by Jo Grafford
And there was no way he’d decided to open the magnanimous pockets of the Black Ties charity foundation to rebuild her hometown out of sheer benevolence. He’d done it for her, for their friendship, which she’d suspected for some time now that he was planning to turn into something more. For a friendship that she’d just inadvertently finished giving a careless stomp.
Wanting more than anything to repair the damage, she reached out to touch his arm. “If you’ll excuse us for a quick minute, Kellan and I need to collect our luggage. How about we meet outside in, say…” She scanned Elmer Remington’s features in a desperate plea for him to save the rapidly deteriorating situation.
“Five or ten minutes would be great.” His gaze dropped to the hand she had resting on Kellan’s arm and festered with something akin to rebuke. “Josh brought us here in one of his security vehicles. We’ll bring it around front.” He made a comical face. “Assuming you’re not bringing all of your household belongings on the first trip, it should be roomy enough to hold us all.”
Cute. She forced a soft chuckle. “I only brought a few suitcases, my friend. Everything else will arrive on the moving truck.”
“Perfect. We’ll see you in a few, then.”
She nodded. “I’m looking forward to our upcoming tour of central office and Heart Lake High. Thank you for making all these arrangements, Elmer, and on such short notice, too.” The new school year would begin in two short weeks. There was no time to waste.
“You betcha, kid. Ahem.” He pretended to clear his throat as he raised his bushy gray brows in askance. “I reckon I should be addressing you as Dr. Remington these days?”
“Don’t you dare!” Relief infused her over the fact that he didn’t seem inclined to hold her misstep with her new security director against her. Risking a glance in the blasted man’s direction, she found Josh’s dark gaze resting on her in grim resolution.
He was back in control of his anger, but just barely. So was she. Blinking at him in indignation, she silently upbraided him. How dare you two-step your way back into my life like this without so much as a warning? She lifted her chin as their gazes clashed. She could almost feel the sizzle between his scalding coffee brew eyes and her icy blue ones. You have no right. Not anymore. You forfeited every privilege you had the day you stood me up at the bridge.
Pivoting to follow after Kellan, who was already a few strides across the terminal, she finished the rest of her inner tirade. You gave up everything the day you broke my heart, Josh Hawling!
Kellan was still wearing his benign smile when she caught up to him.
“I’m so sorry about what happened back there.” Her voice was tremulous with remorse as they faced the baggage carousel together. The first suitcases were just now popping past the rubber flap in the wall and rotating their way on the conveyer belt.
“We’re good, Hope.” His hands were loosely resting on the tops of his trouser pockets. “It’s not like you’ve ever been anything less than honest about the feelings you’ve never had for me,” he sighed. “Now I know why.”
“Oh, my lands, Kellan! It’s not like that,” she protested, needing him to understand that she hadn’t been feeding him false hope in her direction. She valued their friendship enormously. His thoughts and opinions mattered to her. He mattered to her. “There is nothing, and I mean nothing, between Josh Hawling and me.” Not anymore. “I honestly haven’t laid eyes on the guy in over ten years.”
“And yet it’s pretty obvious that there was something between the two of you at some point.” Kellan reached for her pair of red leather suitcases and set them on the floor between them. “Please don’t try to deny it. The tension between you and him back there was, well, pretty intense.”
“Was. Past tense.” She pressed a hand against her racing heart. “There hasn’t been so much as a single word between us since I left home.”
“Interesting. You know what that tells me, Hope?”
She clasped her hands beneath her chin, beseeching him to believe her. “That your friendship means the world to me? And that I would never, ever, ever purposefully do anything to hurt you or it.”
“Of course you wouldn’t!” he exploded. Turning his back on the conveyer belt, he held out his arms to her. “Come here, you.”
She flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I don’t ever want to lose you, Kellan.”
“You’re not going to.” He pressed his cheek against hers. “I meant it when I said we’re good, you and I. Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything,” she murmured damply.
