by Brynn Hale
He stands and pulls out a twenty from his wallet.
I wave it off. “It’s on the house.”
“Thanks. Okay, I gotta go help Cole with the herd and I have a proposal that I’ve been struggling with.”
“Sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“We’ve gotta do something different. The ranch is just about breaking even with all costs and payroll. We’ve gotta do something new to get people in.”
“Maybe talk to Cole and Breck?”
He slaps his black cowboy hat on his head. I remember the first time he put it on my head and told me he loved me. It was of course another hat as he needs a new one every year, but it was like I was part of the family. My family life was good, but expectations were built into the framework due to my parents’ illnesses. I’d actually been able to show them that they were much more resilient and able to care for themselves while I was gone. They were mad when I left, but they came around quickly to understanding when they realized how much pressure they’d been putting on me.
Luke leans toward me and I freeze. His lips settle on my cheek. “I’m proud of you, Gracie.”
I lift a hand and touch his cheek as he pulls way. “I’m proud of me, too.”
“I’ll text you later to see about meeting up in the next day or two, and in the meantime… you’re my little secret.” He winks a whiskey colored eye at me and I feel like I’ve been struck by the past, or lightning. My body tingles and a long shiver rolls across my skin.
I watch him walk out and my chef whistles from the kitchen.
“That’s the Luke?” Samson asks, leaning into the window where he set the plates. “Damn, girl, you sure know how to pick ‘em.”
I can feel my face flush. He’s not wrong.
Samson followed me to Peacock Ridge from Denver after I told him I was opening a place of my own. He wanted to see what life was like outside of Denver. Didn’t hurt that he had experience as a short-order cook and I trusted him with my life. I’d found the only greasy spoon open in Denver on Christmas Day last year and sat in a booth and cried. I really freaked out the wait staff and they sent Samson out of the kitchen to take care of the crazy lady who could only say “What have I done?” over and over.
Samson sat there and talked me through what I had done. And my crying stopped. I made a plan. I found a place to live. I started working at that same greasy spoon. I used my savings to go to college. I planned my dreams. I implemented my dreams. And now I was living my dream. But it was missing one thing.
The bell shakes me from my contemplations. Samson chuckles as I jump and I roll my eyes at him.
“Gotcha. Girl, if you don’t get him locked up, I’m making my move.”
“You’d never cheat on Finn. Get back to work.” I wave him off and turn to watch Luke’s F-250 drive off.
I’m definitely making my move.
I took a quick break to go home between breakfast and dinner and check on my cat, Socks. He’s a rescue from off the Denver streets. Took me almost three months to get him to love me, but I loved him from day one.
I don’t regret what I did. I regret how I did it. I know that’s what I really need to concentrate on.
I pull out my phone.
Grace: Thanks for coming in today. Sorry I can’t make it to the Snow Ball, but if you have time after, my address is 1414 Lafayette Street. You’re welcome in my life and my home anytime, Luke.
I hear voices but I don’t look up as I just stare at the message. I feel different today. Not scared. I’m hopeful.
“Grace?”
I raise my head from my phone. “Hi, Breck.” I stretch the greeting.
I had to know I’d see one of the other Reeves brothers soon. I straighten my back and shove my phone in my pocket, even though it buzzes in my hand. I want nothing more than to look at that message.
Breck Reeves, middle child to Carson and Betty Reeves, stands in front of me and something is new. Tilly Warren has a firm grip on his hand. Tilly knows I’m not a threat to them. But Breck probably thinks I’m a threat to his baby brother. I prepare for his questions, they’re coming.
“How long have you been back?” he asks casually.
I’m a little shocked. That’s not what I expected.
“Not long.” My phone buzzes again and I’m distracted.
“Have you seen Luke?”
I shake my head almost imperceptibly, hoping it’s neither a confirmation or a denial.
Breck raises Tilly’s hand and kisses the back and my heart about explodes. Breck’s always been that guy I imagined would grow old alone. I can’t explain it. He’s just enough of a cocky artist that someone would have to appreciate that side of him and maybe match it. Tilly Warren might just be that woman.
He turns to Tilly. “Can you give us a moment?”
Tilly smiles up at him, not that she has to look up far. She’s a beautiful, tall woman, meeting his over six-feet of height in her heeled boots. “I’ll go start the truck and get it warmed up.” Tilly passes by me. “Welcome home, Grace.”
I smile at her. “Nice to see you and… congratulations.”
Tilly chuckles. “Thanks.”
As soon as we hear the door to Tilly’s truck close, Breck’s shaking his head as if he’s trying to organize his thoughts or maybe find the words.
“Where’d you go?” he asks, but holds up a hand. “First…” He steps forward and wrap his arms around me and I sink into the move. Maybe Tilly’s had a bigger effect on him than I could ever imagine. “Grace… we were worried about you. Glad you’re safe and back.”
My body hiccups and I push down harsh realities. This is unexpected. I wring the apron in my hand to distract my mind.
“Are you going to contact Luke?” he asks.
Luke’s plea returns to me: If you see them could you not tell them that I know.
“I don’t know if I can…or should.” It’s true. There’s so much I don’t know when it comes to Luke and what will happen.
