by Karen Foley
Gus raised his head and, for a moment, his expression was desolate. Then, seeing Holt and the twins, he stood up and managed a reassuring smile. But Holt wasn’t fooled. His father was scared.
“She’s going to be okay,” Gus said quickly. “They’re running some tests now.” He looked past Holt to the sliding glass doors that led to the parking lot. “Where are Jose and Jessie? I thought they would come with you.”
Holt had offered to drive them himself, but Jose had insisted on taking his own vehicle, probably knowing he wouldn’t leave the hospital that night.
“They’re right behind us,” Holt assured him.
Even as he said the words, the glass doors slid open again and Jessie and her father hurried inside. Jessie had been crying; Holt could see the tear tracks on her cheeks and there was a sheen of moisture in her beautiful brown eyes. Her lower lip trembled, as if she was barely holding it together. Something twisted in his chest. In all the years he’d known Jessie, he’d never seen her cry. His brothers would be surprised to know he’d even noticed, but he had. There wasn’t much about Jessica Montero that escaped his notice, like the fact she was hands down the most beautiful woman he’d ever set eyes on.
He still remembered the first time he’d noticed her as a woman and not as Rosa-Maria’s granddaughter or his kid sister’s friend. It was five years ago, and he and Evan had been kicking back at the Last Stand Saloon when a group of young women came in, laughing and lighting the place up with their boisterous energy. But when one of the women had begun dancing to the music, uncaring that she had no partner, Holt had been unable to stop staring. Wearing a breezy little dress and flat sandals, with her dark hair falling around her shoulders, she was incandescent. Before long, every guy in the place was watching her solo performance, while her girlfriends hooted and clapped and encouraged her.
“Well, damn,” Evan had said, setting his beer down. “She’s definitely had a few too many. I’d better take her home or these cowpokes will be on her faster than a duck on a June bug.”
He’d stood, but Holt had forestalled him with a hand on his arm. “You know her?”
Evan’s expression had been almost comical. “Holt, that’s Jessie! Rosa-Maria’s granddaughter. Callie and Emmaline’s friend? You don’t recognize her?”
Holt had been stunned. When had Jessica Montero grown up? And how had he not noticed?
“Christ,” he’d muttered. “Is she actually old enough to drink?”
“I think she’s celebrating her twenty-first birthday tonight,” Evan had replied. “Uh-oh, here comes Billy Gonzalez. I’d better get her home before he does something that makes me have to punch him.”
In the end, Holt had gone with his brother and together, they’d accompanied the entire birthday group back to Jessie’s house, where her parents had thanked them and ushered the rowdy young women into the house.
But it was too late for him to simply do a good deed and then forget about her; Holt was smitten.
Now Jessie clung to her father, but it was unclear who was supporting whom. Seeing Gus, she managed a smile and hurried forward to hug the older man.
“Thank you so much for getting her here so fast,” she said. “I still can’t believe it. She’s always been so healthy!”
“When can we see her?” Jose had rushed out of the restaurant so fast, he hadn’t even removed his chef’s apron. In his midforties, he was a handsome man with curly black hair and expressive dark eyes.
“They’re running tests now,” Gus said. “The doctor said he’d let us know as soon as she’s able to have visitors.”
“But what happened?” Jessie asked.
Gus rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, his blue eyes clouded. “She has Thursday nights off, as you know. Even though I’ve told her it’s not necessary, she always leaves me dinner on the kitchen island; just a sandwich or a bowl of soup, nothing big.” He paused. “I went into the kitchen and was surprised to see her there. I thought she had gone out for the night. She was tidying the kitchen and we were talking, and then suddenly she just—”
He broke off.
“It’s okay, Dad,” Luke said. “She’s in good hands now, and she’s going to be fine.”
“The doctor told me you did everything right, giving her an aspirin and calling for an ambulance,” Jose said. “Thank you for that.”
“Here comes the doc now,” Holt observed.
They turned to see Dr. Rick Wallace walking toward them. In his early thirties and good-looking, he was popular with the ladies, but he also had a reputation as an excellent ER doctor. He smiled reassuringly as they crowded around him.
