Shep Dalton held the small present in his hand and glanced around. The room was packed. Actually, packed was an understatement. Everywhere he looked there were people—drinks in their hands, laughing and talking underneath balloons and streamers and two giant disco balls that tossed chaotic twinkles of light over them like confetti. Over the top, but not surprising. His old high-school classmate Janet Halstead, the birthday girl, was one of the first of his friends to turn thirty, and Janet had always leaned toward being a little extra. So, disco balls? Absolutely.
Shep didn’t mind though. This party had gotten him away from the ranch in Bronco on the very same day they were worming and inoculating the cattle, which meant he was in a good mood. In fact, he was ready for a beer or two.
Adjusting his Stetson over his eyes, he scanned the room for the gift table. He needed to deposit this thing and find Janet and her husband, Frank, to say hello. He hadn’t seen her since she’d moved to Wonderstone Ridge. Frank was well-off and had connections, which was why he’d been able to rent this place out for the party. The Wonderstone Ridge Indoor Theme Park and Aquarium. Quite a mouthful, but it was quite a place. It had been under construction for a while and hadn’t even officially opened yet, so this event was a big deal. The entire county had been wanting to get a look inside for months. Now, thanks to Janet, her friends and family, at least, were getting their wish.
Narrowing his eyes, he spotted what looked like the gift table not too far from a floor-to-ceiling aquarium full of tropical fish. The table was overflowing, of course, and topped with a fancy-looking, three-tiered cake.
Muttering his apologies and touching the brim of his Stetson, he brushed past a group of twentysomething women drinking champagne and giggling at who knew what.
“Don’t be sorry, cowboy,” a pretty brunette said, giving him a wink as he walked by. “I’m not.”
Shep smiled but didn’t stop. She was wearing a huge rock on her ring finger that was hard to miss. In fact, most of the people here seemed to have shown up with their better halves. He guessed that was what happened when you were nearing thirty. Marriage, kids, a house with a white picket fence that was mortgaged to the hilt. Maybe that was generalizing, but it sure seemed accurate from where he stood. And all of a sudden, he felt like a damn fish out of water surrounded by all these happy couples.
“Shep Dalton? Is that you?”
Looking up, he saw Janet making her way toward him, weaving gracefully in between her guests. She wore a silver sequined dress that sparkled and flashed, and was giving the disco balls above her a run for their money.
He grinned. It was good to see her. He’d always liked Janet, who was obviously living the dream, complete with three adorable kids. At least, according to her Facebook pictures.
“I was hoping you’d come,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “But I know how hard it is to tear you away from that ranch.”
“Happy birthday, Janet. I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“It’s been a long time.” She pulled away and smiled, rubbing her lipstick from his jaw. “Handsome as ever, I see. When are you going to settle down with some lucky lady?”
A distinctive warmth crept up his neck. Here we go. What was so wrong with being single, anyway? Janet sounded exactly like his mother, who couldn’t wait to marry him off, just like his brothers. Still, even as he thought it, he remembered a promise he’d made years ago. And remembered the girl he’d made it to as well.
He cleared his throat. “This is a good turnout. You always knew how to throw a party.”
She laughed, looking around. “Yes, well. A lot of these people are Frank’s business associates, so I don’t even know them that well. He saw an excuse to schmooze and took it. But some friends from high school came, so that makes me happy.”
“Oh yeah?” A waiter walked by with a tray of champagne glasses, and Shep grabbed one with a nod. He’d never been much for champagne, but when in Rome... He took a sip, the bubbles fizzing on his tongue. “Who showed up from high school?”
“Oh, my old cheerleading friends. Anna Delgado from the drama club—remember her? She moved away from Tenacity about the same time I did. She lives up north and just had a baby.” Janet tapped her lips with a manicured index finger. “Who else... Oh! Rylee Parker is here. You should be happy about that. You two were thick as thieves.”
Shep had been taking another sip of champagne, but at the sound of Rylee’s name, he swallowed with some difficulty.
