by Cindy Kirk
“Doctor Duggan?” Keenan rolled his eyes. “Sheesh, Cass. We went to school with Doogie.”
“Doogie?” Mitzi raised a brow.
Tim met Keenan’s eyes. “I’m not into violence, Keenan. But if you call me that again, I may have to punch you.”
Though there was a definite warning in the tone, Mitzi detected true affection between the two men.
“Boys, boys.” Cassidy stepped between them then focused on Tim. “You didn’t mean to upset Doogie, did you, Keenan?”
Before Keenan could respond, Cassidy placed a hand to her mouth and shot Tim an impish smile. “Oops, that just slipped out. Are you going to punch me, too?”
Tim laughed.
“It’s great to see you, Cassidy,” he said easily, then held out his hand to Keenan. “It’s been a long time. I was sorry I couldn’t make your welcome-home party. One of my girls was sick.”
Mitzi watched the interaction between Keenan and Tim. There was an ease between the two men that hadn’t been present when Tim and Winn had been discussing business. Of course, Keenan and Tim had grown up in Jackson Hole. Like her, Winn was an outsider.
She pulled her attention to Cassidy. “I love your hair.”
A quick smile told Mitzi the compliment was appreciated.
“Thanks. I like how you shake things up all the time with yours.” Cassidy’s gaze lingered, turned assessing. “Tonight it’s a little more...subdued.”
Though it was clear Cassidy didn’t approve of her hairstyle tonight, Mitzi didn’t take offense. Kate had often told Mitzi she was like a chameleon, changing her look depending on the circumstances. All true. “I thought it was appropriate for the crowd.”
“Coward,” Cassidy retorted and made Mitzi laugh.
“Did you and Keenan come together?” Mitzi asked casually in a low tone.
Cassidy heaved a heartfelt sigh. “I wish.”
“Oh—”
“It’s not happening,” Cassidy added with an even heavier sigh. “Too much history, too many years, never got together, never will. Besides...”
The hairstylist crooked a gold-tipped nail and motioned Mitzi close.
Mitzi took a sip of champagne, leaned close.
“The man’s only got eyes for you.”
Mitzi inhaled sharply then began to cough. She quickly brought herself under control.
Cassidy’s eyes danced with good humor as Mitzi’s gaze slipped to Keenan. He appeared so relaxed, laughing with Tim over some incident that had happened years ago on the football field.
Determinedly she shifted her gaze to Winn, who stood with a mildly bored expression sipping a glass of wine.
She thought about engaging him in conversation but feared if he brought up the golf-course development again, she might snap. Besides, it had been her surgery day and she was exhausted.
The book club event at Kate’s home on Tuesday would be soon enough to get to know Winn Ferris better.
Chapter Seven
Keenan thought about skipping the baseball game. But it had been a long time since he’d played with friends. He’d played ball in high school and loved it. And he was good. Not as good as he’d been at football, where his prowess had earned him a scholarship. That was in the past. Tonight Joel had sweetened the invitation by promising dinner.
He took a quick shower after work then pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. Many of Keenan’s old friends were planning to attend while their wives met for a monthly book club. He pulled into the long drive leading up to the large stone and log home in the mountains and found himself wishing Mitzi would be here.
When he’d casually asked Joel who usually showed up for these types of events, the list of people he rattled off didn’t include her.
All the better. His attraction to Mitzi was a dead-end road. While he enjoyed her company, she obviously had her sights set on Winn Ferris.
Though Winn came off as intense, something told Keenan there was a good guy beneath those hand-tailored suits and Italian shoes. He reminded Keenan a little bit of himself in high school when he’d put on a front, acting as if acceptance didn’t matter when it mattered very much.
Keenan wasn’t going to let the fact that Mitzi was attracted to the executive bring his spirits down. Not tonight. Not when he’d gotten such good news earlier. Bill’s brother was interested in bartering mechanic services for air time.
