by Caroline Lee
Jackie’s stomach clenched at the “mysterious young woman who needed watching” line. The last thing she needed was someone looking too closely at her. It had been almost a full year since she’d fled Chicago, but the habit of keeping quiet and keeping people at a distance was hard to break.
Still, she knew she needed to answer the other woman. “What’s that?” she whispered.
“Kalli needs a father. You’re doing a commendable job raising her, but it sure would be easier with some help.”
A father!
Jackie drew herself up—which, admittedly, wasn’t far—and tried to use her best “Mommy” voice when she told the gathered ladies, “We do fine on our own. We do not need a man in our lives.”
Kalli could’ve had a father, but look how well that went.
No, she and her daughter were just fine on their own.
Angela looked embarrassed to be caught in the middle of the conversation, which was really quite personal and none of Jaclyn’s business and Sheila was focused on Jaclyn’s hair, which was difficult, since the older woman refused to turn her head away from Jackie.
Instead of backing off as most people would have done, Jaclyn, however, just narrowed her eyes again. “The fairies told me to come get my hair done today, which is just ridiculous, frankly, because I still look amazing from my last dye job. But now I see why—they wanted me to talk you into being less stubborn about this.”
“Stubborn?” Jackie wasn’t being stubborn, she was being smart. “I’m not going to start dating someone just because you think Kalli needs a father.”
“No, young lady,” Jaclyn said softly. “I want you to start dating someone because you like him. Surely there’s someone out there who, if he asked you on a date, would make you say yes?”
Cooper.
Her heart screamed his name, and Jackie hurried to tamp down the urge to smile in response. Cooper Weston, who was sweet and kind and had the most breathtakingly perfect smile.
Cooper, who was her client, and who hadn’t shown any interest at all in dating her.
“Jackie,” the older woman said softly to get her attention. “You are worth being loved, and he’s the man to do it. Give him a chance.”
Jackie had no idea if the old woman really knew who she’d been thinking about at that moment, but it was a little uncanny. Startled, Jackie nodded frantically, swallowed her doubts and confusion, and grabbed a bottled water from the stack on Angela’s desk before ducking back to her massage room.
She tried to forget Jaclyn’s words as she prepared her room for Tamlyn, but it was tough.
You’re worthy of being loved. That’s what Jaclyn had said.
I’m loved now. Kalli loves me and needs me.
It was enough. It would have to be enough. Jackie’s plans didn’t include being loved by anyone else. She needed to keep her head down, her heart her own, and her world revolving around Kalli.
Kalli was the one who mattered. The only one who mattered.
It had taken almost a year, but Jackie had finally saved enough money to repay Father George. When she and Kalli—still an infant—had arrived out here, they’d lived incredibly frugally, in the most run-down long-term hotel she could find. But throughout the time she’d spent recovering from Kalli’s birth, and while she and Kalli fell into a routine, she’d studied for her Idaho massage license. She’d considered checking out that new place opening up in Quinn Valley, but when she’d come in for the interview here at the spa, she’d fallen in love with the family atmosphere.
She’d worked hard and had kept her head down, not even willing to contact Father George and confirm they were in Riston. That first month of work, after paying her rent, daycare, and splurging on fresh fruit for the baby, she’d only been able to save an extra fifty bucks. But since then she’d scrimped and saved—and eaten mostly ramen—to be able to save up the amount the kind priest had sent her out west with.
He’d considered it a gift, but she’d considered it a loan. And last month, she had been able to send him a check the same amount he’d lent her.
So now she was debt-free, and her bank account—assuming she was calculating everything correctly—should have an extra three hundred dollars in it by the beginning of July.
She was finally looking to the future instead of the past, and that future didn’t have any room for mistakes. She’d keep living for Kalli, keep living as they had been—sharing a small room here in the bunkhouse Wade Weston was letting her rent long-term for cheap once he’d heard they couldn’t afford an apartment in town. That would be her next goal, and Jackie was already keeping an eye on the yard sales and dumpsters around the ranch for suitable furniture for when she got her own place.
