Cowboy After Dark

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “You bet,” Finn said. “Just pop one off your next can of beer, put it on your pinky and you’re in business.”

  “Then I’m in.”

  “Good.” Cade looked incredibly pleased with himself. “It was mostly my idea, but—”

  “It was not.” Finn rolled his eyes. “Way to hog the credit. If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do, it was—”

  “Boys!” Rosie clapped her hands. “We’re getting off track, and I want to see that sculpture. Who’s going in the house with me?”

  Damon glanced at Grady. “Can I stay? I can help you figure out where it should go.”

  “Yeah, let him stay,” Phil said. “He has a good eye. I’m sure I’ll be happy with the placement.”

  “Okay.” Grady nodded. “You’re right. It’ll be better if one of you tells us where to put it. We won’t end up having to move it later.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Rosie motioned toward the porch. “Women, inside. Men, get to work. Call us when you’re ready for the big reveal.”

  “There’s only one thing wrong with this plan, Rosie,” Phil’s stepmother said.

  “What’s that, Edie?”

  “We don’t get to watch all these gorgeous men flex their muscles.”

  That got a laugh. Liam checked Hope’s reaction to the remark and discovered she was smiling. More than that, she was smiling at him. Maybe Grady was right. He should go for it.

  3

  ONCE THEY WERE INSIDE, Hope accepted with gratitude the glass of wine Phil handed her. Somehow she kept herself from knocking it back like a shot of whiskey.

  “I’m organizing card games so nobody’s tempted to peek out the window,” Rosie said. “Who wants to play?”

  “Count Hope and me in for the second round,” Phil said. “We’re going to take inventory of beer and snacks for the guys after they finish.”

  Lexi glanced their way. “Need help?”

  “Thanks, but we can handle it.” Phil led the way into the kitchen.

  Hope followed. She hadn’t offered to help organize the food and drinks, but Phil must have guessed she needed a time-out. Plus, she and Phil hadn’t had a chance to talk by themselves all day. Until Phil and Damon left on their honeymoon, Hope was staying in one of Rosie and Herb’s guest rooms out at the ranch.

  That put her at the center of the activity, which had been great for getting to know everybody. Rosie, Herb, Cade, Finn, Damon and Lexi were all wonderful people, but Phil was the one she’d come to see.

  “What did you do with your kitty cats?” she asked as they walked into the kitchen.

  “Once I realized we’d be hanging out here, I closed them in the bedroom. They have food, water and a litter box. It’s better if they’re not part of this craziness.”

  “Much better.”

  “And if I haven’t said this before, I so appreciate that you’re willing to stay here after we leave and take care of MC Hammer and Nine-Inch-Nails.”

  “Of course! It’ll be fun. So what are we doing to get ready for the testosterone invasion later on?”

  Phil laughed. “No kidding. Beer is the magic potion. I have some in the fridge and more in the pantry.” Phil opened the pantry door and pulled several varieties of chips from the top shelf.

  “See how you do that? I’ve always envied your height.” Phil had been the designated top-shelf gal for their crowd in high school.

  “I always envied your boobs.”

  That made Hope laugh. “These old things? I’ve had them for years, but where have they gotten me?”

  “Prom queen.”

  “Besides that. That doesn’t matter.”

  “It does when you’re seventeen.”

  “I suppose.” Prom queen. What an empty accolade that was now. “So I assume you invited Debbie and Joan. Couldn’t they come?”

  “Sadly, no. I guess you didn’t hear that Debbie moved to New York and Joan took a job in South Carolina. Debbie’s about to deliver her first kid, and Joan was coming but she just started this job and couldn’t wrangle the time off.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “I know. They both wanted to be here. They would have loved to see you.”

  “Likewise.” She regretted losing touch with both women, but a lot of water had gone under the bridge. Maybe it was too late to rekindle the friendship. “So! What do you want me to do?”