Tomorrow, he’d be able to fly for the first time in nearly three years. He couldn’t wait.
Keenan parked his early eighties Impala in the drive behind a cherry-red BMW then strode to the front door. Pleasure surged through his veins. Things were looking up.
Joel opened the door and Keenan was greeted by an explosion of noise. His boss had warned him that everyone would bring their children, but he hadn’t expected there to be so many of them.
“We’ve got a couple of sitters who’ll be watching the children,” Joel assured him. “Though we might enlist some of the older kids to stand in the outfield and shag stray balls.”
Keenan had to jump back to avoid colliding with a pair of curly-haired twin boys racing past him.
“Walk,” Joel ordered.
The two immediately slowed to a walk for a second, then sped up again before they reached the next room.
Joel shook his head. “Those two are Travis Fisher’s oldest set of twins. The man deserves combat pay.”
“Oldest set?” Keenan asked.
“He and MK have got another boy, then a set of boy-girl twins.”
Keenan thought back. The oldest of seven—or was it eight?—Travis had been very vocal about remaining childless. “Travis always said he didn’t want any kids.”
“He changed his mind,” Joel said with a laugh, then directed Keenan’s attention to a large table in the great room covered by a red-and-white checkered tablecloth. “Kate decided to serve buffet-style tonight.”
The Western theme was carried on in the small oil lanterns in various colors on the table, copper vases filled with sunflowers and silverware wrapped in bandanas of red and blue. Large crockery bowls filled with salads and vegetables dotted the top of the table, with a basket of assorted rolls at one end. His gaze settled on the towering platters of crisp fried chicken, and Keenan’s mouth watered.
When Joel mentioned Lexi would be catering and added that she was a gourmet cook, Keenan had worried the food would be fancy stuff with edible flowers. Instead there was fried chicken and potato salad. Both personal favorites.
The doorbell rang. Joel slapped his back. “Make yourself at home.”
Keenan meandered around the room for a minute then stopped short. A prickle of awareness traveled up his spine. He turned and there she was, wearing a turquoise skirt and a white filmy blouse scooped low in the front. Heeled boots with strips of turquoise showed off slim calves. Tousled brown hair streaked with gold was pulled back from her face in a shiny silver clip.
He told himself to look away, to not be so obvious, but he couldn’t pull his gaze from Mitzi. Keenan couldn’t believe she was here. A book club hardly seemed her style.
Then again, it was a party, and that was definitely her style.
He started across the room then stopped when Joel ushered in the latest arrival. Keenan frowned. Was that why Mitzi had come? To see Winn Ferris?
Whom the doctor socialized with was none of his business. Still, like a bright light fading to black, his pleasure in the evening dimmed considerably.
“I bet you don’t remember me.”
Keenan turned to find an attractive blonde with big blue eyes smiling up at him. She was petite but, based on her jean skirt and form-fitting top, curvy in all the right places.
He pulled his brows together, searched his memory banks but came up empty. “Give me a hint.”
She extended her hand with pink-tipped nails. “Hailey Randall.”
Recognition flooded him. “That’s right. Tripp’s little sister.”
Hailey visibly winced. “I really wish
everyone wouldn’t say that.”
“Hey, to most people, I’m Betsy’s big brother.”
Hailey tilted her head, considered him. “You’re sweet.” She looped her arm through his. “You can buy me a drink.”
“They’re charging for drinks?”
She laughed, a silver tinkle. “Let me rephrase. You can get me a drink.”
“It would be my pleasure.” As they made their way to the bar in one corner, Keenan tried to recall what he knew about Tripp’s little sister. If he was remembering correctly, she’d been in his sister Betsy’s grade.
She’d been a chatterbox, a pigtailed dynamo who’d tagged along behind Tripp every chance she got and tattled whenever her brother even thought about doing anything wrong.
Hailey had been a child the last time he’d seen her, but the woman at his side had definitely grown up.
