by Vella Day
Melissa snagged a handful of chips. “I wish I could meet someone like that.”
Except for Jamie, who’d thought she’d found her Prince Charming when she’d met Benny, and Amber Delacroix who’d recently landed her two perfect men, all of the women at the table had expressed that sentiment at one time—including Zoey.
Amber dipped the pita bread into the hummus. “All I can say is that I’d have been scared shitless if someone grabbed me around the throat like that.”
“Trust me, I was petrified.” Zoey was about to say Amber should know the feeling, but then thought better of it. Her friend had a gun pointed at her by Jamie’s boyfriend, which would be a hell of a lot worse in Zoey’s opinion.
Melissa wiped her hands on her napkin. “We’ve never had any of our patients come in with gunshots wounds, but wouldn’t any kind of surgery leave him woozy for days?”
“I would have thought so, too, but he’s tough.”
“And hot,” Amber added. If her good friend wasn’t engaged to two hunky men, Zoey might have told her to back off.
Becky Andrews, another nurse at LACE hospital, sipped her margarita. “You need to start from the beginning. I must have been spacing out because I didn’t even know this went down.” She waved her glass. “Where was I?”
Zoey could see the girls wouldn’t leave her alone until she gave them enough details. “I’ll give the short version for Becky here. I was walking down the hall intently reading my notes, when this guy grabs me.” While Zoey told them how she thought she might die, she left out a lot of the details—like nearly peeing in her pants. “After I got out of the ER and made sure Thad was okay, I went home.” She inhaled. All four of her friends seemed glued to her story. “I was shaken, but I was holding it together.”
Jamie’s lips were pressed together. “You sure you weren’t in denial? I know I would have been.”
They’d spoken about that in their session. “At the time, I was just mad and upset, mostly because of Thad. I had a mean headache from the gun butt, some of that man’s blood on me, and was hungry and tired.”
“Sounds just like PMS to me,” Melissa said with humor in her voice.
The crowd chuckled. “Trust me. It was worse. Remember I told you I was having my kitchen and bath redone?” The girls nodded. “They were supposed to be finished that day, but when I got there, the owner was in my bathroom cleaning the tub.”
“No way,” Becky said. “I’d have been pissed. When I’m upset, I want to be left alone.”
“I was a bit peeved. Having Pete—a stranger to me—where I wanted to be the most set me off. I lost it. I’m not proud of my reaction, but it’s what happened.” She told them how she’d cried and how Pete had held her hand, brought her something to drink, and listened to her tale.
“Aw,” Becky said, her frustration from a moment ago having all but disappeared. “He sounds so nice.” Becky was the dreamer of the group who yearned for love in the worst way.
“He was. He even ordered me Chinese food.” Everyone knew Zoey’s penchant for the stuff.
Becky placed both hands over her mouth. “Why can’t I meet someone like him?”
“You sound like Melissa. Don’t worry. When the time’s right, he’ll walk into your life.”
“I can’t wait.” Becky drew her glass to her lips. “You find a man willing to risk his life for you, and then meet a second man who’s equally wonderful in the same day. I should be so lucky.”
“She’s greedy,” Melissa chimed in.
Zoey shook her head. “It wasn’t like I planned it.”
Melissa leaned forward. “What are you going to do about being one woman with two men? Willing to pass one off?” Her brows rose.
“Not going to happen, lady.” Zoey sobered then finished her glass of wine. “That’s one of the reasons I needed to come. I’m torn.”
Amber smiled. “We’re all ears. But let me say that Thad’s a great guy. He worked with Cade once, who had nothing but good things to say about him. You can’t go wrong with a hero.”
“I know, but Pete was there for me, too.” Zoey stomach tightened at where this conversation was headed.
Jamie cracked open a peanut. “Seems to me like you have a real dilemma.”
Melissa waved her glass. “No kidding. Thad is this hunky cop who saved your life. You cancelled your entire day of appointments so you could drive him home. But you’re in turmoil because Pete was there for you in your most trying time.”