  “I’ll get chip bowls if you’ll put more beer in the fridge. We’re well stocked, because I anticipated Damon’s brothers dropping by.”

  Hope surveyed the cases of beer. “How much of this do you want chilled?”

  “All that will fit. None of it is up to Finn’s standards, I’m sure, but he’ll just have to deal.”

  “Why’s he so picky?” Hope carried a case over to the fridge and started making room on the shelves.

  “He owns a microbrewery in Seattle, and he prefers his own beer. He shipped some to Rosie and Herb for the reception, but I can’t buy it locally yet.”

  Kneeling, Hope layered cans on the bottom shelf by turning them on their sides. Phil was a lifesaver for bringing her in here to do this little chore. Working at something simple in the kitchen was perfect for calming her frazzled nerves. “It must be fun marrying into a family with so many brothers.”

  “It’s a blast, and I haven’t even met them all yet. What a coincidence that you know Liam, huh?”

  “Yeah.” Hope went for more beer. “Although I don’t really know him. He’s stopped in to chat a few times, but obviously I had no idea he used to live at Thunder Mountain or he was Grady Magee’s brother. That was a shocker. Grady’s one of Cody’s most famous citizens these days, but Liam never said a word about him.”

  “Which gets him points in my book. He didn’t try to impress you with his brother’s fame.”

  “Maybe he wasn’t trying to impress me, period.”

  “I think he’d like to, just not by bragging about his family connections.” Phil paused to glance at her. “He seems interested in you.”

  “Okay, yeah. I think he is.” Possibilities shimmered through her mind, teasing her with thoughts she hadn’t considered in more than a year. But she didn’t trust those thoughts. She wouldn’t surrender to them ever again.

  “And?”

  “Well, obviously it’s flattering. He’s hot.”

  “No argument there. Damon’s the only man for me, but I can still appreciate beauty when I see it. Liam’s got that black Irish thing going on with his dark hair and blue eyes.”

  “Uh-huh.” Hope had taken note of that—not to mention his insanely long lashes and shoulders a mile wide. He was dangerously attractive.

  “You dating anybody?”

  “Nope.”

  “It must be tough. You and Tom were together a long time.”

  “We were.” Thinking of him didn’t affect her anymore, thank goodness.

  “I don’t know Liam or Grady, really. All I have to go on is Damon’s opinion, and he’s prejudiced. I’ve learned that these men are fiercely loyal to each other. In most cases they couldn’t depend on their biological families, but they sure as hell can depend on the family Rosie and Herb created.”

  Hope smiled. “So now we have a hot guy who’s been through tough times and consequently sticks by the people he loves. That’s a damned appealing combo.”

  “Don’t I know it, sister. I fell for Damon like a ton of bricks. Listen, I’m not trying to matchmake, but you and Liam will be seeing each other a lot in the next few days. It might be a perfect time to get to know him without having to play the dating game.”

  “True.” She hadn’t thought of it that way. The idea of dating completely turned her off. But she and Liam would be thrown together on a regular basis without having to plan anything. If, d
uring that time, their relationship took a sexy turn, so what? Other people had flings, so why couldn’t she?

  Phil dumped the last bag of chips in a bowl. “How’s the new job going?”

  “It’s good. I like the management, and setting up fun outings for the hotel guests has turned out to be satisfying.”

  “I’m glad.” Phil tossed the empty bag in the trash. “What about your writing? Have you had time for that?”

  Hope felt a slight twinge in the region of her heart, and then it was gone. “Not really. I could make the time, I guess, but I can’t get excited about it the way I used to.”

  “Really? That’s my most vivid memory of you, always writing something in those journals you carried around. When your short story was published in the school paper, I saved it. I probably still have it somewhere.”

  “Thank you for that.” Hope smiled at the memory of the person she used to be. So naive. “But at some point I realized I wasn’t going to write the Great American Novel, so I gave it up.”

