Stay with Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte Book 4)

by Heather Slade

  “They opened, tonight, just for us,” Liv explained. “They’re usually closed between mid-October and Thanksgiving.”

  “Nice of them,” Bree murmured.

  “It’s that kind of place,” Liv answered. “Crested Butte I mean. It’s one of the reasons I love it so much. No matter where we go, we know everyone, and they know us. It’s kind of like Monument.”

  Bree understood what Liv was saying, but didn’t necessarily love it, the way she did. More often than not, Bree wished she could be anonymous, invisible, even. She wanted to go to the grocery store, or out for a cup of coffee, and not have anyone recognize her, or start a conversation with her, or ask how she was.

  “Where’s that handsome brother of yours tonight?” she overheard the pretty blonde who’d just walked in ask Tucker. The woman looked familiar, but Bree couldn’t place her.

  She wasn’t able to hear Tucker’s response, and was glad. Thank God Jace wasn’t there, and she didn’t have to endure the humiliation of seeing him with another woman. She turned around and willed the evening to be over quickly, so she could escape back to the privacy of Liv and Ben’s place.

  Bree felt the cold air when the door opened. “Speak of the devil,” she heard Tucker say.

  He was here.

  “How’s it feel to be off the road for a few days?” Ben greeted Jace. “If anyone’s earned it, you have.”

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’m not workin’ any harder than anyone else,” Jace grunted.

  She couldn’t help herself; she had to turn around and look at him. Jace shrugged off his coat, and Bree watched as the pretty blonde leaned in and whispered something in his ear. It made them both smile. Suddenly she realized where she knew the woman from. She was the one who had left with Jace that night at the Villa.

  When Bree stood, she almost knocked the table over. She stomped off toward the back of the restaurant where she hoped she’d find a back door. There would be cab service in Crested Butte, wouldn’t there?

  No luck on a back door, but there was a restroom she could hide out in for a little while at least, until someone else needed to use it.

  If only she hadn’t agreed to come to Crested Butte for Thanksgiving. It wasn’t as though she had other options, but the way she was feeling, staying home alone would’ve felt better than this did.

  Too soon, she heard a soft rap on the door.

  “Bree, are you okay?”

  Dammit. What was Jace doing on the other side of the door?

  “Be right out,” she said softly, hoping that, when she opened the door, he would be back in the midst of his family and had forgotten she was there. Instead, when she opened the door, he was leaning against the wall, arms crossed in front of him.

  “Hi, Jace.” She tried to scoot past him to let him have access to the restroom.

  “Hey, wait,” he said and grabbed her arm. “Where are you runnin’ off to so quick?”

  “I, uh, figured you were, uh, waiting to use the, uh…”

  “No, Bree,” he leaned in close to her. “I was waiting to say hello to you. You skedaddled back here so fast, I didn’t have a chance to speak to you when I came in.”

  “Well, now you have. Shall we go back and join the others?” She tried to wrench her arm away from him, but he held on tight.

  “Wait a minute.”

  “What, Jace?”

  “Come here,” he pulled her back, closer to him. “How about a hug for starters?”

  He hugged her, but she did not return his embrace.

  “It seems there’s someone else here anxious to hug you, Jace. Why don’t you trap her in the hallway instead of me?”

  Rather than answer, he pulled her close again and covered her lips with his.

  Bree wanted to resist him, but it was impossible to. She’d never been able to resist him.

  “Oh, sorry—”

  Bree broke their kiss in time to see the blonde turn and walk in the other direction.

  “Bet you didn’t want her to see that.”

  Jace pulled back and looked into Bree’s eyes but wouldn’t release his grip on her. “What’s that mean?”

  “She’s been waiting for you to get here, and don’t think I missed the exchange between the two of you when you arrived.”

  “Sounds like somebody’s jealous,” he nuzzled her hair and breathed in deeply. “Bree,” he sighed.

  “Stop it.” She tried to push him away, but he was determined not to let her go.

