Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2)

by Cindy Roland Anderson

Michael closed his eyes and drew in a breath. He hadn’t been prepared to deal with these unresolved feelings between them. For a moment he regretted crossing half a continent to get back here.

  “Son.” His father insisted.

  Anger filled him. He measured his words. “I’ll tell you what you told me ten years ago when you moved us to that God forsaken place that killed her—life’s never fair. You just deal with it.”

  The look on his father’s face shifted, and Michael recognized it from the day they had buried his mother. Michael would never forget that look— a tangle of remorse, pain, and sadness. “I was wrong.” His father’s tone was sharp with frustrated emotion, and he paused to drag in a ragged breath. “Dang it, I was stupid and wrong, and I never should have left you and went back on that assignment after it happened.”

  Michael walked away from him, winding his way back to the drink table. There were beers being offered, but he never drank alcohol. He’d sworn to himself as he’d watched the judge sentence his mother’s killer to life in prison that he would never touch the stuff.

  His father moved next to him, reaching for a bottle of water. “I’m sorry, son.”

  Michael shrugged, studying his father. He saw the brown eyes that matched his own, but his father’s looked slightly sunken and sad. He carefully studied the rest of his father’s face. It was like looking at an older image of himself: dark brown hair with stray strands of grey, high cheekbones covered by weathered skin, and the neck padded a little more each year. His father was only in his mid-fifties and the ranch kept him in shape, but not like the military had kept him in shape. Though he still looked haunted, Michael noticed he seemed more relaxed, a lot less angry then Michael had known him to be. He shrugged. “You were called up to serve your country. I get it.”

  His father stared intently back at him. “I love you, son, and I’m glad you came tonight.” He paused and looked away. His eyes filled with moisture. “I wish I could change and do so many things differently, but…” he trailed off and finally put a hand on Michael’s shoulder. “I’ve realized all I can do is make things different now. I hope you’ll stay a few days and we can spend some time together.” He moved his gaze to the mass of people under the tent, out on the dance floor, mingling and talking. “I hope you can enjoy being home again.”

  Michael inhaled sharply. He remembered how much he’d wanted Snow Valley to be his home when he’d been sixteen and his parents told him it was time to go. It was time for his father to relocate to another base in San Alto, California. He remembered how much he’d wished Snow Valley had been his home when his mother had passed and his father had been gone. But it wasn’t. He pulled away from his father, wondering why he’d ever come back. There were too many memories here. There was no point.

  Then he saw her. In actuality, he heard her first. Her laugh. He turned, quickly scanning all the people and then zeroed in on the one person that he’d really travelled all this way hoping to see. She was the one person that he’d missed, and he had been more than a little disappointed when he’d heard she’d gotten married right out of high school—Janet Snow.

  She wore an ocean green halter-top dress that smoothed down her body, cutting in all the right places. It swished around her legs as he watched her dance with her father. She laughed again, and happiness surged into him. For no good reason that laugh made him smile.

  His father followed his gaze. “I can’t say I didn’t hope that wedding invitation might peak your interest just a bit.”

  Michael cleared his throat and turned back to his father. “We’ll talk later,” he said before making a beeline for Janet.

  After the song ended, she and her father, John, stood together whispering. Michael wasn’t prepared for the way his heart raced or the sudden rush of nerves he felt. They were the same ones he used to get when he’d go pick her up for dates. Here she stood, almost within reach. He cleared his throat and tapped her father’s shoulder, putting on his best smile. “Excuse me, could I have the next dance with the lady?”

  Chapter 3

  If Janet hadn’t been supported in her father’s strong arms, she would have fallen over. She jerked back. “Michael?” She found herself meeting a familiar pair of soft, swirling chocolate eyes. It was definitely Michael.

  The side of his mouth tugged up. “Hey.”

  “Well, Michael Hamilton.” A grin appeared on her father’s face that she hadn’t seen in a very long time. His expression said he found it very pleasing that Michael now stood in front of them. He put his hand out. “I told your father he should forward that invitation to you. I’m glad to see he did.”