  “Huh.” Phil ran her hands through her red hair, which was shorter than it had been in high school. “I kind of get that, I guess. I used to think I’d be an Olympic figure skater, but eventually I realized it wasn’t gonna happen. We grow up and view the world as it actually is, right?”

  “Right.”

  “And now you’re having a good time planning trips for your hotel guests.”

  “And you’re in business with your soon-to-be husband, renovating homes that need some TLC. That must be satisfying, too.”

  “I love it. You look at a home that’s not functioning the way it should and you figure out how to fix the dynamic through a bathroom remodel or a kitchen makeover. It changes people’s lives.”

  “I’m sure it does.” Hope thought of her extremely basic apartment in Cody and yearned for a place she could really make her own. She was saving, but not fast enough to suit her.

  Phil sighed. “We need to get back to the party, but I almost hate to. It’s been so good catching up after all this time.”

  “It has.” Hope gave her a hug. “Cody isn’t that far away. We need to keep in better touch.” She glanced down at the almost invisible bulge that indicated Phil was pregnant with her first child. “Do you know yet if it’s a boy or a girl?”

  “We don’t want to know before he or she is born. But I’m hoping for a girl. Damon’s foster family is chockablock with testosterone. Rosie’s been holding the fort with some help from Lexi and me, but honestly, we need reinforcements. I understand why Rosie and Herb decided to take only boys after they brought Cade home. Life was less complicated that way. But the ladies need more representation around here.”

  “Then I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a girl.”

  “Good deal. Now let’s go kick butt at some cards.”

  “I’m pumped. Let’s do it.” She walked into the living room and discovered every woman with her nose pressed against the windows.

  “Hey!” Phil’s shout made them turn around, and they all looked guilty as hell. “I thought we’d agreed not to watch.”

  “We did, dear.” Edie gestured toward the window. “But we’re only human, and every one of those lovely men has taken off his shirt.”

  “Which you wouldn’t have known if at least one of you hadn’t peeked.” Phil crossed her arms and tried to look stern, but Hope could tell she was working hard not to laugh.

  “I confess,” Lexi said, grinning. “It was Edie.”

  Phil sighed. “Come on, Edie. I’m sure you’ve seen shirtless cowboys before.”

  “Not with muscles like theirs,” her stepmother said, “and not so many all at once.”

  “Even Herb took off his shirt.” Rosie sounded proud of that. “If I do say so myself, he’s a fine figure of a man for his age. The sculpture’s almost in place. Do you want to—”

  “No!” Phil clapped a hand over her eyes. “I’m not looking. Grady wanted this to be a surprise, and although I may be the only one in this room who will be surprised, I’m taking the high road.”

  “Me, too.” As a gesture of solidarity, Hope refused to look out the window, even though the prospect of seeing Liam shirtless was a powerful draw.

  Rosie walked over and wrapped her arm around Phil. “I admire your ethical stand. I’m also happy to report that the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood has settled your gift in its spot, and it looks magnificent.”

  “Do you want a teensy-weensy hint as to what it is?” Edie looked ready to burst with eagerness.

  “I do not.” Phil plopped into the nearest chair. “Don’t any of you dare tell me what it looks like, or give me hints, or whisper so I can hear you. Grady Magee, who is a god among sculptors, has made me—well, Damon and me—a fabulous work of art. I will not see it before its time!”

  A decisive rap on the door grabbed everyone’s attention, but no one moved.

  At last Hope got up. “I’ll get it.” When she opened the door, Liam stood on the other side, holding a bandana.

  He wore a wide smile. “It’s up.”

  Everyone in the room cheered, including Hope, although she was a bit distracted by the man standing in the open doorway. He’d put on his shirt, but it hung open to reveal a chest glistening with sweat. He must have taken the steps two at a time, because he was breathing fast. Hope stared in fascination at the droplets quivering on his dark chest hair.