He loosened his grasp to hold her at arm’s length. “Don’t use me as baseball bat to take any more whacks at your ex.”
“I never intended for it to come across like that.” She and Kellan had held hands before. They’d even gone on a few dates.
“He’s a big dude, and I’m pretty sure he’s already imagining all the ways he’d like to terminate my existence. He doesn’t need any new inspiration, like the sight of you pretending to flirt with me.”
“Seriously?” Hope dropped her arms and stepped back. “Since when did flirting become a crime in your book? You, of all people! You’ve probably dated every single female in Anchorage, myself included.”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say I prefer to date women who are emotionally available, as well.”
She gave a gasp of protest. “I’m—”
“Not.” He reached over to lightly tap her nose. “At least not right now. I’m not saying no or never to us, Hope, because I sure wouldn’t mind another chance with you, at some point.” He angled his head toward the door. “But you’re going to need to resolve whatever unfinished business you have with Mr. Champion Bull Rider before we can do that.”
“There’s not anything to resolve.” Hope closed her eyes while she dabbed at the damp corners of them. “He made that disastrously clear when we were supposed to leave town together, and he failed to show up.”
“Ouch!” Kellan sharply pivoted in his brown leather wingtips to grab his own two suitcases. “He doesn’t impress me as being that kind of a fool, but okay. Everyone makes mistakes.”
“You think he made a mistake when he broke my heart?” She gave a sniff of disbelief. “Just a mistake, huh?” No biggie. “Gee, thanks.”
“I do.” Kellan waved over a baggage porter with a cart to load their suitcases. “So does he, apparently. From how butt sore your bull rider was acting back there, I’m betting he considers losing you to be the single biggest mistake of his life.”
My bull rider? Mine? Uh, not any longer. But the humorous understanding in Kellan’s voice tugged at Hope’s overwrought emotions, bringing her dangerously close to tears again. “I wouldn’t even know how to start a conversation like that with him.” She shook her head, drawing her lower lip between her teeth. “Honestly? If I’d have known Josh Hawling and I were going to be forced to work together like this, I would have never accepted the job.”
“Good to know.” Josh’s rumbly baritone announced from somewhere behind her.
When Hope spun in his direction, he treated her to a chilly smile. “Elmer sent me back in here to see what was taking so long. So what’s it going to be, Dr. Remington?” He tipped his Stetson mockingly at her. “My vehicle, or should I direct your porter to take your suitcases back to the airplane?”
She stared back in growing fury. Yes, it was poor manners on her part to talk about him behind his back, but there was no reason to sneak up on her like this to eavesdrop, either. “How about you let Elmer know I’ve decided to call my own cab?” She hated the way Josh was smirking at her and wished, more than anything, he didn’t have to look so crazy good looking in his distressed jeans and scuffed boots. Gosh, what was it about the guy that had always drawn her to him? He was like a dangerous infection, for pity’s sake, a life-threatening one that she needed to carve out of her system, once and for all, before it destroyed her!
Studying her a moment longer, Josh waved their baggag
e porter toward the glass doors at the front of the terminal. “We didn’t have a cab service in Heart Lake when you first left town, and the one that started up a few months ago was leveled by the tornado. So I’m your best bet for a ride to central office, princess. That is, unless you prefer to walk.”
Princess? Really? She didn’t think it was possible for a person to infuse more sarcasm in a single word. No, I don’t prefer to walk, you smug-faced jerk! Without answering, she motioned her intention to Kellan to leave the building. Then she glided ahead of both men to the doors.
Josh somehow managed to arrive ahead of her to hold one of them open. “After you, Dr. Remington.” He shot her another one of his maddening half grins that made her see red.