  Michael shook his hand. “It’s good to see you, sir.” Then he turned his gaze back to Janet. “It’s been a long time.”

  John let out a soft laugh and patted Michael on the back, retreating toward the tables. “Have fun you two.”

  They both watched him go. Then Michael reached out a hand to her. “What do you say, dance with an old friend?”

  Her heart pounded. She tried slowing it by telling herself that thinking of him less than an hour ago didn’t mean anything. Thinking of his face when she thought about true love didn’t mean anything. And it most certainly didn’t mean anything that her mouth felt suddenly dry and she was slightly disoriented.

  “Well?” His eyebrows tugged up.

  She reached for his outstretched hand. “It’s been a long time.”

  Michael led her into a slow two-step, and she easily followed his lead. All those dances from years ago rose to the forefront of her memory. It had been just like this. She remembered the way his hand felt. The way he gently applied pressure to the small of her back to guide her around the dance floor. He pushed her out and then easily twirled her.

  The odd thing about this whole experience was that she laughed. She spun. And she remembered doing the exact same thing with him ten years ago.

  He pulled her back to him. Closer than before. So close she could smell his light cologne. Here was something different. It wasn’t the same scent from high school. Then it had been more cool mist. Now… She closed her eyes for a second, focusing. “Escape by Calvin Klein, right?”

  Michael stopped dancing but kept her hand in his and kept his other hand on the small of her back. “How did you know that?”

  She laughed. “I went shopping with Kevin last week and helped him pick out a cologne that Molly would like.”

  Michael narrowed his eyes and then began dancing again. He inhaled deeply. “Flowers.”

  She stopped laughing. “What?”

  He tightened his hand on hers and looked into her eyes. “I don’t know what scent you’re wearing, but you smell like fresh flowers.”

  “Work hazard.”

  Michael narrowed his eyes. “What job makes you smell like flowers?”

  After pausing for a second, she decided not to make missing the last ten years of her life that easy for him. “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me.”

  His eyes flashed wide, and a sad grin tugged the edge of his smile down. “Still haven’t forgiven me I see.”

  All she could do was stare at him and shove down the bubbling emotion that stirred inside her.

  “Michael.” Kevin and Molly appeared next to them. Kevin grinned at Michael. Janet gave him a meaningful look, as if to ask ‘did you know he was going to be here?’ Kevin put out his hand. “I can’t believe you’re here. This is crazy.”

  Michael stopped dancing, dropped the hand on her back, and reached for Kevin’s. “I guess I’m skating on my dad’s invitation.”

  Kevin hesitated for a second.

  Janet gave him a warning look that told him not to say anything about the breakdown she’d had all those years ago. Kevin had always been protective of her, but ever since she’d been diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, he considered himself her personal bodyguard. Janet nodded to him that everything was fine.

  Kevin narrowed his eyes like he was about to say something but just tugged his lips into
a tense smile before saying, “Hey, as long as my older sister is happy, I’m happy. Just make sure she stays that way.”

  The way Michael held Kevin’s gaze told Janet he hadn’t been expecting her baby brother to be so protective. He nodded. “Guess you’ve grown up.”

  Kevin let out a soft scoff and tugged Molly closer. “All married and everything.”

  Molly grinned, her happiness palpable. She nodded to Michael. “I remember you helping us build that tree house all those years ago.”

  Michael seemed to relax. “That’s right. I think I remember you and Kevin here ending that day muddy from head to toe. I also remember Janet got in trouble for letting you guys get so messy.”

  Molly giggled and snuggled closer to Kevin. “Sounds about right.”

  Janet grinned. “I forgot about that. Maybe today’s a good day for retaliation.” She winked at Michael. “Wedding cake.”

  Kevin cocked a challenging eyebrow. “Look what you’ve started, Michael.”

  Michael cleared his throat. “Well, congratulations to you both.”

  “Thank you.” Kevin moved away from them and winked back at Janet. “Have fun now.”

