by Ava Miles
“So he wasn’t worth bringing inside.”
“No. I just wasn’t that into him.” And that had been a recurring theme since moving to Dare Valley. She was used to high rollers, and while she still met some at the casino at The Grand Mountain Hotel, no one had grabbed her attention and held it.
Which was pretty much her whole dating experience, besides…
Well, the only man she’d ever loved had been drastically inappropriate. And by the time she realized it was love, she’d already headed for the hills.
“It’s ironic, don’t you think?” Jane asked. “I want to find Mr. Right, and you can’t run fast enough in the other direction. Maybe we’re both out of balance.”
“Too bad they don’t have a remedy for that. But I have to tell you again how proud I am of you for going after what you want. And I’m glad you didn’t let the fact that he’s a lawyer make you cross him off your list.”
She bounced in her seat. “It’s not as though he’s running for political office. That I couldn’t handle. How many times did Dr. Utley say the safest way to have a successful marriage was not to marry your father?”
Their psychology teacher at Harvard had been a trip, lecturing in houndstooth jackets while spouting common sense. “Of course, I don’t have to worry about marrying my father,” Elizabeth said with a bitter taste in her mouth. “No drugged-up mobile home managers in Dare.”
When a knock sounded at the door, Elizabeth turned on the couch and watched as Jane headed to answer it. “Maybe it’s Matt, here for his first lesson.”
Jane shot her a dirty look and opened the door. “Ha ha. It’s only Rhett.”
“Only Rhett,” he said, snatching her up in a huge hug.
Given that Rhett was six feet six without his usual boots on, he pretty much lifted Jane a couple of feet off the floor.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?” Elizabeth said as he set Jane aside and scooped up Annie. “Or do we even need to ask?”
“Ladies, there’s just no words for wedded bliss,” he said, stroking the tiny dog, who was decked out in a purple sweater and matching legwarmers “Now, who did you think might be at the door?”
“Elizabeth,” Jane warned, reaching down to pet Rufus so he wouldn’t feel left out.
She threw caution to the wind. “Matt Hale. Jane finally managed to have a conversation with him at the park yesterday. She’s going to help him with his dog. Apparently he’s flunked training twice.”
“Well, well, I’m happy to hear it. He’s a pretty down-to-earth guy from what I can tell. I like him for you, Jane, I really do.”
“She’s all, ‘But I’m not Raven anymore. No man will look at me,’” Elizabeth said with dramatic flair and touched the back of her hand to her brow like a Victorian lady in distress.
Rhett barked out a laugh and set Annie aside. “Honey, I hate to tell you this, but a real man—the kind you want to settle down with—isn’t going to want someone like Raven. That’s for show.” He took Jane’s shoulders in his hands. “He’s gonna want someone like you because you’re darn near perfect.”
Jane ducked her head. “Oh, Rhett.”
“Now,” he said. “I have good news, ladies. Abbie’s given me a pass to head out to Cabo San Lucas for that celebrity poker tournament in a couple weeks. I’ve heard from Rye that Kenny Chesney and a few other country singers might be attending.”
Rye Crenshaw, one of Rhett’s best friends, was one of the hottest tickets out there.
“Always good to see Rye,” Jane commented. “Is he going to sing?”
“Not sure, but it’ll be nice to have some guy time. Of course, he thinks I’ve become boring since marrying Abbie.”
Elizabeth vaulted over the couch, a spontaneous act that was too fun to pass up. Rufus barked in surprise. “No, you’re as sweet as ever.”
“Be nice to my furniture, Elizabeth. This isn’t an Olympic training facility.”
She waggled her brows. “Not yet, but now that you and Matt are getting friendly, you never know.”
“Okay, ladies, enough hullaballoo. I brought a list of people who might be attending the tourney. It’s time to get to work. I have a hankering to win.”
“When don’t you?” Elizabeth mused. “Is Mac going?” Mac Maven was Rhett’s oldest friend and now brother-in-law, another successful poker player who had opened a booming poker hotel in Dare Valley.
