by Cindy Kirk
“It’s next Tuesday, right?” Mitzi scrolled through the calendar in her head.
“Seven o’clock,” Kate confirmed.
“I’ll be there,” Mitzi promised.
This would be a perfect chance to spend some quality time with Winn, perhaps charm him a little. Mitzi wondered why she didn’t feel more excited at the prospect.
* * *
The second Keenan stepped into the lobby of the Red Sands Hotel, he wondered what madness had prompted him to come. The monthly Jackson After-Hours events gave young professionals in the Jackson Hole area the opportunity to mingle and network.
As Keenan wasn’t a professional and at thirty-four didn’t feel particularly young, it didn’t seem like an event for him. But Gabe and Joel made the event sound mandatory.
Apparently a lot of the growth Stone Craft Builders had experienced could be traced to contacts made at such events. In Keenan’s mind, the only upside was that the complimentary hot hors d’oeuvres would save him from buying or making dinner.
In deference to the event, he’d taken off a half hour early to shower, pull on a pair of khakis and a green polo with the company logo.
When he arrived, the private dining room adjacent to the bar already teemed with people. He recognized many of them, including his brother-in-law.
After getting a glass of club soda from one of the bars, Keenan forced himself to mingle. As he walked through the crowd, he heard a shriek and found himself wrapped in a bear hug.
“Someone told me you were back.”
Keenan had a momentary glimpse of bright copper hair tipped with fuchsia and dancing blue eyes framed in purple glasses studded with rhinestones. The girl had blossomed into a woman, but he’d have known that smile anywhere.
“Cassidy Kaye.” He returned the hug. “It’s been a long time. What are you doing here?”
“Networking,” she said and he heard pride in her voice. “I own my own salon...Clippety Do-Dah on Main.”
Her gaze narrowed as she studied his hair. “You could use a trim. Stop in and I’ll take a few inches off. It’ll be like old times, except now I know what I’m doing.”
“If you need some work done on your car,” he said easily, taking a sip of his club soda, “all you had to do was ask.”
She chuckled and hugged him again. “You know me so well.”
It was the truth. Cassidy had lived down the street from him growing up. All through high school he’d helped keep her ancient Gremlin running. In exchange, she’d cut his hair. Though they never spoke about it, he knew her home life had been no better than his. But she was tough and from all appearances had come out ahead.
She scanned the crowd, her lips lifting in a rueful smile. “Ever think you and me’d be standing here mingling with Jackson’s elite?”
“Oh, yeah,” he drawled. “All I had to do was get out of prison first.”
She laughed.
He narrowed his gaze. “Is that Doogie over there?”
Cassidy smiled. “That’s him.”
Dr. Timothy Duggan had been another classmate Keenan had lost track of over the years. From the time he’d been a small child, the awkward red-haired kid had wanted to be a doctor. That fact, coupled with old reruns of Doogie Howser, MD and a last name of Duggan, had sealed Tim’s fate. He’d been dubbed Doogie in middle school. The name had stuck.
While Keenan and Cassidy had been from the wrong side of the tracks, Tim had come from a wealthy family. Still, he’d been a good guy and had once been a friend.
Keenan noted Tim’s red hair had darkened over time and was now the color of mahogany.
“I haven’t seen him since high school,” he told Cass.
Even as the thought of walking over and greeting his old friend crossed his mind, Winn Ferris and Mitzi paused to speak with Tim.
Cassidy’s expression narrowed. “That’s Winn Ferris and Mit—”
“I know the other two.” A hard knot had formed in the pit of Keenan’s stomach.
Keenan felt Cassidy’s curious gaze at the curtness in his tone.
“Let’s go say hello.”
Before he could respond, she had her hand on his arm and was tugging him across the room.
* * *
Mitzi told herself the evening was moving along splendidly. She already planned to see Winn at the upcoming book club meeting, so running into him tonight was an extra bonus. She barely had time to get a glass of wine when he’d sought her out.