“Yes, you should. And Grace, you can. If you could walk away after what you guys had, you have guts.”
“I didn’t walk. I ran.” I need to take responsibility for what I did. For those I hurt, and I know it’s not just Luke. Breck and Cole were like brothers to me. They had to have hurt, too.
I hope he can see the fear and remorse in my eyes, but he doesn’t confirm what I already know.
Breck steps back from the hug. “I don’t need to know why, but I’m asking you to please text him. Just find a way to let him know that you’re okay.”
“Please don’t tell him I’m back. I’m not ready. I know he’s going to be mad.” I really do wonder if Luke’s not a little mad.
“He’s not mad. I know that fact like I know Peacock Ridge. Grace, I heard the man cry himself to sleep. He’s broken. You broke him.”
My heart slows in my chest. He cried…
“I know. I don’t regret leaving, but I regret what it did to him. I didn’t think and I did it all wrong.”
“Do you want to be back with him?”
“Do you think he’ll have me?”
Breck’s gaze doesn’t meet mine and it hurts a little. Maybe he doesn’t think it.
“If he asks, I won’t lie,” Breck clarifies.
Luke won’t ask.
“I don’t expect you to.”
His hand lands on my shoulder. “You look good. Healthy. And happy?”
“Yeah, put on a few pounds in the last year.” I sigh. “I’m not totally happy, but I feel like I know what happiness is now. I really want to be happy, Breck.”
“I hope you get your Christmas wish, Grace. Okay, I need to get back to…”
“This is new?” I ask, nodding over my shoulder to Tilly.
“Very.”
“I’ve always thought Tilly was amazing. You know that she paints?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I’ve seen some of her works. They’re… um, vivid.”
I tip my head in question.
“I don’t know what that means but good luck, Breck.”
He stops while at my side and gives my temple a kiss as he passes by. “Good luck, Grace.”
I bite my lip. This family has always been my family too. They’re warm and I want them back.
Inside the restaurant, I walk into the kitchen, putting on my apron. I pull out my phone.
Luke: I’ll be to your place after the ball. I can’t promise I’ll stay, but I know I want to. I’m glad you’re back.
Luke: And…You look beautiful. I can’t believe I didn’t kiss you last night. Your ass has never looked better, baby.
I laugh. He was always an ass man. He never once insinuated I wasn’t perfect for him.
“Samson?” I call out.
He sticks his head out of the walk-in fridge. “What’s up, boss lady?”
“You think you can handle the place from four until seven?”
“Whatchu up to, shortie?” He tips his head.
I giggle. He’s more than a ham. He’s now my best friend and Luke’s going to have to be okay with that.
“I’ve got to get ready…”
“For?” he asks
“To make him mine.”
Forever.
LUKE
The day seems like a week long. I’m showered and ready to go to the Snow Ball. I’ve always enjoyed this night, but tonight I’m wondering why I enjoyed it.
Because it was the night when I had the most beautiful woman on my arm.
And now I have regrets. Something I never thought I’d have. I did what I said and said what I mean and meant what I did. But now I see what I did. I never listened to Grace and what she wanted. I thought she wanted everything I wanted. I assumed she wanted what I wanted. The ranch life. The small town living. The low-key life. Maybe we both needed more.
I open my desk drawer as I sit in the office. And there’s the little black box. I open it and a one-and-a-half princess cut diamond stares up at me. She didn’t even look at the box when I held it up and that’s how I knew.
I pick up the box and stare at it.
“Luke!”
“I’m in here, Breck.”
“You got a minute?” he asks, coming around the corner.
“Yeah.”
Breck sits in the chair next to my desk. “I’ve got an idea for the ranch.”
I listen. I mean, really listen to him. I’ve learned a lesson.
And when he’s done, I’m impressed.
My brother has come up with an idea to save the ranch, bring us into a new era for the future. And it seems that something’s gotten into him.
“What’s up with you?”
Breck laughs. “I’m in love.”
“What the fuck?” My mouth has never dropped open faster. “Who?”
“Tilly Warren.”
Now I’m really shocked. “Tilly…as in Cole’s Tilly?”
“She’s not his Tilly.” His face hardens as he stands. “You don’t think that they’re something do you?”
I’m not sure. I’ve never seen Cole and Tilly do anything. I still. I know what love looks and feels like…
“No. They’re just friends. But here’s the deal. You wanna know, you need to ask him or Tilly.”
He moves to the door. “I think Cole’s having a glass of the good stuff in the den, if you’re interested.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.” I close up my office, putting away a few files for the season. I’ll be taking a couple of weeks off—or at least not working every day.
My job as Marketing and Sales Director for the B&B and all the other businesses we have—bees products, goats milk products, leather goods—keeps me busy and sometimes, I have a little too much on my plate. I needs an extra set of hands and I need to hire an assistant in the new year. We’ve had a decent year. We can afford someone to help me out, especially with Breck’s new idea.
My phone buzzes.
Grace: I have a surprise for you. I hope you like it. See you later. XOXO
I round the corner and Cole’s lifting the bottle of Glenlivet XXV. “Whoa…hitting the hard stuff already?”
