“We’re jumping to conclusions here,” Rachel said. “We don’t know what the emergency is…. She could be pressed to catch a flight. I bet she calls when she gets to the airport.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He didn’t believe it for a minute. He turned away and squinted out the kitchen window. He could hear the guests laughing and talking on the porch as they sipped their margaritas and beer and enjoyed Hilda’s salsa and chips. Shit, he had to get out of here.
“If she doesn’t, I’m sure I have her cell number…. Where are you going? What if Jamie calls?”
“Take a message. I have work to do.”
“Cole, don’t.”
He let the screen door slam, then immediately veered left so he wouldn’t have to force a smile for the women on the porch or, God forbid, have to stop and talk to them. He had nothing to say. To them, to Rachel, to anyone.
What the hell had happened? Shit, he couldn’t even think clearly enough to replay their last hour together. Had he said something to spook her? Was it about Bella? No, couldn’t be… Jamie had understood the situation. Though what the hell did he know about how she thought? Apparently, nothing.
What he did know for sure was that he had a missing horse trailer to worry about, the irrigation was still acting up and the auction in Missoula was just around the corner.
Her leaving was for the best, no question about it. He’d been neglecting his duties. Had she stayed, another week would’ve gone down the drain. Yeah, right now he felt like shit, but he’d get over it.
* * *
COLE CAUGHT A LOOSE STRAND of barbed wire with his hammer claw, then blinked furiously at the stinging sweat dripping into his eye. He carefully used the back of his shirt sleeve to blot his brow and forehead, then took the staple from his mouth. Before he could secure the strand, his thoughts skipped to Jamie. He lost his tentative hold of the wire, and swore. Repairing fence was his least favorite job and working alone was a bitch, but it also suited his foul mood to be miles from the ranch.
He couldn’t afford to let his mind wander, not even for a second. Yet he’d sabotaged himself repeatedly in the week since she’d gone off without a word—smashed his thumb more than once. She hadn’t called, and he’d been too stubborn to pick up the phone himself even though Rachel had made a point to give him Jamie’s contact information. Why bother? Clearly she had nothing to say to him. Rachel had been oddly quiet, and he wondered if she’d spoken to Jamie, but he hadn’t asked. And he hadn’t visited Bella like he’d told himself a hundred times to do. The fact was, he had no interest in anyone but Jamie. Damn his stupidity.
“I brought you something to eat.”
At the sound of Rachel’s voice, he nearly jumped out of his boots. “What the hell are you thinking sneaking up on a man like that?”
Her brows raised, she glanced pointedly at the four-wheeler she’d driven, the one with the noisy engine. “You didn’t eat breakfast, then skipped lunch, so here.” She held out a wrapped sandwich. “I know you won’t grab anything before the auction.”
He peeled back his glove, exposing his watch. Christ almighty, how could he have forgotten about the auction? He barely had time for a shower. “Help me pick up these tools.”
Rachel looked down at the mess he’d made. Various hammers and boxes of nails everywhere. He was usually more particular about tools and equipment. “You forgot, didn’t you?” He refused to answer, and she added, “You can’t go on like this. You’ve been foul-tempered and horrible. The boys try to avoid you, and Mom’s worried. You have to call Jamie. Better yet, go see her.”
Right. “What I gotta do is get to Missoula.” He paused. “Have you talked to her?”
Rachel shook her head. “I’ve left two messages.”
“Guess that’s our answer.” Cole picked up the tools, loaded his four-wheeler and drove like a maniac toward the ranch.
Within an hour he’d showered and was in his truck on his way to the auction. Jesse was going to kill him for being so late. His brother had taken one of the big trailers ahead early this morning, done some scouting.
The conversation with his sister kept circling in Cole’s brain, mile after mile. Jamie wasn’t the kind of person to run cold or ignore people. Something was very wrong, and he couldn’t leave things this way. He needed to understand, needed to ask if he’d done something to push her away, needed to ask if he could’ve done or said something to make her stay.
Hell, he hadn’t even told her how much he cared for her.
Cole checked the rearview mirror, saw that there were no cars coming, then swung a U-turn. He’d given his heart and soul to the ranch and his family, but part of the legacy of the Sundance was the love that had grown from generation to generation. Who was he to mess that up? Maybe Jamie wasn’t the one, but he’d be damned if he wouldn’t at least take the chance that she could be.
* * *
JAMIE STARED AT her laptop screen, sick to death of answering posts about the McAllister brothers. In spite of the tears she’d cried on her way home, regardless of the three pounds she’d gained from stuffing herself with chocolate ice cream in the week since she’d come back, she’d acted like a big girl and given the ranch the review it deserved.
Her only regret was that she’d been late posting the blog, really late, for the first time ever. Even when she’d returned from Bali, sick as a dog with the flu, she hadn’t taken so long. So of course her regular readers were having a high time teasing her about having too much fun with the brothers and asking her which one she’d lassoed for herself. Rachel would see all of it.
