Something Just Like This

by Jennifer Probst

  Jonathan laughed. “I’ll settle for the state. Mia can have the rest.”

  Phoenix nipped at Harper’s hair, and she playfully swatted him away, grinning. “Well, Ethan already warned her work needs to be limited while you’re here. We all know your tendencies toward workaholism.”

  He threw up his hands. “Guilty as charged. But these two women will keep me in line.”

  Alyssa’s cheeks heated at the pleasure his comment gave her. Since they’d arrived, she’d watched him soften and relax into the environment in a way she rarely glimpsed. She loved seeing the other side of him, hanging with his daughter, just being a dad rather than the mayor.

  “I feel a bit guilty going riding when Ophelia is in the kitchen all day,” Alyssa admitted. “I tried to help, but she and Kyle shooed me right out.”

  Harper winked. “Take my advice and stay out. Those two are experts when it comes to cooking, and Ophelia enjoys putting on a big spread for Turkey Day. Our time will come with the cleanup. That’s bad enough.”

  Chloe wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I saw a million pots and pans and trays in there that will all need washing. Kyle and Ethan always disappear around that time with some excuse.”

  “Your father is excellent at washing dishes,” Alyssa said primly. “I’m sure he’ll dive right in.”

  Jonathan’s face fell. “I thought I was a guest.”

  Harper patted him on the shoulder. “Nah, you’re family now. Aren’t you lucky?”

  A strange sound like a giggle burst from Alyssa’s lips at the horror on his face. His gaze caught hers and softened, lingering a bit longer than it should. She swallowed back the ache in her throat and refocused on Chloe, who was speaking.

  “Why don’t you and Dad head to that barn and get acquainted with Flower and Bambi? They’re already tacked up and ready. Carrots are on the shelf. I’ll be right back.”

  Harper spoke up. “Have a good ride, guys. I’ll meet you at the inn within the hour, and we can get ready to feast.” They waved goodbye and watched as Phoenix and Captain Hoof followed her down the path and disappeared into the back barn.

  Jonathan hesitated, glancing into the shadowed interior where the horses waited. “There’s no, umm, surprises waiting inside, right?”

  “Probably just Bolt and a few of his doggie pals,” Chloe said. “On this farm, you never know what rescues you’ll run into.”

  Jonathan snorted. “Goats and horses and dogs and cats are fine, as long as that mad chicken stays away.”

  “You scared of Hei-Hei, Dad?” Chloe asked with delight. “He’s a sweetie, and Mia has full control of him.”

  “What chicken?” Alyssa asked. It was rare that Jonathan was wary of anything, let alone an animal.

  Jonathan shuddered. “Trust me, you don’t want to meet him. Besides being scary as hell, every time Mia and I try to work, he glares at me. And when Mia leaves me alone, he pecks at my foot like he’s giving me a warning. I don’t know how Ethan deals with him.”

  “He’s just overprotective,” Chloe said. “Give me ten minutes, and we’ll be ready for our ride.”

  “Fine, but if Alyssa screams, someone better come and help,” he muttered, leading the way. Chloe’s laugh echoed in the air.

  Flower and Bambi both had matching white coats, were average-size, and seemed gentle. Alyssa fed them carrots, and their teeth grasped them gingerly, rolling the vegetable around before settling into a rhythm of crunches. Flower leaned over and nibbled at her bun, which tickled, but her heart melted when she looked into those sweet brown eyes and saw the affection so freely given.

  “Did you ever ride before Chloe came to the farm?” she asked curiously. Jonathan seemed confident with the horses, stroking Bambi’s flank and talking sweet nothings into a pricked ear. Was it wrong that she was jealous of a horse? She tore her gaze away from those talented fingers and reminded herself he was giving her everything she asked.

  No flirting. No touching. No intimacy.

  It sucked, and it was only the beginning of the weekend.

  “No, it wasn’t something I was interested in. I was always more comfortable with city life and, other than a family dog, we never had much contact with animals. But watching Chloe change and grow made me want to share in her passions. This rescue farm is quite something. It used to be half the size it is now.”

  “Is it just me, or are most of the animals named for Disney characters?”

  He shook his head in dismay. “No, they are. Seems the Bishop women grew up with Disney in the forefront, and now all their rescues are dubbed with character names. I don’t know how the men live with this stuff.”

