Famous catalog model—there was an oxymoron if he’d ever heard one—Valentina Giovanni, girlfriend of senatorial candidate Benjamin Hunter Noble III—make that former girlfriend—exposes his blatant mistreatment of the cattle and land on the Noble ranch in a series of shocking photos she captured on her cell phone.
Then came the sound bite. “I loved Ben very much, but when I realized what he was doing, how he was treating these innocent animals, how he was raping the land, I couldn’t stay silent. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t speak out.”
Yeah right. Her speaking out had nothing to do with a bribe from the Democratic Party. He should’ve known something was up when she’d suddenly traded in her small two-bedroom apartment for a swanky downtown loft. Not that he’d been able to find any proof, but he knew how these things worked.
Nausea thundered through him. He peeked up at the television screen. Sure enough, the pictures were there. Pictures she had to have doctored because he’d never once in his life taken a shovel to a steer’s head. Crazy as it was, he loved his cattle like they were his kids, even gave a couple of ’em names. But somehow she’d managed to make him look like a monster. Damn Photoshop.
“That’s bullshit!” Julia growled, waving an arm at the screen.
“This is defamation!” Gracie cried. “Slander!” She spun to him. “How could you let her do this to us? To this family? To our name?” When her hands clutched at her chest, he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Simmer down, Gracie.” Her overreactions always made him feel like they were on some shitty primetime sitcom. As his late father had been fond of saying, she’d missed her calling as a low-budget actress.
Steering his eyes clear of the television, he cruised to the sectional and sank into the leather. “How the hell could I have known she worked for the Democratic Party?” Those bastards had gotten desperate. After a successful stint in Congress, Ben’s popularity had skyrocketed. The opposition knew he’d be elected, and they weren’t about to let that happen. So they’d found Valentina somewhere and set him up.
He’d met her at a fund-raiser for the Paralympics. She was a gorgeous woman, no doubt about it, but she also seemed genuinely interested in his desire to increase state funding for people with disabilities. People like Julia.
Pushing that legislation was the reason he’d entered the race. Actually, it wasn’t all his idea. After being a congressman for two years, he was burned-out on the whole thing. But Granddad wouldn’t let it go. He was the one who’d talked him into it. It’s what your father would’ve wanted, Ben. You owe it to the family. Yada yada yada. Besides, it’ll be good publicity. God knows the family needs it. You can show the world we’re not a bunch of rednecked Republicans who don’t know horseshit from cow dung.
He’d smiled, then, when all this was still just an idea. But we are a bunch of rednecks, he’d reminded Granddad. Always had been, always would be, and he couldn’t give a damn what anyone thought about it. He lived for the ranch, lived for the expanse of space, the manual labor, the freedom the land gave him. Still, the man had a point. Ben owed it to the family. To Julia, mostly. This was his chance to do something for her. Once he was in the Senate, he could introduce the bill Julia had been helping him write. It was one of his campaign platforms. Most accident victims in her situation didn’t have access to the same therapies and rehabilitation opportunities she’d had. Their parents spent hundreds of thousands of dollars pursuing every therapy available. It killed J to see people who couldn’t afford it being sent away while she continued to improve and regain movement in her legs.
The bill had become their project together. It’d given her purpose, brought them closer. They both knew that helping other victims would make what happened to her count for something. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe it would atone for the past, but he had to make sure the accident wasn’t for nothing.
He’d never forget the truth. Wasn’t for him, she never would’ve been in that accident. Her legs never would’ve been crushed beyond recognition. She’d be walking and jogging and riding and living the party life of every other twenty-seven-year-old. Instead she was confined to a chair.
And that made him crave another drink. He stood and sauntered across the room to get a refill.
“We have to go on the offensive.” His mother nodded once, her mind made up. “That’s what we’ll do. We’ll dig until we find something in that tramp’s past. Then we’ll prove she’s a liar and a fraud and no one will believe a word she says.”
