Carefully opening one of the paint cans, she stirred and poured a good amount into the tray, loving the color. Ruger might hate it, but she hadn’t forced him to buy it.
The sun came up full force and the house became an oven. She drank a water from the cooler, but nothing seemed to ease the ball of heat between her inner thighs.
Hours had passed and still no sign of Ruger,
Grace decided she’d run some errands while the house was too hot.
The day was beautiful as she pulled out of the lane onto the road in the old beat up truck. She unrolled the window using the wobbly handle, turned up the music and sang along as she maneuvered the curves of the backroad like a pro driver, until a raccoon ran in front of her. She slammed on the brakes and closed her eyes, hoping she didn’t hit it. She didn’t. Missing it only by an inch.
Her heart beat so fast.
Her stomach twisted.
She stared out into the field, seeing the racoon wobbling its way through the tall reeds after its brush with death.
A laugh came over her. What did she have to laugh about?
Then it struck her what today was.
Grabbing her phone, she searched for the date!
Today was her ex’s birthday. Even after the divorce they always took a moment to call and wish each other a happy birthday.
She had no service here on the road to call.
Maybe it was for the best. He was getting married soon. It was time to cut the cord.
Her mind shifted to that day when she’d walked through the empty seventh-floor apartment after the moving truck pulled away with all her belongings. It had been on Evan’s birthday. And they were newly divorced.
The thought brought her chills.
She’d stood in the center of the large, luxurious living room and felt the last thread break on her reserve. Even through the divorce, she’d held it together. But leaving the place she’d loved and called home—where she and Evan had made dreamlike plans for a future—was stripped from her. She’d curled up into a ball on the polished wood floor and had cried until she had no more tears left.
The pain of losing a child had been the wedge that had pried her and Evan apart. No, that wasn’t true. If they’d loved each other deeply nothing could have come between them.
Tears filled her eyes now, but they didn’t fall. She didn’t want them to fall.
Her cell buzzed and she raced to grabbed it, clicking ‘talk’.
“Oh my gosh! You’re alive!” Emily said in a breathless tone.
“Of course, I’m alive. I’ve been busy.” It was so good to hear her sister’s voice.
“Too busy to call me or answer my calls?”
“The service, its stinks here—”
“Where are you?”
She waited a bit before she finally decided to tell her sister the truth. “Cooper’s Hawk, Montana.”
“Cooper’s Hawk?” Emily screeched. “Why are you there?”
“I’m staying at a B&B.” It was the truth. She’d leave out the part about cooking and painting.
“At least now I know you’re okay, although I stand firmly against you running off like you did.”
“I’m not running. I needed space. Please, let’s not hit the rewind button on this old conversation. I must go. I’ll talk to you later.” She hit “off” and dropped her phone on the passenger seat and pulled back onto the road.
She found the nursery, Daisy Blooms, and parked outside of the greenhouse.
“Hi, Grace!”
She recognized the cowboy, Mug, she met the other day when she was in town with Ruger. “Hi there.” He was placing plants in the back of his truck. “Doing some planting?”
“They’re for a friend.” He strolled over, his smile making his eyes shine. He had sharp cheekbones and solid jaw. “How’s the ranch? Been busy?”
“So busy. That’s why I’m here. The place needs some color.”
“The finished product will be amazing.”
“Well, I better get inside,” She stepped toward the door.
“I’ll see you later.” He started for his truck but then he said, “Grace?”
She looked back at him. “Yes?”
“Would you like to go to dinner tonight?”
Blinking, she wasn’t sure what to say. “Mug, I—”
“As friends. It wasn’t too long ago that I was new here too and I realize what it’s like. Everyone is friendly, but it’s easy to feel like an outsider.”
Opening her mouth to reject him, she slammed her mouth shut. He seemed like a nice guy and his eyes seemed sincere. What could an evening with a new friend hurt? She could use an evening to relax, whether Ruger liked it or not. “Sure. Can you pick me up at the ranch?”
“Seven okay?”
“Perfect.” Pushing through the door, she surveyed the rows of plants and flowers. Picking up a container of roses, she brought them to her nose.
“Grace! I thought that was you!”
She looked up from the flower. “Hi, Chynna. Do you work here?”
“Just a couple days a week to help my sister out. She owns the place.”
Feeling wetness on her fingers, she looked down to find a Boxer sniffing her hand. “Hi there, fellow. What’s your name?” Grace bent to pet the friendly boy.
