The Second Chance Rancher

by Kate Pearce

  Nancy finished helping another customer and came over to him. “She got a call and had to run. She said you could either catch her back at the flower shop or she’d speak to you tomorrow, and she was very sorry.”

  Jackson considered what to do. If he went back to the flower shop, he might end up arguing with her again, and he was pretty much done for the night.

  “You two lovebirds fighting again?” Nancy loaded up the dishwasher under the bar counter with dirty glasses.

  “Is that what Daisy said?”

  “She didn’t need to say anything. I could see the pair of you facing off in the restaurant.”

  “She’s not very happy with me right now, that’s for sure.” Jackson sighed. “I suggested she tell the truth about something, and she said she couldn’t do that yet.” He offered her a hopeful smile. “I’m not sure what to do.”

  Nancy shut the dishwasher and faced him. “I hope you’re not trying to sweet-talk me into telling you stuff about one of my best friends?”

  “I wouldn’t dare.” Jackson considered her. “I’m just . . . trying to understand what’s going on with her. She mentioned some guy who died, and—”

  “Daisy told you about Brody?” Nancy gawped at him.

  “Only a little bit.” Jackson hoped he wasn’t blushing. “I got the impression he was very important to her.”

  “Yes, he was.” Nancy sighed. “You should get her to talk about him. It would do her good.”

  “I’ll certainly try.” Jackson tipped his hat to her. “Good night, Nancy.”

  He walked out into the rapidly cooling air. The temperature in Morgan Valley could change from boiling hot to freezing cold, depending on what was going on with the Sierras, the seasons, and the snow packet. There were no lights on in the front of the flower shop, but that didn’t mean Daisy wasn’t working in the back, dealing with whatever crisis had come up in her secret job.

  Jackson shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to where he’d left his truck. Nancy had given him the name of the guy Daisy was still hung up on, but it didn’t make things any better. How could he compete with a dead man? More importantly, what was wrong with him that he immediately saw everything as a win-or-lose scenario?

  Jackson grimaced. Maybe he’d spent too many years of his life weighing up the risks of combat and making life-or-death decisions. As a child, he’d learned to gauge the risks of when to step in and prevent his father raging on his mom and siblings. In the air force, he’d expanded that skill set into the avenue of modern-day warfare.

  He reached his truck and climbed inside, wishing Daisy was right beside him. They might argue a lot, but it didn’t stop him from liking and respecting her. He admired the way she dealt with his endless questions and refused to accept his bullshit. He appreciated the fact that she got his weird sense of humor and liked having sex with him.

  He turned the engine on and settled into his seat. There was no getting away from it. He liked her a lot more than she liked him . . .

  “Fool,” Jackson growled to himself as he backed out of the parking space and made sure his lights were on. “She told you not to grow too fond of her, and she meant it, so this is totally on you.”

  Jackson turned onto the street and set off back home to the ranch. Dating Daisy, agreeing to her terms, had been a test for him, and he was failing it miserably.

  He should just stop trying to make things go his way. Hadn’t he learned that the things he wanted the most were always the most elusive? Hadn’t his whole life taught him that?

  Unable to find any answers that satisfied him, Jackson switched on the radio and tuned out.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Let me get that for you.” Jackson picked up Daisy’s suitcase as if it weighed nothing and put it in the overhead bin. The Sierra passes were still snowed in, so they’d decided to fly from the local airport to San Francisco.

  “Thanks so much.” She waited to see if he wanted the window seat, but as he was still hanging back, and the line behind them was growing restless, she slid into the row.

  “Do you want to sit here?” She pointed at the window.

  “God no.” Jackson shuddered.

  She studied him carefully. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m not a great flier.”

  “You were in the air force!”

  “Yeah.” He offered her an awkward smile. “I’d feel a lot safer if I was up front.”

  “Nearly all commercial pilots were trained by the military, so they’re pretty competent.” Daisy patted his clenched fist. “You’ll be fine.”

