by Tina Leonard
He nodded. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t realize how awkward it would be for you.”
“Why do you dislike Storm so much?”
“Just seems like when funky things happen, he’s not far away. Maybe I’m just normally suspicious. I don’t know.” Dante shrugged. “I talked to Sheriff Cartwright in town, and one thing he mentioned is that Storm’s been dating Lulu Feinstrom in town. Maybe he’s too busy to cause trouble.”
“I love Lulu’s blackberry pies. And she makes the best watermelon daiquiris.”
“Yes, she’s a nice lady.”
“But you’ve always relied on hunches,” Ana said.
“I believe in the power of intuition.”
She did, too. “Maybe you could talk to Kendall. Ask her if she knew that Sawyer was Storm’s niece when she hired her.”
“She had to. Moreover, Sloan had to be on board.”
That was true. Still, Dante’s unease made Ana uncomfortable, because of the twins. “Kendall wouldn’t hire anyone who would endanger the boys.”
“I know. Forget I said anything. Let’s concentrate on things we can control. Like Fiona’s shindig. You’re coming, right?”
She nodded. “I’m looking forward to supporting Fiona’s ball. And I wish you the best of luck as the main course.”
“Yeah, well. Anything for charity.” They pulled in front of the bridal gown shop and Dante parked the truck. “If I take you in here with me, will you burst into flame one foot past the door?”
She looked at him. “I hope not. Have you heard rumors to the contrary?”
“Just checking.”
She got out and followed him. “Are you cross-dressing to play your part for the masquerade ball?”
He shook his head. “Fiona thought you might need a dress. This is the place for costume ball glory, or so I’m told.”
She stopped in her tracks. “I don’t need a dress.”
He gazed down at her. “Fiona says—”
“Fiona is trying to be nice, and you are, too, but I’m just going to wear a church dress. I’ll be fine.”
Dante’s navy eyes were filled with indecision. “Listen, I don’t know so much about ladies and dresses, but it seems like since prehistoric times when humans put on fig leaves, the lady wanted hers to be the prettiest in the forest.”
She started to walk back toward the truck. “I appreciate that Fiona has sent you on a mission, but I’m perfectly comfortable with what I’ve got.”
“You’ve got a mask? We could just pick up a mask—”
“Dante. I’m fine.” She’d grab one when he wasn’t around. She wished Fiona hadn’t sent Dante to do this. “I’m sure you have more important things to do than shop, so why don’t we head back?”
“Not so fast. I never come to town without making a stop at the Books’n’Bingo.”
“How you don’t gain weight, I’ll never know.” Ana decided she could at least be gracious and humor him on his cookie hunt.
“I don’t gain weight because I’m too busy chasing nephews and bad guys, and sometimes my aunt Fiona sends me on wild-goose chases. She underestimated your stubborn side.” He stopped, and after a moment, gazed down at her. “Listen, I want you to do something for me. If I give you a couple hundred bucks, will you secretly buy me?”
“At the auction?” She laughed a bit uncomfortably. “Dante, don’t ask me. Please.” It would be so embarrassing later, when she told him her secret. She didn’t want any part of the auction. She planned to attend the ball, and when the charity bit began, she was heading home. “I’m not planning to stay for the auction.”
He led her to the teashop. They stood under the bright awning, and as the sun twinkled off the glass windows on the main street, Ana thought her heart was breaking just like glass dropped on the ground.
“Ana, I’m trying to avoid an awkward night with a woman I don’t know. You buy me, I’m off the hook. You have no idea how nervous I am about being the grab bag on Saturday night.”
“You mean the grand prize.” She giggled in spite of the delicacy of the situation. “I thought men liked variety. Change of pace and all that. Fresh game.”
He sighed. “We do. When we control it.”
“Whoever buys you will be most appreciative, I’m sure.”
