by Liz Isaacson
He finally looked at her, and she felt like she was coming home. She strained to keep a tight grip on her anger, but it fled at the sight of his sorrow, his pain, his determination.
“I don’t like the rodeo,” he said. “You want to go for a walk?”
“No, I don’t,” she said automatically, before her brain truly comprehended what he’d said. “Wait…you don’t like the rodeo?”
His eyebrows went up. “Never really been my thing.”
“I don’t like the rodeo.”
A spark of hope entered his dark eyes, lighting them from the inside out. “Why you here then?”
“Landon talked me into it. You?”
“Tom—Mari needed to get out of the house.” He swallowed and choked, but regained his composure quickly.
“Are you lying to me right now?”
“No, ma’am.”
Belle exploded to her feet. “Ma’am?” She growled at him, snatched her soda off the bench, and started down the row. Her dramatic exit was foiled by the tightly packed people she had to step over, and besides, Jace followed right behind her.
She made it to the stairs and practically flew down them, Jace’s cowboy boots thunking behind her at a steady pace. She strode down the sidewalk and under the bleachers, needing to get away from everyone right now.
Jace let her speed-walk until her stamina began to fail, until her frustration had bled out.
“So I won’t call you ma’am again.”
She stopped and spun toward him. “I’d just like you to call me.” She got right in his face. “Why haven’t you called me? Do you know how much that hurts?” She shook her head, her jaw tightening and her eyes turning glassy. “You know what, Jace Lovell? I don’t care.” She started to move away again, but he caught her arm in his hand.
“Wait.”
“You let go of me right now.”
He did, thankfully, because the storm brewing in Belle’s body couldn’t be tamed. She had no idea what she’d do if he didn’t do exactly as she asked. She stared at him, her chest heaving.
“I haven’t called you because I don’t want to hurt you again.”
“That’s just something you tell yourself so you can sleep at night.”
“I sleep very little, actually.”
“You and me both, buddy.”
He frowned, but it only increased the danger in his eyes. “I’ve been seeing someone about my…problems. I didn’t want to talk to you until I was sure I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Every day that goes by without you talking to me hurts me.”
“Belle,” he said, but then fell silent.
Belle didn’t know what to do. She’d thought about the moment she’d see Jace, be able to tell him everything that she’d rehearsed over the past couple of weeks. What came out was, “I love you, Jace Lovell. I promised you time, so you take as much as you need. But, please, can you call me some time?” Her throat spasmed; her chest recoiled; she swallowed hard. “Just so I can hear your voice and know you’re okay.” She blinked rapidly to keep the tears back. She didn’t trust her waterproof mascara. “Okay?”
He nodded, the muscles in his throat so tight, she could see the tendons.
“Tell Landon I’m walking home.” She moved away, half expecting him to grab her again.
He didn’t. Instead, he called out, “Belle, you live too far away to walk at night.”
“I’ll be fine.” She didn’t turn around and didn’t slow down. She couldn’t believe she’d told Jace she loved him. Here, at the rodeo grounds, of all places. Now, when he hadn’t given her the time of day for almost three weeks.
Through her tears and her pride, she could barely see. She made it a block before her muscles turned to sponge cake. She found an empty picnic table in the midst of the classic car show and collapsed.
Now what? she asked the Lord. She’d been praying for two solid weeks for His help. Help to move on. Help to make it through another day. Help to soften Jace’s heart. She trusted that God had done everything He could on her behalf, so she hauled herself to her feet and set her sights on her house—the only thing she could think to do at the moment.
Ten minutes and three blocks later, a truck idled up behind her. Her pulse skyrocketed and she didn’t glance over. She increased her pace, her focus attached to a patch of streetlight about a hundred yards ahead.
“Get in the truck, Belle.”
She paused at the sound of Jace’s voice.
“No.” She marched onward. “You can’t just order me around. ‘Marry me, Belle. Get in the truck, Belle.’” She shook her head. “Do you even know how to ask?”