  “It’s easier if you don’t know all the things that can go wrong, I suppose,” Jackson muttered.

  “Now you’re freaking me out. Stop it.” She smiled at him. “There’s nothing wrong with blissful ignorance. And just think, if something does go wrong, you can be the hero who saves the day.”

  He gave her a skeptical look but did slightly relax his death grip on the armrest. He’d swapped out his Stetson for a baseball cap but retained his jeans and cowboy boots and looked no different from most of the other passengers in the smallish plane. It wasn’t a long flight, so she could only hope he’d hang in there and make it through.

  “It might take a while to get from the airport to the hotel.” Daisy decided to keep chatting about normal things to take his mind off the plane thing.

  “That’s if we make it over the Sierras,” Jackson murmured. “Remember what happened to the Donner party?”

  “Stop.” She patted his hand. “Visualize arriving in San Francisco and all being well.”

  The lone flight attendant walked through the cabin shutting the bins and smiling at the passengers. Within seconds, the door to the flight deck was sealed and they were on their way. Daisy kept hold of Jackson’s clenched fist as the plane increased speed and took off, leaving the runway far behind. She glanced at his face and discovered he had his eyes shut and appeared to be praying.

  Not wishing to make him feel even worse, she returned her attention to the scenery, and the swathe of endless blue sky around the plane. Even from this height, the Sierras looked formidably black, with patches of snow still clinging to the rocky caverns and pathways.

  She tried to take her own advice and focus on what was to come in San Francisco. Venture capitalists weren’t known for their sweet dispositions. They preferred to invest money in companies that would definitely succeed and pay back their investments a thousandfold. Having successfully brought one company through an IPO, she and the team at least had a proven reputation. This time, she and Ian would be way more careful about who they entrusted their fate to . . .

  Daisy glanced over at Jackson. He still had his eyes closed, so she could study him at length. His eyelashes were longer than hers, and he had the best cheekbones. She wished it was easier to stay detached from him, but it was proving harder than she’d thought. Every time she wavered, she reminded herself of Brody and what he’d meant to her, but somehow, despite all her efforts, his image seemed to be fading.

  Sharing time with a vibrant, argumentative man like Jackson would make most men pale by comparison, but she didn’t want to lose Brody again. It would be yet another betrayal of everything he’d meant to her. But how could she stop herself from responding to Jackson? He was impossible to ignore, and he made her feel . . . so alive again.

  And she’d promised to have a proper discussion with Jackson when they were in the city. She sensed he was growing frustrated, and she could understand why. Maybe telling him the truth and trusting him to make the right decision for himself would be fairer in the long run. If he decided to bail, she hoped they could remain friends.

  * * *

  Jackson hoisted Daisy’s case onto the bed and went over to the window to study the view. He’d been to the Bay Area many times and always enjoyed his visits. It was way too crowded for him to want to live there, but he appreciated the upbeat vibe of the place.

  Daisy came in from the bathroom. She’d brushed her hair
and it flowed down her back, which made Jackson think of wrapping his hand in it and drawing her close.

  “Don’t tell me you’re scared of heights as well?”

  He grinned at her. “Nope. I’m good as long as it isn’t too high. This is a nice place. I can watch the planes coming in at SFO. Do you always stay here?”

  “It’s close to where I need to be and not too expensive.” Daisy came to stand beside him and took his hand. “Are you feeling okay now?”

  “I was fine the second I stepped onto the ground,” Jackson said. “Thanks for sticking by me.”

  “Like I had anywhere to go except out the window,” Daisy joked. “Thank goodness it was only an hour flight.”

  “What’s the plan for the rest of the day?” Jackson asked.

  “I need to call Ian, my business partner, to tell him I’m here, and I’ll probably need to go meet the team for dinner.” She hesitated. “Will you be okay by yourself for a while?”

  So he wasn’t invited. “Sure. What time do you think you’ll get back?”

  “Probably about nine. None of the team is big on socializing.” She wrinkled her nose. “In fact, most of them could be called people averse.”