The gold cashmere dress and heels had earned Winn’s effusive praise. Apparently he also liked her hair, which tonight was a subdued brown with blond highlights.
Personally she thought hair color should have more pop, like Cassidy Kaye’s hot pink tips. Like Cassidy, Mitzi shared a love of changing hair colors as often as other women changed shoes or men. But she couldn’t go wild and crazy like Cass. Common sense told her patients wouldn’t accept a pink-haired orthopedic surgeon.
Tonight it appeared Cassidy had brought a date. Mitzi’s lips curved before her smile froze.
Her heart gave a little jolt at the sight of Keenan. Though his attire for the evening fell squarely into the business casual arena, he looked good enough to eat.
She pulled her attention from him and listened to Winn discuss—again—the golf development planned for Jackson Hole with Tim. It was good, she told herself, that he was so passionate about the project.
Perhaps it was her background, but she found it difficult to get excited about a sport that wasted so much of a person’s time and money. Still, she plastered an interested expression on her face, even as she wondered if she should place Tim Duggan back on her husband list.
Though he listened respectfully as Winn droned on, she could see him looking for an escape route. Despite being a father of two, Tim was attractive, in a boyishly handsome way. Still, two kids was a definite negative.
“Hey, guys. Are you talking about how pretty I look this evening?”
Mitzi turned toward the sassy feminine voice, along with Winn and Tim.
“We don’t mean to interrupt,” Keenan said firmly.
We.
Mitzi’s smile froze on her lips. Had Keenan come to the party with Cassidy?
“Keenan was just saying that he hadn’t touched base with you since he was back, Dr. Duggan.” Cassidy’s voice picked up speed and red splotches appeared on her neck. “So I dragged him over here.”
“Doctor Duggan?” Keenan rolled his eyes. “Sheesh, Cass. We went to school with Doogie.”
“Doogie?” Mitzi raised a brow.
Tim met Keenan’s eyes. “I’m not into violence, Keenan. But if you call me that again, I may have to punch you.”
Though there was a definite warning in the tone, Mitzi detected true affection between the two men.
“Boys, boys.” Cassidy stepped between them then focused on Tim. “You didn’t mean to upset Doogie, did you, Keenan?”
Before Keenan could respond, Cassidy placed a hand to her mouth and shot Tim an impish smile. “Oops, that just slipped out. Are you going to punch me, too?”
Tim laughed.
“It’s great to see you, Cassidy,” he said easily, then held out his hand to Keenan. “It’s been a long time. I was sorry I couldn’t make your welcome-home party. One of my girls was sick.”
Mitzi watched the interaction between Keenan and Tim. There was an ease between the two men that hadn’t been present when Tim and Winn had been discussing business. Of course, Keenan and Tim had grown up in Jackson Hole. Like her, Winn was an outsider.
She pulled her attention to Cassidy. “I love your hair.”
A quick smile told Mitzi the compliment was appreciated.
“Thanks. I like how you shake things up all the time with yours.” Cassidy’s gaze lingered,
turned assessing. “Tonight it’s a little more...subdued.”
Though it was clear Cassidy didn’t approve of her hairstyle tonight, Mitzi didn’t take offense. Kate had often told Mitzi she was like a chameleon, changing her look depending on the circumstances. All true. “I thought it was appropriate for the crowd.”
“Coward,” Cassidy retorted and made Mitzi laugh.
“Did you and Keenan come together?” Mitzi asked casually in a low tone.
Cassidy heaved a heartfelt sigh. “I wish.”
“Oh—”
“It’s not happening,” Cassidy added with an even heavier sigh. “Too much history, too many years, never got together, never will. Besides...”
The hairstylist crooked a gold-tipped nail and motioned Mitzi close.
Mitzi took a sip of champagne, leaned close.
“The man’s only got eyes for you.”
