by Cindy Kirk
Unless, of course, he wanted Anna.
“I’ll be happy to help.” Tripp kept his tone even and a smile on his lips. “If I can. But if it’s about golf-course development, that’s outside my purview.”
“Let me give it to you straight.” Winn leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “My father has a good rapport with the older, more established members of the community. But I need access to the younger, influential ones. That way I can learn firsthand their concerns about the development I’m proposing. I’ll know what information to provide to assuage those concerns.”
“Where do I fit in?” Tripp had a sinking feeling he knew where this was heading, but just in case he was wrong, he didn’t want to assume.
“Dad tells me that you’ve got a lot of friends in this town.”
“I grew up here,” Tripp acknowledged.
“Your friends are considered to be part of the new breed of movers and shakers. Men like Nick Delacourt, Gabe Davis, Cole Lassiter, Ryan Harcourt and Joel Dennes. Not to mention all the physicians.”
Tripp found it interesting that Winn had only mentioned the men in the community, not any of the influential women.
“What exactly are you getting at?”
“I’m not part of that group,” the dark-haired man said bluntly.
“Most of the men you’ve mentioned belong to the Jackson Hole Young Professionals Organization. They’re also active on various chamber of commerce committees.”
“I’m aware of that.” Winn waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t have time for committees and clubs right now.”
“To get something out of organizations, you do have to put in time” was all Tripp said.
“Again, let me give it to you straight.”
“By all means.”
“I want you to get me invitations to all the social events this group of yours holds.” Winn’s eyes never left Tripp’s face. “That way I’ll get to know these people and be able to pick their brains.”
Tripp started to shift in his seat, but stopped himself just in time. This was worse than he’d imagined. “Winn, I’m sure you understand that unless it’s an event I’m personally hosting, I have no control over the invitation list.”
“I don’t believe you.” Winn’s lips lifted in a sardonic smile. He rose to his feet and strode to the window overlooking the Elk Refuge. After several seconds he turned. “One word from you would get me an invitation. We both know that. Dad wasn’t in favor of your being chosen for this position. That’s something else we both know. But he’s been supportive and set aside his personal feelings.”
“Go on,” Tripp said when Winn paused.
“If you refuse to help me, if you try to sabotage my entry into this group, I’m afraid my father will see you as someone who’s holding a grudge against him. I think he might be disappointed enough to make sure the other members of the board are aware of this as well.”
“You’re threatening me.” Tripp was no stranger to such politics. While he wasn’t surprised that Winn would do something like this, it disturbed him that Jim would stoop to this level.
“Threat is such an ugly word.” A slight smile lifted Winn’s lips. “And totally inaccurate. I’m simply making you aware of what might possibly happen should you choose to decline my request. I came here to ask a favor of a man I consider a friend.”
Tripp rose to his feet once more and reviewed his options. He wasn’t at all cowed by the man’s threats, but he’d learned long ago to think before rashly responding.
“Rumor has it Dr. Fisher and his wife will be hosting a retro party in the next week or two. Getting an invitation to that event would be a good first step.”
Tripp made a great show of glancing at his wrist. “I’m going to have to cut this short. I have a meeting at noon.”
“I appreciate your time,” Winn said with a smooth smile. “Just remember, if word gets back to my father that you’ve told your friends about our little arrangement, well, he won’t be pleased.”
A knock on the door sounded.
“Come in.”
“Mr. Randall, the meeting you have scheduled—” His personal assistant, Paula, paused, her eyes widening. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
“That’s okay, Paula.” Tripp walked to his office door. “Mr. Ferris is leaving.”
“I’ll be seeing you soon, Randall.” Winn strolled across the room, that irritatingly smug smile still on his lips. “Be sure and give Adrianna my best.”
Paula waited until Winn was out the door to speak. “I didn’t mean to run him off. Actually, your noon meeting has been canceled.”
“That’s okay,” Tripp assured her. “We’d completed our discussion.”
“If you’re sure...”
“I am.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t at my desk when he arrived.”
“No worries.”
“Shall I put him on the list?”
Tripp knew she was referring to the list he’d given her of people whose calls he always wanted to take.
“Uh, no,” Tripp informed her. “Mr. Ferris is more of a business acquaintance than a friend.”
And after his visit today, that category was where he was going to stay.
Chapter Nine
The building that housed the ob-gyn offices where Anna practiced was within a short walk of the hospital. If she forgot to bring her lunch, Anna usually walked over and had a salad in the cafeteria.
But today, she decided to entirely bypass the hospital. The truth was, she didn’t want to take the chance of running into Tripp. The scorching kiss of the other night had muddled her thinking. She didn’t want to see him until she had time to process what had happened.
Instead, she headed downtown to Hill of Beans for her favorite nonfat iced latte and a side salad. When she saw the crowd she almost turned back, but decided it would take her longer to walk somewhere else. Besides, any place at noon was bound to be busy.
