“Nana—their house is all done!”
She parked the car and turned off the ignition. “Can you believe it’s finished already?” Before she could hear Jenny’s answer, Johnny came running down the porch steps toward them. For once, he wasn’t wearing his cowboy gear. Her granddaughter scrambled out of the front seat.
“Hi!”
“Hey—you can walk! Come on in the house and I’ll show you where we’re going to sleep.”
Just like that, they were off in their own world. Alex got out of the car and reached in back for the box of doughnuts and the plastic bag with the things Jenny would need for the night.
“Would you like some help?”
Attractive as he was, the wrong man had appeared out of nowhere. You’ve got your answer about Buck. Keep smiling. She shut the door. “How are you, Ross?”
“Couldn’t be better.” He walked into the house with her. “You should have heard Johnny when he found out Jenny was in town.”
“It was the same excitement on my end when she talked to him.”
Tracy hurried over to give her a hug. “Welcome back. We’re so thrilled you’re here.”
“So are we.” She handed her the doughnuts. “These are for you.”
“Thank you. You couldn’t have brought us anything we’d love more right now.”
“That’s what I was hoping.”
“Nana?” Alex looked up to see Jenny in the loft overhang. “You’ve got to come up and see Johnny’s room. It’s huge!”
“Okay. I’m coming.”
Once she reached the top of the stairs, she could see Carson making up the queen-size bed. Not until she took a few more steps did she spy Buck on the other side. He was sitting against the far wall with his long, rock-hard legs extended, blowing up an air mattress. While the kids ran around, she felt his piercing gaze travel up her body until their eyes met.
“It’s good to see you again, Alex.” That deep voice of his was unforgettable.
Her heart throbbed in her throat, making it difficult to talk. “It’s wonderful to see all of you.” Her smile took in Carson.
“Your arrival has made this a red-letter night for our son.”
“We had no idea your house would be finished this soon.”
He flashed Buck a glance. “The taskmaster made certain the job got done in record time.”
She didn’t doubt it. “That’s what best friends are for. Your home is breathtaking.” Unfortunately she was out of breath and needed to go back downstairs away from Buck where she could get a grip. “I brought doughnuts in case you’d like some.”
“In case?” Carson laughed. “Did you hear that, Buck?”
The gorgeous male in question was still filling the mattress with air and simply nodded. She didn’t wait to watch anymore and hurried to join Tracy in the kitchen below. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Thank you, but no. We’ve all had it.” She finished off her doughnut. “Come and sit down in the living room. As soon as Carson has Johnny’s room sorted out, we’ll get the kids to bed. Whether they can stop talking long enough to go to sleep is anyone’s guess, however.”
Alex chuckled. “They’re a riot together. Oh, Tracy, you must be so happy to be in your new house at last!”
“It’s a dream come true. But I was just watching Jenny dash up the stairs and can only imagine your relief that she’s made a full recovery.”
“You’ll never know, but I’m nervous she’ll forget and do something that injures it again.”
“I have the same fear with Johnny. He keeps trying to imitate Carson’s trick riding stunts. One of these days it’ll be our turn to rush him to the hospital with a broken leg or arm.”
“Let’s hope not.”
While they laughed, the men came down the stairs to the living room with the kids. Carson sat next to Tracy and pulled her to him, giving her a kiss. “The loft is ready for occupancy.”
Alex looked at Jenny. “Did you hear that? No doubt everyone is exhausted and anxious to go to bed. Come here, sweetheart. Your jammies and toothbrush are inside the bag. Why don’t you run in the bathroom and change before I leave for the motel.”
“Okay.”
Tracy eyed her son. “Now’s a good time for you to do the same thing.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Johnny bounded up the stairs and returned in record time, wearing camouflage pajamas. Pretty soon Jenny came back in. Alex got to her feet and gave her a hug. “Be sure to mind Tracy and Carson. They’ve had a long day moving and everyone’s tired.”
“I know.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“Me, too.”
“Tomorrow I’ll drive to the ranch house for breakfast and we’ll make plans for the day.” They kissed each other. “Have fun. Good night, sweetheart.”
“See you in the morning, Nana.”
Alex gave Johnny a quick hug. “Good night.”
Once the children disappeared upstairs, Alex turned to the others. “Thank you for making her feel so welcome. Since I know you weren’t expecting visitors, I’m going to leave now. I’m in room fourteen at the Teton Shadows if you need to get ahold of me.”
Carson gave Buck an odd glance before he and Tracy got up and walked her to the front door. Ross and Buck brought up the rear. Both of them were eating doughnuts. She heard Buck’s voice. “I’ll follow you back to town, Alex.”
Her heart pounded with unmerciful force. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine.”
His eyes blazed an intense green in the porch light. “You’re still my responsibility while you’re here at our invitation. We don’t want you driving the ranch roads alone this late at night.”