“Tell me what you’ve been doing,” he said conversationally as they waited for the waiter to pour her a glass of wine and refill his club soda. “Last time I saw you I believe you were in middle school and had braces.”
“Keenan,” she teased, rolling her eyes. “You’re not supposed to say stuff like that to a woman.”
“You’re not a woman,” he said deadpan. “You’re Tripp’s—”
“—little sister.” She heaved a melodramatic sigh. “Yes, I know. But just for tonight, could you please forget that fact?”
“Your wish is my command.”
It was corny but it made her giggle. Resisting the urge to glance in the direction he’d last seen Mitzi, Keenan focused on the woman at his side and gave her his total attention. “C’mon, Hailey. Tell Betsy’s big brother what you’ve been doing since middle—ah—since the last I saw you.”
Mitzi watched Keenan and Hailey from across the room. The couple was laughing and appeared to be having a good time.
“I didn’t realize they were such good friends.”
Mitzi turned. Winn stood beside her, the stem of a wineglass clamped tightly between his fingers.
“I’m not sure they are.”
“Looks that way to me,” he muttered.
Mitzi hadn’t spent much time with Hailey, and what she recalled about the young woman could fit into a teaspoon. She knew Hailey was a speech therapist who’d returned to Jackson Hole when her father’s health had been tenuous. According to the gossip, Frank Randall had responded well to a change in chemotherapy and was now in full remission.
Hailey wasn’t yet working full-time but was helping out at her parents’ ranch and working PRN—as needed—as a speech therapist at the hospital. The girl was bright, bubbly and always seemed to have a smile on her face. Mitzi could see why she’d caught Keenan’s eye. And judging by the look on Winn’s face, his, as well.
“Let’s go say hello.” Winn grabbed her arm and practically pulled her across the room.
Mitzi plastered a smile on her face.
Winn slowed his steps to a saunter as they closed in on the couple. They reached them just as Joel called out for everyone to get some food and grab a seat. According to the evening’s schedule of events, they had a mere thirty minutes to eat before the book club started inside and the first pitch was thrown outside.
A small table for four with a red tablecloth was open next to where they stood.
Hailey smiled at Winn and Mitzi, and gestured with one hand. “We could all sit here? Unless you’ve already gotten a space elsewhere?”
“Thanks, Hailey. This works for me.” She glanced at Winn. “Okay with you?”
Somehow, in the buffet line, Keenan ended up behind her.
“You don’t seem the book-club type to me,” Keenan murmured. “No disrespect intended.”
Mitzi laughed, inhaling the faintly intoxicating scent of his scent, a delicious blend of soap, wood and red-blooded male. “I’m not.”
“Why are you here?”
She shrugged. “Kate’s my dearest friend. You?”
Keenan’s lips quirked upward. “Joel’s my boss.”
“You win.” She laughed. “Your reason is more compelling.”
“What book are you discussing tonight?”
She slanted him a sidelong glance. “Is that a trick question?”
“I thought that’s what was happening after dinner.”
Mitzi pursed her lips. “Kate may have mentioned some book.”
“You didn’t read it?”
“I was supposed to read it?” Mitzi lowered her voice. “I shouldn’t probably admit this, but I’m not much of a reader.”
“I’m not, either,” he said easily, reaching around her to grab two plates, then handing one to her. “I pretended to love it when Betsy was little, because I knew it was important. She loves to read.”
“You were a good big brother.”
“I tried,” he said, his eyes taking on a distant look. “I could have done better.”
Mitzi didn’t want to look back too far or think of her own sister. Perhaps she could have helped her. Perhaps not. Growing up, it had been every sister for herself. Which now seemed a bit sad. “I’m a firm believer in leaving the past in the past.”
“You’re right.” He grabbed two rolls and tossed one on her plate and the other on his. “Looking ahead holds so much more appeal. Take you, for example. Soon you’ll have a brand-new house and no workmen underfoot.”
