by Jillian Hart
"It already smells good." She'd opened her door and hopped out into the hot kiss of the sun. Like a blessing from above, that warmth touched her cheek, held her in a warm hug, as if to say she was right where she needed to be. To enjoy this moment, this day so unexpected. "I can't believe I'm in Montana!"
"Neither can I, believe me." He shut his door, aimed his remote at the Chevy and click when the door locks. "I'm still a little shocked to see you."
"I shocked myself. I'm not bold, so I am really surprised I'm here."
"And you booked the plane seat. Tell me about your friend meeting up with you in Chicago." He tugged open the restaurant's front door.
"Caitlin and I are going to meet up and fly out to Atlanta, we've done it before. I'm looking forward to that. We were college and grad school roommates."
"That had to be fun."
"We had a good time, mostly studying, mostly studying, mostly studying." She laughed. "But we had great pizza parties."
"Good, then I chose well." He gestured to the hostess who was busy seating a family of five near the video game section. Blings and blips came from across the dining room, muffled by many happy conversations of diners at the tables and booths.
"Come on over here. I know the hostess, so we're okay to choose where we want to sit." He laid the flat of his hand against her shoulder blade, gently guiding her. "You pick."
"Oh, my the window. I want that view. I want to enjoy those Montana mountains."
"This is like a mini vacation for you." He kept at her side, guiding her toward that corner booth where she had two windows to look out if she sat with her back to the front door.
All around her shone blue sky, golden sunshine and the slightly wild, untamed feeling in the breeze, in the air. It felt as if the days of the Wild West had never fully been forgotten or the power of that time erased. The roses blooming wild in the lot beside the parking lot glinted pink in the touch of the sun.
She sighed, lit up like that soft sunshine spilling gently across her. "I love it here. Look at those mountains."
"I see 'em every day." He folded himself into the seat across from her. He rather enjoyed the view he had of her gentle beauty.
"Well, if it isn't my big brother." The brunette hostess swept up, wearing a pink T-shirt sporting the pizza parlor's logo and worn, soft-looking comfortable jeans. She wore sneakers, a friendly smile and a curious arch to one of her slender eyebrows. "Aren't you gonna introduce me?"
"Nope, not at all." Cord rolled his eyes. "Sorry."
"He's always mean to me." His younger sister dimpled, smiling as cute and as likable as could be. "I'm Jenna. This one pretends he doesn't know me, but then bringing a date here is a bold move."
"I'm not a date." It didn't actually hurt to say that. What a surprise. She felt like that sun spilling over her, glad to be here. "I'm Emily, and I'm imposing myself on your brother. My flight got cancelled so while I was surprised at SeaTac, I simply rerouted here, where I had a friend so I wouldn't be stuck in a strange city alone."
"Sure, why not make it fun? I get it. What's your poison? Water or soda?"
"I'll take a Coke, full strength sugar."
"Ooh, I like a brave woman who's not afraid of a few calories. What about you, Cord? The usual?"
"Don't even ask. Bring us some of that cheesy bread, will you? Emily, do you like garlic bread or cheesy bread? Wait, bring both."
"You know how to order right." Her gaze met his across the table.
"I excel at the tough decisions," he confessed.
"He really does," Jenna chimed in. "Do you want to decide on the pizza now or do I come back?"
"I love Canadian bacon and pineapple," Emily spoke up, "but I'm flexible."
"Me too. Double the pineapple, Jenna. And stop grinning." Cord's voice dipped, warm and gentle. "And go away."
"I'm gone, really I am. I'm not nosy at all. It's nice to meet you, Emily. I'll be back with your drinks." Jenna whirled away, leaving them alone.
Her cell chimed from the zippered pocket of her handbag. "I like your sister."
"You're alone with that. Nobody else does. It's awful." His eyes sparkled with mischief, and the easy-going look of a man who grew up in a family he loved. "Go ahead and check that. I don't mind. Your family probably wants to check on you, being so far away from them."