Thankfully, the line moved quickly. While most of the customers were getting their lunches and coffees to go, Anna planned to stay. But by the time she’d gotten her food and paid, the tables were full.
She was ready to ask for a to-go container when a woman seated by the window waved her over.
“You can sit with me if you’d like,” the dark-haired young woman dressed in a maternity business suit offered.
“Thank you. I’d love to join you.” Anna recognized the woman as Karla Anderson, one of her patients.
Karla had recently moved back to Jackson Hole from Kansas City to take a job in county government. At the moment, that was about all that Anna could remember about her. Other than, of course, she was six months pregnant.
Anna placed her salad and latte on the table, then stowed her tray before taking a seat.
“You just missed your boyfriend,” Karla told her.
Anna froze. “Who?”
“Tripp Randall.” Karla raised a glass of tea to her lips. “Someone at work was telling me today that you two are a couple.”
Anna should have been surprised that news would travel so fast, but she wasn’t. “Was he alone?”
Karla nodded. “He got his food to go. I’m surprised you weren’t meeting him for lunch.”
“I wasn’t sure how long the delivery I had this morning would take,” Anna said smoothly. “So, how have you been feeling?”
“I have more energy,” Karla said. “Although, I’m still having some trouble sleeping...but I think that’s stress.”
Anna lowered her voice. “Are you still working long hours?”
Karla had taken a position as a community planner and had been practically living at the office for the past two months.
“Work is actually going better.” Karla took a sip o
f tea. “It’s my personal life that’s in the toilet.”
Anna knew very little of Karla’s home situation, other than she was single and the baby’s father didn’t live in the area. She’d gently tried to probe for more details—believing that the more she knew, the better she could treat the whole person—but Karla had put up a brick wall. Today, it appeared that wall stood on the verge of crumbling.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Anna murmured.
“Justin—he’s the baby’s father—has been pressuring me to return to Kansas City,” Karla said with a sigh.
Anna dipped her fork into the salad dressing she’d gotten on the side, then stabbed a piece of romaine before responding. “Is that where he lives?”
Karla nodded. “Apparently he wants us to be a family. Or so he says.”
Anna chewed thoughtfully for several seconds, then took a sip of latte. “You don’t believe him?”
“He’s still hung up on his old girlfriend.” A look of sadness swept over Karla’s pretty face. “They’d dated for years. They were even engaged once.”
The scenario reminded Anna of Tripp and Gayle. Except Tripp had married his childhood sweetheart. “What happened?”
“She got cold feet. Told him she wasn’t sure he was ‘The One.’ Suggested they date around.” Karla heaved a heavy sigh, her large brown eyes dark with pain. “I got him on the rebound. The day I found out I was pregnant, he told me she’d come to him, wanting to get back together.”
Anna’s mouth dropped open and her heart went out to the young woman sitting across the table. “How horrible.”
Karla gave a humorless laugh. “I wished him well, told him I was pregnant and that I’d be moving back home to Jackson Hole.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he wanted to be with me.” Tears filled Karla’s eyes but she blinked them back. “But I knew he was only saying that because I was pregnant. He adored Chelsea. In my mind I used to call her Saint Chelsea because I’d never heard him say anything but positive things about her.”
“Is there a chance he meant it when he said he wanted to be with you?”
Karla shook her head. “I found out from a friend that when she told him she wanted him back, they slept together.”
Anna reached across the table and squeezed Karla’s hand. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
“It could be worse.” Karla lifted her chin. “At least I have family and supportive friends here. In fact, your boyfriend’s sister, Hailey, is a good friend from high school.”
“What a small world” was all Anna could manage to say. Hearing Tripp referred to as her boyfriend still blew her away.
“You’re so lucky.” Karla’s voice was laced with envy. “I wish Justin cared for me half as much as Tripp seems to care for you.”
Anna smiled and took a bite of salad. For the next month, pretending was the name of the game.
If only she could stop herself from wishing it was real.
* * *
“You didn’t need to ask me to come with you tonight,” Anna whispered to Tripp as they approached the entrance to the Wildlife Museum on the edge of Jackson.
The rustic building was lit up like a Hollywood premiere. Dark-suited men sauntered through the door with women attired in swishy cocktail dresses.
Anna hadn’t expected to see Tripp until the weekend. But he’d called her when she’d gotten home from the hospital on Wednesday night and asked her to attend the Thursday event. Because she was supposed to be his girlfriend, how could she refuse?
Besides, she’d heard a lot about the special exhibit that had been brought in and she wanted to be one of the first to see it. And heck, she might as well be honest and admit that she wanted to see Tripp, too.
She’d finally put the kiss into perspective. It had been a momentary lapse on both their parts, fueled by a game that for that moment had seemed a bit too real.
“You look lovely tonight.” Tripp’s gaze lingered on the dark green chiffon cocktail dress and silvery strappy sandals that added another three inches to her height.