The truck stopped, and she heard the door slam as he got out and closed it. His headlights illuminated the sidewalk where she walked.
“Belle, please.” He caught her and hooked his fingers in hers for half a heartbeat before letting go. “I know you’re mad, but it’s not safe to walk home in the dark.”
She paused, the fight leaving her body. “Fine, you can give me a ride. But I don’t want to talk.”
“Deal.”
She followed him back to his truck and climbed in the passenger side. He kept his word and kept his mouth shut. He pulled into her driveway only ten minutes later, but she knew it would’ve taken her another thirty for her to walk home.
“I just wanna say one thing.” He kept his head down as he spoke. “I’m real sorry, sunshine.”
She didn’t want to push him further away. In fact, she wanted to slide across the seat and kiss away his anguish. But the man had made the bed, and now he had to lie in it. She’d told him what she wanted. She’d proclaimed her love for him. He needed time—a blind person could see that.
Belle opened the door and got out of the truck. She leaned into the cab and said, “Prove it, cowboy,” before slamming the door and entering her house.
Jace sat in his truck for what felt like an hour. Landon texted to say the rodeo had ended, and that finally got him to move. Belle wanted him to prove himself? He dialed her on the way back to the rodeo grounds.
She opened the line, but didn’t speak.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey.”
Jace had a hard time talking and navigating in the dark, so he pulled over. “I don’t really have anything to say—which is another reason I haven’t called.”
“Well, maybe when you call tomorrow, you’ll have thought of something.”
“What if we go to the parade together instead?” Jace couldn’t believe the words had come from his mouth. He hadn’t been planning to go to the biggest celebration in Gold Valley. The park would be swamped with people, vendors, musicians, kiddie blow-up toys, and heat. All the things Jace usually avoided.
“Are you ready for that?”
“Are you?”
“No,” she said. “I told my friend Ashley I’d go to the parade, but I don’t really want to.”
“What do you want to do instead?”
“I was planning on sleeping in and then puttering around the backyard.”
“We were plannin’ to do the same thing then.” He grinned to himself, wishing she were there to see him. At the same time, he had no idea what he was doing—was he really going to start seeing Belle again? When Dr. Fletcher had asked him that question last week, Jace had shaken his head, his jaw clamped tight around his vocal chords.
Dr. Fletcher had asked why, and Jace couldn’t answer.
But he couldn’t keep hurting her either. He had some idea how much silence sliced, because when Wendy left and he couldn’t get ahold of her for a few days, he’d practically hemorrhaged. But she’d been his fiancé. Belle was just his girlfriend—and she had turned down his proposal.
It was a lame proposal, he thought, a hint of embarrassment infecting his thoughts. He’d never wanted to go back in time to erase something more than he did that night.
“Are you listening to me?” Belle’s tone reminded him he wasn’t alone with his thoughts.
“I space
d out,” he admitted. “What were you saying?”
“I was saying I don’t think I’m ready to see you in person every day. So let’s start with having a conversation where we both have something to say and we’re both listening.”
“So I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“I’ll keep my phone nearby so if I’m napping, I can answer.” She giggled, and for the first time in weeks, Jace’s chest didn’t feel like a bear had stomped on it. He hung up and hurried back to the rodeo grounds, where the crowd still steadily streamed from the stands.
Landon brought Mari over, then headed for his own truck.
“Did you like the rodeo?” Jace asked Mari.
“Yes.”
“You like the bulls or the horses better?”
“Horses.”
“You feelin’ okay? Don’t tell your mom I gave you so many treats, okay?”
She swung her head toward him. “Secrets.” She grinned, and Jace chuckled.
“Yeah, secrets.” He had some of his own, and though the evening had started out stressful—Jace’s heart twisted for his brother’s and Rose’s loss—it had ended better than he could’ve hoped.