“You don’t understand. I’m picky about women. Some might almost say to a fault.” He really did look worried. “What if she laughs too loud? What if she doesn’t like country-and-western music? What if she’s looking for more than I want to give?”
“Eek,” Ana said. “Can we skip details like that?”
“I’m talking about dessert,” he said, sounding a bit desperate. “Something past a quick dinner.”
She stared at him, trying not to laugh. “I think for a couple hundred bucks, a lady expects more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Dante. At least steak, salad and vegetables, and then some chocolate mouse or chocolate pecan pie.”
He looked alarmed. “I could be stuck for three hours with a woman I have nothing in common with, and you could save me by taking my money and buying me.”
“That’s rigging the game, which is very unfair.” Ana shook her head. “There are over a hundred women coming to Diablo for the fun, and you want to sandbag the contest. It’s not sporting.”
“You’d feel differently if you were the grand prize.” He looked positively depressed at the notion. “Never mind. I didn’t say that. Don’t tell my aunt what I asked you.”
“There’s an elementary school roof on the line. You have to be a lively grand prize. Don’t let your family down.” She pushed the door open and walked into the store. “Be brave.”
“I don’t think you’re paying attention.” He followed her into the teashop and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Rumor has it that three women have pooled their funds, and they intend to share me.”
“A fate worse than death?” She considered the treats in the pie case. The cupcakes looked fabulous, and the wreath and snowman shaped cookies caught her eye. “Some men would be flattered.”
“I’m not. Sheriff Cartwright told me that every bed-and-breakfast in town is booked, and every restaurant has been booked solid with reservations since last week.”
“Aren’t you happy your aunt is such a trooper for Diablo?” She looked at him curiously. “Just think of all the children who will appreciate your suffering.” She patted him on the arm. “I’ll take one of those cupcakes with the stars on top, please, Mavis,” she said with a smile, and pulled out her wallet.
“I’ve got it,” Dante said gruffly. “We cover all expenses at Rancho Diablo for our bodyguards.”
She put her wallet back in her bag. “All right. Thank you.”
Mavis smiled at both of them. “It’s so good you came in today. We just had our two-hundredth ticket purchased for the auction, Dante!”
He looked at Ana as if to say help! “That’s wonderful, Mavis.”
“It’s so lovely that you’re back in town. Do you have a costume, Ana?” Mavis asked kindly, and Corinne came over with a freshly baked tray of cookies to set out.
“All the ladies in town are so excited about their costumes,” Corinne told Ana. “Fiona has decided to award prizes for the top three ladies and the guys.” She smiled at Dante. “I bet you win.”
Ana could practically feel Dante radiating discomfort. “Who chooses the costume winners?”
Nadine came over with a teapot and a grin. “Fiona has decided that three large barrels will be put out for the ladies, and three for the guys. Everyone will drop in a dime for the person they think has the best costume! The fullest barrel wins.”
“My aunt’s ideas on how to generate funds is boundless.”
“I think it’s wonderful. Who chooses the initial three f
inalists?” Ana asked.
“Well, let’s see,” Mavis said. “We hadn’t thought that far. You do it, dear. You’re an out-of-towner now, you’ll be fairest. Don’t you think, ladies?”
Her friends nodded enthusiastically.
“All right,” Ana said. “I’d love to help.” It would keep her out of the way, keep her from focusing on the ladies chatting up Dante.
They beamed at her. “We knew we could count on you. Though please don’t choose this handsome devil just because he’s sweet on you,” Corinne said, and the ladies went on to helping the next customers in line.
Ana glanced at Dante. He got busy grabbing napkins and some other items from the tea tray and headed over to a table. She followed him, hardly knowing what to say. Dante wasn’t sweet on her. He’d not called her once when she was in Buffalo Gap. He hadn’t paid her much attention since she’d been back, unless his aunt sent him or they ran into each other by accident.
“Anyway,” Ana said, sitting down at the table to join him, “what makes you think a couple hundred bucks will be required to secure your auction? I’ll probably have plenty left over.”
