by Amanda Renee
Was she really having this conversation with a complete stranger? “Um, I’m sure your day will come. I don’t know the guy, but if it’s true love, he’ll ask you at some point.”
“I guess—but hey, enough about me.” Kylie lowered her voice again. “Tell me, what was it like kissing one of Ramblewood’s hottest bachelors? I swear you made every single girl in town jealous.”
Abby had no idea kissing Clay would knock the earth off its axis. “It was one kiss.”
“Yes, but it was Clay Tanner. No one kisses the P.I. No woman can get close enough.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Whatever you’ve done, keep doing it. You bring out a side of Clay we haven’t seen in a long time. Can I just tell you, when I was fifteen, I had the biggest crush on him you could imagine.”
Maybe a trip to the salon was a huge mistake. Abby peeked at her watch trying to come up with an excuse to escape.
“I’d love to stay and chat all day, but I just remembered—”
“Of course, I’m so sorry. You’re just so easy to talk to.” Kylie’s voice changed pitch so many times Abby thought her eardrums would burst. “I’m sure you didn’t come in here to listen to me babble, so what can we do for you?”
“I’d like a mani-pedi.” Abby didn’t see anyone at the manicure stations. “Is it possible to get one or am I here too early?”
“Luna’s on the schedule today, but she hasn’t come in yet. Ruby—she’s the owner—will probably do it for you.”
Before Abby could object, Kylie disappeared through a door at the back of the salon. What have I gotten myself into? She had entered The Twilight Zone.
A woman whose candy-apple-red hair was pulled back into a modern bouffant on top, with the remaining hair cascading over her shoulders, appeared alongside Kylie. The woman had a slight limp and winced with each step. Either she was in pain or her black leather pants were a tad too tight.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you!” The woman hugged Abby hard. “I’m Ruby. My daughter, Bridgett, has told me quite a lot about you.”
“Oh, wow, you’re Bridgett’s mom.” Abby tried to recover from the unexpected welcome. Somehow, she had pictured Bridgett’s mother to be more Leave It to Beaver than Whisky a Go-Go. For a woman probably nearing her fifties, she looked at least ten years younger. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I can come back for a manicure when—Luna, is it?—gets in. I didn’t mean to pull you away from anything.”
“You didn’t, and I don’t mind one bit.” Ruby stepped behind one of the glass tables and gingerly lowered herself into the chair. “Do you want a pedicure? I have the time.”
“I had planned on it, but I’m going to the Bridle Dance Ranch a little later, and I think sneakers are a better choice than sandals. I’m afraid my toes won’t have a chance to fully dry by then.”
“Gorgeous place and the Langtrys are real gen-u-ine people, you know?” Ruby’s Southern accent was thick and definitely had more twang than Bridgett’s. Or anyone else’s she’d met in town so far. Definitely not a Ramblewood native. “Let’s remove your polish and soak those cuticles. You want me to keep them short or would you like some gel tips?”
“Short. I work with my hands and long nails get in the way.” Abby admired Ruby’s long red-and-white plaid embellished nails. “I love yours, though. Are you able to do that design on mine?”
“Sure thing, hon.”
After a quick soak in what smelled vaguely of honey and dish soap, the woman filed Abby’s nails. Sensing Ruby studying her, Abby shifted in her seat. Why is it people hated to catch someone in the act of staring at them? Abby braved a glance and Ruby smiled back, never missing a stroke of the emery board.
“Bridgett tells me you’re in town looking for your sister.” Ruby didn’t break eye contact.
Abby cleared her throat, grateful for the icebreaker, but uneasy with the woman who gripped her hand. There was something unsettling about Ruby, but Abby couldn’t place what it was. Where she had no problem discussing her search with Janie, she didn’t feel the same with Ruby. Thankful she had passed on the pedicure, Abby wished she had skipped the salon altogether.
“I don’t have much to go on, so it may be a lost cause in the end.” Abby wanted to steer the conversation onto a less personal subject. “In the meantime, I’m excited to visit the Dance of Hope Hippotherapy Center at the Langtry’s ranch. Have you been there?”
