A Promise To Keep (Return To The Double C Book 16)

by ALLISON LEIGH,

  “Bar fight,” he said again. As if that were the only explanation a person needed. His hand flipped. “Your turn.”

  She swiped another snowflake from her cheek. Fair was fair, she reasoned. “It wasn’t www-dot-getadate.” She rocked back on her chunky heels. “My boss does business with Kenneth’s firm. He’s a financial analyst.”

  His lips twisted. “I recognized the type. All he’s missing is the bespoke suit.”

  She chewed her lip. His smile was so much better than the grimace. It took years off his face. “It wasn’t serious,” she added abruptly.

  “He followed you all the way from Denver.”

  “Not because I wanted him to. We never even—” She huffed. What was wrong with her? “It wasn’t serious,” she said again, and turned to head for her car once more. This time, she didn’t even try to measure her pace.

  She hit the fob in her palm to unlock it and yanked open the door when she reached it. A quick check in her mirror and she backed out of the parking spot and gunned it down Main as if the devil was at her bumper.

  Flying past the sheriff’s department reminded her to lighten up on the gas at least, but she didn’t manage to draw an even breath until the lights of town were in her rearview mirror.

  It wasn’t long before those dwindling lights were replaced by bright headlights.

  She angled the mirror a little so the reflection wasn’t shining in her eyes. She didn’t feel particularly compelled to speed up to accommodate the driver following her. She was already going faster than the speed limit and the snow flurries were getting heavier. It wouldn’t be long before she hit the turnoff for the ranch.

  Those bright beams stayed on her tail, though. Annoying. She didn’t have a hope of making out what sort of vehicle it was. For all she knew, it was one of the officers from the sheriff’s department. And even though she had connections, she didn’t want to test them too hard by getting pulled over for speeding.

  She let off the gas a little, edging the shoulder in case the driver wanted to pass. It’d be easy enough to do since there was no oncoming traffic at all.

  But those lights stayed with her.

  Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “Just go around me,” she muttered.

  But the vehicle didn’t budge.

  She sped up again.

  Telling herself to relax didn’t accomplish anything. Reminding herself that the highway was the main road between Weaver and everywhere else didn’t help, either.

  The sky was black. The road ahead illuminated only by the sweep of headlights. Her wipers were on low, swiping over her windshield and the little buildup of snow. Then waiting. Waiting. Waiting while the highway was a high hum beneath her tires before swishing again.

  And still, those lights remained in her rearview mirror. Never inching closer. Never backing off.

  Her fingers were like vises around the steering wheel.

  Every roadside slasher movie she’d ever watched in her teens had come back to haunt her and when she finally—thank heavens!—finally reached the turnoff for the Double-C, she barely slowed as she spun the wheel.

  Her tires skidded as they hit the graded gravel and she fishtailed through the timber-framed entrance, narrowly avoiding sideswiping one of the yard-wide side pillars.

  Nerves tight, she regained the wheel as she slowed, and finally rolled to a stop. Her chest ached from the way her heart pounded and she dropped her forehead to the steering wheel. “You’re a crazy person, Reed.” And if any one of her family members had witnessed the way she’d turned off the highway, they’d have skinned her.

  She screamed outright when the door beside her yanked open.

  “Who the hell taught you to drive?”

  She stared at Jed, speechless.

  For all of two seconds.

  Then she threw off her safety belt and launched herself out of the vehicle at him. “That was you?”

  She planted her hands on his chest and shoved.

  “You scared the life out of me!” She went to shove him again but he caught her wrists in his, holding her at bay. She twisted her wrists, but he held her fast. “What is wrong with you?”

  “What is wrong with you?” His voice was just as angry. “Driving that way? Do you have any sense at all?”

  She finally managed to yank free and glared at him.

  There was plenty of light. The headlights on his truck bathed them both in white, and the falling snow glittered like diamonds around them.

  “You were tailgating!”

  “The hell I was.” His hands went to his hips as he glared back. “You knew that was me. You could have gone off the road. Hit something even worse than that gate!”

  “I most certainly did not know it was you!” She wrapped her fingers in the front of his shirt, wanting to shake him and shove him all at the same time. “How was I supposed to know you would follow me?”

  “There’s one damn road,” he said through his teeth. “Your turnoff just comes a damn sight sooner than mine!”

  The fight abruptly drained away, leaving her feeling spent. Her shoulders sagged and she exhaled shakily. Her head fell forward, landing on the center of his chest. “God. You really scared me.”

  He swore softly. “I’m sorry.” His arms came up. Surrounded her. “You really scared me.”

  Then she felt his fingers slide over her head. Slip down through her hair. And the pounding in her chest took on a whole new element.

  She looked up at him. Despite the white glare of headlights, his eyes were canyons of dark. His face was pale, his square jaw flexing.

  She dropped her gaze to that small scar.

  No, that was an excuse. An easy excuse, because it was so close to his mouth. So close to those lips that rarely softened into a smile.

  “Don’t look at me like that, April.”

  She raised her gaze to his. “Like what?”

  His fingers tightened in her hair and her mouth ran dry. She swallowed. Moistened her lips.

