Finding Love In Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love--Finding Love line Book 2)

by Angela Ruth Strong

  The warmth from Josh’s body heat trapped in Grandpa’s old jacket enveloped her as he slid one sleeve up her extended arm. She reached her other arm inside the oversized coat and stepped away to keep Josh’s hands from brushing her skin, but his mossy scent clung to the material and followed her into the camera shop.

  Photographer. She needed to focus on asking the proprietor about a photographer. She stepped to the glass counter to wait her turn.

  The warmth of the jacket mixed with the heat of the shop ignited her from the inside out. Or was it the intimacy of knowing Josh had worn the coat that caused her to flush? It just smelled so . . .

  Sam stepped behind her. “Are you sniffing his coat?”

  Paisley slammed an elbow into his ribs. He needed to keep his distance so Josh didn’t get any more ideas about the two of them together.

  Sam clutched his gut. “I wasn’t going to tell him.”

  “Cut it out, Sam. I’m trying to warm up from that snow you knocked down my shirt, that’s all.”

  Sam stepped closer behind her. “And I’m trying to covertly get Josh’s keys from you. Remember Operation Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Mercedes?”

  Oh yeah. The whole reason she was wearing the big coat in the first place. She pushed her hand out the end of the long sleeve and rubbed the side of the rough material until she found an opening. Her fingers closed around hard, ragged metal. Bingo.

  She retrieved the keyring and passed it behind her without turning around.

  Sam’s rough hand clamped down and pulled the keys away silently. Wow. If Sam ever needed a new job besides the military, forest fire fighter, and freelance ranch hand, he could always become a spy. “Give me fifteen minutes,” he whispered.

  Fifteen minutes until what?

  He jogged away. “This shopping thing is wearing me out,” he announced loud enough for Josh to hear from where he was browsing on the other side of the room. “I’ll wait for you guys in the truck.”

  Paisley turned to gauge Sam’s performance then glanced at Josh to see if he might suspect anything. Josh’s gaze was already on her. Watching her watch Sam.

  Her heart slammed into her chest as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. Which was worse? Josh suspecting they were playing a prank, or Josh getting jealous because he thought she was attracted to his brother?

  She rolled her eyes back to the counter. It was going to be a long fifteen minutes.

  Josh shifted his weight side to side to jostle loose the growing pressure inside his chest as he watched Sam take off out of the store. Maybe Paisley had been honest when she’d described Sam as a younger brother, but that kind of closeness could easily turn into something more. Josh might have felt chemistry with her, but his presence seemed to repel her like a magnet, whereas she told Sam secrets and laughed at his jokes.

  Would this be bothering him so much if he hadn’t recently been dumped by his fiancée? If he hadn’t been planning on getting married and settling down? Paisley accused him of being on the rebound, but could it be more than that?

  Paisley was the one girl in high school who’d been immune to his charm. She challenged him to analyze his life. She made him want to be a better person.

  But she was right about their relationship not being able to go anywhere. It had been silly of him to special order her a necklace pendant designed after her new ranch logo. He should be happy for Sam. Especially since Sam normally avoided commitment. If the kid did commit to Paisley, he’d be free to move to Montana. And he’d fit in great on the ranch.

  The pressure expanded against Josh’s sternum like a balloon as he imagined himself serving as best man in Paisley’s wedding. How could watching Paisley marry someone else make Josh the best man? Wasn’t the best man supposed to win?

  Josh spun away from the tripods section and marched over to the glass counter where the shop owner wrote down information about a local photographer for Paisley. She looked tiny and outdoorsy in the huge jacket he’d given her to wear. Yeah, he’d wanted her to wear it like a shield to protect her from Sam’s advances, but maybe he should talk to her and tell her how he felt rather than get all chicken-breasted and try to compete for her affection.

  Paisley glanced up hesitantly as he approached. The uncertainty in her eyes sucked the wind out of his sails.

  “It’s over a grand for professional photos of the ranch,” she said. “I’m going to have to wait for my loan to go through before I can afford this.”