Ha. She’d been living in her semi-royalty fairy-tale land too long. The damage was done. It would be her word against his. He couldn’t prove she’d fabricated those pictures. To the rest of the world, she’d been his adoring girlfriend, and it “broke her heart to have to do this.” No one would believe that she was really a conniving backstabber with ties to his opponent. Hell, Gracie had her checked out by a private detective and everything about her seemed squeaky clean.
“Attacking her is not our best move.” Kev joined him at the bar and leaned close enough that Ben caught whiff of that strange scent that always hazed around him. Smelled like some kind of BBQ rub—cumin, brown sugar, garlic. It’d sure be good on a rib eye.
“His image is already bad enough. An attack would make him look desperate.” He filled a Mason jar glass to the brim with whiskey. “Besides, if we get pulled into an all-out war, who knows what she’ll dig up on him.” Those pointy eyebrows raised in a warning. Ben got his meaning.
They might start asking more questions about Julia’s accident.
Dad was a senator when it’d happened. Every detail about the crash was carefully guarded, altered. His PR people had spun it into a senseless tragedy, a result of a rainy back road. But they all knew what the world didn’t. Ben could’ve prevented that accident. If he would’ve been a better man, he would’ve prevented the accident. All the whiskey in the world couldn’t change that fact.
Maybe that was why he’d liked Valentina. She couldn’t have cared less about his past. Never even asked him what happened to his sister. Apparently, the whole time she’d only been interested in ruining his political career. God, he was a fool. Truth was, he should’ve seen it coming. The woman hailed from Dallas, which wasn’t exactly ranch country. More like fake everything country—hair color, breast implants, acrylic nails. Well now he’d learned his lesson. He’d had enough fake. His next woman had to be real. He didn’t want be with someone who kept a strict regimen of spa treatments and cleanses and Pilates. He wanted someone who could hang with him when he felt like surfing in Australia or paragliding in the Andes or skiing the Matterhorn…
Kev dug his phone out of pocket and started to type. “I’ll have Carla release a statement citing the accusations as false. And I’m sure there’ll be some kind of investigation. But in the meantime, we have to improve your image. In a big way. A visible way.”
“We’ll make another donation to the zoo.” Gracie walked briskly to her purse as though she planned to write out the check right there. “A million. They can build a new habitat or something.”
“The zoo?” Ben shot her his best are-you-kidding-me look. “We’ve already made three donations to the zoo. Hell, the damn conservatory is named after Granddad.”
“Stop swearing, Benjamin. Really.” She frowned, but dropped her purse back to the counter.
“What about one of those reality shows where they dump people out in the wild so they can survive the elements?” J’s voice sounded a little too innocent, a little too sincere.
Sure enough, a glimmer in her eye clued him in on her intent to shock their mother again. “There’s this new one on Discovery Channel. The people run around buck naked! You should see their—”
“Julia Grace Hunter Noble!” The words sailed out in a horrified gasp. “That is disgusting. What kind of trash television—”
“Ben’s right.” Kev downed the rest of his whiskey. He seemed to drink about ten times more whenever Gracie was around. Come to
think of it, they all seemed to drink about ten times more when she was around. “Money’s too easy. Everyone knows you’ve got plenty to go around. It won’t carry the impact we need.” Kev gave Ben’s mother a pointed look. “We have to find something that’ll prove he’s all about animals and the environment.”
“I still say we stick him out in the wilderness,” Julia muttered. “Have some cameras follow him around. Maybe he could rescue a wounded rabbit or something.” Her eyebrows shot up. “Nothing more appealing to female voters than a naked man saving the planet.”
Nice. Ben walked past his sister and ruffled her hair.
Gracie pressed a hand to her forehead like she might faint. He wouldn’t put it past her.
“Actually, it’s not a bad idea,” Kev said.
“Running around naked in the woods?” The guy had lost his mind. He’d completely lost it. But still…he couldn’t pass on the opportunity to rile up Gracie. “Guess I could try it. I’d have to hit the tanning booth, first. No doubt about that.”