He glanced up. “You’ll do it?”
“I’ll rescue you, Dante. I have to take pity on a man who’s as awkward around women as you are, I suppose,” she teased.
“I’ll take you out for a dinner you won’t forget,” he promised, sounding relieved and grateful, and Ana thought, Wonderful, because I’m eating for two these days, and we really seem to be fancying sweet stuff.
Dante might not be sweet on her, but she sure was on him.
Chapter Thirteen
The early hours of the morning of the Christmas ball began with four inches of snow on the ground and a lump of coal in Dante’s heart. “That’s not right,” Dante muttered, peering out his bedroom window. “It’s not a lump of coal in my heart. It’s probably ice from a certain lady that I can’t seem to warm up.”
“Must you talk to yourself?” Tighe demanded, meeting him at his bedroom door with a cup of coffee. “Tonight’s our big night, bro. We are the stars, the honey to the bees, the big men on campus. It’s going to be awesome!”
Dante slurped the coffee, tried to keep up with Tighe’s blather. He felt better knowing that Ana would save him tonight. Maybe it was playing dirty pool, but he didn’t care. Did he want to be with Ana or a woman he didn’t know?
It was simple. Ana. No question.
“I’m looking forward to being the big cheese,” Tighe said cheerfully. “I hope the woman that wins me is drop-dead sexy, and smiles a lot, and wants to kiss me all night long.”
“I hope she’s a hundred years old and wants you to rub her feet,” Dante said sourly. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
“Yes, there is.” Tighe followed him into the kitchen, watching as he popped a slice of coffee cake into the microwave. “How could you say such a thing to your twin? I only wish you the best! Well, not the best, I want the best, but you know what I mean. I’ll get the most beautiful woman at the ball, and you get the second most beautiful. That’s my optimistic outlook.”
“That’s shallow,” Dante pointed out. “Not everything is about looks.”
“No,” Tighe agreed with a hopeful expression, “it’s all about getting naked.”
“I hope not.” The only woman he wanted to see naked was Ana, but it seemed those days were past.
“I heard,” Tighe said as the microwave dinged, “that ten women have pooled their resources so they can bid on me. Ten ladies, all to myself.” He sighed with joy. “Sheer heaven.”
Dante sighed and sat down to shovel the coffee cake before he ran late for chores. “Listen, you can have whoever buys me—unless it’s Ana,” he said, the stroke of genius hitting him belatedly. “Or someone else I know and could stand taking out for an evening. Like our sister.” Maybe Ashlyn would take pity on him if Ana decided not to help him. There was no telling with women.
“You’ve really got a thing for Ana, don’t you?” Tighe looked at him curiously. “Have you ever considered just telling her?”
“Have you told River about your thing?”
“No, but she seems to be otherwise attached. Ana’s not, as far as we know. I guess there could be someone back in Gopher Gap—”
“Buffalo Gap,” Dante said. He pushed the coffee cake away, not wanting to think about Ana having “somebody” back home. “How much did the victim go for at the last auction?”
Tighe looked at him. “I have no idea. Why are you so worried? You should be thrilled to be the object of desire. It may be the only time in your life that you’ll be a rock star, bro.”
“I just don’t need that much ego stroke.” He looked at his brother. “I award whoever wins me to you—unless it’s someone we know.”
“Can’t do it. Wouldn’t be fair to Fiona,” Tighe said, suddenly turning purist. “She’d get in all kinds of doo for false advertising, and that would hamper any future auctions. We just can’t let that happen. It affects too many people. Can’t you just relax and enjoy being hunk o’ the holidays?”
“Not exactly. Never mind.” Dante headed to the barns. He hoped Ana wouldn’t change her mind about saving him. He’d given her two hundred bucks with which to bid and offered her a dinner. Maybe he should have thrown in an additional incentive.
Thing was, she really didn’t seem to want anything from him.