Jamie needed a new line of work. Seriously. These women were making her crazy…something she could easily do by herself. She got offline and headed for the couch and the remote control. Her cell rang, and as much as she wanted to ignore it, she knew it was probably Linda or Kaylee, and if she didn’t answer they’d be over in minutes to confiscate her Ben & Jerry’s stash, and generally annoy the hell out of her. Then again, maybe it was Cole. Fat chance. No reason for him to call.
God, she missed him—his smile, his laugh, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, the way he knew how to touch her… It was so crazy and totally unlike her. Did she have no pride?
She checked the caller ID, and mercifully it was only the dentist’s office. She’d call them later. She plopped down on the couch, located the remote under a pile of tissue boxes and pillows and heard a knock at the door.
“Dammit.” She rubbed her gritty eyes and forced herself to her feet. No use ignoring the knocking. Her friends had keys, which Jamie decided then and there she’d have to remedy.
She opened the door with a frustrated sigh, then reared back in total shock. “Cole?”
His hat in his hands, he looked up and steadily met her gaze. “Hi,” he said, his mouth lifting in a tentative smile.
“What are you doing here?”
“I, uh… We need to talk.”
“Oh. Uh, come in.” She touched her ratty hair and winced. She hadn’t even brushed it yet, or shaved her legs, or done anything to make herself human. Oh, crap.
He walked by her into the condo as she held the door. His jeans looked brand-new and his boots were as clean as she’d ever seen them. “Nice place,” he said.
She rushed past him and picked up a pair of ice cream bowls, some discarded napkins and an empty pizza box left on the glass coffee table. Balancing everything in front of her to hide the hole in her oversize T-shirt and frayed cutoffs, she faced him. “If you can find a place to sit, be my guest.”
He didn’t move. “I’ve missed you.”
Her breath caught, and she stared back, searching for the right words. “I have to get rid of these,” she said, her voice cracking. “Want anything to drink while I’m in the kitchen?”
Cole took the pizza box from her and set it back on the table, along with his hat. Then he took her hands and lightly squeezed them. “I need to know why you ran off.”
Jamie swallowed. She knew she hadn’
t misunderstood his conversation with Noah, so then why was he here? “Aren’t you supposed to be at some big important auction or something?”
“How am I supposed to pay attention to ranch business after the way you left? You had to know I’d be worried.”
“Actually, no. I—I thought—” She took a deep shuddering breath. “I had a great time with you, Cole. Seriously great. But honestly, it was time for me to go. I was getting a little too attached to being at the Sundance…and, well…that wouldn’t have done either of us any good. You have that great family. I don’t even know what that feels like. This…” She pulled her hand away and helplessly waved at the sum total of her sorry life. “This is the closest thing to a permanent home I’ve ever had…. My apartment’s a mess, I’m a mess….” Her voice cracked again. “It was the best vacation fling ever, honest. But what you need is to find yourself a nice ranch wife.”
Cole smiled. “Wait a minute. Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You ran because you liked me? Liked the ranch and my family?”
She felt her face heat. Again. “It might have been a little more than just like.”
Cole moved closer to her and made sure she met his gaze. “You’re not the only one who was getting attached. I’m not sure it’s time to pick out rings, but dammit, something was happening between us. If you’re trying to tell me you don’t want that, then fine, I’ll go. But you should know right now, it wasn’t ever just a vacation fling. Not for me.” He reclaimed her hand, kissed the back, kept looking into her eyes.
“Oh. Oh, God.”
“The way I feel about you, I’ve never felt about a woman before, Jamie. I don’t even know how to describe it. Can’t we give this thing a little more time? See how it shakes out?”
She laughed and sniffed at the same time. For Cole, that was incredibly romantic. What was more important than his words, as wonderful as they were, was that he was here. In her arms, in West L.A., California. He’d left his beloved ranch and he’d come to her. She wasn’t crazy. He wanted more. More of her, with her L.A. life and her blog and all the other baggage she carried with her. “I’d like that,” she said, her voice a little rocky because of the tightness in her throat.
He pulled her into his arms, and she slid hers around his neck. He kissed her long and hard, and then lifted his head. She blinked furiously, trying to quash the threat of tears.
“What’s this?” he asked, his voice low and tender as he wiped her cheek. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.”
“I’m not.”
He rubbed her back and gazed at her with such warmth she almost really did lose it. “My mistake,” he whispered, bringing her close and tucking her under his chin.
She shook her head. “Oh, hell. Yes, I am. But they’re happy tears.”
“Well then, I reckon that’s all right.”
She heard the smile in his voice and she sighed, wondering how long he could stay. How long she could keep him tied to her bed. “Where are your things? You should bring them in.”
He didn’t answer. In fact, he got so quiet and still she leaned back, worried.
“I don’t have anything but a razor and these new jeans and shirt I bought on the way.”
