Collecting the Pieces

by L. A. Fiore

  “Our house is slowly coming together. Everyone has been so welcoming.”

  “There’s Dad now,” Duncan said just as I heard a car coming up the drive. It was one of those ridiculous SUVs that were so big you could fit an entire NFL team in it. Why? For one person, why so much space?

  The car pulled up to the garage and when Garrett Hellar stepped down, I was completely taken by surprise. He was older, in his sixties, and still a handsome devil. Walking toward us in faded jeans and a denim shirt, he was a man who obviously took care of himself. A smile, one that exposed his perfectly white teeth, greeted me first.

  “You must be Sidney Stephens. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Reaching for the hand he offered, I smiled back. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Is Duncan being a good guide?”

  “Yes. Your horses are beautiful.”

  “Thank you. We’re very proud of our stable. It’s hot. Can I entice you with some sweet tea?”

  “Please, that would be great.”

  We walked toward the house, Duncan taking up the rear. “So, you came from New Jersey, is that right?”

  “Yes, around the Princeton area.”

  “And how are you finding Sheridan?”

  “It’s lovely and the landscape is very different from home. Seeing the mountain while walking through downtown still awes me every time.”

  “I’ve lived here all of my life and it still awes me.”

  “I’m happy to hear that. I worried the sight would grow common. I can’t imagine that could ever be common.”

  He turned his bright blue eyes on me, a smile showing there first before reaching his lips. “I agree completely, Mrs. Stephens.”

  Stepping into the house, my breath caught. The whole back wall of the living room was nothing but windows that framed the magnificent landscape beyond. A stone fireplace took up the wall to the right, stone up to the ceiling, the opening large enough to walk in. A baby grand piano sat in the one corner, lost in the space, looking more like doll furniture. The sofas were exquisite taupe suede, armchairs in bright jeweled tones flanked the sofas and area rugs dotted the timber floors. “Wow, this is incredible.”

  “Thank you. Please come in and have a seat. I’ll hunt us down something cold to drink.”

  Settling on one of the chairs, I noticed that Duncan hadn’t moved from the door. “Are you joining us?”

  “I have work to do, but I’ll see you before you leave.”

  A woman breezed into the room, her American Indian heritage very clear. Her long black hair was twisted into a bun; her dark eyes landed on Duncan first before drifting to me. “You must be the new vet. I’m Marnie.”

  I started to rise; she stopped me. “Don’t get up. Did Garrett go for drinks?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll go help him.” She hurried out as fast as she’d hurried in.

  “I’ll be outside, I’ll see you later,” Duncan said before disappearing. He was definitely giving off an odd vibe, one he hadn’t had before his dad arrived, but I didn’t try to pinpoint the cause because the view held me mesmerized.

  On my way to meet Rylee for dinner, I made a mental note to check on Caramel Apple first the next time I visited Hellar Farm. Garrett and Marnie clearly enjoyed entertaining, between the two of them there was never a lull in the conversation. Both were very easy-going and friendly. Duncan hadn’t returned to the house, but when I left, as promised, he saw me to my car. Jayce called a hello as he brushed down Midnight Moon after their ride.

  Pulling into a favorite nightspot, the Brass Bull, I noticed Rylee hadn’t arrived yet. She had texted earlier saying she had a few files to update and that I should get a table and order us some drinks. Inside the music was loud, the place was packed and the scents coming from the kitchen made my mouth water. I scanned the bar looking for Ichabod and Jeshaiah, something I found myself doing whenever I came here, but they weren’t there.

  Lorelei, the hostess, asked, “One honey?” She had a beehive hairdo, no lie, a freaking beehive the color of honey.

  “Two, please.”

  “Sure thing, this way.”

  For a larger woman, she moved with ease through the tables until we reached one along the wall. “Is this okay?”

  “It’s great. Thanks.”

  “Can I get you a drink?”

  “Draft beer for me, whatever is on tap, and a martini, dirty with three olives.”

  “You got it. Special tonight is the house blended burger—short ribs, ground sirloin and chuck—with onion rings, Swiss cheese and Bobby’s homemade barbeque sauce.”

