| |
Six Years Ago:
Birch Brighton stared down at the swimming pool in his parents’ back yard. Sun glinted off the water flying through the air as his sister, Tanya, and her best friend, Carly, frolicked in the water. Playing, not swimming. At thirty, it was ridiculous that he still lived at home. He sighed. Soon enough he’d be out of here. Two months ago, he’d broken ground on a place of his own on an adjacent section of land. Eventually, it was where he’d spend his life with his family, if he ever found the right woman to marry.
Laughter drew his attention back to the pool. His breath caught in his throat. Carly was exquisite. Fit, tanned, happy. She was average height, the top of her head perfectly reaching his chin. She was sweet, kind and had the most delectable curves. He’d seen her in jeans and skirts which made him salivate, but in a swimsuit, she stole his breath.
He'd considered asking her on a date but never worked up the courage. He wasn’t shy by any stretch of the imagination, but he’d been burned by his last girlfriend and hesitated to put himself out there again. One betrayal could dent a man’s confidence beyond repair.
Carly had caught his eye several months ago when he visited his sister at work at Hank’s Diner. His sister didn’t need to work. She chose to. As a homebody, she was unwilling to leave their small town for university. Instead, she was taking university classes online. She loved learning and hadn’t decided on a career yet. She was bouncing around disciplines to determine what career suited her best.
He didn’t understand her reasoning. Their family had a lot of money. More than a lot. She could have focused on her studies full-time. Instead, she took what she called a balanced life approach, dividing her time between work, a social life, family, and her studies. He'd chosen the other route, hitting university hard, taking extra classes, and finishing his business degree in record time.
He was impressed at how well she maintained the balance. Her grades were top-notch despite her busy schedule. She was happy and thriving. He was unbelievably proud of her.
Carly, on the other hand, he knew next to nothing about. She worked at the diner and had quickly become friends with Tanya. She was smart and easy to talk to. Except when it came to asking her out. That’s when his past haunted and silenced him.
To the best of his knowledge, this was the first time she’d been to the family ranch. He should go out and say hi. Play the gracious host. He could take them iced tea and snacks. Even as he had the thought, his mother joined the girls poolside with a heavily laden tray. Dang. So much for that icebreaking plan. He thumped his forehead against the window. Another opportunity lost to dithering. The glass was cool, the way he wanted to be around Carly.
He should be in the barn. He had horses to look after. He’d completed his share of the family chores, now he was on to his personal chores. He’d been working race horses with his grandfather since he was in his early teens. The years had sped by like a freight train.
He backed away from the window. Watching Carly without talking to her was discourteous. It reminded him of a mountain lion high in a tree waiting to pounce. “Just go talk to her,” he grumbled. If his best friend Jamison was around, he’d be giving Birch the gears and telling him to man up. His other buddy Vince would ride him mercilessly for being a coward. They’d both be right.
He jogged down the stairs and slipped into his favorite work boots. He’d had the Alberta Boot cowboy boots since he turned nineteen. A gift from his grandfather. He had several other pairs, but these were, by far, the most comfortable. Too bad they were relegated to work boots. He’d tried to wear them to church, but his mom declared them too decrepit and threatened to toss them in the burn pit. Well, she couldn’t complain today, he was headed out to muck stalls. Right after a quick stop to attempt a conversation with Carly.
He stood inside the back door, gathering his courage and letting his eyes adjust to the bright sunshine. Even with his Stetson, it was blindingly bright. He stepped outside and walked across the brick patio towards the glass-topped table where the ladies had gathered in the shade of an enormous blue striped umbrella.
He’d only taken two steps when Carly’s head pivoted toward him. Her cheeks flushed slightly, she coughed and looked away. He bit down a grin. Maybe she’d noticed him too. He walked slowly, taking in her profile. Her dark-blonde waves were pulled back in a ponytail. At the moment they were flat and wet from the pool. Usually, they rioted out of control. Both looks suited her. Her navy and white one-piece swimsuit highlighted all the right spots. He had to swallow back a wave of desire.
“Ladies,” he greeted them. “Nice to see you, Carly.” He bent and kissed his mother on the cheek.
“Birch, do join us. I brought out enough for you too.” She gave him a thoughtful look and frowned when her gaze reached his boots.
“Thanks, Mom. I could use a cold drink before I hit the barns.”
“Oh, you and your horses,” Tanya teased. “All you think about is horses.”
“I can’t deny that.” He chugged the lemonade his mother passed him and cleared his throat. “How are you, Carly?”
“Fine, thank you.” She barely looked up at him. He wondered why, because at work she was gregarious and talked to literally everyone.
“Do you like living in Elk Valley?” he asked, trying to pry her out of her unusual shell.
“I really do. I was bored at first, but since I started working at Hank’s I’ve met so many wonderful people. I love small town life. It’s a big change from living in Edmonton. The air is so fresh and pure. The people are friendly. Especially, Tanya,” she gushed. “We’re so different, but we get along so well. I’m blessed that she invited me out here to share your swimming pool.”
Now that was the Carly he knew. Upbeat and grateful. “What brought you out from the city?”
