Dance with Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte Book 2)

by Heather Slade

  “Do you want to know ahead of time?”

  “I do, he doesn’t. He says that if it is a girl, he’ll have that much more time to worry.”

  It took another hour before Willow settled down enough to sleep. Billy closed the door softly behind him, turned the baby monitor on, and set it on the floor near where Liv was sitting cross-legged.

  “You said you had a lot you wanted to talk to me about.”

  “I do. And it starts with a phone call I got yesterday afternoon.”

  20

  “Yeah,” he said when the call came in from a number he didn’t recognize.

  “Patterson? This is Jace Rice calling.”

  “Jace Rice. Unexpected.”

  “Yeah, I know. But hear me out for a minute before you decide you don’t want to talk to me.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “Wow,” Liv said when he finished the story.

  “I know, right? Gotta give the guy credit. He cares about Renie.”

  “Obviously.” She shook her head and laughed.

  “What?”

  “I hope I’m having a girl.”

  “Why’s that?” Billy laughed too.

  “Those Rice men have some mighty big huevos, don’t they?”

  “Ha! That’s great, Livvie. And yeah, they must.”

  “Seriously though, he made a valid point.”

  “What was it like, raising Renie on your own?”

  “You know, I never thought of it that way. My mom and dad were hugely supportive, and then when they passed away, your parents took us in, so to speak.

  “She made it easy, though. She was a good baby, a good little girl, even as a teenager, she never got in any trouble.”

  “Renie’s always been a rock…on the surface.”

  “Until recently anyway. She’s been a bit of a mess lately. Thanks to you.” Liv teased.

  “Thanks a lot. But seriously, I appreciate this.”

  “I know you do. And I’m happy to help. I hope you can get through to her.”

  “Have to. Can’t live without her.”

  Liv’s cell phone rang. “It’s Ben.” She got up to take the call.

  Billy meant it. He had to get through to Renie because there was no way he could consider a life without her in it. He wanted Willow to grow up in a house full of love, the way he had. Without Renie, it would be half what it should be.

  “I’m heading back to the house now, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You’re sure she’s not working?”

  “Ben called and confirmed it. He also made sure that Will knew not to let her switch shifts with anyone.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you around three tomorrow, then. Thanks again, Liv.”

  “Make her believe, Billy, and then make her happy.”

  “I’ll do my best, you know I will.”

  She kissed his cheek on the way out the back door.

  Billy filled the air mattress and carried it into the room Willow slept in. He kissed her cheek.

  “Big day tomorrow, baby girl. Most important day of your daddy’s life.”

  He spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, planning the next afternoon over and over in his head.

  It was almost eleven by the time Renie ventured upstairs.

  “Hey, there.”

  “Morning, Mom.”

  “How did you sleep?” Liv kissed her forehead.

  “Okay.”

  “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “The same thing that’s usually wrong. I’ll give you three guesses.”

  “Are they all Billy?”

  “First he drives all the way from Monument to Crested Butte, in what started off as a jealous rage over Jace. Now that he’s back home, he’s uncommunicative. He frustrates the hell out of me.”

  “When’s the last time you talked to him?”

  “I talked to him for a few minutes yesterday. We sent texts back and forth a few minutes ago.”

  “What did he say?”

  “That he’s busy.”

  “How did you leave things with Jace the other day?”

  “We agreed to be friends. He’s such a good man, I wish things were different.”

  “You do?”

  “No, not different that way. I love Billy. I don’t know whether it will ever work out between us, but I’ll love him forever anyway. I doubt another man would want me, knowing that’s how I feel.”

  “No, probably not.” Liv sat down at the kitchen table next to where Renie nursed a cup of coffee.

  “Sometimes I feel as though I wasn’t the best mother I could be to you.”

  “Huh? Where is this coming from?”

  “You are so independent. It seemed as though nothing ever bothered you. At least on the surface. I wish I would’ve paid better attention, honey.”

  Renie laughed.

  “How is that funny?”

  “It’s something I’ve said to Jace. That nothing ever bothers him. He set me straight on that mighty fast. I feel the same way he does.”

  “How is that?”

  “A lot bothers me.”

  “You’re good at hiding it.”

  “Yep.”

  “Tell me how you’re feeling about Billy and Willow.”

  It took Renie a few minutes to start talking, but when she did, she told her mother about her ride with Jace, and what they talked about.

  “Listening to you, I respect Jace more by the minute. There’s even a part of me that agrees it’s too bad things didn’t work out between the two of you. He’ll find his own love though, someone who loves him as much as he loves her.”

  “Telling Jace about Billy helped me so much. I realized that I’ve never told Billy all the things I love about him.” Renie rubbed the back of her neck. “And now he’s so…distant. I feel as though we’re never on the same page.”

  “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

  “I don’t know.” Renie walked to the window. “Maybe I should drive to Monument and have this out with him once and for all.”

  “I heard there’s a storm coming over the pass, I don’t think you should risk it.”