  “Two of those, medium. Thanks, Lorelei.”

  “Sure thing, honey, and welcome to Sheridan. Glad Doc Cassidy is finally retiring. The man works too hard.” I must have passed some kind of Lorelei test to earn the welcome because Rylee and I had been dining there frequently but this was the first time Lorelei had offered the words.

  “You’re not wrong. Between Rylee and myself, we’re overwhelmed and he’s been doing it solo. I don’t know how the man did it.”

  “I hear that. I’ll be back with your drinks.”

  Notwithstanding the fact that the entire population of Sheridan shopped for groceries on the same day, it had a very active nightlife. This place was hopping; there was a band setting up and an electric bull. I’d never been on one of those, but I think I could be tempted to try it. The energy that moved through the bar was addictive—the familiarity and consistency. Would Rylee and I become one of the regulars, one of the locals who added to the familiar and consistent? For the first time in three years, I was hopeful for the future. And then that bitch fate stepped in when ‘Yours’ from Ella Henderson started pumping through the place. My eyes jerked to the jukebox and the couple who was swaying to the song, his face pressed against her neck. My heart twisted, my lungs exhaled on a gasp as the memory settled over me. I had first heard the song almost a year after Jake died, the lyrics ripping me apart because of how accurately they expressed how I had felt being with him. I continued to listen to it to torture myself, mourning the loss of something so beautiful. He had loved me unconditionally and I missed feeling that connected to someone. And even missing him, I wondered what he would think of the man who I thought about far more than I should. Would he be disappointed that the first man to stir something in me was someone so very different from him? I was so lost in the memory I didn’t realize I was no longer alone. Looking up, my eyes collided with a pair of pale blue ones. Speak of the devil. My attention shifted to the giant behind him. Holy shit, the man was huge, scary as hell and staring at me like I’d just killed his dog.

  “Doc.”

  Dragging my eyes back to Abel, I held his stare and yet, for the life of me, I hadn’t a clue what he was thinking because he eyed me in the most unusual way.

  “Is your old man running late?”

  A tear slipped from my already overly bright eyes because for this man, whom I hardly knew and found irritating more than appealing, I was ready to let go of Jake and that left me feeling both tender and a touch sad. I tried to nonchalantly brush the tear away as I responded with sarcasm, the safest option feeling as I did. “Are you hoping for a quick go in the men’s room before he arrives?”

  “What’d I tell you, Tiny? Doc here has some serious attitude.”

  My jaw may have dropped because what a ludicrous name for the giant. “Tiny? Your name is Tiny?”

  In response, Tiny’s mouth split into a grin. One so wicked I couldn’t help but grin back.

  “I heard you tried to help Abel. He’s not a great patient.”

  Turning my focus to the man that had caused more than one sleepless night, I tried again to understand what it was about him that interested me. Sure he was sexy as sin, but that wasn’t what stirred me. Why him? A man whom I shared nothing in common with, but like all the other times I pondered that dilemma I came up empty. Realizing I hadn’t answered Tiny I said, “Being a shitty patient is the least of his pro
blems.”

  This earned me a full-out laugh from Tiny and a glare from Abel that had both alarm and awareness sliding through me. As I watched, his glare eased, his eyes lit with mischief as his lips turned up into a grin. The man was just too damn sexy for a woman’s well being. He seriously needed to go away and tag one of the women that were just waiting to drop to their knees and worship him before I succumb to the urge.

  “You’ve got a fan club that looks to be getting antsy over there,” I said, with the hope that he’d take the hint. Instead he pulled out the chair opposite me.

  “We’ll wait with you.”

  Tiny was of a similar mindset when he took a chair from another table and dragged it over.

  Lorelei appeared. “You want your usual, Abel?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you, Tiny?”

  “Yep.”

  “So what’s keeping your old man?”

  Abel was like a dog with a bone and a part of me wondered if all the careless flirting would stop if I told him about Jake. Was he coming on so strong because he thought I wasn’t a real option? I was tempted to put that theory to the test. “I’m waiting for my friend. She’s just finishing at the clinic.”