  Molly waved. “Be good you two.”

  Before they could fully begin dancing again, someone else moved toward them.

  “Michael Hamilton.” Pastor John held his hand out. “You’ve come home.”

  Michael grinned and shook the Pastor’s hand. “I don’t know if I’d say I’m…home, sir. Just here for a visit.”

  Janet cleared her throat and then coughed, smothering a laugh. She thought about that Christmas. They’d never officially been caught when they’d stolen the donkey off of the Nativity set in front of the church, but Michael had sworn someone had been watching.

  The side of Pastor John’s lip curved up. He leaned into them, his voice a whisper. “Janet, I know you’re thinking about that donkey.”

  She drew in a breath and couldn’t stop a laugh from jerking out.

  Michael grinned. “You knew about that?”

  Pastor John grinned and held up a finger. “I should think both of you know that I am omniscient and omnipotent.” His grin widened.

  They all laughed, but Janet thought how true that statement really was.

  Pastor John patted Michael on the back. “It’s good to see you. And, Michael, remember that any place can be home…if it’s where your heart has always been.” He winked and then moved on. “You kids have fun.”

  Michael shook his head. “Pastor John never changes.”

  Janet giggled. “No, he doesn’t.”

  The song ended, and they stopped dancing. Michael’s hands dropped to his sides.

  Another song started, and Michael reached out his hand. “Ms. Snow, would you be up for another dance?”

  She didn’t think she’d ever been the kind of girl that played hard to get before, but it looked like she was doing it now. “Actually, Mr. Hamilton, it’s funny you said Ms. Snow because I only recently went back to Snow…you know it was Walker.” She didn’t know why she felt the need to remind him. Maybe it was to punish him for leaving her ten years ago. “And my dance card is kind of full.” She turned to walk away.

  Before she could move two steps away, he tugged her back into a two-step. “I’m not letting you walk away, Ms. Snow.”

  The breath whooshed out of her, and her knees went weak as she stared up into his intense eyes. All these years later and it felt like they were right back where they had started…or where they had ended. She let herself be glided back into dancing.

  Michael lifted his eyebrows in challenge and then tsked his tongue. “Let’s see. Where were we? Oh, yeah, you didn’t think I knew you owned a flower shop in town.” A mischievous glint came into his eyes. “Flower Girl…right?”

  The admission stunned her for a second. “You knew?”

  He waved to Sawyer from Iron Stix. “Dad told me on the way over.” Gently, he pulled her even closer and then whispered. “I like the name. It fits you.”

  Tingles went down her spine. The two of them were not eye level, and being this close to him highlighted the fact that he was a good four inches taller than her. She’d always liked that he’d been tall, six foot and three inches to be exact. Kurt was only six foot, and it had always felt too close for comfort. She took the momentary silence to study him more closely and saw that he’d dressed for a Snow Valley wedding. “New boots? Look at the city slicker getting all country.”

  Michael twirled her out and smoothly spun her back in. “They’re not new; they just haven’t been worn that much.” He cocked his head to the side, challenging her to say something else.

  The feel of her face heating didn’t surprise her even though there wasn’t a single reason she should be blushing. To distract him from the blush, she said, “Last I heard you were engaged to a UC Davis cheerleader?”

  Michael lifted an eyebrow, and even though there wasn’t that much light, she could have sworn he blushed, too. “You keeping tabs on me, Ms. Snow?”

  Janet swallowed and held back a sudden rush of emotion. She shrugged. She remembered her father had told her about the cheerleader a couple of years ago, after Michael’s father had bought the ranch down the road. He’d also told her that Michael had graduated from business school. “That’s what old friends do, right? Keep tabs on each other?”

  He laughed, but his eyes looked raw. “I kept tabs on you until you got married.” Quickly, he averted his gaze and pushed her gently out into one more spin. “Then…well, let’s focus on now.”

  The song ended and everyone clapped.

