Hearts Don't Lie

by Shirleen Davies

  “This list includes the small contractors, the ones who bid on local rodeos. Regardless, we’d have to say any of them could be behind this. So where do we start?”

  She sat back, her lips drawing into a thin line. “I have no idea.”

  “Neither do I.” He turned the computer around to face him, letting his eyes scan the list. Double Ace jumped out at him, even though he had no reason to suspect them of cheating. He’d never even met anyone from the company and had just one name, Matt Garner. “Excuse me.”

  Mitch left Dana in his office as he disappeared into the hall. A moment later he reappeared with Skye trailing behind him. She nodded at Dana, then took a seat as Mitch handed her the test results.

  “Damn,” she muttered, setting the paper back on the desk. “What now?”

  “Have you had a chance to find out if anyone knows Matt Garner?” Mitch asked.

  “Did you say Matt Garner?” Dana asked, scooting forward in her chair.

  “Yeah, you know him?” Mitch narrowed his gaze at her, waiting.

  “I know of a Matt Garner, but I’ve never met him. If it’s the same one, he’s from Fire Mountain. His grandfather, Seth Garner, does most of the construction for MacLaren Enterprises, at least around Arizona. Matt was a bull rider in high school and college. As I recall, he competed in the pros for a while.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Skye dashed out of the office then returned, holding out a picture to Dana. “Is this him? It’s one of his rodeo promo shots.”

  “Like I said, I’ve never met him and didn’t see any pictures of him at the MacLaren house.”

  “Why would they have pictures of him?” Mitch shot a look at Skye, not liking where this might be going.

  “Well, if it is the same Matt Garner, he and Cassie were an item for several years. Everyone expected them to marry until Matt took off without a word and entered the pro circuit. None of the MacLarens have seen him since, including Cassie.”

  “Figure the odds,” Mitch muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Skye, forward the picture to Cassie in Cold Creek. Ask her if this is the same Matt Garner.”

  “Wait. Send it to Heath or Jace, not Cassie. From what I can tell, she never really got over him, although she tries hard to hide it.” Dana looked at the handsome face of the cowboy who’d broken Cassie’s heart, making enemies of the entire MacLaren clan in the process. From what she’d heard, it wasn’t so much that he broke it off, it was the way he did it—in an email before he hit the road for the circuit. No explanation, just that he was sorry and goodbye.

  “I’ll get it off to Heath and Jace, and let you know what they say. Thanks, Dana.” Skye walked out, leaving Dana feeling as if a hammer were about to be dropped on Cassie. “Why do you want to know about Matt?”

  “He’s our competition at Double Ace. We’ve lost five rodeos to them for the next season and we’re trying to figure out how, other than the fact they’re undercutting everyone.”

  “I sure hope it’s not the same guy.”

  “What’s your gut tell you?” Mitch asked.

  Her eyes met his, her face void of expression. “That it’s the same man.”

  “Yeah, mine, too.”

  Chapter Nine

  Fire Mountain

  Heath looked up from his work and checked the calendar as Jace walked in. “Do we have a meeting?”

  “Nope. I wanted to know if you’ve seen this.” Jace held out the picture he’d printed. “I believe Skye emailed it to both of us.”

  Heath took a quick look at it, a pained expression crossing his face at the image of a boy who’d been like a son to him. The same person who’d broken his daughter’s heart.

  “Matt. What about it?”

  “He’s one of the rodeo committee directors for Double Ace Bucking Stock.”

  “The company who’s been taking business away from our rodeo stock groups?” Heath asked.

  “The same.”

  Heath tossed the pen he’d been holding on the desk and sat back. “It’s a miracle Cassie hasn’t run into him.”

  “I don’t know if she would have mentioned it to us. You know how defensive she is about the way he left. I’m guessing Double Ace has him focusing on the bull stock part of the proposals and another man working on the horse stock and timed events. And the timing may be off. She hasn’t been on the job long. In time, I guarantee you she will encounter him.”

