“I had some things to take care of.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“Like you,” he replied with a grin.
“Me?”
“Yeah. I came back to check on you.”
“Thanks,” she said. “But you didn’t have to drive all the way back to town for that. You could have just called.”
“I could have,” he confessed, “But I wanted to see for myself that you were okay.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted. “A little bored maybe, but perfectly fine.”
He eyed the camera, hanging around her neck. “Taking pictures?”
“Yeah. The sunset over the mountain was gorgeous. I just wish it had lasted longer.”
“It does in the summertime,” he said. “You should come back and see it then.”
“I’d like to,” she said. “This is such a beautiful place but I haven’t been able to enjoy it very much.”
“No. You haven’t,” he agreed. “That’s the other reason I’m here. I’d like to take you back to the ranch with me.”
“Your invitation is very thoughtful, but I’m not comfortable crashing your family’s Christmas.”
“If that’s what bothers you, you don’t have to,” he said. “We have several guest cabins at the ranch. You can stay in one of those. That way you can do as you please, but we’ll still be close by if you need anything or just want some company. Please, Cassidy. It’s no trouble at all and I hate to think of you here all by yourself.” His blue eyes softened. “I’d really like you to come. I’d like the chance to get to know you better.”
“I’d like that too, but I just don’t know if I should,” she answered softly.
“It’s only two days,” he said. “And then we’ll drive back.”
Two days also meant two nights. She considered him for a long moment, chewing her lip as she weighed her decision. She could refuse the invitation and spend the holiday all alone eating a microwavable turkey dinner, or accept his invitation knowing that something was probably going to happen between them. It was almost inevitable. Was she ready for that?
“I’m not taking no for an answer,” he said, as if reading her mind. “And I’m fully prepared to throw you over my shoulder if I have to.” He looked quite ready to carry out his threat.
“Okay, Griff,” she sighed in surrender. “I’ll go with you. Just give me a few minutes to pack an overnight bag.”
“Do you need any help?” he asked.
“No thanks. I’ll manage. I won’t take long.”
“I’ve got to drop off some tools next door, so how about I come back in a few?”
“Are you doing some repairs?”
“It’s more than just repairs,” he said. “I’m working on a unit I bought a few months ago. I started buying real estate a few years back when I heard about an opportunity on a bank foreclosure. I bought it, fixed it up, and then decided to keep it and lease it out. Made enough on that one that it was worthwhile to try again.”
“Do you plan to flip them?”
“No. I’m not doing this just to make a quick buck, I’m in it for the long haul. Real estate in Jackson is at a premium and continues to go up, so I stand to gain far more in the end if I keep them.”
“And you are doing all the work yourself?” she asked.
“Yup. That’s the plan,” he replied. “This is the third one I’ve remodeled.”
“I’m really impressed,” she said. “I was married to a heart surgeon who could barely replace a light bulb.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I wish I was!” she replied with a laugh. “Doug was absolutely clueless with tools. If anything needed to be done around the house, I did it myself or called someone. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Can I have a look at your place?” she asked.
“The condo?” He looked surprised by the request. “There’s not much to look at. The layout is a lot like this one but mine’s a big mess.”
“I’d still love to see what you’ve done with it.”
“All right,” he said. “I’ll show it to you. I still need to get some tools out of my truck. I’ll do that while you’re packing a bag and then I’ll come back and help you.”
“Sounds like a plan. Thanks, Griff.”
He departed with a smile and a tip of his hat. She turned with a sigh and went to pack her bag. She wasn’t sure what she’d just gotten herself into in agreeing to spend the next couple of days at his ranch, but he’d just made it so easy to say yes. She wasn’t just attracted to him, she honestly liked the cowboy and he seemed only to get better on closer acquaintance.
Griff was such a refreshing contrast to Doug. Her ex had been demanding, self-centered and controlling, while Griff was attentive, sensitive, and obviously cared a great deal about his family—qualities she found extremely appealing at this point in her life. It would be all too easy to fall for a man like him.
Griff returned a few minutes later and threw her bag over his shoulder. “It’s just a few doors down,” he said. “Can you get around all right on the crutches?”
“Yes,” she reassured him. “I’ve discovered it’s easier to move with one crutch instead of two now that I’m starting to bear weight. The ankle still hurts but not like it did before. I just wish I could get a shoe on.” She grimaced at her stocking-clad foot. “But the swelling still hasn’t gone down enough.”
Although he let her walk on her own, she noticed that he stayed close to her side until they reached unit two-zero-six. He swung the door open and beckoned her inside. As he’d forewarned, the place was a mess, drywall dust coated the plastic that covered the hard wood floors and cans of paint were stacked against the walls.
“I took down a wall over there,” he pointed, “to open up the kitchen to the great room. I also updated the bathrooms and refinished the wood floors. Now I just have to pretty it up a bit with some paint.”
“It’s going to be beautiful, Griff,” she said. He guided her through the rest of the rooms. She paused in the spacious master bedroom where an air mattress lay on the floor. “Are you sleeping here?”