  “Seriously, Mom, I talk big. Can you imagine me confronting Billy that way? I do want to talk to him though.”

  Liv patted her hand. “Why don’t you go for a ride, honey? The fresh air will do you good, and the weather won’t stay this nice much longer.”

  “I think I will, especially if there’s a storm coming. Thanks, Mom.”

  “Will you calm down?” Billy said when Liv called him.

  “I know, I’m a nervous wreck.”

  “She isn’t going anywhere. She’ll take a ride, talk it out with Pooh for a while, then…knowing her, she’ll come in, eat, and then crawl in bed with a book.”

  Liv laughed. “You know her so well. That’s exactly what she’ll do.”

  “Your daddy looks so handsome, doesn’t he, baby girl?”

  Liv’s level of nervousness earlier was nothing compared to how nervous Billy felt now.

  “Are you gonna be okay?” he asked.

  “Me? What about you?”

  “It’s the rest of my life, Livvie. And your life too, right, Willow?” Billy kissed Willow for the hundredth time since Liv had gotten there.

  “She calms you.”

  “Yep. She’s the only one who does, other than Renie.”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  “I’m hoping for a hell of a lot better than fine, Liv.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I meant.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Bonne chance!”

  “Thanks, I think. Oh, keep your eye on this one, she took a few steps today.”

  “Billy! Are you kidding? Willow took her first steps today? That’s a huge milestone.”

  “I know it is, Liv. Jeez. I got it recorded for Grandma and Grandpa. You can see it tomorrow if you want. In fact, I’m sure you’ll see it with your own eyes in a few minutes. If you put her down that is. You can’t be ho
ldin’ her all the time, you’ll spoil her.”

  Liv grinned. “I love seeing you as a father.”

  “Again, thanks. Ben’s gone, right?”

  “Yep, he and the boys are at a movie, and they’re going to eat afterwards. Then they’re coming here.”

  “Okay, I gotta get this show on the road. Bye-bye, Willow. Daddy loves you so much. Bye, Livvie. Thanks again for this.”

  He pulled the truck over twice on his way to the Rice Ranch, wishing he’d had a drink, but he didn’t want Renie to smell alcohol on his breath. It wouldn’t have helped his nervousness, anyway.

  Renie was furious with Billy. She texted him an hour ago, and he still hadn’t answered. Maybe he was busy with Willow, and surprisingly, that part of it didn’t irritate her. It made her smile. In fact, she planned to ask him to text her pictures. Maybe they’d even try Facetime tonight. If he ever answered her.

  A knock on the door startled her. As much as she didn’t want to crawl out of bed, she had to. Ben and her mom were out with the boys for the afternoon, and she was home alone. She looked in the mirror as she walked past it. It wasn’t a pretty sight. She should shower soon.

  She opened the door without looking, and took a step backwards. “Billy? Wow, you look…good.” She looked him up and down, leaning against the door jam.

  “Hi.”

  He smiled. “Hi, yourself.”

  Damn, she loved his smile.

  “You gonna invite me in or feast me with your eyes out here on the porch, sugar?”

  She remembered another night he said almost those same words to her. She stepped aside and waved him in.

  “I’ve been texting you.”

  “I know.”

  “You couldn’t have told me you were in town? It would’ve been nice if I had at least taken a shower today.” She laughed. “And look at you cowboy…so handsome.”

  “Why thank you ma’am.” He handed her the daisies he held behind his back. “For you.”

  “Wow. Flowers. Thank you, they’re beautiful. My favorite.”

  “I know they are.”

  “What’s going on, Billy? When did you get into town?”

  “We’ll talk about that later. Go take a shower and get ready.”

  “Ready for what?”

  “Just get ready. Like you’re goin’ out.”

  “Goin’ out where?”

  “Jesus, girl, look at how I’m dressed and figure it out.”

  There he was, the Billy she loved so much. She missed him, his self-assuredness, his cockiness. It was one of her favorite things about him.

  “Don’t want to help me get ready?”

  “Yes I do, but I’m not gonna. We’ll never leave this house if I do and I’ve got plans. So stop temptin’ me and go get ready.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m going.” She walked toward the stairs, but turned around and smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here, Billy.”

  “Whoo-wee, Renie. I told you to quit temptin’ me. You keep smilin’ at me that way…”

  She ran down the stairs before he finished his sentence.

  Billy took a deep breath in when she came back up the stairs. She had on a dark gray cashmere sweater. She knew he loved it. It was so soft, he loved holding her and sliding his hands up under that sweater. Oh God, he needed to stop thinking about sliding his hands anywhere on her body, or his plans would be shot to shit.

  “You look beautiful,” he said when she stood in front of him. He looked her up and down.

  She had a tight black skirt on that came just above her knees, black tights, and little black ankle boots. She left her hair loose, the way he loved it, down over her shoulders. He could eat her up, she looked so good.

  “Let’s go,” he said, pulling her toward the door. “Do you have a jacket?”