“Mrs. Montero had a mild heart attack,” he said. “Her potassium and sugar levels are also high, so we’re going to keep her here for a few days until we get both under control.”
“But she’s going to be fine.” Gus said it as a statement, as if it was a foregone conclusion.
“Yes, I believe she will make a full recovery,” Dr. Wallace said. “There doesn’t appear to be any damage to the heart muscle, but we’ll consult with our cardiologist, Dr. Fletcher, just to be certain. Mrs. Montero will need to take it easy for a time.”
“Thank God,” Gus muttered.
Holt sharpened his attention on his father. Rosa-Maria had worked in the Claiborne home for nearly twenty-five years, so his worry was natural, but Holt saw something more in his father’s reaction, something other than just an employer’s concern for an employee. The older man had actually buckled a bit when the doctor had assured them Rosa-Maria would be okay.
“Can we see her?” Jessie asked.
“Of course. She’s resting comfortably, but I don’t want to overtax her, so . . .” Dr. Wallace assessed the small group. “Gus, Jose, and Jessie, you can go in now. Guys, you can see her tomorrow, after she’s had some rest.”
Holt nodded. “Of course. I’ll wait for you, Dad, if that’s okay.”
Gus paused. “Sure you don’t want to head home, son? There’s nothing you can do here tonight.”
“Rosa-Maria is family.” Holt gestured toward his brothers. “I don’t think any of us want to leave until we hear from you on her condition.”
Gus nodded. “Okay, son. We won’t be long.”
Jessie looked at him then, her dark gaze clinging to his as her father led her past him and down the corridor. When they turned a corner and disappeared from sight, Holt blew out a hard breath and scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
“You heard the doc,” Evan said, watching him. “She’s going to be okay.”
“Yeah,” Holt muttered. “Thank Christ.”
Evan gave him a crooked grin. “My thoughts, exactly. Because your cooking skills are shit, and mine aren’t much better.”
“Jesus, that’s cold, Evan.” This came from Luke, who until now had stood to one side, observing. “I can cook your damned breakfast, if that’s the issue.”
“Nobody wants you to do the cooking.” Holt gave his brother a tolerant look. “You’ve got your own life. We’ll figure something out until Rosa-Maria is back on her feet, but I don’t think we need to hire anyone to fill in until then. We’re grown-ass men and we can damn well cook and clean up after ourselves.”
He didn’t miss the look that passed between the twins. Clearly, they had their doubts.
“That was a joke about the cooking, by the way.” Evan removed his cowboy hat and pushed his fingers through his hair. “I just want her to be okay too.”
“Yeah, we all do.” Holt sat down in the chair his father had vacated.
He hadn’t exaggerated when he’d said Rosa-Maria was family. She’d been the single stabilizing female presence in their lives when their own mothers hadn’t been there.
“Do Emmaline and Callie know?”
Neither of their younger half sisters had been raised at Riverrun Ranch, but both had spent a great deal of time there during their childhood. During their visits, Rosa-Maria had taken them under her wing as if they had been her own daughters. They w
ould want to know what had happened.
“I’ll give them both a call now,” Evan said.
Holt couldn’t imagine Riverrun Ranch without Rosa-Maria there. But Evan made a good point; if she needed time to recover, they’d have to divvy up the household tasks, at least temporarily. Maybe the meals wouldn’t be as good as Rosa-Maria’s, but they’d get by.
*
“You want me to take over as the cook at Riverrun Ranch?” Jessie asked in astonishment.
Her grandmother lay in the hospital bed, gripping Jessie’s hands in her own. She had an oxygen tube in her nose and her complexion looked waxy, but her dark eyes were bright with determination. Beside her, a heart monitor emitted reassuring, rhythmic beeps.
“Yes. It’s the perfect solution.”
Jessie glanced toward the door. Rosa-Maria had ordered both Gus and Jose out of the room, insisting she needed to speak privately with Jessie. Now the two men were pacing impatiently in the hallway, no doubt curious as to what Rosa-Maria needed to talk with her about.
