by Karen Foley
Leaving their flowers at the reception desk, they drove together in Jessie’s Jeep and found a parking spot directly in front of the coffee shop. It was late afternoon and downtown was fairly quiet, with only a few shoppers strolling along the covered sidewalks. Inside, they found a table near the window and placed their orders for lattes and two slices of chocolate cake.
“So why wouldn’t you let me see Rosa-Maria?” Emmaline asked when their coffee and cake arrived.
“Because your father was visiting with her,” Jessie said, sipping her coffee.
Emmaline shrugged. “So?”
Setting her coffee down, Jessie glanced around before she leaned over the table and lowered her voice so that only Emmaline could hear. “They were holding hands, and my grandmother was stroking your father’s cheek in a way that was definitely not platonic. They looked romantic. I’m just glad they didn’t see me. I think my mouth was hanging open!”
Emmaline’s eyes widened. “Are you sure that’s what you saw? Because that does not sound like the Gus Claiborne I know.”
“Right?” Jessie sat back in her chair. “I can’t tell you how surprised I was. She’s never given any indication that she thinks of your father as anything more than a respected employer. To think that they actually have romantic feelings for each other is just—” She broke off, shaking her head. “It’s crazy.”
Emmaline leaned forward. “Maybe not. Sometimes it takes a near-death experience to wake you up to what’s really important in life. Do you remember when Cort was stomped on by that bull in the arena last year?”
Jessie nodded. “Of course. Until we knew he was okay, it was awful.”
Cort had been riding in the annual Last Stand rodeo and had been unable to escape the bull’s hooves as he’d dismounted. The bucking bull had come down on his shoulder, breaking his collarbone, but to the horrified crowds in the stands, it had looked much worse.
“Exactly,” Emmaline said. “For those few terrible moments, when I didn’t know if he was dead or alive, I realized just how much I loved him and I regretted that I’d never told him.”
“So, you’re saying that my grandmother’s heart attack was a catalyst for Gus to admit his feelings for her?”
“Could be.”
Jessie was silent for a moment. “How do you feel about that?”
“What do mean?” Emmaline took a forkful of chocolate cake. “We adore Rosa-Maria. If you ask me, they’re perfect for each other. She knows his flaws and she hasn’t headed for the hills. That’s saying something. Besides, they’ve been alone for so long. They deserve to find some happiness.”
“Hmm.” Jessie was silent for a moment, considering her words. “Well, I hope I don’t have to wait that long for someone to finally admit they love me.”
“You do realize that you have to actually have a guy in your life in order for them to profess their love for you, right?”
Jessie smiled and dug into her chocolate cake. “I know. I’m working on it.”
“Speaking of work,” Emmaline said slowly, “why did you agree to cover for Rosa-Maria? I mean, you already have a full-time job at the cantina. Can your father spare you?”
Jessie wondered how much of the truth she could share with her friend. They’d known each other forever, but Emmaline was also Holt’s sister. How would she feel if she knew Jessie and Rosa-Maria had concocted the plan in order for Jessie to spend more time in Holt’s company?
“Well,” Jessie replied carefully. “I told you how I want to start my own business running a food truck. I have the license and I almost have enough money saved for the truck. But my father wants to keep me at the cantina. He doesn’t think a food truck will be successful. He’s also convinced the restaurant will fail if I’m not there to help keep it running.”
“Can’t you do both?”
“Maybe, but not until after my business is established and I know what kind of sales I can make on any given day. Working at the ranch is the perfect opportunity for me to step back from the cantina. My father will finally see he can run the restaurant without me.”
“So Rosa-Maria knew this?”
“Yes.” Jessie smiled as she recalled the scene. “She said she would refuse to go to rehab and that she would come back to the ranch and risk another heart attack before she allowed some stranger to take over her duties. Both my father and Gus would have agreed to anything in order to calm her down, so when she said I was the only choice, they didn’t argue.” She paused. “And she also knows about my feelings for—”
She broke off abruptly, aware of what she had nearly revealed.