  Janet stared into Michael’s eyes. There was no way to be sure, but it felt like nothing had changed. From ten years ago. From that summer. She thought of his lips against hers. She looked at the way he stood, like he had just returned from war: proud, beautiful, and intent on her alone as though he’d been waiting to find her. How had this night gone from happy and slow to unpredictably exciting in just one dance with Michael Hamilton?

  A slow grin spread across his face. He put his hand back out. “How about another one?”

  Before Janet could reach back. Before she could accept this dance with this man that meant so much to her. Before she could get lost in what it was to be wanted by a man again, by this man… her ex ruined it.

  Chapter 4

  “Where’s my daughter?”

  Michael turned. He’d never liked Kurt Walker’s face. In fact, he could honestly say he’d never felt a lick of remorse about giving him a fat black eye in the ninth grade. Kurt hadn’t changed much. He wore jeans and a t-shirt and had on that same venomous smirk he’d always had when he was mad at Janet.

  The scene went into high speed. Janet swerved to meet Kurt head on with an angry glare of her own. “Don’t do this tonight, Kurt. I didn’t realize the time. I’ll get Lacy and meet you in front of the house.”

  “You have disrespected me one too many times.” His voice was an octave higher than the hum of the party, and people stopped dancing to stare.

  Janet shook her head. “Kurt, please don’t do this.” Tears appeared in her eyes, and Michael felt his fists clench.

  Before Michael could stop him, Kurt got in Janet’s face. His eyes narrowed to slits. “Do what?” He roared.

  The next thing Michael did was not the same thing he’d done all those years ago. It was not a swift punch to the eye. It was not raw and wild like the ninth grade. No. It was what he now did for a living—managed situations. He took Kurt firmly by the wrist and moved swiftly toward the edge of the dance floor. “It’s not nice to talk to a lady like that.”

  Kurt sputtered and then seemed to realize who he was. He tried to yank his hand free. “Get off me, Hamilton!”

  “Oh, I’m not on you, Kurt…you would know it if I was.” Michael kept pulling, tugging hard, digging into the pressure point above the wrist.

  When they got to the edge of the dance floor Kurt finally got free. “Look who came crawling back to town after al
l these years. Janet’s long lost boyfriend.”

  If he were totally honest, Michael couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted to actually punch someone. Maybe it had been on the football field during college when he’d been sacked one too many times. Now, the desire to lash out pulsed through him, and he had to focus on keeping control. “Janet said to go to her front porch, and that’s where you’re going.” Michael grabbed his forearm.

  Kurt’s temper soared and he cursed. “Quit touching me!”

  Janet’s father was suddenly beside Michael. “Calm down, Kurt.” Some of Janet’s male cousins began circling them. Michael recognized them from high school. The Snows were a big family in this town.

  Kurt pointed to Janet’s father. “I’m here for my daughter. She was supposed to be at the front porch at eight o’clock sharp. Today is my day, and I was gracious enough to let her stay this long.” He threw his hand toward the reception. “Then I get disrespected like this?”

  Janet’s father narrowed his eyes, and his jaw tightened. “Nobody is disrespecting anybody. Let’s start toward the house.” He started moving, and all of the men went with him.

  Kurt, however, didn’t move. “No.”

  It took everything inside of Michael not to take Kurt by the ear and shove him toward the house.

  “There she is.” Janet’s father pointed.

  Michael sucked in a breath as he saw a little blond pixie wearing a beautiful white dress with long curls bunched in a loose ponytail skipping toward them. Her grin widened. “Daddy!”

  The rest of the men dispersed quickly, turning back to the party.

  But Michael couldn’t make himself move.

  Trailing behind the little girl came Janet, a composed, tight look on her face.

  Kurt’s face transformed with a genuine smile. He bent down and picked up the little girl, holding her close. “Hey, honey.”

  “I was waiting in the swing on the porch, daddy.” She said softly.

  Annoyance washed over Kurt’s face. He stood, anger flashed in his eyes as he moved toward Janet’s house. “I must not have seen you.” His voice was soft. “Run along now. Tell your mama goodbye.”