“What for?” She released a fistful of his shirt.
“I uh… apparently I get carried away with you. I’m not someone who moves in on a woman I just met, I promise.” Ann probably wouldn’t know how true that was. “I just don’t want you to think I’m a heathen.”
She giggled. A cute little sound that echoed in the heated space between them. “I know you’re not, Trey Richardson.”
He backed up a notch and tilted his head. He liked hearing his name on her lips. “I snagged a Scrabble game for you,” he said, watching her lovely face for a reaction.
She tilted her head to one side, easing into a slow, beautiful smile. “Scrabble?”
“Cassie said it’s your favorite.” He sat up, reached for the tattered box. A container of macadamia nuts stood beside it. Though Trey had been excited about getting them for her (another favorite, according to Cassie) he felt shy about her seeing them now. Was it too much?
“I do love Scrabble,” Ann said as he cracked open the board. “This board looks like my grandmother’s. Where’d you get it?”
“Borrowed it from Betty and Grant. Shane’s parents,” he added, realizing she might not be familiar with the names.
“This is awesome.” She dug right in, turning all the small, wooden tiles so they were face down in the shallow box. It occurred to Trey—only once she was finished—that he should have been helping. He watched as she rested her palms over the pieces and rotated her wrist, shifting the tiles around beneath her hands.
“What’s that for?” he asked.
“To make sure we don’t know what pieces are where. I just turned them all over, remember? You don’t want me cheating and snagging all the good ones do you?”
There were good ones? He shrugged. “I have a feeling I’m in trouble either way.”
The chuckle that spilled from her lips seemed to affirm that. “You don’t play very often?”
“Nope,” he admitted. “Science lover here, remember? I can spell molecule, thorium—”
“Thorium?” She looked up at him. “I must have missed that one.”
“Hey, now it’s my turn to be the word nerd. Thorium is a cool one. It’s named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder.”
“Wow. That is cool.”
“Yeah. But really, you’re going to kick my trash at this.”
“I’d like to say I’ll go easy on you, but that would probably be a lie. This is one of the few areas in life where I can really smoke people. I just don’t have it in me to go halfway.”
He knew what she meant. There were plenty of areas in Trey’s life where he felt inferior. And when it came to areas he could shine—like bull riding—he couldn’t go halfway either.
He let Ann lead the way. They started by flipping a tile to see who’d go first. After that, they filled their tile racks with seven tiles each. Ann had said it was a good thing that he got to go first, but as those seven letters glared at him from their spot by the board, Trey wasn’t so sure. “I have three I’s and two U’s.”
Ann laughed. “You can always dump them all and start fresh. You’ll just have to take a zero. Which won’t hurt you since you’re first anyway.”
That didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Okay, put me down for a zero then.”
Ann made a quick scribble on the notepad that had been tucked into the box with the game pieces. At the top of that page, their names stood side-by-side. They looked nice together.
“I’ll go ahead and give us a good start.” Ann said, placing a few tiles on the board. And then a few more.
“Wait, are you using all of your tiles?”
“Mmm, hmm. It’s easy to do on an empty board.”
“Easy for who?”
“Release,” she said, reading the word aloud. She tapped the point of her pencil above each letter as she counted up the points. “Add fifty for using all the tiles…” she mumbled.
“Oh, man,” Trey said with a laugh. “I really am in trouble.” He shifted his new tiles around, hoping to find an impressive word, when the board caught his eye once more. Release. The word came into sharp focus while everything else seemed to fade. Perhaps Trey was being released once and for all. Released from the fear of loving again. Of losing again. It might be early, but already Trey could feel himself letting Ann in. The barrier that usually stood between him and a potential interest was gone. He let the word inspire him for one of his own. He had an F, an R, and an E, too. All he needed was to line it up with one more E.
Placing the F on a triple letter square, Trey spelled out the word free.