  “Come here,” he said and pulled her around the corner, and out to the patio.

  “Oh, sure, here’s the back door. I couldn’t have found it earlier,” she muttered.

  “What’s that?”

  “An escape, a way out, so I didn’t have to witness the reunion between you and your hookup girl.” Her cheeks flushed as she said it.

  “My hookup girl? I thought you were my hookup girl.” He brushed his lips over hers. He had her backed up against the outside wall, his hands on either side of her. “Let’s see…the last time you and I were together, we hooked up pretty good, from what I remember.” Right before she’d let him know that was all he was good for.

  “I figured, with both of us stayin’ up at Ben’s, it’d be a good opportunity for me to scratch any itches you might be feelin’.”

  He tried to kiss her again, but she managed to twist away from him. “Are you serious?”

  “You know me, Bree. Good ol’ cowboy, ready and willin’ to take care of you. Somebody you don’t need to worry about having dinner with afterwards.”

  He saw her eyes fill with tears before she swung the door open and stormed back inside.

  He could hear the words coming out of his own mouth, and even he couldn’t believe he was saying them. What was wrong with him?

  He walked in behind her and tried to stop her before she got into the dining room, but he was too late. She’d grabbed her coat and was talking to her mother and Liv. He watched her walk out the front door. Her father followed.

  “That was fast.” Billy stood in front of Jace. “Gotta be some kind of record. You weren’t here five minutes before you got her so mad she left.”

  “Leave me the hell alone, Patterson.”

  “Yep, you got your ways; I got mine. Course mine are workin’ a lot better than yours are. For example, take a look at that pretty girl.” Billy motioned to where Renie stood by the front window. “She’s carryin’ my baby, more than ready to welcome me into those warm arms every night.”

  “Shut up,” Jace answered.

  “Wanna know what I’d do?”

  “Not particularly, but I get the impression you’re gonna tell me anyway.”

  “Follow her.”

  Jace stood his ground.

  “Warm arms, every night, that’s what I got. Yep, I’m a lucky man.”

  “Bree isn’t interested in me. There’s the difference. No point in me chasing after somebody who isn’t interested in being caught.”

  “What’s going on?” Mark asked Bree when they got outside.

  “I’m not feeling very well, Dad. Can I take your truck? Can you and mom ride home with someone else?”

  “Sure, but if you aren’t feeling well—”

  “Now, Dad, please. Just give me the keys.” Bree could see Jace through the windows of the restaurant. He was talking to Billy, but there was still a chance he’d try to follow her. She had to be gone if he did.

  Her dad followed her gaze, reached into his pocket, and handed her his keys. “Turn left at the corner.” He pointed north on Elk Avenue. “It’s about halfway up the second block.”

  “Thanks,” she waved as she broke into a run in the direction he pointed her in.

  “Dammit,” Jace growled when he got outside.

  Mark put his hand on his arm. “Let her go,” he said before he went back inside.

  Bree swore when she saw the red flashing lights in the rear-view mirror. She always forgot about the ridiculous speed limit in downtown Crested Butte. Was it eve
n possible to drive fifteen miles per hour? She had to have been going three times that fast.

  “License and registration,” the police officer said without looking at her when she rolled down the window. He glanced up just before she turned her head to dig through her purse.

  “Wait,” he said. “Are you okay?”

  This would be worse. Not only was she speeding, she’d also been crying. He’d probably add public endangerment to her speeding ticket.

  “Ma’am, I asked you a question. Are you okay?”

  Bree wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. “I’m okay. Sorry, Officer, uh, Akerman. I…” What could she say? She’d just been propositioned by a man she’d already slept with, but the way he talked to her made her cry?

  “Listen,” he said. “I’m not going to write you a ticket tonight, but I don’t think you should be driving when you’re upset.”

  She brushed at her tears again, the ones she couldn’t seem to stop, and opened the storage compartment between the two front seats. Her mom would have tissues stored in there, wouldn’t she?