“Rylee’s here?” he managed.
“She was over by the aquarium, the last I saw her.” Janet gazed up at him. “You know, I was always kind of surprised you two didn’t end up together. You would’ve made a cute couple.”
Shep’s gut tightened at that. Nobody in his small hometown of Tenacity had known how he’d felt about Rylee back then. Least of all Rylee. But Janet was right about one thing—they had been thick as thieves. Which probably wasn’t the right way to put it because the most trouble they’d ever gotten into was skipping class to go swimming in the river every now and then. And he’d had to twist her arm to do that. Rylee had always been a little shy, a great student, definitely a rule follower. Despite Shep trying to corrupt her in the best way possible.
Thinking about her now, he felt his lips stretch into a smile. He winked down at Janet, wanting to keep her guessing. Maybe this party was going to be more interesting than he’d thought.
“You never know, Janet,” he said.
Her delicate eyebrows rose at that. “Well, what—”
She didn’t finish her sentence because an older woman appeared out of nowhere and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Janet, honey, the caterer has a question about the crab cakes. I wasn’t sure what to tell her.”
“Oh, thank you, Linda. I’ll be right there.” She turned to Shep again and pointed to his chest. “Don’t think we’re done with this conversation, mister.”
He nodded. Then watched her make her way toward the presumed crab cake problem as the thumping music overhead changed to something softer.
Looking down at the drink in his hand, he frowned. So, he was going to see Rylee again. With her auburn hair and those beautiful blue eyes. He imagined her on the banks of the river all those years ago, the water droplets on her shoulders sparkling like diamonds. He’d felt so protective of her back then. She was too good for him. Too good for anyone, as far as he was concerned.
Nope. Champagne wasn’t going to cut it. He definitely needed a beer.
Rylee took a sip of her champagne and wrinkled her nose. She hated champagne. It always gave her heartburn. But that was Rylee in a nutshell. Not exactly super comfortable at parties like this.
Actually, scratch that. She didn’t used to be comfortable at parties like this. But that was before. Before she’d grown into a confident, capable, educated woman with an MBA who also happened to be the recently named director of marketing for the Bronco Convention Center.
She swallowed hard. If she had to repeat it over and over again, that’s exactly what she’d do. Even though her days of being the shy, studious type were long behind her now, that little girl tried to resurface sometimes, which was inconvenient at best.
Gazing at the colorful fish making circles in the aquarium, she took a deep breath. She’d stay until Janet cut her cake, and then she’d head home. Aside from a few high-school acquaintances, she really didn’t know anyone here, and there was a pint of Ben & Jerry’s mint chocolate-chip ice cream with her name on it back at her apartment.
She took another sip of champagne, not letting herself think too much about the fact that leaving a party to go chow down on ice cream at home was exactly what a shy, studious type would do.
“Well, if it isn’t my old swimming buddy...”
Startled, she turned at the sound of the gravelly voice behind her.
And then she stood there, unable to say anything at all. Her heart beat like a drum as she stared up at the handsome cowboy in the red plaid shirt a few feet away. He was grinning at her. A familiar, mischievous sparkle in his blue eyes.
Shep Dalton...
She could hardly believe it. It had been so long since she’d seen him that she had to blink to make sure she wasn’t imagining this. Of course, she shouldn’t be surprised. He’d been friends with Janet, too. And thanks to the local grapevine, she knew he lived in Bronco as well. His family had moved a few years ago after his father had gotten lucky at the slots in Las Vegas. They now owned a sprawling ranch in Bronco Heights called Dalton’s Grange.
Still, she’d never run into him in town, even though she’d expected to these last few years.
She felt her lips tilt into a smile, warmth spreading across her chest. It was the way he was looking at her. It was the same way he’d looked at her in high school—like she was different from all the other girls. At least, that was how he’d always made her feel. Not that Shep would be remotely interested in someone like her. Rylee knew that without a doubt. He was much too spirited and adventurous. He always had been.