“Not sure yet. He and Peggy and Keith are still getting settled in her house. He likes his luxuries, so we keep telling him he’s slumming it, but he’s happy as a clam. And I can’t say I mind living in the house Abbie and Mac bought together when they first moved to town. My wife sure has a knack for making a house into a home.”
“I’m so glad how everything has worked out for you both. You deserve it.”
“He’s struck the jackpot with Dare’s deputy sheriff and her sweet son,” Rhett commented.
“Of course, you haven’t done too badly for yourself with Abbie and Dustin.”
“Yeah, who would of thought I’d end up adopting a sixteen-year-old boy? That kid about brought me to my knees when he told me he wanted to take my name and be my boy. Heck, Abbie bawled like a baby, but I stayed tough.”
Jane punched his shoulder. “Yeah, you’re such a tough guy.”
Well, he had been when they’d met him in a casino in Atlantic City while celebrating their new MBAs. Rhett had hit on her, but that was before Jane started messing with him by revealing how much they knew about poker. Soon Rhett’s eyes had stopped roving up and down Elizabeth’s body. His charming smile had faded, and he’d started volleying questions at them about who had which cards and other tells. By the end of the evening, he’d offered them jobs as his poker scouts.
“Convinced you both to wear poker babe outfits, didn’t I?” he mused.
Of course, it hadn’t taken much convincing. Both of them had realized that new alter egos would be a welcome escape from their lives and their parents. And she…well, she had needed to hide for another reason as well.
“Now, I have this sweet but insane-looking dog that has a clothes budget,” Rhett said. “It’s a good thing I’m confident because another man might feel emasculated by this new act I’ve created to keep Abbie happy.”
“She’s a lucky lady, Rhett,” Jane said. “Elizabeth can make all the travel arrangements for Cabo, and I’ll be sure to buy some celebrity dog outfits for our little Annie here. How do you feel about jewelry?”
He groaned and leaned down to tap Annie’s brown nose. “If you weren’t so cute, you’d embarrass me to death. Well, marriage is all about compromises, and this one’s mine. Plus, I’m happy y’all don’t have to use false identities anymore.”
Rather than replying, Jane looked down at her shoes.
“You need any advice about men, Janey,” Rhett said, using his rare nickname for her, “you just ask. I won’t interfere or say anything, but I’m here for you.”
“I know it, Rhett,” she said.
Neither she nor Jane had a natural brother, but they had Rhett, and neither could imagine a better one.
“Someday pretty soon, Jane, I’m going to be walking you down the aisle,” he said, winking at her before opening the door.
The cold wind rushed inside, but it didn’t take away from the warmth in Elizabeth’s heart.
“Thanks, Rhett,” Jane said in a soft voice.
“Bye, Rhett. I’ll start tweeting up a storm about you hanging with the celebs, especially Rye. His fans adore you.”
He winked. “That’s ‘cause we’re cut from the same cloth. Enjoy the day, ladies. I know I will.”
And with that, the door swung shut behind him.
“That Rhett,” Jane mused, dropping to her haunches so she could rub the dogs.
“Yeah, he’s the best. Have you ever wondered what might have happened if we hadn’t met him?”
Her brow knitted with tension. “Yes, I’d be a robot, working for my father, shuffling political favors around
and campaigning every couple years like I did for most of my life before becoming Raven.”
Elizabeth rubbed her hand over the hard ball that had formed in her stomach. “Yeah.” And she didn’t even dare think where she’d be. For all she knew, she’d be dead if she hadn’t taken Rhett’s offer.
“Come on,” Jane said, rising. She gave Elizabeth a brief hug. Yeah, Jane knew where her mind had gone. She knew how scary that time had been for Elizabeth…heck, for them both.
“Let’s sit down and go through the list, and then we can pull some files and see what info we already have on the players. Time to get to work.”
When Jane released her and left to go to her office for the files, Elizabeth sank to her knees and laid her head against Rufus, who leaned in to give her kisses.
You’re safe now, you’re safe, she reminded herself. There was no sense in dredging up the past.
