Bet on a Cowboy

by Julie Benson

  When the door shut behind everyone, Griffin opened the note: “We need to meet alone. I’ve got a business deal to propose that will benefit us both. Get a message to me once you leave the hospital about where and when we can meet.”

  What the hell did that mean?

  * * *

  WHEN GRIFFIN WAS RELEASED from the hospital, his life settled into a pattern of physical therapy and hours of exercises to regain use of his legs. His latest MRI revealed no spinal cord damage, and a week after being able to move his toes, he could walk with a cane.

  But Maggie hadn’t visited him. He thought about calling her, but didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t tell her he loved her, at least until he’d fulfilled his contract. Then he’d be free and clear. He could do what he wanted with his life, and ask Maggie to be a part of it.

  The clip-clop of his cane and footsteps as he made his way to Rory’s office reminded Griffin how lucky he was to regain so much use of his legs so quickly.

  “If it isn’t Hopalong McAlister. It’s good to see you stumbling around the place.”

  He grinned at his brother. “I’m pleased about it, too.” Griffin sank into the old worn leather chair in the corner. Had it been only a couple months ago that he’d sat here and told his brother what a sweet deal he’d been offered? Lord, he’d changed since then. “I need your help.”

  “Tell me what to do.”

  “What? No brotherly lecture that I’m getting what I deserve?”

  “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry this has been so tough.”

  “It was one of those things that sounded good in theory.” Griffin explained about the note he’d received from the actress. “I need you to help me talk to her without anyone from the show finding out.”

  “You don’t ask much, do you? There are people watching those two like a cat watches the fishbowl.” Rory rubbed his neck. “What do you think she wants to talk about?”

  “Beats me, but I think I should meet with her.”

  “Is there something going on that I don’t know about?”

  “No, but I can’t risk something going wrong when I’m so close to pulling this off. I’ve got a plan on how we can meet, but I’m going to need everyone’s help. Is Elizabeth around?”

  “She’s working at home today on a magazine ad.” Rory shot his wife a text, and a few minutes later she joined them in the office.

  “Griffin, you look terrible,” she said.

  When she kissed her husband with more than a little enthusiasm, Griffin cleared his throat. “If you two can come up for air, I need your help.”

  Elizabeth tried to jump away, but Rory’s hand remained around her waist. Her beautiful face was flushed with embarrassment as she asked, “What do you need?”

  Griffin quickly explained about Stacy’s note.

  “I’ll do whatever I can,” she said. “That’s what family is for.”

  “For starters, Elizabeth, I need you and Avery to provide a distraction.”

  * * *

  THANKS TO HIS FAMILY’S help, Griffin and Stacy met in the sauna at the Mystic Garden Spa and Salon in Longmont. Instead of focusing on the stunning woman wrapped in nothing but a towel beside him, all he could think about was how Maggie hadn’t visited him since his first physical therapy session.

  She’s avoiding me.

  The big question was why. Had he done something to upset her? He thought she cared for him, but now he wasn’t so sure.

  “I’ve got a business proposal for you,” Stacy said, interrupting his thoughts.

  “You’re not one for small talk, are you?”

  “Not when I’m talking business.” She dipped a cup into the water bowl beside her and poured the liquid on the stones, sending a fresh burst of steam into the air. “You don’t love me—”

  “I care deeply about both you and Olivia. That’s what’s making my decision hard.” He’d come too far to let everything fall apart now.

  “That wasn’t a question, Griffin. It was a statement, so you can cut the bull. I don’t love you, either.”

  She might have guessed the truth, but no way would he confirm it. Remain vague. Then no one can pin anything on you. “What’s your business proposition?”

  “I’ve got a deal for a reality show following me as an up-and-coming actress, but it’s contingent on me being the winner this season. If you propose to me, when our mandatory three months of appearances are over I won’t say anything negative about you. I’ll say we amicably parted, and that I think you’re a great guy. You’ll say the same about me. This way we fulfill our contracts, get the publicity and come out without a scratch to our images.”

