Chapter Nineteen

Way to crash and burn, genius.

The pressure against Reese’s breastbone was from her heart either breaking or shriveling. Could a heart shrink? She slid down the inside of the cottage door to the hardwood, cool and solid underneath her legs. The familiar lines and swirls were a comfort she clung to, if only for a few more precious minutes. This cottage was the only place that she’d never felt judged, and James was the only man she’d ever truly loved.

And she’d just lost both. Her lungs constricted, making her next breath difficult.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why do I always think I should handle everything all on my own?

Just because she had things to prove to her father didn’t mean she needed to carry it into all parts of her life. With blame and guilt weighing heavy on her mind, she couldn’t fault James for wanting to end their summer early. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t going to hurt for a long time. The burn in her throat suddenly became too much, and she let the tears fall without even wiping them.

He only ever offered the summer. He never said forever.

She kicked off her shoes to rub her feet across the boards, and all her senses heightened. The memories flooded in on a nostalgic wave. Dancing barefoot when Granddad played piano. Rocking on Grandmother’s lap with a book. Laughter. Food. Unconditional love.

Until she was seventeen, this was the place she’d come when her heart ached. But this time, she’d have to say goodbye to the childhood home of her heart, just when she needed it most. If time travel were possible, she’d go back to a time when both of her grandparents were here and soak up their healing love.

She didn’t want to get off the floor and risk disrupting the flow of memories, but with a burst of frustrated energy, she pushed herself to her feet. In a daze of regret and heartache, she gathered her belongings. Once her van was loaded, she went back inside to clean. The offer to stay here anytime was obviously revoked, but she couldn’t leave a mess behind, not in the house where her Grandmother had taught her what it meant to love a home.

She swept the floors, special memories and stories bombarding her in every room. Every now and then she’d stop, close her eyes, and picture the room as it had been many years ago. The amount of detail she could recall was startling. A teetering stack of books beside Grandmother’s favorite chair. Dried herbs hanging in bundles. And Granddad’s lively laugh.

The kitchen countertops were wiped with loving strokes obscured by a sheen of tears. The new bed in the loft—where they’d made love for the first time—was neatly made. Reese walked once more through every room, running her hand along the surfaces, grasping every antique glass doorknob, aching to feel the touch of her grandparents.

Saying goodbye to this house that love had built, unsure when or if she’d see it again, opened a fragile place inside her that had been closed off since the first time she’d said farewell. And like before, she was also leaving with things between her and James unfinished. With so many things unsaid. Bracing for one last look around, Reese closed the cottage door.

“Come on, memories. Time to travel.”

After starting Petunia, she dropped her head to the steering wheel. Why hadn’t she just told him everything that very first day? Before too much time had passed, and she’d fallen in love.

“Goodbye, James.”

Would it be forever?

…

After a night of tossing, turning, and tormenting herself on Lila’s couch, Reese sat in a coffee shop around the corner from Everett Development. She couldn’t believe Duncan MacLachlan was planning to do business with Mr. E and prayed James and his grandfather could stop him.

Susie sashayed through the door with her usual perky smile in place. “Morning, Reese.”

“Good morning. Thanks for meeting me.” She slid a pecan-covered cinnamon roll across the table.

“Yumalicious. You know my weakness. Are you sure you don’t want to come back to work so I have someone to talk to?”

“Sorry. I miss you, but no way in hell. I should be the one asking you if you’re sure about helping me. Things could go badly.”

“Positive. I hate my job and dislike him and his business practices more each day. This gives me the push I need to turn in my notice. What you said at the office the other day got me thinking, and I started digging into the Cypress Creek stuff. I made a few Sherlock deductions.” Susie plucked off a pecan and popped it into her grinning mouth.

Reese chuckled for the first time since driving away from MacLachlan Ranch. “I’m glad I could give you your first detective case. Don’t keep me in suspense. Is he up to something illegal?”