  He slowed. Because he had nothing to offer her. He was as broke as a joke. Not that she needed money from him. She was capable of starting the ranch on her own, but by the time she was able to get the pictures taken, he’d likely be back in Chicago.

  He studied the sweet determination on her face. Was there anything more beautiful than a woman who wanted to change the world? Maybe he’d stick around until after Christmas. “That should be soon, right? You’ll be able to get the pictures taken before the snow and ice melt?”

  “I think so, but it would be even better with the Christmas lights up.” Her eyes came alive, and her gaze danced with his. “You know what would be really fabulous? A star at the top of the barn. It would go perfectly with the theme of the ranch, and also, it’s Christmassy.”

  With the way Josh’s heart responded, she might as well have been an angel singing about joy to the world.

  “Sam would have to stop giving me a bad time about not wanting to decorate,” she added.

  The Christmas carol playing in his mind came to a halt as with the scratch of a record. “You put up the tree for him. What more does he want?”

  Her eyes blinked wider. She waved a hand between them and looked away. “I told him I usually put a wreath on the front of Big Red, but I haven’t yet this year. I probably should. I will. Yeah, I will.” She wandered toward the exit. Did she have another destination in mind, or was she trying to get away from another conversation about his brother?

  This wasn’t about Sam. This was about them. He followed her. “Sam’s still a little kid when it comes to Christmas. He doesn’t feel the weight of the kind of responsibilities on our shoulders. He hasn’t lost a job or a fiancée or a grandpa. He hasn’t ever had to come up with a business plan.”

  She pushed open the door, allowing the cold air to remind him he wasn’t wearing his coat. But that was one more way he had a connection with Paisley that Sam didn’t have. “There’s no rule you have to put a wreath on your truck. I say if it causes you more stress, then don’t worry about it. I like the star on your barn idea, but decorating cars is a bit over the top.”

  Paisley stopped. Tilted her chin toward him. Her eyes studied his, searching for something. “Yeah, you don’t need that.” She gave a little head shake. “Your car is already over the top.”

  He looked up toward heaven beyond the bright blue sky then smirked down at her. There she was—repelling him like a magnet again. But the thing about magnets was that if you turned one around, they’d connect. “Will you ever let me live that down?”

  “Mm . . .” She twisted her mouth to one side as she thought. “Not today.”

  What did she say? He was too busy watching her lips in fascination for the words to register. Maybe he didn’t have to turn her around. Maybe he could turn around. Maybe he already had. Because there was some kind of magnetic pull going on. Scientists called it attraction.

  A giant red truck crunched through the snow next to the curb. A loud honk jerked Josh back to reality. The reality of Sam behind the wheel of Big Red.

  He looked up to find Paisley’s wary eyes watching him. Her last words penetrated and rang through his skull. Not today . . . not today . . . not today . . .

  That didn’t mean never. Did it?

  Chapter Fourteen

  The only way they all fit in the truck was for Paisley to be squished in the middle. Josh hadn’t minded letting Sam drive earlier, but now he was wishing his younger brother had taken the snowmobile. Because every time Paisley’s thigh brushed against his,
he knew Sam was feeling the exact same thing. And Sam seemed to want to prolong the experience.

  “Anybody else need coffee?”

  “Oh, I do,” Paisley responded before Josh could even shake his head. Did she really need coffee, or did she simply want to ride the extra mile out of the way to The Coffee Cottage while sitting next to Sam? Because usually she was an all-work-and-no-play kind of person.

  His breath puffed out and fogged the window beside him. He’d need to have that talk with her soon. But for his own peace of mind, he’d give her the benefit of the doubt. She needed coffee as fuel and to warm her for when she got home and had to work in the barn.

  The sun was already starting to set, so she’d have to make dinner, too. Maybe he could help her in the kitchen. Maybe he could accidentally slice his finger when dicing potatoes, and she’d have to bandage him up again.

  The crunch of tires on snow grew louder as Sam turned into the makeshift parking lot, and Josh realized how quiet the cab had become. He looked over at Paisley who seemed to be watching him out of the corner of her eye. Had he made her uncomfortable with his brooding? He’d prefer to talk to her alone, but it wouldn’t hurt to join her conversation with Sam. “I’ll take some coffee, too.”