“I went to their ribbon cutting last year.” Ruby grinned as she applied a base coat to Abby’s nails. “It’s an interesting place, and I hear they do good things for people, but wouldn’t you like to see more of the sights while you’re in town? Ramblewood is nice and all, but San Antonio is only about an hour away. I’m sure Bridgett wouldn’t mind going along with you.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but my interest in Dance of Hope is professional. I’m a physical therapist and I want to see how their program works. I’ve read about hippotherapy and I understand the concept of how the horse’s movements mimic those of a human are used to treat people with disabilities and injuries, but I’ve never seen it in action. It absolutely fascinates me, and I’d love to learn how they combine horses and physical therapy. The hospital where I work doesn’t have any animal-assisted programs, and it doesn’t look like they will any time in the future, either.”
“Then maybe Ramblewood’s a good fit for you.” Ruby rolled a bottle of red polish between her hands.
“It’s a temporary fit.” The truth of the matter was that she had already begun to feel how perfect Ramblewood was for her. “My life is back home in Charleston, South Carolina.”
“Never say never, dear. Kylie tells me you already found yourself a man. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your true happiness here.”
“They weren’t kidding about small-town gossip, were they?” Abby jerked her head up at Ruby’s words. Sure, she was getting used to the Clay thing, but she hadn’t experienced the happiness part in years. Lately, it seemed everything she tried to accomplish was a battle, and instead of heeding the advice she gave her patients—seek out happiness—she constantly wrestled with the growing resentment she felt regarding the closed-mindedness of those around her, her family included. Wyatt, especially, since he’d made her feel awkward in her own home this past month. If Abby wanted to grieve, she should be able to do so without someone berating her about why she felt anything for a man she barely knew.
“Excuse me for being too personal.” Abby directed her attention to Ruby’s face. Flamboyant hair and attire aside, there was a softness to the woman she hadn’t noticed at first glance. And why shouldn’t she get personal? The woman clearly took the liberty of injecting herself into Abby’s life, so she was only returning the favor. “I noticed earlier that you seem to have some pain on your left side.”
“I broke my leg a couple years ago, thanks to that one over there.” Ruby nodded in Kylie’s direction.
“I’m Ruby’s indentured servant.” Kylie’s tone was sharp. “I spilled some shampoo on the floor, and before I had a chance to clean it up Ruby slipped and fell. She’s never let me live it down.”
“As I was saying...” Ruby glanced sideways at Kylie before returning her attention to Abby. “I went through some physical therapy until my insurance ran out, but my leg never felt right, even though the doctors said it healed fine. Some days are worse than others. Today is one of those days. I’m feeling a little off balance. I wouldn’t be able to stand at one of those stations and cut hair, that’s for sure. Sitting is better. Not great, but better. It’s just something I have to live with.”
“No, Ruby, you shouldn’t have to live with it.” Abby thought the woman was a bit eccentric, but she couldn’t turn away from someone she might be able to help. “I’d be happy to give you a full evaluation, no charge, so don’t worry about paying me. Don’t sell yourself short and think
you have to live with the pain.”
“If you’re sure it wouldn’t be too much trouble.” Ruby’s face brightened. “I’d love some relief. I’m not one of those people who swallow a pill whenever they get a hangnail. And I’ll give you free salon treatments the entire time you’re in town.”
“It’s a deal. We’ll try a few different exercises and see if we can begin to get you back to feeling like yourself again. I can’t make any promises, but I’d be more than happy to meet with you later today when I return from Dance of Hope.”
“You’re a remarkable young woman,” Ruby said. “So accomplished and caring. Your parents must be proud.”
“I’d like to think they are.” Abby watched Ruby stroke color onto her nails. Fifteen minutes ago she had wanted to escape the salon. Now she was actually enjoying herself. Ruby wasn’t so bad. The way everyone made her feel welcome almost felt more like home than Charleston currently did. But maybe that was only natural, since Ramblewood is where everything had begun.