Mitzi inhaled sharply then began to cough. She quickly brought herself under control.
Cassidy’s eyes danced with good humor as Mitzi’s gaze slipped to Keenan. He appeared so relaxed, laughing with Tim over some incident that had happened years ago on the football field.
Determinedly she shifted her gaze to Winn, who stood with a mildly bored expression sipping a glass of wine.
She thought about engaging him in conversation but feared if he brought up the golf-course development again, she might snap. Besides, it had been her surgery day and she was exhausted.
The book club event at Kate’s home on Tuesday would be soon enough to get to know Winn Ferris better.
Chapter Seven
Keenan thought about skipping the baseball game. But it had been a long time since he’d played with friends. He’d played ball in high school and loved it. And he was pretty good. Not as good as he’d been at football, where his prowess had earned him a scholarship. But that was in the past. Tonight Joel had sweetened the invitation by promising dinner.
He took a quick shower after work then pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. Many of Keenan’s old friends were planning to attend while their wives met for a monthly book club. He pulled into the long drive leading up to the large stone and log home in the mountains and found himself wishing Mitzi would be here.
When he’d casually asked Joel who usually showed up for these types of events, the list of people he rattled off didn’t include her.
All the better. His attraction to the pretty doctor was a dead-end road. While he enjoyed her company, she obviously had her sights set on Winn Ferris.
Though Winn came off as intense, something told Keenan there was a good guy beneath those hand-tailored suits and Italian shoes. He reminded Keenan a little bit of himself in high school when he’d put on a front, acting as if acceptance didn’t matter when it mattered very much.
Keenan wasn’t going to let the fact that Mitzi was attracted to the executive bring his spirits down. Not tonight. Not when he’d gotten such good news earlier. Apparently, Bill’s brother was interested in bartering mechanic services for air time.
Tomorrow, he’d be able to fly for the first time in nearly three years. He couldn’t wait.
Keenan parked his early eighties Impala in the drive behind a cherry-red BMW then strode to the front door. Pleasure surged through his veins. Things were looking up.
Joel opened the door and Keenan was greeted by an explosion of noise. His boss had warned him that everyone would bring their children, but he hadn’t expected there to be so many of them.
“We’ve got a couple of sitters who’ll be watching the children,” Joel assured him. “Though we might enlist some of the older kids to stand in the outfield and shag stray balls.”
Keenan had to jump back to avoid colliding with a pair of curly-haired twin boys racing past him.
“Walk,” Joel ordered.
The two immediately slowed to a walk for a second, then sped up again before they reached the next room.
Joel shook his head. “Those two are Travis Fisher’s oldest set of twins. The man deserves combat pay.”
“Oldest set?” Keenan asked.
“He and MK have got another boy, then a set of boy-girl twins.”
Keenan thought back. The oldest of seven—or was it eight?—Travis had been very vocal about remaining childless. “Travis always said he didn’t want any kids.”
“Apparently he changed his mind,” Joel said with a laugh, then directed Keenan’s attention to a large table in the great room covered by a red-and-white checkered tablecloth. “Kate decided to serve buffet-style tonight.”
The Western theme was carried on in the small oil lanterns in various colors on the table, copper vases filled with sunflowers and silverware wrapped in bandanas of red and blue. Large crockery bowls filled with salads and vegetables dotted the top of the table, with a basket of assorted rolls at one end. His gaze settled on the towering platters of crisp fried chicken, and Keenan’s mouth watered.
When Joel mentioned Lexi would be catering and added that she was a gourmet cook, Keenan had worried the food would be fancy stuff with edible flowers. Instead there was fried chicken and potato salad. Both personal favorites.
The doorbell rang. Joel slapped his back. “Make yourself at home.”
Keenan meandered around the room for a minute then stopped short. A prickle of awareness traveled up his spine. He turned and there she was, wearing a turquoise skirt and a white filmy blouse scooped low in the front. Heeled boots with strips of turquoise showed off slim calves. Tousled brown hair streaked with gold was pulled back from her face in a shiny silver clip.