Chapter 2: High School Tour
Hope
Hope was taken aback by the gleaming black SUV idling at the curb. It looked like something straight from a movie set. It was seriously tricked out with every security option imaginable — from emergency lights and sirens to surveillance cameras. And that didn’t even begin to describe the boxy look of it, the tinted glass, roll bars, and steel bumper.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered. “We’re actually going to ride through town in this?” It looked like a freaking tank!
“Whoa!” Ignoring Hope’s outburst, Kellan strode around her to take a closer look at the vehicle. He stooped to examine the emblem on the silver grill. “A Conquest Knight, eh? Nice wheels.”
“Thanks.” The edges of Josh’s hard lips twitched. “Not gonna lie. Driving this thing is not as exciting as bull riding, but it’s a close second.” There was pride in his voice as he swung the front passenger door open for Hope. “Elmer insisted you ride shotgun to give you the best view of town.”
He wasn’t holding open the door as wide as possible, so she had to move much closer to him than she would’ve liked to climb inside his massive beast of a vehicle. Thank heavens for the running boards. Otherwise, she might’ve needed him to give her a step up.
He helped her anyway, firmly cupping her elbow and lifting her into the black leather seat as if she weighed no more than two pennies. There was something so familiar about his touch that it made her heart ache. She’d missed his big, callused hands. Hands that could brutally hang on to the rope rein of a bull one moment, while ever-so-tenderly gathering her close to celebrate with her afterward.
Though she felt Josh’s gaze on her, she couldn’t find the strength to turn her head and meet it squarely. Instead, she stared straight ahead, while he gave the passenger door a quick shove to close it. Through the turmoil of her thoughts, she heard Ed and Kellan excitedly discussing the merits of the vehicle they were sitting in.
“…the best armored luxury SUV on the market. He usually only hauls it out of the garage for congressmen and such.” There was so much paternal pride in Elmer Remington’s his voice, a person might’ve assumed he and Josh were related.
“Well, speaking of VIPs, he does have the new head principal of Heart Lake High riding shotgun,” Kellan teased for her benefit.
She tossed a weak smile over her shoulder at him, still struggling to recover from the imprint of Josh’s hand on her arm.
But Elmer wasn’t near done bragging, apparently. “True, but I figured her arrival would warrant a ride in one of his fancy Land Rovers, not his bloody tank. I read somewhere that these things can set you back a good eight hundred grand or more.”
Hope inwardly cringed at the boyish excitement in her older friend’s voice, wondering if he had any idea he was bragging to a billionaire. Though Kellan Maddox was way too nice to set the guy straight on the matter, he came from big family money. As in mega bucks. The kind that afforded him the opportunity to travel in Gulfstreams, yachts, and high-end helicopters.
None of which explained how Josh Hawling had acquired the funds to purchase something as pricey as a luxury armored vehicle. Had he won that many cash pots during his rodeo days?
As he yanked open the driver’s door and climbed behind the wheel, she shot him a dazed look. From bull rider to business owner, his change in circumstances was a lot to absorb on such short notice. Was this really the same guy who’d struggled to pass Physics? Her father — may he rest in peace — had never liked the fact that she was dating Josh, never approved of her boyfriend’s rodeo career, and was quick to inform her (after she left for college) that her ex been required to attend summer school before receiving his official high school diploma.
Meaning that leaving town with her had never truly been an option. Not really.
“You thirsty?”
The cold side of a water bottle being pressed into Hope’s hand interrupted her troubled thoughts.
“I, ah…” She glanced down at the bottle of berry sparkling water and received another inward jolt. Josh had remembered her favorite drink. “Thanks.”
“No problem. I know it’s been a long trip.” His long fingers brushed the tips of hers as he relinquished the water bottle into her hand.
She caught her lower lip between her teeth against the rush of memories his touch brought back. Josh had been poor as dirt back when she was dating him, but he’d always been attentive to those small, sweet gestures like making sure she stayed hydrated — especially during those long, hot, dry, and dusty rodeo days. It was another one of her father’s pet peeves, but she’d refused to miss any of Josh’s bull riding events back then. Not even the time she’d had her wisdom teeth removed. She’d simply popped a pain pill and showed up with cheeks as swollen as a chipmunk.