  “Will I need one?”

  “We’ll be out late, so yeah.”

  She grabbed a black leather jacket off the coat rack near the front door.

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Billy drove toward town, but kept going, in the direction of the ski area. When they passed it, she had no idea where he was taking her.

  “Billy?”

  “We are going to see the most beautiful view of the sunset in all of the valley.”

  “Okay.” At least that explained why he was in such a hurry, the sun would be going down soon. She wondered how he knew about the view, though.

  They stopped at a curve on the side of the road. Billy backed the truck in and turned it off. He was right, the view was spectacular—in the other direction.

  He got out, walked around to her side, and opened the door. “Come with me,” he said.

  He’d lowered the tailgate of the truck when he came around, and Renie saw he had blankets and pillows in the back, along with two glasses and a bottle of wine.

  “Ooh, romantic.”

  “That was the plan.” He lifted her up so she could easily scoot back on the blankets. He opened the wine and poured her a glass first, then one for himself.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “No, I’m fine.” She snuggled into him and watched as the sky turned different colors.

  “Good.” He turned his head toward hers and kissed her. It was heaven, being here with her, kissing her. Heaven. He took her wine glass and set it down along with his, so he could kiss her harder, and hold her, feel her against him.

  “We’re missing the sunset,” she whispered.

  He tucked her back against him and turned to watch it.

  “Billy, I was kidding.”

  “I know you were. But we’re here for a reason. So you’re right, let’s watch it.”

  He brought her in closer, and she tucked one of her legs between his. “Are you cold?” He grabbed another blanket and threw it over them.

  “No, I’m fine,” she said again.

  “Renie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I think I figured out what you’re afraid of.” He heard the catch in her breath, and felt her body tense up. “And there are some promises I want to make you. Important promises.”

  She didn’t say anything, but he hadn’t expected her to.

  “The first thing I want to promise you is that I’ll never, ever stop paying attention to you. I mean it. Forever, Renie—I promise.”

  He handed her glass of wine back to her, and touched it with his.

  “That’s the first promise.”

  “Okay.”

  He didn’t say anything else for a few minutes. He wanted each promise he made to sink in.

  “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” he said as the sun sank further behind the mountain.

  “It is. I never knew about this place. I’ve never driven past the ski area on this road.”

  “Most people don’t. That’s part of what makes it special. If you keep going, you eventually come to Gothic Valley. We’ll come out here and hike sometime.”

  “I’d like that.”

  He waited a few more minutes.

  “There’s another promise I want to make you, Renie.”

  “Okay.”

  “I promise that we will always have special moments, just like these. Time we set aside for us. Just the two of us. Forever, Renie—I promise.”

  They sat in silence until the sun tucked all the way behind the mountain. He moved the blankets.

  “Come on, time to move on to our next stop.” He took her by the hand and pulled her toward the tailgate. He lifted her off and carried her back to the passenger door.

  “Billy, what are you doing?”

  “This way I get to hold you a little longer.”

  “You can hold me as long as you want, Billy. We could—”

  “Nope. I’ve got a plan and I’m stickin’ with it. I don’t care how hard you try to tempt me into doin’ somethin’ else.”

  The way she smiled at him though, he wanted to drive back to Ben’s house, and take her straight to bed, but that wasn’t what tonight was
all about.

  Instead, he drove into town, and parked in front of a little cabin on a side street.

  Renie immediately recognized where they were. It was one of the most romantic restaurants in Crested Butte. It didn’t look as though they were open though.

  Once again Billy came around and opened her door. He took her hand and led her to the front door of the cabin. When he opened it, she gasped.

  The entire dining area was awash in candlelight. One table was set, in the center of the room. The rest of the tables were bare, except for tablecloths.

  “Wow,” she murmured. “It’s so beautiful.”

  A man Renie didn’t recognize greeted them at the door. “Welcome, Mr. Patterson. Thank you for joining us this evening. Mademoiselle?”

  He led them to the table, and before he could pull out Renie’s chair for her, Billy stepped in front of him, and did it himself. The man stepped back and smiled.

  When Billy sat down, the man disappeared into the back.

  “Who is that?” she asked him.

  “That’s Raj. You’ve never met him?”

  “I know Jason, but I’ve never seen Raj before.”

  The sous chef rarely came out of the kitchen, but Renie was happy to be able to put a face with the name. Jason, the head chef, was more often the face of the team renowned in the valley for their superb cuisine.

  Renie noticed the wine glasses on the table had already been poured. She took a sip. It was the same wine they’d been drinking before.

  She looked around. “Are we here alone tonight?” You couldn’t get into the restaurant without a reservation, and they were usually booked weeks in advance.

  “Tonight? Yes, we are.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I requested it.”

  He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Look at me. There’s another promise I want to make you.”

  He waited until he was sure he had her attention, and she was looking in his eyes, listening.

  “I promise that I will always listen to you, even when you aren’t talking.”

  “Billy—”