His brows rose. “Seriously, after all we’ve been through? After all I’ve done for you? This is the thanks I get?”
She blinked. Had she actually thought there was one ounce of worth in this man? How low had she allowed her bar to go for the sake of companionship? The galas, his book signings, parties, social and charitable events. Dressing up and being paraded around like one of his many possessions. She wanted to slap that smirk from his face. Tearing from his grip, she reached down for her camera.
“Admit it, Anna, being with me has probably done more for your career than you know. You’d probably be teaching journalism night classes at some community college were it not for my urging you to get out of your comfort zone.”
She stood and met the pathetic look on his face.
He looked around, his blithe gaze finally returning to hers. “And it looks as though you’ve gotten yourself right back into another rut.”
“Harrison, I don’t have time for this. Why don’t you get your things and leave?”
“I think I’d have to agree with the lady, Harrison.” Cole walked toward them. A pile of cut wood lay at the side of the road along with his rifle. “But before you do, I think you owe Anna an apology.”
She held up her hand, not wanting to have any more trouble to upset his wedding day. God knows she’d already abetted in that department. “Cole—”
“Excuse me, Anna. I happened to overhear everything he just said, and this guy is going to apologize to you.”
Harrison regarded Cole with a smirk. “Or what, Marshall Dillon?” He snorted. “You planning to arrest me? What I say to my woman is none of your business.”
Anna’s mouth dropped open. My woman? The man was daft and drunk.
“I’ll ask you once more—last chance. Apologize to Anna, who, by the way, has more talent in her little finger than you’ll ever have.”
Harrison glanced at Anna. “Wow, you’ve got the old boyfriend defending you. Impressive. What’d you have to do to achieve that?”
The muscle in Cole’s firm jaw twitched. He looked at Anna. “Sorry, darlin.” And with that, he sent his fist into Harrison’s face. An audible snap of his nose caused her to wince, even as a startled Harrison stumbled backward and fell on his butt. He held his nose, blood seeping through his fingers.
Cole stood over him. “About that apology.” He held out his hand to help the man to his feet. Harrison mumbled something, and swatted away Cole’s assistance.
“Maria can get you some ice for that. Go on up to the house. And when you’ve finished, I’d like you to collect your things and leave my property.”
Harrison’s angry gaze sliced through Anna and landed on Cole. “And don’t think this is over. I plan to file assault charges. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
Cole started toward the man. “You’re bleeding pretty bad there, Barnes. Hungry cougar is still around somewhere. They have a keen scent.”
Anna grabbed Cole’s arm. “He means it about the charges, Cole. It’s not worth it.” She was touched by his chivalrous display, but now Harrison was angry, his pride tarnished. Nonetheless, he’d be gone soon, and Cole had accomplished more in one punch than she had in the last thirty minutes of banter with Harrison. She stood at Cole’s side, watching as Harrison marched his way back to the house.
Anna sighed and tried to keep this day in perspective. “Thank you, Cole. Truly, but I could have handled him.” She shrugged. “It might have taken me a bit longer.” She walked ahead of him and was on the side porch when he caught up to her. The thud of logs hitting the ground caused her to turn to face him. He put the gun to the side and trotted up the steps. He stood toe-to-toe with her. In his sheepskin coat and brown Stetson pulled low over his eyes, he looked like some reincarnation of the Marlboro man.
“Tell me you didn’t feel like doing that,” he said with a smile.
She glanced away, and then smiled. “Of course, I did.”
“Then you’re welcome.” His lopsided grin displayed that sexy dimple on his unshaven cheek. Even now, she could feel the residual burn of where his face had rubbed against her sensitive flesh. Oh, boy, she was in trouble—deep trouble.
“Yeah, thanks.” It was half-hearted, at best. She had to get away from him before she did something stupid—make that added to her stupidity.