Emmaline paused with her fork midair. “Wait, what were you about to say? Are you in love with someone?”
“No! I mean, I definitely like this guy but I don’t know him well enough to say I’m in love with him.”
“Who is he?” Emmaline’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “No, wait. Let me guess. It’s Evan, isn’t it?”
“What?” Jessie burst out laughing. “No! Don’t get me wrong, Evan’s great but definitely not my type. He’s way too casual for me and he never takes anything seriously.”
Emmaline’s eyes widened. “Oh. My. God. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.” She leaned forward. “It’s Holt!” Seeing Jessie’s reaction, she sat back in triumph. “Ha. You don’t even need to say anything, because I can see the truth written all over your face.”
Jessie groaned. “Okay, I admit it. I’ve had a thing for him for as long as I can remember.”
“How come I didn’t know this? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jessie took another bite of cake as she deliberated how to respond. “Because you’re his sister and that would be weird. Besides, I didn’t want you to feel bad for me if he never returns my feelings.”
“Everything makes sense now. He came by my place this morning and he was definitely out of sorts about what happened over breakfast. He at least recognized that he’d behaved badly, and he actually seemed concerned that your feelings might have been hurt.”
Jessie sat up straighter. “He actually talked about me?”
Emmaline gave a rueful grin. “I think you were the single reason he came by. Don’t get too excited, but I think you get under his skin, which is why it bothers him that you’re staying at the house. You’re too close for comfort.”
Under his skin.
Jessie took another bite of cake and tried to quell her bubbling happiness. “I just wish I knew the best way to approach him. But he seems so conservative.”
“Yeah, I think he’s a little old-fashioned. Well, there’s more than one way to catch a cowboy. Maybe you should start with your killer cooking skills. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and nobody appreciates good food more than Holt.”
“He actually ate something today that wasn’t carne asada.” Jessie grinned. “That’s all he orders when he comes into the cantina on Thursday nights.”
Emmaline put down her fork as if a thought suddenly occurred to her. “Have you ever stopped to consider why he comes to the cantina on Rosa-Maria’s night off? There’re plenty of other restaurants in town, but he chooses to go to the one where you work. Coincidence?” She dropped one eyelid in a conspiratorial wink. “I think not.”
Jessie laughed. “Oh, come on. He barely even looks at me when he does come in.”
“He’s shy.”
Jessie stared at her friend in disbelief, because shy was not a word she would ever use when talking about Holt. Emmaline managed to keep a straight face for several seconds, before she began to laugh. “Okay, okay, he is definitely not shy!”
“He’s just . . . reserved,” Jessie said in his defense. “Guarded. I think he’s been hurt too many times.”
“Well, when you consider that literally every woman in his life has walked out on him—except Rosa-Maria—it’s not difficult to understand why he is the way he is.” Emmaline gave Jessie a warning look. “But don’t ever let him think you feel sorry for him. H
e would hate that.”
“I’ve never felt pity for Holt, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
“He’s such great guy. I’ve always hoped he’d finally meet someone who could make him happy.” Emmaline considered Jessie for a moment. “But the two of you are polar opposites.”
“How so?”
“Holt is the epitome of control. I’ve only ever seen him lose his temper once and it scared the hell out of me. He’s very conscientious. He thinks everything through to the smallest detail. He never does anything on impulse. You, on the other hand—”
Jessie waited. “Yes?”
“You do things based more on emotion and less on reason.” Emmaline reached across the table and grabbed Jessie’s hands, taking any sting out of her words.
“Is that a bad thing?” Jessie had heard the same criticism from her mother her entire life.
“No. In fact, it’s one of the things I love most about you, because it shows how genuine and passionate you are. But it isn’t something Holt is comfortable with. He’s not going to know how to deal with it, so he’ll do his best to avoid it.” Emmaline paused and gave Jessie a meaningful look. “He’s going to avoid you.”