“Shep?” she managed.
“The one and only.”
He stepped forward and wrapped her in a bear hug. Then lifted her completely off the ground until she laughed breathlessly.
Setting her down again, he pushed his off-white Stetson up on his forehead and grinned down at her.
“It’s been a long time, Rylee,” he said. “I don’t think I would’ve recognized you if Janet hadn’t told me you were here.”
She touched her hair. “Do I look that different?”
“Just more mature,” he said. “That’s all. But still pretty as a picture.”
Her cheeks heated. She’d always nursed a terrible crush on Shep for this exact reason.
“You’re still a charmer, Shep.”
He leaned against the wall and put his hands in his jeans pockets. His shirt stretched over his broad shoulders, and it wasn’t too hard to imagine what he looked like without it. Shep was a rancher, after all, and his body was long and lean. Muscular from working long hours outdoors.
Rylee’s throat felt dry all of a sudden, and she shifted on her feet. She could still smell his scent from when he’d wrapped her in his arms a minute ago. Musky, leathery. Very, very male.
“So,” he said. “Tell me everything. What have you been up to? I haven’t seen you since you left for college. That’s a long time to be going to the river by myself.”
She smiled. “I don’t believe for one second that you’ve been too lonely without me.”
“Maybe, maybe not. But you were always my favorite swimming partner. Nobody ever came close after you left.”
She leaned against the wall, too, watching him. It wasn’t difficult to watch Shep Dalton. He was fairly easy on the eyes. He looked pretty much the same as the last time she’d seen him, that day she’d come to say goodbye before leaving Tenacity for college. Except his face was a little more weathered now. There were sexy crinkles around his eyes, and his skin was a deep, golden tan—another nice result of working outside all day.
“I heard you’d moved to Bronco,” she said. “I’ve been meaning to look you up, but you know. Work, life... I’m always so busy.”
“What do you do?”
“Chuck Carter recently promoted me to the marketing director for the Bronco Convention Center.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Impressive.”
“Well, since Geoff Burris and the Hawkins Sisters are such big rodeo stars, there are a lot more opportunities now to expand.” She smiled. “What about you? Still working the ranch?”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am, and the last of my brothers to get married or engaged. Much to my mother’s dismay.”
“She’s trying to get you to settle down?”
“They’re all trying to get me to settle down. I mean, is it just me, or is it some kind of law around here to be married by thirty?”
At that, her heartbeat slowed a little. Twelve years might’ve passed since she’d seen her old childhood friend and crush, but she remembered their promise like it had been made yesterday. If we’re not married by the time we’re thirty...
She took another sip of champagne. Either it was starting to make her dizzy or Shep was.
He smiled slowly, gazing down at her. “You remember, don’t you?”
“Remember what?”
“You know what.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.”
She laughed, unable to help it. “Shep, that was a long time ago.”
“It was, but I’m not married. And I haven’t heard you mention a significant other, either.”
“So?”
“So... A promise is a promise.”
She sipped her champagne again. Definitely dizzy. “Let’s change the subject.”
“To what?”
She looked around, desperate for something else to talk about other than their promise to marry each other by the time they turned thirty. Never mind that she was twenty-nine now. And three-quarters.
She supposed she didn’t want to talk about it because it hit too close to home. When they’d made that vow, Shep might’ve made it lightheartedly, but she hadn’t. The thought of marrying him back then had warmed her blood, and then some.
“Janet’s probably getting ready to cut her cake,” she said awkwardly. “And open her presents. I got her a coffeemaker...”
He nodded, looking amused. She couldn’t blame him. It wasn’t exactly a smooth transition.
“What did you get her?” she asked, plowing on, feeling her face burn.
“A necklace.”
“A necklace?” Oh dear. Her coffeemaker was going to pale in comparison. “What kind of necklace?”
“A strand of pearls. They reminded me of something Janet would wear. I picked them up at a vintage store in Bronco.”