  “How do I know you’ll keep quiet about this deal?”

  “I have as much to lose as you do. I want my own show. I won’t do anything to risk losing it.”

  This could be the solution he needed, and might be better than his original plan. He wouldn’t have to drop his little I-want-lots-of-children bombshell or play the ass to get his fiancée to break things off. Twin Creeks would benefit from the three months of free publicity without the risk of a messy breakup at the end. No one would get hurt. A romance novelist couldn’t write a happier ending. So why wasn’t he happy?

  Maggie.

  “Sounds to me like the perfect partnership,” he said.

  With the agreement settled, they talked about how to leave. Griffin would go first, while Stacy remained at the spa for a facial. That way they’d avoid being spotted together.

  After he’d showered and dressed, Griffin hobbled down the street toward his car. A flash of green caught his eye as he passed a clothing store. He stopped. There in the window was a forest-green cardigan. The color would bring out Maggie’s eyes. She’d look beautiful.

  He opened the door, stepped inside and found a salesperson. “I want to buy the green sweater in the window.”

  * * *

  ACCORDING TO NANNETTE, Griffin’s recovery had been remarkable, and he’d progressed to walking with a cane. But Maggie had been too scared to be anywhere near him. If his physical therapist, a stranger, had picked up on the undercurrents between them, what would his family see?

  She’d avoided Griffin as long as she could. This morning, when she’d talked with her producer, he’d stated he wanted the season wrapped up. Maggie admitted she wanted that, too. The strain of her secret weighed her down. She couldn’t eat. She cried whenever she was alone. This had to end.

  Short, sweet and impersonal. That’s how she’d manage to get through this. Plan in place, she knocked on Griffin’s bedroom door.

  The rhythmic tap-thump as he made his way across the room with his cane thrilled her. He’d come so far. He opened the door, and the sight of him standing in front of her left her breathless. “You look magnificent. It’s wonderful to see you on your feet. Are you doing as well as you look?”

  “You haven’t been coming to see me. I’ve had to endure physical therapy without my cheerleader.”

  She waved her hand. “It doesn’t appear to have hurt your progress.”

  “Why didn’t you come back?”

  The plea in his voice almost pulled the words out of her. I love you too much to bring financial disaster down on you and your family. She couldn’t do that. Not when Nannette was fighting cancer and had so many medical bills. “I’ve been busy dealing with finale details.” She smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Which is what brings me here. We need to talk about when you’ll be ready to shoot the last episode.”

  “Before we deal with business, I have something for you.” He awkwardly made his way to his dresser. On top of it sat a white box with a green ribbon. Box in one hand, cane in the other, he worked his way back to her.

  He’d bought her a present? Her brothers and friends gave her gift cards for her birthday, but when was the last time someone took the time to pick out a gift for her? Especially for no reason? Probably not since her mother died. Her mom used to buy little things like inexpensive earrings or a necklace and say, �
��They made me think of you.”

  Griffin bought me a gift.

  But what if word got around and someone suspected the truth about them? That could lead to the unemployment line for her and a lawsuit for Griffin. Folding her hands behind her back so she wouldn’t grab the box out of his hands, she said, “I can’t accept this.”

  Confusion followed by disappointment flashed in his beautiful eyes. “Consider it an early Christmas present.”

  Her palms itched. Nothing expressly prohibited her from receiving gifts from the show’s cast, and refusing the offer seemed silly after all she and Griffin had shared. She glanced along the hallway. If no one saw him give her the present, what harm would it do? It could be her little secret.

  Don’t you have enough of those?

  Exactly. So what would one more matter?

  Her hands shaking, she reached for the box. For a second she simply held it. Then she untied the ribbon and pulled off the lid. Peeling back the tissue paper revealed an emerald-green sweater.

