“I’m sorry you didn’t get that chance. I—I know what it’s like to see someone you love lying in a hospital bed. How helpless and useless it makes you feel when you realize there’s nothing you can do to help them.”
Sympathy softened her expression, wiping away some of the pain and sorrow of her own past. “Your father?”
Jarrett nodded stiffly. He didn’t want this to be about him, about his family. “Helping Natalie and Michael might have given you some sense of closure about the accident, but there is nothing wrong with wanting Natalie to get better.” He ran his hand across her shoulder and down her arm, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as if he might convince her with his actions should his words fail. “Nothing wrong with you wanting to get better, with wanting to go back to the job you love or with wanting to help other people heal.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. “Thank you, Jarrett.”
He nodded again, cutting off a teasing comment about his willingness to slice open his hand anytime. The moment was too...important, too special to joke about. Too special, too important, too intimate even, he thought, to throw desire into the mix. So despite Theresa gazing up at him—her dark hair tumbling around her shoulders, her blue eyes wide and soft, pink lips slightly parted—silently asking him to kiss her, he ignored that plea.
Ignored, too, the almost desperate urge to pull her body tight to his, to feel the softness of her curves, breathe in more of the rain-kissed, wildflower scent of her skin as he captured her mouth with his own.
Instead, he sucked in a deep breath and held tight to his control. Leaning close, he gently brushed his lips against her forehead as he murmured, “You’re welcome.”
Chapter Ten
On Friday evening, Theresa was touching up the last of her makeup as she readied for Drew and Debbie’s wedding when her cell phone rang. She smiled as she picked it up and saw the picture of her best friend smiling back at her. “Caitlyn, how are you doing?”
“A question I should be asking you!” Her voice dropping to a teasing whisper, she asked, “What’s this I’m hearing about a sexy cowboy?”
Theresa’s jaw dropped. Her cousins had long complained about the small-town grapevine and how no secrets stayed secret for long, but she never would have thought the information would travel all the way back to St. Louis. “How— Who—”
“Alex had a grumbled complaint or two about the guy you’re staying with.”
Theresa didn’t bother to explain her temporary living arrangement. And she was more interested in the fact that her brother had called Caitlyn—even if it had been to discuss his little sister’s love life with her best friend. She knew better than to tease Caitlyn about the call. The poor girl had been in love with Alex since they were kids. Shame her brother was too focused on the bad guys to see the great girl standing in front of him.
“I probably don’t even want to know what Alex said, but I can pretty much assure you that he has it all wrong.”
“Well, I told him if you wanted to have a vacation fling with your hunky cowboy, you should go for it.”
Her friend’s words inspired a burst of laughter. “I can just picture the look on his face!”
“I know. Total bummer that I didn’t get to tell him in person.”
“I wish you could have come with me.” As a teacher, Caitlyn had to limit her vacations to summer break, but they had long talked about her coming to Clearville to see the sights in the small Victorian town and to hang out with Theresa’s cousins, whom she’d met over the years as they visited Theresa’s family in St. Louis.
“Maybe next time,” Caitlyn offered. “So what are you up to?”
“At the moment, I’m getting ready for the wedding.”
“Oh, I should let you go.”
“It’s okay. I have time.” It still took her longer than usual to do everyday chores when so much of the time she had to work one-handed and had planned ahead. “I don’t have to leave for another fifteen minutes or so.”
“How are you doing? And I don’t mean physically because I know how sick you are of those questions. I mean, how are you with the wedding? It has to make you think about Michael and...everything.”
Everything being the ceremony the two of them had planned.
“I know it will bring back memories, but I’m going to do my best to focus on Drew and Debbie. This is their day, and I really am happy for them.”
Though not part of the official bridal party, Theresa had attended the rehearsal dinner the night before. Seeing her cousin—all of her cousins—so in love had brought an ache to her chest, but her thoughts hadn’t immediately turned to her ex-fiancé.
Instead, she’d thought about Jarrett.
Ever since the night at his office, she’d felt as though he’d helped lift the weight of guilt from her chest. For so long, she’d viewed the accident through the shattered glass of the driver’s seat, but Jarrett had given her a different perspective.
If Michael had been driving the car that day, would you be any less concerned about Natalie’s recovery? You’ve dedicated your life to helping people. I don’t have a single doubt that you would have done anything to protect Natalie.
Though her heart still ached when she thought about Natalie, Theresa had to take comfort in knowing the little girl’s health was improving and that Michael had hired the best nurses and therapists to help his daughter. Blaming herself wouldn’t do Natalie—or herself—any good, and as much as she could, Theresa wanted to put the accident behind her.
“I’m just going to focus on having a good time. Let the past be the past and not think too much about the future.”
A weighted silence filled the line before Caitlyn gasped, “Oh, my gosh! You really are thinking about having a fling with your cowboy!”
“Caitlyn!” A bright blush flooded her face, even as she made the protest, and Theresa could only be glad her friend wasn’t there to see. “How did you make that kind of a leap from anything I just said?”