  “I can meet you in the bar when you come back.”

  “Sounds good.” She went up on tiptoe and kissed him. “Thanks for being so understanding.”

  “This is a business trip and I’m your decoy. What’s to understand?” Jackson said, determined not to be that guy who complained all the time.

  “We will get to spend the night together,” Daisy reminded him.

  “Yeah.” He kissed her back. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  * * *

  Ian insisted on walking Daisy back to her hotel, which gave them more time to discuss their future strategy in front of the VCs without scaring the more delicate members of their team. She was really pleased at the overall progress of the product and convinced they now had something tangible and, more importantly, sellable to present to the market.

  “Thanks for coming back on board.” Ian smiled down at her. “We couldn’t get it together without you.”

  “You were doing great, but seeing as I got you all involved in the first place, the least I could do was help bring it home.” Daisy hesitated. “Not to sound crude, but how much longer do you think it’s going to take to make some money out of this thing?”

  “Do you need money?” Ian paused outside the entrance to the hotel. “Because I was thinking we’d need at least another two rounds of funding, and about two or three more years’ work before we can retire as bazillionaires.”

  “I know that, but I was hoping someone else would step up.” Daisy let out a breath. “I’m not sure I can commit to that.”

  “Why not?” Ian asked the question without a hint of stress or aggression, which Daisy appreciated.

  “Because I haven’t told my family I’m involved in another start-up.”

  “I’d really appreciate it if you can hang in there.” Ian held her gaze. “I’d hate to sell out early and lose control again.”

  “I get it.” Daisy winced. “I sound really selfish, don’t I?”

  “Nope. Despite what most people think, it’s not easy risking everything for something that might never come to fruition.”

  “But I really believe in this product,” Daisy said.

  “I know you do,” Ian agreed. “So we’re just going to find a way to make it work and keep everyone happy, okay?”

  She touched his arm. “I really appreciate you not shouting at me right now.”

  He grinned. “Dude, I don’t do that, you know me. I want this to work. We all deserve it—you more than anyone. We’re a team. If there’s an opportunity to sell earlier, and we’re all okay about it, we’ll definitely consider it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ian held the door into the hotel open and gave her a look. “You might also consider coming clean to your family.”

  “You’re not the first person to suggest that,” Daisy said. “Perhaps it’s time I started to listen.”

  Even without his cowboy hat, she spotted Jackson sitting in the bar and momentarily hesitated, Ian still at her heels. She’d told him she’d be truthful, so why shouldn’t she start now, and introduce him to the other part of her life?

  “Hey,” she called out, and he turned his head and rose to his feet.

  “Hey, beautiful lady.” His smile was so warm, she couldn’t look away.

  “Jackson, this is my coworker, Ian Chung. We went to college together.”

  After a startled glance at Daisy, Ian stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Jackson.”

  “Same here.” Jackson nodded. “Are you a floral guy or a tech guy?”

  For a second, Ian looked perplexed, and then a slow smile spread over his face. “Good one. I’m a techie.” He glanced over at Daisy. “She sure does live a complicated life.”

  “Can’t argue with you on that. Would either of you like a drink?” Jackson gestured at the bar.

  “I would,” Daisy said fervently. Three hours of talking tech had made her brain hurt. “Ian?”

  “I’ve got to get home.” Ian smiled at her. “Seth will be wondering where I’ve gotten to.”

  “Give him my love.” Daisy hugged Ian. “And I’ll see you tomorrow at one, okay?”

  “I can’t wait.” Ian shuddered. “Back into the lion’s den we go. Nice to meet you, Jackson.”

  “You too.” Jackson nodded and put a casual arm around Daisy’s shoulders. “Safe journey home.”

  Ian left the hotel, and Jackson kissed Daisy’s cheek. “Sit down and I’ll get you something to drink. What would you like?”

  “A glass of white wine. I don’t care what kind as long as it’s Chardonnay.”

  “Got it. Sit tight and I’ll be right back.”