20
Jace went to the parade with Landon, Caleb, and Ty. He didn’t miss the way a gaggle of pretty girls kept eyeing them. He supposed he couldn’t blame them—four cowboy bachelors sitting on their camp stools certainly drew some attention. Sure enough, one of the women came over during a lull between floats.
“How you boys doin’?” She twirled the ends of her blonde hair between her fingers. Jace watched his men to gauge their reactions. They often went into town on the weekends for a little rest and relaxation, and back in his early twenties, he’d joined them.
Landon glanced up at the blonde and back to the parade. He said nothing, leaving the task to someone else. Jace wondered what that was about. Last summer, Landon had led the boys in trips to Gold Valley for dancing and fraternizing with women. Jace made a mental note to ask his friend about it when they weren’t in mixed company.
Caleb, a sandy-haired native of Gold Valley, smiled at the woman. “Just fine,” he said. “And yourself?”
“Me and the girls were wonderin’ if you guys will be at the dance tonight.”
“Sure thing.” Ty beamed up at her. “What about you, Landon?”
“Maybe,” he said, looking again at the girl.
“Want to give me your number?” Caleb asked. “We can meet up later tonight.” He glanced at Jace. “That okay, boss?”
He couldn’t help grinning at the hopeful look on Caleb’s face. Ty’s too. “The day’s yours, boys. Just come home in one piece.” He nudged Landon with his boot, but the other man didn’t look at Jace.
The parade continued, but Jace didn’t see much of it—until a classic car cruising from one curb to the other bearing the banner “Suman Real Estate” rolled up. Wendy sat in the front seat, waving for all she was worth, like anyone here cared about their cherry-red convertible or their exclusive lots on the east mountain.
Every muscle in Jace’s body tensed, but he employed some of the anger management techniques Dr. Fletcher had taught him. He met Wendy’s eye and she visibly startled; her wave faltered; fear flashed across her face.
Jace lifted his hand in acknowledgement, more for himself than for her. The car continued past, and the next entrant in the parade blasted loud music for the high school’s cheerleaders.
Jace catalogued the rate of his pulse, the steadiness of his nerves. Everything operated as normal. He’d just survived his first encounter with Wendy where he didn’t want to walk away and punch something.
A smile floated across his lips, and he pulled out his phone to text Belle.
The Monday following Independence Day, Belle called into the office to tell Calvin she’d be in late because she had to go sign some lease agreements. She’d just entered the realtor’s office just as her phone rang.
Jace.
A smile bloomed on her face. True to his word, he’d called every day for the past five, and she’d enjoyed their conversations. He told her about ranch happenings, and she updated him on the condition of her office.
He detailed why he hated sitting alone at church, and she told him she’d found a new escape—the library in town. When she told him she didn’t remember Gold Valley having a library, he’d told her about it’s birth in the Town Hall building five years ago.
He didn’t push her to go out with him, and she never brought it up. For now, their conversations allowed her to have him in her life, and she felt like he was giving what he could. She’d promised him time, and each night when she prayed, she asked God to help her be patient. So far, so good.
“Jace,” she said as she swiped on the call. “I’m just headed into a meeting. Can I call you back?”
“Sure thing, sunshine.”
She smiled and said, “’Bye, Jace.” She tucked her phone in her purse and glanced at the woman waiting for her. Belle towered over her by at least six inches, yet her meticulously styled blonde hair and shining blue eyes could put fear into a grown man.
“Are you Belle?” she asked.
Belle tried to smile, but the woman put off a seriously cold vibe. “Yes, ma’am.”
She frowned. “Were you just talking to Jace? A Jace Lovell?”
Belle mirrored her frown with one of her own. She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Yes.”
She folded her arms over the file she held in her hand. “How do you know him?”
“He’s…well, I honestly don’t know what he is.” Belle forced a giggle across her vocal chords. “We dated for a few months, but now things have cooled off.”
Way too much interest passed through the woman’s expression. “Well, let’s sign this agreement, shall we?”