“I think so,” Susie said around a mouthful of sticky goodness. She flipped open a notepad and tapped her pencil on a bullet point list. “Over the phone you said there was a natural spring that suddenly stopped flowing. I found a few unusual things.”

Reese gulped her coffee, foot bouncing along with her pulse. “And?”

“I looked on you-know-who’s computer for his recent searches and found one for natural springs. Then I discovered a load of concrete with no destination. I talked to a few of the construction guys and found out two men just quit after coming into some money.”

“Holy crap. You think he had someone plug the spring with concrete?”

“Could be. There’s also this big goon that comes in every so often and gets envelopes filled with cash. I overheard a few of their conversations and didn’t think too much about it at the time, but now I’m putting the pieces together. I think this guy is his go-to thug who’ll do anything for money. They talked about Cypress Creek.”

“This is really good information.” She let Susie get in a few bites of her treat while considering her next step. James hadn’t answered her phone calls. She’d have to go to Cypress Creek and hope he’d talk to her. If he wouldn’t listen, she’d tell his grandparents. Or the chief of police.

She’d promised to help Lila with tonight’s dinner party to attract investors for her Art Café and couldn’t cut out on her. Her heart rate picked up pace and her foot tapped like it could make the hours speed by. Could this wait until tomorrow morning?

Susie thanked the waitress who topped off her coffee. “This sugar and caffeine will give me energy to do some more digging.”

“I really appreciate your help.”

“Reese, I’m afraid I saved the worst news for last. Since he can’t get all the property he originally wanted, he’s decided to forgo the resort and build condos.”

Reese’s stomach plummeted and her blood chilled.

The cottage could be torn down for condos?

…

Something woke James and he reached for Reese, hoping to calm his racing heart, but her side of the bed was empty.

Her side? When the hell did I start thinking of it as “her side”?

He groaned and yanked off the blanket. Only a matter of hours since their relationship exploded, and as much as he fought the feeling, he missed her like his next breath.

The doorbell rang, and he jerked upright. The clock glowed one in the morning. “This can’t be good.”

Grumpy and groggy, he pulled on a pair of jeans and headed for the front door. His head throbbed from too much whiskey, and his eyes felt sand filled. As he crossed the living room, the late-night visitor began knocking.

“I’m coming. Hold your wild horses.” He yanked open the door and his belly flipped. “Reese.” The woman who’d caused his drinking binge stood on the porch. Even with windblown hair and shadowed blue eyes, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He fought the urge to pull her into his arms, smell her skin, taste her sweetness. Instead, he braced an arm on the edge of the door and the other on the frame, essentially blocking her entry. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”

She rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. “I know you’re probably not ready to talk to me, but you wouldn’t take my calls, and I was afraid you weren’t listening to my messages.”

Her messages sat ignored on his phone. He just hadn’t been ready to hear her voice.

“I should’ve waited until morning, but I couldn’t sleep and…” Her breath shuddered and her fingers caught in her tangled hair. “I’m sorry I woke you, but I have information you need to hear.” She shifted uncomfortably. “And I really need to use your bathroom.”

He stepped back and motioned for her to come inside, then headed for the coffeepot and a much-needed hit of caffeine. A few minutes later, she dropped into a chair at the kitchen table like her legs wouldn’t hold her any longer. Her face had been scrubbed clean and her hair pulled into a ponytail.

He poured two cups of coffee and sat across from her. Her pleading eyes were chipping at the ice barrier around his heart, but he had to stay strong. “Tell me.”

A wide yawn made her shiver, and her weary eyes met his. “I discovered information that leads me to believe your neighbor’s spring might’ve been filled with concrete.”

“Did you say concrete?”

“I’m afraid so.” She picked up her mug with a shaking hand and before she could take a sip, spilled the coffee down the front of her body. She bolted up, pulling her shirt away from her skin. “Shit, that’s hot.”

James shoved back his chair and rounded the table. “Are you burned?”

“No. Just tired. And super frustrated with myself.” Tears spiked her lashes.

