Love on the Wild Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  “He got a call. Had to run.”

  “You two looked awfully cozy on the dance floor.”

  Tempting cherry red lips opened on a laugh at Maggie’s not-so-subtle hint.

  “What is it with engaged people? They put a ring on it and suddenly they’re super matchmakers, trying to foist off all their single friends into happy matrimony.”

  He bowed his head, hiding his grin at their shared sentiment.

  A frown marred his soon to be sister-in-law’s face, and she affected a hurt tone. “I’m not trying to foist you off. I just want to see you happy.”

  “Thanks, Bear.” Lizzy accepted the drink the big man offered, then took a healthy sip before wrapping an arm around her friend. “I know, sweetie, but I am happy. Happy with my life and supetastically happy for you and Colt.”

  Laughter rumbled. “That’s not a word, Lizzy.”

  “Well, it should be.”

  The two women chatted more about the wedding and plans for co-owning the shop. He finished off his beer then switched to water, along with his brother. The women had one more drink each.

  Everyone was happy and feeling tired by the time Bear announced last call.

  Lizzy slid off the barstool. “I better get home.”

  “Did you walk?”

  “Yup.”

  He glanced down. At least she had on sensible shoes tonight. Shiny, black, ballet flats. Not those sexy—but insane-to-walk-in—stilettoes.

  Maggie sent a worried look to his brother. “I don’t think it’s safe for you to walk home alone.”

  “Not safe? In Podunk Town?”

  “Peak Town,” Maggie corrected. “And no. We may be a small town, but even small towns have crime.”

  Smoky gray eyes rolled. “I think I can manage the three block walk back to the apartment without getting mugged, Maggie.”

  His future sister-in-law looked so worried that before he knew what he was doing, Dade spoke up. “I’ll walk you home.”

  All gazes turned to him. Maggie looked grateful, his brother smug, and Lizzy, Lizzy looked suspicious. He couldn’t blame her. No more than six hours ago, he told her they couldn’t start anything, yet, here he was offering to walk her home like the end of some kind of damn date. A date where she danced the whole night with another man.

  He was still steamed about that. So, why the hell had he offered to walk her home?

  “Come on. It’ll give Maggie peace of mind.” Yeah, play it off as nothing more than his willingness to help out his soon to be sister-in-law.

  Lizzy gave him a bright, fake smile. “Sure, pal. What are friends for, right?”

  Oh man. This was going to be one sucky three blocks.

  They said their goodbyes, then Maggie and Colton left in his brother’s truck. His was in the lot, but it was pointless to drive three blocks, so they decided to walk. He said nothing, waiting for her to tear into him. When she didn’t, he was thankful for the silence.

  “What the hell was all that shit with Ryder?”

  Why did he say that? What happened to his enjoyable silence? Stupid brain.

  “It’s called having fun. Something you wouldn’t know anything about.”

  They walked with inches separating them, but it felt like miles.

  “He had his hands all over you.”

  “So?”

  “You barely know the guy.”

  She stopped and turned to face him, her cheeks flushed with anger. “Screw you. Where the hell do you get off telling me who I can have a good time with?”

  The lady was beyond pissed. He didn’t blame her. He was acting like an ass, but couldn’t help himself. Seeing her with another man just set him off. He really hated the whole situation.

  “I’m not. I’m just—”

  “You’re just being an ass, Dade.”

  True.

  “You said you didn’t want to be with me. Fine, no problem, but you can’t have it both ways.”

  What the hell was she talking about?

  “There are plenty of guys out there who think I’m a great catch and would love to date me.”

  There was one of those guys right here, but he couldn’t date her. That was the problem.

  “You can’t say you don’t want me, then go all macho possessive caveman when some other guy does want me.”

  Macho possessive caveman? “That’s not it at all.”

  She crossed her arms. The movement pushed her breasts up, offering him a tantalizing glimpse of her luscious cleavage. He doubted she’d appreciate him ogling her at the moment considering her posture was sending off waves of defensiveness, so he tried valiantly to keep his gaze on her face.

