by Glynna Kaye
Fishing? That wasn’t something high on her list of favorite things to do. And what was this Uncle Bryce stuff again?
She turned to him and his face reddened. He must feel as silly as he looked. Although kind of cute, too. A grown-up guy rowing away with gusto against make-believe waves just to make a little girl giggle.
Laying his “oars” aside, he stood, then jumped out of the boat. Graceful landing for such a big guy. What was he? Six-two? Three? His dark eyes met hers with uncertainty. “She wanted to try it out. I hope that was okay.”
“Next time—” she folded her arms, keeping her expression as straight as she could “—don’t forget the life jackets.”
He stared at her a moment, processing her words, then a grin split the handsome, bearded face. “Yes, ma’am. My oversight.”
A smile tugged at her own lips as their gazes held a little too long. Heart quickening, Sandi turned again to her daughter.
“Let’s go, Gina.”
The little girl’s lower lip protruded. “I want to go fishing, Mommy.”
“I don’t think so, honey.”
“Davy’s grandpa and daddy take him fishing.”
“Maybe you can go with them sometime.”
Gina gripped the edges of the bench seat on each side of her. “I want to go with Uncle Bryce. He’s going now.”
“Now?” She glanced at Bryce for confirmation.
He nodded.
Helpless in the face of her daughter’s obstinacy, she gave him a warning look. Come on, big guy, give me a hand here since this is your doing.
Obediently, he reached out to Gina and she went willingly into his arms to be lifted from the boat. “I’m afraid I don’t have any little-kid life jackets, Gina. Just big people’s.”
He set her feet gently on the ground, but she turned to cling to his hand. “You can buy a little people one, can’t you?”
Inwardly Sandi cringed. Was her daughter drawn to him, to any man, because she didn’t have one in her life? A daddy?
“Gina, that’s enough. Don’t badger Mr. Harding.”
“But I want—”
“Gina.”
The little shoulders slumped, but she didn’t release his hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“What do you say I look around for a kid one, then—”
“That’s kind of you, Bryce, but you don’t need to do that.” And no way was she letting this stranger take her daughter out in a boat, Keith’s old buddy or not.
“You can come along, too,” he said, as if reading her mind. “I’d never take a kid in a boat without another adult as backup.”
“Thanks, but we have plans for the evening.”
Gina eyes brightened with curiosity. “We do? What?”
Think fast. She intended a quiet evening and an early bedtime for both of them. Tomorrow was a school day. But at the excited look on her daughter’s face, she had to do something to make up for their lost day together—and for the never-ending piano brunch with Grandma yesterday. It had been a trial for an active little girl, to say the least.
“The High Country Equine Center’s grand opening,” she announced as if that had been her intention all along.
“The horse place?” Gina clapped her hands.
Sandi nodded. She’d give Devon a call. See if her cowboy-crazy sister-in-law wanted to join them.
Bryce studied her, his eyes questioning. “Maybe we can all go fishing another time.”
Surely he didn’t want to take them fishing any more than she wanted to go. He was being nice to a little kid he felt sorry for. Sorry because she didn’t have a daddy—and because her mommy didn’t deserve the husband she’d had.
How she hated not knowing how much Keith had shared with him. Not knowing if he sat in judgment of her.
“Come along, Gina. We don’t want to be late.”
Gina didn’t argue, but she turned to Bryce with outstretched hands, inviting him for a hug. He glanced again at Sandi as if seeking permission, then squatted down to envelop Gina in his brawny arms. The tiny girl all but disappeared as they folded around her, her eyes squeezed tight to hug him for all she was worth.
A heaviness settled into Sandi’s heart. She’d have to talk to Meg and Joe this week. Maybe Joe wouldn’t mind an extra kid tagging along on a fishing trip. Maybe he’d be willing to give Gina a little “man time” to help make her less needy. Less vulnerable to Uncle Bryce.
Bryce watched them walk away, a lump in his throat. Guilt pierced as he savored the childish embrace that by rights didn’t belong to him. What a shame Keith wasn’t around to receive precious hugs from the sweet little lady he’d sired. It should be her daddy she was clinging to, not him.
