On horseback, she and Reno had taken the leisurely route home from the creek, and she had fallen even more in love with the place. Who knew one could have places to picnic, swim, and just relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings right in your own backyard? From the balcony of her Studio City apartment, she saw rooftops and heard the sound of car tires and screechy brakes from the street below. Or heaven forbid, her neighbors fighting. Again.
She loved the peace and quiet Wilder Ranch offered. But most of all, she loved the man who’d shown it to her.
Yeah.
Love.
Wow. The sensations that created in her heart were inexplicable.
She thought she’d been in love before. In high school, when her father had actually managed to keep them in one place for nearly a year, she’d met Del Matthews. A sweet Southern boy who’d played varsity football, ran track, was a straight A student, and seemed like everything he appeared to be on the surface. But then her father had given her the bad news that they were moving. Overseas this time. No chance to nurture a budding relationship with a boy she’d never see again.
Then there had been John, who’d never been a very steady kind of guy. He actually liked to pick up and move around. Which was why, she guessed, he’d chosen to be a documentary filmmaker. They were polar opposites. Because of that, she’d never understood her attraction to him. In the end, she’d written it off to the fact that she’d been tired of being alone. Tired of talking to herself when she came home from work. At least he’d been someone with whom to have a conversation. Even if it always managed to be about some tragic incident that spurred an idea for a new documentary.
When his opportunity to film in Africa had come along, she’d been happy for him. And happy to move on. Even if that had meant more lonely nights. After John—and the realization that without conscious effort she continued to select men who were incapable of returning her love—she’d imposed the ban on men in her life.
Then Pumpkin had come into her life, and she hadn’t been lonely anymore. Well, at least not for company. Though it was hard to keep a conversation going with a poodle whose only real concern was what kind of Scooby snacks were in the cupboard and the dangers of getting shaved a little too close beneath her tail.
Reno changed everything.
He’d shown her something she hadn’t known—the comfort of stability. Tradition. Loyalty. With both a father and a brother in the military, she recognized honor and knew that particular virtue lived strong in Reno’s heart. Though passion dwelled in every cell in his body and he might have very strong feelings about things, he never lost his temper and exploded. Not like she’d seen her father do a million times.
Reno handled things in a quiet manner—even if he expressed it between gritted teeth. And he listened—intently—to anything she had to say. He might not agree with her, but he always gave her the opportunity to speak her mind. A trait, she was sure, he’d learned from his past and from the parents who’d obviously adored him.
A man with patience and virtue these days wasn’t just hard to find—it seemed impossible.
Reno had all that and more.
And she’d fallen quickly and helplessly in love with him.
When she neared the house, chickens squawked and scattered to the sides of the gravel drive. She eased the Hummer into a space near the barn, parked, and was greeted by Miss Giddy, who trotted up for a pet on the head.
Jana came out onto the veranda. “Howdy,” she said with a wave. “Push that old goat aside and come on in. I’ve got something to show you.”
Charli gave Miss Giddy a nuzzle and tried not to feel bad at the goat’s sorrowful bleat when she walked away. When she stepped up onto the veranda she noticed her friend’s jeans and T-shirt were splattered with paint. Poppy red paint. Looked like Jana had been busy.
After a brief hug, Charli followed her into the foyer and immediately noticed that all the photos had been taken down off the walls.
“What happened here?”
“I’m going to repaint,” Jana said with a sweep of her hand. “Then I’m going to reframe the photos and hang them from some wire fencing I found out at an old ranch near Luckenbach last year.”
“What kind of wire fencing?”
Jana grinned. “Vintage double loop. Practically had to arm-wrestle a woman from Nebraska for it.”
Picturing the scene in her head, Charli laughed. “Seriously?”
“Yep. No way was I going to let that fencing out of Texas. It belongs here. Has just the right amount of rust to prove it.”
“Well, it definitely sounds like a wonderful design application.”
“Hopefully, you’ll say that when you see the living room.” She opened up the French doors to a newly painted room. Charli walked inside, mouth gaping in amazement. “Wow. Are you kidding? You did all this in one day?”
“And night. I actually never made it to bed. Just too darned excited to see the results.”
“You are my kind of lady.”
The walls had been painted a sand color and accented with a splash of poppy. The comfortable leather furnishings were placed in well-thought-out locations. And the style hinted of Old West without being cheesy.
“What do you think?” Jana asked eagerly.
“I think you’re amazingly talented.”
Jana beamed with pride.
“And I think . . .” She picked up an old pewter pitcher filled with silk bluebonnets. “I’d kill to find these kinds of accents.”
“Well, let’s sit down to that cobbler I promised, then we can go out to the barn. I’m sure you’re going to be surprised.”
“Goody. I love surprises.” She followed Jana into the kitchen.
Everything about Sweet had been a surprise. From the historical buildings to the friendly folks to the amazing man with whom she’d fallen in love. Everything seemed to have been just waiting for her to arrive and fill her heart.
