Chapter Two

Kelsey stretched her legs over the coffee table and swirled the malbec around her glass, headed in for a sniff. Laughed at herself. Like she could tell the difference. A smidge of guilt brushed her, though. California’s wines were world-renowned and here she was, indulging in something from Argentina. And a cheap vintage at that in a dollar-store goblet.

Cheap or not, she took a long, appreciate sip. She deserved this splurge. Deciphering the upcoming project had gone down as easy as the wine. If she prevailed upon enough of the stay-at-home moms to be teachers aides for an afternoon, the braided hearts would work out just fine. And they opened up into little two-sided baskets Kelsey could fill with a treat or two.

And if the new yoga pants were any more comfortable, she’d be settling in for a long winter’s nap.

Her grandma’s antique mantel clock chimed eight times. The fireplace had been the principal reason she’d rented this charming place. No such thing as urban cracker box apartment complexes in hilly Ten Oaks.

She got up. Time to hit her DVR recorded list for a Heart-to-Heart Talk marathon. Since it was Valentine month, the cable channel played reruns of the long-ago romance game show in ten-episode chunks, repeated over and over. Oh, how she loved the show. Never tired of it. Loved walking backward in time to the days of her girlhood when the whole of life stretched ahead and you almost touched every dream. Simple, uncomplicated. When you never imagined a louse for a lover. First in college. Then…Gunnar.

Nope, girls always imagined a hero.

For a weird second, Landry Mills flashed inside Kelsey’s head when she reached for the remote. Not a knight in shining armor on a white horse. A cowboy on, say, Comanche from the rescue, as soon as the gelding was rehabilitated, ready to trust a rider again. Then she shuttered her mind. Was she ready to trust again? Landry had clearly said no spouse, no kids. But Gunnar had done the same. No spouse due to divorce. Her heart panged. And no mention of kids despite three of them.

Then his not-even-legally separated wife and kids had come back from her folks’ place in Oregon, seeking reconciliation, Last May. Just in time for Mother’s Day.

No. Her heart panged again. It’d be hard to trust again.

Her smartphone wiggled, spat out the ring tone she’d promptly changed from Stand by Your Man to Kiss This. Yes, she’d make it on her own.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, Babygirl.”

Kelsey could almost hear her mom’s smile. And she might be thirty one, but had accepted she’d always be an infant. Her dad yelled a hello from the background where it sounded like a House of Cards binge going on. “Just wanted to invite you to Sunday dinner. It’s been quite a while. The kids miss you.”

Kids. Her older brother Drew’s darling boy and girl.

Kelsey missed them back, but… “Thanks, Mom. I miss you all, too, but I’ve got a lot going on. You were a teacher, too. We did report cards just before Christmas break, but I’ve already got progress reports to write.”

“Ugh. I do remember those days, but…”

Before guilt prevailed, Kelsey had to step in. “Mom, I am really okay.” She knew the real reason for the call. It was the normal time of year for teachers to look for another school. And she didn’t need to run home and cry on her mommy’s shoulder. “I know you don’t get it, but I like it here. Things didn’t work out quite like I planned…” She swallowed one last gasp of bitterness. “…but that happens in different ways to everybody, all the time. I like Homewood. For once, the principal isn’t a toad. The school is well-funded. I don’t have to buy supplies for my students. They love me. Their parents respect me. And I love Ten Oaks…”

A vision of Landry Mills wiggled inside her head, and she stilled it. And she didn’t, wouldn’t, say out loud that she refused to go back to her old life and admit failure. To own up that all her instincts had been wrong. Not to mention the salary at an upscale private school beat out the hassles and overdrawn checks down in L.A.

“Honey, we…” Her mother tried to get in a word sideways.

“Mom, I got royally screwed. Hideously dumped. But I’m fine. Truly. I can hold up my head. School’s great. I love volunteering at the horse rescue. And I’m sure not going to crawl back home with my tail between my legs. Please accept it.”

She was going to make it all on her own here in Ten Oaks.

Still, refusing coffee with the hot cowboy seemed a bad decision now.

Oh, well.

“All right, Kels. How about I talk everybody into driving up there weekend after next? The kids sure enjoy petting those horses. And your dad wants to try out Ten Oaks Golf Course.”

“Sounds like a plan. Hug Daddy, please.” Kelsey chuckled. She loved them all dearly, but the distance was a good thing. Especially with the circumstances that had led her here. No sorrowing eyes and weepy smiles to deal with on a daily basis. Even if the grownups of Ten Oaks pitied her, her students didn’t, and she read only love in their eyes. “Bye, Mom. Hug everybody for me.”