“Yeah,” he confessed. “My other places are leased out right now so I’m crashing here while I’m working on it.”
“Doesn’t look very comfortable,” she said.
He shrugged. “It’s no big deal. I work sixteen to eighteen hours a day when I’m here, so I really only need to sleep and shower.”
“Liz would hate knowing you were sleeping on an air mattress. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you stayed at her place. Want me to ask her?”
“That’s not a good idea,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because you are staying at her place.”
“And that’s a problem for you?” she asked.
“Frankly, yes. I don’t think I’d be able to sleep a wink knowing I was alone with you. I’m already having a helluva time keeping my mind on work since you got here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been distracted by random thoughts about you.”
“Random thoughts?” she repeated blankly.
“The kind I’m having right now.” He gave her a long heated look that made her heartbeat accelerate. “The idea of kissing you is just about driving me crazy.”
“Oh?” She swallowed hard as his gaze locked on her mouth. He came closer and laid his big warm hands on her shoulders. He dipped his head and closed his lips over hers. Warm and soft, they slowly explored hers. She shut her eyes on a sigh, savoring the sensation—the teasing trace of his tongue, the gentle nibbling of his teeth. It had been too damned long since she’d been held and kissed. He deepened the kiss, pulling her closer, tighter, demanding a response. Sensing an impending freefall, Cassidy panicked and pulled back.
A question filled his eyes as she gently pushed him away. “Did I just make a complete jackass of myself?”
“I’m sorry, Griff,” she answered, feeling breathless. “But I just can’t do this kind of thing.”
He cocked a brow. “Kissing?”
She shook her head. “You know that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about where kissing could lead. I admit I’m attracted to you, but I’d like to think we’ve become friends and I don’t want this to get awkward between us.”
“It was only a kiss, Cassidy. I wasn’t expecting anything. I hadn’t even thought beyond the impulse…” He paused and cocked a brow. “But it seems maybe you have.”
Her face heated. There was no denying she’d thought about sleeping with him.
“It’s all right,” he reassured her. “I don’t want this to be awkward. It won’t happen again… unless you invite it.”
“Thank you, Griff.”
“For what?”
“For helping me out in Liz’s absence. For being a friend.”
“I’d be lying if I said I did it for Liz,” he said. “I did it for me. I wanted to spend time with you. Are you ready to go?” he asked. “We have a long drive.”
“Yeah. I’m ready.”
They exited the condo and Griff locked up. It had begun to snow. The stairs were already covered with it. She gazed down chewing on her lip. “How are we going to do this?” she asked. “I’d rather you didn’t carry me, but I still need some help.”
“Let me have that,” Griff said, taking her crutch. “You can use me instead.” His arm came around her waist, holding her tight against his big, strong body. “The first step is always the hardest.” he said softly, his deep blue gaze holding hers long enough to make her wonder if he only referred to the stairs. “You can trust me, Cassidy. I won’t let you fall.”
“I know you won’t,” she said, but tumbling down the stairs wasn’t the fall she was most worried about.
Chapter Five
Griff lifted Cassidy into the passenger side of his truck. He stowed her crutch and bag behind the seat, then climbed into the cab and started the engine.
“Where exactly is this ranch of yours?” she asked as they pulled out onto the highway.
“Just on the other side of Dubois,” he replied.
“And where is that? Sorry, but I’m geographically challenged once I cross the Mississippi.”
“Dubois is a small town about fifty miles due west, but we have to drive over eighty miles to get around the mountains.”
“Did you grow up there?” she asked.
“Yup. But I never intended to stay,” he replied.
“Why not?”
“I had bigger plans than ranching.”
“You don’t like it?” she asked.
“I do, but owning a ranch means you’re always tied down to it. I wanted more freedom. I came close to leaving once but I’m still here.”
“Why’s that? What happened?”
“I told you I was engaged. She also wanted out of Wyoming. Little did I know I was going to be her one way ticket. When I told her I needed to stay and help my family through a rough patch, instead of sticking by me, she bailed. Last I heard she’d moved to Denver. What about you? Are you sorry about your break up?” he asked.
“Part of me is, but the divorce was my idea. After I married Doug, our lives became all about money and success, but it meant nothing to me. In the end, we had everything but the things that mattered most. We also had nothing in common anymore. It was better to end it before we had kids.”
“Do you want them?” he asked.
“Kids? Yes, I do. It’s part of the reason for the divorce. I wanted them and he didn’t. That was huge for me. I’d already given up my career plans for him. I wasn’t about to give up children too. What about you? Do you want a family?”
“I never thought much about it until I became an uncle,” he said. “But Kaden and Kelsey have changed all that. Yes, I do want some kids of my own one day.”
“Kaden and Kelsey? How old are they?”
“Kaden is six and Kelsey’s almost three. They’re really cute kids.”