Fighting to keep her voice calm, she heard herself say, “The better part of eight hours, actually. We got an early start.”
Silence lapsed between them as memory after memory of her childhood came flooding back during the short drive to the high school.
Heart Lake was even more beautiful than she remembered, tucked cozily in the foothills of the Christmas Mountains. It’s normally blue, crystalline waters had adopted the muted shades of purple and gold from the sun setting behind the distant mountains. The old homesteads and barns resting near the lake were mirrored in the gently lapping waves below. One particularly gorgeous scene was that of a big red barn casting its shimmering reflection into the water. Rosy red mingling with many shades of purple.
Hope nearly sighed aloud. She’d missed this. Every sight, sound, and scent tugged at her senses, forming heady pictures of home. Uncapping her bottle of flavored water, she tipped it up and tasted the cool trickle of yet more memories.
Several times she felt Josh’s gaze on her, though she continued to stare out the window. Elmer and Kellan kept a steady conversation going in the back seat, with Elmer leaning forward on occasion between Josh and her to note something of particular interest.
“There’s the Heart Lake Police Department.” He pointed out the two-story red brick building. “Ol’ Gil is still wearing the sheriff’s badge.” He shook his head. “I don’t think he’s ever going to retire. Hired a new police sergeant a few months back to start a whole new K9 search and rescue unit.”
“Wow!” Hope frowned in puzzlement. The first thing that popped into her mind when she thought of search and rescue operations were amber alerts. Children of all ages in distress. “Please assure me you don’t have to deal with too many missing persons cases here in Heart Lake.”
“We don’t, thankfully.” His voice was grim. “The sheriff mostly uses his scent and tracking dogs for roadblocks and checkpoints. He’s sick and tired of all the illegal drugs pouring across the county line. The dogs have already helped his team collar a few storm chasing drug peddlers, but they only represent the tip of the iceberg.” He reached up to clap Josh on the shoulder. “Which is exactly why the school board contracted the services of Lonestar Security. With Josh’s help, we intend to eradicate every trace of that poison from the halls and lockers of Heart Lake High.”
Hope glanced in surprise at Josh, wondering why this was the first time she was hearing about a potential drug problem at the school she w
as about to start running. “Exactly how bad is the drug situation at the high school?”
“Not sure yet.” Josh didn’t sound overly concerned, as if dealing with drug problems was simply all in a day’s work. “We overheard a few disturbing things from the football players during summer practice that put us on alert.” He clenched his jaw and continued to stare straight ahead. “Guess we’ll find out together, since my start date is the same as yours, Dr. Remington.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” she muttered. “Are you really going to keep calling me that?” The guy had gone diving for her tonsils at least a thousand times. It felt ridiculous to fall back on formal titles, everything considered.
“In front of the students, yes,” he returned evenly.
“Ah.” She didn’t bother hiding her sarcasm. “I take it, you don’t want me to address you as Lucky Ten during school hours?”
He gave one of his maddening smirks. “Coach Hawling will do.”
“Coach?” Her eyes widened. “You’re pulling security and coaching?”
“Yes, ma’am. My business partner and I have been tasked with putting together a combined team of both north and south side players.”
Her jaw dropped. Was he truly expecting two of the biggest rival teams in the area to start playing on the same team?
“Yep. One that stands a chance at making the playoffs,” Elmer chimed in from the back seat.
It didn’t sound like either man was joking. “Josh!” Hope protested softly. “We’re talking about teenagers, here. Not some rodeo bull you only have to stay seated on for eight seconds. Herding teenagers is a whole new brand of difficult.”
“Tell me about it.” He sniffed. “We started conditioning weeks ago.”
“Well, how has it gone for you?” she pressed, still frowning in concern.