She couldn’t let him down.
“Hi, cowboy,” he heard, and Dante turned.
“Hello,” he said to the tiny brunette standing in the barn. If his mind weren’t so stuck on Ana, he probably would have called this tiny doll adorable. “Can I help you?”
“Oh, yes,” she said with a smile. “I just came by to sample the goods before I bid.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him the smooch of a lifetime, shocking him so badly his poor stupid brain short-circuited before he pulled away. “Wow,” he said, “uh, thank you, little lady, I guess, but if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate not being sampled.”
Her dark green eyes glowed. “See you tonight, cowboy.”
She sauntered out of the barn. Dante ripped off his hat, then his bandana, and wiped his mouth. Holy smoke! He’d be in a real pickle if that woman tried to win him. He’d never get Ana to slow down enough to catch her.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed. He heard a bunch of muffled murmuring. “Hello? Tighe?”
“Yeah,” his brother finally said.
“Listen, there’s a stray brunette on the property heading your way. Could you escort her off the ranch and let her know that those no-trespassing signs are there for a reason?”
“Sure,” he said, and then his phone clicked off.
Ana tapped his arm, startling him so badly he nearly jumped out of his boots. “Where’d you come from?”
“Right there,” Ana said. “Fiona sent me to the barn to freshen the coffee and check out the fridge for the ranch hands.”
“Oh.” He hoped he’d wiped all the lipstick off.
She gazed at him. “I think that lady might be a rather eager bidder tonight.”
Busted. He pulled a couple more hundred bucks from his wallet and handed it to her. “I’m counting on you.”
Tighe came strolling into the barn, whistling. “That little brunette was quite the jalapeno. If she’s the quality we can expect to bid tonight, we’re in fine shape. I barely pulled her off my face.”
“That’s funny,” Ana said, “because Dante had trouble pulling her off of his, too.”
“She was sampling,” Dante said, and Ana laughed.
“Obviously. Bye, Tighe.” She left the barn and Dante stared after her.
“She saw you kissing another woman?” Tighe asked. “Not smooth, dude.”
“
Thanks. Like I didn’t know.” He sighed. “I have a bad feeling about tonight. Really bad.”
“Well,” Tighe said cheerfully, “I, for one, am as excited as a little kid on Christmas.”
“I think I was safer on Firefreak back in the day,” Dante said, and went to take his mind off Ana, if he could.
But after tonight, after the auction was over, he was going to turn the tables on his bad luck. He was running out of time, and even if Ana St. John didn’t think too highly of him at the moment, he was determined to show her he was the man she wanted.
It wouldn’t be easy. At the moment he was pretty low in her estimation—but surely there was no place to go but up.
* * *
TWO HOURS BEFORE THE BALL, Ana marched to her closet, stared inside at the clothes she’d brought with her. Stretchy pants, some loose blouses and sweaters, a black skirt long enough to wear with boots.
All right. That’s what she was going to wear. She pulled on the skirt, put on the boots, tugged a red sweater over her head. At least she’d be warm, because tonight was certain to be even colder than it was now. She told herself she’d be a lot more comfortable than the ladies in evening gowns because they’d be freezing.
It wasn’t a sexy ensemble, and she wished she hadn’t seen that darling little brunette wrapped around Dante’s strong body. She wasn’t jealous, because she’d heard everything—knew that Dante hadn’t been too happy about being caught off guard—but at the same time she was jealous because she knew that one day, some beautiful woman would figure out a way to drag him to an altar.
As handsome princes went, Dante was a stud. The women were going to go nuts tonight.
River came into her room. “I brought you something.” She handed her a pretty black sequined mask, then glanced down at Ana’s outfit. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
“Casual, huh?”
“I like it. You’ll be warm.” River gave her a quick hug. “To thine own self be true, I always say.”
“Yes, well, look out for a man-hungry little brunette tonight when the bidding begins. You’ve got competition.”