by Em Petrova
“I appreciate your offer. So we have a deal. Three hundred for each tree.”
It was worth much more, but Zayden would take anything at this point. He tugged the brim of his hat. “Yes, sir.”
The man looked at him for several heartbeats. Zayden hoped he didn’t give him the I’m-sorry-about-your-father spiel, because he was getting sick of hearing it.
“You know, I don’t blame you boys for not stickin’ around or showing up to visit your father all those years.”
Dragging in a deep breath, he battled some of the dormant anger he would forever possess when it came to his upbringing. All he could do was take Mimi’s advice to turn a new leaf and set things right.
When he didn’t respond, the man continued, “We all knew Moon was a bastard.”
“At least we agree on that,” he said.
Sutton flashed a grin, showing off pearly white dentures. “I’ll get the tractor, boy, and we’ll get to work.”
“You need any help?”
“With the chains, yeah. They’re heavy, and I’m not as tough as I used to be.” He took off walking toward the big outbuilding housing the tractor. He tossed a look over his shoulder at Zayden. “But you’ve still got the whole world in front of you, son.”
Zayden’s chest welled with emotion. Yeah, I do. And he wasn’t going to pass up the chance to use his brains, skills, and hell, even that Moon charm, if it meant getting the ranch off the ground again.
* * * * *
Esme narrowed her eyes onto the backside of the man standing in the yard across the street. That cowboy hat, the set of his shoulders were all too familiar.
Zayden.
She hadn’t seen the man since their encounter, but the urge in her gut to put on her boots and go outside to talk to him proved stronger than any shyness she might have. When she started across the street, the homeowner came out to talk to Zayden.
She listened a moment as they exchanged words about the broken tree in the man’s yard.
“You think you can take it down, even with the snow and such?” the man asked.
Zayden gave a nod, peering up at the trunk that had snapped under the weight of an early storm. “I can do it.”
“Good. We agreed on a hundred fifty, right?”
Zayden eyed him. “That’s a bit on the low side. That’s cleanup too.”
“I know others who’ll do the same work for less.”
“I can’t do it for that. I’ve got my own work to see to.” Zayden eyed the man and then caught sight of her from the corner of his eye. He turned his head and pierced her with his stare.
Too late to go back inside now that she was spotted, she ventured over to him. “Hi Zayden. You keeping busy with work here in town now?”
He nodded. “That’s right.”
“I wondered when these townspeople would get you to come and do their work—I know how much they demand your services all over the countryside. You did that work up on State Ranch, didn’t you?” Her lies fell off her lips like gumdrops.
The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn’t let on that she was making this all up. Meanwhile, the homeowner listened to the exchange.
She turned her eyes on the man. “You know you’ve got the absolute best right in front of you, don’t you?”
The man hesitated. “I guess I do.”
She pivoted to Zayden again. “I heard you only charged five hundred for slicing up that fallen tree at the Cauffman’s.”
This time Zayden’s lips did quirk upward, his eyes glimmering with amusement. “Well, I had to cut them a deal, since I’ll be trimming the rest of the trees on their property come spring.”
She smiled. “If you’re looking for more work today, I know someone who comes into the credit union. He was saying—”
“Three hundred,” the homeowner interjected.
Zayden gave him his attention. They stared at each other for a long moment.
“Three-fifty.” Zayden’s gruff tone sent a shiver shooting through Esme’s body, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Deal. Get started today and make sure you get all the little sticks in the yard.”
Zayden pulled his hat brim. “Will do. I’ll get my saw.”
The homeowner shook his head and went into the house, leaving them standing alone.
“I’m dyin’ to know where all that came from,” Zayden drawled.
She grinned. “Just helping out a friend. You deserved more than a hundred and fifty dollars.”
“I appreciate you stepping in. But who the hell are the Cauffmans?”
She burst out laughing, and he added his deep chuckles to it. When their gazes locked, that deep shiver took hold of her stomach, telling her that the attraction she felt wasn’t something she was imagining. The dark expression in his eyes spoke way more.
He stood there another long moment, staring at her. “You’d best get back home before you freeze out here.”
“All right. See ya around, Zayden.”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
As she crossed the street again, she felt a heavy weight of eyes on her back and put a little extra sway into her hips. Moments later, she heard the saw start up and went to the window to peek out at the gorgeous hunk of a cowboy cutting up wood.
He was a hard worker. Reliable. And dang if she didn’t want to see much more of him.
* * * * *
Cleaning up the tree took two long days, but he’d finally finished. As Zayden settled behind the wheel of his truck, he glanced up and down the side street of Stokes. Most of the businesses were on the main strip, and it had grown a lot since he’d left. Also, some of the smaller ma and pop businesses had vanished, replaced by pricier and more commercialized convenience stores and hardware stores. Still, the town boasted a quaintness that would probably never change, and for that he was glad.
He started the engine, but continued to sit there a moment. He thought of Esme’s appearance and how she’d lied through her pretty white teeth to get that homeowner to pay him more for his services. The woman had a way about her that reached out and grabbed a man, and she’d worked a miracle with that guy. And to think people called him a charmer.
