To each his or her own, she thought as she sipped her white wine. But she suddenly realized that both Christopher and Miguel were looking at her expectantly. She’d obviously missed something.
Christopher leaned in, much too close for her comfort. He placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “I just introduced you to the owner. You might want to say hello or something.” He punctuated the suggestion with a quick raise and lower of his brows. It was one of those looks that wasn’t cocky enough to be annoying. Cheeky was more apropos. In fact, it was almost endearing. She hated herself for thinking so.
“Hello,” she said. “I’m Kinsley Aaron. I work with Christopher at the Fortune Foundation.”
Miguel shook her hand and smiled. “That’s what he tells me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “The music is a little loud. I didn’t hear you the first time.”
“I understand,” said Miguel. “It’s an occupational hazard. So since you both work at the Foundation, would you happen to know Sierra Mendoza Calloway? She’s my cousin and she works there.”
Kinsley and Christopher answered at the same time. She said yes; Christopher hedged as Kinsley did a double-take, but she did her best to keep her expression neutral. Inside, she was aghast. Sierra had just helped them secure some stock photos for the brochures they were putting together for the Spring Fling. He really didn’t remember her? He probably did, he just didn’t know her name.
Well, she wasn’t about to embarrass him in front of Miguel.
“I adore Sierra,” she said. “In fact, just the other day she helped me find a photograph that Christopher and I desperately needed for a brochure we’re putting together for a project.” She glanced at Christopher and saw a flicker of recognition register on his face.
“I’ll be sure and tell her we met you,” Kinsley said, turning back to Miguel.
“Please do,” Miguel answered. “She’s a sweetheart. It’s too bad. We have so much family right here in town, yet we don’t get to see each other as often as we should.”
He looked to Christopher. “As a Fortune, I’ll bet you understand how that is.”
Christopher gave a quick shrug. “Actually, I’ve only been in Red Rock a couple of months, and I work with so many of my relatives we get to see each other plenty.”
Miguel leaned on the bar. “Oh, yeah, where are you from?”
Kinsley saw the look of hesitation flash across Christopher’s face. It was only there for a moment before he stiffened and said, “I’m from a small town outside of Lubbock. I doubt you’ve heard of it. I moved up here to take the job at the Foundation.”
“Lubbock, huh?” said Miguel. “I’m familiar with the area. Try me.”
“It’s a little dot on the map called Horseback Hollow.”
Miguel slapped his hand on the counter. “Get out! Are you serious? I have family there. My brother, Miguel, and his wife are getting ready to open a restaurant there, and my cousin Orlando Mendoza works at the Redmond Flight School.”
“I was so sorry to hear about his accident,” said Christopher. “It was good of his daughter Gabi to come and care for him.”
Miguel looked a little embarrassed. “I haven’t seen him since the accident. But I am glad to hear he’s doing better.”
“You know Gabi is engaged to my brother, Jude, right? She’s going to be my sister-in-law. So, doesn’t that make us related in some distant way?”
“What a small world. The Fortunes and the Mendozas have always considered each other family. So tonight, your drinks are on me.”
“It is a small world,” said Christopher. “It’s great to meet you. Thank you for the drinks, my friend. But what we really came for was a bite to eat, which, of course, I will pay for. Could we see some menus, please?”
“Of course.” Miguel pulled two menus out from behind the bar. “But just so we understand each other, your money is no good here. Money does not change hands among family.”
Christopher shook his head and smiled. “I appreciate the generous offer, but really I would be happy to pay. We’ll sort it out at the end of the evening.”
“Please let me know when you’re ready to order,” said Miguel. His confident smile seemed to say that he’d already made up his mind. The bill was settled, and nothing Christopher Fortune could say would make a bit of difference.
* * *
After they placed their orders for burgers and fries, Miguel set another round of drinks in front of them and went to deliver their dinner request to the kitchen.
Christopher raked his hand through his blond hair. Kinsley was beginning to recognize that habit as a nervous tic.
“What the hell? Is everyone in this town related to someone?”
She couldn’t help laughing at him a little. “Pretty much. If they’re not a Fortune, they’re a Mendoza and a lot of the Fortunes are married to Mendozas.
“May I give you a little bit of unsolicited advice?” Kinsley offered. The beer had loosened him up, and right about now he was longing to hear anything Kinsley had to say. He could be quite content listening to her read a dictionary out loud because it would give him license to drink her in. He could watch her lips move as she formed the words, study the graceful way her delicate jawline curved into her neck and imagine kissing her at that sweet spot where they intersected....
“Sure.” Even if he was in for a Kinsley-style reprimand, he didn’t mind. She had a firm but gentle way about her. She didn’t grate on him the way Deke did when he spouted off with his holier-than-thou statements and rubbed Christopher’s nose in I-told-you-sos.
He could tell Kinsley didn’t suffer nonsense lightly, but she was also sensitive enough to temper what she said so that it didn’t feel like a personal attack.
He appreciated that.