No, she had her life all planned out, and there was no space for anyone else. Kalli did not need a father. She was doing just fine with Jackie, who was trying as hard as she could for her daughter.
Kalli was her entire world, and that world was just big enough for the two of them.
It didn’t matter if Cooper Weston made her laugh with his observations or had a smile which made her stomach flip-flop. It didn’t matter if he was “practically royalty around here”, as Angela had once whispered with a wink. It didn’t matter if Cooper’s family owned the entire ranch and had been in Riston for generations.
He was just a client.
But as she smoothed the last sheet in place and turned the salt lamp back on, Jackie couldn’t help but remember Jaclyn’s words: You are worth being loved, and he’s the man to do it. Give him a chance.
She snorted and grabbed the water bottle once more, taking a long swig. If Cooper Weston ever did ask her on a date, though unlikely, she might say yes, even if it meant paying for extra babysitting. She didn’t have any interest in long-term, but a gal just couldn’t pass up free food and fun conversation.
And a killer smile.
Jackie sighed, and pressed the cool water bottle to her forehead. Who was she kidding?
If Cooper asked her, she’d definitely say yes, but he would be a complication she really didn’t need.
“So, you don’t think there’s a problem with the way these things were plumbed?”
Cooper glanced over at the other two men, who were still staring up at the windows of the Kids’ Korral building. Andrew McIver from River’s End Ranch Engineering had asked him to stop by after work today, and when he arrived, Tristan Quarles—who used to work for Maury, but now was a ranch employee—wanted his opinion.
“Nah,” he finally said. “I agree with Tristan. They’re fine.”
Andrew scowled. “You’re not just saying that because you used to work together?”
Coop shrugged and smiled. “I never worked with him directly, but I can’t fault this job.” He and Tristan exchanged nods. “These things are structurally sound.”
Sighing, Andrew nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right. And if they settle a little wonky, it’ll just add to the look of this place.”
“The charm,” Tristan threw in.
Coop nodded. “Yeah, Old West Town is supposed to look a little wonky.”
Andrew snorted with laughter and slapped Coop on his back. “Well, thanks for stopping by, man. I know you probably had better things to do.”
Coop shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. He didn’t mind coming to Old West Town at all—he liked seeing all the happy tourists and guests—and minded the Kids’ Korral even less. Being the owners’ cousin meant he could stop in to see all the little kiddies whenever he wanted, and he always made sure to grab a coffee for Debbie if he was going to hang out while the kids played.
“Good to see you again, Coop,” Tristan called as he shook Andrew’s hand. “We’ll see you at the big party in a few weeks, yeah?”
The big party?
“Oh, yeah, for the Fourth. Sure.”
Coop waved as the other man walked away. He was looking forward to the picnic and celebrations just like the Weston clan had done when he was a kid. One of his favor
ite things about the ranch these days was that his cousins had taken all the stuff they’d loved about the ranch—the family traditions, the activities, the excitement—and let their guests in on it. The Fourth of July wasn’t just a family affair, it was for everyone. Like they were all family.
“Hey, speaking of which, I hear you’ve got some experience in demolition.”
Andrew’s non sequitur had Coop’s brows rising, but he nodded. One couldn’t be in construction without also being in demolition, but Coop was particularly good at it. There was something really satisfying about wiring everything in exactly the right order, and seeing the charges go off exactly the way they were supposed to…and blowing something to smithereens.
“Yeah?” he asked cautiously.
“Well, I’m in charge of the fireworks—yet again—and I haven’t magically developed any new skills in that area.” Andrew shrugged. “And my guy, the one who did the displays the last two years, left a few months ago for a hotel in Spokane. I figured I’d see if you were up for it, because no one wants to see what I come up with.”
“You’re asking me to do the firework display?” Coop couldn’t keep the excitement out of his voice. “Heck yeah I want to do it!”