“You will do no such thing, Benjamin!” His mother stalked away from him and perched on the couch in a pout.
Julia cackled.
“I’m not talking about the naked thing.” Kev rolled his eyes. “I’m talking about getting you some environmental exposure.”
“Indecent exposure.” Julia cracked herself up again.
“Really, Julia. I raised you better than this.” Gracie delivered her signature line. “After all I’ve done for you, everything I’ve taught you, this is how you repay me?”
J smiled sweetly. He had to hand it to her. She seemed to be happy living outside of everyone’s expectations. Free. Gracie never seemed to get to her.
Kev, on the other hand, looked like he was about to explode. “I’m talking about inviting the press to see a different side of you. Not the cattle rancher. The environmentalist.”
There was one problem with that plan. “I’m not an environmentalist.”
“But you do like the outdoors,” Kev pointed out.
“Sure. Yeah.” He was outdoorsy. In fact, he’d prefer to be outdoors now. He glanced out the window. Dusk had settled, smothering everything in its colorless haze. Still, if the moon was full, it might be light enough for a midnight ride…
“You still own all that land west of Aspen?”
He turned back to Kev. “Yeah. Why?”
“How many acres?”
“About a thousand, give or take.” Granddad had bought it last year. They’d talked about expanding the ranch to Colorado, but he was still trying to figure out how to deal with the harsh winters.
“That’s what you’ll donate.” He whipped out his phone.
“Donate?” Who the hell would want a bunch of land out in the middle of nowhere?
“I still think we should go after that hussy.” Gracie glared at the television. “We can’t let her get away with this.”
Kev waved her off. “The investigation will exonerate him. In the meantime, you can donate the land as a wildlife refuge. Get a huge tax write-off. We’ll travel up there. Make it a big thing with the press. Set up a ceremony. The whole deal.”
“We can stay at Bryce’s place!” Much to Ben’s disapproval, J had always had a crush on his old college roommate. “It’ll be perfect! We haven’t been up there since they opened the pool! Can’t wait to see that man in a swimsuit.”
“He’s married,” Ben growled, even though Julia knew that full well.
“I know but he’s one fine piece of man. I can still look, right?”
No. No man he’d ever met deserved her, could take care of her, was worthy of her. To him, she’d stopped aging when she was fifteen. But J’s lust for Bryce wasn’t the only reason he hesitated. Something told him not everyone at the Walker Mountain Ranch would be happy to see him. Especially a certain guide…
“The Walker Mountain Ranch would be the perfect place to stay.” Kev’s eyes were lit with the possibilities. “Your land is right on the Roaring Fork River, right? We could set up a rafting trip, deliver you right to the ceremony in style.”
Hmmm. In style and sitting right next to the Walker Mountain Ranch’s best rafting guide, Paige Harper. Memories stoked the embers of their quick romance and delivered a punch of heat right to his gut. God, he’d wanted that woman…if only he hadn’t gone and screwed everything up.
Wasn’t his fault, exactly. But when Avery’d thrown a gala to save Bryce’s ranch last year, he and Paige had hooked up. Well, almost. They were headed up to his room when the woman he’d hooked up with at the bar the night before saw him and threw her martini right in his face.
After that, Paige bolted. Said he was a player and she didn’t date guys like him. But how the hell was he supposed to know he’d meet someone like her the next night? He’d tried to get in touch with her for a few months after but she never returned any of his calls.
“So what’dya think, big brother?” J tugged on his pant leg like she’d done ever since she was old enough to follow him around.
He grinned. She wanted to know what he thought?
Well…he thought this just might be his second chance with a woman he couldn’t seem to forget.
He turned to Kev. “You’re right. It’s a good idea. I’ll talk it over with Granddad.” If he was on board, Ben would call Bryce and set it up.
“Perfect. I’ll start making the arrangements.” Kev punched some numbers into his phone and held it up to his ear.
“If you’re going up there, I’m coming with you.” Gracie posted her hands on her hips.