She drew her handbag closer and unzipped her cell. "Did you know your sister just held up her phone and snapped a pic of us?"
"She's sending it to family. It was a mistake to bring you here, but the food will be worth it. Do you think you can live down the humiliation of being seen with me and forever documented on her Facebook page?"
"I may have to sue."
"Someone should. No one would blame you. Who texted you?"
"Oh, it's Caitlin. She's on standby out of Newark and she didn't get a confirmed seat." Emily frowned. "Looks like she can't meet me tomorrow morning in Chicago. So I'll be flying solo to Atlanta."
"Will you be alone down there?"
"Not really, because Julie comes in late tomorrow night. And then another trio of friends arrives the next day, and more after that. The convention doesn't really start until Monday, but this gives us half the work week and the weekend to goof off, catch up, go shopping and eat good food."
"I get that. How many of you are there?"
"You can never have enough old, good friends. But there's about twelve of us overall, and most of us usually end up together at any given convention."
"Well, sounds like fun to me. Anytime you want to stopover here, just let me know. It means Alex has to finish whatever I'm doing on the ranch. Today it's roofing the barn. It gives me an excuse to get out of work."
"I'll do what I can to help you out."
"You're a good woman, Emily." Cord's phone binged. He rolled his eyes when he checked the screen. "Oh, I've been tagged on Facebook."
Laughter looked good on him.
And I'm glad I'm here, she thought as she bowed her head, not to check her phone but to let him say the blessing.
8
"This is great pizza." She spoke around the mouthful, loving the flavorful sauce, the perfect doughy crust and plenty of pineapple pieces. "Good call, Cord."
"I'm glad you're happy." He set his phone on the table between them. "Right here is a picture of the barn I left Alex on to reroof."
"Oh, good." Joy filled her. She'd been wanting to see his ranch. She leaned forward, eager to see the green fields outlined by tidy fencing and dotted with grazing livestock. Blue skies and golden sun gazed down on the scene. "I love it. You have some beautiful horses."
"Yes. I really do. I spend a lot of time with them and I love riding."
"I know, not that I've had time since before college. I had to sell my mare to a cousin, who has her to this day and the time to ride and love her."
"This one is Bullet." He pointed to the sorrel horse, head up, ears pricked, with perfect conformation. "He's my best buddy aside from Kate."
"He's gorgeous. He looks like a character."
"He's a whole lot of fun and a real sweetheart of a guy. He's a cattle horse through and through, smart as can be and riding him is a dream."
"Oh, and you have so many places to ride, look at that ranch. Cord, it's a dream."
"I think so. It's also the same as running a corporation. I should have gotten a business degree like Alex. I spend a lot of time doing administrative work. Managerial work. Human resources. Accounting. That kind of thing."
"I had no clue." She took a bite of pizza. "This is a side of you I haven't seen."
"I try to hide it," he quipped.
"I would if I were you." She winked. They laughed together.
It was a good feeling, and so was being with the man.
There was something about a cowboy, she decided. Larger than life, emanating masculinity like the sun did light and framed by that perfect Montana sky behind him. He could have been a wish she'd made up.
A wish too good to be real.
>
She was reluctant to blink, afraid he might vanish if she closed her eyes even for a moment. When he leaned closer to tap the screen, a fourth piece of pizza in hand, his nearness moved through her like the sweetest breeze. The buried places in her heart ached for him, just ached. She waited breathlessly for what he would say next.
"This is Alex scowling at me from the tractor." He swiped the screen to bring up the next pic and took a big bite of pizza. "This is Kate and me. I took a rare selfie on the porch. We were vegging out."
"Oh, she's a beauty." She polished off her pizza slice. "I love her. And look at that sweet expression. What a good friend you have in her."
"The best friend I could imagine."
"And you have a gorgeous house." That surprised her, too. "I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe a two-story farmhouse. But not this."
"What can I say, it's home. I had it built after I bought the acreage from my family, fair and square. They didn't give me much of a discount. I love that porch in summer. I just sit there with an iced tea and enjoy the peace. I do a lot of reading there."