As if on autopilot, his arms went out to hold her, but he jerked them down. Too risky to allow her to weaken his defenses with tears…and her touch.

Still flapping her shirt away from her body, she raised her head. “I should’ve told you everything the very first day. I was wrong, and it bit me on the ass. And worst of all, I hurt you.”

He remained silent, with his thumbs hooked in his front pockets, but more of his anger was melting away.

Her lips quivered, and she pressed them together then ducked her head again.

James risked placing one finger on her chin, lifting gently. “I wish you had felt you could talk to me. I’m trying to see things from your perspective.” He dropped his hand. “You need to help me understand.”

“Being an only child, and for a few other reasons, I’ve gotten used to taking care of everything on my own, but this has made me realize I can, and should, ask for help. The reason I came in the middle of the night is because, as soon as possible, you need to talk to anyone who’s thinking of selling land. You have to convince them not to do business with Chet Everett. Since he can’t get as much property as he previously hoped, he’s decided to put the resort on hold and build condos.”

Words failed him as his brain tried to turn her words into something different. White-hot anger flashed.

“James? Did you hear what I said?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Is your dad still planning to sell?”

“He already did. My father no longer owns any of this ranch.”

She gasped and pulled clenched fists to her cheeks. “Oh my God, no.”

He knew she mistakenly thought he’d sold to that asshole Everett but didn’t set the record straight yet. “Papers are already being drawn up.”

She tapped two fingers against her lips, turning to and fro with jerky movements. “I’m too late. I thought I could save this land. Maybe we can still find something that forces him to stop.”

He couldn’t let her be upset for a minute longer, and he grabbed her hand. “Reese, Grandpa bought my dad’s land and is putting it in my name. It’s mine. Your grandparents’ whole farm is now mine.”

With a gasp of relief, she flung her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his bare chest. “Thank God. I’m so relieved. I know it’s safe with you.”

Unable to resist her for a second longer, he wrapped his arms around her, wet fabric now cold against his skin. He cradled her head against his pounding heart and held tighter, letting some of her sweetness slip back in.

“I’m getting you all wet.”

“It’s okay.” He stroked her hair once more then let her go.

“If anyone sells to him, we’ll still have a condo development to stop.” She covered another yawn. “I’m working on getting more proof Mr. Everett is involved in criminal activity.”

“I’ll call everyone first thing in the morning. Guess we should also check out Hal’s spring once it’s daylight.”

“Do you think I could crash on your couch for a few hours? I’m so tired I don’t think I can drive, and it’s really hot in Petunia.”

“You don’t have to sleep on the couch.” He debated offering her old spot in his bed but had to consider everything before jumping back into the deep side of the river. “There are plenty of guest bedrooms in this house.”

She swallowed hard and nodded. “Can I borrow a shirt?”

He hadn’t missed the honest disappointment on her face, and it confused him even more about the best way for them to move forward. “Go grab one.”

She tried to smile but failed, then left the kitchen.

He heard the click of Sampson’s nails on the wooden floor, Reese talking to both animals, and then her voice trailed away. James refilled his mug and moved to the couch in the living room.

A few minutes later, she came out of the master bedroom and stopped at the foot of the stairs. “Does it matter which room I use?”

Her long, bare legs teased from under the hem of his T-shirt, and he forced himself to focus on her question. “Take your pick. There are four upstairs.”

“I always had the best of intentions, but I went about things in the wrong way, and I’m sorry.” Kitten in hand, she went up the staircase. “See you in the morning.”

Knowing sleep wouldn’t return, James sat there in the quiet darkness. If Reese hadn’t told me to talk to Dad, he might’ve sold the land before Grandpa had a chance to stop him. Everything added up to her being against any development. His gut told him he’d been wrong about her having an ulterior motive. And she’d given him a second chance more than once. Didn’t she deserve the same? He continued to sit and contemplate every pro and con he could think of, hoping for answers to drop out of the secret spot in the beam and land in his lap.