Andrew sighed—in relief? “Thanks, man. I owe you. Drop me a line tomorrow and we’ll hook up. I’ll give you the charge card and the list of fireworks we bought last year, to give you an idea.”
“Do you want to help design it?” Coop’s brain was already buzzing with ideas.
The other man held his hands up, palms out. “No! No, please no. I know nothing about fireworks, and I’m happy that way. I’ve got enough going on up here” —he tapped his temple— “to worry about anything else. You do it, and I’ll sign off on it. Wade vouched for you.”
Well, of course Wade would vouch for him, they were cousins. But Coop just nodded gratefully as he shook Andrew’s hand. “Happy to do it! Uncle Wilber used to always let me do the displays when we were kids. It’ll be like old times!”
Andrew smiled and gave him a two-finger salute as he hurried back to his office down the street. Coop bounced a little on the soles of his feet and wondered if it was too soon to run over to the nearest firework stand, just to see what was available, and—
“Oh!”
He spun around to see who had sounded so surprised and saw Jackie, standing in the doorway to the Kids’ Korral, juggling a diaper bag, a purse, and a squirmy Kalli. And she was staring at him as if he was some kind of magician, her lovely blue eyes wide with shock.
He couldn’t help it—his face split into a big grin. “Hi, Jackie!” He leaned forward to make eye contact with the baby. “Hiya, Kalli! Did you get dirty again today?”
“How— What?” Jackie shook her head and blinked.
“She’s wearing one of Reddy’s onesies, with no pants. That usually means someone used up all of her allotted clothing for the day.”
Jackie shrugged sheepishly. “It was pudding day. And finger painting day. I’d forgotten you stop by to visit your cousins’ kids.” She struggled to hold on to her load, especially with Kalli twisting every which way.
“I like babies, what can I say? Here, let me help.”
And before she could object, Coop reached over and plucked Kalli from her arms. Jackie made what was probably an unconscious little lunge after her daughter, but when Kalli laughed joyfully at being so high up, she straightened once more.
“Thanks,” she muttered, as she packed her purse into the diaper bag.
Cooper lifted the baby up by her armpits, then pretended to drop her. The little squeal of laughter was music to his ears as he settled her against his shoulder and watched Jackie swing the full diaper bag over her shoulder.
“She’s pretty special,” Coop said about Kalli, but was looking at Jackie.
The woman blushed prettily. She was shorter than average and had that post-baby-weight look Cooper couldn’t help but find appealing. She looked…soft. Approachable. Especially when he’d chatted with her in the dark on the massage table.
It wasn’t until he looked in her eyes that he saw the hardness she hadn’t quite gotten rid of yet. There was something in her past she hadn’t gotten over, and he wanted to be the one to help her do it.
“Have dinner with me?” he blurted out, in what was probably the least-suave move ever.
Her eyes flew wide open again, and she reached for her daughter. The baby fussed a little, but quieted when she was pressed against her mama’s shoulder. Coop admired the picture they made—perfect and sweet—and wished he’d figured out a better way to ask her out.
Finally, she said, “Are you asking me on a date?”
Her tone didn’t give him any clue what she was thinking.
So he shrugged. “Yeah. I’ve wanted to for a while, but wasn’t sure what you’d say. And wasn’t sure how to do it. Of course…” He shrugged again. “It’s not like I figured out a brilliant way after all.”
And wonder of wonders, she smiled! Actually smiled, and her expression softened as she glanced at her daughter.
Then she took a deep breath, and met his eyes once more. “Yeah, okay then. The Korral is open late, and I could reserve space in the evening one day, if Debbie is okay with it.”
Coop’s heart sped up. “Awesome!”
When he smiled, she blushed and looked at her daughter once more…but he caught her peeking up at him from under her long lashes.
And didn’t that just make him feel like a giant?
“Awesome,” he repeated in a softer voice. “Maybe I could text you sometime?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have a phone—too expensive. But you can get in touch with me at the spa.”