Great. Last thing he needed was his overbearing momma tagging along on a publicity mission. “I don’t think—”
“I’m coming along.” She stuck out her chin like a debutante and he knew there was no point in arguing.
“Fine. But you have to promise not to say a word about Valentina to the media.” Kev was right. Going after her would be a bad idea.
“Of course I won’t.”
Uh-huh. She was about as believable as a spooked lawyer. He crossed the kitchen and opened the back door. “I’m gonna ride over to Granddad’s. Make sure he’s on board.” Then he’d take a good long ride up to the ridge and back.
Maybe that’d ease the tension in his neck and give him time to figure out how to win back the girl he’d lost.
Chapter Three
Here we go. Paige’s heart launched into a tumbling routine that could’ve rivaled Gabby Douglas’s Olympic gold performance. She eased her Subaru into a parking spot outside the Walker Mountain Ranch office and cut the engine. Being summoned to the office was never a good sign. Didn’t matter if you were in high school or at a Catholic church camp, the words, Can I see you in my office? infused a sense of dread into your bloodstream. Especially when it came in the form of a voice mail from your boss.
Not that Bryce Walker scared her. No, it wasn’t about fear. She hated disappointing him, that was all. She’d been a disappointment her whole life, as nearly every member of her family liked to remind her. But when she’d started working for the Walkers in high school, they’d treated her more like a person instead of a pest and now she hated to let Bryce down.
She obviously had, somehow. His voice mail had an unmistakable undertone of disappointment. She should know. She’d heard that tone her whole life.
The parking lot sat empty, as it typically did in the middle of the week. Most of their outfitting clients came in on a Thursday or Friday and left on a Monday or Tuesday. Wednesday was their day off. Not that she minded coming in. She spent most of her free time around there, anyway, helping groom the horses or mucking out the stables or chatting with Elsie and doing whatever else needed to be done. The Walker Mountain Ranch always hummed with life, with people coming and going, sharing a meal, laughing and chatting. It was the one place she fit.
Besides all of that, if she spent time at the ranch she wouldn’t risk one of her siblings stopping by her apartment to ask when she planned to stop being so selfish and come work at th
e café so Dad and Mom didn’t have to work so much. That happened at least once a week.
A foreign sense of dread pulsed through her as she shuffled up the porch steps. Once a one-room dungeon, Bryce and Avery had transformed the Walker Mountain Ranch lobby into a palace with three offices, one for Avery, who did most of the marketing, one for Bryce, who handled all of the facilities and trip planning, and one for Kaylee, who’d once been married to Bryce’s cousin, Sawyer. Before she’d cheated on the poor man, she took care of the booking and finances.
There was also a gorgeous waiting area for clients who were checking in or out, complete with a grand stone fireplace, heavy pub tables, and leather seating. Oh, and who could forget the espresso machine and freshly baked goods case that Elsie kept stocked with every temptation known to mankind? Paige never missed a chance to stop by and check out the day’s selections, but for once her stomach didn’t tempt her.
Usually pushing open the solid pine door made her grin, but now she plowed through with her head down, the apprehensions about the impending meeting knotting up her neck.
“Woof!” Moose, Bryce and Avery’s massive Bernese mountain dog, charged her.
“Good doggie.” She braced herself for impact and scrubbed the dog’s ears until his hind leg twitched.
“Hey, Paige.”
She looked up.
Bryce stood behind the check-in counter, changing the light bulb in a stained glass lamp.
As usual, he was dressed in his khaki Carhartts and a short-sleeved blue button-up shirt with a monogrammed Walker Mountain Ranch logo on the pocket.
“Hi,” she replied, trying to sound chipper, but her tone had gone flat. Normally when she saw Bryce, she’d bound right up to him and punch his shoulder, give him a noogie, or maybe tease him about how short Avery made him keep his hair now. A pang of sadness drew her gaze back to the floor. He was her true big brother, even though she had three others who could claim blood relation. But they’d never looked after her the way Bryce had. They’d never bothered with her at all.
Something Like Love Page 2