* * *
GUILT COUPLED WITH DESIRE had kept Clay awake all night. Now that he had kissed Abby, she was ingrained in his every thought. As if she hadn’t been before. It seemed worse today.
But Clay had a job to do. He wasn’t just searching for Abby’s sister, he had other clients to work for, as well. He had employment verifications to run, a report to compile for an insurance company on a disability fraud case and a ton of background checks to conduct for a new dating service company in San Antonio. He needed to concentrate, not pine over some woman who was leaving in a little over a week.
Clay sat at his kitchen table and flipped open his laptop. Even with the blinds still closed, he could see the stacks of boxes beckoning him from the darkened dining room. They taunted him today.
He was tired of the ache that constantly plagued him. He hadn’t realized it until he spent time with Abby. Her lightness was good...healthy compared to his perpetual heartache. But he didn’t know how to move on from Ana Rosa. He’d met with a government-appointed psychiatrist until it was no longer mandatory, but nothing they’d discussed eased his conscience.
He glanced around his house. This wasn’t what Clay wanted...working out of the kitchen with the rest of the house dark so he wouldn’t have to face the reality of what his life had become. How did a person let go of someone they had loved so intensely and still did to this day?
Clay rubbed his temples. It was much different when a relationship simply ended. Death was harder. Final. When Ana Rosa had died, a part of his heart had died with her. Clay hadn’t thought any woman could make his heart beat again. But Abby had from the moment they had met. He ran a hand along his jaw. Clay refused to fall for her further. He wasn’t sure he could handle any relationship, and a long-distance one was out of the question.
He needed to get out of the house for a while. What he really needed was an office somewhere, but that would have to wait until he cleared his schedule a bit. He glanced at the file folder sitting on the chair next to him. It contained the background check on one of the new accountants Cole Langtry wanted to hire. It would be easier if he emailed it over as he usually did, but Clay could use the change of scenery. Grabbing his laptop, he decided that working anywhere else was better than working from home today.
The tension eased from Clay’s shoulders once he pulled past the rearing bronze horse statues at the entrance of the Langtry ranch. Bridle Dance had always been his home away from home. Pecan trees heavy with fruit formed an arch over the dirt road. In another couple of weeks or so, the townsfolk would help shake the limbs with long paddled poles. In exchange for helping the Langtrys harvest the nuts, everyone received a ten-pound sack of pecans to take home. It was one more way Joe Langtry had brought Ramblewood together and the tradition continued after his death. Before they harvested the first pecan, everyone would join hands and remember the man so many missed.
Clay immediately spotted Abby’s Mini Cooper near the indoor riding arena. Great. His shoulders tensed. She had wasted no time taking the Langtrys up on their offer. Hoping to avoid Abby, Clay ambled through the stables, or what Joe Langtry had referred to as his horse mansion. Rivaling the size of a football field, the French-stone and stucco building more than earned the title. Bridle Dance sat on a quarter of a million acres, and was one of the state’s largest paint and quarter cutting horse ranches. They pampered their horses in every way possible.
Clay strolled down the exposed-timber interior hallway and then climbed the mahogany staircase leading to the second-story offices.
“Hey, man.” Clay slapped Shane on the shoulder. “Is Cole around? I have that background check he asked for.”
Clay didn’t think he’d ever get used to seeing Shane sitting behind a mountain of paperwork. The former rodeo star had given up his life in the spotlight to run his rodeo school and to see his and Lexi’s teenage son compete in the junior circuit.
“You know you could’ve emailed this to my brother, right?” Shane smiled. “I don’t have to ask why you hand-delivered it considering she passed through here with my mother about ten minutes ago.”
“Believe it or not, I came here so I wouldn’t think about Abby. I was surprised to see her car when I pulled in.” Clay walked to one of the large Craftsman-style windows encircling the room and peered out over the therapy corrals behind the indoor arena.