She started to walk around him and he grabbed her hand, opened the French door to his office, and pulled her in behind him. Before she could speak, he had her backed up against his desk, kissing her as though his life depended on it. Instantaneous heat filled her. Guilt seared into her brain, dousing the flames. She pushed at him, but he held her tight, leaning his forehead against hers. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Anna.”
This was killing her. Being wrapped in his warm embrace, hearing the words that she’d hoped forever to hear. But one of them had to regain their senses. He was to be married in a few short hours. What kind of a home-wrecker was she? “No.” She pushed hard against his chest, distancing herself. “This can’t happen.”
His expression clouded. “What are you talking about?” He searched her eyes. “Is it Harrison? Really, Anna? I’d have thought that after the way he acted… the way he spoke to you—”
She was going mad. A short laugh escaped her lips. “Oh, it’s so much worse than being stood up, isn’t it?”
That got his attention. His blue eyes studied her.
“There’s a reason I did what I did back then.”
“Really? Never even bothering to call?” she challenged.
He ran his hand over his mouth and looked away. “I didn’t have your number.”
“Nor did you feel it necessary to wake me to say anything—like goodbye.” God, she hated the residual sting in her heart. She blinked away the tears that threatened, what composure, she was clinging onto. “Look here, you’re about to marry a wonderful woman. I’m not sure what she’s getting. I’ll never know. But I’m ending this—whatever this is that you think you’ve got to get out of your system before your wedding. I don’t know what it is, but Harrison was right about one thing—I do deserve better.”
He stared at her. “What are you—?
There was a knock on the office door and, without waiting for a reply, Stephan opened it. He had a grave look on his face. “I’m sorry, Mr. C. There’s been a problem with Pastor Kincaid. He’s contacted Miss Eva from the hospital. It seems he fell and broke his leg and won’t be able to perform his duties tonight.”
Cole released a weary sigh.
“Miss Eva has locked herself in her room. Freddy and I have been trying to get her to come out.”
Anna skirted around Cole and walked toward the door. “It’s okay. We were just discussing pictures for the wedding.”
“Anna?” Cole called to her.
She squared her shoulders before turning to face him.
“This isn’t over,” he said, pointing a finger at her. “We need to talk. We will talk.”
Anna met his determination with a newfound will of her own. “There’s really nothing more to discuss.” She glanced at Stephan, who stepped aside to let her pass. “Excuse me, I’ll go see if I can help Freddy.”
Anna felt as though she was holding her breath until she was at her suite door. She opened it and found Harrison about to leave. His nose was swollen and beginning to bruise.
“I have to hand it to you, Anna. You certainly played me for a fool.”
“I’ve been nothing but honest with you from the start, Harrison. But I won’t tolerate your bullying tactics. Not anymore.” She purposely stood by the open door awaiting his departure. “Good bye, Harrison. Good luck.”
He snorted, tossing her an angry look as he walked out. “It’s your old flame who’s going to need the luck. I’m stopping at the police station on my way out of town.”
“You’d do that on his wedding day?”
“He broke my nose, Anna.” Harrison peered at her like she was two-headed.
“Defending me, if I
need to remind you. Whatever you feel you need to do, take it out on me. Not him.”
He regarded her. “Noble to the end.” He shook his head. “I wonder if you’d have ever done as much for me.”
She looked at the floor.
“That’s what I thought. See you around, Anna.”
Chapter Eight
Cole couldn’t believe it. She thought he was getting married? Worse, did she really think that he was the kind of guy who’d sleep with another woman just before he was to be married? Then again, what kind of character reference of behavior did she have about him? He’d find a way to make things right. He had to. He loved her.
He glanced up, meeting Stephan’s expectant gaze. “Do you know of any other clergy in town?”
He shrugged. “There’s a couple of people I know. I’ll check into it.” He leveled a look at Cole. “You care what denomination?”
“If it’s legal, I don’t care,” Cole responded.
“Yes, sir.”
“Cole, oh, thank goodness.” His mother appeared beside Stephan. She pointed over her shoulder. “I just saw a pretty dark-haired girl walking down the hall. Is that the photographer you were talking about?”