And it should be Keith looking into the eyes of her lovely mother, as well, sharing a smile and a too-long moment of mutual awareness. Letting his gaze linger on her face…
Shaken, he turned back to the boat. He hadn’t expected an attraction to Sandi, knowing what he knew about her. It caught him off-guard now, just as it had at the Warehouse, museum and parade. He had no business looking at her like that, thinking about her. Didn’t need to be noticing she was a gentle and caring mom. Didn’t need to be wondering how hard life had been in the five years since Keith’s passing—and about who would look after her and Gina in the years to come.
No, he had to remember this was Keith’s wife. The woman who’d lured his unsuspecting buddy down the path to matrimony, then proceeded to dictate to him what the rest of his life would be like—just like Keith’s mom had attempted. Just like Bryce’s own mother, when she bothered to drop in on his childhood at all, had tried to do. Ordering him around. Imposing her will on his. Never pleased with anything he did.
He squared his shoulders. From now on he’d watch himself. With God’s help, he’d keep his mind from wandering off where it didn’t belong. He’d come back to town to help Grandma, not to get snared in some pretty woman’s web.
He studied the boat. He didn’t feel much like packing up his gear and hauling the watercraft out to Casey Lake. Maybe he’d listen to those Bible-study CDs. Complete another online firefighting course assignment.
Or check out the equine center’s grand opening.
Grasping Gina’s hand, Sandi followed Devon through the crowded parking lot of the equine center. They’d arrived late and had to park down near the main road, then walk up the tree-lined lane leading to the massive indoor arena and stable. The High Country Equine Center—or “Duffy’s” as locals knew it—had been closed for over a decade. But now, under new ownership, expanded and remodeled, it was open for business again. Horse boarding, riding lessons, special events.
“Hurry, Mommy.”
Gina skipped along at her side, the oversize cap sitting crookedly on her head. The begged-for fishing trip seemed long forgotten as the evening air filled with shrill whinnies and the scent of sun-warmed pine, wood shavings, hay and horses.
Even Sandi’s own spirits lifted as she joined the excited throng of summer folks and locals. Always grateful when the crowds dispersed in the autumn, she nevertheless got caught up in the invigorating energy the annual influx of both familiar and unfamiliar faces brought with it. Seeking refuge in the ponderosa pine-studded community with its cool, more-than-a-mile-high elevation, the desert dwellers were the lifeblood of the economic health of Canyon Springs—and the museum.
“I had no idea this was such a big deal,” confided Devon. Nevertheless, she’d gone all out with a pricey brand of boot-cut jeans and a sparkly red shirt. Even sported cowboy boots and a sassy feather-accented Western hat. Knowing she couldn’t compete with her fashion-savvy sister-in-law, Sandi had stuck with Levi’s, a T-shirt and tennis shoes.
Over the sound system a booming voice of welcome sounded like Kara Dixon’s fiancé, Trey Kenton, who now managed the facility. The opening notes of the national anthem soon followed.
Gina tugged on her hand. “Hurry.”
The threesome wove their way among other latecomers,
paid their way in and slipped through the opening to the arena seating. The place was packed. They should have come straight here, not gone home to have dinner and wait for Devon.
“Way up there, Mommy. I see seats!”
With a laugh and a shrug in Devon’s direction, she let Gina lead the way. Her daughter scrambled up the bleacher steps as Sandi followed behind. Sliding in sideways, focusing on maintaining her balance and apologizing for treading on toes, she and Devon kept an eye on Gina moving down one of the rows ahead of them. The little girl finally plopped on a gap of empty bleacher space, then grinned back at them.
“See? Uncle Bryce saved us seats.”
Sandi’s gaze flew to the man seated next to Gina, his hand raised to the brim of his straw cowboy hat in greeting. Wouldn’t you know it. A huge arena holding hundreds upon hundreds and Gina had to find a spot next to him.
“Uncle Bryce?” whispered Devon, securing her hat with her hand and pressing in close to Sandi’s ear. “Woo-hoo, gal. You didn’t waste any time, did you?”