  Heath agreed. He needed to call her, let her know about Matt’s job so she didn’t get blindsided. “What does Skye want to know?”

  “I think she’s looking for confirmation he’s the same Matt Garner we know. You might want to give Mitch a call, find out if there’s more to it.” Jace glanced at his phone. “I’ve got a client to meet in a few minutes. Let me know what you learn,” he called over his shoulder as Heath picked up the phone.

  “Mitch, it’s Heath.”

  “You got the picture?”

  “I did and it’s the same Matt Garner who grew up in Fire Mountain. What’s going on?”

  Mitch explained the sick bulls, positive test for steroids, and they’re concerns it may have something to do with Double Ace. He waited for Heath’s reaction. When none came, he wondered if he’d disconnected him. “You still there?”

  “I’m trying to figure out why Double Ace might target the sabotage at RTC when they’re having the same impact on Cam’s operation. I spoke with him this morning, and we’ve lost one contract to them and are in tight competition on several more. The difference is Cam’s had no sick horses or drug testing issues. It doesn’t sound like a problem with Double Ace, but I could be wrong. Have you spoken with Rafe?”

  “Got off the phone with him before you called. He’s making some calls before talking with you. His contacts go much deeper than mine.”

  “All right. I’ll wait for him to let me know what he’s found out.” Heath hesitated a moment, trying to decide how much else to say. “How much do you know about Cassie and Matt?”

  “Only what Dana told us. She asked that we not contact her, but go through you to identify the photo.”

  “She gave you good advice. I want to get in touch with Cassie before she learns about Matt from anyone else.”

  “No problem. I’ll wait to hear back from you or Pop.”

  Heath hung up, knowing his next call should be to Cassie. He pulled out the bottom drawer of his desk, pulling out a picture he hadn’t looked at in a long time. Cassie and Matt with him and Annie at a baseball game in the valley, taken a few months before Matt dropped the bomb and disappeared into the world of pro bull riding.

  Heath wished Matt had disappeared some place where Cassie didn’t have to see him on the television or YouTube. It had been through his deep friendship with Matt’s grandfather, Seth, that the MacLarens and Garners continued to stay friends. Everyone thought Matt had bungled the breakup by not explaining himself to Cassie in person. Even Seth thought he’d taken the coward’s way out, and Heath didn’t dispute it. Looking at the picture another moment, he set it down and picked up the phone, deciding it best to get this call over with now.

  ******

  Crooked Tree

  Mitch studied the updated marketing material, having put Dana off longer than he intended. Even though he still wanted her gone, other issues required attention, prohibiting his ability to spend much time with her. Maybe they could finalize the work today, have dinner tonight, then he’d put her on a plane.

  “What do you think?” Dana asked, her eyes lighting up when she noted the interest he showed in her work. Knowing it ridiculous, she decided to accept any small gesture of approval from him she could get.

  “These capture what I had in mind.” He pointed to two.

  “I agree. They work well with what Cam approved for his group and they integrate with the MacLaren Enterprises logo. Does either one work, or do you have a preference?”

  He studied them a few more minutes, finally settling on one where the imag
e popped out against a contrasting background.

  “I’ll work on the rest of the package today and tomorrow. They should be ready for you to review on Friday, assuming you’ll be available.”

  “Assuming I approve them, what else needs to be done before you return to Fire Mountain?”

  “Anxious to see me go, are you?” Even though Dana smiled, making light of his question, a stab of pain struck her at his desire to rid himself of her.

  “Nothing personal. We’re both buried with work, and I’m sure you’d like to get back home to your boyfriend.”

  Her brows drew together. “Boyfriend?”

  “You know, the buff, handsome, smart, and eligible attorney.” His condescending tone irritated Dana, yet there’s no way she’d let Mitch know.

  “I’m not seeing him any longer.” Picking up the drafts, she slid them into a case and stood. “I’ll start working on the changes now and do my best to get them ready for you by tomorrow afternoon. If approved, I’ll be on the first plane out Friday morning. Will that be good enough?”