Sensing his mother’s avid interest, Cole nodded.
“Cute.” She raised a brow. “But she didn’t look too happy. What did you say to her?”
He looked to the heavens, praying for a miracle. “Nothing,” he stated calmly.
“You mean you haven’t told her how you feel?” She gave him a disapproving look.
Stephan pretended to be busy checking numbers on his cell phone.
“Mom, this is—respectfully—none of your business and we have much bigger issues to contend with… if we could focus on that?” He met his mother’s concerned gaze and sighed. “I haven’t had the chance yet to sit down and talk with her.” Spend the night making insane love with her—yes, but that had nothing to do with talking. He’d hoped that would have been a natural follow-up conversation, but her sudden departure that morning left him wondering about her relationship with Harrison. He’d been trying to give her room to sort things out. “Besides, this wedding seems to have a new problem every time I turn around.” Add to that the woman he’s fallen in love with–again—thinks he’s the groom.
“Well, dear, with Spike being overseas, you’re about the only male point of view she’s had.” She glanced at Stephan. “No offense intended.”
He shrugged, never looking up from his scrolling. “None taken.”
Cole lifted his hand in defense. “I know. And I’m glad I’m here for her. I’m just frustrated because somehow Anna’s gotten the idea that I’m the one marrying Eva.”
His mother chuckled and started to leave. “Well, I can straighten that out in record time.”
“Mom, please. Let me handle this thing with Anna.” He walked over and cupped her shoulders.
She looked at him. A flicker of sadness flashed through her concerned gaze. “If I hadn’t insisted you come to my wedding….”
He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. It was my choice, and the reasons I didn’t try to contact her after that were my choices, too. Misguided and wrong as they might have been, they were mine. And I have to fix that. You can’t.”
Maria appeared, wedging her tiny body between her husband and Cole’s mother.
“Tell me you have good news, Maria,” Cole said. His gut told him differently.
“It’s Mr. Daniels. He’s just landed at Montrose. It appears they’re advising against travel in the mountain pass in anticipation of the storm.”
Cole looked at his watch. It was just after noon. Montrose was an hour each way. With any luck, he could outrun the brunt of the storm and have Spike back here in time for the wedding at seven. “Stephan, you get us a pastor.”
“On it.”
“Go to town and get one if you need to,” he called after Stephan, already halfway down the hall.
“Mom and Maria, go talk to Eva. Tell her everything is going to work out. This wedding is going to happen.”
“Honey, our guests are supposed to arrive starting around four,” his mother said.
Cole grabbed his keys, checked his wallet for money and his car insurance card, just in case. “Then make them drinks. Serve them food. Break out a deck of cards. Do whatever you have to do. If you have aspirations of this place being a hotel one day, then you’re going to have to expect the unexpected.”
Cole’s mother smiled. “I always knew you’d be a good fit to manage the ranch.”
“Right now, we have a bride to talk down off the ledge and get ready for her wedding.” He hugged Maria, kissed his mother on the cheek, and started to leave.
“Cole, darling.”
His mother’s voice stopped him as she walked up and adjusted his coat collar. “Be careful. You’re—” Her eyes pooled with fresh tears as her smile wobbled.
“I’ll be fine, Mom.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “You take care of Eva. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She nodded and cleared her throat. “You better be, darling. There’s more than one woman waiting here that needs you.”
A few moments later, Cole thought about those words as he pulled out onto the mountain road leading to Montrose. The snow was beginning to come down in a rapid clip, but mercifully the roads were clear of traffic. He peeked through the front windshield, searching the sky in more ways than one, praying that Mother Nature would give him a break. Two hours was all he needed. Saving his hide was the fact that Anna’s dedication to her work would keep her at the ranch at least until after the ceremony. With any luck, the snow would keep her there long enough for him to explain everything and tell her how he felt about her. Fate was on his side. He had to believe that. They’d found their way back to one another after all this time, discovering the feelings they once shared were as strong, if not more so. This time he was determined to do whatever he needed to make sure he didn’t lose her.