Sandi ignored her. Motioning to the open spaces, her eyes locked uncertainly on Bryce’s. “Are you saving these for anyone?”
“Just for three of the prettiest cowgirls I’ve seen tonight. Have a seat, ladies.”
Gina giggled and Devon poked Sandi in the back.
Reluctantly, she sat beside her daughter, and Devon squished in on Sandi’s other side. Wiggling to find a comfortable spot, she bumped Sandi and Gina even closer to Bryce.
What was Bryce doing here anyway? Wasn’t he supposed to be fishing? Self-consciously, she glanced at the sea of spectators surrounding her. Most focused on the palominos with silver-studded tack galloping around the arena, cream-colored tails flying as their riders wove in and out of figure eights. Most paid attention to the spectacle in front of them—except an auburn-haired woman several rows down pointedly looking from Sandi to Bryce to Gina and back again.
Sandi reluctantly acknowledged her with a finger wave.
Cate Landreth. A teacher’s aide at the high school, historical society member and rumormonger extraordinaire. Had Cate been close enough to hear Gina’s shouted labeling of Bryce as “uncle”? She’d talked to Gina about that on the way home this afternoon. Explained that Bryce wasn’t her uncle. But she insisted he was like a brother to her daddy. And wasn’t daddy’s big brother, Lance, her Uncle Lance? And Scott, Uncle Scott? Nevertheless, she’d asked Gina not to call him that in public.
But she’d forgotten.
“Hi, Bryce.” Devon leaned across her, hand outstretched. “You remember me, don’t you?”
He studied her a moment, then recognition dawned and a smile broadened as he shook her hand. “Keith’s little sister, Devon. All grown up.”
“Hey, you’re good. I think I was about eight years old the last time you saw me.”
Bryce nodded thoughtfully. “That would be about right. Before Keith and I joined the army. But he always showed off pictures of his family. You resemble him, but a lot prettier.”
They chitchatted a few minutes, then Devon settled back into her seat and Bryce returned his gaze to the arena.
“He is so hot,” Devon breathed into Sandi’s ear as she discreetly fanned her face with her hand. “Forget what Mom says. Keith wouldn’t pick a jerk for a best friend.”
Sandi wasn’t so sure about that.
Gina climbed onto her lap and, as another woman slipped in on the far side of Devon, her sister-in-law shifted once again, pushing Sandi to within an inch of Bryce.
She glanced up to see him gazing at her, his forehead creased in a frown. Her face warmed. He probably thought she was making inappropriate advances. Keith’s wife on the prowl for husband number two. In his dreams. She gave Devon a discreet shove with her hip and gained another inch between her and the ex-military man.
Nevertheless, with Gina wiggling on her lap, occasionally her arm brushed his. And each time her breath caught. How could she concentrate on the performance with him next to her? Maybe she should leave Gina with Devon and go hide in the ladies’ room until the whole thing was over.
“He can’t keep his eyes off you.” Devon’s whisper came again. “Tell him how big and strong and masculine he looks tonight. Men love that. Feeds their egos. You’ll have him eating out of your hand.”
Sandi shifted and “accidentally” elbowed her sister-in-law, but nevertheless managed to cast a discreet look in Bryce’s direction. He wasn’t looking at her as Devon claimed. But she could admit he sure was nice to look at. Strong profile. Expressive eyes.
He’d been so nice to Gina, too.
That was the reason she found him somewhat attractive, right? A man who’s good to your kid—even if he did think you’d make a lousy wife to his best friend—made him appear more good-looking than he really was. Kind of put a golden glow around him. Besides, merely finding someone—anyone—attractive didn’t mean there was an actual attraction there.
Still conscious of his proximity, she refocused on the arena, reminding herself this was the man who’d single-handedly managed to keep her from honoring her husband with a museum exhibit by summer’s end. The man who’d done his best to talk Keith out of marrying her. Who’d shortchanged them out of who knows how many months they could have shared before her husband’s death. Who’d cheated her of an opportunity to make things turn out differently.
Very differently.
