We need to replace the gate.” Toby gave the metal barrier a swift kick, but it still stuck. Not surprisingly, the hardware store hadn’t had anything he needed to fix it. He’d put in an order, but they’d be waiting a few days. “Hinges are rusted out. One of these times we’re gonna close it and not be able to open it again.” Besides that, it was the first thing people saw when they drove up to the Silverado Lake Ranch, and it didn’t exactly scream luxury destination, but he was working on that. Mara had done a heck of a job maintaining what she had, but the ranch had weathered over the past few years. Since moving in, he’d re-sided half of the outbuildings and repainted every peeling wall. And he still had energy to burn.
If his most recent appointment with Dr. Petrie was any indication, he had time to do a lot more work. “We should have something custom built and add a big sign. Something that makes a statement.” He could round up a couple of big logs, maybe even add some stone…
“I guess you’re right.” Mara worried her lips. She wasn’t your typical ranch boss, being that she only stood about five feet tall and never left the house without a fresh coat of lipstick, but she’d surprised everyone after her husband had passed away twelve years ago by keeping the ranch afloat. She’d even managed to attract some high-end clientele for weddings. But one of the brides who’d come confessed to him she’d been tempted to turn around and bail on the place when she’d driven up in her luxury SUV and saw the old rusted gate. The pictures on the website highlighted the more modern amenities like the main lodge and the small chapel for indoor wedding ceremonies, but you had to get past the gate to see them.
“It’s definitely time to spring for a new gate.” The older woman chuckled at her pun. “You can price it out and let me know the damage?”
“Sure.” He’d only been working on the ranch less than a week, but already Mara had come to rely on him for making the maintenance and facility decisions. It was almost like she’d forgotten he would be a temporary fixture around here. The second his shoulder healed and he got clearance from the docs, he’d be headed back out to the circuit to make up for lost time. Still, while he was here, he’d do his best to upgrade as much as the budget allowed so she’d be in good shape for a few years at least. “I’ll do some research and get back to you. If I do most of the labor myself, we can keep the costs down.” And he could keep being too busy to notice how out of shape he was getting while he sat on the sidelines of his life.
“You’re the best!” Mara declared. “I don’t know how I lucked out getting you to work here, but I’m sure glad I did.”
“It worked out for me too.” Better than he could’ve hoped for. It had been good to have his own space again, though he had made sure to head back to his parents’ house for dinner the other night.
Mara looked down at the ground and kicked some gravel with her boot. “Since we’re talking about the gate, I suppose it’s also time to address this driveway—”
A car engine hummed behind them. Turning, Toby moved off to the side so the sedan could get past. “Wonder who that is.”
“That would be my long-lost daughter.” Mara’s eyes followed the car as it drove past the aspen trees. “Finally coming home to stay for more than a few days.”
“Jane?” Toby squinted at the car but shadows from the trees blocked out the windows, piquing his curiosity. “She doesn’t come home very often, huh?”
“She’s only come home for a few holidays.” Mara started walking down the drive, following the car’s path. “I’m grateful Beth decided to get married this summer. That means I don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to spend some time with my daughter.”
“Should be a fun wedding.” He thought about Beth’s warning for him to behave. As Ethan’s fiancée Beth probably knew too much about Toby’s personal life—and his lack of committed relationships. But she likely had nothing to worry about with Jane. The woman had never liked him. Sure, there’d been that one hot kiss their senior year, but afterward, Jane had made it pretty clear she didn’t want anything to do with him.
Which shouldn’t have surprised him. She’d never seemed to like him much. Most of their interactions back then had revolved around bickering. He obviously irritated her, and she drove him crazy. But at the New Year’s Eve party things had been different. Mara had hosted the event at the ranch, and everyone was having a blast. Everyone except for Jane, that was. Toby hadn’t even noticed she’d been missing, but on his way back to the great room from the kitchen he’d spotted her lying on a couch in the office reading The Lord of the Rings.
She’d looked more carefree than he’d ever seen her that night, her slippers on, her long dark hair spread around her. To this day, Toby was still a Tolkien fan. Not that he would’ve admitted it to anyone else, especially back in high school, but Jane understood. They must’ve sat there on that couch for an hour arguing about what Gollum symbolized. Jane had been so intense, so passionate, and the next thing he knew, he was kissing her. The bigger shock? She’d kissed him back. The force of it had almost knocked him over. He’d kissed plenty of girls, but not with that much fire raging between them.
Before kissing her, he hadn’t thought Jane was capable of fire. Competitive? Sure. Intense? Definitely. But he’d never seen her show passion for anything besides books and studying. That kiss had been full of passion though. They’d been so into each other, neither one of them had noticed his buddies walk in until the razzing started. It had taken all of two seconds for Jane to bolt out of that room. He’d followed her, finally caught her at the end of the hallway. He told her he liked her. He would’ve kissed her again, but Jane held him off. He remembered her exact words. Well, I don’t like you. It was a stupid kiss. It didn’t mean anything.
