She’d be fine. She applied a second lipstick coat. She’d handled throwing herself at Garrett earlier that day even if her cheeks had burned hotter than a Christmas bonfire. She’d never thought a man could smell so good, that a touch could leave her so breathless or that muscles could feel so firm beneath the fine wool of a suit jacket.
When Garrett had entered the bridal store she’d braced herself for more disapproval. She’d also expected his attention to hone in to where her breasts did their best to escape her dress bodice. But his attention hadn’t strayed below her collarbones. And then when he’d held her, his touch had remained respectful. Unlike the Italian man she’d gone to dinner with whose octopus hands had earned him a strongly worded dressing down.
She slid the lipstick cap into place. Garrett might be arrogant and used to getting his own way but he was surprisingly a gentleman. He also was capable of patience and empathy if the progress he’d made with Scout was any indication.
Voices sounded in the hallway and she grabbed a black jacket from off the bed.
Next time she visited Hal she had some questions about the man he’d arranged to replace him. Garrett Ross was also no ordinary cowboy. He’d strolled out of the bridal store dressing room like he was on a catwalk in Milan and then adjusted his shirt cuff as though it was second nature. Even Cordell, who’d spent time in the city, still shifted in his boots when he wore a suit. She headed for the door. There was far more to Garrett Ross than he let on.
Peta slipped on her jacket as she made her way to the kitchen. Her lips curved as she heard the happiness in Kendall’s laughter. Peta walked through the doorway and all merriment ceased. Her father stopped mid-sentence as he stared at her.
Raw emotion softened Stewart Dixon’s eyes before he glowered. “You look like your mother.”
Peta ignored his gravelly tone and kissed his cheek. A gesture she would never have done until a year ago. “Which is a good thing because you loved her.”
Kendall enveloped her in a tight hug, which caused Peta’s eyes to prickle. In her sister’s embrace was all the thanks and gratitude for her support over the past long month that had ended with Kendall’s dreams coming true. As Kendall pulled away, a spark of light on her ring finger matched the radiance of her blue eyes.
Heart full, Peta caught her sister’s hand. “I don’t remember seeing a certain diamond ring there last night.”
“Isn’t it beautiful? It was Brent’s mother’s.” Kendall glanced over to where dark-haired Brent leaned against the kitchen bench. As he returned Kendall’s smile, Peta saw all the love that for four years he’d had to hide from her sister.
“Trust me.” Stewart growled as he opened the fridge to collect a bottle of milk. “I know that ring wasn’t there last night because I had to get up at some ridiculous hour this morning to give permission for my youngest daughter to trade me in.”
“Peta, don’t listen to him.” Kendall smiled and sat at the table. “Dad was already dressed when Brent came to ask for my hand in marriage. Dad, I also think your exact words to Brent were, ‘what took you so long?’”
Stewart shrugged and passed Kendall a steaming coffee. “I liked my version better.”
He set Brent’s coffee beside Kendall. The Fire Weed Ranch cowboy took his seat, entwined his fingers with Kendall’s and brushed a tender kiss across her mouth.
Peta looked away. Now wasn’t the time to remember that out of all the friends she’d soon meet at Grey’s she’d be the only person single.
“Coffee,” her father asked her, his voice unusually quiet.
She faked a bright smile. “No thanks. Rhett’s truck just pulled up. We’ll head out soon. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
Her father scowled and shook his head. “I’ve had enough excitement for one day. Besides, I’m not going anywhere with you looking like that. I’m too old to break up a fight.”
This time her smile wasn’t forced. Her father had just paid her a compliment in a roundabout way. “There’ll be no cowboys fighting over me. And if some have more beers than common sense, I’ll sort them out myself. I’ve wrestled enough cows to handle an out-of-line cowboy.”
“I’ll second that,” Rhett said, with a grin as he and Ivy entered the kitchen. “I might have only been ten but that head lock you had me in when I threw a bucket of water over you will never be forgotten.”
Peta shuddered. “Especially by me. It was the middle of winter and the ice in the bucket almost broke my nose.” She glanced at Ivy. “I hope for your sake the next generation of Dixons don’t inherit Rhett’s sense of humor.”