The apple cobbler was still warm, and the homemade cinnamon ice cream on top had melted to just the right texture as Charli slid a spoonful into her mouth. “Oh my God, this is good.”
“I’m so glad you like it. It’s the boys’ favorite.” Jana placed her bowl on the chicken-deco placemat and sat down on the opposite side of the table.
“Then I’m lucky I got here first. And please don’t judge if I ask for a second helping.”
“I’d be pleased if you did. Paige is always so wonderful about sharing her honeycrisp apples. Most people don’t know they’re good for baking.”
“They’re delicious.”
Jana took a bite. “How are things coming along with Town Square. Think y’all will have it ready for the wedding on Saturday?”
Charli nodded, letting the ice cream melt in her mouth. “Even if I have to work through the night every night until then. I’ll make it happen. She and Aiden deserve a beautiful wedding.”
“They’re a remarkable couple.” Jana chuckled. “That girl has been in love with him since she rode around on her little pink Stingray bike with sparkly handle streamers.”
“Their love story is really something.”
“Almost didn’t happen.”
“I heard.”
“For some reason, we raise our Texas boys to be a bit stubborn.”
Tell me about it.
“Take my Reno. I know you’ve seen his ornery side.”
She’d seen his naked backside too but she certainly didn’t plan to share that info with his mama. “He can be . . . determined. But I’ve never met a man with a bigger heart.”
Jana smiled, spooned a dollop of cobbler into her mouth. “Looks like you got him to come around.”
“What makes you say that?”
Jana reached out and patted her hand. “A mother just knows these things.”
Hopefully, his mother didn’t have a clue how many times they’d come around or the deep feelings Charli had developed in her heart.
“I think we’re communicating better now,” Charli sa
id.
“Well, that smile on your face tells me there’s something more than a little communicating going on.”
Charli turned the question on Jana. “What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. And the handsome silver-haired man I saw you with at the party?”
“Martin Lane?”
Funny how with all the gray-haired men in town, Jana knew exactly whom she meant.
“He moved into town a few months ago. Bought the old Pritchard place. Ten acres. Easy ranching.” She chuckled. “Course he’s a big-city boy who can’t tell the back end of a steer yet. But he’ll learn.”
“What’s his story? Where’s he from?”
“He’s divorced. Lived in Seattle until about a year and a half ago. He was married thirty-five years. When the youngest moved out, he and his wife realized they hadn’t nurtured their marriage all those years, and they had nothing left in common.”
“That’s too bad. It’s so sad to see a relationship fall apart like that.”
Jana set down her spoon and looked up—her eyes a deeper shade of blue. “Happens more often than folks know.”
“Well, it’s nice that he’s made friends here already.”
“He’s a very nice man.”
Charli recognized that look of denial. She’d seen it in her own face a time or two over the past weeks. “Is he someone . . . special?”
“I’m not sure. We like each other. We’ve shared supper a few times but . . .” Her slender shoulders lifted. “I’m not sure either of us is ready to take such a big step.”
“So you’re just taking it slow and easy?”
“My mama always taught me that if you wanted a perfectly cooked stew, you set the pot on low and let it come to a full boil real slow.”
Charli laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that saying before.”
“My mama was an odd bird. Guess I take after her.”
“Well, I think you’re just wonderful.”
“And I think you’re too free with your compliments.”
“As a woman, I reserve the right to use my frequent complimenter miles. Especially when it comes to a fabulous design, pair of shoes, or really nice people.”
They shared a laugh, then the smile slipped from Jana’s face. “I’d appreciate it if this particular discussion didn’t go any farther than these walls.”
“You have my promise. But can I ask why?”
“It’s just . . . not information I’m sharing with the boys.”
“Why not?”
“Because as unsure as I am about moving forward and maybe going out on a few dates, the boys are not ready for me to take that plunge.”
Disbelief vibrated through Charli’s bones. “You don’t think they want you to be happy?”
“Depends on whose version of happy you’re talking about. They all loved Joe so much, I don’t think they can imagine anyone taking his place.”
“But another man wouldn’t take the place of their father. Surely, as grown men, they would know that.”
“Well, sugarplum, the head may know what’s right, but sometimes the old ticker takes a different route. Reno’s the perfect example of that notion. Boy’s been trying for years to take one step forward. But he always seems to take two steps back. His head knows he has to move on, but that heart of his tells him it’s comfortable right where it sits—all wrapped up and alone.”
A rush of air pushed from Charli’s lungs.
Jana ducked her head and caught Charli’s eye. “Something tells me he might be taking those two steps forward now.”
“Yeah, but he’s a slow walker.”
“Maybe you just need to get him to trade in those boots for a pair of running shoes,” Jana said.
“If you weren’t his mother, I’d say maybe I just need to hide his clothes until he came to his senses.”
“Well I am his mother, and I say that’s a damned fine idea.”
“Things just aren’t ever as easy as they should be, you know?”
“I do.” Jana nodded her head. “You two would certainly face some mighty big challenges.”