“You would do yourself a world of good to start remembering names. People around here get kind of funny about that. It’s off-putting.”
She wrinkled her nose and something inside him went soft...and then another part of him, farther south, felt as if it was about to go rock-hard. He held his breath for a moment to get a handle on his libido.
This wasn’t college. She deserved his respect, especially after she’d made it perfectly clear where they stood.
He focused on the point she’d made. Remembering names was his weakness, and if he was going to succeed, he needed to fix that.
He still hadn’t gotten used to the pop quizzes that jumped out at him just when he thought he had everything under control. All the more reason that he needed to be on the ball.
Sierra Mendoza Calloway was a perfect example. Even if they did call her Sierra Calloway around the office, he should’ve remembered her. He should’ve put two and two together. If he really wanted to make his mark in Red Rock, he knew he’d better pay attention and learn the players. He had to know everyone, by sight, right away—especially because so many of them were apparently family, or practically family.
Because wasn’t that all anyone wanted—to be valued and respected?
“Thanks for covering for me with Miguel. It would’ve been embarrassing if he’d known that I spent a good half hour with his cousin and didn’t connect the dots.”
She nodded. “Well, giving you the benefit of the doubt, I guess there’s no way you could’ve known she’s a Mendoza. But don’t worry, as long as you pull your weight, I’ve got your back. And I know that you’ve got mine, too.”
A strangely protective feeling swept through him. “Of course I do. We’re a team.”
Somehow he didn’t think she needed his help as much as he could benefit from hers. Beauty aside—and she didn’t seem to realize how stunning she was—he was in awe of her strength and people skills. She was young to be so self-possessed, so stalwartly sure of herself, yet it was all tempered with a vulnerability that made
him want to gather her in his arms and promise her the world.
They sat in amiable silence for a moment, sipping their drinks and watching the people on the dance floor.
“So, Kinsley Aaron, tell me about yourself,” he said.
She shook her head. “I seem to recall that we had a deal. You promised if I would have dinner with you tonight, you would tell me your story. So don’t try to turn the tables, Mr. Fortune.”
“There you go with the formalities again.” He smiled so that she knew he was kidding.
“What’s wrong? Does it make you feel like your father when someone calls you Mr. Fortune?”
He almost laughed. “Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, it has pretty much the opposite effect.”
“Really? Do tell.”
He took a long swallow of his beer, trying to think about where to begin.
“Obviously, you have a misconception that I’m someone that I’m not.”
“Are you not a Fortune, or have you been impersonating one for the past two months?”
If she only knew how close to the truth that really was....
“Not exactly.”
Thank goodness Miguel chose that moment to bring the food. He set the plates and another round of drinks in front of them.
“Can I get you anything else?”
The food smelled delicious and the company was perfect.
Christopher looked at Kinsley. “I think we’re all set,” she said. “Thanks for everything, Miguel.”
Miguel gave them a salute and hurried off to attend to other customers.
For a weeknight, the place was really rocking. It was great to see it doing such a healthy business.
As they ate their burgers, Christopher told Kinsley about growing up in Horseback Hollow with his mom and dad and six siblings. She was surprised to learn that they had little money and none of the advantages of the Fortune family she knew.
“Are you kidding?” Her wide blue eyes reflected sincere surprise.
“No, I’m not kidding. I had a very humble upbringing. When you have that many kids to feed and clothe, a rancher’s income doesn’t go very far.”
She put down her burger and looked at him with true concern.
“Was your childhood difficult?”
“That depends on how you define difficult,” Christopher said. “I mean, we never went hungry or wanted for the necessities. But do you know what it’s like to be lost in a crowd of strong-willed siblings, always having to fight for attention and approval, even the last piece of fried chicken?”
She shook her head. “I was an only child. So, no, I don’t.”
“Being an only child sounds like a little piece of heaven,” he said. “But I guess the grass is always greener when you’re looking over the picket fence at someone else’s life.”
He shrugged. “To be fair, I guess I wouldn’t trade my siblings. In fact, that was my brother Toby and his new wife, Angie, who stopped by the office the other day. They were on their way back from their honeymoon and stopped in to see me before they headed back to Horseback Hollow.”
And he’d screwed that up, too. He and Toby hadn’t spoken since that day. His brother had left the ball in Christopher’s court, and Chris hadn’t moved on it. What was he supposed to do? Toby had clearly come to do Deke’s bidding. His sole purpose was to talk him into coming home. It wasn’t going to happen. Not anytime soon.
Christopher laughed a humorless laugh. “My siblings are great at making life more challenging.”
“How?” Kinsley asked.
“Compared to them, I guess you’d say I’m the black sheep of the family. My little sisters are sweethearts, but my brothers are hard acts to follow. We’re just different. I’m the youngest of the boys. They all seem to be cut from the same cloth. They’re right at home on the ranch, exactly where Deke wants us all to be.”
“Deke is your father?”
Christopher nodded. “Good old Deke just can’t understand how I could want more than spending my entire life in Horseback Hollow and working on the ranch. He clings to that broken-down place like it’s life support. And he won’t take a word of advice from me on how to make it more profitable.”
