desk. He was standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist, and they were both smiling like they’d just won the lottery. The kind of joy one only experiences when they know for sure they’ve finally found the one.

  “I don’t know Colt very well,” Taylor admitted. “I just know what I’ve heard from you and Sage, Wes and Rush. But we’ve had a few brief conversations, and I get the sense he’s a good guy.”

  “He is. He’s a really good guy.” Gabby just wished it wasn’t so hard to convince Colt of that. “But he had a rough childhood. It did a number on him, and I think being back here, with all the people who knew him back then, is just bringing it all back to the surface.”

  “That’s understandable, right?”

  “It is.”

  Taylor got up and moved to the small coffeemaker in the corner of Rush’s office. She poured two cups and passed one to Gabby.

  “Thanks.” Gabby normally wouldn’t have drunk coffee in the evening, but she suspected she’d be up all night thinking about Colt again, so the caffeine would do no harm.

  “Sometimes our past haunts us,” Taylor said. “That’s why I had to leave Brock. The memories and all of the well-meaning people were making it impossible for me to let go.”

  “I guess that’s why Colt moved to Houston. He wanted a fresh start.”

  “Yeah, but he’s back here now.”

  “But for how long?”

  “He told me he bought a house here. That doesn’t sound like a man who’s ready to move on anytime soon.”

  For most people, buying a house meant settling down, but Colt probably owned numerous properties. “I bet he hasn’t sold his house in Houston.”

  “Have you asked him?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?” Taylor asked, frowning.

  “I guess I’m afraid of what his answer might be.”

  “Oh, honey.” Taylor’s pitying look reminded Gabby how pathetic she was, living in denial when she could be dealing with facts instead. “You have to talk to him. Tell him what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling, what your concerns are.”

  “I have told him. And you know what he told me?”

  “What?”

  “That he wants to date me.”

  “Okay…” Taylor looked confused. “And that’s a bad thing because…?”

  “That’s all he wants. Just to date me. He doesn’t think he’s capable of anything more.”

  Taylor giggled, covering her mouth when Gabby scowled. “I’m sorry, but have you ever known a man who says he’s ready for marriage and babies?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “In my experience, those guys are the ones you can’t trust. They’re just telling you what you want to hear to get you into bed.”

  “You really think so?” Gabby didn’t consider herself naïve, but maybe her friend was right. She’d taken the other men she’d dated at face value when they said they were ready for a serious relationship, but maybe Colt was the only one who’d truly been honest with her.

  “I do.” Taylor nodded. “Even guys in their thirties break out in a cold sweat when they hear the C-word. Especially if they’ve been players all their lives. For guys, it’s scary to imagine being with one person for the rest of your life.”

  “You’re probably right.” Colt had been single a long time. It was only natural that it would take some time for him to warm up to the idea of being a couple again. “But I don’t want to be one of those women who enters into a relationship hoping to change my guy. Or hoping that he’ll come around
to my way of thinking. That has disaster written all over it.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more. But why do you have to label what you and Colt have? Why not date like he suggested? Have great sex.” She winked. “Let him take you to nice restaurants. Maybe take a few trips together. If you fall in love all over again and decide you want to spend the rest of your lives together, great. If not, at least you’ll have some fabulous memories, right?”

  Gabby set her coffee on the table beside her. “God, why have I been overthinking this? You’re right. I’m putting so much pressure on myself and him, believing that we have to figure it all out right now. We don’t. We can take our time.”

  “Of course you can. And you can have fun while you do.” She wiggled her eyebrows comically. “And I expect updates on all the fun you’ll be having.”

  Gabby laughed before sobering. “There’s still one small problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Colt’s temper.”

  “He’s not violent, is he? He’s never hit you or anything like that? Because if he has, disregard everything I just said. I can’t let you go out with him.”

  Gabby smiled, appreciating Taylor’s concern. “No, Colt would never do anything like that. But he claims he has a propensity to blow up just like his father used to.”

  “Hmmm.” Taylor sipped her coffee. “Have you ever seen any evidence of that?”

  “No, but I’m sure Wes could tell me plenty of stories.” Not that Gabby would have asked him. She really didn’t want to know.

  “Sometimes rage is the result of repressed emotions.” Taylor laughed self-consciously. “I learned that in my grief support group. A lot of people got furious and tore things up because they couldn’t deal with their loss any other way. They didn’t know how else to express their pain.”

  “I think that might be the case with Colt. He’s never felt free to express his anger toward his parents.”

  “So give him a safe place to do that. Encourage him to talk to you about it. Ask questions, let him know you’re willing to listen. And if it’s feasible, maybe he needs to talk to his parents, air some of his grievances with them.”