He didn’t know what the future held. Heck, Ann was set to catch a plane the very next day. And even with that hovering over him, he had managed to let his guard down. He figured that if God wanted her in his life, he’d find a way to keep her there. Or bring her back at the least of it. For whatever reason, Trey had the overwhelming feeling that things would go just as they should, no matter what that might bring. And for that, Trey realized, he felt freer than he had in years.
Chapter 19
There could not have been a more perfect evening, Ann mused as Trey led her up the quiet stairwell. The ranch hands had already returned with Zoe. And while they’d stayed up long enough to fill Ann and Trey in on what they’d missed at the after party, the group was spent. They’d hit the sheets no later than one in the morning. That was over an hour ago.
Trey slipped an arm around Ann as they approached the hallway.
She liked how it felt there. Warm. Familiar. There was a strange mix of emotions whirring between them: the excitement of possibility, combined with a sadness of sorts, knowing their time together was short. Ann was almost certain she’d come visit again soon. That idea alone gave her hope. It already had her looking forward to when she’d see him again.
Ann slowed as they neared the bedroom doors. “I can’t believe the party crew made it to bed before we did,” she said in a whisper.
“Yeah,” Trey agreed. “Step aside, Randy and Zoe—we’ve got some new party animals in town.”
Ann laughed at the irony. While the other couple had been tipping back drinks and dancing through the night, Ann and Trey had lounged in front of a fire playing Scrabble. She wouldn’t have traded with them for anything.
Trey reached out, took her by the wrist, and gently turned her hand over in his. With the lightest touch, he trickled his fingers over her palm. He moved up to her wrist, and then back down. Ann let her eyes close as she took in the tenderness of it. She kept them closed as he lifted her hand, pressed a warm kiss on the center of her palm. “One more day,” he mumbled against her skin. “Promise you’ll come back and see me soon.”
See him. Ann hadn’t missed that. The next time she came here, it would be to see Trey, not just Cassie. “I will. I’d love to come back when she has her baby. I’ll look into the flights.”
“Or I can try to get to Seattle. How fast do you think I’d make it by horse?” he joked, pulling her in for a warm, comforting squeeze. “You’re mine in the morning, right? Before you go shopping with Cassie? Randy and I are making you two breakfast.”
Ann wrapped her arms around him, surprised at how natural it felt. At how very connected she felt to Trey in that moment. “Right.”
He pulled back, cradled her face with his hands. “Goodnight then, Annie.” He pressed his lips to hers, a short, nearly torturous tease.
“Goodnight.”
Chapter 20
“Wake up.”
The mean push to his shoulders had Trey jabbing an elbow behind him. “Stop,” he grumbled.
“I’d stop if your phone wasn’t waking me up every five seconds. Your mom just called for the third time in a row. You better call her back.”
Trey’s eyes shot open. He took in the view before him. Randy’s blank wall. “Where is it?”
“Here.” Randy shoved the phone in his hand and marched out the door. “You left it on the coffee table last night.”
Randy hadn’t hidden his irritation,
but Trey didn’t blame him. He wasn’t ready to be up either.
“Hello?” his mom answered on the third ring.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“I’ve got a clogged up pipe here in the bathroom. It’s making a real mess of things.”
“Where’s Ray?” he asked.
“Out of town. How soon can you get out here?”
Trey smeared a hand over his face. “Soon,” he said. “I’ll come right now.” He didn’t want to waste any time. Cassie and Shane would be back that afternoon, and he didn’t want to miss his chance to spend more time with Ann beforehand.
Within minutes, he was tossing his toolbox into the truck and tearing down the dirt road. He couldn’t count how many times he’d gone out to fix things when Ray was out of town. It seemed everything that could ever go wrong waited for those few days each month. Well, whatever it was, Trey would have to fix it in a hurry.
Chapter 21
Ann woke up to sunlight behind her closed lids. It felt so nice that she simply stayed in place, taking it all in. Sunlight was a rare gift, one she’d appreciate while she was in Montana. Here on Emerson Ranch, with Trey. In her mind, Ann was back on the floor with him. Spread out before the crackling fire while the heat between them sparked an entirely different sort of flame.
