by Vivi Holt
She got up and stretched with a yawn. One glance in the mirror revealed disheveled blonde hair piled on her head in a messy bun and dark smudges under her eyes. She’d lain awake until late thinking through the cowboy’s proposal. Though why she still thought of him as a cowboy, she couldn’t say. The last time she’d seen Heath Montgomery, he was dressed in an immaculate business suit. She almost hadn’t recognized him.
She padded to the bathroom to freshen up, then joined Diana in the kitchen. Diana sat on a barstool at the counter, swinging one leg as she munched on a piece of toast, her iPad in front of her. “Good morning,” she said with a smile, glancing in Gwen’s direction.
“Morning. Thanks again for letting me move in so quickly.”
Diana nodded. “I’m happy to have you here.” She’d already reminded Gwen the previous evening that she’d given her until next week to come up with first month’s rent. The reminder hung over Gwen’s head like an axe. “There’s cereal in the cabinet and bread by the toaster. I know you haven’t had a chance to shop for groceries yet, so just help yourself.”
Gwen smiled. “Thank you.”
Diana nodded and returned her attention to her iPad and her toast.
Gwen decided on cereal and poured herself a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats. As she added the milk, she considered Heath’s invitation. Should she take him up on his offer? If she didn’t, there was no way she could come up with the rent money by the end of the week. But to go to Oregon with a man she’d just met …
Well, he seemed like a decent guy. Maybe she’d misjudged him the first time he came in, scruffy with three days of whiskers and dark circles under his eyes. He’d seemed like a man who’d never quite grown up. But freshly shaved and wearing a suit, he left a different impression altogether.
“What are you so deep in thought about?” asked Diana, taking a sip of orange juice.
Gwen carried her bowl of cereal to the counter and sat on the stool beside Diana. “I’m trying to decide whether to go on a date with a guy I just met.”
Diana’s eyebrows arched. “Oh? Is he cute?”
Gwen’s cheeks burned. “Definitely. Maybe too cute.”
“Is there such a thing?” asked Diana with a giggle.
Gwen laughed. “I suppose not. But he’s sure of himself. I thought he was a cowboy at first, but yesterday he wore an expensive suit and he seems to work downtown, so I’m not sure.”
“Sounds just about perfect to me.”
“You think I should do it?”
“What’s stopping you?”
“I just met him. I don’t know anything about him. And I’d already decided I was going to stay away from men.”
Diana chuckled. “Heartbroken?”
She nodded. “Divorced.”
“Ugh. I’m divorced too – I know just what you mean.”
Gwen took a bite of cereal and chewed it thoughtfully. “How long since yours?”
Diana carried her plate to the sink and rinsed it. “About two years.”
“Does it get any easier?”
Diana’s lips pursed and she tipped her head to one side. “Yeah, it does. It just takes time. And you shouldn’t avoid men, just jerks. That’s a rule everyone should live by.”
Gwen’s nosed wrinkled. “I’m with you on that one.” Then her phone rang in her bedroom. She ran to unplug it from the wall where it was charging. “Hello?”
“Is this Gwen Alder?”
She didn’t recognize the woman’s voice, or the phone number. “Yes, this is she.”
“I’m Lisa Connelly, vice-principal at Houghton Elementary. We’ve e-mailed back and forth a few times in recent weeks …”
Her new boss! A spark of adrenaline coursed through her veins. She needed this job so badly – it was the perfect opportunity to turn her life around. “Miss Connelly – how nice to finally speak with you.”
“Mrs. Connelly, actually, but you can just call me Lisa. I hope this isn’t a bad time …”
“No, this is a fine time.” She closed the bedroom door.
“I was hoping to show you around the school today, if you have time. I can give you the key to your classroom so you’ll have time to set everything up before the students arrive. Also, we have a staff meeting Monday morning. All the staff will be here next week preparing for the new year, and we’ll have several educational and self-improvement sessions for everyone to attend.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’m free this morning if that works for you.”
“Perfect.” They arranged for Lisa to pick Gwen up outside her apartment in an hour and ended the call.
Gwen wandered back to the kitchen to finish breakfast with a broad smile on her face. Things were finally starting to look up.
“So what do you think?” asked Lisa, leaning both hands on the chipped desk in front of her. Her long auburn hair hung neatly down her back and her pale green silk shirt and charcoal pencil skirt gave her a professional look Gwen was sure she could never pull off.
Gwen glanced around the classroom. It was clean and neat, if somewhat worn-looking. She smiled. “It’s perfect. I’m so excited – I can’t wait to start.”
Lisa laughed. “I’m glad to hear it. We’re looking forward to having you here. I think the third grade is just going to love Miss Alder.”
Gwen wrapped her arms around herself and turned slowly to take it all in. There was a smartboard and rows of desks and chairs. Bookshelves lined one wall alongside open lockers where the students would hang their backpacks and coats. Back in Missoula, she’d taught first grade – this would be her first time as a third grade teacher. She’d missed having students over the summer and was more than ready to hang up her apron strings. Though the salary wasn’t great – she’d likely be back at the diner again next summer.