"I would, too. You have a good life, Cord."
"I think it's the best."
You have it bad for the man, Emily, she thought as she helped herself to another slice of pizza. What happened to keeping her guards up? They'd crashed and burned, that's what, and it happened when she'd been sitting in the plane, taxiing down the runaway knowing she should have gone on to Chicago anyway.
But, no, she had to take the chance to see Cord. She'd watched the terminal fall behind her, thinking how it was easier now that they were just friends. No pressure, no awkward silences, no worry about how this would all turn out. She'd already lost him.
And somehow her feelings for him had deepened immeasurably on their own. Not that he would ever be interested in her, and she knew it.
But wasn't it a sweet thing, to have this high regard and caring for him?
"This is Betty Lou." He tapped his screen.
She laughed out loud when she saw a black cow leaning over the metal gate blocking a gravel driveway. The large animal's ears were up and her brown eyes curious, her tongue out trying to grab the phone.
Bing, went her cell. She took the last bite of her pizza, loving that thick crust, and laid her cell on the table next to his.
"It's from my mom checking on me."
"It says, did you make it to Chicago?" He arched a curious brow at her, his expressive eyes full of amusement. "You aren't being honest with your mother."
"No, never! I just haven't updated her yet. I will tonight. It's a major crime and I hope God will forgive me, but I have delayed a bit. Even my sister hid her boyfriend from Mom for a year. Mom gets too attached too easily. She's still not over losing Skip. I was pretty much over him at the time."
"It's okay if you're protecting her heart."
"Absolutely. I wouldn't hurt her for anything." She polished off the last of her cola.
"Got any pictures?" he asked.
"You know I do." She scrolled through her pics for the family shot they'd taken at their last family barbecue.
Since they were done eating, Cord dropped two twenties on the table, signaled to his sister and headed toward the door, keeping an eye out as they walked side by side.
She showed him the picture of her parents standing together by the built-in backyard barbecue laughing, framed by the sun, green trees and flowering shrubs, and so in love with one another.
He showed her his parents posing for a picture in front of an ice cream shop, both sporting double cones and happy, good-hearted expressions. He held the door for her and beeped the locks open when they got outside.
Their conversation turned to practical things, safe things. That Jenna had already sent a friend request, and Emily accepted it. She hopped onto the passenger seat of Cord's SUV and took a quick glance at the post of the two of them, laughing and talking away in the sunny booth.
On the drive back to the hotel, she scrolled down Jenna's social media page to see a picture of Alex scowling at being caught stealing homemade cookies from the cooling rack and his mother, a friendly, lovely woman, giving him a swat with her spatula.
Then there was the pic of Jenna sporting new cowboy boots on the back of a beautiful Quarter Horse gelding. Emily's heart leaped, and she could not hide the 'aw' of surprise and longing.
"I miss riding, I miss having a horse." She smiled, glad that Jenna had so much riding time and horse time. "I work long hours and there isn't enough time in the day for what I really want. Then again, I really want an even better job that I'm waiting to hear on. It's a step up and more of a challenge. So, I'm not sure what that says about me."
"You were hoping one day to work less hours and have time for a horse again, huh?"
"That is my goal."
"It's a good goal." He pulled into a parking space across from the hotel's entrance. "If your friends can't make it until later, why don't you stay here another day?"
"Well, I guess I could. I mean, if you want me to." She felt shy, and yet she knew he meant for her to stay as a friend.
And she'd had such a good time, that having him for a friend felt just right. Just perfect.
"Stay," he said again.
His eyes sparkled with happiness. He'd never looked so good. This handsome cowboy with his Stetson and well-hewn muscles had a good, caring heart.
She unbuckled her belt and opened the door. "Okay. I'll stay one more day."
"Good. Text me in the morning and I'll come get you."
"Okay. Thanks for dinner."
