Well, now what?
For the first time since arriving at the 4S Ranch, Torie questioned her decision to stay through the holidays.
She had taken a shower and dressed in her comfiest jeans and a dark blue turtleneck sweater. She stood in the middle of the living room and looked around. Dane and Aimee had done a nice job with the place.
The living room had a deep brown sofa and love seat with an ottoman in front. An alpaca rug lay before the fireplace. Knotty pine walls and ceiling made for a pure cabin feel and windows lined the front and side of the house, looking out to the wraparound porch and lush fields beyond. Huge pine trees outlined the property, creating a wall of woodsy protection.
It was rustic and homey. Inviting. Made you want to kick off your shoes and cozy up by the fire for a while. But as appealing as that sounded, Torie was too wound up. Did she ever stop working long enough to just sit and stare? No. She didn’t. And she knew why. Letting her mind wander meant too much of a chance for old ghosts to creep in and poke around.
Leaving a few days before to enjoy their honeymoon in Colorado, Dane and Aimee had left the keys to Dane’s truck in case she needed it. But she preferred her old pickup. It was the first thing she’d bought after getting a job on the police force, the first thing that had ever been truly hers, and she loved it. Every last faded red inch of it.
She grabbed her coat and keys. Maybe strolling through town would cure her anxiousness.
Tahoe City bustled with activity. Christmas garlands and big red bows adorned the old-fashioned lampposts that lined the street. Snow had fallen the night before but the streets were clear now, only the sidewalks were patched with white.
Torie parked her truck and watched people go by. Couples carried shopping bags. Two women chatted and sipped coffee as they walked. A little girl being pushed in a stroller munched a giant cookie shaped like Santa, her reindeer hat sprouting antlers out the top. Torie could almost see Christmas cheer floating in the air. Loneliness washed over her. The interior of her truck became a cocoon separating her from those outside full of hope and joy.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She was debating driving right back to the cabin and holing up there when she spotted a sign that said Cozy Corner Books. It had been a while since she’d lingered in a bookstore. The idea had promise. Climbing out of her truck, she headed down the street.
Snow crunched under her boots as she walked. She loved the feel of the cool air mixed with the warmth of the sun on her face. Memories of her time spent in Wyoming came to mind. The good years. Years she’d spent with Gram. Not all her ghosts were unfriendly.
A bell tinkled above the bookstore door as she entered. The smell of leather and paper filled the air as well as the scent of coffee. Torie breathed in deep. Pure heaven. She’d gotten a love of reading from her Gram, but hadn’t had much time for it lately. Maybe she could catch up on a few of her series while she was here. And, that would keep memories from creeping in too often. Bonus.
She wandered over to the shelves that held historical fiction. Yet another thing she inherited from her Gram—a love of history. As she ran her fingers over the books, she spied a new one from one of her favorite authors and pulled it out, turning it over to read the back cover.
“I didn’t peg you for being the reader type.”
Keith’s deep whisper in her ear jolted her out of her trance and caused her to jump. The book dropped to the ground with a thud. His hands reached out to steady her as he chuckled. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
She faced him, one hand over her racing heart, the other over her mouth to stifle a scream. Goodness! What was her problem? She wasn’t jumpy, or a screamer. She berated herself for letting her guard down, even momentarily. It could cost her if she wasn’t careful.
“I guess I’m better at sneaking up on you than you are at sneaking up on me.” His eyes twinkled at the reference to her attempt at catching him in the kitchen that morning.
Standing in the aisle of the bookstore, he still held her shoulders, his body taking up most of the space between the shelves. His blue eyes looked down at her from under a light tan Stetson. Her heart continued to race, not from fear anymore but rather Keith’s presence, which wrapped around her like a security blanket.
When she didn’t respond he said, “Hey, are you okay? I’m just teasing. I really am sorry I scared you.” He let go of her arms and bent down so they were eye to eye.
She nodded and removed her hand from her mouth. “Yes. Yes. I’m sorry.” She let out a breath. “You did scare me, but I’m okay.”
He bent down and picked up the book she’d dropped and handed it to her. “Here you go.” He looked at the cover. “Historical fiction? Hmmm, I’d see you more as a True Crime kind of girl.”
She smiled, her heart rate slowed, returning to normal. “One would think so, right? But no, I get enough of that at work.”
He nodded and shoved his hands in his jean pockets. “Makes sense now that you say it. People always think I’d want a military book to escape. Not sure how they figure that, but they mean well.”
Sadness flashed in his eyes for a moment then was gone. Torie could only imagine what he’d seen and done as a soldier. The idea of Keith in harm’s way made her stomach turn. She shivered at the thought of the danger he faced in his job.
“Are you cold? They have fresh coffee here. It’s good too.” He winked at her.
She shook her head. “Um, no thanks. I’m good. I’m jumpy as it is, apparently. No more caffeine for me.”
He smiled.
“What kind of book are you looking for if you don’t read military?”
“Well, I know it’s sort of stereotypical, but I like old westerns. Louis L’Amour, that kind of thing.” He leaned towards her and whispered, “And sometimes I like Science Fiction. But let’s keep that between us.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Torie whispered back. She couldn’t help but soak in the irony of this enormous mountain of a man whispering like a little boy about his secret love of Science Fiction. Keith was living proof that you can’t always judge a book by its cover. His cover was enticing, and the inside story was something she definitely wanted to read more about.
He stood straight again. “I’m here today though looking for a book for my mom for Christmas.”
“Oh, that’s nice. What does she like to read?”
He frowned. “Romance novels.”
Torie laughed out loud. The woman working behind the counter gave them a look but then continued with her task.
“Hey now. I didn’t say I was reading them.”