  Bree found a pack, pulled one out and blew her nose. When she looked back at the policeman, he was smiling.

  “I’m about to take a break for dinner. Why don’t you join me?”

  “Uh, well—”

  “I could insist, you know. Either have dinner with me, take a few minutes to collect yourself, or I’ll write the ticket after all, but that’s probably a federal crime. How ’bout you just join me, and neither one of us will get in trouble?” He winked at her.

  “You are a policeman. I mean, that looks like an official police car,” she muttered.

  He pointed in the direction of Elk Avenue. “I’m gonna pull around your truck and park over there, behind that building. I’m hoping you’ll follow me and have dinner with me. If not, I’ll understand.”

  Bree watched in the side mirror as he got back in the police car, turned off the swirling red lights, and drove toward the building he’d pointed at. She followed.

  There were two open spots, so she pulled in next to him. She looked around to make sure there weren’t any “no parking” signs she’d be in violation of. When she opened her door, he was standing next to it.

  “Hope I didn’t startle you.” He held out his hand to help her out of the truck. “My name is Kaleb, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you. Bree Fox,” she took his hand and climbed out.

  “Hope this place is okay with you. Food is pretty good.”

  She looked up and saw they were going into a place called the Company Store.

  “It’s not that anymore,” he pointed. “It’s called the Secret Stash now. Pretty good pizzas, or salads if you’re, ya know, more health conscious.”

  The hostess led them to a booth. Kaleb excused himself just as she sat down. “Be right back,” he said.

  Bree studied the menu. The last thing she expected to be was hungry, but she was suddenly famished. She wondered what the people at the other tables would think, when Kaleb came back, about her having dinner with a cop. She supposed they had to eat too, right?

  She almost didn’t recognize him when he did come back. “Uh, you changed your clothes.”

  “I wasn’t completely honest…” He looked so sheepish Bree couldn’t help but smile.

  “That doesn’t sound good coming from a policeman. I mean, are you a policeman?”

  “Yeah, I was honest about that part. It’s the dinner break part that wasn’t the complete truth. I’m actually done for the night. I thought, if I told you that, it might scare you off.”

  “And you just happen to keep a change of clothes here, at the restaurant? I have to admit, I’m beginning to get a little scared,” she laughed.

  He laughed too. “It isn’t lookin’ too good, is it? My sister owns this place, and I bartend sometimes. I keep a change of clothes here so I don’t have to drive home in between my shifts if time is tight.”

  “Are you bartending tonight?”

  “Nope. I’m off for the rest of the weekend actually. Policing and bartending.”

  “Oh.”

  “I just keep digging myself deeper, don’t I?”

  Bree laughed again. “You’re okay. I’m guessing just about everybody in here tonight knows you. Am I right about that?”

  “Maybe one or two don’t,” he smiled.

  “Nobody tried to catch my attention and warn me off while you were changing, so I suppose I’m safe enough.”

  “Good. Now that we’ve settled I pose no threat, tell me more about yourself, Bree Fox.”

  They shared a pizza and a pitcher of beer. At first Bree was hesitant to have a drink, but Kaleb promised he’d get her back to the ranch. He’d have someone follow with her truck if necessary.

  “Do you know where the ranch is?”

  “Of course I do. Everybody knows the Flying R. Everybody knows the Rice family for that matter.”

  “My family and the Rice family are kind of intertwined. My sister is married to Tucker.”

  “Can’t say I know Tucker. I do know Matt, Will, and Ben though.”

  “My mom and Ben’s wife are best friends. They have been since I was nine years old.”

  “You mean Liv? She’s great. Who’s your mom?”

  “Her name is Paige. Paige Cochran.”

  “And your dad is…Mark Cochran?”

  “That would be him.”

  “But you’re Bree Fox.” He reached over and touched her left hand.

  “I was married,” she began.

  Kaleb waited for her to continue.

  “My husband was killed in Afghanistan.”

