Chapter Nine
“What the hell just happened?” He’s leaving? Just like that?
A pinching ache settled in Reese’s chest and her happy glow circled the drain. One minute they’re kissing and on their way to an amazing night, the next he gets a call from another woman and is running out the door like his boots are on fire. What could be so important?
Teenage memories, with all their heart-wrecking torment, flashed through her mind, and her stomach twisted into a painful knot. In high school, he’d been by her side one minute and against another girl’s lips the next. Guess some cowboys always ride the same horse.
“I hope his horse bucks him into a heaping pile of cow patties,” Reese growled. She poured another shot of MacLachlan whiskey and tossed it back. Then another, hoping to dull the disappointment.
After all her hesitation to accept his summer proposal, the second she’d agreed, he’d run off like he’d gotten what he wanted and was on to new prospects. The ink wasn’t even dry on their verbal contract. An angry heat flushed her skin, and her jaw already ached from clenching. She envisioned once again pushing him into the duck pond like she’d done when they were kids, with the added bonus of stomping his hat into the dirt while the whole town watched his humiliation, because that’s what she currently felt. Humiliated, crushed, and furious.
I’m cursed when it comes to men.
Lila, in all her sassy wisdom, would point out that it was her judgment and choice of men, not a curse.
She stood and groaned, not only from the pain in her foot, but from the rolling in her gut. And the ache settling into her heart. She should leave, chalk the whole thing up to another fumble in her romantic life, and get back to the business of upping her career game.
Her career was the number one goal. She’d thought James could be a fun—and brief—detour on her path to big accomplishments, but he’d just been a pothole in the road. She’d get her dream job. She’d prove to her dad that she could be a success with a photojournalism degree. And she could not let what happened to her mom happen to her.
When she saw James again, she’d renegotiate his proposal. Part-time use of the cottage was the only thing she wanted. Absolutely no cowboy needed.
She limped to the door, turned off the porch light, and twisted the deadbolt. A hot shower washed his scent from her skin, and she instantly wanted it back. Reese climbed onto the soft feather mattress in the downstairs back bedroom, alone. The heaviness in her chest mixed with anger and swirled into numbness. Not at all how she’d pictured tonight going.
Moonbeams slashed across the windowsill, reminding her of sleeping in the loft. The memory of her grandmother’s voice echoed. “The moonlight will give you sweet dreams and make you beautiful.”
“I miss you both. Should I keep the promise I made the day the farm was sold and do whatever it takes to get your cottage back? Or move on with my life and leave this dream behind?”
The soulful cry of a coyote sent tingling across her scalp.
…
With desire burning in his belly, James drove down the dirt road toward the cottage, anxious to explore every silky inch of Reese’s skin. She’d fit perfectly in his arms when he carried her from Celts Oak Tree. Every curve molded to fit his, as if carved and polished by hand. He’d barely noticed her weight. In fact, he’d never felt stronger.
Thank goodness the injury to her foot was mild. The dance she was doing on his sex drive, however, was not. Her red polished toes and silver toe ring were sexy as hell. Rare emotions flooded in when he’d tended to her injury, and he’d run to the kitchen like a coward. But he’d needed a moment to review his part-time relationship plan, because with Reese, it was so much more than just physical. He’d known and liked her for far too long not to have his heart involved in some way and had to make it clear—both to her and himself—that he was not offering more than a casual relationship. He could not offer forever.
The image of his father asleep across his mother’s grave flashed before him, stealing his breath and burning his eyes. One morning his mother had gone to the hospital to have a baby and never come home again. Getting close to someone like Reese, or God forbid loving her, wasn’t safe. He could not let her breach his carefully constructed walls.
He had to learn from his father, and from his experience with Polly, who hadn’t known the meaning of the word truth. The gold-digger had been holding off signing divorce papers for a husband he hadn’t even known she had, waiting until she knew if she could get James’s last name and money.
He eased up on the gas pedal. “Pull it together, dude.” He couldn’t go in there to Reese all worked up over something another woman had done. She had agreed to his idea to have fun together without any strings. Neither of them was looking for a serious relationship.
He parked beside her VW, jogged to the door, turned the knob, and found it locked. By the light of the moon, he fumbled with his key. It slid halfway in before he stopped. She’d turned off the porch light and locked the door, but why? Habit, or on purpose? He knocked, called her name, and waited, but he got no response.
Didn’t I say I was coming back? He replayed the moment in his head and realize he had not. “Stupid. I should’ve explained before I left and not just assumed she’d understand.”
Disappointed with himself, he stepped back, ready to go, then changed his mind and sat in one of the rockers. The crickets sang and a coyote howled a mournful cry, sounding as he felt. James took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Leaving Reese alone so close to the unknown tire tracks had unease prickling along his spine, especially after the phone call an hour earlier. When he’d heard Ana’s pregnant mare was missing from her stall, he’d feared more foul play and rushed away on autopilot, without considering how it looked to Reese. He wasn’t used to having anyone to answer to.
