by SJ McCoy
Hope smiled. “I’ll remind you of that when the tables are turned, and you’re about to meet him for the first time.”
“Fair enough.”
~ ~ ~
When Chance pulled up in front of the house, Hope looked around and nodded appreciatively. “This is beautiful.”
Chance laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised. They don’t all live in wooden shacks like I do.”
She made a face at him. “I love your cabin.”
“So do I, but my point is, you shouldn’t be so surprised. You know that Carter’s wife is Summer Breese, the big country singer.”
“I do. I should’ve expected a nice place.”
“Right. And when we go to Shane and Cassidy’s, her place would put Oscar’s to shame.”
“Oh!” she couldn’t help sounding surprised.
Chance shook his head at her. “Yeah. She’s a big-time artist. I thought you might know her. She was based in California for years.”
“Well, considering I only know her as Cassidy, what’s her last name? I just thought of Cassidy Remington.”
“That’s her name now, but she was Cassidy Lane.”
“Oh!” Hope started to laugh. “Are you boys going out rounding up famous, talented women and bringing them all back here to Paradise Valley? Cassidy Lane is amazing. She’s hugely talented. Just wait till Reid hears about her. He’ll be coming up to visit I’m sure.”
Chance shook his head. “There’s no roundup going on. Cassidy and Summer both came here of their own accord and met Shane and Carter when they did.” He smiled and cupped his hand around the back of her neck, drawing her closer for a kiss that left her breathless. When he lifted his head, he smiled. “Now you, you’re a different matter. I guess you could say I rustled you up in Oregon and brought you back here.”
She laughed. “No. I came here of my own accord, too.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “Because I wanted to.”
He smiled and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “I hope you’ll want to stay.”
At that moment, the front door burst open and Shane came out on the front steps waving at them. “Come on in you guys!”
Chance rolled his eyes at her. “Moment destroyed, huh?”
She chuckled. “Maybe we can recreate it later?”
“I hope so. Come on, let’s go do this, and don’t forget, I’ve got your back. If you need rescuing scratch your ear or something and I’ll come get you.”
She squeezed his hand before opening the truck door. “Thanks, Chancey bear, you’re the sweetest.” She had to laugh at the thunderous look he gave her as he climbed out of the truck. “Hi Shane,” she called before Chance could come around to join her. “Sorry, we’re a little late.”
“No, problem. You’re here now. I just thought it was silly to have everyone peeking out the window at the two of you sitting there when we could get you to come inside and interrogate you as well as just look!”
A woman with long blonde hair appeared behind him and swatted the back of his head. “Don’t, asshole. You’ll scare her away.”
She turned and smiled warmly at Hope. “Ignore him, he means well.” She offered her hand. “I’m Cassidy Remington, and I’m so pleased to finally meet you.”
Hope shook hands with her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. I love your work. I didn’t realize you were Cassidy Lane until Chance told me just now.”
“Thank you.”
She turned as someone else came out the door behind her. Hope had no problem recognizing Summer Breese. She’d seen her in so many music videos. She was so petite and so beautiful; the only thing that didn’t look familiar about her was the baby bump. Hope would guess she was about six months pregnant. She came forward and hugged Hope. “Hi, I’m Summer. It’s lovely to meet you. Come on in.” She scowled at Cassidy. “We don’t need to keep you standing out here on the porch.” She slipped her arm through Hope’s and led her into the kitchen. “Gina’s putting the baby down and Beau and Corinne have taken Ruby down to the river to see the baby ducks. They’ll all be back in a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Please, I’ll take whatever’s on offer.”
“We’ve got all kinds of wine,” said a deep voice behind her. She turned to see a guy she assumed must be Carter since everyone else was accounted for. He looked like a body builder, big and buff, yet he immediately struck her as a gentle giant. He had such kind eyes and a calm manner about him.
“In that case, I’d love something red.”
Carter smiled. “They’re all the same to me. If you want to know what will go with dinner, you might want to wait for Beau; he’s the expert.”
She smiled. “I’ll take a glass of whatever’s open, thanks.”
Carter smiled and poured her a glass from a bottle that looked like it came from the same winery as the Cab Franc she and Chance liked. “Do you want a glass?” he asked Chance, who was hovering by her elbow.
“I could use an ice-cold beer,” he said with a grin.
“Coming right up.”
Summer smiled at them. “I hope you don’t have allergies, or anything, Hope? I avoided nuts and all the obvious ones, just in case.”
“No, I’m pretty robust,” said Hope with a smile. She hated to think of them going to any extra effort just for her.
“Good,” said Shane who’d come into the kitchen behind them. “You won’t last too long around here if you’re not. Especially with this guy.” He slapped Chance on the back.
Summer gave Shane a worried look, but Hope was grateful to him for trying to break the ice. She smiled at him. “I’m not worried about keeping up with him,” she said with a smile. “He was worried at first that I might be a pampered princess, but I’m not. I guess the family name gives me a reputation that goes before me.” She smiled at Summer and then Cassidy. “You both know how that goes, but I didn’t even earn mine. It just comes with being a Davenport.”