  “Chauvinism is not a quality worthy of the governor, Mr. Mayor,” a voice rang out, strong and clear. Footsteps echoed behind them, and Alyssa turned. The woman who stood framed in the doorway had her arms crossed in front of her chest and a scowl on her lovely face. Her hair was a pretty honey color, cut sharply to angle under her chin. Amber eyes sparked with annoyance as she glared at Jonathan, her brows snapped together in a frown. She wore a black, stretchy dress that was clearly designer, and high-heeled leather boots with gold stacked heels. Under the trendy belt, her massive belly poked out. Alyssa pegged her at about seven months. Her polished appearance and fierce demeanor could both intimidate and charm, depending on the situation, and Alyssa admitted she’d always had a girl crush on Mia Thrush-Bishop, owner of Strategic Solutions PR, one of the most thriving firms in Manhattan. Jonathan was her client.

  Jonathan winced. “Sorry, Mia. Guess Disney isn’t my thing.”

  “Because you never sat down and watched a movie with us. I guess we’ll have to change that tonight. I’ll ask Chloe if we should pick Cocoa or her favorite, Moana.”

  Jonathan rubbed his face with a groan, and she caught Mia’s wink. “Please don’t make me watch cartoons on one of my precious evenings off.”

  “Trust me, it’ll be great PR. Slipping in a quote from a family movie for a sound bite will be gold for the voters.”

  “You are going to be the scariest mom on the planet.”

  She flashed him a dangerous smile. “Damn, I hope so.” Mia walked over without even a waddle and gave Alyssa a big hug. “I was so excited when I heard you were coming. Been dying to get you out here. Happy Thanksgiving, babe.”

  Alyssa hugged her back, her throat closing up with emotion. Mia had always been an advocate and supporter, and they’d grown close. “How are you feeling? You look amazing.”

  Mia snorted, heading over to give Jonathan a matching hug. “I feel like a penguin. My body has become an alien pod, and I’m crossing off the days until the little one decides he or she has cooked enough.”

  “Not finding out if it’s a boy or girl?” Jonathan asked.

  “Nope, we want it to be a surprise. You going for a ride by yourselves?”

  “No, Chloe just had to do a few things, but she’s taking us on the trail,” Jonathan said. “Maybe we can carve out some time together tomorrow? I’ve already been warned no more than two hours of work for us.”

  “Damn, me, too.” Mia sighed in frustration. “Ethan’s become a bit cranky lately. It’s like he’s pregnant, too. He’s freaking me out.”

  “Couvade Syndrome,” Alyssa said. “It’s a real condition where men experience all the symptoms of their partner’s pregnancy. Has he experienced bouts of nausea, weight gain, or swelling? Cravings? Anxiety or stress regarding the birth?”

  “All of it.” Mia cooed and patted Flower and Bambi. “Thing is, Ethan never complains, but I’ve noticed weird stuff. He’s suddenly eating tons of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and he never liked it before. He puts his feet up at night, and his ankles are twice the size. And his research on this birth is crazy. I find website articles marked, printouts galore, books that I don’t want to read scattered everywhere, all while he tries to drill me about the latest facts so I’m prepared. Ugh, like I’ll ever be prepared for this, no matter what the research.”

  Jonathan laughed. “Poor bas
tard. He survived special-ops, a shooting, PTSD, and now it’s the baby that finally beats him.”

  “Well, we’re taking our full two hours for work, and he’ll just have to deal.”

  “I believe you two can rule the world with two hours,” Alyssa said.

  Mia blew her a kiss. “We’re going to try. Let me get back to the house. I’ll see you in there. Remember, dinner’s at four p.m.”

  She strode out without missing a beat. Alyssa glanced over to find Jonathan smiling. “You really care about her,” she said softly. She loved that about him, the way he was fiercely loyal to the people close to him and protected them at all costs.

  “She’s special. Without her, Chloe and I may have never been this close. She had the guts to challenge me on my decisions like no one else, no matter how hard I fought her.”

  “You never had feelings for her?” she asked curiously. “Tried to date?”