“What happened to you last night, anyway?” Shane asked. “One minute you were kissing her, the next you were gone. I have to hand it to her, though. You acted like a first-class ass and she remained smiling. She even got back on stage with Bridgett for a rendition of the Dixie Chicks’ ‘Ready to Run.’”
“‘Ready to Run’? Really?” Clay bet everyone had had a good laugh at his expense. “That’s embarrassing.”
“For you, maybe,” Shane said. “Although, as much as Abby tried to hide it, I think she was embarrassed herself.”
“I didn’t come here to be harassed,” Clay snapped and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Hey, I get it. You don’t want to be involved with someone who isn’t going to stick around. Say no more, but if you do happen to be interested, you’ll find her in the hippotherapy center.”
Nothing like a subtle push toward the person he wanted to avoid. Clay said goodbye to Shane and made his way back through the stables, stopping briefly to chat with some of the grooms. He wasn’t sure if he was hoping to avoid running into Abby or if he was just in the mood to be over-friendly.
His relationship with Ana Rosa couldn’t have been more different. He’d been extremely protective of her and Paulo because Ana Rosa’s brother was one of the gunrunners he had been trying to take down, and the man kept a close watch on his sister. Ana Rosa had been in danger every time she had seen her brother, but Clay had been unable to warn her to stay away. Not when Clay was supposedly working for the man. Ana Rosa’s vulnerability was a stark contrast to Abby’s take-no-prisoners attitude.
Stepping outside, he spotted Kay and Abby leaning against the white fence surrounding the hippotherapy corrals. Cue the butterflies. Clay hated admitting Abby caused his stomach to flutter, because no man in his right mind liked butterflies.
* * *
“CLAY, HOW WONDERFUL to see you,” Kay said. “I’m so glad you stopped by. I hear you and Abby are acquainted with each other.”
Clearly the matriarch had heard about their kiss from her sons or even Abby directly. Regardless of what had happened, Clay held Kay personally responsible for pushing Abby in his direction.
No matter how hard he tried, he found himself staring straight into Abby’s eyes. “I had a background check to drop off for Cole and I saw Abby’s car when I pulled in. I thought I’d stop by and see how she was making out on her tour.” Clay could have kicked himself. Out of all the things he could’ve said, he chose the one that made him look interested. He shouldn’t be here. He need
ed to get into his truck and head back to his own ranch.
Abby’s smile and the sudden pinkness of her cheeks made Clay almost turn to mud at her feet. Her smile was all it took. With her hair pulled back in a high ponytail and wearing a simple gray T-shirt, jeans and sneakers, she looked much more casual today. And much shorter. But what she lacked in height she made up for in curves. He preferred the sneakers over the four-inch heels.
Kay nudged Abby lightly with her elbow. Abby was clearly at a loss for words. Her silence was his fault—he had acted horribly after their kiss. But he didn’t want to lead her on. Hell, he didn’t want to lead himself on. His boots felt as though they were rooted in the dirt.
“So,” Abby said. “Have you had any leads on my case?”
Case? She wanted to talk about her case? Clay blinked. Of course she did. After bailing on her a second time, he couldn’t possibly expect her to think there was anything else between them. She had the right idea...keep it strictly professional and no hearts would get broken. Why did his disappointment feel worse than his nerves?
“Not yet. But I assure you I’m working diligently on it.”
“I have an idea,” Kay said. “It’s almost lunchtime, so why don’t you two join me up at the house, then afterward you can go riding and Clay can give you a tour of the ranch.”
“Ride? You mean on horseback?” Abby asked hesitantly, looking from the corral to the stables.
“Have you ever been on a horse?” Kay asked.
Abby shook her head.
“Better yet...Clay has a Welsh pony at his place that would fit you perfectly. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to give you some private lessons.”
Clay bit down on the side of his tongue. Kay was matchmaking, all right. She was trying to push them together. And she wasn’t shy about it, either.
“Sure.” Clay struggled to maintain an even voice. “But if Abby’s interested in hippotherapy, wouldn’t she be better off experiencing a horse for the first time from a patient’s perspective?”