  She wasn’t sure if she moved first. Or if it was him.

  But then his mouth was on hers and she felt engulfed by an inferno. Or maybe the burning was coming from inside her.

  There was no way to know.

  No reason to care.

  Her hands slid up the granite chest, behind his neck, where his skin felt even hotter beneath her fingertips, slipping through his thick hair that was not hot, but instead felt cool and unexpectedly silky.

  His arm around her tightened, his hand pressing her closer while his kiss deepened. Consuming. Exhilarating. Her head was whirling, sounds roaring.

  It was only a kiss.

  But she was melting.

  She was flying.

  And then she realized the sounds weren’t just inside her head.

  Someone was laying on a horn.

  She jerked back, her gaze skittering over Jed’s as they both turned to peer through the curtain of white light shining over them.

  “Mind getting at least one of these vehicles out of the way?” The shout was male and obviously amused.

  “Oh for cryin’—” She exhaled. “That’s my uncle Matthew,” she told Jed, pushing him away. “And I’m sorry to say, but we are probably never going to live this down.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Soooo.” Piper, looking particularly pretty in a fluttery pink dress, sidled next to April. She was waiting with the people clustered in line for the bar that was set up in front of the enormous windows inside Vivian Templeton’s lavish home. “How’s it going?”

  “I don’t buy that wide-eyed act for a second,” April told her dryly. She inched forward as the line moved. “What have you heard?”

  Piper grinned and bumped April’s arm with her shoulder. “You and Jed left Colbys last night together.”

  At least it wasn’t
the fact that Matthew had caught her and Jed kissing like a couple of teenagers.

  “I could say the same thing about you and Kenneth, I think.” Not a soul was paying them any attention. All of the guests passing through Vivian’s front door were too busy gawking at the gold furniture and the artwork on the walls to be interested in their conversation. “The two of you disappeared before Jed and I left.”

  “Aha!” Piper had arrived earlier than April and Gloria and she already held a crystal champagne flute in her hand. She tilted the delicate rim toward April. “You did leave together.”

  “No. We left at the same time.” They moved forward again. April could see around the people in front of her to the table where dozens of flutes exactly like Piper’s were lined up. “Big difference.” She angled her head. “Where do you suppose Vivian managed to get that many crystal flutes?”

  Lucy stuck her blond head between them. “You haven’t seen her butler’s pantry. She could open a catering company with all the party stuff she owns.”

  “Subtle way to cut the line,” April murmured wryly.

  Her cousin winked. “I try.” They moved forward again. “Thank goodness I see some beer bottles there,” she said. “Beck’ll be relieved. If it weren’t for Vivian’s business, I’d have never gotten him through the door here.” She lifted her arm, sending a thumbs-up, and April looked over to see Lucy’s husband standing near one of the windows looking as though he’d rather be anywhere else. When she dropped her arm, she settled it over April’s shoulders. “So what’s this I hear about you and the mountain recluse getting caught making out?”

  Piper’s head whipped up. “What?”

  April grimaced. “Who’d you hear that from?”

  “Oh, just...around.” Lucy’s eyes were full of mirth. “So? Getting busy while you’re in town, are you?”

  “No,” April denied. “Look. We’re next.” She shoved her cousin ahead of her. “Better grab the beer before it’s all gone.”

  Lucy laughed softly, but did exactly that.

  Then it was her turn and April took one of the champagne flutes, holding it up for one of the white-suited caterers to fill before moving out of the way.

  Piper tucked her arm through April’s, keeping her from getting too far away. “You trying to keep secrets from your bestie?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Making out with Jed?”

  She spotted her grandmother across the room, laughing as she talked with a group of people. “It was just a kiss.” Major understatement. “Who’s that man over there by my gram? The one holding the gray cowboy hat.”

  “That’s Tom Hook. He’s an attorney. Your grandmother looks great, by the way.” Piper propped her hand on her hip. “Wish I could look that good right now.”

  “Oh, stop. You look amazing.” But April’s grandmother did look particularly attractive.

  Gloria’s hair wasn’t as red as it once had been, but it still remained as much auburn as silver. She’d left it down for the fund-raiser and it swirled around the shoulders of her close-fitting ivory dress. Squire was in his nineties. Gloria, however, was more than twenty years younger and had a figure that was enviable at any age. Combine all that with intelligence and an engaging wit, and was it any wonder that she drew eyes?

  Particularly Tom Hook’s.

  “What’s his deal?”

  “Who? Tom?” Piper spread her palms. “I don’t know. He has a small ranch, I think. I know he’s a lawyer, though. He’s handled some stuff for my dad. And don’t think I haven’t noticed you avoiding the conversation.”

  “We’re having a conversation.” She tapped her glass lightly against Piper’s. “I wonder what my grandfather would think if he could see her right now.” She doubted he’d still be acting like such a stick in the mud. She suddenly handed her champagne to Piper. “Hold that.”

  She pulled her cell phone out of the small sequined purse she’d borrowed from Jaimie along with a black turtleneck and skirt, and aimed the camera toward her grandmother. She snapped off several shots before tucking it away again.