But the old fear had never completely gone away, and deep down, she feared it never would.
Chapter 5
It was a brisk eighteen degrees outside, and snow swirled around Jane as she gazed out across the valley. The sun was an orange ball hovering above the far mountain, and the sky was layered in colors of turquoise and peach. Feeling the urge to run today, she had arrived a little earlier than usual and jogged about a mile along the mountain path that extended beyond the park. Running at this altitude had put her in the best shape of her life, and she freaking loved that. She’d left Annie, dressed in a warm yellow fleece, in the SUV.
Jane was heading back to her vehicle, Rufus running beside her, when Matt drove up.
Her heart started pumping double-time, and her whole body felt flushed and alive.
“Hey!” he called as he got out of the car, shoving an overzealous Henry back to keep him from bounding out of the backseat and through the driver’s side door. “Where’s Annie?”
Nice of him to notice. “I went for a run, so left her in the car.”
“Oh, are you leaving?” he asked, gazing at his SUV door as though he were afraid to let the dog out. Woot. Woot. Woot. Woot.
Okay, so she didn’t need that song running through her mind right now.
“No, just coming back to get her. She’s too little to run with me.”
“Right,” he said and smiled at her.
Just smiled.
And she grinned back at him like a lunatic. Man, she had it bad.
At Elizabeth’s suggestion, she was wearing navy thermal tights, her turquoise running shoes, and a hot pink fleece with an insulated shirt underneath. A matching pink hat covered her head and ears, and her navy gloves had hand warmers in them. She looked sporty cute, her friend had said. And then she’d told her they were immediately going to buy more “park” outfits.
“Wasn’t sure you’d be here,” Matt commented, still not opening the SUV. “Storm’s supposed to be blowing in.”
“Not yet, and I love this kind of weather. I missed winter, so it’s good to have it again.”
“Where did you live before Dare?” he asked, finally opening the car door, leash in hand.
Henry shoved the door open the rest of the way and raced off before Matt could catch him. Jane had seen it happen before, so she knew what would happen next. He would swear a blue streak at the dog and then chase him around the park for ten minutes until the dog tired of the game.
“Dammit, Henry!” Matt called out.
She thrust Rufus’ leash at him. “Here, take him and get Annie out. Her leash is on the seat. I’ll get Henry.” When he took it, she headed after the errant dog. “Henry,” she called.
Fortunately, no one else was in the park due to the brisk wind and falling temperatures because technically all dogs were supposed to be leashed. Not that everyone followed that rule. Owners could be just as disobedient as their dogs.
“Come, Henry. Right now!” She yelled across the park and watched him chase his tail and then kick up some snow. As she walked toward the dog, she drew up to her full height and stared him down. “Sit!”
He stopped nuzzling the snow and looked up, as if to say, are you talking to me?
“Yes, I’m talking to you, Henry. Now sit. Sit. And if you’re good, I’ll give you a treat.”
His ears perked up at that.
“Yeah, he knows that one, all right,” Matt said when he appeared beside her, leading her dogs. “He gained five pounds before I started cutting back on that carrot.”
“Well, we’re going to use it as an incentive today so we don’t run ourselves ragged chasing him. He has zero obedience skills.”
“Don’t I know it? If Annie weren’t so girly, I’d gladly trade Henry for her. She just stood there smiling as I clipped her leash. I almost teared up.”
She glanced over and laughed. “Been bad, huh?”
“He turned over the water bowl three times this morning. The kitchen floor hasn’t been cleaner. He’s trying to break me. Of course, then he lays his head in my lap and acts all sweet, making me forget the other stuff for a little while.”
“He just doesn’t like rules. Who does? Henry. Treat. Now. Come.”
Henry regarded her warily. “You don’t always give him a treat when you use that word, do you?”
Matt sighed. “I’ve been desperate.”
“Right. But now he doesn’t trust the offer. We’ll work on that too.” She grabbed a bone from her pocket and held it up so the dog would know she wasn’t faking it.