“I need it.”
“You get hit on by that cheetah in fake fur, too?”
We rarely talked about the guests, but this one made quite the impression on all of us.
“She’s something else.”
“I’ve marked her account. She won’t be back.” I grab the bottle and pour myself a little sipper.
“Thanks,” he says with raised eyebrows. “You ready for this?” Cole asks me.
“I’m fine.”
He chuckles. “You remember what Grandma used to say. ‘Fine’s for china and dining. Not people’.”
I chuckle back and shake my head. “Okay, I’m missing her.” I take a long swig coating my senses in toasted marshmallow and caramel. “But today I’m missing Dad too.” It was true. Grace was back. But Dad never would be.
“Luke, Dad wouldn’t want us to linger on his death. That tractor accident wasn’t your fault. Dad just didn’t get the parking brake engaged. Accidents happen.”
It’s been two years, but it still hurts the same. “But I should’ve been out there with him. He asked me to help him and I kept telling him in a minute. In a minute. But there aren’t any more minutes, now, Cole. I can’t help but think of what sage advice Dad would have for me.”
“He would tell you to stop fucking moping and go to the dance. Dance with every girl there, drink a few cocktails, and enjoy yourself. You’ve done everything you could. Grace made a choice.”
“To leave me.”
“Maybe she chose to save herself. Have you ever thought of that? We don’t always know what’s going on in someone’s head. You need to forgive.”
“How can you forgive someone when you really don’t know what you’re forgiving them for?”
“Forgiveness isn’t only for her…it’s for you, too, Luke.” My older brother is as sage as our father ever was.
“Maybe someday.”
I stop a smile from coming over my face. Apparently, my brothers don’t know she’s back. I like the feeling of having Grace all to myself. She was a part of the family and now I need to get to know the new her. I throw back the rest of my drink.
“But not today.” I grab a few chili-lime-coated peanuts out of the bowl. “So you’re all fancy tonight.” I point to his get-up.
Cole straightens the bowtie. “What? This little number? Just something I had in the closet.” He models it like he’s on the runway in New York City and I attempt to act unimpressed. Actually, I’m a bit jealous that he can fit it. Perfectly.
“It’s Dad’s?” I ask while throwing a peanut in the air and catching it in my mouth.
“Yeah. Is that okay?” He stills, his face questioning if he’s stepped over a line.
I brush a hand through my hair, standing the strands in the front on end while finishing the peanuts in my mouth. “Cole, he’d love to see you wearing it. It’s too big for me, and Breck wouldn’t fit it either, but he’d try to fit his ass into it.” I heard our middle brother in the hallway.
“I would wear the hell outta that tux.” Breck smiles. “But I agree with Luke, Dad would love to see you in it.” He steps to the shelves and lifts a frame. He opens the back and a stack of two dozen pictures drop onto the bar top. He starts filing through the two decades worth of pictures. “They were always so happy.”
“They made me believe in love,” Cole says as I set my glass on the bar. “Even if I didn’t choose right the first time, I’m ready to have what they had. True love.”
“Whoa…what’s up with you, Deepak Chopra?” My brow furrows.
“He saw Ellie Roberts yesterday. Excuse me, Dr. Ellie Roberts, veterinarian. And he thinks he’s got a chance.” Breck holds up a picture of Mom and Dad.
My head swings to Cole and my jaw tightens. “The same girl who graduated with me?”
Cole crosses the room to the doorway. “Same one,” he says over his shoulder
.
“Cole, don’t fuck with her.” My protective side rears its head. It’s a trait that my father instilled in all of us.
“I don’t plan to fuck with her, brother. I intend to marry her.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
Seems all of the Reeves brothers might be falling in love.
And now…it’s my turn to fall back in love.
GRACE
I ring the doorbell. Please be home. I reach to ring it again and the door opens.
“I knew it!” Ursula’s green eyes light up. “I told Darren that you would take me up on my offer!”
Ursula and Darren had come into the Featherbone last night and she said she’d help me get all made up for the dance.
I hold up a dress bag and a makeup bag. “Like old days?”
She opens the door. “You’re going to make Luke’s night.”
It’s a chance I’m willing to take. Either he’s happy to see me, or I’ll see him in someone else’s arms dancing. There’s no chance that some other woman won’t ask him to.
I open the dress bag and pull out what I have. It’s something I bought at a boutique in Colorado. It’s nothing I would’ve ever wore in the past. It’s…
I stand back and bite my lip.
“Holy shit!” Her mouth drops open. “That’s…wow.”
“Is it too much?”
“I’d almost say it’s too little.”
I laugh. She’s not wrong.
I sit at her kitchen table and the town’s hairdresser does her best to make me look presentable. Smokey grey eye, soft pink lip, softly curled hair.
I slip on the dress. I don’t remember it being this short. I turn around for Ursula.
“That’s amazing. It’s like it was sewn for your body.”
I skim my hands over the fabric as it hugs every curve. “There’s enough Spanxx under here…”
“Fashion is worth it!”
“Honey, I’m sorry I’m late…” Darren rounds the corner into their bedroom. “What the…” His gaze slides over my body and Urs clear her throat.