  She didn’t respond. Sam didn’t respond. What happened to their earlier giggling and elbowing? Were they waiting for him to get out of the truck first?

  Sam shifted to park, but they both sat there. Could the moment be any more awkward? Maybe Josh didn’t have to talk to Paisley at all. Maybe he was already history. Fine. He yanked the old metal door handle and dropped to the ground. Too bad he couldn’t drive his car back to the . . .

  His car? Sam had parked nose to nose with it. Only the nose of his Mercedes looked a little brighter than usual in the glow of Big Red’s headlights. He did a double take.

  “What in the North Pole . . . ?”

  Paisley collapsed forward in giggles. She filled the seat he’d vacated.

  Sam hooted in laughter.

  “You guys did this?” His luxury car had become even more of a joke. But Josh couldn’t help chuckling, himself. Because if this was what Sam and Paisley had been talking about back at the gift shop . . .

  Paisley wiped her eyes. “In case your car wasn’t over the top enough.”

  Josh shook his head. The whole time he’d been acting like a jealous idiot, she’d been pulling a prank on him.

  Sam smiled at him over Paisley’s head. “This is for the time you replaced all the filling in my Oreos with toothpaste.”

  Paisley’s jaw dropped. “You did not.”

  “He did. Another time he filled all my donuts with mayonnaise.”

  Paisley gasped. “Did you eat one?”

  “A couple.”

  Josh shook his head in mock regret. “You really shouldn’t have dragged her into this, Sam.”

  Paisley held up her hands in surrender. “It was Sam’s idea.”

  Josh nodded to the coat she was still wearing. “Sure. And you went along because you were cold and wanted to wear your grandpa’s jacket?”

  She twisted her shiny lips to one side in guilt. She’d pretended to be cold to get the keys out of his pocket. As for Sam knocking snow down her shirt, that was probably no accident.

  “Maybe,” she said.

  Sam patted Paisley on the back. “Don’t worry. We taught him a lesson. Now he knows not to mess with my food.”

  Josh eyed Sam’s hand on Paisley’s back. “Speaking of food.” He motioned his head toward the coffee shop. “I could use a croissant. How about you, Paisley?” He held the door open for her. No way would he leave her behind with his brother.

  She unbuckled and slid his direction. “From what Sam said, I don’t think I should trust you with food.”

  “That was a long, long time ago.”

  She landed with a plop in front of him and erupted with laughter. “In that case, will you order me a sugar-free cream cheese croissant? I have to run to the bathroom.” She reached into her wallet to dig out some cash.

  So embarrassing that she had to pay. Before Josh left Big Sky, he’d make sure to take her out for a huge meal. On his own dime.

  Sam slammed the driver’s side door and sauntered around the truck. “I’ve got it, Paisley. Since the whole Rudolph thing was my idea, I’ll pay.”

  Josh ground his teeth together and looked away. Paying had always been his thing.

  “Thanks, Sam.” Paisley snapped her purse shut and ran toward the front door. Her continued giggles floated back to them.

  Josh wanted to enjoy the relief that came from knowing Paisley hadn’t been trying to make Sam jealous earlier by hanging onto his arm. He’d talk to Sam about it, if there really was something to talk about, but he needed to hear it from her first.

  He pulled the coffee shop door open. Jingle bells announced their entry.

  “Samuel Lake.” Dot welcomed his little brother like Santa reading the kid’s name off the nice list. “The ride on your snowmobile inspired me. I called on an ad in Craigslist, and I’m going to sell my car to buy a snowmobile.”

  Sam’s mouth hung open, but Josh smiled. He knew Dot’s hobbies never lasted long enough for them to worry about.

  “I’m not going to ride it, though,” Annabel chimed in. “I was not inspired by your snowmobile but by your practical joke. I’m making candy cane reindeer to stick in hot chocolate for the kids.”

  Dot faced her friend with an exuberant frown. “You promised me you’d try out the snowmobile if I helped you make candy cane reindeer.”