“If they do,” Ivy said, with a loving smile at her soon-to-be husband, “I’m sitting down with you and Kendall to take notes so I know exactly what I’m in for.”
Laughter filled the kitchen.
Ivy spied Kendall’s ring and the conversation quickly turned to their engagement. When there was a lull in the congratulations Rhett came to Peta’s side.
She gazed into blue eyes so much like hers and Kendall’s and understood why Ivy had chosen royal blue for the bridesmaid’s dresses and groomsmen’s ties and vests.
Rhett dug in his jeans pocket for his phone. “Ivy said she invited Garrett to Grey’s tonight but he wasn’t coming. With Kendall’s and Brent’s engagement, it’s now more of a celebration than a welcome home get together, and I’d like to buy him a drink. He’s a braver man than I am for trying on a suit that wasn’t even his.”
Peta’s stomach did a strange little flip. She wasn’t sure if the thought of seeing Garrett tonight alarmed her or made her feel a twinge of excitement. Conscious that Ivy was watching her, she kept her expression casual as she rummaged in her purse for her cell.
“Okay, here’s his number.”
Rhett dialed and Peta moved away to pour herself a glass of water. She didn’t want to appear too interested in how the phone call went. The flutters in her midriff calmed as Rhett worked hard to convince Garrett to join them. When he glanced at Ivy, Peta released a quiet breath of relief. Garrett was holding firm about staying at the ranch.
Ivy came to her feet, went to Rhett’s side, and he handed her the phone with a half-smile.
“Hi Garrett, its Ivy. Have you had dinner? Not yet? Great. Then you’re coming in to eat with us.”
To Peta’s shock, Ivy’s next words were. “Wonderful. We’ll see you soon.”
Ivy handed the cell phone to Rhett whose grin widened. He slipped an arm around Ivy’s slender waist. “I don’t think it’s the next Dixon generation inheriting my sense of humor you need to worry about Peta. If our kids inherit the Bishop will-of-iron, we’re all going to be in trouble.”
Peta joined in with the laughter and weathered a fresh flurry of nerves. Ivy had done the impossible. Garrett would now be at Grey’s after all.
Kendall and Brent finished their coffees and all too soon it was time to head to the historic saloon. As everyone drove away, Peta remained acutely conscious her truck was the only vehicle to have an empty passenger seat. But come tomorrow she’d have her faithful border collie, Tank, by her side and her truck cabin wouldn’t feel so lonely.
She found a parking spot outside Marietta Western Ware. As she climbed from the driver’s seat a familiar truck pulled up alongside. Trinity and Zane joined her on the sidewalk. Trinity wore a pretty white and green dress that matched her eyes while Zane was dressed in jeans and his best pink shirt. Rancher Zane hadn’t bought a new shirt in a decade until he’d met the stylish speech pathologist.
Peta greeted them both with a hug.
“Welcome home,” Zane said, in his deep and low tone. Zane might be a man of few words but Peta always appreciated his quiet strength and the way nothing was ever too much trouble.
“Thanks, it’s great to be back.”
“Love your lipstick,” Trinity said, with a wink. The color had been her suggestion when Peta had texted from a London department store feeling overwhelmed with so many lipstick choices.
“I h
ope you do because I bought you one, too. You said you’d always wanted that particular shade.”
Zane groaned but his reaction was softened with a tender smile toward Trinity. “I’m not sure what takes up the most room in the ranch house. Trin’s makeup or Finn’s Legos.”
An icy wind barreled by stealing their laughter. They all turned to head for the saloon.
“How’s Finn?” Peta asked. Zane had become an instant father to the insect-obsessed six-year-old almost a year ago. “I’ve bought him some bug books from England but won’t be able to pop out until after roundup.”
“He’s good.” Affection deepened Zane’s voice. “He’ll look forward to seeing you once your cattle are down from the mountains. Do you need a hand with anything while Hal’s in the hospital? I met Garrett in town last week. He knows what he’s talking about and everything sounds under control.”