I’m doing a terrible job of proving I’m a better man.
A hammock swung in the light breeze at the edge of the porch as if demanding he should stay. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her. After taking off his boots and hanging his hat on the back of the rocker, he climbed into the sling of fabric.
What had he gotten his fool self into? Suddenly, their casual agreement felt like it was becoming a complicated relationship.
…
Unable to sleep, Reese got up before sunrise, made coffee, and stood there anxiously waiting while it dripped into the pot. She refused to let his behavior prevent her from getting back the cottage. Fingers crossed she could convince him to let her use it now and then, but she would not barter with allowing James MacLachlan to use her. It wouldn’t be that difficult to once again think of him as a bad boy. She’d forget this blip on the radar and get over it in no time.
With a deep sigh, she poured a cup. “Who the hell am I kidding? This will be a major suck fest.” She stepped out into the fresh air on the front porch, and the predawn light revealed a body in the hammock. Her heart sprang into her throat as hot coffee sloshed and trailed down her arm. She pressed a hand to her chest, calmed her breathing, and moved closer. It was James, sound asleep and softly snoring. Had he been here all night? His handsome features were relaxed in slumber, and she was reminded of the eighteen-year-old boy she’d left behind.
As if he sensed her watching, he opened his eyes, blinked a few times, and grinned. “Good morning, Goldilocks.”
She narrowed her eyes. Was he honestly grinning at her as if their night together hadn’t ended in disaster, blowing up their summer, again? Her pulse hammered painfully in her temples. “Morning,” she said from between a clenched jaw and had the strong urge to put on his boots and kick his six-foot-three-inch ass.
He sat up and swung his long legs over the side of the hammock. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” She slumped into a rocking chair, knocking his cowboy hat to the porch floorboards, then picked it up and rehung it. Last night she’d talked herself down from heartbreak and fury and then awakened numb and sad. But his nonchalant attitude was ramping her anger back up toward a full head of steam. She’d known from the start that they’d never have a ride-off-into-the-sunset kind of romance, but she hadn’t expected the in-your-face disregard of last night. At the moment, she was too angry to find the right words. What could she say? What was the point?
“I can see that I have some explaining to do,” he said, each word weighed down with regret.
“No need.” She would not let his sexy little crooked smile and honeyed words make her forget the way he’d walked out on her last night.
“You’re mad at me, and rightly so. I’m sorry I took off like that with no explanation. My cousin Ana’s pregnant horse went missing, and with the unknown trespasser and vandalism, I was afraid she’d been taken.”
Reese studied his face for signs of any untruths but saw none. “Your cousin?”
“Yeah. Ana’s horse is due to foal at any time.”
A missing horse? He’d left to help his cousin with an emergency, and she’d immediately thought the worst of him. Heat prickled her cheeks. “Dude, why the hell didn’t you add that bit of information last night? It would’ve saved you from sleeping in the hammock and me from…” She sloshed more coffee as she gestured and didn’t want to tell him she’d cried.
“Sorry. I screwed up, again. What did you think I was doing?” he asked and then held up a hand. “Don’t answer that. I’m pretty sure I already know.”
“I heard you say the name Ana and that’s pretty much it.” She shuffled her feet against the worn boards and sipped what was left of her coffee.
“Shit,” he murmured and scrubbed both of his hands up and down his face. “I’m really sorry, Reese.”
She knew what the horses meant to him. He’d cared more about riding than almost anything as a kid. “Did you find Ana’s horse?”
“Yes. And I have a young ranch hand that needs to pay more attention to latching the gates.” He stood, winced, and rubbed his lower back as he straightened. “Got any more of that coffee?”
“I made a whole pot. Grab a cup.”
As he walked past, he reached out like he wanted to touch her but shoved his hand in his back pocket.
It would’ve been nice if he’d stroked her hair or leaned down for a kiss, but at the same time she was glad he hadn’t. Parting as friends would be better than starting the temporary summer arrangement they’d agreed to only a few hours ago. She set her coffee aside, no longer able to stomach it.
James returned and sat in the other rocking chair with his bare feet kicked out in front.
She’d never found a guy’s feet sexy, until now. How can a boot-wearing cowboy have such nice feet?
“I’m not doing a very good job of showing you I’m a better man. I should’ve explained before just taking off. I get anxious when one of the horses is close to foaling.” He blew out a breath. “I lost one during a birth a few months back.”
“That must’ve been hard.” Their chairs were so close she could feel the heat of his arm but resisted tracing her fingers along the dips and planes of his muscles.
“And the thought that she might be out alone at night with the coyotes worried me.”
“You’re passionate about your animals. I admire that.” Why do I have to admire so much about this man? The first rays of sunrise peaked over the hills, and a chickadee chirped from its perch on a lantana bush. Some of the tension released in her shoulders. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful here. I’ve missed this.”