She’d considered putting her hair up for the event, but in the end had settled for pulling the sides back with some shimmery clips. “You’re looking pretty spiffy yourself.”
The second the words left her mouth, she wished she could pull them back.
“Spiffy?” Tripp’s lips quirked upward.
Heat rose up Anna’s neck. “My father loved the word spiffy.”
“Well, I feel honored that you would use it to describe me,” Tripp said, sounding surprisingly sincere.
There was no more chance for conversation as they walked through the entrance. It appeared the entire population of Jackson Hole had decided to come out for the opening of the exhibit.
There were stations scattered throughout the museum serving champagne and wine. Waiters holding silver trays passed through the crowd offering a variety of appetizers including spinach-and-brie artichoke hearts and chicken-and-pepper egg rolls.
Although Tripp snagged an egg roll, Anna shook her head.
“Not hungry?” Tripp raised a brow.
“Not really.” Anna grasped Tripp’s arm when a man making his way through the crowd pushed up against her.
“That’s better.” Tripp winked and Anna felt heat rush through her.
“Now we look like a real couple,” he added and her warm feeling disappeared as quickly as it had arisen.
Still, it was a good reminder. This wasn’t really a date. This was her—and him—playing a part.
“Are your parents...?”
The question hadn’t even had a chance to leave her mouth when she saw Frank and Kathy across the room. Although Tripp’s father looked a little tired, overall he appeared better than the last time she’d seen him. And his mother, dressed in a black linen cocktail dress, practically glowed with happiness.
Kathy saw her at the same instant. Her smile broadened and she waved, then tugged her husband’s sleeve and pointed.
Almost immediately the two began making their way across the room.
“Your parents are on their way over,” she said to Tripp.
A pleased smile lifted his lips. “Dad must be feeling better if they’re here.”
Anna released her hold on Tripp’s arm when his parents drew close. “Mr. Randall,” she said. “Mrs. Randall, how nice to see you.”
A look of dismay crossed his mother’s face. “What have we told you about Mr. and Mrs.?”
Anna smiled shyly. “Kathy and Frank, how nice to see you.”
“That’s better.” Kathy surprised Anna by giving her a quick hug. “And I’m sure my son has already told you, but I’ll tell you again—there’s not a more beautiful woman in this museum tonight than you.”
“Ah, no, actually, he hasn’t said that,” Anna said in a teasing tone, gazing up at Tripp through lowered lashes.
“I told her she looked lovely,” Tripp said in mock outrage. “I didn’t want to be too effusive. She might decide she deserves someone better than me.”
“There’s no one better than you,” his mother said, her expression turning serious. “But we women like compliments. Isn’t that right, Adrianna?”
“Sincere compliments are always appreciated.” Anna kept her tone light. She’d been such an ugly duckling most of her growing-up years that it was still hard for her to accept she now had a few swanlike characteristics. “And please, call me Anna.”
“It does my heart good to see you two out together.” Frank may have spoken to both of them but his gaze was fixed on Anna.
“Tripp and I have fun,” Anna said, not knowing how else to respond.
“You’re exactly what my boy needs.”
If Anna was being honest she’d tell his father that she wasn’t sure t
hat was true. Tripp was an outgoing guy, a man comfortable in any social setting. She took her time warming to people and was more shy than gregarious.
“I heard you’re going to help Winn get acquainted with the younger crowd,” his dad said to Tripp.
Anna resisted the urge to frown. She’d gotten the distinct feeling that Tripp didn’t care for Winn. Why would he help him get acclimated to the community?
“We talked about it yesterday,” Tripp said, his expression giving nothing away.
“I know you don’t care much for Jim,” Frank said. “But I’m happy you and Winn have hit it off. Jim cares a lot about his boy and your friendship with him will go a long way toward helping you build a good relationship with his dad.”
“Are you and Winn buddies now?” Anna asked, unable to conceal her surprise.
“I believe I may have misjudged Winn initially,” Tripp said smoothly.
“I think we all know why,” Frank said with a laugh.
Kathy and Anna both glanced curiously at him.
“Winn was coming after your woman.” Frank gave Anna a wink. “That would cause any man to rustle up his spurs.”
“He was simply being nice,” Anna murmured, embarrassed by the discussion.
“Honey, that man had his eye on you.” Frank smiled with satisfaction. “But you picked the better man, no doubt about it.”
“Speaking of better men—” Tripp reached over and took Anna’s hand “—this man better be doing a little socializing before the silent auction begins.”
After saying their goodbyes, he and Anna began making their way through the crowd, stopping every few feet to speak with someone they knew.
Even though Tripp appeared oblivious to the attention they were attracting, Anna caught lots of surreptitious glances directed their way. Who would finally capture the wealthy bachelor’s heart had been the subject of much speculation from the moment Tripp had returned to Jackson Hole.
She wondered if he knew all the talk this charade of theirs was generating. Even if he did, she doubted he cared. All that mattered to him was his parents’ happiness. That love of family was one of the many reasons she loved him.