  His eyes widened, and he laughed long and hard, startling the horses. “Oh, hell, no. Mia and I would’ve been a disaster—we’re both high-strung personalities. Plus, there was never any attraction. It’s funny how everyone assumes a pretty face makes a man fall hard, but chemistry has always been the thing I’ve struggled with most. I fell hard for my wife in college and never looked at another woman. After she passed, the only woman I ever experienced that with was—” He stopped short, clearly realizing his mistake a bit too late.

  Her name was never spoken aloud but hung in the air like smoke after a gunshot nonetheless.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, taking a step back as if he were afraid he might reach out and try to touch her.

  Her whole body clenched then practically wept with the need to tell him she couldn’t do this anymore. That she’d take a chance. That she wanted him badly, too, and it would all be worth the blow-up.

  She opened her mouth, but a shadow fell over them, moving closer. Suddenly, his face changed.

  “Don’t move,” he whispered. “Don’t even breathe.”

  “Is it a bear?” she whispered back, scared to turn. “Sasquatch can’t be in this area. It’s not north enough.”

  “Worse. It’s that damn chicken.”

  Slowly, she turned. Blinked. And studied the giant, monster fowl that stood a few feet away.

  The thing had massive feet and claws, towering tall with a thick body of mottled black. Fat red jowls hung from under his beak. Crazy white feathers stuck out from his head like a designer hairdo gone terribly wrong. A high-pitched shriek emitted from him, and she watched in horror as he scraped his clawed foot on the ground like he was about to charge.

  “Hei-Hei,” Jonathan yelled. “Don’t you dare! If you give me shit, I’ll tell Mia, and you’ll be on the table for Thanksgiving instead of under it!”

  The chicken monster clearly didn’t like that because he began to cluck and squawk, shaking out his feathers in fury and walking closer.

  Alyssa wondered what death by chicken would feel like.

  “Good boy,” she whispered. “Pretty boy. Nice boy.”

  “Be gone, chicken from hell!” Jonathan boomed.

  And then, Hei-Hei decided he’d had enough.

  He charged toward Jonathan, ignoring Alyssa, and began to peck madly at the mayor’s feet. Flower and Bambi barely gave him a glance as if used to his temper tantrums, and Jonathan began howling, trying to get away. And then—

  “Hei-Hei!”

  The female voice snapped out with pure authority. The chicken froze, whirling around, and came face-to-face with Mia. In a matter of seconds, the creature scurried away from Jonathan and began rubbing his feathers against Mia’s boot-covered calf like a cat seeking to be petted.

  “I am very disappointed in you,” she said coolly. “I should have known you were trying to sneak into the barn. And here I was, about to share some special treats with you. Now I may give your portion to Captain Hoof.”

  The chicken pressed harder, making little sounds of what seemed like an apology. Alyssa stared in pure fascination at the obvious bond between them.

  Mia sighed, and her face softened. “I’ll think about it. Now, come with me and leave poor Jonathan alone. Ethan is going to be pissed you acted so badly with our guests.” She shook her head. “Sorry, guys. He means well, he’s just a tiny bit protective.”

  She left again, taking the chicken monster with her.

  Alyssa glanced over. His face was a bit pale, and he seemed to lean against Bambi for comfort. “You okay?” she asked, pressing her lips together.

  “Of course.” He scoffed like the whole scene was nothing. “I wasn’t afraid. I just didn’t want him to hurt you. Are you okay?”

  Mirth threatened, but she smothered it. The man needed to have some pride left. “Yes, thanks for helping me. He was definitely scary.”

  “No problem.”

  Chloe hurried in. “Sorry I’m late, had more to do than I thought. Did I miss anything?”

  They shared a glance and, suddenly, they were both laughing together, and Alyssa knew this weekend was already going horribly wrong in the worst way possible.

  She was falling even more in love with Jonathan Lake.

  Chapter Nine

  Jonathan bowed his head to say grace and tried not to feel anything when Alyssa’s fingers tangled with his. As they asked for blessings and gave gratitude for the food on the table, and people to share it with, he wondered if he was really able to continue this way.