“I am looking forward to it being done.” Mitzi hadn’t realized how much she counted on her home being her sanctuary until she’d moved into chaos instead of solitude. “What are you looking forward to?”
“Getting my pilot’s license back.” Keenan heaped some potato salad on a plate. “I have my aviation physical scheduled for Friday. A guy I work with, his brother is a flight instructor. He’s taking me up so I can sharpen my rusty skills and get some hours in the air. Then I should be all set.”
“After you get your license, then what?” Mitzi took a spoonful of pasta salad. “I mean, it’s not like you have access to a plane or anything.”
His mouth tightened as he focused on the plethora of salads and side dishes spread out before him.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, placing a hand on his arm.
“No reason to apologize. You only spoke the truth,” he said evenly.
“Knowing you, you’ll find a way to get in the air.”
“I think I may have already found it. Until it’s all settled, I’m not counting on anything.”
After spending so much time behind bars, he deserved some good luck. If she’d been in his situation, she’d have been bitter. From what she’d observed so far, he’d simply moved on. “What kind of way have you found?”
“You know Bill—” Keenan began, waited for Mitzi’s nod. “His brother, Steve, said I can use his plane in exchange for mechanic work.”
“Steve?” Mitzi paused as the name settled over her. “What’s his last name?”
“Kowalski.” Keenan glanced at her. “Do you know him?”
Mitzi nodded. “Ben uses one of his planes to fly to the rural clinics the practice does across the state.”
“No kidding. How often are these clinics?”
“It varies depending on how many patients are scheduled. At least once a month, sometimes more often.”
“Move it along.” Hailey tapped Mitzi on the shoulder. “Quit with the conversation.”
Mitzi glanced around and realized with sudden horror that she’d gotten so engrossed talking with Keenan that she’d stopped walking and was holding up the line.
She made quick work of filling her plate then forced her attention to Winn once they were all seated. It wouldn’t do for him to get the idea she was interested in a romantic relationship with Keenan.
Hailey and Winn had apparently been discussing tonight’s book club selection—Catcher in the Rye—and continued the discussion once seated.
“What did you think of the protagonist?” Hailey asked Mitzi. “Did you find him overly judgmental?”
Mitzi could spout nonse
nse with the best of them, but she was tired and for once honesty seemed the best policy. “I know I read the book. Or I think I read it. After all, it’s a classic. All I can remember right now is that the narrator had a funky name.”
“Holden Caulfield,” Hailey said and Winn smiled.
“That’s more than I remember,” Keenan said, not appearing the least embarrassed by the admission.
“Winn and I both love the book,” Hailey said with way too much enthusiasm. “I told him it was too bad he has to play baseball. He has such great insight on several aspects of the novel.”
“We could switch,” Mitzi offered, only half joking. “Except I’m not into baseball, either.”
Hailey cocked her head. “What is it you like to do, Mitzi?”
The woman sounded as if she was genuinely interested. But Mitzi knew her answer would make her sound superficial rather than scholarly.
If the shoe fit...
“I like to shop,” Mitzi admitted. “I like to travel, see new places. I like to decorate my home.”
“I like to shop, too.” Hailey flashed a bright smile in Mitzi’s direction. “Anytime you need a shopping buddy, give me a call.”
“I will,” Mitzi said, finding it impossible not to like her.
Mitzi found herself paying more attention to her conversation with Hailey than she did to the plate in front of her. So when Kate announced it was time for the book-club discussion to begin and Joel started gathering up the players for the baseball game, her plate had barely been touched.
“I’ll join you in the family room in a minute,” she told Kate. “I skipped lunch, so I’m going to finish eating first.”
“Bring your plate with you,” Kate offered. “Eat while we discuss.”
To Mitzi’s way of thinking, that would be the quickest way to ruin an appetite.
“Start without me.” Mitzi waved a hand in the air. “I’ll be in soon.”
Winn and Hailey had already left the table, but Keenan remained seated. She heard him tell Joel not to wait on him.