"Anytime." He meant that. He watched her walk away with a soft, classy elegance all her own. His heart didn't kick. His wishes didn't start to come alive again, taking flight.
He was careful to keep his feet on the ground this time. He was not going to let her break his heart.
* * *
Just think positive. In the morning sun, Cord braced his boots on the roof, retrieved his insulated cup and took a sip of coffee. On the roof again, he let the sweetened brew trail down his throat, soothing him. A playful breeze rippled over him, doing nothing to ease the tension he felt.
Emily was on her way. He'd thought getting a few things done would keep him well grounded and help time to pass, but he'd been wrong. He grabbed a shingle, maneuvered it into place and reached for his hammer.
His attention shifted from his work to his view of the county road ribboning through the green meadows and fields. He could see the sparkling wink of the little river. Grasses waved like eddies in the wind. Cattle grazed. Crops grew in orderly rows of bright green.
Overhead a few marshmallow clouds sailed from west to east. A bright red car looked like a dot on the lonely road.
Huh. I don't know anyone around here with a vehicle like that. Hopeful, he took one last look, grabbed his hammer and hunkered down to his work. By the time he'd laid down a square of shingles, the purr of an engine grabbed his attention. Tires crunched on the gravel on the sunny side of the barn.
He stood with a smile, watching. The door swung open and tall, willowy Emily climbed out. He didn't let his jaw drop at the sight. He didn't let his pulse stall. All he had to do was to hold his heart still. Not let one single tender feeling take root.
Emily shaded her eyes with one slender hand. "Good morning, cowboy. I made it without getting lost once. You give good directions."
"Good to see you here." It felt surreal, as if he dreamed her up. He blinked a couple of times, but she was still there, staring up at him lovely and wonderful wearing a tentative smile, a baseball cap, a summery shirt and denim shorts. As real as could be. "You're early."
"I never sleep well in a hotel, which is a plus because I never miss my alarm, I'm always up early and never miss my flight. So, I had nothing to do at the hotel, I left early to see you."
"Disasters happen, I get that. You could have gotten lost."
"Right, so I could have used that extra time. I could have been blocked by a cow on the road."
"Were you?"
"Yes, by a herd they were moving across the county road a ways back. Only one cow ambled over to stare in my windshield, but the cowboy on horseback came over, shooed her off to join the herd and tipped his hat to me. I don't ever have that happen in Seattle."
"Not many cattle hards roaming the city streets?"
"No. We have city buses."
She tipped her head back to get a better view of him, and her long blond-brown hair tumbled over her shoulder. She was the prettiest sight. "Are you ready to get out of that roof work you're doing?"
"I would love an interruption."
"That looks like hard work. You'd better come on down." She rewarded him with a smile. "Or do you want me to climb up there so we can talk?"
"Would you really climb up here if I said yes?"
"Why do you doubt me, Cord Armstrong? I grew up keeping up with my older brother and my sister. Where they went, I went, including up the big tree in our yard. I'm not afraid of heights. Just point me to the ladder."
"No, way. I'm comin' down."
A black cow with big friendly bovine smile leaned against the nearby fence gate blocking her escape. The large animal pricked her bovine ears, studied Emily with curious brown eyes and stretched her neck across the gate with a moo.
"Betty Lou's friendly but too curious for her own good and sometimes mine." Boots crunched in the gravel behind her.
Cord. He looked good. Too good. He'd been incredible standing up on the roof with the sun at his back, but up close Cord in a Stetson? Breath-taking. He planted his hands on his hips, a touch of caution in his compelling eyes. "Do not let her get a hold of that shirt, it's designer. She has a grass stained tongue."
"I think she looks offended that you just said that."
"Sorry, Betty Lou."
Emily laughed. The cow reaching her nose over the gate put enough pressure on the bars that it was a surprise the metal didn't give way. "What's she doing?"
"She loves people. My guess is she's taken a shine to you." He towered above her, all incredible man and shy smile. "You might want to be careful or she'll steal your heart faster than you can blink."