“What do you mean? You didn’t bring clothes?” Jamie’s chest tightened. Was this it? He’d said what he had to say and now he was turning around?
“I was on my way to the auction…” He grinned crookedly. “Made a U-turn and headed south instead.”
“You drove straight here all the way from Montana?” she asked, and he nodded. “What about the auction? Last week you said it was important….”
“Jesse’s got it covered. He’s been to plenty of auctions before. He knows what to do.”
Jamie was stunned. He’d dropped everything to find her and give the two of them a chance. Holy… The tears were really going to start now. She swallowed hard, trying to hold back the flood.
“Jamie? Honey?” Cole said, and touched her cheek, his eyes full of concern.
She gave him a watery smile. “No one’s ever skipped an auction for me before.”
“Fools.”
“You’re probably exhausted.”
He nodded. “I should go right to bed.” Then he frowned. “Maybe after a shower.”
The reality of Cole was starting to sink in. Not a dream, not a wish. He was the real thing, and what he was asking for was a lot. It would be complicated, what with her living in L.A. and him so far away. On the other hand, he’d just proved that distance didn’t matter a damn when something was truly important. “I think we can arrange that,” she said, “but first…”
His eyebrows rose and he leaned in just enough to let her know she was all his. “Yeah?”
“Kiss me, cowboy.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and lifted her into his arms. “Yes, ma’am.”
* * * * *
Can’t wait to see more of the hot men around
Blackfoot Falls? Look for OWN THE NIGHT,
the next book in Debbi Rawlins’s
MADE IN MONTANA miniseries,
coming out in October.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt of Blazing Midsummer Nightsby Leslie Kelly!
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1
SOMEONE ONCE SAID that the course of true love never did run smooth. As Mimi Burdette watched two of her good friends sway together in a romantic dance, however, she had to disagree. Because the true love between this couple had been obvious to everyone who knew them, almost from the moment they’d met.
“They look like a prince and princess,” murmured Anna, her neighbor, friend, landlady and tonight’s hostess.
“Considering the setting, maybe a fairy king and queen.”
She wasn’t kidding. The woods surrounding the backyard of the old plantation house just outside of Athens had been turned into a mythical forest. As dusk fell and a thousand twinkle lights began to gleam in the night, everyone at the engagement party slowed to appreciate the beauty all around them.
A trio of musicians softly strummed their instruments, the lyrical notes riding a warm, summer breeze. The Spanish moss hanging from the live oaks gleamed silver under the evening dew and the firefly-soft lighting. Magnolias the size of dinner plates dotted the trees, looking like a thousand full moons, filling the air with their evocative scent. Lanterns hung from the lowest branches of the graceful pines, and the arches of a dozen arbors were draped with writhing, sweet-smelling jasmine and heavily laden grapevines.
Okay, the vines and fruit were fake. But what an effect!
“You really outdid yourself,” Mimi said to Anna, who stood watching the proceedings, wearing a smile.
The older woman, dressed as always in colorful, flowing robes, merely shrugged. “Setting the stage for romance is easy when the people involved are meant for each other like Duke and Lyssa.” She chuckled. “Of course, it didn’t hurt that I’m helping with the costumes and props for the downtown theater group’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Drea
m.”
With her filmy, billowing clothes, and her long ash-gray hair, loose and wavy and entwined with flowers, Anna looked more like a hippie than a retiree. So maybe it wasn’t so surprising that she could take a normal backyard, ringed by normal Georgia woods, and turn it into something out of a storybook.
“Anyway, it was just a few lights, some fabric—easy.”
“Maybe for you, but other than advertising, the creative wiring was left out of my genetic code. To me, this looks like pure sorcery and magic.”
The soon-to-be bride and groom deserved a magical wedding. They were wonderful people, and she already missed having them as neighbors. They’d already moved into their new house, but until a week ago, had lived right across the hall from her own first-floor apartment in this grand old estate home.
Anna and her husband, Ralph—dubbed Obi-Wan because of his love for all things Star Wars and his sage, all-knowing demeanor—had bought the place decades ago and raised their family here. Once the kids were gone, they’d divided the three-story mansion into six small apartments, figuring the rental income would keep them nicely provided for in their retirement.
With the unit across from Mimi’s vacant, and another unrented one on the second floor, the big house was feeling empty. Plus, Anna and Obi-Wan’s volatile marriage was on the rocks again. Obi-Wan’s one fault was his jealous streak. He was always accusing other men of being after his wife. His latest accusation had angered Anna enough that she had moved into one of the vacant units to teach him a lesson.
In this economy, three rentals not bringing in any money was not a good thing. She had to wonder where Anna had come up with the funds to throw this engagement party for her former tenants. Mimi had offered to help pay—she could certainly afford it and would have loved to help—but Anna’s pride wouldn’t allow her to accept. The most she would allow was the use of Mimi’s nice discount on much of the food.
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