by Emma Woods
“Oh. Well, I help at Donna’s studio still. Only on the weekends, though. I really enjoy it. It’s a nice way to keep involved with dancing without having to go pro.”
“I was surprised to hear that you didn’t audition for a professional company after college. You are super talented.”
I instantly felt uncomfortable. Having talent was one key ingredient that good dancers needed. While I definitely had that one, I didn’t have others. And for some reason, most people didn’t understand why that mattered. I merely shrugged and asked Ty if he was starting work the following day, eager to change the subject.
I helped Mom and Matt wash dishes in the kitchen while everyone else moved to the family room. Mom pointed out that I was quiet, but Matt distracted her with talk of redecorating the coffee shop. I shot him a grateful look, and he winked at me.
In fact, I was pretty quiet for the rest of our stay. Around nap time, Luke and Heather headed to their cars, and that was our cue to leave. I always rode back with Matt, but to my surprise, Ty offered to drive me home.
“Sure,” I said without thinking.
Which was how I found myself climbing into Ty’s super-clean foreign sports car and zipping off toward Bumblebee House. Ty chatted about his memories of the town as we drove, and I was very glad to nod and smile and not have to say anything. Sitting with him was both surreal and nostalgic, though this car was nothing like his old beat-up Ford Escort from the old days.
“Whoa!” he cried as we drove up the lawn to the Bumblebee House. “Rosa Harrington from the library did this renovation?”
I nodded and grinned, enjoying his reaction. “It’s just as beautiful inside as out.”
“No wonder you want to live here and not with your family. I get it now.” Ty smoothly pulled up in front of the house, but I didn’t feel that he was rushing me out the door.
“It’s certainly a gorgeous house, but I didn’t want to be in the way at Luke’s or my parents’. Matt offered to let me sleep on his couch, but I value my nose too much for bachelor living.” I watched as Ty’s eyes crinkled up on the sides and his dimple winked at me when he laughed at that last comment.
Then he gave my words some thought before saying, “I suppose it would be hard to go back home after living on your own at college.”
“Yes,” I breathed, glad he understood. “Luke and Heather offered me my old room back, but I wanted more independence than living with them would allow.” I bit my lip, hoping Ty didn’t think I was being critical of his best friend.
“Rosemarie, we’re going to be working together a lot in the coming weeks.” My heart gave a little flip at those words and the serious look in his eyes. “Anything you say about your family, about Luke, stays with me. I know he and I have been close for a long time, but I value your friendship, too. I understand that sometimes you need to vent about your family and your co-workers.”
My eyes widened, impressed at his consideration. “Thanks. And you can talk to me about anything, too.”
“Man, no kidding. I can’t believe how easy it was to talk with you today. Hey, do you want to grab coffee Friday night and catch up some more?”
I am not exaggerating when I say that my heart took off at a full gallop. My brain flipped through about a dozen thoughts almost instantaneously: This isn’t a date. He’s being nice. I can’t believe he asked me to do something with him without Luke or Matt around!
I was on the verge of promising him my firstborn child and, of course, Friday night, when I remembered Nick. “Oh, I wish I could, but I already have plans. Maybe another time?”
Did Ty look disappointed? Surely it was my imagination.
“Sure. No problem. Well, see you tomorrow!”
As he drove off, I stood on the porch, waving stupidly. “Well, that seals it. I will never get over Ty Dondero,” I sighed wistfully before turning on my heel and going inside.
5
For reasons unknown, I could not settle on an outfit the following morning. Everything I owned seemed wrong. My blue top was too dressy. The flowered peasant dress not professional enough. Once I finally settled on wearing my nicest Triple Star staff polo shirt, none of my pants were right. The one pair that would be perfect were at the bottom of my hamper with a coffee stain. I tried on four pairs before I settled on my best khakis. But, once I’d eaten breakfast, I doubted that choice and went back to put on jeans.
“Are you okay?” Jill asked when I thundered down the stairs, now late for work.