  The expression on his face changed to one Bree was familiar with. “I’m so sorry,” he said.

  “Thanks,” she answered. “I really don’t like to talk about it. If you don’t mind.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. I guess you’re in town for Thanksgiving. Big gathering over at the Flying R?”

  This time, Bree’s expression changed. She didn’t want to talk about Thanksgiving either. Kaleb was going to quickly figure out he was the normal one between the two of them. Bree was a walking, talking hot mess.

  15

  They talked through pizza, and then dessert. Bree was just about to suggest it was time for her to go home when Kaleb stood.

  “Come downstairs with me,” he said, pulling her by the hand.

  “What’s down there?”

  “It’s called the Red Room,” he raised his eyebrows when he said it, and Bree laughed.

  “It’s part of the Stash. Sort of. It’s another restaurant, more of a bar, though. My sister owns it now too, but it used to belong to Matt Rice. It was a sushi place.”

  “Lobar?”

  “That’s it. Have you been there?”

  “Sure, once or twice. I didn’t realize Matt sold it.”

  “From what I hear the Rices are getting heavy into rough stock contracting, and Matt didn’t have the time it takes to run a restaurant anymore.”

  “Do they still have The Goat?” Bree loved going to the bar, especially when Ben’s band, CB Rice, played.

  “I don’t think they’ll ever sell it. It’s been in their family forever. That place has been around so long it practically runs itself.”

  Kaleb swept the heavy brocade drapery, at the bottom of the stairs, aside, and Bree couldn’t believe her eyes. The space had been transformed, and it was beautiful.

  “My sister hand-beaded the bar with one of her friends. It took her about two hundred hours to do it.”

  Bree looked closer. It was magnificent. The entire front length of the long bar was intricately beaded on top of the same brocade fabric the draperies were made from.

  There were symbols and shapes, even names, worked into the pattern.

  Kaleb pointed to one. “This guy, Novak, was a buddy of ours who died in an avalanche. And here,” he pointed to another name, “‘Eleanor,’ that’s our mother’s name.”

  “It’s so beaut
iful.” Bree was tempted to run her fingers over the beading, but resisted.

  Kaleb took her hand and led her away from the bar. “Let’s sit back here,” he said.

  There was a fireplace surrounded by cushions in the back room.

  “Looks comfy.” Bree wondered how many times he’d refilled her beer over dinner. She’d lost count. She sunk down onto the bench seat and closed her eyes. Kaleb sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

  “You look relaxed,” he murmured.

  “Hmm? Yes, I am relaxed. Which I didn’t think was possible earlier.”

  “And less sad,” Kaleb leaned closer. “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “No, but it wasn’t anything important. I was being silly. Goes to show how unimportant it was, considering I’d all but forgotten it.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  Kaleb tightened the arm he had around her shoulders, and pulled her closer to him. With his other hand, he caressed her face and looked into her eyes. “I want to kiss you, Bree.”

  Instead of answering, she leaned forward and kissed him. Her head was swirling as she opened her mouth under his. This was so unexpected, but, oh, so welcome. She rested her hands against Kaleb’s chest, loving the hardness of his body beneath the sweater he’d changed into earlier. The police officer clearly took good care of himself. Bree ran her hands over his strong shoulders and down his powerful arms.

  She leaned back, just slightly, against the cushion, and Kaleb followed, the weight of his body, resting against hers.

  “What the hell?”

  Bree jerked away from Kaleb and looked up into Jace’s eyes.

  “Bree? What the hell?” he said again.

  She wiped the back of her hand across her lips and looked at Kaleb.

  “Someone you know?” he whispered softly. He didn’t look bothered by Jace’s outburst. In fact, he had a grin on his face.

  “Yeah, I know him.”

  “Big brother?”

  “Uh, no.”

  “Oh, sorry to hear that.” Kaleb’s grin widened.

  Jace hadn’t moved. His hands were on his waist, and he was staring at them. Kaleb moved away from Bree and stood.