“I know.” Torie couldn’t stop laughing. “I’m just picturing you standing in front of the romance novel section of a store and getting some…stares.” But mainly because he belonged on a cover. She didn’t add that last part, of course, but her brain sure went there. Keith without a shirt on had to be romance novel worthy. Her cheeks warmed at the thought.
“I don’t know much about that genre, but Aimee reads them all the time. I could try and help you pick some for your mom.”
The relief that washed over his features was priceless. This fierce warrior in front of her wound up tighter than a drum over picking a book had her laughing again.
“What? Why are you laughing now?”
“Nothing. I think it’s nice, actually, that you would go to such lengths of discomfort to get your mom a Christmas gift.”
He smiled and looked at his boots. “Yeah, well…”
Ah, a rough exterior with a soft, gooey center. Keith was becoming more and more appealing by the minute.
“You wanna wait here while I go look in the romance section?”
“Nah. I’ll brave it with ya.” He winked and put an arm around her to lead her down the rows. His warmth was not lost on her. Nor the unique scent of him that was setting up residence in her memory.
Fifteen minutes later, they’d chosen three books Torie was sure his mom would like, and Keith made his way to the counter to pay. The woman bagged the items and gave him his change. He nodded to the woman and turned to Torie.
“Thanks for your help.”
“Sure. Anytime.”
“You headed back to the ranch?”
“Not yet. I think I’ll sit and read a bit. Check out what magazines they have.”
He nodded. “Sounds good. See you later then.”
“See ya.”
He stepped towards the door but then turned to her again. “Oh. I almost forgot. Mom wanted me to let you know you are invited for dinner each night at the main house. She has dinner ready at six thirty.”
“That sounds great. Tell her I said thank you.”
“Will do. See you tonight then.” He tipped his hat to her and was gone.
Torie could sense the stare of the woman working the cash register so she tried to push down the schoolgirl grin that fought its way to her face as she watched the door Keith had just exited.
She turned to the woman and smiled. The woman looked at the door then back at Torie. “That man is somethin’ else, isn’t he?” she said, chomping her gum. Her hair was streaked three different colors and was piled in a messy bun on top of her head.
Torie gave a non-committal, “Mmm-hmmm.”
The woman shook her head. “There’s not a woman around here that wouldn’t want to call that man her own. But he won’t even look at anyone. At least not until you.” She eyed Torie over her glasses for a moment then stacked some papers on the counter and continued. “He’s nice and polite and all, but…well, I’m not sure I’d trust another woman again either if I were him.” She sighed. “Still wouldn’t hurt for him to try though. There are nice girls around here that’d be good to him.”
With that, she grabbed a stack of books and headed toward the travel section of the store.
Unsure of what just happened, Torie stood and stared. Why would Keith not trust women? She fought back the urge to defend him to the bookstore clerk. Whatever had happened to him in his past was his business. Not hers to share with some stranger in her store.
Torie shook her head. Small towns never change. She had firsthand knowledge of how hurtful small-town gossip could be, and it pained her to think of Keith wrapped up in any. She was curious, sure, but there was no way she’d ask him questions he didn’t want to answer. The past was best buried. Another truth she knew all too well.
***
Keith found himself pacing the great room of the main house listening for Torie’s truck in the drive. Sheesh. What was wrong with him? He was acting like a teenager hoping the pretty new girl in town would accept his invitation to dinner. Well, that wasn’t far from the truth. But he was long gone from teen years and hadn’t been this hyped over a woman since…well, he wasn’t going there. Not tonight.
The sound of a car door slamming snapped him from his thoughts. She was here. She came. He could do this. Calm, cool, collected. He was a Marine, for crying out loud. He was control personified. The doorbell rang and he opened it. Torie stood there, her long, blond hair blowing in the breeze, and that was it. His palms were sweaty and his heart kicked up a notch. Her hazel eyes matched her long sweater. Black yoga pants hugged her mile-long legs then tucked into black Ugg boots. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, without an ounce of makeup. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. A goddess right there on the front porch.
“Um, hey. Can I come in?”
Her voice broke him from his trance. He shook his head, hoping he didn’t have drool on his face. Hell, this woman turned him inside out and upside down and he didn’t have a clue what to do about it.
He stepped aside and ushered her into the house. “Yes. I’m sorry. It’s freezing out there and you don’t have a coat.” Could he sound more like an idiot? He rubbed a hand down his face as he closed and locked the door.
Snap out of it, Scott. Be cool.
“I know. I forgot it when I left the cabin then figured I was just driving here and not walking so…” She shrugged and tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ear. Simple diamond studs adorned her earlobes. Beautiful. The kind of jewelry that could easily be a gift from a boyfriend. He hadn’t even thought of that. Idiot. A woman like her must have men lined up at her door. The thought turned him green with envy but he pushed it down.
“Come sit by the fire. Dinner should be ready soon, but you can warm up until then.”
“Thanks. That’s perfect.” She made her way through the great room and sat in a rocking chair next to the hearth.
“How about a warm drink?”
“Sounds great. Thank you.”
Keith nodded and headed to the kitchen. He stopped in the hallway out of Torie’s line of sight. He had to pull himself together. His mother would see in a hot second his interest in Torie. But who wouldn’t? He’d acted like a love-struck teen just now when she came to the door. If he didn’t snap out of it for dinner, his mother would have them choosing a wedding date by dessert. The fact that that idea didn’t give Keith chills frightened him all the more.
When he’d first met Torie, she was all business, not afraid to stand up to him, tell him what she was thinking. And he liked her candor. But today he saw a softer side to her. She was the perfect mix of spicy and sweet. An enticing combination.
No. Long-term relationships weren’t for him. He took a deep breath. Right. Stick to the plan. Solider first. Everything else second. And Torie was definitely not a second place kind of woman. His resolve intact, he headed into the kitchen to get her a warm drink.