  He deserved a damn medal for the act.

  “Then what is it?”

  She stared at him, waiting for him to answer, but she was right. He didn’t like seeing her with other men. It drove him nuts, but he couldn’t claim her as his own.

  He was between a rock and a hard place.

  No words came out as he struggled to explain.

  She shook her head. “Call me when you grow up, Dade.”

  Then she turned and headed up the stairs to her apartment, leaving him to feel like the adolescent she accused him of being.

  Chapter 14

  “What’s up with you and Dade?”

  Lizzy groaned. At the Denning ranch, she sat on the porch swing with Maggie, discussing wedding things. It had been a few days since the night at the bar. She hadn’t seen Dade since, and she wasn’t in a hurry to change that. The man was riding her last nerve. Only after ensuring he would not be around for her visit, had she agreed to come. Hence the question.

  “Nothing.”

  Maggie glanced at her in disbelief. “Really? Then why did you only agree to come over after I told you he’d be in Aspen all afternoon?”

  “I don’t care where he is or what he does. I just wanted to make sure we wouldn’t be interrupted by Captain Buzzkill.”

  Brown waves of hair tumbled around her friend’s face as she shook her head. Lizzy always thought dark hair was so cute. She was a shade of blonde in a sea of blondes out in LA. Maggie was different, she always liked that about her friend.

  “He’s really not that bad once you get to know him. Dade is just…”

  “Unsociable.”

  “I was going to say reserved.”

  Right, and I’m the Queen of England.

  “He’s always had a calm demeanor. He thinks things through a lot. Sometimes too much. He’s meticulous in his planning. Must come from being the older child.” Maggie chuckled. “He and Colt have such opposite personalities, it’s amazing they get along so well.”

  But they did. She noticed the younger Denning was fun, outgoing, and friendly, while the older was reserved and stoic. Still, the brothers got along as the best of friends.

  “Give Dade a chance,” her friend continued. “I’m sure you’ll warm up to each other eventually.”

  That was the problem. She didn’t need to warm up to him. She was red hot around the man. For some unknown reason, he made her burn like a firecracker on the fourth of July. Then he turned right around and dumped a bucket of ice water on her flames. He was driving her crazy with all this “I want you, but we can’t” stuff.

  “Hey, we’re supposed to be focusing on you, Miss Bride,” she said, hoping to get the conversation off of the her-and-Dade disaster. “Now, what are your colors going to be?”

  Maggie pursed her lips. “Yellow and white. And don’t try to change the subject.”

  Best friends, can’t fool them.

  “Dade and I are fine.” A sigh escaped her. “I know how much you love Colt, and I’m so happy for you two. I really like him, too. Dade, well, I realize he comes with the package, so I’m going to try my best to get along with him.”

  “For me?”

  “For you.”

  “Because you love me,” her friend said with a cheeky grin.

  She playfully shoved the other woman, gently so as not to hurt h
er. “That, and you gave me your teal top.”

  “I didn’t give it to you, you borrowed it and stretched it out because your boobs are like twice the size of mine. It will never fit me again.”

  She shrugged. “Details, schmeetails.”

  “That’s not a word.”

  Maggie chuckled at her continued use of made up words. She joined in the infectious laughter.

  “Seriously though, Lizzy. You should think about getting to know Dade better. He really is a great guy once you get to know him.”

  If only her friend knew how much she had already “gotten to know” Dade. Not as much as she’d like, but the ball was in his court now. Too bad he’d never make the serve.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  They sat for another hour, discussing wedding plans. It was nice to spend time with her again, even nicer that she now lived on a horse ranch. Since giving up equestrian sports years ago, Lizzy missed the special connection she got when riding. She glanced at the horse corral with longing.

  “Want to take a trail ride?” Maggie asked, noticing her wandering gaze.

  “You read my mind.”

  “Hey, Jesse!”