Except that she wasn’t staying at the ranch now. But to argue with him in front of the others would only create a fuss for nothing. He’d offered because it was his duty. No one else thought anything about it.
“If you’re sure, then I’d appreciate it. See all of you tomorrow.”
After everyone said good-night, she stepped off the porch and walked to her rental car. Once she’d started the engine, she noticed Buck climb in one of the trucks. Soon it was just the two of them making their way to Jackson in the moonlight.
Knowing it was his headlights reflected in the mirror, a rush of heat invaded her body. But her euphoria over being alone with him didn’t last long. The thought occurred to her that he could have a late date in town with some beautiful girl and would have been driving there anyway. For the rest of the short trip, she tried without success not to think about his love life.
Jackson was lit up for the weekend with tourists. It was stop-and-go traffic until she reached the motel. When she’d been told she could have a room for all three nights, she should have known it would be on the ground floor at the end. Some guys were partying outside one of the rooms. They saw her pass in the car and let out with wolf whistles and catcalls.
To her chagrin, someone had taken her parking space in front of the door. She had no choice but to park farther away. Buck pulled up next to her and got out. The catcalls ended when he walked over to her wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. It was a sin for any man to look so good.
“I’ll go inside with you to make sure you’re safe.” A familiar cough punctuated his declaration. The silent exchange between Carson and Buck was no longer a mystery. There was a reason why Alex had been able to get a motel for three nights during high season. It also explained why Buck had decided to follow her.
At times he had an authoritative way about him. This was the second time tonight she chose not to challenge one of those moments. “Thank you.”
Alex rummaged in her purse for the key and they headed for her room. When they reached the door, he took it from her fingers and inserted it in the lock. The door opened to generic knotty p
ine walls and two double beds.
She laid her purse on the counter by the TV before turning to him with a smile. “As you can see, there’s nothing sinister here.”
“It’s not what’s on the inside that bothers me. Those guys are out for a good time and they’ll come around when they know I’m not here.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine.”
His expression remained sober. He lounged against the closed door, scrutinizing her. “I had no idea you were coming back to finish your vacation with us. It’s been a while. How’s the situation with Jenny? Is she learning to accept Frank?”
Frank who?
Alex was so aware of him, she could hardly breathe. “No.”
Buck’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry to hear that. It must be very hard on all of you.”
Alex folded her arms against her waist. “When we went home, I ended our relationship.”
The man staring at her didn’t move a muscle, but his eyes suddenly charged with a new energy. “Why?”
She took another quick breath. “On the first night at the cabin, you told me there’s something about being at the ranch that gives you a new perspective. After Jenny and I flew back to California, I realized what you’d said was true.
“When I saw Frank again, certain things were made clear to me that had nothing to do with Jenny’s lack of acceptance. We’d both been friends who’d leaned on each other while we went through our grieving periods. He surprised me by asking me to marry him. I did love him, but I wasn’t in love with him. Otherwise I wouldn’t have let Jenny’s objections stand in the way.”
“It must’ve been devastating for him.”
“It was bad,” she admitted. “He still hasn’t accepted it and keeps calling. Needless to say, Jenny couldn’t be happier it’s over.”
He straightened. “Do you still work at the bank with him?”
She shook her head. “After we got back, I gave the manager my two weeks’ notice. He knew how difficult it was for me to be in the same building with Frank and let me go after a week. Since then, I’ve been looking for another kind of job, even in Lake Tahoe where my parents live, but I haven’t found one that appeals to me yet. Knowing the statistics about the process taking six months to two years, I’m not too hopeful about it happening anytime soon.”
“Are you going to be all right financially?”
“Yes. I’ll keep hunting for a job until I find something suitable. That’s why I decided to take advantage of this weekend so Jenny could enjoy the rest of her vacation. She was having the time of her life here—it seems so cruel what happened.”
“I would wager that the mood couldn’t be happier at the Lundgren house tonight.” She felt his gaze on her mouth. “I’m glad you came back, Alex.” His voice sounded husky and made her feel light-headed.
“I am, too.”
“Let’s get out of here. I know a place where we can have a drink and listen to a live band.”
As good as that sounded, she would have rather been alone with him. “You don’t have other plans?”
“There’s no woman in my life at the moment if that’s what you mean.”
It was exactly what she meant. “You’re not too exhausted after the big move?”
He inhaled sharply, bringing on a cough. “No, but it sounds like you’re tired after your flight and want to call it a night.”
“You’ve misunderstood me. I just didn’t want you to feel you had to entertain me.”
“What if I want to?”
That was the first overt sign that he felt something for her that was separate from his job as her host. Her body trembled. “Then, with Jenny safe and sound at the Lundgrens’, I’d love to go with you. Do I need to change?”
“No. You’re perfect just as you are.”
So are you.
He opened the door. “We’ll go in the truck.”