Cassidy grinned at her. “We’re going to do just fine you and me. This one,” she slapped Shane’s ass, “likes to call me princess, but just because we’re classy ladies, doesn’t mean we can’t hold our own, does it?”
Hope grinned. “Exactly.”
Shane looked at Chance. “Oh dear, you have no idea what you’re in for, if she’s anything like Cassidy.”
Chance slid his arm around Hope’s shoulders. “I think I do.”
Summer caught Hope’s eye and smiled, and at that moment, Hope knew she would fit in with them all. For the first time since she was a little girl, she felt like she belonged, in this place with these people.
A dark-haired woman came into the kitchen from the hallway. “We finally got her down … oh, hi Chance.” She smiled. “Nice to see you, Hope. I’m Gina.”
Hope felt drawn to Gina. More so than the others. There was something about her that felt familiar. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Gina smiled. “We’ve met before, but you won’t remember that.”
“We have?”
“Yeah. When we were kids. My dad used to lease a couple of hayfields from your dad. I used to come over with him at haying. We played a couple of times in the barn.”
Hope’s hand flew up to cover her mouth! “That was you? Oh, my God! You were the only friend I had as a kid up here. Gina! I remember now. You brought me a kitten, and my dad wouldn’t let me keep it!”
Gina smiled. “Yeah, sorry, I got us both into trouble with that one. My dad gave me hell when we got home. I’d smuggled the kitten in the truck on the way over to you. I knew he wouldn’t let me bring it for you, but I thought it’d make you happy.”
Hope had to blink rapidly; she didn’t want to cry. Not now, not with all of them watching her, but she remembered Gina vividly now. It was one of the many memories of her childhood that she’d locked away. The little girl with the dark hair who used to come over sometimes when her father came to work the fields. Hope would slip out to see her, and they’d play in the meadow down by the
creek. Gina was so practical, so down to earth, so different from Hope. Hope had begged to be allowed to go and play at Gina’s house, but her father wouldn’t hear of it. Now, Gina stepped forward and hugged her and Hope clung to her, grateful for the chance to hide her face for a moment while she regained her composure.
“Come on,” said Cassidy. “It’s getting a bit crowded in here. Let’s take it out on the deck and give Summer some room.” She herded Shane, Carter, and Chance out of the kitchen.
Chance put a hand on Hope’s shoulder before he left. She looked up and smiled at him. “I’m okay. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
Gina touched his shoulder. “I’ll bring her back to you; we just need our little reunion.”
Another guy appeared in the kitchen doorway. He must be Mason, Gina’s husband, judging by the way she shooed him away.
Hope straightened up and sucked in a deep breath before blowing it out. “Sorry. You just took me straight back, back to being that lonely little girl who only had one friend in the world, and you were it.”
Gina smiled and rubbed her shoulder. “I didn’t think you’d even remember. I wasn’t going to mention it. I was just the kid from the ranch down the road. I was in awe of your house and your dad and all your things, but I still felt sorry for you somehow.”
Hope nodded. “I always felt you were so much richer than I was.”
“Not anymore though,” Gina smiled brightly. “Now you’ve made your own friends and your own success in life. I love your line of leggings, and the yoga pants are the best.”
“Thanks. Davenport Athleticwear is doing very well, but I can’t take the credit for it anymore. I hired a great staff, and they do everything now. And as far as friends go, I still haven’t made any. It’s hard when you’re a Davenport.”
Cassidy leaned on the counter and gave her a skeptical look, making Hope nervous about what she was about to say. “It’s not just when you’re a Davenport. It’s hard to make friends as a successful woman. We can all vouch for that; right, ladies?”
Gina and Summer nodded their agreement.
“But I’m happy to tell you, that you just stumbled into the midst of four amazing women, all of whom are successful in our own way, and all of us are happy to welcome you as a new friend. We were all in the same boat as you, not so long ago. I didn’t have any real friends, neither did you two, did you?”
Gina shook her head. “I made a grand total of two friends in the ten years I was away from here. They’re both photographers like I am. They both live up in the Sierras now.”
“I’ve never managed to make any friends,” said Summer.
“Hey! You’ve always had me,” said Cassidy with a scowl.
“I know,” Summer smiled at her. “But if you remember, it was you and Autumn who made friends; then you just adopted me as the tag along little sister.”
“Oh, yeah.” Cassidy smiled. “Anyway, the point is,” she turned back to address Hope, “you’re here now. You’ve got a great group of friends on offer if you want us, and a truly great guy, if you can open him up.”
Hope smiled. “I hope it’s going to work out that way. I’d love to think we’ll all be friends, but I don’t know if Chance is going to able to let me into his life.”
“Seems to me he’s already let you into his life,” said Cassidy. “And from the looks of him, I know he wants to let you into his heart. The million-dollar question is whether he can. Whether there’s enough of his heart left.”
Chapter Fourteen
Chance looked around at everyone. They were seated at the table, eating and talking. The conversation was as lively as it always was. Hope had answered lots of questions, but she seemed to be relaxed and enjoying herself. He didn’t know what the story was between her and Gina, but they seemed to have an instant bond. Mason had noticed it too and had grinned at him when the two girls had told the story of the kitten Gina had brought Hope.