“Thanks. To be honest I haven’t had the chance to talk to Garrett about the roundup, but I’ll give you a call if I do need anything.”
Zane nodded as he held open the batwing saloon doors for Peta and Trinity.
Peta stepped inside and scanned the tables and the secluded booths. Amongst the busy Saturday-night crowd, she couldn’t identify Garrett’s dark head and broad-shoulders. Reassured she’d have time to pull herself together before he arrived, she smiled and waved to the almost identical cowboys, Cordell and Ethan, who stood over near the bar with Brent.
As similar as the twins appeared it was the subtle difference of their clothes and the way they carried themselves that marked Ethan as the serious and sensible one and Cordell as the act-now-talk-later brother. Zane broke away from Trinity’s side and headed to join Ethan, Cordell and Brent.
Trinity laughed softly. “Some things never change. The boys are over at the bar while we girls are at the tables.”
The sound of a pool ball being hit was followed by over-loud laughter. Peta glanced across to where a group of cowboys surrounded the pool table. From the way they moved and their noise level they’d already been drinking for a while. To her surprise, they all looked her way.
She frowned. She’d be surprised if half of them could even shave yet. “You’re right. Some things never change. All the action happens around the pool table.”
Trinity led the way over to where Kendall sat in a far corner beside two cowgirls who were admiring her ring. Peta followed, nodding and smiling at people she knew. Apart from curious, and sometimes lingering, glances it was only the smirks on the faces of the cowboys playing pool that reminded her she wasn’t in her usual cowgirl clothes.
She slid into the seat beside blue-eyed Bridie whose grin left no doubt she was Zane’s half-sister.
“Welcome home,” Bridie said in her Australian accent as she hugged Peta. “I’ve missed our rides and chats.”
“I have, too.”
Bridie grew up on a cattle farm in the outback and they’d quickly bonded over a mutual love of the outdoors. Bridie now lived at Larkspur Ridge Ranch with Ethan. This spring would see the first calves of their new Black Angus stud being born.
The pretty brunette beside Bridie stood to hug Peta. “I’m only going to say this once… you look… fabulous.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Thanks, Payton. Tomorrow its back to wearing ranch clothes.” She glanced at the Beargrass Hills cowgirl’s short and unvarnished nails. “I can’t wait.”
Payton laughed as they returned to their seats. “I bet you can’t. Now, I want to hear everything about your trip. I’m trying to convince Cordell we should go to Italy for our honeymoon.”
Peta and Kendall recounted travel tales as the group waited for Ivy and Rhett to arrive and the boys to return with the drinks. All the while Peta remained on edge. It made no sense that knowing Garrett would soon appear should make her feel so restless.
She slid a glance over her shoulder and froze. Garrett stood at the bar as Zane introduced him to the other cowboys. Dressed in a black western shirt, his smile flashed white as he shook hands with Cordell. Her gaze lingered as she assessed Garrett as though seeing him for the first time. The strong, proud line of his shoulders communicated his arrogance and self-assurance. If she were honest, she’d also describe him as confident and a man not to take lightly. And if she continued to be honest she would admit she found such a strength of character… attractive.
She looked away, slipped off her jacket and draped it over the back of her chair.
From the corner of her eye, she registered the pool-playing cowboys turning to stare at her. She was sure the short, blonde fellow on the right was Ned Baker whose older sister she used to babysit.
She risked another glance at Garrett but his attention remained on Cordell and Ethan. Raucous laughter came from those around the pool table. She withheld a sigh. Call her crazy, but there was only one cowboy she wanted to look in her direction. And that cowboy hadn’t even glanced around the room.
Chapter Four
‡
Garrett walked into Grey’s saloon and in under a minute had found where Peta was seated. In under two minutes he identified the crowd around the pool table as trouble.
In-between chalking pool cues, the older cowboys plied the younger cowboys with alcohol. Voices lifted as stories became bigger and more competitive. Beer spilled and egos swelled and all the time the group kept their attention on Peta. Garrett couldn’t blame the cowboys for their interest. Even without their beer-goggles on, Peta looked stunning.