Jessie sat back. “I’m giving him a month to give me some kind of sign that he’s interested,” she confessed. “He’s the single reason I agreed to work at the ranch. But if I can’t make something happen in the next four weeks, then I’m throwing in the towel and moving on with my life.”
“A month?” Emmaline asked. “And Rosa-Maria knows about this?”
“It was her idea, actually.”
“I only had a three-day weekend with Cort, but it was enough. Granted, Cort’s a little bolder than most guys but that’s only because he’s had to be. He’s had to fight for whatever he’s wanted so he’s not the kind of guy to stand back and wait.”
“Are you saying Holt is?”
“I’m just saying you might have to make the first move.” Emmaline pulled a face. “Like you said, he’s reserved.”
Jessie polished off the last bite of her chocolate cake as she considered her friend’s words. “Would that be wrong, considering I’m technically there as an employee of your family’s?”
Emmaline’s eyes glinted with gentle mockery. “Considering your reasons for being there in the first place, I’d say no.”
“Well, if our relationship ever develops the way I hope it will and if Holt wanted a physical relationship, I would need to leave the ranch. Otherwise it would just be too weird.” Jessie was anxious to change the subject. “Okay, so what do we do about my abuela and your dad?”
“If what you said is true and they have feelings for each other, I think Luke’s suggestion to move her into the cabin is a good one. She’ll still be on the ranch, but she’ll have her own space and privacy.” Emmaline waggled her eyebrows in a meaningful way.
“Okay, this is my abuela we’re talking about,” Jessie said, waving her hands. “I can’t even go there.”
Emmaline laughed. “I think it’s wonderful. They both deserve to find happiness and if anyone knows my father’s strengths and shortcomings, it’s Rosa-Maria. If she agrees to move into the cabin, they can continue to see each other every day.”
“Are we really playing matchmaker?”
Emmaline lifted her coffee mug, her dark eyes dancing. “I think I may have found my new calling.”
“Hmm. We’ll see.” Jessie eyed her friend’s plate. “Are you going to finish that cake?”
With a laugh, Emmaline pushed the half-eaten cake across the table. “It’s all yours.”
Chapter Six
Moonlight slanted through the window beside the bed and cast the room in silvery light and purple shadows. Holt lay against the pillows with his arms bent behind his head, unable to sleep. Sam snored softly on his dog bed in the corner. On the wall over Holt’s head, the longhorn skull seemed to stare balefully down at him. Why had he let Emmaline talk him into letting her decorate his bedroom? Because while building her new house with Cort, she’d also discovered a passion for interior design and decoration. Her enthusiasm had been infectious and when he’d casually mentioned that he wanted to redo his room, she’d offered to take it on herself. He hadn’t had the heart to refuse her. She’d done a good job capturing his preferences in the masculine furniture and smoky tones, but the skull wasn’t something he would have chosen. She’d been excited about the wall decor, but Holt reminded himself to take it down in the morning and replace it with something less macabre.
Glancing at his bedside clock, he saw it was after midnight. His alarm would go off in less than four hours and he’d be dragging his ass by noon if he didn’t get at least a few hours of sleep. But damned if he didn’t see Jessica every time he closed his eyes. She’d taken up way too much space in his head since she’d moved into the little suite at the back of the house. He still couldn’t quite accept that the one woman who had the ability to distract and arouse him was sleeping under the same roof as himself. He’d had a thing for her since the night of her twenty-first birthday, but he’d kept his distance because he’d thought she was too young. In his mind, she was still young, but as Emmaline had pointed out, not that young. But what if she thought he was too old? Compared to her, he’d had a lifetime of experiences, not all of them pleasant.
Holt didn’t consider himself to be an overly imaginative man, but whenever he closed his eyes, he could picture her as clearly as if she was asleep beside him in his oversized bed. In his mind’s eye, she wore a white negligee that hugged her round breasts and barely covered her sweet backside, and her long, lustrous hair splayed out over the pillow.
