by Jill Sanders
“Hey, baby.” She turned to see him smiling at her. “Happy birthday.” He looked at her funny, then leaned through the window and puked on her white boots.
“Travis!” She jumped back just in time to only get a little splatter.
“Oh, I'm sorry, baby.” He started to get out of the truck.
“You're sorry? You've ruined my whole night. You were too busy drinking and hanging out with your buddies to even dance with me.” She stepped away from him when he tried to reach over and pull her close. “You forgot to bring my present and, to be honest, I don't think you remembered to get one in the first place.”
“I did, honest. It's at my dad's place.” She could see the lie in his eyes, which only hurt her more.
“Now you're so drunk you've ruined my favorite boots. Hand me your keys.” She held out her hand and tapped her foot. “I'm driving you home, then going home.”
He shook his head, then grabbed it and almost toppled over. “No! You know I don't let anyone drive this beauty except me.” He tapped his truck and his hand came away wet. “God damn it. Someone's throwing bottles at her.” He rushed over and looked at the shattered glass and the almost dry beer.
“I did.” She crossed her arms and waited.
“You?” He turned and glared at her. “You scratched her. Why would you do that? It's going to cost hundreds of dollars to buff this out.” He was running his fingers over a tiny scratch on the hood. Then he turned towards her with a slight smile on his face. “There goes your birthday present. I'm taking it back to the store so I can pay for this damage.”
“Whatever. You know you didn't buy me anything.” She started walking away.
“Where are you going? Get back here,” he called after her.
“I'm going to Cheryl Lynn's,” she called over her shoulder.
“Don't, baby. Come back. I'll give you a ride back to my place.” It was an old argument that he had never won. She had never and would never spend the night at his trashed-out apartment over his father's garage. Travis kept the place so dirty, that she'd never even really stepped foot in it. The dirty apartment wasn't the only reason she hadn't spent the night at his place. She couldn't explain it, but she just didn't want to stay there, with him. At least, she talked herself into adding, until they were married.
“Alex, get your butt back here.” She knew he'd try a couple different tactics. The next one would be to drive by her and yell at her through the open window. He would start calling her names as she walked, but she always ignored it all, telling herself it was the beer talking.
The next day she would get some flowers and he'd come by and they'd make up. It was their pattern.
But as she walked farther down the dark street towards Cheryl Lynn's place, he didn't drive by her. She turned and looked back at the parking lot and noticed he'd gotten back into the truck.
Probably passed out again, she told herself as she kept walking. Cheryl's place was two miles away, an easy enough walk in the day. But tonight, with the moon only a sliver in the sky, she kept tripping over rocks and clumps of grass along the narrow road.
Less than two minutes later, lights hit her and she stopped and waited until he pulled up next to her. But instead of Travis' truck, a dark black Ford pulled up. When the tinted windows lowered, Grant Holton called out.
“Alexis West is that you? What on earth are you doing walking along a dark road at this time of night? I could have hit you.” It was too dark to see him fully, but she knew that voice anywhere.
“Shut up, Grant.” She walked over and pulled open the door to his truck. She was happy when his passenger seat was empty, and she climbed up to sit next to him. “Drive me to Cheryl Lynn's place, would you?” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned out the front window.
Grant had come home earlier this year and even though the chubby, zit-covered, glasses-wearing geek had been replaced with a skinny, clear-skinned hunk, to her he was the same old Grant “Do-gooder” Holton. Always trying to fix everyone else's problems.
“Travis isn't going to drive you home?” he asked. She turned and glared at him.
“No,” she said, then watched as he turned back and looked out the window. He had yet to start driving, and she was slowly getting mad.
“Hmm,” he said, and she watched as he looked out the back of his truck towards the Rusty Rail.
“What?” She turned in her seat and glared at him in the dark.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Grant Holton, you're lying.” Everyone could always tell when he had something to tell. The whole town knew he couldn’t hide anything from anyone.
“It's nothing.” He reached over and pulled on her seat belt. When his arm brushed against her chest, she held her breath. She knew he hadn't meant the move to mean anything, but still the featherlight touch shocked her.
“Sorry,” he mumbled and dropped his arm. “I don't start driving until the seat belts are on.”
She rolled her eyes and reached down to finish locking the seat belt into place.
“Are you going to tell me what secret you have?” She looked over at him.
“No secret,” he said and then finally put his truck into gear.
“Fine, don't tell me. It's not like I care anyway.” She looked out the front window, feeling sad.
“I'm sorry you two broke up on your birthday,” he said, causing her head to swivel towards him.
“We didn't break up. Who told you we broke up?” Her voice hitched.
“It's just…I thought…” There was a moment of silence and then he cleared his throat. “I just assumed.”
“Why?” She grabbed onto his arm, digging her nails into his skin a little.
He looked over at her, then back towards the road. He remained silent until he pulled the truck off the road into the old train station parking lot.