A phone was too expensive? Coop suddenly wanted to learn all about her and was determined to make this date the time he began. “How about we say Friday, then? Here in front of the Kids’ Korral—since you’ll have to be here anyhow for Kalli—at six?”
“Okay,” she said shyly.
“Okay,” he repeated.
He wanted to hug her. He wanted to pull both her and her daughter into a sweeping embrace and dance around the boardwalk.
A date! He had a date with Jackie Novak!
But instead, he shoved his hands back in the pockets of his jeans, scuffed his work boots against the boardwalk, and smiled hugely.
“It’s a date,” he said happily.
And all three times he turned to look over his shoulder as he walked away, she was still standing there, staring after him.
Smiling.
CHAPTER FOUR
A date! An actual date.
Jackie tried to be nervous—she wanted to be nervous. After all, she’d spent months here in Idaho avoiding interaction and even friendships. She hadn’t wanted to get too attached, in case she had to pick up and leave. In case Ivan found out she was the one who’d called in that tip to the Chicago police, and he tracked her down for revenge.
Yeah, she had all sorts of reasons to avoid any entanglements here in Riston, and only one reason to go out on a date.
But it was a good reason.
Cooper’s smile was worth all sorts of risk, wasn’t it?
Besides, it was only one date. One little dinner that wasn’t ramen or instant mashed potatoes—that’s worth it, right? Yeah, totally. Didn’t matter who the guy was, a dinner was worth…
No. No, that was sounding too close to her old life, where she’d go out with a guy for the same justifications, and he’d want all sorts of things from her.
No, she was going on a date with Cooper. Cooper, who made her laugh and whose smile made her feel all tingly inside, and who was a good man.
Cooper was worth it.
And that’s why, when she stood outside the Kids’ Korral Friday evening, having just dropped her baby off with Debbie inside, she wasn’t nervous. At all. She was excited—excited to see him laugh, excited to learn more about him. Excited to become entangled, which really wasn’t that smart, but she couldn’t help it.
So when he strolled up, looking delicious in those jeans and boots and that t-shirt—he was like a legit cowboy, wasn’t he?—she gave up feeling bad about not feeling at all bad, and waved excitedly.
One night.
One night—her first night!—without Kalli, where she was allowed to just be herself. With Cooper.
His smile when he saw her was worth any effort she’d put into her appearance, even though she hadn’t done anything fancy. She did wear her thick brown hair down and liked the way he smiled when he saw that. Usually she couldn’t be bothered to do much besides tie it up in a ponytail or messy bun…but her room came with a blow dryer, so she’d used that after her shower, and was glad she had, when she saw his reaction.
He held out his arm to escort her to his car, and she felt like a princess. They went to the new Italian place in town, Mamma Mia’s, and were waited on by a sweet lady named Lucy. It took Jackie a while to realize Cooper was the nervous one, so when their drinks and breadsticks arrived, she called him on it.
“Are you okay being here? I mean, you seem…” Wait, suddenly, calling a guy out on his nervousness sounded like a dumb idea.
But his smile was rueful. “Nervous as heck?”
She liked that he owned it. “Yeah,” she said with a little smile, grabbing a piece of bread for her plate.
He shrugged. “I don’t go on a lot of dates, you know?” A flush began to creep up his neck, and wasn’t that just adorable? “You seem way more at ease about this, you know. Also, you look amazing—sorry I didn’t say that earlier.”
Jackie chuckled. “Thanks. Right back atcha.”
“So am I the only one who gets nervous at dates?”
I wanted to be nervous. “After the first hundred or so, you get more comfortable.”
“Hundred? You’ve been on that many dates?”
Remembering all the times she’d gone to dinner with a man because Ivan owed him a favor or something put a damper on Jackie’s mood. She scowled softly down at her breadstick. “Those weren’t really dates,” she said quietly. Then she forced a smile and glanced back up at him. “Besides, none of them were with you. It’s hard to be nervous around you.”