His voice, his touch, his laugh. She was what most might call smitten. Tom’s email jumped to the front of her mind at the thought. She needed to give him an update on last night’s events, and quick. She forced herself to sit up through a round of stretching and yawning and realized that Zoe wasn’t in the room. She must be the one showering, Ann decided, noting the sounds coming from the Jack-and-Jill bathroom. A bathroom that led to Randy’s room, where Trey was staying for now.
As she reached for her laptop, Ann thought about the way Trey’s items were tucked into the medicine cabinet on one side. Easy to distinguish from Randy’s. While the loud kid used things like Axe spray and electric razors, Trey favored the trusty standbys like Old Spice and a razor with a blade. But in this room—his room— his bed, even, the sheets smelled like fresh laundry. The closet smelled like leather mixed with cologne. On the nightstand, a beat-up paperback rested beside the lamp. A western thriller. She liked picturing him reading late in the lamp’s glow, his brow furrowed as he worked to unravel the mystery.
Ann shifted her attention back to her laptop as it glowed to life, wasting no time getting to work. She wrote about waiting on the porch for Trey to appear. She mentioned the key points she’d focused on, noting that she was reinforcing her freshly acquired skills while taking on a new one, as the book suggested.
The author would be happy with this. She was happy with it, which said a lot. Once she attached it to the email, Ann typed a quick, personal note.
I’m so sad that we’re leaving today! I feel like there’s a lot more I could do, but I guess I’ll just have to work on things long-distance, as there are still a few chapters I need to feature. The guys are making breakfast for us this morning, and then we spend the rest of the day with Cassie before heading out. I hope Trey will come to the airport to say goodbye.
At last, Ann forced herself to get moving. She’d need to be quick—stuff her things into her bag, freshen up, and spend the rest of the morning with Trey as they waited for Cassie to show.
Zoe threw open the door leading to the bathroom, scents of shampoo and soap wafting in with the humid steam. With a large towel wrapped around her head, she shot Ann a look.
“You’re a bad girl, missy.”
Ann’s heart dropped. Her throat tightened. And if she held very still, she might hear the sudden pulse throbbing in her head. Crap! Zoe knew about the article. Had she told Randy? Would Randy tell Trey?
“You’ve been holding out on me,” Zoe propped a fist onto her hip and leaned forward.
Ann just stared, trying to think of the best way to plea for her silence. She’d do anything. Be her designated driver for the next year. Go on hideous double dates with her. Binge watch that stupid series she was always begging her to—
“Why do you look like that?” Zoe challenged.
“Like what?” Talk about frazzled. Ann was on the verge of hysteria. Everything was about to unravel. The article, her relationship with Trey, all of it was ready to blow up in her face.
“I’ve done a whole lot of kiss-and-tell with you over the years. Well, the telling part of course,” she said with a laugh. “The least you could do is tell me if Trey’s a good kisser.”
When dominos fell, there was a ripple effect. It started at one end and, if successful, traveled all the way to the opposite end, knocking each standing piece as it went. Ann felt that happening with her defenses. Thousands of tiny soldiers had been armed and ready to defend, and now they’d been put at ease. One after the other. From her aching neck to her locked toes.
“You’re right,” she said. “I’ll dish. I’ll totally dish. He’s… yeah. Just let me go potty real quick.” With that, Ann climbed off the bed and bolted for the bathroom.
“Why are you being such a spazz?” Zoe asked once Ann closed the door.
“I’m not,” she called from inside the bathroom. “I just… had to go really bad.” Relax, Ann. Relax. She doesn’t know. Trey doesn’t know. But before leaving, she should probably tell him.
Ann settled into that idea as she brushed her teeth. Already, scents of smoked, hickory bacon permeated the air, confirming that the men had done just what they’d promised—make them breakfast. In a few short hours, Cassie would pick up her and Zoe. And while Ann looked forward to shopping with her close friends, especially for baby furniture, she dreaded the trip to the airport that would follow.