Finally, he pranced forward warily, eyes dancing. Yeah, you little devil. You know you’re running him a merry race.
“Step back a bit. I want him to come the full way and not…”
“Take off because of me. Got it.”
He stepped back, and she waited. Sure enough, the dog came forward. “Now sit,” she said.
Henry sat and inclined his head toward the treat. “Only when your leash is attached, my man.” She clipped it on and then gave him the treat. He chomped it up in one bite. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
“It’s like ice skating in the Olympics. You make it look easy, but if pretty much anyone else tried it they’d face-plant.”
And then Rufus barked and nuzzled her pocket. “Yes, I know, he got your treat.” She rubbed him behind the ears before pulling out the extra she always kept on hand. “See, I have one for you.”
Annie gave a small yip, as if asking for a treat of her own.
“You haven’t done anything yet to deserve one.”
“She should get one for standing so still while I attached her leash.” Matt leaned down and rubbed her. “I’ve been wondering. How many outfits does she have? I’ve lost count.”
He’d been counting? “Well, as Rhett’s ah…special dog, she has a clothes allowance, so she has a lot of them.” Today, Jane had dressed her all in yellow since the day was so gray. Her fleece zipped on the sides, her little knit cap had butterflies on it, and her leg warmers made Jane think of beams of sunshine.
“It’s incredible,” he commented neutrally.
But she could tell he thought Annie’s outfits were absurd. “Well, people really love dogs, and Rhett is known for his flamboyance.”
“But she’s not a poker babe, and man, were they hot. No offense.”
Her mouth tightened. “None taken,” she almost said, since he was talking about her without knowing it.
“Has Annie really brought the same kind of publicity?” Matt asked.
“Well, Elizabeth has been tweeting about her a lot, so his fans are getting to know her. They love the regular tweets about what she’s wearing. So far a few of the dog-focused magazines have run spreads on her. We haven’t taken her to a big tournament yet since Rhett has been staying here with his new family, but that’s about to change.” And then they’d all see how well it worked. It would, she knew. No one could ham up a situation bigger and better than Rhett.
“Do you like poker?” he asked.
She had to bite her lip to keep from barking out a laugh. If he only knew. “Yes,” she said.
“Very much. It helps…since I’m around it a lot.” Jane had been to hundreds of tournaments. She’d even been pinched by some pretty big stars, not that she was naming any names.
“Yeah, but the action at The Grand Mountain Hotel isn’t the same as a big tournament. You must be excited to see what it’s all about.” Fortunately, he didn’t ask about her job there. All the town knew was that she and Elizabeth had moved to town for employment in Mac’s new hotel. It wasn’t publicly known that they were long-time friends or that they’d known Mac and Rhett for the better part of a decade.
“I’m sure it will be great,” she commented. She hated not disclosing the full truth, but her secrets weren’t hers to tell. Other people were involved. “Let’s try a few more commands.”
For the next twenty minutes, she worked with Henry and Matt. The dog seemed almost deaf when it came to his owner, but the man was relentless in trying to learn how to make the dog obey him. A wrinkle appeared between his brows after five minutes of being ignored. Yeah, who liked that? She’d felt that way growing up.
Soon the wind was gusting so hard it was blowing loose snow in their faces. When she checked her smart phone, the temperature said eight degrees. The dogs didn’t need any more winter exposure, and the night sky was smothering the last orange and blue rays of the sunset—it was time to go home.
“I think we’d better call it a day.”
Matt looked over, and his jaw tightened. “We were just starting to gel, I could feel it. Are you sure?” Then he shook his head. “I’m sorry. I was so far in the zone I didn’t even notice your lips are blue.”
They were? She touched them with her gloves and then dropped her hand.
“And the dogs must be cold too. Sorry, guys. Let’s get them back to the cars.”
His reluctance to end his lesson warmed her heart. “No need to cut things short when you’re starting to gel.”
He was right. When he delivered commands, Henry was starting to look at him and consider obeying. It wasn’t an automatic response, but it was an improvement.