  “Sure, that’d be fine.” Once the words were out, he knew they were a lie. The knowledge she no longer dated the attorney shouldn’t matter, yet it did.

  Even though he didn’t want anything permanent, her leaving felt wrong. Exploring the obvious attraction between them might stop the way she messed with his mind. A few nights with her and Mitch would be ready to see her leave. Dana was a distraction he couldn’t keep around for long.

  “All right. I’ll make an appointment for tomorrow afternoon.” She grabbed her computer and file, heading for the door.

  “We’ll leave for dinner at seven. Casual.”

  “With everything going on and my deadline, perhaps we should forget it this trip. Maybe if I come up again—”

  “I invited you to dinner and that’s what we’ll do. See you tonight.”

  Dismissed, she closed the door behind her, deciding her efforts weren’t for naught. He liked the designs and would approve them, she felt certain of it, even if their working relationship continued to feel strained. Driving back to the ranch house, she mentally ticked off what needed to be done for their meeting the following afternoon. There remained a number of items he needed to approve, including website elements as well as the scope and direction of the social media program.

  She’d said nothing to Mitch about their website, which hadn’t been updated in years. Skye added to the list of rodeos as they obtained new contracts, but other than that, no one seemed to touch the site. Once the elements were approved, all changes could be made in Fire Mountain.

  Dana pulled to a stop in front of the house and reached for her phone. Searching her contacts, she found the number for the MacLaren executive assistant.

  “Hi Phyllis, it’s Dana. I need plane reservations to return to Fire Mountain on Friday. Yes, that’s right...I guess around ten or eleven. Thanks, you’re the best.”

  The house seemed so quiet, and large, with no one else around. She poured a diet soda into a glass filled with ice, grabbed a bag of chips from the counter, then set up her computer on a game table in the family room. Amber would correct her by calling it a great room, like the one in Heath and Annie’s house. Either way, the room invited you to make yourself comfortable and enjoy the beautiful furniture and art.

  She ran her hand along the edge of the table, guessing Mitch had been the creator. Waiting as the laptop fired up, she scanned the walls. Five more pieces with his signature graced the large space, all landscapes with impressive colors and dimension. She wondered if he painted on location or used photographs, or even by memory to create art she considered better than what could be seen in many galleries. Dana made a mental note to ask Mitch about them at dinner.

  Her throat convulsed as she thought of time alone with him. Gatherings with friends hadn’t posed a problem. They spoke and sparred as would any two people who enjoyed pushing each other’s buttons. When the two of them were alone, everything changed, and her desire for him thundered beyond any rational thought. Never in her life had she ever experienced such an intense attraction for a man.

  She’d noticed his strong hands, muscled arms, and sculpted chest when he’d helped around the MacLaren ranch and which he now hid under long-sleeved shirts. Skye told her he worked out several times a week, ran at least two mornings, rode his horse, and took out his Harley as much as possible. It sounded like the same routine as when he lived in Fire Mountain. She wished they had time to ride during her visit in Crooked Tree—horses or bikes or both, she didn’t care.

  What she longed for was a chance to get to know Mitch, peel back the layers and learn how someone so moody and brooding could also create such emotionally charged art using wood and oils. He had to be the most talented man she’d ever met. Instead of always walking into an uneasy truce, she wished for a normal conversation between two people, if for no other reason than to see where it would lead.

  ******

  “You look wonderful.” Mitch stared at Dana. Freshly showered, she stood before him in a simple marine blue silk blouse over tight black jeans. Her red hair fell in waves around her face and over her shoulders, enhancing her sparkling blue eyes.

  After cleaning up, Mitch had slid into a black patterned shirt, jeans with a hand-tooled black leather belt and silver buckle, and black boots. Holding his gray suede jacket, he knocked on her bedroom door, not expecting all the air in his lungs to whoosh out at the sight of her.

  “Thank you. You look pretty good yourself.” She let her gaze wander over him another moment before picking up her purse and jacket. “Where are we going?”