He hadn’t spent this much time thinking about a woman since his ex-wife, Alyssa, had dragged him through divorce court nearly ten years ago, and his thoughts then had been vastly different than they were now about Jessica. He’d met Alyssa during his last year at Texas A&M and he’d fallen hard. In retrospect, he realized he’d been vulnerable; susceptible to any female who’d shown an interest in him, and Alyssa had been very interested. Holt just hadn’t realized she’d been more in love with his money than she’d been with him.
Jessica was different. Down to earth and wholesome, she took genuine pleasure in family and friends. She’d never struck Holt as someone obsessed with wanting material things. More importantly, she seemed to enjoy living in Last Stand. Alyssa had hated his small hometown and had wanted nothing to do with Riverrun Ranch. She’d insisted on having an expensive house in Houston and another in Austin. Holt had worked for an investment firm during those years, and he’d done well, but no matter how much money he made, it hadn’t been enough for Alyssa. There had always been something else she needed, wanted, or had to have, no matter the cost.
Pushing away the unpleasant memories, Holt flung back the sheet, sat up on the edge of the bed, and scrubbed his hands over his face. A light evening shower had damped down the warmth of the day and now a cooler night air wafted through the open window, stirring the curtains and raising goosebumps on his heated flesh. He needed a cold shower. Something—anything—to dispel the erotic images playing like a slow-motion movie in his head. Jessica Montero had gotten under his skin. He stood and as he did so, he heard a noise from downstairs that sounded like breaking glass. Sam raised his head and let out a low woof. Frowning, Holt opened his bedroom door and cocked his head to listen, but everything was silent.
He pulled a pair of jeans on over his boxers and without bothering to button them, made his way down the wide staircase to the first floor. Sam padded silently at his side. At the bottom landing, he paused, one hand on the dog’s collar to hold him back. He could hear furtive noises coming from the kitchen and could see a faint, bluish light. What the hell? He might have thought there was an intruder in the house, but no one would be insane enough to burglarize the Claiborne ranch—not if they knew three Claiborne men lived in the main house.
Holding the dog to prevent him from bolting ahead, Holt made his way down the hallway until
he reached the large kitchen. The noises continued, like the sound of glass being slowly scraped across the floor tiles and he could now see the source of the bluish light came from the open door on the refrigerator. Frowning, Holt felt for the wall switch and flipped it on, squinting at the sudden glare of light. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but then a figure slowly rose from behind the large center island.
Jessica.
Her hair was rumpled, as if she’d just rolled out of bed. Her eyes widened when she saw him and for a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. She stared at him, until Holt remembered he wore only a pair of unbuttoned Wranglers and no shirt or shoes. Releasing Sam’s collar, he quickly fastened his jeans. But the instant he freed Sam, the dog gave a happy bark and barreled around the end of the island, his toenails sliding on the tiles.
“No, wait!” Jessie cried.
“Sam!” The dog immediately stopped and returned to Holt, his head down and his tail wagging furiously. “Good boy. Sit.”
Assured the dog wouldn’t move, Holt rounded the island. There, on the floor by Jessica’s feet, glittering shards of a broken glass bowl lay scattered in a pool of melting ice cream.
“I didn’t want Sam to get hurt,” she explained. “Don’t come any closer in your bare feet. Let me just clean this up.” She flashed him a quick smile. “Now would have been a good time for those bunny slippers.”
“You’re barefoot too,” he observed.
She wore only a snug tank top over a pair of loose shorts and her bare limbs were slim and toned and golden.
“But I’m betting I have more experience than you do in cleaning up broken glass. It’s an occupational hazard at the restaurant.” Even as she said the words, her breath hissed in and she grabbed at the island for support. “Maybe I spoke too soon.”
“You okay?”
Lifting her foot, she peered at the bottom. “A sliver of glass, nothing serious.”
“Here, let me take a look.”