“Abuela, you’re not thinking clearly,” Jessie said gently. “I already have a job at the cantina. Why would I agree to cook for the Claibornes?”
Rosa-Maria lowered her voice. “Because if you are living in the house, Holt will finally have a chance to know you.” Her expression softened. “Once he does, he will see for himself how wonderful you are.”
Jessie felt her throat tighten with emotion. Aside from her best friend, Jorie, her grandmother was the only other person who knew of her feelings for Holt. The thought of moving into the ranch, of seeing Holt every day, filled her with a mixture of joy and terror.
“I don’t know.” She hesitated. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, abuela. What if it doesn’t work out?”
“Then at least you’ll finally know. That’s why it’s not just a good idea, it’s a great idea,” Rosa-Maria insisted. “How else will you have an opportunity to see the real Holt? To get to know him on a personal level?”
Jessie dragged in a deep breath and blew it out slowly, considering. What if she did move in, but nothing changed in their relationship? What if she discovered he wasn’t anything like she had imagined? What if he was even more, but she couldn’t make it work?
“But won’t Gus object to my moving in?” she asked. “You’ve been the cook and housekeeper at Riverrun for so long, maybe they won’t want someone else stepping in, even temporarily.”
“You leave Gus to me.”
“What about Dad? He won’t like me leaving the restaurant.”
“It’s long overdue. He’ll get used to it.” Her grandmother squeezed her fingers. “If you want to start your own business, now is the time to do that. He’ll realize the restaurant will operate just fine without you there.”
Jessie nodded, a frisson of anticipation tickling along her spine. “Okay, I’ll try it for a month.” She drew in a deep breath. “If I can’t make it work after a month, then I’ll call it a day and move on.”
“That’s my girl. Make him realize what’s in front of him. And if it doesn’t work, you need to live your life without him.” Her eyes briefly closed and her grip on Jessie’s hand slackened. “Don’t let him fool you with his moods. He just needs a good woman . . .” Her voice trailed off as her eyes closed once more.
“Abuela, you’re exhausted.” Releasing her grandmother’s hand, Jessie pressed a kiss against her cheek. “Sleep now.”
Rosa-Maria opened her eyes. “Send your father and Gus in first. You’re not the only one with a plan.”
Jessie would have argued, but she recognized the glint in her grandmother’s eyes. Rosa-Maria wouldn’t allow herself to rest until she’d had her way and everything was settled to her satisfaction.
“Okay, then. Let’s do this.”
*
“Here they come,” Evan said.
Holt lifted his head and watched as his father, Jose, and Jessie walked back toward the waiting area. Jessie looked more composed than she was when she’d arrived, thank God. He could handle anything except her tears. He rose to his feet and shoved his hands into his pockets to prevent himself from reaching for her.
“How is she?”
Jose nodded. “She’s good. Tired, a little scared, but she’s going to be okay.”
“She’s sleeping now,” Jessie said. “Papa is going to stay with her tonight.”
“What about the cantina?” Luke looked at Jessie. “Do you need to go back and help close up?”
“I called in some reinforcements,” Jose said. “They have everything under control. Jessie won’t be returning to the cantina.”
Holt frowned and looked expectantly at Jessie, but she shifted her gaze to her feet and refused to look at any of them. “Everything okay?”
Gus gave a humorless laugh and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Here’s the thing, boys. Rosa-Maria has decided it’s time to retire.”
“What?” exclaimed Evan. “I thought you said she was okay?”
Gus raised a hand. “She is, but even if she wanted to return to Riverrun, she needs time to recuperate. She can’t be running around cooking, cleaning, and waiting on us. You heard the doc. She needs to slow down.”
“Okay,” Evan said. “So what are we talking, a couple of weeks? A month, at most?”
“My mother deserves a break,” Jose said, his tone bordering on defensive. “She’s sixty-three years old. She’s worked for your family for twenty-five years and she’s loved every minute of it. You’ve been very good to her. But now she wants a home of her own to relax in.” He looked at his daughter. “Spend more time with her family.”