She tried cheering herself up with thoughts of scoring the article once she got home, but all that did was bring back the urgency she felt. Before she left, Ann needed to tell Trey.
Chapter 22
Thin flakes of metal peppered Trey’s hands and face as he hoisted the heavy wrench from the adaptor. “You two ready?” he hollered up to the twins.
He couldn’t see them—with his head beneath the dual-sink vanity—but Trey could picture the twelve-year-old boys on the counter, their lanky legs draped across the sink before them, an iPad in each of their hands.
“Yep,” Simon called.
“Uh huh,” Sam murmured.
“Okay, close up the plug and fill up your sink. Mark, set, go.”
Trey dusted himself off as he shrugged out of the dark space. Just what kind of a crappy day had he been sentenced to? Getting the early morning call, speeding to his mom’s with his brain still half asleep. And then, after buying the right parts and replacing the necessary pieces, discovering a second leak further down the pipe. The worst part was, Trey was missing out on precious time with Ann.
“Does it matter if it’s hot or cold?” Simon asked, his eyes pasted on the filling basin.
Trey shook his head. “Nope.” He went to reach for his phone for the millionth time, irritated at the reminder that he’d left it behind. He hoped Randy had explained things for him.
At about just the same time, the two boys shut the water off. “I’m letting mine go,” Simon announced.
Sam, more distracted by his iPad, reached out to release the trap. “Me too.”
Trey hunched down, scrutinizing the pipe he’d fixed beneath the second sink. Please, please… The word ran through his head as he watched for any sign of a drip. When none came, he gave further direction. “Okay, now turn on both hot and cold, full blast.”
His eyes might be on the sight beneath the sink, but his mind was on Ann. By now she had to be at the baby shop—or whatever it was called—picking out things for Cassie and Shane’s upcoming arrival. Heck, perhaps they were done with that by now and headed to the airport. He hoped that wasn’t the case. They’d said the flight would be sometime that afternoon, he just hadn’t asked when, seeing that he’d planned to spend the morning with her.
Footsteps sounded behind him. “How’s i
t coming?” his mother asked.
“Good, I think.”
“We fixed it!” Simon proclaimed.
Trey’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the patch job. When no stray drops of trickling water proved the kid wrong, he confirmed the good news. “Yep. We sure did.”
“Oh, that’s such a relief.” His mom rubbed a hand over his shoulder as Trey piled tools back into the box. “Help him clean up, boys, he’s got to go,” she said, shooing them off the countertop.
“Here’s the plumbers tape,” Simon said, proving he’d remembered what he’d learned.
“And here’s the other thing,” Sam mumbled.
“Do you think that girl of yours is already headed to the airport?”
The question sent a dart of panic through his chest. “I hope not. What time is it?”
“It’s just after four.”
The boys followed Trey down the hallway and toward the front door. “Take good care of your sisters, will you?” he said on his way down the porch steps.
“They’re never here,” Sam protested.
Trey plunked his toolbox into the back of the truck. “Well take care of them when they are. And if they go on dates, tell the guys taking them out that they better take good care of them or they’ll answer to me.” He held up a fist, shooting the twins a teasing wink.
The boys laughed. “Okay,” Simon said, “we’ll tell them.”
His mom rushed onto the porch then. “See if you can get Ann to stay in Montana for a few more days,” she hollered. “And then bring her out here to meet us.”
Trey backed out, gave her a wave, and tooted his horn. “I’ll try.” He watched in his rearview mirror as the boys started up a game of basketball in the driveway. He sighed, glad that his mom had the twins to keep her company. With the girls dating and driving and being gone so often, mom would probably be pretty lonely this summer.
At once his thoughts shot back to Ann. Please say she’s not already heading to the airport.
How to Catch a Cowboy in 10 Days (Unlikely Cowgirl) Page 10