  “Your partner Rylee?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “I suspect you already know the answer to that.”

  “Maybe, but I’d like to hear it from you.”

  “Why now? I tried to offer it before.”

  He leaned closer, so close his breath teased the sensitive skin under my jaw that stirred a hunger in me even as I tried to deny its existence. His next words jarred me out of my haze of lust. “When a woman kneels down in front of me, I’m old-fashioned because I want to know her name.”

  “You’re still on that? I wasn’t kneeling, I was hunching.”

  He moved even closer. “Your name?”

  Oh for Christ’s sake. “Sidney.”

  “Where’s your husband, Sidney?”

  “Why are you so interested in my husband?” Stupid question; it seemed pretty clear why he was interested, but apparently my IQ was inversely related to the level of pheromones in my body.

  His eyes were on my lips, that same craving I’d seen at the car dealership burned in them. Sweat broke out on my skin that felt hot and chilled all at once. Those eyes were looking right into mine. “Cause when just the sight of a woman has all my blood going south, I want to know why her old man lets her kneel down in front of another guy, lets another guy pick out her car.”

  “Her husband died three years ago in the same accident that took her brother. What else do you want to know?”

  My head snapped to Rylee. Oh damn, the cat was out of the bag.

  His warm fingers on my chin gently turned my gaze back on him. I saw a glimmer of something deeper when I looked into those pale eyes. He studied me for a good minute before he whispered, “Sorry, Doc.”

  Lorelei appeared.

  “We’ll take our drinks over there,” Abel said as he stood, holding the chair out for Rylee, before he turned and walked away. Tiny followed after him.

  Lorelei studied me as she placed our drinks down. I hadn’t a clue what she was thinking; she didn’t share, before she followed after Abel and Tiny. I guess that answered my question about whether he’d continue to flirt if he knew I didn’t have a husband at home. I was disappointed, but what surprised me was just how disappointed I felt at his retreat.

  “Who the hell was that?”

  “Abel and Tiny.”

  “And how the hell do you know them?”

  “The guy from the bakery, that’s him.”

  “The one that caused a stir, the one who you’ve been having clandestine meetings with and failing to mention them to your best friend?”

  “Clandestine, hardly, but yeah. We’ve had a few run-ins. He even helped me pick out my car.”

  “He helped pick out your car? Seriously, you have some explaining to do. How did that happen?”

  “I went to Ichabod for help, Ichabod called Abel and he came. Spent an hour looking them over.”

  “I’m sensing a but.”

  “He didn’t know about Jake.”

  Rylee looked equal parts confused and outraged. “Why not?”

  “Boundaries, felt I needed them.”

  A slow smile spread over her face. “He gets that far under your skin? That’s good.”

  “Not good. He just hightailed it out of here. I swear I can see tire marks on the floor.”

  “Likely just caught him off guard.” She wasn’t at all subtle when she leaned to the side and stared. “He’s fucking hot.”

  “Every woman in the place agrees with you.”

  “And yet he was sitting here.” Rylee’s gaze shifted to me, her lips turning down. “I get it. You’re beautiful, but you’ve also got that wounded look too. Any man with a pulse would want to be the one who made that hurt go away.”

  Jake had, the memory bringing a smile instead of pain. Rylee continued without needing any prompts from me; she was getting into her matchmaker mode. There was nothing to do, but let her have her say.

  “I had hoped to hook you up with a cowboy, but I’m thinking the bad boy biker works too.”

  The idea appealed, I argued against it—self-preservation and all. “Rylee, seriously. I’m not jumping back into the dating scene with a man like that. He’d shred me up and spit out the pieces before I even knew what happened.” Besides I was pretty sure the dust that had yet to settle from his speedy departure was a good indication that that ship had sailed.

  “Um.” She had more to say, but thank God she changed the subject. “So, Jayce called me earlier. I told him we’d be here. He’s going to stop by with his brother.”