  It wasn’t that busy at the bar, and he returned relatively quickly with a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, and a bowl of mixed nuts.

  “How did it go?” Jackson settled beside her on the couch.

  “Good, I think.” She looked cautiously around the bar and lowered her voice. “We’re going to pitch to some VCs tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Okay. Whatever that means.”

  “Venture capitalists. The guys with all the money who invest it in start-ups like mine.”

  “Oh right. Got it.” Jackson nodded.

  “And this time, hopefully, we won’t get screwed.”

  “I like the way you think.” Jackson clinked his bottle against her glass. “Sometimes the hardest lessons teach us the best new strategies.”

  “Like you not getting to be a fighter pilot?”

  “Exactly.” His smile was wry. “I learned how to fly several different types of aircraft instead and ended up doing something I loved.”

  “And then you left.”

  “Yeah.” His smile died.

  Before Daisy could follow up, his cell buzzed. He picked it up with alacrity and frowned at the screen.

  “Damn.”

  “What’s up?” Daisy asked.

  “I told one of my old air force buddies I’d be in town, and as he’s leaving tomorrow, he wants to pop in right now and say hi.”

  “That’s fine by me,” Daisy quickly assured him. He’d been more than generous with his time for her, so she wasn’t going to be a pain. “Unless you want me to go?”

  “No, please stay. He’s only got time for a quick drink.” Jackson was texting as he spoke. “He’ll be here in five.”

  Daisy sipped her wine and nibbled at the nuts. She’d had pizza with the team, but they’d all been so busy talking, she’d only eaten a single piece and she was still peckish.

  A tall black guy in uniform appeared at the entrance of the bar and scanned the seats before breaking out into a big smile.

  “Five! How are you, dude?”

  “Pez.” Jackson stood, and the two men engaged in that back-slapping, hugging, testing thing that in Daisy’s experience males liked to do.<
br />
  Jackson grabbed Daisy’s hand. “Daisy, meet Pez, I mean Patrick. We entered the United States Air Force Academy together, and we’ve been friends ever since.”

  “How did you end up being called Pez?” Daisy asked as Jackson went off to get his friend a beer.

  “It’s an air force thing.” He shrugged. “Everyone gets a nickname. My name is Patrick, so at first, everyone called me Peppermint Patty. When we were in Germany, someone found out that peppermint in German was pfefferminz, which is the first, middle, and last letter of PEZ, so they called me that, and it stuck.”

  Daisy blinked at him. “That’s very specific.”

  “Sometimes we had a lot of time on our hands.” He grinned. “Jackson went from Mikey, to Joe, to Five, which was much simpler.”

  “Oh! The Jackson Five.” Daisy nodded. “That’s a lot easier.”

  “But much less fun.” Jackson returned to the table and handed his friend a beer. “It’s good to see you.”

  “You too, my friend.” Patrick clinked his bottle against Jackson’s. “We all thought you’d disappeared off the face of the earth after you left last year.”

  “I had a lot of stuff to work out with my family. I guess I got busy.”

  Daisy noticed that Jackson’s easy smile wasn’t as natural as usual, and that he was fidgeting with his beer.

  “Yeah, sorry about your dad. That must’ve been hard,” Pez said.

  Jackson nodded and sipped his beer. “Where are you stationed now?”

  “Same old place. I’ve had two weeks leave, but I’m due back out in Qatar. That’s why I took a hotel close to the airport, seeing as I’m flying commercial.” He grimaced.

  “Don’t you like flying either?” Daisy asked.

  “I love flying. I just don’t like being flown,” Patrick said. “Five’s the same, right?”

  Jackson nudged Daisy. “See? I told you it wasn’t just me.” “Captain Barnes says your replacement is crap, by the way.” Patrick eyed Jackson. “And he’s still pissed you left for no reason. If I tell him I saw you, he’ll be bugging me about why I didn’t persuade you to sign back up again.”

  “Then don’t tell him,” Jackson countered lightly. “Why ruin his day?”