Rylee nodded, chewing her bottom lip. Something about that nagged at her, but she didn’t know why. A strand of pearls... And then it hit her. The mayor had bought his wife a strand of pearls for their thirtieth anniversary back in January and infamously, it had disappeared right after. She remembered the description that went out locally, along with a press release begging for them to be returned. In fact, she still had a picture of the pearls on her phone.
She fished it out of her purse and pulled the photo up while Shep watched curiously.
“Do you remember that necklace of Mayor Smith’s that went missing a few months ago?” she asked. “He put an ad in the newspaper and on the radio station, asking for people to keep an eye out?”
“Vaguely. Why?”
She held the picture up and showed him. “Does the necklace you bought Janet look anything like this?” The pearls had a delicate gold clasp with a tiny rose embossed on it. A sweet touch, and something that would set it apart from other necklaces, but only if you were looking hard enough.
Frowning, he studied the enlarged image. “Actually...that looks exactly like it.”
“Oh no. If it’s the same one, someone could’ve stolen it and then pawned it.”
“Great.” Shep craned his neck to look across the room. “It’s the same. I’m sure of it. And I just put it on the gift table. We should go snatch it back before anyone notices. I can’t give her a stolen necklace.”
Rylee’s pulse skipped in her wrist. “Poor Janet. We have to steal her present back?”
“Before anyone notices. Are you up for it?”
Shep’s eyes sparkled. She recognized that look. This was exactly the kind of thing the two of them would’ve done all those years ago. Dared each other on a whim. And then they’d dissolve into ridiculous fits of laughter afterward.
“Come on,” he said. “The mayor will be thrilled.”
“His wife will be, too.”
“Janet, not so much.”
“But what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, so...”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Shep said. “What do you say, partner?”
Rylee looked around quickly, feeling seventeen again. Apparently, this was what Shep was going to do to her. Make her feel like a teenager again. With all the wild emotions that went along with it.
He reached out and took her hand. Heat immediately shot up her arm and into her heart. His grip was warm and solid, making her feel safe, just like it used to. Like all her insecurities were nonexistent, and it was just the two of them against the world.
“Stick close,” he said. “I’ll make sure nobody sees.”
Shep led Rylee through the crowded room, holding her hand firmly in his. It felt good holding her hand, familiar and natural. He remembered holding it years ago, when they’d jump off their favorite rock into their secret swimming hole in the river. Back then, he’d been able to talk Rylee into almost anything. But he’d never put her in jeopardy, ever. He’d cared too much about her for that.
He looked over his shoulder now, struck again by how lovely she was in her dark-wash jeans and sparkly pink sweater. She’d only gotten lovelier over the years, something he wouldn’t have thought possible before. He’d found himself wanting to tell her that a few minutes ago when they’d been talking by the aquarium, but he’d stopped himself twice. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. He normally wasn’t so starstruck by women. In fact, they were usually the ones affected by him—or so he’d been told. But Rylee... Rylee had always been different. Special. But he didn’t need to go embarrassing himself now by gushing about how good it was to see her again.
Instead, he squeezed her hand as they weaved their way toward the gift table. He could hardly believe the necklace he’d bought for Janet had ended up being stolen property. Definitely a bad look to be giving it as a present. Thank God Rylee had said something in time.
She pressed herself against him, her body warm against his back. “Who’s going to be doing the swiping?” she whisper-yelled. He could barely hear her over the music overhead. “You or me?”
He turned to her, leaning close. He could smell her perfume, something flowery and sweet. “One of us will have to swipe. The other one has to be the lookout.”
“I don’t want to be the swiper. I’ll be the lookout.”
“Fair enough.”
“I think we need a backup plan in case someone sees us.”
“We’ll just say I forgot to put the card with it or something,” he said. “That’s believable.”
“Talk about a mission impossible.”
“Maybe not impossible. But definitely a mission awkward.”
She laughed, like she might be enjoying this a little. Which wasn’t so weird, because he was, too. He’d had a few beers by now, which were definitely making him less inhibited than he would’ve been otherwise. He rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand, struck by how soft her skin was. Like satin.