“Yes, let’s.” Belle wanted to get her business over with and get out of the woman’s presence. She was efficient, and she detailed the items Belle had asked about. Yes, she could landscape the backyard. Yes, she could paint the bathroom. Yes, she could put in a backsplash in the kitchen.
“I don’t know if my father will want to sell in six months,” she said. “But I’ll try to push him in that direction. He’s getting older, and he’d be better off just managing his multi-family units.” The woman flashed a smile, but it came and went so quick, Belle wasn’t sure it had truly manifested itself.
“Thank you.” Belle took her copy of the signed documents and stood to shake the woman’s hand. “I never got your name.”
“Wendy Suman,” the woman said, her blue eyes as hard as diamonds. “You’re dating my ex-fiancé.”
Belle’s first reaction was to turn tail and run. Her second was to smile, and she seized onto that one. “Oh, we’re not dating.”
“But you said—”
“I said we dated for a while, but that things weren’t serious right now.”
Wendy cocked her head, that extremely annoying curiosity back in her eyes. “Why’s that?”
Belle didn’t want to tell her anything, least of all anything damaging about Jace. How dare she stand there like everything had turned out peaches and cream? Maybe for her. Belle forced a measure of kindness she did not feel into her words.
“Oh, I’m struggling right now.” She tried to giggle but it came out like a hacking cough. “Had to move back home. You know.”
Wendy’s piercing gaze finally left Belle and she glanced around the office. “Yes, I think I understand.”
“Do you live here?” Belle asked.
“No, I’m out of LA. Just here to help my dad get some things done that he’s fallen behind on.”
“Oh, that’s so nice of you.” Belle almost gagged on the sweetness of her voice. Her phone chimed Jace’s ringtone from inside her purse, the two blips an indication that he’d texted. “Well, thanks for meeting with me. I have to get to work.” She pulled her phone out and saw his name. “Yep, that’s my boss.” She flashed Wendy a smile without meeting her eyes and turned to leave the r
eal estate office.
“Good luck,” Wendy called after her. Belle didn’t answer, didn’t know how to. What could she possibly need luck with?
Once in the safety of her car, and with at least five miles between her and Wendy, Belle dialed Jace. “Oh, my waterfalls,” she said when he answered. “Guess who I just met?”
“Who?”
“Your ex-fiancé.” She waited for his reaction, but he didn’t give her one. “She’s my landlord! Her father owns my house.”
“Well, that’s just unfortunate.”
Shocked as she was, Belle could only laugh. “You should’ve seen her face when I said your name. It was like she’d seen her worst nightmare come true.”
“She heard my name?”
“You called me right when I got there.”
“She seemed upset?”
“Upset isn’t quite the right word. Dismayed, maybe. Cold, definitely. She’s not exactly a people person, is she?”
The silence coming through the line indicated that perhaps Belle had said something she shouldn’t have. But when Jace started laughing—and couldn’t stop—Belle joined him.
“Meet me for lunch,” she blurted out once he’d quieted.
“Belle…you’re ready for that?”
“I am, cowboy,” she answered with finality. “Are you ready to see me?”
“I’ve been prayin’ for it, sunshine.”
Giddiness galloped through her gut. “Great. I’ll pick up sandwiches and meet you at the waterfall in….” She checked her dashboard for the time. “Forty-five minutes. Does that work?”
“Yep.”
“See you soon.” Belle hung up and rested her head on the seat behind her, only a thin stream of anxiety running through her. She loved him, she’d known it for weeks. She’d told him so. Now she had to trust her feelings, trust the Lord, and most of all, trust Jace, that they could make this relationship work.
21
Jace pulled into the parking lot at the waterfalls. They roared over the cliff, creating that beautiful sound that reminded him of happier times. Now, though, he realized he could be happy again. Seeing Wendy at the parade and not wanting to run away had changed him, helped him turn a corner.