Melissa had nailed it. “You are so right. I like both of them.”
A twinkle shone in Amber’s eyes. “I remember when I barged into the room where you were consoling a pretend-to-be-sick Thad, and you and he were totally engrossed in what each of you were saying.”
That was what made it so hard. “We were. He’s deep. He seemed to understand me, too.”
Melissa chortled and Becky grinned. Melissa made the shape of a circle with her hands. “My magic ball says you’ll be boffing Thad within the week.”
Everyone but Zoey laughed. Her face heated instead. “Pete told me they shared.” She’d shone the light on the elephant in the room.
Amber grabbed her hand. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I am, too. Sort of. Here’s the problem. Pete hasn’t asked me out. What if he doesn’t? You don’t think it’s going to be awkward being at Thad’s house if Pete shows up?”
Jamie shook her head. “You know, for a self-confident shrink, you sure are one confused woman when it comes to men.”
Zoey laughed. “You got that right.”
Amber looked from one girl to the next. “I’ll play shrink here. It’s not that Pete won’t ask Zoey out, it’s that when he does, she’ll have to deal with both.”
Jamie leaned forward on her elbows and lasered a gaze right at Zoey. “I seem to recall that when Amber mentioned how she liked Cade and Stone that you warned her about ménage relationships. I believed you said they were doomed to failure.”
Zoey had said that. “That was before I could see how good Stone and Cade were with Amber. Since then, I’ve been reevaluating my opinion.”
“Amen,” Amber said.
Melissa picked up her glass and drained it. “If Pete asks you out, what will you say?”
“Let’s not be making any wedding plans for me yet. On Saturday, I’ll be going with Thad to his parents’ anniversary party. Pete’s invited, too.”
All the girls grinned. They acted as if her fate was sealed. She so hoped she was ready to delve into the world of ménage again.
* * *
After a fun evening with her friends, Zoey headed home. She was two streets away from her house when her cell rang. A quick glance showed the number, but not the person’s name.
Thinking it might be a distraught patient using a friend’s phone, she answered. “Hello?”
“It’s Pete Banks. Hope you don’t mind that I called. Thad gave me your cell number.”
Her right hand loosened her grip on the wheel. “Mind? No.” He sounded upbeat, so she assumed nothing bad had happened to Thad.
Was he asking her out or checking on whether she was happy with the renovations? Stop guessing. Just listen.
“I wanted to touch base with you to see if you were okay, but it sounds as if you’re in a car.”
A bit of disappointment ran through her. It was a check-up call. The whine from the wheels on the pavement was rather loud. “I’m just returning from happy hour.”
“I won’t keep you then, but I was wondering if you might be up for a horseback ride at my parents’ ranch after work tomorrow. You mentioned how much you missed your horse from back home.”
He was too sweet. Zoey hadn’t ridden in such a long time. Growing up, she’d taken Scout, her Paint, out almost every day. “I’d love to. My last patient leaves at three. Does that work?” Normally, she had someone at four on Friday, but she’d cancelled.
“Perfect. How about I pick you up at your house at, say, four?”
She slowed as she neared the turn to her street. First Thad and now Pete. Her social calendar had gone from nothing to being filled up fast. “I’ll be ready.”
“See you then.”
She pressed the off button and smiled until she realized that Pete had just complicated her life, but hopefully in a good way.
* * *
Even though Zoey had back-to-back patients to help pass the time the next day, getting through all of Friday had been excruciating. When the last of her patients had walked out of the office, she was finally able to leave. Not only was she excited about riding again, she was thrilled to have the chance to see Pete Banks without tears blurring her vision.
During her short lunch hour, she’d given some serious thought to both Thad and Pete. The dynamics between all three of them were quite unique. It was a help-and-be-helped kind of thing. Thad had saved her by shooting Garrett, and then Pete had been there for her as she’d tried to cope with the nightmare. Two days later, she’d helped Thad when he needed a ride home, though by no means what she did for him equaled what he’d done for her. The only missing ingredient was her helping Pete.