He sat another moment, drinking in the scenery in front of him. With a small wad of bills in his pocket, it was easy to think of the now and consider taking Esme out on the town tonight. But that was how he’d blown every paycheck the past decade, and other things took precedence this time.
At least he didn’t blow every dime on booze, like his father. He’d broken that chain.
Leaning forward, he dug a long forefinger around in the ashtray of the old truck and touched metal. He fished out the large flat disk as big as a silver dollar and stared at the words engraved on it. He’d found the piece in his father’s desk after rooting around to get to the bottom of what was owed, and he’d been shocked to see his father, at some point, had gone through the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program.
He’d achieved a 30-day coin. The words To Thine Own Self Be True, had resonated with more shock in Zayden, because for the first time ever, he didn’t know who the hell his father really was.
Sure, he knew the man as a drunk. But deep down, there must have been more to Chaz Moon. He had once been someone’s son and lover. He had been a child who laughed and played with toys.
Neither Zayden nor his brothers had ever seen this side of their dad, but during those thirty days of sobriety, he wasn’t drunk. Had he been different?
Zayden hadn’t gotten up the gumption to ask Mimi about it yet, but he would. He tossed the coin back into its hiding spot and looked up and down the street before pulling out.
When he drove past the credit union, he considered stopping again to see how things were progressing with the equity loan. Was it normal to take so long? They needed proof of the ranch changing hands in addition to the regular credit checks, and that took time, he supposed.
But right now he didn’t care much about the money—his thoughts centered on E
sme.
The woman had made a couple cameo appearances in his dreams, and every time he drove into Stokes, he wondered if he’d run into her.
Besides the previous day, he never did, but she haunted him for hours afterward. Hell, she was haunting him now.
Having a woman was a natural progression of life, wasn’t it? No. No, it wasn’t. Not for him. He wasn’t normal, and he had nothing to offer but a lot of misery to come.
He slowed as he approached a red light. When he laid eyes on the woman walking along the sidewalk, he slowed to a crawl. He knew those curls. He’d wrapped them in his hands in his dreams.
Pulling up abreast of her, he rolled down the window. “You headed out to meet some jackass?”
Her head jerked around. To soften his words, he gave her a crooked smile.
She pierced him with her gaze, and a smile spread over her face. “Actually no. I’m taking a long break to have a teeth cleaning.” She wore a shorter black coat today, as well as black pants. Damn if they didn’t hug her ass perfectly.
“Beware of dentists. Never agree to the laughing gas. You never know what they’ll do to you while you’re under.”
She giggled. “I’ll remember that.”
He parked the truck to let a few cars pass. “You’re walking?”
“It’s only a few blocks, and it’s a nice day.”
He dropped his gaze to her footwear. She wore boots that encased her calves, and fur peeped from the tops.
“Want a ride?” His mind asked if this was a wise move on his part, and he kicked that voice of reason aside and told it to shut up. He wasn’t asking her to go out with him and add him to her list of jackasses she’d dated—it was only a ride.
“Get in,” he said.
She hesitated and then opened the door and slid inside. He rolled up the window for her, and they shared a long look that roused all the memories of his dreams.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“Fine. No new adventures to report.”
He cocked a brow. “Haven’t been swindling any neighbors?”
Her eyes twinkled. “I’ve just been working.”
“Me too.”
She looked at him closer. “You’re covered in sawdust and the whole truck smells like a pine tree.”
He chuckled. “I just finished up that guy’s tree. It took longer than I hoped.”
“Isn’t it odd to do that sort of work in February?”
“You’d be surprised how many people have trees that need cutting after the last few storms, for safety reasons. I’ll pick up more work once spring breaks, I’m sure.”
“So, this is your job now?”
He paused, studying her face. Her earnest expression conveyed so much interest, he found it hard to remember why he didn’t normally talk openly to people.
“I’ve got the ranch since my dad passed. But it’s a work in progress.”
“I’m sure there’s always hard work to do.”
“Yeah, and things are tight right now, so I’ve been doing odd jobs to make ends meet.” He sounded like the worst catch in Colorado. Hell, no surprise there. He was. The only man worse had just been buried.
“I think that’s great,” she said.
“Yeah, it’s great,” he echoed.
“I’m not being sarcastic, Zayden.” Her brows crinkled. “I’m serious. Any work is good work. Plus…you smell good.”
His mouth quirked up. “That fresh pine scent always gets the ladies. That’s actually my reason for doing this. I just didn’t want to sound like a player.”
She laughed, curls bouncing around her face, and he had a sudden urge to lightly pinch the point of her chin between his fingers, lean in and kiss her.
Suddenly, she sobered, an intense glow lighting her green eyes. He’d noticed those freckles on her nose before, while warming her in sleep. He’d examined every inch of her by sight and feel, and what he didn’t know, his dreams had filled in the blanks.