“Letting go of the past? Not thinking of the future? That has red-hot fling written all over it!”
Red-hot fling... Another surge of heat shot through Theresa as she remembered the way Jarrett had kissed her the night of Debbie’s bachelorette party—and how eagerly she’d kissed him back.
She hadn’t seen him much in the past two days since she’d bandaged his hand, but every time their gazes would meet—while he was working with one of the horses, as he and Chloe discussed an upcoming trail ride, while she was grooming Silver, who’d quickly become her favorite of all the horses—the awareness was there. The desire and need swirling around them like the dust motes drifting from the rafters in the warm spring sunlight.
But it wasn’t something so simple as physical attraction. Theresa didn’t know how many times she’d heard his words echo through her thoughts, encouraging and motivating her to do exactly what she’d told Caitlyn—to let go of the past and look to the future.
“So tell me more about this guy,” her friend encouraged. “I have to admit, I thought Alex was so far off base, I really didn’t pay that much attention. I thought it was all just big-brother overprotectiveness. Turns out maybe he was right to be a little worried, huh?”
“You make that sound like a good thing.”
“It is. Alex needs someone to shake up his world and make him realize he’s not the only one who gets to make all the decisions.”
Maybe Alex did, but Theresa’s own life had already been turned upside down. Did she really need anything more to shake up her life? “His name’s Jarrett Deeks, and he’s a former rodeo star. He was a bull rider.”
As Theresa went on to fill Caitlyn in on what she knew of Jarrett’s life—far less, she realized, than he knew of hers—she added, “He has this amazing way with horses...and people, too, though he tries to hide it. When he off
ered Chloe a job, he made it sound like she’d be doing him a favor, taking over the riding lessons, when it was just so obvious that he didn’t have the heart to see her give up her horse.”
“Sounds like he definitely has a way with you to have made such a big impression in such a short time.”
Theresa’s hand tightened on the phone. “But that’s part of the problem. It has been a short time. I’ve only known Jarrett a little over a week. I’d be crazy to rush into something, especially when I’m leaving at the end of the month.”
Caitlyn sighed. “Take it from a woman who’s been hopelessly in love with your brother for years. Rushing doesn’t sound like such a bad thing.”
“Alex thinks Jarrett might just be a distraction.”
Her friend gave an inelegant snort. “He would. But remind me why you are listening to your all-work, no-play brother when it comes to romance?”
“Because I can’t help wondering if he’s right,” she confessed. “Spending time with Jarrett, taking care of the horses, it’s been wonderful. A wonderful escape, but it’s not real life. Everything I’ve worked for and planned for is back home. I keep talking about moving forward, and maybe by staying here, I’m only delaying taking those steps.”
“But that’s the thing about plans, Theresa. They change. Sometimes whether we want them to or not. The accident pushed you onto a totally different path, one that’s led you to Clearville...and to Jarrett.”
“You don’t actually think it’s fate that we’ve met, do you?” And why did those words that she meant to come out so cynical sound so hopeful, instead?
“Maybe fate is what we make of it, and it’s up to you to make the most of the time you have with Jarrett.”
* * *
Jarrett had never been a big fan of weddings, and he still wasn’t sure how he’d attended more ceremonies in the past year than he had in his first thirty-two years combined. Becoming friends with the Pirellis seemed to have something to do with it. Drew was the latest to wed, and Jarrett actually felt a twinge of sympathy for Theresa’s brothers, who’d huddled together on the far side of the ballroom as if there was safety in numbers.
Jarrett wished them luck with that. If the same held true for these Pirelli brothers, they’d be falling like dominoes into wedded bliss one after the other.
“Hey.”
Jarrett glanced over as Ryder Kincaid stepped up to the bar. He knew the other man in passing and that he’d been hired by Drew to take on some of the construction company’s remodeling work. Though originally from Clearville, Ryder had only moved back recently, and the designer suit he wore was definitely a holdout from his San Francisco wardrobe. “Kincaid.”
“You look about as uncomfortable as I feel,” Ryder said after ordering a beer.
Jarrett gave a short laugh, even though he supposed it was true. He did consider the Pirellis his friends, but he hadn’t gone out of his way to fit in with the rest of the small town. He was still—and perhaps would always be— considered an outsider. But Ryder— “This is your hometown. Figured you’d be welcomed back with open arms.”
“Ten years is a long time. God knows I’m not the same cocky kid I was when I left.”
Jarrett thought some of that cockiness remained. Why else would Ryder wear the thousand-dollar suit to a wedding where the rest of the guests would be in their Sunday best, bought off the rack at the closest mall?
“I’m sure Drew’s glad you came.”
“Yeah, he’s a great guy and a good boss. Hope everything works out for him.”
The wish might have been sincere, but the doubt came through loud and clear. “Not a fan of weddings, huh?”
“Been there, done that, lost the T-shirt in the divorce settlement. How about you?”
“Me? No, never been married.”
“Ever come close?”