She made kissy sounds like she’d done for the horses before hanging up and hitting rewind. Aw, she’d seen this rerun not long ago, but in her mind, each episode was a keeper.

Heart-to-Heart Talk’s premise was simple. An attractive contestant of either gender, faced three potential dates of the opposite. For every question the contestant asked, the three held up a twelve-inch plastic enlargement of the traditional conversation heart candies. The big heart bore a pertinent comment. The contestant selected the best response, and then asked for elaboration.

Right now, a pretty woman with a wavy perm and a strapless leopard print dress sat in front of three handsome men clad in various stages of grunge.

“What’s the most important thing you’d like me to know about you?” she moaned into the camera, trying to be coy. Her cleavage said otherwise. Somebody ooh-la-la-ed from the audience. Everybody else howled.

Yellow heart: Bad boy.

Pink heart: Kissable.

Blue heart: Dr. Love.

“Oh, pick Kissable,” Kelsey mumbled into Gram’s soft throw of colorful crocheted squares. His jeans were the least ripped, and his hair looked like it might have been washed in the last week.

But “Aggie” picked Dr. Love, listened, rapt, to his remarks, then covered all bases by kissing him lightly while crooning bad boy, hand in hand. The herd, except for the moderator, left the stage. The new couple was bound for an Italian restaurant somewhere on Melrose.

The audience clapped and catcalled, and Kelsey fast-forwarded through it all and a half dozen commercials as well. No escape, even on cable. Then she rubbed her eyes, hard. She hadn’t had too much wine. After all, tomorrow was a school day, but for some reason, the next contestant hustled on stage and morphed into a younger version of Landry Mills. Well-fitting jeans, classic white western shirt with stud buttons…

No, it couldn’t be. Kelsey was finally losing her mind. But that rugged, blond-brown hair…

The Moderator, in a fancy suit with, very white teeth: “Before we introduce your ‘threesome’”—he gave a wicked, suggestive chuckle—“tell us about you. Your name, hometown. Occupation.”

“Landry Mills. Ten Oaks, California. College student.”

It was him! The voice had graveled with time, but she’d know it anywhere. Kelsey’s heart stopped. Good heavens, the guy was made for a camera. Of course. She’d seen this rerun a thousand times. That’s why he’d looked familiar earlier today.

Wow. Her skin prickled in such a good way.

“So where’s Ten Oaks?” Moderator’s teeth seemed bigger.

“Small town in the hills of western Ventura County. Just below the Topa Topa Mountains.”

“What’s your major?”

“Agribusiness.”

“Aw, thank God you’re a country boy. All righty then, let’s get this hoe-down started! Let’s meet some farmers’ daughters. Here’s your love choices, Mr. Landry Mills.”

On stage giggled three young women dressed like Kelsey’s senior year in high school.

Landry, perched on an elevated stool, looking taller than ever, addressed the three. “What’s your best attribute?”

Green heart: Rising Star.

Yellow heart: Heart of Gold.

Blue heart: Girl Power.

Kelsey was laughing too hard to pay much more attention and simply enjoyed the man onscreen. Who seemed amazingly at home. He looked straight on and right into the heart of any woman watching. She almost felt nanny-cammed and wrapped tighter in the granny squares.

Well, obviously none of them had made it to spouse level. And now, she had the perfect reason to find him again, and tease his head off.

That’s all. Tease him about why she found him familiar. And he could tease her back about wasting her time watching dorky reruns.

Hmmm. How to find him? Without, you know, being stalkery.

She made a quick call.

“Mom, is there any chance you guys can come this weekend? Saturday? I’ve got a hankering for a farm-to-table meal.”

Her mother hooted a big ripe laugh. “Funny you should ask. I just got off the phone with your brother. Was ready to call you back. Honest. He suggested Saturday, too. The kids have hotshots soccer weekend after.” Her voice sobered. “Does this mean you’re cooking?”

Kelsey shrugged off the insult. While not known for her culinary prowess, she could read a recipe.

“Yes. There’s a little artisan farm nearby and…” She halted. Anymore and Mom would suspect. “Love you. See you Saturday. Five-ish? I’ll be at the rescue most of the day. You can let yourself in anyway.” At first, it had staggered her, nobody locking their doors in Ten Oaks. “Drive safe.”

They both kissed into the phone before ending the call.

Next, she texted Maggie to stop by quick after handbell choir for a glass of wine. But four minutes later, her friend called.

“No wine. It’s a school night.”

“Mmmmm, a glass of wine is good for the heart.” Heart!

Maggie laughed out loud. “I know, but thing is, I’m already home and in my jammies.”

“You’ll never guess who I just saw on a Heart-to-Heart Talk repeat.” Kelsey could hardly contain her excitement but tried to sound casual.