When the first rays of sunrise bled into the dark room, he lifted the dog’s head from his lap, went upstairs, and found Reese asleep in his old bedroom, surrounded by rodeo ribbons and belt buckles, comic books, and posters. Minutes passed as he allowed himself time to take in the picture of a sleeping beauty with a kitten snuggled under her chin. When he sat on the bedside, she stirred and stretched out a hand. He gripped her fingers and hoped it was him she sought.

Pulling their joined hands to her cheek, she sighed. “James.”

His name, whispered in her sultry voice, stole his last fragment of restraint, and he stretched out on top of the quilt.

The wooden bedframe squeaked, and she blinked open tired eyes. A tentative smile bloomed across her face. “Good morning.”

“Morning. Feeling better?”

“If waking up to you beside me means you’ve forgiven me, then yes.”

The kitten stretched and walked to the foot of the bed.

James circled her waist and pressed his forehead to hers, hoping he was making the right decision with his next words. “I’ve been burned by lies in the past, and I need you to always be honest with me going forward. And I do forgive you. I’m sorry for being a pig-headed ass. If it wasn’t for you coming to Cypress Creek and encouraging me to talk to my dad, he might’ve sold his portion of the ranch before we had time to stop him. Plus, I’ve asked you for second chances, and you deserve the same.”

Clasping his hand against her heart, she released a breath. “At least I did something right. Let’s go tell everyone what we’ve discovered.”

After confirming Hal Kempner’s spring was in fact plugged with concrete, and spending a few hours with the chief of police, James felt good about their chances of stopping Chet Everett for good. Chief West warned them to stop the amateur detective work and let the law handle it from this point.

On the drive home from town, he listened to her side of the conversation with Susie, the Everett Development employee who’d helped her gather information. Reese warned her of what was to come and advised she resign, soon. Everything she said to her friend on the phone rang true to what she’d told him. She might’ve shown poor judgment in keeping things from him, but he believed her heart had been in the right place. She deserved this second chance. They both did.

When they arrived back at the ranch house, he was dog-tired exhausted in more ways than one.

“You should take a nap,” Reese said.

“I could use some time looking at the backs of my eyelids.”

“Come on, cowboy.” With her hand in his, she guided him straight to the master bedroom. “Climb into bed.”

His brows rose as he sat on the edge of the mattress and waited to see what she’d do next. Was she planning to tuck him in like a toddler at naptime?

“Sleep. We can figure the rest out later. And I should probably head back to Austin. I’ll call you.”

Before she could turn away, he caught her hand. They still had things to discuss and work out, but that could hold for tonight. “Do you have an appointment or somewhere you need to be?”

“No.”

“You’re as tired as I am. Stay.”

“For tonight?” Her eyes widened.

“Or longer.” His stomach cartwheeled, and he had a brief oh shit moment the second the words left his mouth. Was he crazy for reopening himself to her so quickly? Yes! But apparently, I’m doing it anyway. “You said Lila turned her extra bedroom into a dark room, and you have to sleep on the couch. You’ll be more comfortable if you stay here or the cottage.”

Her smile was interrupted by a yawn, proving he was correct about her fatigue. “I’ll stay tonight, and we can see if you still feel the same way in the morning. We should set an alarm to get up for evening chores.”

He tugged her onto the bed and spooned behind her. “No need. Ty said he’d handle everything. I have the night off.”

She snuggled back against his chest. “That’s good news.”

The passion she always stirred fired through his body, and he kissed her neck. “Now I can’t sleep.”

“Why not?” She looked over her shoulder, a grin hovering just under the surface.

As if his erection pressing against her weren’t enough of a clue. “Because you’re irresistible and determined to put me in an early grave with a lack of sleep.”

Rolling to face him, she nipped his full lower lip. “We can wait until you have more energy. Remember how good it was after eleven years of delayed gratification?”

“I’m too tired to be patient.”

“Tell me what you need, cowboy.”