  Then she glanced up and discovered he was looking right at her with an expression that clearly said caught you looking. Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she bravely met his gaze. Talking with Phil had clarified the situation for her, and if he wanted to pursue this attraction for the weekend, she was game.

  “So, can we go out now or what?” Rosie asked.

  Liam walked into the room. “My instructions are to blindfold Phil and lead her to the sculpture. You can—”

  “Why isn’t Grady doing the leading?” Rosie asked. “Or Damon?”

  “Because both of them want to see her face when she takes off the blindfold, so I volunteered.”

  Rosie nodded. “Makes sense. Proceed.”

  “Thanks. You can all follow behind, but you’re not supposed to say anything. You might give it away.”

  “Who, us?” Edie laughed. “Never.”

  “We’ll be quiet,” Lexi promised.

  “That means you can’t make any noises, like gasping and stuff.” Liam positioned the blue bandana over Phil’s eyes and tied it behind her head. “Is that too tight, Phil?”

  “No.”

  “Can you see?”

  “No.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “She doesn’t want to see,” Hope said. “She’s been really good about not looking.”

  He glanced at her. “Did you look?”

  “Nope.”

  “She didn’t,” Lexi said. “But you might want to skip that question for the rest of us.”

  “Yeah, I saw those faces glued to the window. I think we’re ready, Phil. I’ll hold your right hand until we’re out the door. Hope, once we’re out, why don’t you take her left? That way she’ll have support on both sides if she trips on something. The ground’s uneven.”

  “Glad to.” Maybe he’d suggested it as a reward because she’d been the only person besides Phil who hadn’t peeked at the sculpture. Or maybe he liked the idea of sharing this moment with her. Whatever his reason, she was honored that he’d asked.

  “I have a suggestion, Liam,” Rosie said.

  “What do you have in mind, Rosie?”

  “Why not let us go first? Then you don’t have to worry that we’ll give anything away, and we get to see her reaction, too.”

  “Okay, that’s better. Go on ahead.” After everyone else had left the cabin, he looked over at Hope. “Let’s give them a little lead ti
me. Grady’s excited about this moment. He’s been envisioning it ever since he got the wedding invitation.”

  “I never in a million years expected something like this.” Phil took a deep breath. “Sure, I thought he might decide to give us something small for the coffee table, but never a large piece worth... I don’t even want to think what it might be worth.”

  “But Grady doesn’t think in those terms,” Liam said. “He’s astounded at the kind of money people are willing to pay for his work. He’d sell it for less, but the galleries don’t want him to undervalue it and cut into their profits.”

  “Considering he made it for you and Damon as a gesture of gratitude,” Hope said, “I’d say it’s priceless.”

  Phil nodded. “Definitely.”

  “I agree,” Liam said. “Ready for your special moment?”

  “So ready.”

  “Then here we go.”

  Hope slipped out the door after them and took Phil’s other hand. Once she was on the porch, she could see the sculpture. She swallowed the gasp that Liam had forbidden.

  Damon had chosen the perfect site, a level area that wasn’t blocked by trees. He and Phil would be able to see it easily from the porch swing. She knew the materials were recycled metal, but looking at the piece, no one would ever know it.

  Set on a wide base, polished metal thunderclouds rose skyward. Above them soared a pair of eagles, their wingtips separated by mere inches. The image brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them quickly away, because blurred vision wouldn’t help her guide Phil down the steps and over to the sculpture.

  Liam didn’t speak as they walked carefully toward the people grouped in a semicircle on either side of it. Grady stood on one side and Damon on the other. Hope couldn’t decide which one of them looked more joyous, the creator of the piece or the man deeply in love with the woman about to see it.

  “That’s good,” Grady called out. “She can take off the blindfold now.”

  Phil whipped off the bandana, gaped at the sculpture and burst into tears. “It’s beautiful!” she gulped. “Oh, my God, so beautiful!” Cameras and phones clicked as everyone recorded a moment they’d all remember for years.