As soon as she entered her house, she headed straight to the bedroom. Knowing there would be little time to decide what to wear, she’d laid out her clothes last night. She wanted to be comfortable, but also look nice. The problem was that nothing fit the bill, but she didn’t have time to shop. They’d be outside, so her jacket would cover her less than sexy shirt. Just as she yanked on her boots, the doorbell rang. Yikes, he was here.
Zoey rushed to the door and opened it. Wow. Pete was wearing a sexy black shirt, jeans that flowed over his hips like molten steel, and well-worn boots. Through all her tears, she must not have noticed what a great-looking guy he was. “Hey, come in.”
“Ready?”
She smiled. “Just need to grab my purse.” After she set the alarm, Pete helped her into his truck then jogged to the other side and jumped in.
“Sorry about the mess.” He picked up a hammer and tossed it behind his seat. “I rarely go any place with a lady. Should have vacuumed it at least.”
Zoey wasn’t sure if that was a come-on or not, but she liked the sentiment. “I have no problem being in a work vehicle.”
He smiled. “You don’t mind getting a little mud on you then?”
Somehow this seemed like a trap. “Are we going to cross a muddy river?”
He smiled. “No telling where Dad’s beasts will take us, but I was referring to contractor’s mud. We use it to cover the cracks where the wallboard abuts.” He tapped a stain on the seat.
“Ah.” She had a lot to learn.
In no time, they arrived at his parents’ spread. Pete’s folks only lived about six miles from her house, on the northeast corner of Rock Hard, but she wasn’t sure if they technically were within the town limits. “How many acres do they own?” She didn’t see many homes nearby.
“Only four hundred, but there aren’t any roads between Dad’s house and the mountains, so no one lives back there. Someday it might happen.”
“It’s beautiful.” The rustic grandeur of Montana never failed to amaze her.
He stopped the truck and helped her out. “Just leave your purse here, unless you think you’ll need something.”
“I’m good.” Pete led her to a barn that was located to the west of the Banks’ mansion. The house had to be close to ten thousand square feet. “What do your parents do with all that space?”
He laughed. “Trust me, I asked them the same thing. Maybe now you can see why receiving their old home as payment might not have been the best deal for me.”
“Your dad didn’t give you any cash to cover the costs of labor and materials?”
“He did.” Pete placed a hand on her lower back and escorted her inside the barn.
From the way his jaw had tightened, talking about his father wasn’t his favorite subject. She wondered if after they rode she’d get to meet Mr. or Mrs. Banks. For now, she’d enjoy Pete—or rather Parker Banks.
The rich smell of hay reminded her so much of her high school days and stirred something deep inside her. At the sight of the five beautiful horses, she groaned.
“Bring back memories?” Pete escorted her over to a mare that was already saddled.
“Yes.”
“This here is Snow Cone.”
Snow Cone. “Cute name.” The top of her head was white, and from her eyes down she was the color of a waffle cone. “Hey, there.” The horse whinnied. “How nice that the hands saddled her.” That way they wouldn’t waste daylight.
“Hands? No. I came out before I picked you up and got the horses ready.”
Pete was amazing. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He led Snow Cone out of her stall. “You need help up?”
“I’m good.” As if she was sixteen again, she mounted. Pete did the same. “What’s your horse’s name?”
“Winter Run.” He nodded to the outside. “Let’s get a move on it, cowgirl. I got a nice place I want to show you, and it gets dark soon in these here parts.” She loved his fake cowboy accent.
Side by side they walked their horses for a bit. Going slow allowed her to enjoy the scenery, as well as the scent of sage that was mixed with pine. Mountain vistas never ceased to amaze her. The big expanse took her breath away. When a gust of wind blew across the plains, it cut through her jacket, but the sun warmed her up in seconds.
By taking their time, Zoey got the feel back for riding. She was quite happy that her body had remembered how to sit and how to ride. But after all that had happened this past week, she wanted the adrenaline to pump through her veins, to make her feel alive again.