“I know. It’s hard to maintain a long-distance relationship. I actually tried it once.”
“Obviously, it didn’t work out.”
Charli wiped a drip of ice cream from the placemat with her napkin. “That’s an understatement. We were two totally different people going after two totally different things in life. It just became painful after a while.” And she would never want that to happen with Reno.
“Sometimes it’s a blessing when those things come to an end,” Jana said.
“My job doesn’t make it easy.” She laid the napkin back on her lap. “Sometimes what I want for my heart and what I want for my career are completely different. I get ideas in my head of how to mesh them together, but—”
“You said you don’t really like living in your apartment. Maybe you need a change.”
Charli looked up. “Can I be totally honest with you?”
“Of course.”
“I’d love to stay in Sweet. I’d love to make it my home.”
“Why don’t you?” Jana asked.
Charli shrugged. “Guess I’m just waiting for a sign from the universe.”
Jana chuckled as she stood and took the empty bowls to the kitchen sink. She turned with arms folded. “Now you’re sounding a little bit like Reno. Like I always tell him, you can’t reach the goal line with one step forward and two steps back. You have to keep moving.”
“What does he say to that?”
“Well, I’m his mother, so he tempers it with a lot of ‘Uh-huhs’ and ‘Sure, Moms.’ Which translated usually means for me to mind my own tootin’ business.”
Charli smiled. “He’s very lucky to have you.”
Jana came back and sat down. She laid her hand over Charli’s on the tabletop. “Patience is a virtue, sugarplum. But sometimes you’ve just got to grab the universe by the tail and give it a good swing in your own direction.”
A cup of coffee later, Charli followed Jana and climbed the steps that led to the barn loft. When her feet hit the landing, she stopped and put her hand to her mouth.
“Oh. My. God.”
A thrill shot up the back of her neck at the discovery of treasures jammed together beneath the rafters. The collection was everything she’d dreamed and nothing she’d imagined. In her mind, the universe kicked into a joyful chorus of Hallelujah.
Jana stopped with her hand on the rail. “What is it?”
Charli looked at all the wonderful things gathering dust. “Confirmation that the universe is not a farce.”
In front of her were old country gates, antique chairs, headboards, dressers, architectural columns, porcelain signs, railroad lanterns, and God only knew what was hidden beneath the dusty sheets.
“Do you even know what you have up here?” Charli asked.
“A picker’s paradise?” Jana laughed, but Charli had to agree; anyone who scoured the country looking for antiques to pick from old barns and properties would have a field day in here.
“Mind if I go in and take a look?” Charli asked.
“Help yourself. If you see anything you like, just holler. I’ll give you a good deal,” Jana added with a wink.
Charli waded between oceans of aged items with values she couldn’t even fathom. “What were you going to do with all this?”
“Oh, I started out wanting to do what I’m doing now—putting it up for display in my home. But raising five active boys put a damper on that real quick. My collecting turned into a passion and well . . . here we are—years later—with a whole bunch of stuff and no idea what to do with it all.”
In the midst of examining a set of oak and brass post-office boxes, Charli looked up. “I have an idea that might interest you.”
“Shoot.”
“Have you ever thought about opening a business?”
The surprised look on Jana’s face said the idea had never even ente
red her mind.
Charli couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I’ve been too busy raising my boys and being a wife to even dream of something like that. Got too much time on my hands now. So I’m definitely interested.” Jana leaned against a tall Chippendale chest of drawers. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’ve always dreamed about opening a place that was part design center and part home-accessories store. Something that meshed the old with the new.” She glanced around the treasure trove. “A place where someone could walk in and solve their design issues and pick up a cool tchotchke on the way out the door.”
“This area could sure use something like that. There are several towns in the Hill Country that are full of antique stores. Sweet is sorely lacking.”
“And everyone knows antique stores are a huge draw to an area. It could help increase tourism.” Charli inspected an old leather bag with “Dr. Louis O. Anderson—1922” inscribed on the brass fitting. “From what I’ve seen, Jana, you have a real knack for decorating. I’m a believer that natural-born talent is often stronger than a framed degree.”
“That’s nice of you to say.”
“It’s the truth.” She looked up. “I saw an old Victorian house on the way into town that would make a perfect storefront. If you’d be interested, I’d love to sit down and talk with you a little more about my idea.”
Jana’s chest lifted on a big intake of air. “Then how about we go back to the kitchen and have us a little chat.”
A rush of exhilaration tickled Charli’s heart.
She knew her feelings toward Reno were spinning into something deeper than she’d ever intended. He gave her a sense of belonging. A sense of hope for the life she’d always dreamed of. They had much in common, and she felt that he could possibly be the perfect mate to her soul. But though she knew he enjoyed being with her, she could feel him holding back. Pushing her away even as he held her close.
More than anything, she wanted to know that he could reach out beyond his loss—beyond his grief—and grab hold of what she had to offer. Though her heart wanted that chance at a future with him, she really had no control of what he’d decide to do. She could only be in control of her own destiny.
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