He told himself to look away, to not be so obvious, but he couldn’t pull his gaze from Mitzi. Keenan couldn’t believe she was here. A book club hardly seemed her style.
Then again, it was a party, and that was definitely her style.
He started across the room then stopped when Joel ushered in the latest arrival. Keenan frowned. Was that why Mitzi had come? To see Winn Ferris?
Whom the pretty doctor socialized with was none of his business. Still, like a bright light fading to black, his pleasure in the evening dimmed considerably.
“I bet you don’t remember me.”
Keenan turned to find an attractive blonde with big blue eyes smiling up at him. She was petite but, based on her jean skirt and form-fitting top, curvy in all the right places.
He pulled his brows together, searched his memory banks but came up empty. “Give me a hint.”
She extended her hand with pink-tipped nails. “Hailey Randall.”
Recognition flooded him. “That’s right. Tripp’s little sister.”
Hailey visibly winced. “I really wish everyone wouldn’t say that.”
“Hey, to most people, I’m Betsy’s big brother.”
Hailey tilted her head, considered him. “You’re sweet.” She looped her arm through his. “You can buy me a drink.”
“They’re charging for drinks?”
She laughed, a silver tinkle. “Let me rephrase. You can get me a drink.”
“It would be my pleasure.” As they made their way to the bar in one corner, Keenan tried to recall what he knew about Tripp’s little sister. If he was remembering correctly, she’d been in his sister Betsy’s grade.
She’d been a chatterbox, a pigtailed dynamo who’d tagged along behind Tripp every chance she got and tattled whenever her brother even thought about doing anything wrong.
Hailey had been a child the last time he’d seen her, but the woman at his side had definitely grown up.
“Tell me what you’ve been doing,” he said conversationally as they waited for the waiter to pour her a glass of wine and refill his club soda. “Last time I saw you I believe you were in middle school and had braces.”
“Keenan,” she teased, rolling her
eyes. “You’re not supposed to say stuff like that to a woman.”
“You’re not a woman,” he said deadpan. “You’re Tripp’s—”
“—little sister.” She heaved a melodramatic sigh. “Yes, I know. But just for tonight, could you please forget that fact?”
“Your wish is my command.”
It was corny but it made her giggle. Resisting the urge to glance in the direction he’d last seen Mitzi, Keenan focused on the woman at his side and gave her his total attention. “C’mon, Hailey. Tell Betsy’s big brother what you’ve been doing since middle—ah—since the last I saw you.”
* * *
Mitzi watched Keenan and Hailey from across the room. The couple was laughing and appeared to be having a good time.
“I didn’t realize they were such good friends.”
Mitzi turned. Winn stood beside her, the stem of a wineglass clamped tightly between his fingers.
“I’m not sure they are.”
“Looks that way to me,” he muttered.
Mitzi hadn’t spent much time with Hailey, and what she recalled about the young woman could fit into a teaspoon. She knew Hailey was a speech therapist who’d returned to Jackson Hole when her father’s health had been tenuous. But according to the gossip, Frank Randall had responded well to a change in chemotherapy and was now in full remission.
Apparently Hailey wasn’t yet working full-time but was helping out at her parents’ ranch and working PRN—as needed—as a speech therapist at the hospital. The girl was bright, bubbly and always seemed to have a smile on her face. Mitzi could see why she’d caught Keenan’s eye. And judging by the look on Winn’s face, his, as well.
“Let’s go say hello.” Winn grabbed her arm and practically pulled her across the room.
Mitzi plastered a smile on her face.
Winn slowed his steps to a saunter as they closed in on the couple. They reached them just as Joel called out for everyone to get some food and grab a seat. According to the evening’s schedule of events, they had a mere thirty minutes to eat before the book club started inside and the first pitch was thrown outside.