“When I walked out to leave the Rusty Rail, I saw him and Savannah Douglas making out in the parking lot against his truck.” His voice held a hint of sadness, and his eyes, at least what she could see in the darkness, held concern.
“Who put you up to this?” She crossed her arms over her chest again.
“What?” He blinked and leaned back a little. He looked like he was waiting for her to slap him across the face. Instead, she started laughing.
“Oh, this is rich. Did Billy put you up to this?” She stopped chuckling and wiped a tear from her eye. “Billy's always trying to get me to believe that Travis and Savannah have had a thing in the past.”
Grant shook his head. “I'm sorry, Alex.” He turned and looked out the front window, then was quiet. They sat there for a few seconds before she jumped out of the truck and started quickly walking back to the Rusty Rail.
She heard the truck door slam behind her, then Grant grabbed her shoulders. She swung out, connecting her fist with his chin as tears blinded her eyes.
“That bastard!” she screamed. “He promised it was just a one-time deal.” She struck out again, blindly, only connecting with air as his hands wrapped gently around her wrists. “We'd broken up and he was drunk, he said…” She kicked at Grant and tried to get her wrists free, only to be pulled up close against a rock-hard body as muscular arms wrapped around her. Her grief was too much and as the dam behind her eyes finally cut loose, she heard Grant whisper words of kindness into her hair as she cried her heart out against his chest.
Chapter Two
Grant held onto Alex and wished with all his heart he could take her hurt away. He knew what he'd seen back at the Rusty Rail. Witnessing the heat between Travis and Savannah, he doubted it had only been a one-time deal.
The rumors had been going around town for months about the relationship, and it was clear that no one was willing to step forward and tell Alex about it. When he'd seen Alex walking along the side of the road, he'd assumed that she already knew about Travis and Savannah back in the parking lot. He couldn't let her walk on a dark road at almost two in the morning all by herself.
The front of his shirt was soaked by the time she finally pulled away and looked up at him. He'd messed up her blonde hair slightly, and he reached up to tuck a strand behind her ear. Her brown eyes softened a little.
“Thank you for being honest with me,” she said quietly.
He felt like a dog. He should have lied to her. He should have learned to keep his mouth shut years ago. But when she looked at him with her deep brown eyes, words just spewed from his mouth.
“I'm sorry.” He dropped his hand and took a step back.
“Why?” She reached up and twisted her hair until it lay over her shoulder in a twist so it wouldn’t fly away in the wind.
“I shouldn't have said anything.” He looked down at his boots and wished he could start the night over. It had killed him when he'd shown up at the bar only to see her celebrating her birthday with friends and family, Travis by her side at the table.
Grant had met a few of his friends there for pool, but had spent the rest of the night nursing a beer and watching her dance on the floor with her friends. Ever since that kiss when he was seven, he'd had a thing for her. No other kiss in his long years and many kisses had ever compared to that sweet peck so many years ago. It was the one secret he'd held onto for so many years, and he was probably going to take it to his grave.
“I'm just glad I heard it from a friend first.” She looked back towards the Rusty Rail and shivered.
He pulled his light jacket off and placed it over her bare shoulders. Her red rhinestone halter top and cutoff skirt did little to warm her. It was still in the high seventies this late at night, but there was a cool breeze coming from the south.
“You should have a coat,” he said as he pulled the jacket closer around her.
“Still trying to fix everyone?” She looked up at him and smiled slightly.
“Only those who need it.” He smiled. “Come on, I'll take you home.”
“You don't have to. I can stay at…”
“I'll drive you home. You'll want your own bed and your sisters.” He waited until she nodded and then turned towards the truck. Opening her door, he helped her step up into the passenger seat.
When he got behind the wheel again, they sat in silence for a while as he drove towards Saddleback Ranch. It wasn't a long drive, but tonight in the darkness and the silence, time seemed to stretch on.
“Why did you come back to Fairplay?” The question threw him for a loop.
“Why?” He quickly looked at her.
“Yes. Why come back here? You had your fancy degree from Harvard. You could have opened a law firm anywhere. Why come home?”
“Because it's home.” He smiled.
She frowned and turned a little more towards him. “Didn't you want to go places? See foreign cities?”
“I did that for a while.” He smiled at her. “I like it better here.”
She sighed and turned towards the front again. “I've always wanted to travel. To see Paris in spring. Or spend spring break on some remote Mexican beach.”
“Why haven't you?” He looked over at her again and watched her sigh, her shoulders slumping a little.
“Up until a few months ago, I thought I knew the answer. But now…” She looked out the side window and was silent.
“Your sisters?” He turned into the long driveway that led to Saddleback Ranch.
“Yes, one of the reasons.” She looked straight ahead at the large white house. Grant had helped Chase and half the men in town put the new metal roof on it a few months ago. He knew that all the windows had been replaced, as well. Chase was in the process of redoing half the house. Since Chase had moved in, officially telling everyone in town about his seven-year marriage to Lauren, he'd been busy fixing the old place up and returning it to its former glory. Or so his friend said. To be honest, Grant couldn't remember the place looking this nice before.