Lisa glanced at her watch. “I’m sorry, I have to get going. My daughter’s at a friend’s house and my son is at soccer camp. I have to pick them both up and get home in time for the cable repair guy to show up.” She chuckled. “Oh, the joys of domestic life.”
Gwen smiled, but couldn’t help feeling jealous. That was what she’d always wanted – children, domesticity. It was why she’d married so young, why she’d settled for Ed despite her doubts about him. She’d never have admitted it at the time, but looking back she could pinpoint the moments that’d sparked those doubts. After the wedding those questions were fanned into flames, but by then it was too late.
“No problem, I’m ready to head out. I’ll come back and set up the classroom next week. Thanks for giving me the keys and showing me around – I really appreciate it. It’s a lovely school.” She jangled the keys in her pocket, imagining all the ways she would decorate the room if she had the money … never mind, she’d make do with what she could find. Thankfully the previous teacher had left a lot of resources for the class.
She followed Lisa out to her car and climbed in. There was a small framed photograph dangling from the rear-view mirror of Lisa with her husband and children, smiling and making faces at the camera. “That photo’s adorable.”
Lisa chuckled. “I couldn’t imagine life without them.”
“You’re a lucky woman.” Gwen meant it. She was happy for Lisa – she just wished she could have something like what Lisa had. That wasn’t wrong, was it?
An image of Heath’s handsome face flashed before her. She still had to make a decision about whether to go away with him. She would see him today, and he’d be expecting an answer. Perhaps she should go. After all, what other options did she have – she needed the money. And he really did seem like a nice guy.
But then, Gwen mused, so had Edward.
Gwen stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and took a slow breath as Katy Perry blasted from the living room stereo. Why was she so nervous? It wasn’t like this was a date. She and Heath Montgomery were meeting to talk about their weekend away – a simple meeting to discuss a simple transaction. She was being hired as an actor, that was it. Shame she hadn’t done an
y acting since Glee Club in high school.
She smoothed her bangs into place, then rested a hand on her uneasy stomach and looked at the clock. Heath was picking her up. Should she have driven herself? Him coming to her home made it seem even more like a date. She sighed and reached for her purse, slinging the strap over her shoulder, then headed to the living room and turned off the radio. Diana wasn’t home – she worked as an accountant downtown. She locked the door behind her and headed for the parking lot.
When she reached it, she found Heath heading toward her. “Oh, Gwen – I was coming up to your apartment to get you.”
She ran a hand over her hair nervously. “It’s no problem. I decided to come out to meet you instead.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets, seeming as nervous as she was. Like he wasn’t sure what to say. “Well, let’s go, then. Where would you like to eat?”
“I don’t mind. Wherever you like.”
“How about the Lucky Diner?” he asked, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
She laughed. “Anywhere but there.”
In the end they agreed on a local sushi place, but when she went inside it didn’t look like any restaurant she’d ever been to. Soft music floated throughout the immaculately-decorated space, and people leaned over tables speaking in hushed voices. Heath’s hand brushed the small of her back as the maitre d’ led them to a table. It sent a tingle up her spine. He wore a navy sports coat with fashionable jeans. She was in a summer dress, and as she glanced around she realized they were underdressed.
She took her seat and a waitress gracefully slid a napkin onto her lap. She ordered a mineral water, picked up a menu but noticed with a start that there were no prices listed. She swallowed, her heart racing. What if he expected her to pay? She only had forty dollars in her purse and her credit card was maxed out. “Uh … this menu …” She leaned toward Heath.
“Yes?” He looked at her over his own menu.
“There don’t seem to be any … prices listed.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, they don’t do that here for some reason. Don’t worry about it, I’m paying.”
She exhaled with relief. The server returned with her drink and she gulped down a mouthful to wet her dry throat.
They ordered and she did her best to act like she knew exactly what ahi tuna nigiri and unagi were. She’d only ever eaten a California roll before, and that from a corner stop-and-rob. Never mind – it was bound to be delicious.
She handed her menu to the waitress and took another sip of water, praying she’d be able to get through this lunch with the man across from her, let alone an entire weekend. She hadn’t thought much about how gorgeous he was, but sitting across from him now, she was uniquely aware – and struggling to think of anything to say. Her mouth was refusing to cooperate.
Thankfully, he spoke first. “So are you new to the area?”
She nodded. “Yes, I’ve been here about a month.”
“Oh? And you’re just now finding a place to stay?”
She took a quick breath and her nose wrinkled. How to put this … “I was living somewhere else, but then I had to find a new place … quickly. So I’ve moved in with a lovely woman, Diana – she just needs first month and a letter of recommendation by next week.”
“Yeah, you mentioned that. I’m happy to help. Have you been working as a waitress long?”
She laughed and made a face. “Yes and no. I’ve done it on and off for years, in high school and college. But now I’m a teacher, so I’m just waiting tables for the summer.”
“Oh, you’re a teacher?”
“Yes, I start at Houghton Elementary in just over a week.”
“That sounds good. You must love kids.”
She nodded, her body finally relaxing. “I do. They’re great, you know? They don’t pretend to be anyone other than who they are and they generally think that who they are is pretty good. They have fun without apology and they tell you what they think – no guessing games.”