  Annabel pointed to the two miniature candy canes Dot had formed into the shape of a heart. “But you’re not making reindeer.”

  “Kids can have Rudolph,” Dot argued. “This is for adults.” She set the heart down on the side of a red saucer holding a red mug. “What do you think?”

  “Nice,” Josh offered.

  “Looks like something ladies would like,” Sam added.

  Dot beamed. “What can I get for you boys?”

  Sam rattled off his order along with Paisley’s. “And what do you want, Josh?”

  Josh wasn’t going to take charity from Sam no matter how much the kid had in savings after serving oversees and spending a summer helping out the United States Forest Service. “I’m fine.”

  “Bro. I thought you wanted a croissant.”

  Dot rose to her feet. “I’ll be offended if you aren’t at least tempted by our brew. At least let me give you that free cup of coffee I owe you for being Paisley’s friend.”

  It did smell good. And it would warm him up.

  “Paisley’s friends get free coffee?” Sam asked.

  Josh grunted. “Long story. I’ll take that cup, Dot. After all, you’re the whole reason I’m still here.” Sam may have gone to high school with Paisley, but Josh had a bit of a history with her, too.

  “Goodie.” The older woman scrambled behind the counter to pour drinks while Annabel retrieved pastries.

  Paisley joined them from the back hallway. She held a hand to her belly. “Is my food ready? I think I need something to eat.”

  Josh frowned at the lack of color in her face. She’d been so happy a moment ago. Was the stress getting to her? Getting sick was the last thing she needed before the holidays.

  “Here.” Annabel rushed over with a candy cane. “Peppermint helps with a queasy stomach.”

  “Thanks.” Paisley sucked on the end of the stick and sank into a chair.

  The older women kept up a dialog with Sam over the prank he’d pulled, something about “reindeer games.” Josh grabbed the cream cheese croissant as soon as Annabel placed it on a plate and hurried it over to Paisley.

  What was he doing? Was he really the best thing for her? If she was stressed over the ranch and creating stability for her future, she didn’t need him fighting for her attention. The whole reason she pushed him away was because she knew he was leaving. And he was.

  So what if his blood heated up every time her golden bro
wn eyes glanced his way? He’d made a lot of mistakes in his life, and he needed to turn that around. He had to stop thinking about himself all the time. It had gotten him nowhere.

  He gulped his coffee and resolved to let her go.

  “Thanks.” Paisley propped up her heavy head with one arm and took a deep breath before pinching off a piece of her pastry.

  “Anything else you need?” he asked.

  She gave him a small smile and shook her head. If her blood sugar was low, eating would raise it. Too bad she’d left her testing supplies in her parka back at the ranch. “This should help.”

  Josh glanced over his shoulder to where Sam was still caught up in retelling all the pranks from their past. Dot and Annabel were just as enthralled as she had been at the kind of childhood the brothers shared.

  “I, uh . . .” Josh took another sip of his coffee. Had it made him hot enough for his forehead to shine with sweat already? The coffee shop was warm and cozy. Maybe that’s why she felt so tired all of a sudden.

  “I want to apologize for getting jealous back at the gift store.”

  She peeked up, taking a moment to assemble his words into a sentence that made sense. What was wrong with her?

  Oh no. She’d been here before. Ten years ago when her blood sugar went out of control at the masquerade ball. She couldn’t end up in Josh’s arms again. No matter how sweet and protective he was acting.

  “I admire you, Paisley.”

  The words hushed her doubts to sleep like a lullaby. He wasn’t only trying to stroke his ego with her admiration. He. Admired. Her.

  “Even though I know you’re right to push me away.”

  She rocked back in her seat. This wasn’t what he’d said when he carried her into the hotel lobby at the ball.

  “As much as I’d like to get to know you better, I’m going to be leaving soon.”

  She knew that. Why did he have to say it? Why couldn’t he kiss her despite the fight she liked to put up? Why did she have to put up a fight in the first place? She may not get forever, but that would have made their short amount of time together even sweeter.