  “You’re going to show your grandfather the pictures? You think that’s going to get them talking again?”

  “I don’t know. It could backfire just as easily. And it was one kiss.” She took the flute back from Piper and lowered her voice. “One rock-the-world kiss.” She shook her head, the memory still so fresh it made her warm just thinking about it. “Matthew interrupted us.”

  Piper winced. “Oh. Nice.”

  “It was a fluke.”

  “Getting interrupted?”

  April couldn’t help but laugh. “That, too.” This time, she slipped her arm through Piper’s. “I might be my grandmother’s date, but she’s obviously blowing me off. So let’s go explore. And you can tell me just what you got up to with Kenneth.”

  “Not a thing,” Piper assured her. “Only thing that boy wanted to talk about was you.”

  It was April’s turn to wince. “I’m sorry.” They walked down a wide corridor, peeking in doorways as they went.

  They weren’t the only lookie-loos. Attendees were everywhere they turned, and the crowd thickened when they reached a two-story atrium that opened to a fancy brick patio that led down to those spectacular grounds that had been visible from the living room.

  “Holy cow.” Piper was looking up at the filigreed balustrade running around the perimeter of the second level landing where even more people were congregating. “I’ve heard rumors about this place, but until you see it in person...” She spun on her high heels, trying to take it all in. “He’s gone back to Denver, by the way. Your brokenhearted hottie.”

  “I never wanted him to chase after me.”

  “I know. So when do you plan to see Jed again?”

  April let out a laugh steeped with futility. “There’s no plans for anything. And what good would it do, anyway? There’s nothing for me to do here. Otis owns the land and he’s not budging.”

  “Yeah, but he’s—”

  “—don’t say it.”

  Piper looked solemn. “Not saying it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. If he’s really that ill and not getting any sort of medical treatment? Even if he were as healthy as a horse, he’s an old man. My dad was talking about him the other day. Said the church records show Otis is ninety-nine years old! He won’t live forever.”

  “I’m sure Jed would rather lose Otis to old age than to cancer,” April said. “Until we know what arrangements Otis has made in his will, there’s no reason for me to try to persuade him to sell. I’d only be bugging a sick old man if I kept pursuing it.”

  “So you have to wait until he’s gone?”

  “I don’t want to think about it. Makes me feel like a vulture.”

  “You think Otis might leave the ranch to Jed?”

  “Jed says he won’t.” She chewed the inside of her check. “Gage finally got back to me this morning. He wants me to finish up a few things with Archer since we’re both here in town. After that, I’ll be heading back to Denver.”

  “I’m sorry things haven’t worked out the way you’d hoped.”

  She spread her hands. “At least I had an opportunity to visit Weaver.”

  Piper’s eyes suddenly danced. “And kiss the mountain man—oh. Look. There’s Vivian.” She gestured toward one of the staircases leading down from the second level, where a diminutive woman with stylish silver hair was descending. She wore a knee-length chiffon dress with a beaded bodice and the hand she closed over the banister winked with diamonds and gems.

  April leaned toward Piper. “Remind me—we’re in Weaver, right?”

  “I know,” Piper whispered back. “She wears Chanel suits when she goes into town. In a Rolls-Royce, mind you. And you’re related to her.”

  “I’m not. It was Squire’s first wife who was related to Vivian’s
first husband.”

  “Details, shmetails,” Piper dismissed as they watched Vivian greeting people as she went. “Close enough. Come on.” She pulled April toward the door leading outside. “If she gets any closer to us, she might ask for a donation. And thanks to this dress, I have a whopping twenty-five bucks in my savings account right now.”

  April covered her laughter as they went out onto the patio. The snow flurries from the night before had been too light to leave any lasting evidence. Particularly under the sunny afternoon skies. It was chilly, definitely. But not uncomfortably so thanks to her borrowed turtleneck.

  There were fewer people outside, even though a bar was set up there as well as portable heaters and a long display of library books. In the middle were several large artist renderings of the proposed new library and they wandered over to look at them.

  “Nick’s doing himself proud,” April murmured.

  “Move over Frank Lloyd Wright?”

  April chuckled. “That would be something all right.”

  While they’d perused the display, more catering staff had appeared, this time circulating with trays of hors d’oeuvres. Along with everyone else there, they ate their fill and crowded around when Vivian took center stage to discuss the library project.

  Gloria, April noticed, never got too far away from Tom Hook. Even when she drew April forward to introduce her to their hostess, the lawyer was near.

  April hadn’t been sure quite what to expect upon meeting Vivian. Not when there had been so many stories about the wealthy widow. The woman was unfailingly gracious, though. She was clearly in her element when it came to asking for money for the project. But also, when April pulled out the check that Gage had instructed her to donate when they’d finally connected that morning, she seemed sincerely grateful.

  Eventually, it was time to leave, and April drove them back to the big house. Matthew and Jaimie were still out. Squire was nowhere to be found. Gloria didn’t say a word. She simply went off to change her clothes, leaving April sitting alone at the big round table in the kitchen.

  When a chime sounded, it took her a minute to even recognize that it was the doorbell.