  The past few weeks had been torturous. He kept believing it would get easier, but every night, he tossed and turned and dreamt about her. Trying to keep his emotions locked tightly away was more work than he’d imagined. Each time she came into his office, her scent teased him mercilessly. He tried to focus on her barrage of instructions and questions, but all he could think about was how she’d tasted. When she sat next to him at a meeting, her leg occasionally casually brushed his, and he’d needed to stay at the table longer than necessary so he didn’t betray his weak body and painful erection.

  But he wouldn’t surrender. Alyssa was too important for him to lose, and he’d learn to deal with sheer grit and determination.

  Still, this weekend wasn’t easy. Seeing her at the farm showed him a glimpse of the woman she hid while at the office. She was more relaxed and open here, her gaze feasting on the sights around her with a happiness that touched him. Watching her ride Flower, her body moving well with the horse, her occasional laughter drifting in the cold breeze, made him realize he might be doomed to secretly love her forever. She’d chatted with Chloe easily, and he’d just listened, enjoying her obvious affection for his beloved daughter. Having the two most important women in his life flanking him as they rode down the trails with the mountains in the distance and the fading sun at his back was a moment he’d never forget.

  He shook off his thoughts and refocused on the conversation at the table.

  “Seems like Kyle has become the new Nicholas Sparks,” Ethan said. “Who would’ve thought A Brand New Ending would rank as one of the best romance movies of the year? I went into town the other day, and Bea’s granddaughter was home from college, gushing about how she saw the movie ten times and cried.” His blue eyes glinted with amusement. “How does it feel being married to Mr. Romance, Tink?”

  Ophelia shook her head at her brother’s teasing and the familiar nickname permanently attached to her. Jonathan admitted she did look a little like the fairy with her blond hair, pointy chin, and huge, blue eyes. “I’m just happy he finally got a chance to write what he wants,” she said, patting Kyle’s hand. “Hollywood blocked him in so many ways, at least with LWW Enterprises, Presley lets him pitch his own stories. The next one is slated for next year, and I think it’s even better.”

  Kyle’s father, Patrick, sat at the other end of the table. He was a grizzly man with a soft spot for his rescue dog, Charlie. “I’m proud of you, son, but I still like those shoot ‘em up movies. Maybe you can throw a car chase in the next one?”

  Kyle grinned. “I hear you,
Dad, but Ethan’s really gonna love this one. It’s based on a cool PR executive coming to a small B&B for the summer and falling for a moody, not-so-handsome hero with issues. Thing is, he’s called the horse whisperer and seems to rehabilitate abused thoroughbreds. The one he works with ends up winning the Derby. Good stuff, huh?”

  Ethan dropped his fork and stared at him. “Oh, hell no. You are not writing about me like some warped hero, or using ridiculous terms like the horse whisperer. That book’s already been written.”

  “Not the way I’m gonna write it,” Kyle said, the teasing threat made clear. “Get ready, buddy. You’re about to be famous.”

  “Son of a bitch,” he growled.

  Mia squealed with delight. “You’re writing our love story! That’s amazing. Do I get to help screen the actress who’ll play me?”

  Harper laughed. “Probably not, but I’m sure Kyle will guarantee you’re properly represented.”

  “Definitely,” Kyle said. “I’m thinking Ethan should be played by Robert Redford. He’s a bit old now, but he can pull you off.”

  Ethan glared. “Bullshit. Aidan, help me out here, buddy. He’s going to be writing about you, too, and Phoenix. All we need is more press at our farm—I can’t take it.”

  Aidan had his head down, shoveling in mashed potatoes and biscuits, but he looked up. With a heavy Irish brogue, he said, “Hmm, did you tell Kyle the bad news about Hei-Hei?”

  Kyle looked nervous. “What about him?”

  “Well, when the baby comes, Mia needs a quiet environment, and since Hei-Hei needs to stay indoors during the winter, you’re going to have to take him in.”

  Horror widened the man’s eyes. “Oh, hell, no. That chicken wants to kill me.”

  “Life’s a bitch, ain’t it?” Ethan drawled, punching Aidan in the shoulder with gratitude. “Thanks, Aidan. You were always my favorite brother-in-law.”

  Harper laughed. “All of you are nuts,” she said, shaking her head. “Sorry, Alyssa, meals in this house get a bit lively. Chloe knows well.”

  “Yeah, I remember the first time Mia and I had dinner here. I was pissed because I thought she was having an affair with Dad.”