“A moving van,” she quipped with a nervous giggle. “My husband was hired by Pension Oil and Gas to overhaul their entire well control system. It’s at least a five-year gig. I left my job and followed him. I couldn’t find an accounting job right away, and the diner was hiring. I’ll probably go back to accounting if I have the chance, but I’m happy at the diner for now.”
His heart plummeted to his toes. How could she be married? She was the first woman he’d been interested in since he was dumped two years ago. She was sweet and wholesome and if she was content at the diner, she probably wasn’t a money-grubbing witch like his ex.
“It’s so great that we can work together,” Tanya said, dipping a nacho chip into salsa and popping it into her mouth. “Birch, did you know I met Carly at a quilting class?”
“Did you?” Lame. Way to suck at making conversation Brighton.
“You were so terrible, Tanya.” Carly laughed and Tanya joined in.
“I’m lucky you sat beside me. I can’t believe I had never used a sewing machine before,” his sister said. “And you can sew literally anything. Can you believe she made that swimsuit? She’s amazing!”
He took a quick glance at the suit, not wanting to look too long and seem creepy. “It’s very nice.” What else could he say? He knew nothing about fashion or sewing.
“She helped me finish the quilt I gave you for your birthday. It would be in the rag bin without Carly. She helped half the class. I think you knew more than the teacher.” Tanya looked at her friend.
Sweet pink colored Carly’s cheeks. “No, she was just busy with some of the real beginners. I just helped a bit.”
“You practically ran the class while she was on her phone.” She turned to Birch. “Carly is the most helpful person I’ve ever met. She makes cookies for the daycare and volunteers at the senior’s center. She even made Elvira Wettles smile.”
“Now that’s impressive. She never cracks the hint of a grin, let alone a full smile.” He stood up. “Well, off to work. I’d love to stay for more conversation, but horses wait for no man.” He couldn’t sit and listen to his sister sing the praise of the woman he wanted and couldn’t have.
He strode away, trying not to stomp. How could she be married? Disappointment dragged at his normally upbeat mood. For the last three months he’d been eating in the diner twice a week, just for the chance to talk to Carly, only to discover that she was married. She didn’t wear any rings. She had no tell-tale tan lines on her finger.
“Fudge.” He stormed around the corner of the house to where his truck was parked in the shade. He headed cross country to his own barn on the adjoining section. He’d get his chores done and spend a few hours working out his frustrations by putting sheeting on the house he was building.
♥♥♥
CARLY TRIED NOT TO watch Birch walk away but there was something about a handsome man in snug jeans and a cowboy hat that she adored. Those boots spoke to his impressive work ethic. Objectively speaking, Tanya’s brother was a very handsome man with his dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Broad shoulders, strong sinuous muscles, and narrow hips. He could be a model. He’d caught her eye the first time he walked into the diner. And that backside, whoa!
Hey, she was married not dead. She’d never cheat on Mike, but looking wasn’t cheating, and Birch was definitely something worth looking at. The day’s heat grew until she needed to fan herself. It was the sun making her warm, not Birch.
Still, he was kind, and generous with his tips. He always smiled. He seemed to have a lot of friends which spoke well for his personality. Like Tanya, he was a good person.
She returned her attention to Tanya and her mother. She had no interest in Birch beyond looking, she was a very happily married woman. “Have you started another quilt?” she asked, trying to distract herself from Birch’s good qualities.
“I have. I’m making one for Dad this time. He grumbles all winter about being cold, so I thought a quilt for his recliner would be great.”
“I do not grumble,” a male voice replied from behind Carly. He walked to the table and thrust his hand toward Carly. “Hi. I’m Buck, Tanya’s father. I see you’ve met my wife, Helen.”
Carly shook hands with him. “Carly Johnston. So nice to meet you. Thanks for having me here. Your ranch is beautiful. I love the cows, but the peacocks are noisy.” She laughed. As if making her point, one of the birds screamed in the distance. For five seconds, all was quiet. Every other bird stopped chirping.
“Those are Helen’s stupid birds,” he teased with all the gentle good humor of a man who would do anything for his wife. He leaned in and kissed Helen long and hard. Heat rose in Carly’s face. She wasn’t used to such blatant affection. Her parents had been in love, but not demonstrative. Mike was okay with public hand holding, but nothing more. What would it be like to be married to a man who didn’t care if the whole world knew how much he loved you?
Buck sat beside Helen with his arm slung across the back of her chair. Birch’s parentage was reflected in his father’s smile and flashing eyes. Sure, Buck was grey at the temples and had deep smile and tan lines, but he was a clear vision of what Birch would look like when he aged. Handsome. Very handsome.
“Gross, Dad,” Tanya complained when her father kissed her mother again. “Nobody wants to see that.”
“Deal with it, baby girl. I love your mother. Come on, woman.” He tugged Helen to her feet. “There’s something I need to show you in the bedroom.”
Carly laughed at his outrageous wink and at Helen’s giggling response.
“Da-ad,” Tanya grumbled. “Stop.”
“I think they’re sweet.”
“Is Mike like that?” Tanya asked.
“Mike is more reserved. He’s a wonderful husband and provider, and I love him to death. We’re happy. But what your parents have is something special. I could get used to being treated like the most beautiful woman in the world.” She wasn’t unhappy in her marriage, quite the opposite, but that didn’t stop the little beast called envy from rearing its head now and then.