I’d shared more with Jill about Ty, but I couldn’t bring myself to bring that up this morning. “I can’t get my outfit right today,” I said with an attempt at a breezy smile.
“Oh, I hate that.” Jill loved clothes and was permanently well dressed. If anyone would understand a fashion crisis, it was Jill. “Have a good day at work.”
“Have a good day at school.”
She flashed me a cheerful grin before starting to gather her myriad tote bags.
I arrived at the ranch before I was ready and took a few steadying breaths before I climbed out of my car, collected the backpack I was using for a purse, and headed in to face the music. On the way, my eyes searched for, but failed to find, Ty’s ultra-fancy silver car.
“Hey, Rosie,” Luke called from the reception desk. He was standing, bent over the desktop computer, frowning at the screen and clicking away. “I’m trying to update the website, but I can’t remember where to…” his voice trailed off and he grunted with annoyance.
“Why don’t you let me do it?” I slung my bag under the desk and out of sight. I’d worked on the website plenty of times, which Luke failed to remember every time he wanted something updated. I often went back and fixed the mess he’d make. It was always irritating that my own brother could never remember that I knew more about this aspect of the job than he did.
“That’s okay. I’ll talk to Ty about it when he gets here.” Luke straightened and gave me a smile that told me plainly he had no idea how annoyed I was. “So, I’m going to need you to help Ty get settled in today. I’ve got Frank’s old office cleared out for him. We’re going to meet at 10:30 today, but I promised Tom we’d look at a problem with the fence in the north paddock first thing. Let me get you Ty’s login information that IT sent over.”
My frustration with my brother dissolved with the explosion of butterflies in my stomach. Ty was coming to work here. He’d be in an office not twenty feet away. I was supposed to help him settle in. I had to take a deep breath and tell myself to calm down as the anticipation of my childhood crush’s arrival overwhelmed me.
The phone rang and I answered it automatically, moving gratefully into routines I could do with almost no thought. Luke returned and handed me a sheet of paper with the information Ty would need to log into the computer system, as well as his official Triple Star email address. The phone rang nonstop for the next twenty minutes. I was so wrapped up in calls that I didn’t even notice when Ty entered.
I had the phone receiver cradled between my ear and shoulder as I typed frantically when I glanced up and noticed Ty leaning against the wall, tall and dreamy, just watching me work with a patient grin. My face heated, and I somehow managed to end the call without embarrassing myself.
“You’re really good at that,” he said as soon as I returned the receiver to its plastic home. “It’s like you’ve been working here all your life.”
I laughed at that. “Yup, I’m a real pro. Let me show you your office.”
Once he’d given the small room an approving examination, Ty got busy carrying in boxes from his car. I returned to the reception desk and fielded more phone calls, answered questions that came in through our web page, and got a stack of documents ready for the group who would be using the conference room that afternoon. Every time Ty walked past my desk, he made a face, pretended to trip, or told me a joke. I found myself making mock angry faces in return as I tried not to burst out laughing while I was on the phone.
Ty kept his door open, and I had a c
lear line of sight to everything he was doing. Whenever I wasn’t on the phone, he kept up a steady stream of friendly conversation. I was having such a good time, in fact, that I was amazed to look up and see Luke coming back in. The clock said that more than two hours had passed since Ty’s arrival. I couldn’t believe how fast time had flown!
“Looks like you’re off to a great start,” Luke announced. “Ready for our meeting?”
Luke didn’t spare me another moment’s notice, but Ty shot me a mischievous grin as he followed my brother to his office. I watched the two leave and was reminded forcibly of how Ty had always noticed me when my oldest brother didn’t. Goodness gracious. How was I ever to get over Ty if he kept being wonderful?
The rest of the morning limped past with far less fun. I set up the conference room, turned on the overhead projector, and made sure the bathroom lights were on. I was in the kitchenette preparing an enormous vat of coffee when Ty came in just before noon.