“You ready?” he asked. “I’m counting on the lights from the disco balls distracting everyone.”
She laughed again. He’d been right. She was clearly enjoying this, which made his gut tighten.
“I’m ready.”
“Okay,” he said. “Cover me.”
He made his way to the gift table, hoping he looked inconspicuous enough. If anyone did see him swiping the present, he’d have to explain, and the thought of that made him cringe.
He sneaked a glance at Rylee, and she gave a quick thumbs-up. Apparently, the coast was clear. It was now or never.
Looking back at the gift table, which was significantly fuller now than when he’d left it earlier, he spotted the little box next to a few brightly colored gift bags. Maybe this would be easier than he’d thought. All he had to do was sidle up to it and snatch it back with nobody seeing.
Slowly, he stepped up to the table and took a deep breath. But when he looked over at Rylee again, she suddenly shook her head.
“Can you believe all those presents?”
Shep turned to see an older man standing there holding a glass of wine and looking a little unsteady on his feet. The lights from the disco balls flashed on his bald head.
Shep smiled. Probably too widely. He’d almost been caught in the act.
“Right?” he said. He could feel Rylee watching from across the room. “A lot of presents, for sure.”
“Once my wife gets a load of this,” the other man said with a hiccup, “she’ll want a party like this next year. Who can afford it? Renting out an entire aquarium?” He shook his head, as if he’d been waiting to get this off his chest since walking through the door.
Shep nodded and watched as the man finally meandered off.
He looked back at Rylee, who gave him another thumbs-up. Before he could second-guess himself, he stepped close to the gift table again, grabbed the present and shoved it behind his back. Probably looking guilty as sin, but whatever. At least he’d gotten it back.
Grinning widely, Rylee motioned him over.
“Can you put it in your purse?” he asked, walking up to her. “Otherwise, it’ll have to go down the back of my jeans, and that’s just wrong.”
She laughed. “Sure. I’ll take it back to the mayor this week. He’ll be so happy.”
“Mission accomplished, partner.”
“We do make good partners, don’t we?”
“We absolutely do.”
“It makes me think of when we were kids...” She let her voice trail off and looked away, as if suddenly embarrassed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It just brings up old memories. It wasn’t always easy growing up in Tenacity, was it?”
He frowned. That was the understatement of the century. Tenacity was a blue-collar town. Full of hardworking people, ranchers mostly, who barely scraped by. Shep’s home life had been hard: his parents’ marriage was rocky; his dad cheated... And Rylee’s childhood had been difficult sometimes, too. A surprise baby and the youngest sibling of three older brothers, she’d felt lonely and isolated growing up. She’d always been close with her mom, but her dad had been strict and stubborn, and not always the easiest to get along with.
As neighbors, he and Rylee had been close because they’d had so much in common. Mainly wanting to leave Tenacity for greener pastures as soon as they could manage it. She and Shep had both gone to college, but he’d stayed local. Rylee had gone out of state, excelling in her university classes, just like she’d excelled in high school.
And now, here she was. Very grown, very beautiful, obviously a success. She’d made something of herself, just like he’d known she would. Yet he could still see traces of that girl underneath. A little shy, a little sad. It was hard shaking your past. He should know. He’d been trying to shake his for years. Trying to wiggle out from underneath his father’s questionable shadow. Attempting to convince folks in Bronco that his family was more than just their “new money.” But that was how everyone always treated them. They hadn’t exactly been welcomed to town with open arms.
Suddenly, that sweet, vulnerable look on Rylee’s face made him want to wrap her in his arms. More than that, it made him want to kiss her.
She gazed up at him, her eyes impossibly wide and dark. Maybe it was the beer, but he didn’t think so. There was more going on here than just the alcohol flowing through his veins. There was a distinctive heat growing between them that was hard to deny.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. And then, before he could think about it, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
Copyright © 2024 by Harlequin Enterprises ULC