“Can’t imagine waking up every morning in a big city.” His face scrunched into a grimace, and he put his cup on the windowsill then stared off into the distance where a deer grazed on dew-covered grass. “Please don’t be mad at—”
She stopped his words with a finger against his lips but immediately jerked her touch away. “I’m not mad.”
He took hold of her hand and raised a brow.
“Well, I’m not mad anymore,” she said. “But telling me what was going on could’ve prevented this.”
“You’re right.” One corner of his mouth twitched. “Want to take me up on that offer to hit me now?”
She bit her lip and pretended to give it serious thought. “I think…not today.”
“Reese Turner, do you give second chances?”
“I’ve been known to. For example, when I accepted your invitation to come out here in the first place.” She hoped her wide-eyed expression conveyed her meaning.
“Gotcha. What’s the possibility of me getting one more chance?”
She studied his hopeful face. What am I going to do with this man? She’d jumped to conclusions about his sudden departure, but who could blame her? “It was a misunderstanding due to lack of information and poor judgment. No need to use up a whole ‘chance’ on this incident.”
James released a breath and his shoulders relaxed. “Are you still in the market for a part-time cowboy?”
“Honestly, I’m worried about getting off track with my career. I can’t take my eye off my dream.”
“I get it, but just know that I’d never try to hold you back from your dreams.”
Backtracking their relationship would be hard, but they’d moved too fast. “It’s no secret that we’re attracted to one another.” She glanced away. “But we might’ve moved too fast. We should’ve reconnected as friends first.”
“Are we still friends?”
“Yes.”
“I get the feeling you don’t like being tied down to one place or person?”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want “her person”; she just couldn’t seem to find one that wasn’t a total disaster. Her chest tightened, but she put on a brave face. “Remember, I’m a wanderer, picking up photos, stories, and trinkets along my travels. I’ve even thought about putting some drawers or something in my van to house my growing collection.”
“You sound like my grandpa. He talks about wandering the land hunting for arrowheads like Benjamin taught him. He puts them in…” James sat forward in his chair. “Do you remember what the last mystery clue said?”
Reese closed her eyes and envisioned the old handwritten note. “‘Let time gone by point you in a direction that honors the past. When it’s not right the first time, retry, rebuild.’”
“In my attic there’s some old display cases that Benjamin built when he was trying his hand at woodworking. Some of them aren’t built well and barely open, but he kept trying and finally got it right. It’s where he put his geological specimens and arrowheads.”
Her foot tapped rapidly on the porch boards. “And you think it might be where we’ll find the next clue?”
“It’s my best guess. If we go now while it’s still early, it won’t be too hot up there. Do you have time before you leave for Austin?”
“Yes. Let me get dressed,” Reese called over her shoulder while rushing into the house. Her lack of sleep was eclipsed by the excitement of following Benjamin MacLachlan’s mystery clues.
They climbed the steep stairs to the attic, and James pulled the strings of several hanging bare lightbulbs. The peaked-roof space held what Reese considered a wealth of treasures in old trunks, wooden crates, and newer cardboard boxes. Dusty furniture and tarp-draped mysteries cast shadows along the wall of handmade display cabinets. Each one had a few shelves but mostly rows of small drawers with an eclectic mix of handles and knobs.
“This is them,” he said and fisted his hands on his hips. “How should we tackle this search?”
“We could start on opposite sides and meet in the middle,” she suggested.
“Solid plan. If I’m right and the clue is here, whoever finds it gets a reward.”
“What’s the reward?” Her mind immediately went to places that made her flush.
“Winner’s choice.”
“That sounds slightly dangerous.” A tingle shimmied through her. “Guess I better win.”
Reese had to use a bit of force to get a few of the drawers to open, and she found all kinds of rocks, fossils, vials of dirt, and arrowheads, but no mystery clue. Just when she was sure James would find it first, she opened a drawer containing an old-fashioned quill one would use with an inkwell, and there was a familiar-looking piece of paper rolled around its wooden shaft. She squealed before she could stop herself. “I think I found it. Come see.”
He looked over her shoulder as she unrolled the paper to reveal Benjamin’s looping handwriting.
“Knowledge and collections.” He wrapped his arm around her waist but dropped it quickly and shoved his hand in his back pocket. “Sorry.”
She understood and was having trouble controlling her own urge to touch him. “It’s okay. I’m guessing there are more collections in this house?”
“Yes. Probably more than I even realize.”
“And you’ll wait until I come back to search for the next clue?”
He smiled. “You’ll still come back?”
“Can’t let you have all the fun.”
“I’ll wait for you, Goldilocks.”
Those words, said in his deep, sexy voice, made her mind flash to things it shouldn’t. “Good, because I know just what reward I want for finding the clue. Another one of your foot massages.” She caught her breath. That’s not something friends did.
He laughed. “That’s easy enough.”
Although Reese hated the idea of bringing any more tension into their relationship, she needed to tell him about her connection to Everett Development, because she had a strong suspicion that’s who he’d been getting letters from. Would it make even a friendship impossible?
“You’re tensing up, Goldilocks. What’s wrong?”