  “The moment I saw this I thought of you, and how it would bring out the gorgeous color of your eyes.”

  He hadn’t just bought her a gift. He’d seen something and thought of her. The realization left her knees week. Maggie inhaled and counted to ten. He couldn’t know how much his gesture meant to her.

  “Thank you for the sweater.” She swallowed hard. Move on to business, to safer ground. “Before we all leave for the holiday break, I wanted to discuss whether or not we need to change the finale date.”

  “The doctor says there’s no reason I can’t shoot the last show as scheduled. That’s what I want to do. I’m ready for taping to be over.”

  Though she’d thought the same thing, hearing Griffin say he wanted the season to be done cut through her. She’d hoped he wouldn’t be so anxious to get rid of her.

  Foolish, hopeless romantic.

  She smiled, probably too brightly, but if she didn’t smile, she’d cry. “Great. When we come back in two weeks, we’ll shoot the finale.”

  Two weeks. Then Griffin would be out of her life.

  * * *

  AS CHRISTMAS CAME and went, Griffin couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was missing. He knew what, or rather who: Maggie. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, and envisioning her as a part of the family holiday celebration.

  He’d spent the majority of his time since Maggie and the bachelorettes left searching for a loophole in is contract to get out of proposing, but had come up empty. Sure, he had the deal with Stacy, but how could he propose to another woman when he was in love with Maggie?

  As he headed down to dinner two days before the final episode, Griffin reasoned he hadn’t run out of time. If he survived dinner, that is. Tonight his mother had requested the whole family’s presence. Suspecting she planned something concerning the TV show, he considered ignoring the summons, but that would only upset her and delay the inevitable. Past experience told him that whatever was on his mom’s mind wouldn’t go away until she said her piece.

  The aroma of fried chicken drifted over him. His favorite. Now he knew something was up. She was buttering him up with a good meal before she dropped the bomb.

  When he entered the dining room, he found the rest of the family already seated. “All of you look like you just came from a funeral. What’s the deal?” he asked.

  As if he didn’t know.

  “Can’t a mother ask her children to join her for dinner? They say it’s important that parents and children share a meal.”

  “Really, Mom? I don’t think the studies meant adult children,” Griffin said, while his siblings sat silently at the table. Cowards.

  His sister-in-law, Elizabeth, smiled. “You’re not going to win, Griffin. You might as well sit down and eat.”

  He sank into the chair across from Rory and beside Avery. The silence in the room as the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots made their way around the table added to his nervousness. He ate a couple of bites, but couldn’t enjoy his food while waiting for the hammer to drop. “I know something’s up. Out with it.”

  “I’d rather wait until we’ve eaten,” his mom said, staring at her plate.

  Not good.

  “The fried chicken isn’t going to soften me up.” He placed his fork on his plate, the ping of silverware against the ceramic almost deafening.

  “This is an intervention,” his mom said.

  “Isn’t that usually for drug addicts and alcoholics?” Griffin knew he should’ve skipped dinner.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “What you’re doing is every bit as destructive,” Griffin’s mom said, her voice soft as brass knuckles.

  Griffin glanced across the large oak table at Rory, searching for an ally. “Help me out, bro.”

  “I tried reassuring Mom, but obviously I didn’t succeed.”

  When his gaze zeroed in on Avery, she said, “Don’t look to me for support. I’m on Mom’s side. I think this is by far the dumbest thing you’ve ever done, and that’s saying a lot.”

  He turned to Elizabeth, who was all ready shaking her head. “Leave me out of this. As a McAlister by marriage, I consider myself Switzerland.”

  “Chicken.”

  “Absolutely, and proud of it.”

  Nannette cleared her throat. “I’ve never said anything negative when you brought a girl home. I figured there wasn’t much point, because chances were I wouldn’t see her more than twice, but this time I have to say something. We’re concerned.” Nannette waived her hand around the table in a sweeping motion. “You’re not in love with either finalist. You’ve need to put a stop to this nonsense.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Mom. No one expects relationships from reality shows to last, so it won’t be a surprise in a few months when we break up.”