Little Ruby was taken with Hope and kept smiling at her and asking her questions.
“Do you want to come out riding with me?” she asked when the conversation lulled.
Hope smiled. “I’d love to.”
Mason looked at Chance. “Haven’t you taken Hope out yet?”
He shook his head. He hadn’t had time. He was working all day, and in the evenings, they just had dinner and hung out, either up at Oscar’s place or in the cabin.
Ruby smiled at him. “You can come, too, Uncle Chancey.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.” He heard Hope stifle a giggle and scowled at her, not quite able to hide his smile.
Of course, Shane picked up on it. He smiled at Hope. “The rest of us wouldn’t get away with calling him Chancey, just in case you wondered.”
She laughed. “Oh, I don’t know. I think it suits him; there’s something sweet about the name Chancey, don’t you think?”
Shane laughed, and Chance scowled at her, for real this time. “I am not sweet.”
Cassidy laughed. “You keep telling yourself that. We know better, don’t we girls?” They all smiled and nodded at him.
“Sorry, but you’re not fooling anyone,” said Gina. “You might like to make out you’re a hard-hearted …” she shot a look at Ruby, “kind of guy, but we know better.”
Ruby nodded. “You’re always sweet to me.”
Chance rolled his eyes and looked around at the guys for help.
Beau shrugged. “Sorry, bro. I tried to keep up my asshole exterior …”
“Language!” Corinne slapped his arm with a smile.
Beau smiled and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Sorry, love.” He turned back to Chance. “But as you can see, these girls just strip us of our defenses. My guess is that Hope here will have you as whipped as the rest of us in no time. You’re headed down the same path.”
Ruby looked up at him with wide eyes. “Are you and Hope getting married.”
He shook his head. “Not yet.” Oh shit! He realized what he’d said when all eyes turned to him. He wasn’t too concerned what the rest of them were thinking. He met Hope’s gaze, but couldn’t for the life of him figure out how she felt. She looked stunned, but he didn’t know if she was happily stunned—or horrified.
Carter stepped in to help him out. He stood and smiled around at them. “What do you say we take it outside? It’s still warm out there; it seems a shame to waste a nice evening indoors.”
They all got up and started making their way outside. Chance went to Summer and took the plates out of her hands. “Why don’t you go sit down with the girls? I’ll give your man a hand in the kitchen.”
She smiled at him. “Thanks, I will, but you can’t hide in here too long. Hope might think you didn’t mean what you just said.”
Chance stared at her. Did he mean it? He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter whether I meant it or not. It’s not likely to happen, is it?”
“Why not?”
“Because there’s too much in the way.”
Summer smiled and patted his arm. “Nothing will stand in your way if it’s what you both want. Carter and I proved that.”
Chance nodded and watched her go out to join the other girls on the deck. Hope caught his eye and smiled. She didn’t look so stunned now, but did she like the idea? Did he? Marriage?
“Are you going to help with the dishes or just stand there staring into space?” asked Carter.
Chance started clearing the table.
~ ~ ~
Hope couldn’t believe how late it was by the time they got back to the cabin. After dinner, they’d all sat around the fire pit by the river, talking and laughing. She’d enjoyed herself more this evening than she had in a long time. They were such a great group of people, and they obviously cared so much about each other.
Chance turned to her as he opened the front door. “So?”
“So what?”
He chuckled. “Did you have fun?”
“I did. That was the best time I’ve had in years.” She smiled. “I’ll go as far as to s
ay you were right.”
He laughed. “Can I get that in writing?”
She laughed with him. “No, you can’t, but you can get my thanks for not letting me chicken out. You were right about the girls, too. They’re not like the women I know in LA. There’s no bitchiness or competitiveness between them. They’re lovely.”
Chance smiled. “They are. But not as lovely as you.”
“Aww, thank you.”
“Yeah, I know, I’m so sweet, right?”
She laughed. “I wasn’t going to say that, but now that you mention it …”
He shook his head at her. “How tired are you? Do you want to go straight to bed?”
“Ooh, that sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re only after me for my body, aren’t you?”
She laughed. “Not just that, but it helps.”
“In that case, I’m going to make you wait.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” It seemed he wasn’t joking. “Can we sit out back for a while? I need to chill a bit after spending the evening with them all. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, and I enjoy those dinners, but that’s the most people time I do all week. I like to sit and watch the stars and relax afterward.”
“Of course. I love that idea.”
“Do you want a drink?”
She shook her head. “No, I’ve had enough for one night.”
When they were sitting in the rockers on the back porch, she stole a peek over at him. He was leaning his head back looking up at the stars. He didn’t look relaxed, though. He looked as though there was something on his mind. She wanted to ask, but if he was just unwinding, she didn’t want to pull him out of his thoughts.
She leaned her own head back and looked up at the big star-filled sky. She loved the view of the night sky from her house in LA, but that was such a small stretch of sky compared to this. The skyline was man-made, created by the contours of the skyscrapers and the sky above them was always smoggy, never clear. The skyline here was created by the mountains, and the sky above them was a vast inky darkness through which millions of stars twinkled brightly.