Pink settled in her cheeks, and she darted her tongue over her lips. “It’s great seeing you, but I really do need to make that dentist appointment. I have to return to work afterward.”
He pulled into the road again and went three more blocks ‘til she pointed out a building painted dark green. He parked out front and turned to her.
“Stay out of trouble, Esme.”
She smiled softly. “I will. You too, Zayden.”
He grinned. “Not likely, but I’ll do my best.”
For a long heartbeat, she remained seated, staring at him. He locked his gaze on hers, and damn if there wasn’t a spark there.
Hell… he couldn’t let her make another mistake in him.
“I’ve gotta get back to the ranch too. See ya again sometime.”
She nodded and reached for the door handle. He watched her get out, wishing he could be like a normal guy who just asked out a woman he was interested in, but he was better off.
And so was she.
Chapter Seven
Why, oh why, had Esme let Natalie talk her into trying an online dating service? More than a month had passed since Owen stood her up at the steakhouse, and well…it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Now she sat here stuck with this asshole who loved with his own hair more than anything else, and who thought she owed him something because he’d bought her two drinks. Could she really be ready to move on from Owen? The answer to that—yes. She no longer cared about his reasons for leaving her on the mountain or standing her up at the steakhouse. Bottom line, he didn’t want her, and she was worth more than he ever would deserve.
But putting herself back in the dating scene made her question the decision, especially when scraping the bottom of the barrel. And to think this guy appeared to be the best of three options to fill her Friday night.
As she pretended to listen to him drone on about his achievements, her mind wandered to Zayden Moon. Seeing him again had been a surprise, and one that had left her feeling both breathless and bent out of shape for a long time afterward. Now, almost a week later, he still hadn’t been back into the credit union, and she couldn’t find a good enough reason for calling him out of the blue, either.
Yet she thought about him—a lot.
While her date continued his one-sided conversation about how he got his hair barbered weekly, when most men tidied themselves up every six weeks, she considered having another adult beverage. But if she wanted to drive home from this disastrous date, that was out of the question.
He stared at her cleavage, and she shifted to detract attention from her assets. What a bad choice of tops to wear on a first date, and again, she blamed Natalie, because when asked, the woman had chosen it out of a half dozen options.
“So, what do you say about going back to my place for a nightcap?” He ran his tongue over his lips.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We only just met.”
“But you’re enjoying yourself. Why not continue the enjoyment…in private?”
She opened her mouth to tell him she was leaving, and thankfully her phone rang in the depths of her handbag. “Excuse me,” she said smoothly to her date and got up from the table to take the call in private. To be on the safe side, she took her coat and purse with her.
Without looking at the screen, she knew it was Natalie checking in on her, as Esme had made her promise to do. Boy, was her coworker in for an earful.
“Natalie, you soooo owe me after this. I don’t know why I let you talk me into going out, because this guy’s a—”
“Esme, it’s me. Owen.” His slurred words told her immediately he was drunk-calling.
Why had she forgotten to block his number? That was next on her agenda, right after she got rid of him and ditched her date too.
She made a beeline for the exit. Phone pressed hard to her ear, she said, “Owen, you have no business calling me.”
“Don’t be like that, Esme. We had such great times together. Remember that little red number you wore that night
? I still love you, baby.”
“You’re drunk. And you’re a dick.”
“You want a dick pic? Ohhh yeah, you always liked mine. Hold on.”
To her horror, the phone buzzed with a text before she could end the call. Sure enough, the photo popped up on her screen.
She clapped the phone to her ear again. “Owen, you’re a pathetic waste-oid, and your dick pic makes me puke in my mouth. Don’t try to contact me again—I’m blocking you.”
She ended the call, breathing hard with disgust and anger. Then she deleted the photo from her phone and blocked his number.
Meanwhile, her date was still waiting for her to return.
Screw him too. Let him go to bed with his hair clippers.
She headed toward her car in the parking lot. She needed to blow off some steam, have a nice rant. But Natalie would only giggle at her trials and tribulations, and right now, she wanted somebody to get angry on her behalf.
Before she knew her own mind, she was dialing Zayden’s number.
He answered after one ring. “Esme?”
“It’s me.” A beat of silence hung between them.
“Everything all right?” His gruff tone brought his image into her mind’s eye. The rugged set of his features, his dark eyes. And all that fiiiiiine muscle. The scent of pine wood chips floated in the back of her nose.
“Not exactly. I’m on a date.”
“Tell me it’s not with your ex.”
“No. But that jerk just called and sent me a dick pic.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“I blocked him. But the date thinks I owe him something.”
“Like hell.”
“I know. I’m not calling for you to rescue me—again. I only wanted to talk to a man who knows how a woman should be treated.”
A long beat of silence passed.
She swallowed. Maybe it was the wrong idea to call Zayden.
“I just wondered what it is about me that makes guys turn into complete assholes when they’re around me? Am I one of those girls that guys love to mistreat?” Her question blurted from her lips as if she’d drank far more than the two small cocktails back in the restaurant.