“There you are! What are you doing for lunch? Luke has a conference call. He said Heather is going to cover the desk for your lunch break. I was thinking you should show me the lunchtime ropes.” He leaned casually against the counter, and I swooned a little.
“I brought my lunch,” was my stellar reply. Well, that was a dumb thing to say, Rosemarie! Ty Dondero is offering to go to lunch with you! When the man you’ve liked forever asks you to do something with him, you say yes!
“Great! We can eat in the cafeteria. Hey, let me get that for you. It looks heavy.” And he went right on ahead and lifted the heavy coffee urns for me, forearm muscles straining.
“Oh, um, bring them over here,” I said stupidly when I realized I was staring at his arm muscles, of all things. Maybe I was right not to eat lunch with him. Surely I could do nothing but heap humiliation on myself.
Ty helped me get all the last touches in place, then waited while I retrieved my lunch bag from the fridge. He held the door open for me, and I had no choice but to lead the way toward the cafeteria.
“What will you do when they hire a new receptionist?” he asked eagerly. Ty plunged his hands into the pockets of his very well-fitting trousers and hunched his broad shoulders slightly, as though he was intent on hearing every word I had to say.
“I fill in wherever they need me,” I replied, wishing I had something more interesting to say.
But this didn’t deter Ty. “So, you pretty much do every job around here?”
I thought that over, then shrugged. “Pretty much. There are some of the ranching jobs I can’t do because I’m not strong enough, but that’s about it.”
We passed a group of students from the local high school who were streaming out of the education barn, headed toward the paddock where they would actually get to ride the horses. I noticed a number of female students and a couple of teachers give Ty an appreciative look.
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
I looked over to see if he was teasing me. But no, his face looked open and sincere. It was funny to have my work at the ranch admired. I was so used to Luke’s dismissive and often patronizing attitude that I was simply filling in that I saw my own work through his eyes. I hadn’t given myself much credit until Ty commented on it.
I was too busy mulling that over to continue our conversation. We reached the cafeteria in silence, and then Ty went to the food line to pick up a boxed lunch. I helped myself to a drink and chose a seat by the window. Then I pulled out my own sandwich and unwrapped it, looking around the familiar room.
Dad had decided to add a cafeteria back when we started to have a steady stream of guests coming through. It became apparent that the cattle ranching side of the business was only part of what the Triple Star would be known for. The conference rooms and teaching barn were bringing in far more people than my parents had predicted.
So, the cafeteria had been built. It was a large room with linoleum floors and rectangular tables spaced neatly. There was an ice cream machine, a full salad bar, and a full working kitchen that produced very tasty meals. Full-time employees were allowed to eat one meal a day for free. It made things much easier for everyone, since the ranch was more than twenty miles from the nearest fast food joint.
“What do you have?” Ty asked as he slid into the plastic chair opposite me.
“Tuna fish. What did you get?”
Ty opened his cardboard box. “I think I got ham and cheese on a sub. Oh, good, there’s a pickle. And a cookie!”
I laughed at his delight. He was so pleased with this find that he pulled it out and ate it first with great relish. I caught a glimmer of the kid I’d known as he closed his eyes and moaned with delight.
“I am going to have to join a gym if there are going to be cookies like this every day,” Ty said with mock regret.
I leaned in and said conspiratorially, “If you ask the cook really nicely, she’ll give you another one.”
Ty shook his head sadly. “Ah, Rosemarie. You shouldn’t have told me that. I am absolutely going to take advantage of that little secret.”
I grinned unrepentantly and took a bite of my sandwich.
“Are you settling into your apartment?” I asked after we’d eaten for a minute or two.
“Not at all.”
“When did you move in?”
Ty wiped his face with a napkin and said, “Last Friday. I unpacked sheets and towels last night and then hooked up my X-Box and I’ve been playing way too many hours of this new golf game.”
I shook my head. “That’s pathetic. You’re actually dodging unpacking so that you can play video game golf?”