  A young ranch hand—who couldn’t have been older than twenty—jogged up to the porch and removed his hat. His sandy-blond hair was in need of a cut, and his dark brown eyes were bright with eagerness. He was cute, in a Mrs. Robinson kind of way.

  “Yes, Ms. Evans?”

  It was strange how all the men here were so polite. Sometimes, she felt like she’d been transported to Mayberry. Must be something in the mountain air.

  “I told you to call me Maggie.”

  The young man actually blushed. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Lizzy chuckled.

  “Can you saddle up a couple of horses and take Lizzy here out on one of the trails?”

  “I don’t need an escort. I do know how to ride.”

  Her friend waved away the protest. “I know, but you’re not familiar with the area. And it’s always a good idea to have a riding buddy, in case anything happens.”

  True. She nodded her acceptance, and the young Jesse went off to fetch some horses. A few minutes later, she was riding a beautiful thoroughbred named Molly. The horse had a gentle nature that set her frayed nerves at ease. Jesse sat atop another thoroughbred named Cinnamon. They rode in peace and quiet. Thankfully, the young man seemed to understand she didn’t feel like talking.

  They meandered up the same trail she had taken with Dade when heading toward the waterfall. She recognized trees and trail markers, but when they got to where she and Dade had left the horses, they split off to the trail on the left.

  The mountains in the distance reached toward the sky. She could see the snowcapped tops. It was the middle of summer, but Maggie mentioned most of Colorado’s fourteeners—what they called the mountains over fourteen thousand feet—kept their snowcaps year round. It was beautiful. Just what she needed to calm her ragged emotions.

  “Ms. Hayworth?”

  So much for the not talking. Lizzy stopped her horse and glanced over her shoulder. “Yes?”

  Jesse looked sheepish. “The sun will be going down in half an hour. I don’t mean to ruin your ride, but we should be heading back.”

  All good things came to an end she guessed.

  “Of course, you’re right,” she sighed. “I’d like to sit here for a minute or two if you don’t mind.”

  The young man glanced anxiously behind him. Oh crap, he probably has a butt load of work he was delayed on because I wanted to go for a ride. Now she felt guilty.

  “I’m sorry. I’m probably keeping you from your work.”

  He gave her a shy grin. “It’s okay, ma’am. I don’t mind missing out on mucking the stalls.”

  No, she supposed no one missed that.

  “Still, I better get back to help out. I only got hired on a few months back. I don’t want to—”

  She nodded. “You go on ahead. I’m just going to sit here for a bit.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, obviously worried about his duty to his job versus staying with her.

  “I’ll be ten minutes behind you I swear. I remember the way back, and even if I don’t, I’m sure Molly here does.”

  That seemed to reassure the young ranch hand. He nodded, accepting her offer. Then he turned his horse and headed back down the trail toward the ranch.

  She sat on top of Molly, taking a deep breath of clean mountain air. Mmm, so refreshing. The air in LA was like sucking on the end of an exhaust pipe. The horse nibbled on the grass around her, content to let her rider sit and ponder. The sun had just started to sink behind the mountains, casting the night sky with the most amazing hues. Pinks, purples, reds, it was amazing. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen a more beautiful sunset.

  Drinking it all in, she let out a sigh of contentment. Things might be a little crazy at the moment, what with her best friend getting married, moving halfway across the country, buying into a business, and having a stupid crush on a man intent to drive her mad, but at least she had this picturesque countryside to ease her soul.

  She was just starting to think things might not be so bad after all when she heard a bone chilling rattle.

  That was no baby rattle. Maggie warned her earlier, up here in the mountains there was only one thing that could make that sound.

  A rattlesnake.

  Molly started stamping her hooves, weaving side to side nervously.

  “Easy girl, easy,” Lizzy said, patting the horse’s neck to try and calm the big animal. Horses and snakes mixed like oil and water.

  Glancing at the ground, she spotted the snake a few feet away, perched on rock. Its head raised, mouth open.

  Man, those fangs look sharp.

  Its tail waved back and forth at a frenzied pace. That eerie warning rattle sounded deafeningly loud in the quiet air.