“Say something to him.” Devon’s voice again tickled her ear and Sandi shifted to get away from her. Bumped against Bryce. He looked over at her, and her face warmed again. Please, Lord, get me out of this.
Bryce leaned toward her bright-eyed daughter. “Would you like a hot dog? Popcorn? Snow cone?”
Gina twisted to face her. “Can I, Mom?”
“Okay. But only one thing.”
“Snow cone! Grape.”
Gina beamed at Bryce, and Sandi’s gaze once again met his, caught off-guard by the kindness in his eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You want anything?”
Yes. To be a million miles from here.
She shook her head, and he nodded toward Devon. “How about you? Anything you want?”
She could almost hear the inappropriate thoughts simmering in Devon’s head, but Keith’s sister smiled primly. “A Coke, please.”
He nodded, placed his hat on the seat next to Sandi and headed to the concession stand.
Thank You, Lord.
She gave Gina a grateful hug. Then cast a dirty look at the smirking Devon.
Chapter Six
Man, it had gotten warm in there.
All those people breathing the same air. Crammed in so close. Sandi snuggling in even closer. Bryce pulled a handkerchief from a back pocket and wiped his forehead as he waited for his order at the concession. He’d had to get out of there, at least for a while.
“Hello, Bryce.”
He turned to an auburn-haired woman, Cate Landreth, who’d been behind him in school. He’d run into her and her husband a time or two since returning to town. She always seemed friendly enough, but he hadn’t much taken to her.
“I see you’re with Sandi Bradshaw tonight.”
He wasn’t with Sandi, but he supposed it looked like that, with her sitting all cozied up next to him, her daughter in her lap. Like a threesome. But there wasn’t any point in explaining all that to someone he didn’t know well.
“I’ve always said she’s a mighty bright gal.” Cate darted a look at him, as if she knew a secret she was dying to share. “This proves it.”
Was he missing something here? “How’s that?”
“The museum rent.” She stared at him as though he was thicker than a stand of old-growth ponderosa. “Tourist fees sure ain’t going to make up the difference. Everybody knows it, but Sandi’s not one to give up, God bless her. And we sure would hate to lose the museum.” She winked. “Uncle Bryce.”
The woman laughed, gave him a wave and sauntered off.
What was she implying?
That Sandi planned to butter him up? Intended to use her feminine wiles to talk him out of the rent increase? Was that what tonight was all about? She’d managed to hone in on his location in the midst of hundreds of people with all the accuracy of a GPS. Then all the furtive looks, distracting movements, sweet blushes. Had she coached her daughter to keep calling him Uncle Bryce, too?
He should have known.
Hadn’t he learned anything at all from Keith’s involvement with the manipulative little minx? If he didn’t watch it, he’d be falling off the same cliff his buddy had.
No way would he let that happen.
No way.
“Wouldn’t you like to move to Paradise Valley, Gina?” LeAnne placed a hand on her granddaughter’s shoulder as they walked to the trailer in the fading light and stepped up on the front deck. With school letting out for the summer the previous Wednesday, they’d been to an early Friday evening Disney flick and a fast-food dinner. Now they were home for dessert. “Wouldn’t you like to live with Grandma?”
“I want to live with Mommy.” Gina looked at her mother, uncertainty in her eyes.
Sandi shot her a reassuring smile, hoping it reminded her of earlier discussions that calmed fears of Grandma uprooting her from Canyon Springs.
LeAnne laughed and pulled Gina close for a hug, avoiding looking at Sandi. “Of course you do. Mommy can come, too. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
Scads.
LeAnne wouldn’t let up. For the past five years she’d badgered Sandi to relocate to the Valley. To abandon Canyon Springs and allow Gina more “opportunities” a city could offer. She even pressed to have Keith’s body moved from its pine-shaded resting place to the Bradshaw family mausoleum in the desert.
But recently she’d started in on Gina about a move, as well, even though she’d been asked not to persist. When Sandi reminded her last month, explaining how it made Gina feel anxious, LeAnne acted taken aback, insisting she was “just teasing.”
She unlocked the front door and held it open for the other two to enter. “We’re quite happy right where we are, aren’t we, Gina?”