  “Nice. I met Garrett and Marnie today.”

  “Did you see the inside of their house?”

  “It’s as beautiful as you’d expect and the view out back was award-winning.”

  “So what’s Garrett like?”

  “I can definitely see where his sons get their looks. He’s even hotter than them and very friendly.”

  “But?”

  “There was just an odd dynamic. For as friendly as they all seem to be, they don’t seem particularly friendly to each other. In fairness, it’s the dynamic between Duncan and his dad, it’s strange.”

  “Huh. Maybe it was just an off day.”

  “Yeah, maybe. I got you the burger special.”

  “Thank God. I can feel my ribs.”

  I loved Rylee, but she had the metabolism of a fifteen-year-old boy. She ate whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted and as much as she wanted and never gained a pound. She didn’t even work out. It wasn’t natural. And yes, I was envious since I only needed to look at food and I felt my hips getting bigger.

  “He’s looked over here three times.” Rylee reached for her martini as she wiggled her brows at me.

  The thought of those pale eyes fixed on me, eyes that showed a hint of compassion when learning about Jake and Connor, my heart did one long slow roll in my chest. Instead of commenting, I took a long drink from my beer. I was spared answering at all when the door opened and Jayce and Duncan entered.

  “The Hellars just showed up.”

  Rylee started fluffing her hair, unnecessary because she was gorgeous; as she grew older, her wild, curly hair had tamed. It still had a curl, but it was long and wavy and combined with her green eyes, heads turned when she passed.

  “Evening. Mind if we join you?” Jayce drawled, his brother just behind him grinning at Jayce’s exaggerated cowboy greeting.

  Rylee gestured to the vacant chairs. “Please.”

  “I’ll grab us some beers,” Duncan said before he headed off to the bar.

  “How are you finding our town?”

  Rylee tipped her chin down and smiled. “It’s wonderful. Everyone has been very friendly.”

  “How’s Doc Cassidy with letting go of his practice? He’s been the vet around h
ere for a long time.”

  “I think he’s ready, looking forward to doing other things. I’ve asked him if he’d like to be a sort of consultant, someone whose brain I could pick, to keep him involved. He liked that idea.”

  That was so Rylee; she had a kind heart. Jayce clearly agreed. The way he studied her was making me slightly warm.

  Duncan returned and settled next to me. “Is there a reason Abel is staring over here?”

  Rylee, who was only partially paying attention because she was staring at Jayce in much the way he was staring at her, said, “Sidney met him when we first arrived. He was just here saying hello.”

  Knowing that Abel was staring caused those butterflies I hadn’t felt since I was a kid as well as another emotion I hadn’t felt in a long time. Longing.

  Duncan grinned into his beer. “You met Abel. How’d that go?”

  I can’t decide if I want to smack him or kiss him. He drives me crazy, he makes me hot and he’s continually looking out for me, going out of his way to do so, which makes it virtually impossible for me, a novice in the world of men, to get a read on him since I’m pretty sure he has a girlfriend. Plus I think he shares his body with at least three other people. Instead of saying all of that I said, “I’m guessing by that look, you know very well how that went.”

  He laughed now. “Boy doesn’t change.”

  “You know him?” Rylee asked.

  “Yeah, we all hung out as kids. Still do sometimes. He moved to Cheyenne, owns a custom motorcycle place.”

  So he wasn’t a criminal, he was a businessman. Then how did he get the gunshot wound? Curious. “Why’s he back?”

  Duncan’s smile faded, his head lowered. “Just some personal stuff.”

  More curious than I was polite, I asked, “What was he like as a kid?”

  Two sets of blue eyes turned to me. Jayce asked, “You interested?”

  Yes, and intrigued and confused and curious. I lowered my voice and lied. “No. I just can’t imagine him as a child.”

  “He was always a bit hard, but then growing up as he did I can’t really blame him. His dad was a dick, kicked him out of the house when he was fourteen and hightailed it out of town. Weird too that someone who couldn’t move fast enough to see Sheridan in his rearview mirror, he comes back frequently enough.”