  Molly stamped her hooves into the dirt. The mare’s fear was a living thing wrapping around her, and she tried to calm the horse, but the more she tried, the more agitated the thoroughbred became and the louder the rattle got.

  Lizzy grasped the reins, tugging on them to turn the horse around and head back down the trail, but the snake must have taken that as a sign of an attack. It struck its head out, snapping its jaws. Molly bucked, kicking the snake and sending it flying.

  “Molly,” she screamed as she lost her grip on the saddle.

  Falling to the ground, she felt a painful smack to the back of her head. Tears gathered in her eyes. The light started to fade as she watched the horse gallop, as fast as lighting, back down the trail. Her last thought before the darkness overtook her was that she hoped Mr. Rattlesnake didn’t have any buddies nearby.

  Chapter 15

  Dade pulled into the driveway of the ranch. After a full day in Aspen he was beat. There had been licenses to renew, orders to process, and contracts for advertising to sign. It all could have been accomplished over emails and faxes, but he needed to get out of town and clear his head.

  Lizzy drove him crazy. More like, not being around Lizzy drove him crazy. He’d been deliberately staying away from her since that night he walked her home. Everything she accused him of was true. He was being an ass. Still, better an ass now than break her heart later.

  Just the fact he was worried he might break her heart showed he was already in too deep. Cared too much. Feelings he thought died with Rachel started to surface around Lizzy. He couldn’t go through that again. He couldn’t let himself love another woman only to lose her. Once was enough. No way he would survive that a second time.

  The sun was sinking below the mountains. Dark, ominous storm clouds rose in the distance. Good. They needed some rain. Hopefully, there wasn’t any lightning. Thunder scared the horses and a strike in the wrong place could cause a wildfire. A few years back, a bolt of lightning hit a patch of dry trees and damn near burned half the mountain.

  Colorado had two seasons, winter and wildfire.

 
; Turning off his truck, he pocketed the keys and hopped out. Something smelled good. Maggie must have made dinner. Good, he was starving. His stomach growled in anticipation.

  As he made his way to the house, his brother stepped out onto the porch. Colton’s brow was furrowed and his gaze held a note of worry.

  Immediately, Dade’s gut tightened. “Hey, Colt. Maggie okay?” She was doing well in her recovery, but you never knew when something could go wrong.

  “She’s fine, except she’s worried about Lizzy.”

  “Lizzy?” The twisting in his gut tightened. Worry morphed quickly into fear. “Why?”

  “Maggie said she went trail riding an hour ago. The sun is setting, and she still isn’t back.”

  “She went alone?” That was not smart, especially not knowing the area.

  His brother shook his head. “No. Maggie made Jesse go with her.”

  Jesse was a relatively new hire. Young kid, but eager to work. He liked the guy.

  “Did they come back?”

  “That’s what I was just going to check on.” His brother came down off the porch and headed toward the barn.

  Dade followed hot on his heels. Lizzy was unfamiliar with these mountains. Hell, she was unfamiliar with the great outdoors. Would she know what to do if she ran into a bear or mountain lion? Both animals lived in these hills, and both were deadly if cornered. A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Also a bad sign for being stranded in the woods.

  They reached the barn and saw various hands completing the day’s work. Scanning, he said a silent prayer hoping to find Jesse and Lizzy just brushing down the horses after their ride. His gaze finally zeroed in on the young hand and the lump in his throat eased, slightly. The kid was in one of the very back stalls brushing down Cinnamon.

  “Jesse,” he called, making a beeline for him.

  The man gazed up and smiled. “Hey, guys.”

  “Where’s Lizzy?” he demanded, skipping the small talk.

  The young face drained of all color. “You mean she’s not back?”

  “Maggie said she went for a ride with you,” Colton said.

  “She did.” The hand swallowed. “But I had to get back to finish my work. She said she just wanted to look for bit. She promised not to go any farther. Said she’d be right behind me,” Jesse babbled fearfully, tugging his hat off and nervously fiddling with it.