  “A steak and seafood restaurant across town. They always have music, although they mix it up quite a bit.” He grimaced when he remembered their Wednesday night schedule. “I hope you’re okay with karaoke.”

  “Are you kidding? I love it, although I’d never get up on stage myself.”

  He helped her into his truck, taking back roads toward their destination.

  Heavy traffic slowed them down, and as the miles passed, Mitch felt a growing need to reach out and take her hand in his. Instead, he gripped the steering wheel tighter, then turned the air conditioning up to combat the increasing warmth in the truck and heat coursing through his body.

  The steakhouse parking lot had no empty spots by the time they arrived. Mitch drove to the back lot, circling twice before crossing a narrow bridge to an overflow area. After pulling to a stop and turning off the engine, he walked around to open Dana’s door, assisting her down, even though she needed no help. His hands lingered on her waist for long moments before she glanced up and staggered at what she saw. The cool, detached look she’d come to expect had vanished. Instead, his eyes had turned stormy and confused, as if he fought some unwelcome internal struggle.

  Her lips parted a fraction as the play of emotions continued to dance across Mitch’s face. For an instant she felt certain he’d bend down and kiss her. Instead, he let his hands drop to his sides and turned, escorting her to the restaurant’s back entrance.

  “Hello, Mitch. It’s been a long time.” An older woman, slender with almost white hair, walked up, shooting a curious look at Dana before giving him a hug. “Do you have a reservation?”

  “I do.” A relaxed smile lit his face, a rare occurrence from Dana’s experience.

  Scanning the list, she picked up two menus. “Ah, there you are. The alcove table. Good choice.” She led them through two rooms, both filled to capacity. Mitch stopped several times to greet other diners and shake hands before the hostess stopped at a booth tucked into a corner under an archway. “Here you are. I’ll send your waiter over.”

  Mitch nodded, stepping aside for Dana to slide onto the seat. Following her, he moved close until his thigh touched hers, then shot her a look, as if daring her to shift away. She stayed put, picking up the menu and scanning the choices as her mind took in the whole scene that had all the elements of a date and not the business meeting she expected.

&nb
sp; Dana continued to study the menu as their drinks arrived. “What do you recommend?” she asked Mitch, who didn’t bother with opening his.

  “I’m getting a ribeye. Their salmon is also excellent—at least that’s what I’ve been told.”

  They ordered, then sat back to relax and listen to the music coming through speakers installed overhead.

  “Do you come here much?”

  “First time since I returned.” He picked up his whiskey and took a sip while his gaze wandered over her. “That’s a good color for you.”

  “Is that a compliment from Mitch MacLaren?” She smiled, setting down her wine glass.

  “I’m known to give one on occasion. Don’t get used to it.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as his lips tilted up. Not a full smile, but close.

  “Tell me about Lizzie.” She’d wanted to ask ever since Rhett mentioned her and Mitch almost bit his head off.

  He stilled, his face losing all humor. “Nothing to tell. She’s a woman I know.”

  “Ex-girlfriend?”

  He snorted. “Not quite.”

  They quieted as the waiter set down their meals and left. Dana didn’t wait, taking a big bite of her salmon.

  “Oh, man, this is good.” She took a second bite, followed by a third before slowing down to pick up her wine. She glanced at Mitch, noticing he hadn’t started. “Is there something wrong with your steak?”

  “Uh…no.” He cut a slice, realizing he’d been staring at Dana, enjoying the pleasure she took from her meal. He’d never known a woman who attempted so much and enjoyed it all, throwing herself full force into everything. “What happened with your attorney?”

  She stopped chewing and thought of Kell, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

  “We’re still friends. It just didn’t go any further. Tell me more about Lizzie.”

  “Nothing to tell. I’ve known her since high school. We’re friends.” He shifted in the seat, his eyes fixed on the plate in front of him.

  The twisting sensation in her stomach at his answer surprised Dana. No reason existed for her to feel even a slight bit of jealousy over any woman. She didn’t ask him to clarify his answer. Her instincts told her exactly the type of friendship he shared with Lizzie.