  “What about the woman you propose to? What if she sees things differently?” Worry lines creased his mother’s forehead. What was worse for her health, her concern over what she thought he was doing, or knowing the truth?

  “It’s complicated, Mom.”

  “Life always is. If anyone tells you differently, he’s a liar and if you believe him you’re a fool.” She glared at him with a look only a mom could deliver after years of practice. “And I didn’t raise any fools.”

  “We all know you’re in love with Maggie,” Avery blurted out.

  “That’s none of your business, and I won’t discuss Maggie with you.” Griffin clenched his hands together under the table. “This is my life. Not yours.”

  Elizabeth stood. “Since this is getting a little heated, and I’m neutral, I’ll leave the rest of you to duke it out.” After kissing her husband, she walked around the table to Griffin and kissed his cheek. “Just remember, life’s too short to spend it any other way than happy.”

  He couldn’t afford to be happy. Not for three months.

  “Avery, I need to talk to Mom and Rory alone.”

  “You’re throwing me out of a family meeting? You’d think I was ten years old,” his younger sister complained.

  Elizabeth linked her hand with Avery’s. “Let’s go. I’ll get everything out of Rory later and fill you in.”

  Once they left, Griffin said, “Mom, I don’t have any choice.”

  “There’s always an option.”

  Not this time. At least not one that didn’t cost more than he could afford.

  “Tell her, Griff,” Rory said.

  Griffin placed his hand over his mom’s, and the words about why he’d gone on the show and his plan tumbled out. Then he detailed the financial costs of breaking his contract and his discussion with Stacy. “Three months, and then I’ll be free.”

  His mom turned to Rory, her eyes blazing with motherly irritation. “And you knew about this scheme?”

  “Don’t blame Rory. By the time he knew anything, I’d signed the contract. My point in telling you this is to let you know I’ve got everything under control, and it’s not a big deal.”

  “It is to
me. I guess I’m old fashioned, but I don’t think you should propose to someone if you’re not sincere. Your father and I raised you better than that.”

  “We don’t have any other choice, Mom,” Rory said. “The money’s gone. It’s paid for your latest treatments.”

  Griffin turned to his brother. “I need a favor.”

  “You got it, even though you’ve been a bear the last week.”

  “Will you call your Harvard buddy for me and ask him to look over my contract?”

  * * *

  CHRISTMAS HAD BEEN a disaster for Maggie. Alone in her apartment, she watched a Christmas movies marathon. She wrote a short blurb about Griffin’s accident, and his prognosis for the website. Then when deluged with viewer questions, she updated the site to answer their worries. The huge response and genuine concern for Griffin paired with the live aspect of the finale should result in huge ratings. The network would be pleased.

  Over the remainder of the break, she considered what, if anything, to tell Griffin about the baby. She contemplated after the finale, but she ruled that out, reasoning she’d still lose her job when the news got out, and the news would. Then she considered telling him after his three months of public appearances or when she had a new job, whichever came first, until another realization hit her. Even then the show could sue him if they a relationship. Considering Griffin’s views on family and being a part of their child’s life, they would be involved. All of which brought her back to her original decision to keep the baby news to herself.

  She arrived in Estes Park yesterday, and avoided Griffin as long as possible, but now that she’d decided to face him, she wanted to get the initial shock over with, so she didn’t fall apart during the finale.

  Seeing Nannette and chatting with her when she answered the front door had been difficult. As Maggie walked through the house, she wondered how she’d face Griffin. Why had she thought she could handle this?

  When he answered the bedroom door, dressed in his favorite jeans with holes in the knees, and a dark navy Bronco T-shirt, she longed to throw herself into his arms and tell him everything. Instead, she folded her hands in front of her. “We should go over the finale details.”