Over the cell waves, Maggie’s tone lowered about two octaves. “Oh dear God, no. Gunnar.”

Kelsey thrilled herself by having no vile reaction to the bad-boy name. Seems meeting Landry was already working wonders. “Noooo. It’s the guy who runs the organic farm. Only he’s older and hotter now.” She filled her in about Landry. Then and now.

Maggie all but drooled through the phone. “All righty, then. A good ol’ country boy for you practically in your back yard.”

“What do you mean?” Kelsey asked, suspicious. “Gunnar lived here, too.”

She practically heard Maggie’s hands flap in impatience. “He also had a fancy-Dan condo and a big-whig daddy who introduced you to fancy-Dan people. I’m saying this Landry fella is a farmer. Down to earth charmer. Now…” She launched into deadly schoolteacher mode. “You get your rear in gear and get back to the farm. All he did was ask you to coffee. He didn’t ask you to marry him!”

****

Friday afternoon brushed his face, and Landry peered up at the sky in gratitude. He liked working with his hands. Laying down a river-rock fence at his new place was right up his alley. In his wheelhouse. Cut from his silhouette.

Gag. Whatever the current cliché was. At his feet, McClintock moaned in pure dog empathy. At least Landry’d had some alone time to think about…Kelsey. All day long.

And thinking about how to see her again without being, as Amy said, too stalkery. Ten Oaks was indeed a small town. They were bound to run into each other soon or later. Problem was, Landry wanted sooner.

It was February already. That meant Spring Break was happening soon. She might be traveling somewhere. Worse, what if she…what if she did intend to go back to L.A. when school let out for summer?

He set the last rock of the day, pulled off his camouflage ball cap, and wiped his forehead. Mounting up Big Jake, he called McClintock and headed down the hill the mile and a quarter to Amy’s. Kelsey. Ah. A girl who helped rescue animals and stopped by an organic farm to learn about carrots would have to appreciate his eco-friendly house, wouldn’t she? His great dog? Appreciate the trees he’d left standing? Heck, the deck had been built around a massive pine.

Not to mention his very own horse. Turning in the saddle, he grabbed one last peek at his place. A decent-sized but not monstrous house of twenty-two hundred square feet. Solar panels, energy-efficient windows, recycled bricks and doors. Any vegetation removed for the foundation had been replanted and tended. Any and all rocks, boulders, even pebbles used in landscaping. And the trees…he looked up an alder to the hawk’s nest. Ground hadn’t been broken until nesting reason was over.

Winsome Hill. Sounded a tad girly because Amy had thought it up.

Would Kelsey mind?

Big Jake, a gorgeous paint-Saddlebred mix named for a favorite movie, meandered down the trail like he had done so a thousand times. Because he had done so a thousand times, and more. Surefooted, loyal and strong. Never a heavy hand or harsh word…the horse had learned trust the old fashioned way, through patience and compassion. Not a bad combination for getting to know people, either.

McClintock, a brown speckled mutt named for another favorite movie, ran off to chase some noise in the shrub.

Did Kelsey trail ride? She’d said she didn’t, couldn’t ride the horses at the rescue. Did that mean horses in general? Hmmm. Landry was a good teacher, and Amy’s cremello mare Pearl was easy on a new rider. More than anything, Landry ached to help Kelsey up and down the stirrups, especially down so she could slide against his chest before her feet hit the ground. Ah…he heated where he met the saddle.

He ducked under the long branch of a California live oak. Across the ground, its shadows spread like angel wings. Friday had warmed up nicely, too warm for February, but big gray clouds hugged the hilltops now as late afternoon loomed on the horizon. Maybe he ought to do a rain dance. Around him, the hills wore a thin coat of green—didn’t take much rain to liven things up, and they’d had a few inches. Not enough, but anybody living in drought took what they could get.

White sage hunkered along the trail blowing its aroma to the sky, and monkey flower smiled up at him. Amy had taught Landry everything anybody ever needed to know about native plants. Big Jake picked a careful way through rocks and small boulders. The ocean a dozen miles away drew silver lines on the horizon and sent Pacific breezes snaking up the dry hills. Satisfaction thrummed in Landry’s blood at the sight of—everything. He’d traveled the world but there truly was no place like home.

He rounded the stand of sycamore hiding Milk and Honey from view. Yup, Amy had told him there was an underground spring somewhere near to keep the trees green and growing. Felt like he was the last person in the world and laughed out loud. McClintock had reached him, looked up with honest question in his brown eyes. Awesome dog. He’d loved the mutt since he first met the five-week old pup. Busted him up realizing he couldn’t take him on the planes to everywhere and had to leave him behind.