“Hey, don’t knock it! It’s actually super challenging.” He lifted a shoulder. “Okay, yes, that is fairly pathetic. I spent half an hour trying to find my toothbrush the other night.”
“Please say that was Friday night.” I cringed.
He just grinned and waggled his eyebrows.
“Boys are gross,” I informed him.
“Oh, yeah, we totally are. It’s what drives the ladies crazy for us.”
He opened his bag of chips and offered it to me. I plucked one out and smiled. We’d fallen right back into our usual easy banter. All the butterflies and embarrassment were gone. This is why you need to get yourself together, I lectured myself. It’s going to be so weird if you don’t.
“So, I know you have a hot date on Friday, but if you wouldn’t mind helping me unpack some other night after work, I’d really appreciate the help. Who is this guy you’re seeing?” Ty asked in a would-be nonchalant tone.
I got momentarily tangled up in the idea that Ty wasn’t exactly being older brotherly. But then by sheer force of will, I calmly said, “I’m not exactly ‘seeing’ him. I’m just going to the movies with Nick Alexander. And, yes, I could definitely help you unpack. If you show up in this same outfit all week, my mom will call your mom, and you’ll be in big trouble.”
“Good,” Ty said, a bit cryptically.
6
Even though I’d offered to help Ty unpack, I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up first. I wanted to come across as nonchalant and casual. “Oh? I totally forgot until you mentioned it” was the facial expression I was going to attempt. It didn’t help that I thought about it every other minute for the next two days.
By the time Ty asked, “Hey, any chance I can cash in your offer to help me unpack? The situation is getting desperate,” I looked more like a hyper puppy who’d just been asked if he wanted to go for a walk.
I beamed. “Sure. I’m free tonight.” Dang it. So much for casual and nonchalant.
“I’ll get a pizza,” Ty offered.
“I’ll get some sodas,” I countered.
He winked and did a “you got it” gesture with his hands as Luke came around the corner and swept him off to another important meeting, leaving me to handle the phones alone.
I kept busy all morning, and even walked to the cafeteria alone when Heather came to cover the desk during my lunch break. Ty and I had sat together the prev
ious day, though Luke had joined us and commandeered the conversation. I chose to sit at the same table we’d occupied both days this week and secretly hoped that it would become “our” spot.
So, you can imagine my delight when Ty came in a few minutes after I’d started in on my sandwich. He waved to me and joined the food line. I spent the intervening time trying not to stare at him. He was wearing a pale blue button-up shirt with cool military details and very flattering dark gray trousers. He looked like a trendy adult, and my heart did a goofy wiggle.
“Sorry I’m late. Luke wanted to go over some stuff.” Ty’s grin was mildly apologetic as he slid into the chair opposite me.
“No problem. Anything interesting?”
“Not at all.” Ty paused to bless his food, and my heart did that funny wiggle again. He looked up, face serious as he opened his drink. “I need to warn you about my furniture and stuff before you come over and judge me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Ty’s face darkened unexpectedly. “So, you know I was engaged before, right?”
I nodded.
“Well, my fiancee’s name was Jenna, and she was all about being really trendy. She picked out most of the clothes I own at this point and gave me advice on how to cut my hair.” He frowned at the memory. “So, I now have all this really ‘cool’ stuff.” His fingers hooked air quotation marks, and he scowled. “I promise, I am not a pretentious guy who actually cares about being cool. Well, not anymore.”
I nodded again, this time more slowly. So, this was the explanation behind the sharp clothes and flashy car. Ty’s ex-fianceé had been the driving force. And from his reaction, Ty was still having big feelings about Jenna. Even big angry feelings counted when it came to ex-girlfriends.
“I’m guessing there will be a lot of glass and chrome?” I tried to bring some levity to the conversation.
He grimaced. “A lot.”
“And some mostly unattractive artwork?”
Ty was catching on to my teasing tone. He hung his head and sighed. “I have an entire black and white photo collection of sports equipment. And they all have chrome frames.”