The kiss had obviously repulsed her, so the next day he did what any self-respecting eighteen-year-old kid would do—he made a very public winter dance proposal to Aubrey, a cheerleader he’d dated on and off, making sure Jane saw the whole thing go down. He’d left Jane alone like she wanted, but he hadn’t stopped noticing her.
Now, anticipation swirled through him at the prospect of seeing her again. Toby followed Mara and watched Jane get out of the car. The sun captured her at the right angle to show her coppery highlights. She’d let it grow longer, that’s the first thing he noticed. It went down past her shoulders to her mid-back. She still wore glasses, but her face had changed. Her cheeks had filled out and seemed to have more color. She’d always been petite, but a fitted sweater showcased curves he hadn’t appreciated all those years ago.
Jane didn’t look in his direction, but she greeted Mara with a hug. “It’s good to see you, Mom.”
Toby didn’t move to catch her attention. He didn’t move at all. He stood stock-still transported back to that night on the couch, their arms tangled around each other, their lips exploring. He still couldn’t understand how the kiss had hit him so hard when it didn’t seem to affect her at all.
“Everything looks the same.” Jane gazed at the lodge farther down the hill.
Great, she was still avoiding him eight years later.
“God, the lake looks gorgeous,” she went on, fully turning away.
Toby couldn’t see her face, but a wistfulness breathed through her tone.
“Everything’s not the same at all!” Mara waved Toby over. “It looks even better since Toby started working here. It’s probably been years since you’ve seen each other.”
“It’s definitely been a long time.” Jane’s gaze skimmed right over him.
She didn’t remember him fondly, that was for damn sure. He tried to warm her up with a smile. “Good to see you again.”
Instead of acknowledging the words, she went around the back of the car and popped the trunk.
“Toby has been very helpful with everything around here,” Mara gushed. “He’s a whiz with a hammer and nails.”
“Hmm.” Jane struggled to lift out a large suitcase and a carry-on bag.
Toby inched closer. “I can take those for you.” The main house was a long haul and that thing looked heavy.
“No thanks. I can handle my own baggage.” The rosy flush on Jane’s cheeks deepened. “I mean, I don’t need help. I’m fully capable of carrying bags to my cabin.”
Her cabin? She wasn’t staying at the main house with her mother? And why did she assume he thought she wasn’t capable? Jane had been one of the most capable girls he’d ever known.
“Goodness, Jane. Let the man help.” Mara nudged Toby toward the suitcase. “It’ll give you two a chance to catch up.”
Ha. She didn’t want to catch up with him.
Jane’s shoulders seemed to stiffen. “That’s okay. Really. I’ve got it.” She shouldered the strap of her laptop bag, lifted the carry-on in her opposite hand, and started to drag the suitcase toward the path that led to the cabins, but the wheels kept getting caught on rocks. Muttering to herself, Jane staggered forward, tripping as she yanked the suitcase over the gravel.
Toby shared a look with Mara. He couldn’t just stand there and watch.
“Why don’t I take the bags for you?” He followed Jane at a distance, letting her make the choice. She’d made it pretty clear she didn’t want to be alone with him, but she hadn’t said anything about her mother. “Then you and your mom can catch up.”
Jane paused and turned to him. Some elusive emotion flashed in her eyes before she steeled them again. Surprise maybe? “If you really don’t mind. Mom and I have a lot of catching up to do.” Jane set down the carry-on and laptop bag, let go of the suitcase, and stepped aside.
“Don’t mind at all.” Toby slung the strap of the laptop bag onto his good shoulder and picked up the carry-on on that same side, leaving his left hand to drag the suitcase.
“She’s in cabin four,” Mara called over, amusement flashing in her eyes.
“You can just leave everything on the porch,” Jane instructed. “I won’t be long.”
“Will do.” He started out in the direction of the cabins.
Mara walked over and slipped her arm around her daughter. “Come on. I’ll show you the new reception hall.” Her mother started to pull her away.
“Wait,” Jane called after him. “Be careful with that one.” She pointed to the laptop bag. “My laptop is in there.”
“I can handle it,” Toby assured her. “Trust me.”
A sharp raise of her eyebrows told him it would be a cold day in hell before she trusted him. And yet she had trusted him once.
Jane glanced back, her eyes meeting his, spiking his curiosity.
That night so long ago was the one time in all the years he’d known her that Jane had seemed to let down her guard.
And he couldn’t help but wonder what it would take for her to do it again.