The real asphalt road to Winsome Hill just a hundred yards away pretty much proved he wasn’t all rustic mountain-man pioneer. But it sure beat out all the oxymoronic places Tall Timber Jeans had photographed him when the company had decided to go global and leave the Wild West. Beaches in Bali. Casinos in Monte Carlo. Snow-clogged Himalayas without a tree in sight…

He shook his head. His contract was up for renewal and…

Kelsey. Up ahead. His heart pounded as he reined in Big Jake at Amy’s round training pen. Leaning against the fence, Kelsey chatted it up with his sister. If seeing her in hardy jeans yesterday had almost done him in, here she was in school clothes and driving him crazy. Professional but not stuffy. Casual but elegant. Kitten heels, black skirt just short enough. Black and white striped top with a hoodie lined in green.

“Hi, Landry.” Her voice trilled on the wind. How on earth did her students make it through the day? Well, they were only nine. “Where’s the Stetson, cowboy?”

“Hey, Kelsey. Oh, it’s a work day for me. I’m finishing up landscaping the house I’ve got going on up the hill.” Was his voice shaking? Landry dismounted and looped Big Jake’s reins over the fence.

She came over like she walked on air. “A home builder. Wow. Great horse.” She rubbed the gelding’s nose.

“Meet Big Jake. Well, I’ve had a lot of help. A college buddy is an architect and a frat brother owns a construction company. It’s uh…” Was he going to start stammering now?

“It’s good to see you again.” Kelsey’s voice softened.

Amy batted eyelashes over eyes wide with pretend innocence. “Kelsey’s here for some farm-to-table vegetables.”

There was a God. Whew. “Good to see you, again, too.” And so soon. Like his all-day daydreams had merged with reality. He wiped his hand on his jeans, wondering if he dared hold it out to her. “I’m afraid we’re out of heart-shaped carrots just now, though.”

Kelsey laughed. His heart stopped when she shook his hand, and Amy’s forehead wrinkled.

“Long story.” Kelsey grinned at Amy, then glanced quick from the toes of his boots to his eyes. Her cheeks pinkened. The plastic flower earrings brought out green glints in her eyes. Wow. They’d been gray like rain clouds yesterday. “The fam is coming for dinner tomorrow, and I’ve promised them something fresh and local. I stayed after school to finish up progress reports and decided to stop by on my way home. My friend Maggie has a ratatouille recipe she promises I can’t mess up.”

“Oh, a vegetarian, are we?”

Her eyes twinkled, and he figured his had done the same first. “Well, I will admit it. Working with animals we’ve saved from slaughter has changed my viewpoint somewhat. But I just wanted to sss…serve them Ten Oaks’ finest. Wow.” She scrunched down eye-level with Clint and hugged him despite his fuzzy fur and her black fabric. “Great dog.”

Landry hardly heard. Had she started to say, or at least wanted to say…to see you…? He could live on that for a while.

Amy grinned like a mother at the two of them. Landry wanted to gnash his teeth. He might be interested in Kelsey, but he sure didn’t need any matchmaking or hovering. “I’m explaining to Kelsey that I don’t actually don’t grow everything I sell. All the growers on the Oxnard plain co-op with each other. I guarantee the hothouse eggplant. My friend Enzo grows it down the hill.”

“I’m on board with everything.” Kelsey stood up, held out a biodegradable, reusable cloth bag with the logo of a biggish natural food grocery chain. From the bulges inside, she’d made a pretty big haul. Then her brown hair swiveled over her shoulders as she peeked around. “Everything. This place is unimaginably beautiful.”

“Would you like to take a closer look?” Landry jumped right in, took the chance. “After I…” He tossed his shoulder at Big Jake, but Amy grabbed the reins.

“I got Jake.” She winked. “You go show Kelsey around. She was just telling me about a rerun she watched last night. I’m sure she’d like to discuss it with you.

Kelsey’s face bloomed with laughter. Had to be Heart-to-Heart Talk and Landry groaned, cheeks hot. That stupid show, the show that had started everything. Cable channels couldn’t resist endless reruns around Valentine’s Day.

“Come on.” He offered the crook of his arm.

“Wait, Kelsey.” Amy’s free hand touched Kelsey’s. “You won’t make it far in those shoes. Plus you’ll wreck ’em.”

“Oh, I have my mucking boots in the car. I’ll get them.” She turned toward the dirt road to the parking lot.

“No, no, no. I’ve got lots of extra boots in the barn. Landry, find her a pair.”

Whew. Landry’d found the mother lode. A girl in boots was already hot, and now he got to put them on her.

Heat nestled deep in his belly.