The overhead light caught in her sleek, long, blonde ponytail. The simplicity of her pulled back hair showcased the high curve of her cheek bones. As for her tight red top and her full red lips… Garrett fought to concentrate on what Cordell and Ethan were saying about cattle prices. He couldn’t have the brothers know how much Peta had gotten under his skin; he could barely admit it to himself.
The strength of Cordell’s handshake left him in no doubt the cowboy wasn’t a man to be trifled with. Ethan’s calm blue gaze also didn’t fool Garrett. He too wasn’t to be messed with. Here were more Marietta locals he took an instant liking to.
Sniggers and laughter sounded from around the pool table, and he lost the battle not to look at the drunken cowboys. A tall, lanky redhead pushed a younger, unsteady cowboy in Peta’s direction.
“She’ll be okay, Garrett. Peta can more than handle those boys,” Ethan said, voice quiet.
“I’ll take your word for it.” As he spoke he realized he’d been so distracted by Peta he still held his wallet after paying for his beer and burger. He slid his wallet into his jeans back pocket. “I signed on to look after Bluebell Falls and for me that includes the ranch boss.”
Laughter crinkled the corners of Cordell’s blue eyes. “We might be seeing a side of Peta tonight that we haven’t seen before, but I have a feeling we’re talking about two different people. No one looks after the Peta we know.”
Before Garrett could reply, the beer he’d ordered appeared.
He followed Zane and the others over to the corner tables where the girls sat. Ivy and Rhett had arrived and while drinks were handed out, Ivy performed the introductions.
When he’d met everyone, he glanced at Peta and nodded. She returned his nod and curled her crimson-tipped hand around her water glass. He slid into a spare seat beside Ethan which gave him a clear view of the pool table.
A toast was made to celebrate Kendall and Brent’s engagement and the talk moved to Ivy and Rhett’s wedding. The discussion then revolved around the Christmas Stroll on the first weekend of December and the Christmas Ball. Voices and laughter flowed around Garrett, but he remained acutely aware of everything Peta did or said.
Her comments made it clear she wasn’t attending the ball and her sideways glances indicated she was conscious of the attention she received from the pool-playing cowboys. He assessed her profile. She didn’t seem bothered by their admiration, and she also didn’t seem pleased. Yet again she surprised him. She almost seemed oblivious to the effect she had on single, red-blooded ma
les.
After the group conversation had broken off to focus on private topics, Trinity leaned over, her green eyes curious. “So, Garrett, where are you from?”
Personal questions always made him uncomfortable. Life had taught him to keep a low profile. Attention often led to assumptions and high expectations.
He kept his grip on his beer bottle light to hide his tension. “All over but, at the moment, Wyoming.”
“Whereabouts in Wyoming?” Ethan asked. “I’ve been down there looking at cattle.”
Peta appeared engrossed in her conversation with Bridie. Even knowing she wasn’t listening, Garrett lowered his voice. “Middle.”
Ethan’s attention didn’t leave Garrett’s face. “There are some nice places around Casper, especially in the Shirley Valley.”
“There are.” Garrett took a sip of beer to allow time for the conversation to wane. It didn’t.
“Isn’t the Diamond Bar Ranch around there somewhere?” Cordell asked. “I heard it’s the largest contiguous ranch in the Rockies?”
“Yes,” Garrett said, words still quiet. “It’s a single land holding that covers over half a million acres.”
“I also heard,” Ethan said, “it went belly up last year and a cashed up buyer bought it lock, stock, and barrel.”
Garrett nodded. Hal hadn’t raised him to lie. “They did.”
He stared at the label on his beer bottle as he thought about the days’ worth of business emails accumulating on his laptop regarding the Diamond Bar Ranch. Rafe had the running of the new ranch under control but, as the ranch owner, Garrett still had decisions to make.
Ethan and Cordell exchanged glances before, to Garrett’s relief, Ivy changed the subject to what everyone would be doing for Christmas lunch that year.
His Christmas Cowgirl Page 4