He pulled his truck to a stop in front of the porch and put it into park, leaving it running. “I don't think those reasons are holding you back now.”
She looked over at him. “No, I guess I just haven't found the right person to do all that stuff with. I thought…” He saw a tear stream down her cheek and leaned over to gently wipe it away.
“Don't give him your tears. He doesn't deserve them, or you.” She reached up and took his hand away from her face, but held onto it for a moment.
“Thank you, Grant. Thanks for being here.” She dropped his hand and reached for the door handle, only to come up short when her seat belt locked her into place.
He chuckled and reached over to unbuckle it, but she'd turned at the same time. Their faces were inches apart, and all he could do was look into her dark eyes, transfixed by the richness he saw there. Before he knew what he was doing, his mouth was on hers in a soft kiss. Her hands went to his hair, neither pulling him away nor holding him in place. Instead, her fingers laced through his curls as if taking stock of each one.
Her mouth moved slowly under his and before he knew it, their tongues touched and he melted into her sweet taste. She moaned, and then he moaned. Her fingers trailed down his neck, leaving a hot trail, but when he felt the ring on her finger scrape just under his ear, he pulled back and blinked.
“I'm sorry,” he mumbled, realizing that she was still officially engaged to someone else.
She smiled. “You keep saying that.” She reached up to pull him closer again, but he pulled back and shook his head. “I'm sorry.” He knew he was repeating himself, but he didn't care. He knew she needed time to recover from the shock of losing Travis. He didn't want to be her rebound guy.
“It's just a kiss. It's not like I'm asking you to come up to my room.” She smiled and he felt his face heat. How many times in the past years had he imagined just that? Even now, his mind was leading him up those stairs, stripping away her tight clothes, touching her soft…he shook his head clear.
“I better be going.” He leaned back to his side of the truck, efficiently blocking the chance of them touching any more.
“Grant?” She waited until he looked over at her again. “Thanks for telling me the truth and for the ride home.” She unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the truck. He watched her disappear into the dark house and wanted to kick himself.
The entire drive home, he berated himself for taking advantage of her. After all, she'd just found out that the man she'd been dating for almost eight years and was engaged to was cheating on her. Great, just great. Tell the girl of your dreams that the man of her dreams is a no-good, lying sack of shit, then kiss her until you can't see straight.
He drove the five miles to his new farm. When he turned off the highway into the long winding drive, he stopped at the top of the hill and looked down at his little valley. It was too dark to see now, but his mind played over every detail.
His stone house sat off to the left, a larger gray barn to the right. It held his three horses, five goats, two pigs, and two cattle. Off to the back, there was a small chicken coop between the barn and the house. It was all his. Every last spot of this place screamed his future. The future he’d decided he'd wanted three years ago after the tragic accident that had changed the course of his life forever. The second biggest secret he'd ever kept from uttering out loud.
Alex was in a deep slumber when she was attacked by a large, hairy creature. Its razor sharp fangs clawed out and scratched her on her arms, causing her to sit up and push the creature off her. She felt bad when the small three-legged dog went flying off her mattress and landed with a small thump on the floor next to her bed.
“Oh, Buddy, I'm sorry.” She reached for the small dog, only to have him scamper away. She jumped from the bed and raced after the little thing. He was surprisingly fast for a
three-legged dog, but she finally caught up with him in the kitchen. She was down on her hands and knees and had just caught him and was giving him a hug and nuzzling her face into his soft fur, when she heard someone clear his throat.
Looking up through her mass of messy flyaway hair, she gasped. Grant sat with Chase at the kitchen table. Chase had a smile on his face, but Grant looked like he would have preferred to be anywhere but sitting at her kitchen table. His face was beet red, which only caused his blue eyes to look even bluer.
Dropping the small dog back on his three legs, she quickly stood up and watched Grant's eyes travel over her. Looking down at herself, she smiled a little when she realized that her white silk tank top and her shorts were almost completely see-through. She'd bought them at Victoria’s Secret last month, and had hoped that they would be a wedding surprise for Travis, but after what had happened a few nights ago, she'd started wearing everything she'd bought for that lying, cheating….Shaking her head, she cleared her mind of Travis. Then she realized that this was the first time in two days that she'd been out of her bed and that she must look horrible. Quickly turning, she rushed from the room without saying a word.
Heading to the bathroom, she jumped in the shower and tried not to think about the last time she'd seen Grant. How could she have let herself get so carried away with the kiss? It had rocked her so much that it had been on her mind constantly for the few days.
After showering, she'd come up with the idea of clearing her mind by going on a long horseback ride after grabbing some food. She dressed quickly in her riding clothes and was a little sad when she walked back into the kitchen and saw that Grant was no longer present. Chase and Lauren sat at the table, eating sandwiches.