Kinsley sat there with attentive wide eyes, but remained mostly silent. So, Christopher continued.
“Then my mom, who grew up thinking she was an only child—” he gave Kinsley a knowing look “—discovered not only did she have siblings, but she was one of a set of triplets who had been put up for adoption when they were very young. So then my uncle James, who is one of the triplets along with my aunt Josephine, who lives in England, felt bad that he had so much and my mom had grown up with so little, and he gifted her with a bunch of money.”
Kinsley’s jaw dropped.
Christopher shrugged. “It seemed like our lives would finally get a whole lot easier. But then, as fast as Uncle James had given Mom the money, she decided she couldn’t accept it. She gave it back.
“Every stinking penny of it,” he said.
Kinsley was leaning in, rapt. “Oh, my god, this sounds like a movie.”
“I know, right?”
“Why?” Kinsley asked. “Why did she give it back if he wanted her to have it?”
“She didn’t want to be the cause of any tension between Uncle James and his children. She said discovering that she had this huge family she never knew about was a big enough gift.”
Christopher forced himself to leave it at that, because suddenly revealing his ill feelings over getting and then losing the money felt...selfish and narcissistic.
“But on the bright side, between my mom and her three siblings there are twenty-four cousins.”
“Wait, you were just complaining about being lost in a family of nine. How could adding eighteen cousins to the mix make it better?”
“My cousins—most of whom are the Fortunes that you know, or at least resemble what you think a Fortune should be, are a bit more... How do I put this tactfully... They’re a bit more worldly than my humble family.”
Christopher held off telling her about the fight he’d had with Deke the night he left Horseback Hollow for good.
Equal parts shame and regret washed over him as he thought about the harsh words he’d exchanged with his father that night. But what the hell was he supposed to do? If he’d listened to Deke, he wouldn’t be sitting here with this incredible woman right now. If that in itself wasn’t proof that he’d made the right decision to come to Red Rock, then he didn’t know what was.
Kinsley shook her head. “I can’t imagine having that many relatives. That would just be... I mean it would be cool, but no wonder you have a hard time remembering names. What’s your mom like?”
“She is the sweetest person you could ever imagine meeting,” he said. “She’s all about her family and kids. But I wish she would be stronger when it comes to standing up to Deke. He can be the worst kind of bully,” Christopher snorted. “Talk about someone who could benefit from a bully prevention program.”
Empathy colored Kinsley’s beautiful blue eyes.
“I understand what it’s like to have father conflict,” Kinsley said. “I was close to my mom, too. Your mom must be a good soul if she is content to build Fortune family relations with none of its monetary perks.”
Christopher shrugged. “Are you saying I’m wrong for wanting a different life than the ranch has to offer? As far as Deke is concerned, my birthright is in Horseback Hollow.”
“Why don’t you go visit your dad and talk things out?”
Chapter Seven
Why was she trying to give Christopher advice on family relations? Kinsley knew she was certainly in no position to do that. She’d run away from problems with her own father, and in the process had left her mother high and dry. Obviously, she was n
o expert on making things right.
“I’m not ready to go home yet,” Christopher said, answering her question after a long pause.
“Why not?” Kinsley asked.
“It’s complicated.”
Kinsley shrugged. “Yeah, life gets that way sometimes.”
She was speechless, listening to this man who was turning out to be nothing like the shallow, glad-handing guy who on his best days had irritated her...and on her worst days had tempted her.
She didn’t want to think about that right now. In fact, she felt a little guilty about the preconceived notions she’d formed.
She wanted to know more about his life at the Horseback Hollow ranch, more about what he’d been like before he’d discovered his Fortune relatives. Even though she only knew a few things about his life before he’d moved to Red Rock, she sensed she knew his heart better now.
Everyone struggles with something, even if they hide behind a smile. Or in Christopher’s case, expensive clothes and a fancy car.
Her mask was work and school.
She knew that, but she wasn’t ready to do anything to change. If she wasn’t willing to amend herself, why should she expect Christopher to present a different face than the one he showed?
She had to give the guy credit. At least he seemed to understand how fortunate he was to have been, given a leg up to starting his new life.
His upbringing explained a lot: his need for attention, his tendency to show off and his penchant for the ladies.
Yes, there was that, she reminded herself. If she knew what was good for her, she would keep that firmly in mind.
Christopher was charming and charismatic. Kinsley was willing to bet that this revolving door of women was as new to him as his red BMW.
Even if he’d always been popular with the ladies, if Horseback Hollow was as small as he’d made it sound, he’d probably never had the smorgasbord available to him now.
Despite that, her esteem for Christopher had risen. She could tell that he had genuine affection for his mother, brothers and sisters. She had to admit that she was just a little bit envious of his big, boisterous family. When she was little, she used to long for a big brother to watch out for her. Maybe if she’d had one, things would’ve been different. Maybe her mother would still be alive today.
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