He chuckled and took a sip of water. “I can understand the virtue of that. It’s one of the things I love about ranching, as well.”
“Oh, you’re a rancher? I wasn’t sure. You wear a suit about as often as you do a cowboy hat, so …”
He shrugged. “That’s my life now. My father has a business downtown – he owns a number of ranches. I live on one of them, and work there whenever I can. But most of the time now I’m in the office. I like it too, but I wish sometimes I could be out on my horse more regularly, the way I used to.”
She saw the nostalgia in his eyes and warmed to him. “So you love horses and ranching the way I love kids and teaching.”
He nodded. “Sounds that way. Maybe we have more in common than you thought.” He arched an eyebrow and met her gaze.
Her heart skittered. No, she couldn’t feel that way about him, or any man. She was barely over her divorce. She would’ve been if Ed didn’t keep inserting himself back into her life, making it harder to move on. It wasn’t that she still cared for him, just that he reminded her of what she’d dreamed of and lost, of how much she’d been hurt. That’s why she’d moved from Missoula to Billings – she needed some distance.
Trays of sushi were placed in front of each of them and Gwen eyed hers with suspicion. What was that stuff on top of it? How should she eat it? This didn’t really seem like the kind of place where you’d eat with your hands. She glanced up to see what Heath did. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and used them to deftly dip a piece of sushi in soy sauce and pop it into his mouth.
She inhaled sharply and retrieved her chopsticks, fussing over how to hold them between her fingers.
“So have you thought about my proposal?” he asked, patting his mouth with a napkin.
Her face screwed up in concentration, she nodded. “Uh … yes, of course.” A piece of sushi fell from her chopsticks and landed with a splash in the soy sauce. Sheesh! They were slippery little suckers. And now it was drowning in sauce and she had brown spots on the front of her dress. Very graceful. She set down her chopsticks and gathered her thoughts. “I’m in.”
His eyebrows shot skyward. “You are?”
“Sure. All I have to do is act for the weekend, right?”
He nodded. “That’s it. Just convince everyone we’re in love. I mean, it can’t be that hard.” He winked.
Her stomach flipped. “And you’re paying.”
“Yes.”
“Plus first month’s rent and writing me that letter.”
“Yes and yes.”
“And otherwise I’ll be free to enjoy a weekend at some resort in Oregon?”
He laughed. “Yes, but you will have to spend quite a bit of time with my family. And they can be … intense.”
She laughed and picked up the chopsticks again, this time determined to get a mouthful. Her stomach growled and she stabbed a piece of sushi with one sticks. “I can handle family. Mine are no walk in the park.” She bypassed the soy sauce, put the sushi into her mouth and … ewww. The fish, or whatever it was, was completely raw. Think happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts. Hmmm … not that bad once she got past the texture and the mystery.
He watched her with a little smile, eyebrows high. “You okay there?”
She nodded and swallowed. “Yeah.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask – where is your family?”
Her throat tightened. She hated thinking about how much she missed them. “Dad passed a few years ago. Mom lives in Arizona.”
“Is that where you grew up?”
She shook her head and aimed her chopsticks at another piece of sushi. “No, southern California, but I haven’t lived there in years. Ed came from Montana … ”
“Ed?”
Her cheeks burned and she chewed her lower lip, still focused on getting the food to cooperate with her implements. “My ex-husband.”
“You’re divorced?”
She saw the look of surprise on his face and waited for the pity. That’s how it always went. Next
came the questions: how could you be divorced already? You’re so young – what happened? Then the pity would give way to judgment. She chastised herself for bringing it up. “Yes. It’s been a year since we separated. But only about six months since the divorce.”
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded. “Thanks.” With a huff of frustration, she set down the chopsticks, picked up the sushi with her fingertips and stuffed it into her mouth.
They chatted comfortably through the rest of the meal and her inhibitions faded. He was easy to get along with, which was a surprise. But she was still trying to figure him out. Obviously he came from money, since his father owned more than one ranch, but she’d seen the truck he drove and the clothes he wore when he wasn’t at work, and he looked working-class. Just how rich was he?
Well, it made no difference to Gwen. Just so long as he could pay her rent this once, that’s all that mattered. He wasn’t interested in more than that – he’d made that clear. And neither was she.
5
Heath stepped out of the limousine and adjusted his Stetson. He nodded to the driver and hustled up the path to Gwen’s door, his heart pounding. And not just from the exercise. Ever since their lunch, he’d found his thoughts wandering to her. Her face would drift across his mind, or something she’d said would resurface in his memory and make him smile.
He shook his head. He was anxious about the weekend. It might be a complete disaster. He didn’t know what he’d been thinking, paying someone to be his fiancée. But it was too late to back out now. He had an obligation to her and he would follow through with it, even if it was likely to blow up in his face. He walked up one flight of stairs, knocked on her door and stepped back, looking around. The building was old with red brick walls, but well-maintained and in a decent part of town.
When the door opened, he leaned against the frame with a grin. “Ready?”
Gwen nodded, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and cheeks flushed pink with good health. “I’m ready.” She patted the handle of her wheeled luggage and tugged a purse over her shoulder.