“I can’t wait to meet them,” she said. “Christmas is always more fun with kids around. I miss my own nieces and nephews. I haven’t seen much of them. Doug wasn’t into family gatherings. He wasn’t close to his own family so he always made a point to plan a trip around the holidays, which meant I didn’t get to see mine either.”
“He sounds pretty self-centered if you asked me.”
“He was. He is. It just took me a long time to see it. So have you decided to stay in Wyoming permanently?” she asked.
“Probably,” he replied, “But not as a full time rancher.”
“What got you interested in real estate investing?”
“It all came about when my ol’ man passed on suddenly. His will divided the ranch between my brother and me. Derrick was deployed overseas at the time and I couldn’t run cattle all by myself, so I talked him into downsizing. We kept the original homestead and a string of good horses but sold some of the acreage and most of the cattle to get it down to a more manageable size.
After that, I built a few guest cabins so we could start operating as a small dude ranch. Dubois is very popular with tourists and hunters so we decided to accept guests through hunting season and during the summertime. Our location is ideal for taking people on mountain trail rides and backcountry hunting trips. It’s easy enough work and it pays the bills. I then took a portion of the ranch proceeds to invest in Jackson real estate. It all seems to be working out, so I’ll probably just stay here and keep doing what I’m doing.”
“It sounds like a smart business plan, Griff. You’ve diversified but still kept your family’s heritage. I really respect what you’ve done.”
“Thanks,” he said, slightly coloring. Griff’s modesty was refreshing after Doug’s constant need to be in the limelight. “It was a gamble, but it looks like it’s going to pay off. What are your plans?” he asked. “Are you staying in Florida?”
“I don’t know much of anything yet,” she replied. “It’s partly why I wanted to come out here with Liz. I thought a change of scenery would give me some perspective.”
“Has it?” he asked.
“Not really,” she laughed. “I keep hoping that moment of epiphany is right on the horizon.”
“Maybe you’re thinking about it too much,” he said.
“How can I not think about it? I don’t even have a place to live when I leave here. What’s worse is I don’t even know where I want to go.”
“Then don’t,” he said.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t go.”
“You mean stay here?”
“Why not? Rash decisions are almost always a mistake,” he said. “Oft times the best action when you’re uncertain is to do nothing at all.”
“But I don’t even know anyone here.”
He slanted her a sidelong glance. “You know me, don’t you?”
“Hardly,” she said. “We only met three days ago.”
“But Liz has known me for as many years,” he said. “She trusts me. You should too. If you wanted to stay longer, it would be easy to arrange. The place I’m working on is almost done. It just needs paint, cleaning and furniture which I’ve already bought.”
“This is crazy,” she said. “What would I even do here?”
“What would you do if you went back to North Carolina?” he asked.
“Well, I was toying with the idea of getting back into photography,” she said. “But not portraits. I like to photograph landscapes. You know things like waterfalls and wildlife.”
“Then you need to visit the national parks,” he said. “We have things you’ll never see anywhere else. If you take your camera to Yellowstone, you’ll never want to leave.”
“That’s exactly what I had wanted to do, but now I can’t even drive myself.”
“You can’t get to the best places by car anyway, at least not this time of year.”
“Then how do people go?”
“By snowmobile. Ever been on one?”
“No, I haven’t. We really don’t get enough snow for
that in North Carolina. The ski resorts usually have to make snow.”
“Mother Nature more than makes up for it here,” he said with a laugh. “People come from all over the world to ski here.”
“I was hoping to enjoy it also, until my stupid accident screwed up everything. And now Liz’s dad… Nothing about this trip has gone as planned.”
“That’s not such a bad thing,” he said, holding her gaze. “If you hadn’t sprained your ankle, we might not have met.”
“I guess that’s true,” she said. “Do you believe in fate, Griff?”
“Dunno,” he replied with a shrug. “But I do believe everything happens for a reason. Both good and bad. Usually something good comes out of everything even if we don’t see it right away. If your ankle is well enough in a couple of days, I’ll take you into the park.”
“That really sounds great,” she replied and then frowned. “But then I’d be taking you away from your work again.”
“I don’t mind taking a break,” Griff said. “I only have a few days work left anyway. You’ve given me an excuse to have some fun for a change. I promise it’ll be an experience you’ll never forget. To be honest, I think I’ll enjoy it as much as you do. It’s always interesting to experience the things you take for granted through someone else’s eyes. Gives you a better appreciation.”
Cassidy’s phone buzzed before she could respond. She frantically searched her purse, pulled out the phone and looked at caller I.D. “It’s Liz.” She hit the answer button. “Hello, Liz. Are you home now? Is everything okay?”
Griff stared down the road, trying his best not to listen in.
“He’s had the cath? They’re going to release him? Already? You really need a second opinion, Liz. I’ll call Doug… I know it’s almost Christmas but you’re my best friend. Of course he’ll see your father. I’ll make the call. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back. Bye.”
“Bad news?” Griff prompted.
“Yeah. Her father had a heart cath. They found several blockages. She said he needs coronary bypass surgery but they’re releasing him on medication.”
Champagne and Cowboys Page 64