Close enough to still have some scars... He and Becca had talked about getting married, about the life they would have as they traveled together from one rodeo to the next. He’d never expected any woman to welcome that kind of transient lifestyle, but Becca had been a barrel racer, successful and popular in her own right, and she loved the rodeo life.
And, as Jarrett figured out following his accident, loved being with a rodeo star. When the doctors warned that he would never ride again, the news had sent Becca running. Oh, sure, she’d stuck around for a little while—maybe to try to make him feel better or maybe to simply make herself feel better—but in the end she still left.
Unable to stop himself, Jarrett glanced over at Theresa sitting at a table reserved for the groom’s family. She looked stunning in a pale blue dress that was similar in style to the sapphire bridesmaid dresses. The bodice formed a twisted knot between her breasts, and the shimmery fabric floated to midcalf. The whole thing was held up by beaded straps that looked fragile enough to break beneath a heated glance and left her arms and shoulders completely bare. She’d taken his breath away from the moment he saw her, and he hadn’t gotten it back.
Only a few more weeks and then she, too, would leave.
Not that circumstances were the same. Whether she chose to return to the ER or not, her life and career were waiting for her back in St. Louis. He was smart enough to know she wouldn’t stay in the small town. Smart enough to know any relationship would be temporary.
Only a few more weeks... Instead of warning him off, the words urged him on.
“Sure you wanna go there?” Ryder asked, tipping his beer in the direction of Jarrett’s gaze. “Theresa’s got her whole family and half the town watching out for her.”
Undeterred, Jarrett pushed away from the bar. If his years in the rodeo had taught him anything, it was how to focus on a goal and how to block out a crowd.
* * *
“Theresa, so good to see you again!”
“Don’t you look wonderful?”
“I heard about that horrible accident, and we’re all so glad to see you’ve fully recovered!”
Theresa’s face hurt from forcing a smile in response to the many greetings from the wedding guests. They meant well, she knew. Their caring and concern was genuine, and if a hint of curiosity also fueled their questions, she supposed she couldn’t blame them. It was, after all, a small town, where people made a point of knowing all there was to know about their neighbors.
Even temporary neighbors.
Getting through the actual ceremony hadn’t been as difficult as she’d feared.
She didn’t think she’d ever seen her cousin Drew look more handsome or happy than when Debbie stepped out from the back of the chapel and started her walk down the aisle. She’d looked stunning in a white satin gown, the fitted, strapless bodice covered in seed pearls in a floral pattern that trailed down to the full, floating skirt. Her blond hair was pulled up into delicate ringlets entwined with white rosebuds, and her makeup only served to highlight the happiness in her blue eyes and radiant smile.
Theresa had worried seeing the bride and groom standing at the altar, pledging their love and speaking their vows, would make her think of her might-have-been wedding.
But in truth, there was no comparison. Michael had never looked at her the way Drew looked at Debbie.
Her gaze drifted over to the bar and Jarrett. Though they had yet to speak that night, she’d been aware of his presence the whole time. Like most of the guests, he was casually dressed. She’d almost expected him to wear his typical jeans and cowboy boots since she’d never seen him in anything else. He had worn boots, but she would guess they were custom-made from the intricate pattern in the black leather, along with a pair of black slacks, a dark blue dress shirt and intricate silver bolo tie.
The simplicity of the clothes worked on him, nothing to distract from the broad shoulders, flat stomach and leanly muscled limbs. His rich brown hair gleamed beneath the hotel’s amber
sconces, and even from across the ballroom, she could feel the heat of his hazel gaze. He was standing at the bar with another man, but there was still an air of reserve surrounding him. No one would figure Jarrett as the life of the party, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was simply there waiting.
For her.
“Theresa? Theresa?”
“Hmm?” Glancing over, Theresa realized her mother had asked a question. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
She might have lost track of the conversation, but she couldn’t possibly miss the worried look her mother exchanged with her aunt. “Are you getting tired? Is this all too much for you? The rehearsal dinner last night and the wedding today—”
“It’s fine,” she interrupted. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Your aunt was asking if you remember Marie Oliver,” her mother repeated.
Forcing her attention away from Jarrett and toward the silver-haired woman standing nearby, an old memory flashed through Theresa’s mind. Climbing one of the enormous trees in her cousins’ backyard. Showing off and trying to prove the city girl was as adventurous and daring as her country cousins. Reaching for a high branch, missing, and the heart-stopping second when she knew she was going to fall.
“I do remember,” she said suddenly. “You were the nurse at the clinic.”
The older woman nodded. “Doc Crawford and I set your arm when you thought you were a little monkey, climbing that tree.”
“I think it was more like some kind of superhero, but either way, I can’t believe you remember.”
“Oh, well, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to keep in touch with what’s happening in your life through your aunt and uncle. For a while, I think they were in our office just about every other week with those three boys.” Her gaze turned misty as she sought out Theresa’s cousins. “Hard to believe they’re all grown up now.” Refocusing, Marie said, “I heard from your aunt that you’re a nurse now, too. Any chance that I can take a bit of credit for that?”
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