“What she needs is a vacation,” Evan declared. “But she can’t retire. Like you said, she’s only sixty-three. Once she feels better, she’ll realize Riverrun is her home. That’s where she belongs.”
Holt watched his younger brother, understanding how he felt. Rosa-Maria had come into their lives when they’d been motherless young boys and they’d adored her from the first day. Her departure would leave a huge void in their lives.
“She’ll always have a home at Riverrun,” Gus said. “But if she wants to retire, no one is going to tell her she can’t.”
“She could take the foreman’s cabin,” Luke suggested. When they all turned to stare at him, he shrugged. “Why not? Jorie and I will be moving into the new house as soon as it’s finished, so the cabin will be empty. It’s perfect for a single person. Obviously, she can’t stay at the main house.”
“Why not?” Evan demanded.
Luke laughed. “Because all it would take is one day living with you Neanderthals, watching you struggle to fend for yourselves, and she’d be back to cooking your meals and washing your britches.”
Evan’s face cleared. “You’re right! That’s an excellent plan! We’ll tell her she can stay in the main house for as long as she wants.”
“She’ll stay with me and my wife until she’s better,” Jose said firmly. “After that, I think we can let her decide where she wants to live.”
“Quite right, Jose.” Gus glanced at his watch. “Well, it’s getting late and there’s nothing more to be done here tonight. Jose, is there anything you need before we leave?”
“No, thanks,” Jose said. “But maybe you won’t mind giving Jessie a ride home?”
“Of course,” Gus replied.
“I’ll drive her,” Holt said.
Five pairs of eyes turned to stare at him in surprise. Holt was surprised too. He hadn’t known he was going to make the offer until the words were out of his mouth, and then it was too late to pull them back.
“I have my truck and like you said, it’s getting late,” he said lamely. “You should go home and get some rest, Dad. I don’t mind driving her home.”
“Is that okay with you, Jessie?” Gus asked.
Jessie was still staring at him, looking a little dumbfounded. “Uh, yes, that’s fine. Thank you, Holt.”
“Sure.” Clapping his hat onto his head, he shook Jose’s h
and. “Give Rosa-Maria my best when she wakes up. I’ll be back tomorrow to see her. Good night.”
He turned toward the exit without waiting to see if Jessie followed him, aware of her hurried farewells. Then she was stepping quickly after him as he made his way out of the hospital and across the parking lot.
“Could you maybe slow down a bit?” she called from behind him.
Holt shortened his stride, allowing her to catch up.
“I thought you drove over here with your brothers,” she said, glancing at him.
“Nope. They won’t ride with me and there’s not enough room for the three of us in Evan’s truck, so I drove myself.”
They had reached his pickup truck and Holt opened the passenger door for Jessie, standing back as she pulled herself into the cab. Even so, he caught the tantalizing scent that he always associated with her—cinnamon and warm spices. He wanted to inhale her. Closing her door, he rounded the front of the truck, aware that she watched him through the window. He could kick himself for offering her a ride home.
He wasn’t unaware of her feelings toward him, but he’d always been careful not to encourage her or give any indication that he noticed her efforts to catch his interest. She was Rosa-Maria’s granddaughter, after all, and his sister Emmaline’s childhood friend. She wasn’t the kind of woman who did casual hookups, and he wasn’t in the market for a wife. If he pursued any kind of relationship with her, he’d end up hurting her and the ripple effects would cause a rift between the two families. No way would he be responsible for that.
Jessica Montero was off-limits and it was best for everyone if he kept his distance.
Pretending he wasn’t attracted to her was the hardest thing he’d ever done, but he willingly put himself through that torture every Thursday night at the cantina just to see her. Settling himself behind the wheel, he turned the ignition and eased the truck out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
“Why won’t your brothers ride with you?”
He reached an intersection and brought the truck to a full stop, before accelerating through. “Because I’m a good driver.”
To his surprise, Jessie laughed. “Oh, okay. By that, I take it to mean you’re a slow, overly cautious driver. I can see why that would make Evan a little nuts.”