Time seemed to stand still. “Want to race?” she asked, hoping she wouldn’t fall off if he agreed.
He grinned. “Want to lose?”
“You are so going down, cowboy.”
Pete tugged on Winter Run’s reins and looked around. “Let me see. How about we stop fifteen feet in front of that large boulder?” He pointed to an outcropping of rocks about three hundred yards away.
She petted Snow Cone’s flank. “Ready, girl, to beat this old man?”
He laughed. “Old, huh? On the count of three. One, two—”
While Zoey was usually a stickler for rules, the urge to break one this minute seemed right. She nudged Snow Cone before he said three, and the horse took off. It was as if the animal sensed the competitive tone in Pete’s voice. A few seconds later, he was by Zoey’s side, his horse kicking up dirt. He looked over and waved. Damn him. Determined to win this bet, she leaned forward and urged on her steed.
Pete toyed with her, pulling ahead for a few lengths, and then falling behind. As they neared their destination, his horse charged and crossed the imaginary line first. Damn. By the time she pulled up, she was laughing hard.
Pete jumped off his horse, came over to her, and helped her down. “Nice riding there.”
His hands on her caused tingles to charge up her spine. “Thanks. I see I’ll need more practice if I’m going to win next time.” The excitement and thrill of the race was fantastic.
“Not a problem. Coming out here soothes the wild beast inside me, too.” He pounded his chest, but thankfully didn’t give a Tarzan yell. Pete’s eyes darkened as he moved close and wrapped his arms around her waist. “How about a kiss for the winner?” He tilted his head and tapped his cheek.
“Why not?” He’d earned it. Zoey leaned in and gave him a quick peck. She caught a slight hesitation on his part as if he was debating whether to go further. At the thought that he might, heat raced up her face.
He slid his hand to hers. “Come on. There’s something I want to show you.” He nodded toward a path that wove its way between the rocks. “You good with a quick climb?”
“Sure.” Now more than ever she wished she hadn’t let her running routine fall to the wayside.
Since the path was steep, Pete led. Every few steps, he’d stop and check to see if she wa
s okay. His protective side appealed to her. In less than ten minutes, the trail ended.
“Come take a look at this.” He helped her over some boulders at the top.
She was a little out of breath when she stepped next to him. The wind at this altitude was strong and the space to stand meager, but the trip was so worth it. “It’s amazing.” The tip of peak, far in the distance, had a dusting of snow on top, foreshadowing the coming of winter.
Pete moved behind and wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t want the wind to carry you away.” As if to prove his point, a strong gust buffeted them, and his grasp tightened.
His warmth seeped through her, and the peace she’d been looking for finally arrived. He rested his chin on the top of her head. Without a word, they absorbed nature’s beauty.
Pete pointed to the peak in the distance. “That’s Ch-Paa-qn peak.”
“It’s magnificent.” The brown range below gracefully led up to the base of the rugged mountain. If there had been a good place to sit and chat, she would have suggested it, but there didn’t seem to be anywhere up here but against a steeply slanted rock.
“Now you see why Dad wanted to move here.”
“Totally.”
“Let’s head down. There’s a small cove inside the tree line that will offer some shelter.” He took her hand and together they picked their way down the trail.
The soles of her boots were rather slippery on the pebbles, and the few times she slid, Pete managed to keep her upright. When they reached the bottom, the horses were still there, nibbling on tuffs of grass.
Pete grabbed the reins of both horses and led them a hundred feet to the trees. “Just in case they get any ideas, I better tie them.”
Once the horses were secured, he grabbed a blanket and a thermos from his saddlebag. He then led her along a level path into the woods where the fresh smell of pine boosted her spirits. Less than a half mile later, the sound of rushing water greeted her. As soon as they passed a large bolder, a small stream appeared.
“This is awesome.”
“It’s one of my favorite spots on Dad’s ranch.” He spread out the blanket and guided her to the ground. He then held up the thermos. “Hot chocolate?”