An hour later, he searched over the heads of standby passengers in the crowded airport. He was relieved when he spotted Spike Daniels’s six-two frame standing at a rigid stance, his gaze searching the crowd.
“Man, you are a sight for sore eyes.” Spike held out his hand to Cole and then grinned, pulling him into a bear hug. Cole was fairly sure his eyes bugged as the formidable man’s grasp tightened.
“Good. To. See. You. Spike,” Cole managed to say through the man’s python grip. “I hate to hug and run, but if you’re ready I’d like to get the hell out of here and get back home.”
“Absolutely, buddy.” He slapped him on the shoulder. Cole had forgotten what a tank the man was. But he knew of no one with a heart the size of Texas better suited for Eva than Spike Daniels. A couple of years ago, Eva had attended a banquet for wounded warriors, one of her father’s favorite foundations, and that’s where she’d met First Sergeant Spike Daniels. The man had survived two tours overseas and it took less than a single evening for Eva to capture his heart.
Cole was glad he’d chosen to fill the truck before he got to the airport. Stations in the area were backed up with motorists stopping on their way home from work. “I’m going to get some coffee. You want something?” He pulled into a drive-through of a popular burger joint.
“Sounds good. A couple of burgers and coffee for me.” He handed Cole a ten as they got their food and headed out into the storm.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Cole had switched his wiper blades to high, trying to keep up with the heavy snow. Watchful that traffic had thinned considerably as they traveled further south, he hoped they might drive out of the worst of it.
Spike munched on his food, his eyes glued to the road as well. “That coffee tastes good. Listen, how’s Eva doing? I feel like a heel not being there to help. She said she wouldn’t have known what to do had you not been there. I really appreciate it.”
Cole glanced at his future brother-in-law. “It hasn’t been too bad. But today… today’s bee
n rough. The pastor they had lined up fell and broke his leg.” He held his hand up at Spike’s concerned expression. “Stephan’s on it. He’ll have someone by this afternoon.”
Spike shook his head. “She must be so stressed out. Man. I don’t know much about this stuff, but when things don’t go according to the game plan, I know it throws me for a loop. She’s a mustang, though, that one.” He grinned.
“Freddy’s been her shadow for weeks. The guy is amazing. Yesterday the florist calls, says the flowers she ordered aren’t going to make it. Freddy had her down there, they chose new flowers, and they were delivered before I left today.”
Spike chuckled. “Guy dresses a little strange, but he’s got balls of steel. I could tell that in Eva’s emails.”
They were back out on US 550 and it was pretty much a straight shot until they had to turn onto State Road 62. Traffic was almost nil. “This is where things could get interesting, Spike. I’m going to need your help. I need you to roll down your window and keep an eye on the road. Make sure we don’t go over the cliff.”
The commander straightened in his seat and grabbed a knit hat lying on the seat. “Mind if I borrow this?”
Cole nodded, and frigid air filled the cab as Spike leaned out the window, periodically giving directions as they maneuvered the hairpin curves. Cole had slowed to a thirty-five-mile-an-hour crawl, aware that the storm had darkened the afternoon sky, making it damn near impossible to see through the driving snow. He kept as close to the middle of the road as he could, praying he wouldn’t hit any ice concealed beneath the snowfall.
“You’re doing a damn fine job, Tanner,” Spike yelled over the din of the wind and icy snow pelting the glass. “Just keep us on the road.”
Cole’s knuckles were white—a combination of cold and gripping the wheel. His back had gone from an ache to searing pain from leaning forward in his seat to see the road ahead. He thought of Eva, of how everything would fall into place once she saw Spike. If the only guest that made it to the ceremony was the clergy—well, that’s all they needed. He glanced at the dashboard, noting the time. Almost four o’clock. Even with the snow, they weren’t making too bad of a time. He considered trying to call the ranch, but between the mountains and the storm, the reception would be shitty at best.
Champagne and Cowboys Page 24