She grabbed her purse and walked out. He pulled the door closed and locked it. The party crowd had moved on. Alex was finally going on a date with the man she’d been fantasizing about for over a month. Their arms brushed while he was helping her into the truck’s cab. It felt like liquid fire.
Once they left the motel, he maneuvered them through the maze of vehicles lining the streets, but they eventually got stuck in a traffic jam. “I’m taking you to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, if we can ever get there. You sit on a saddle to have a drink at the bar. There’s a stuffed grizzly bear. It’s a must-see for out-of-towners like yourself.”
“Do you go there a lot?”
“I’ve been once.”
“Then once was obviously enough and it’s not your thing.” He shot her a surprised glance. “I’d rather do something you’d like. What’s your idea of a good time, Buck?”
“That depends on the female.”
“Seriously, if you had your druthers.”
“My druthers?” His brows lifted. “That would be telling secrets.”
She smiled. “Don’t hold back on me. Nothing you could say would surprise me. I’m a grandma and have lived longer than you.”
Tension filled the cab. “Is that really how you see yourself?”
“It’s what I am and you’re evading my question.”
“Right. My idea would be to camp out under the stars with the smell of pine filling the breeze. A beautiful woman would be in my arms and we’d have a whole night with nothing to do but enjoy each other.”
“That sounds amazing.” The tremor in her voice infuriated her.
“There were times overseas, breathing those toxic fumes, when I would have killed for one night like that.”
“No wonder you got so excited about the idea of coming to work at the ranch.” She shifted in her seat. “Buck? It’s so busy here. When we get to the corner, let’s go back to the motel, and I’ll buy you a soda from the machine.” At least they could have privacy, even if the surroundings left a lot to be desired.
“You really don’t want to go to the bar? There’s line dancing.”
“Not tonight.” She didn’t want noise or other people around. She only wanted time alone with him.
Chapter Eight
Did he just blow it? It was time to try another tack.
“I’ve got an even better idea. Let’s check you out of there. We’ll grab your suitcase and head for the ranch.” His jaw tightened. “That motel is no place for a good-looking woman on her own, let alone for Jenny. I’ll follow you to the ranch in your rental car. You can park around the side with the other cars.”
“But where will Jenny and I stay? You weren’t expecting us.”
“You saw Johnny’s new furniture at the house. His old room still has the twin beds and matching dresser. Carson wants it to be used as an extra guest room when we have an overflow. I can’t think of anyone better than you to christen it.”
It would mean being in the ranch house with Buck until Monday. She got a fluttery sensation in her chest. “If you’re sure.”
He made no further comment. By the time they reached the motel, it was out of her hands. Buck waited for her to gather up her things, and then he walked to the office with her while she checked out. For the second time that night, she found herself en route to the ranch, but this time Buck was driving right behind her and she felt as though she was floating.
She reached the parking area and locked up the car. Buck was there waiting for her and took her suitcase. “Tell me what kind of job you’re looking for.”
Alex didn’t want to think about that tonight, but he’d asked. “I don’t know. Something different. A new adventure. Breaking up with Frank has given me a sense of freedom I haven’t known before. Now that Jenny is in school full-time, I don’t want to do the same thing anymore. Would you think it odd if I told you I’ve left my old life
behind and am ready to begin the next phase? It’s kind of exciting to think about since I have no idea what’s ahead.”
Alex felt his eyes on her. “Would you believe I said those exact words to my parents after I got home from the hospital? The world I’d left behind no longer appealed in the same way. If anyone understands how you feel, I do.”
She breathed in the scent of sage, something she would always associate with the ranch. “You’ve found a wonderful life here.” The moon over the Grand Teton made the scene surreal.
“Would you be willing to uproot if you had to?”
“You mean, sell the house and put Jenny in a different school?”
He nodded.
“If I found the right job and situation, I’d do it in a heartbeat. My granddaughter is so happy with the way things have turned out, I’m sure she’d be amenable to a move if it meant Frank couldn’t drop by unexpectedly anymore.”
“Has he done that since you ended it?”
“Yes, but this weekend he won’t find me home. Of course, my parents would like me to keep looking in the Tahoe area. But to be honest, after staying there for a few days while I searched for work, I realized it’s their retirement dream, not mine.”
“You’ve got years before you have to think about retirement.”
“According to the great thinkers of our country, we should be worrying about it from the time we get our first paycheck.”
Buck laughed softly as they made their way around the corner of the house. “It looks like we’re alone tonight, because I don’t see Ross’s truck. If he’s gone out, who knows when he’ll be back.”
“Is he involved with anyone special?”
“Nope.”
“The bachelor life. I never thought it fair that the powers that be set it up so the guy had to be the one to make things happen.”
His lips twitched in reaction. “It’s not all joy. The female can choose not to cooperate.”
“I don’t imagine you or Ross have run into that experience often.”
“What makes you say that?”
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