“His name is Bentley,” Chynna said and dragged off her soiled gloves.
“I’m sorry. Is he bothering you?” A pretty brunette with violet eyes stepped out of the back room, tying her apron into place.
“Not at all. I love animals.” Grace stood and smiled at the lovely woman.
“Daisy, this is Grace. I told you about her,” Chynna said.
“Nice to meet you.” Daisy offered a wave then transferred an armful of flowers onto a workbench. Grace could only see a slight resemblance between the sisters.
“He seems like a really nice dog,” Grace remarked.
“He is. He’s not mine though, unfortunately. I’m dog sitting while his owner is away on a military tour. It’s kind of my second job,” Daisy said. Bentley laid down under a table and stretched out. “What can we help you with?”
“I’m here because the flower beds and garden are completely overgrown over at the ranch. Can you help me?”
“You’ve come to the right place. Do you have any idea for a scheme? Color? Sun or shade?” Daisy asked.
Grace thought over the question. “You know, I’m really not sure. I guess I’m not prepared.”
“It’s okay.” Daisy smiled. “You’re not too far out so if you’d like I can drop by, take a look at the property and give you some suggestions?”
“That would be great. While I’m here though, I’d like to go ahead and grab some bags of soil.”
“I’ll have Lenny load you up. Are you parked out front?”
“Yes. The red truck.”
While Daisy went to help another customer, Chynna asked, “You do plan on coming to the Cooper’s Hawk annual festival, right?”
“I don’t know. What’s the annual festival?”
“It’s over at the fairgrounds. The entire town gathers. This year all the proceeds received from events will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Daisy and I will be there manning a booth for the flower shop and then in the evening we’ll stay for the Wish’n Dance. She looks forward to it every year and I go to make her happy.”
“What’s the Wish’n Dance?”
Chynna rolled her eyes, but Daisy, who was in the back of the shop called out, “Oh, you don’t want to miss it. Everyone comes wearing a hat. When you arrive, you take your hat off and place it on a table with the rest. Girls on one side, men on the other. Then the best fun begins. You place money inside an envelope with your name on the front. The envelope that contains the largest amount is the winner.”
“Winner?” Grace felt like she was full of questions, but she was interested.
“To win a dance with someone,” Chynna added.
“So how do you know who you’re dancing wi
th?” Grace asked.
“That’s the fun of it.” Daisy laughed. “You don’t.”
“Yeah, real fun,” Chynna muttered, twirling a tendril of hair around her finger.
“Stop being a grouch, Sis.” Daisy popped back in. “Some people have been known to cheat. If an admirer really wants to dance with someone, they find out which hat belongs to that person. Anyway, it’s for a good cause. One dance won’t kill anyone. You wouldn’t believe how much the benefit raises.” Daisy went back to work.
Grace smiled. “As interesting as it sounds, I’m not sure that’s for me—”
“Oh, come on. You want to meet all the townsfolk, don’t you?” Chynna urged.
“I’ll think about it.”
“If you decide to come, stop at our booth. Don’t forget the hat and enough money to bid on a dance with a handsome cowboy yourself. Maybe Ruger, perhaps?” Her eyes sparkled.
“No,” she blurted. “We have a business relationship only.”
“If you say so. Do you need some water to help with the sudden blush?”
She started to respond but Daisy peeked in to tell Grace her order was ready.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“IS YOUR HELP still here?”
Ruger looked across the hood of the diesel truck at Hank. “She’s here.”
“How’s it goin’?”
“I should have sent her packing,” he grumbled.
Hank cocked a brow. “That pretty, huh?”
“No, just that complicated.” Ruger wasn’t quite sure he wanted to share a lot with his buddy.
Hank’s laughter echoed across the yard. “Complicated as Flora?”
“She came by.”
“I figured. I told you things would get sticky. When a woman offers to make you dinner, she’s got something more in mind than non-commitment.”
“Things are going to be less complicated soon. I made it clear to Flora that she deserved better and I have a feeling my new employee won’t last long.”
“Why? You going to drive her away?”
Ruger grunted, “Because she’s not cut out for this work
“You mean cooking, washing dishes, and keeping a household? Most women aren’t cut out for that unless they have a ring on their finger and even then, they expect a man to participate fifty-fifty.”
“Why do people keep mentioning this as if I hired her because of her gender?”
Hank lowered his chin and raised a brow. “What’s she look like?”
“Why does it matter?”
“I don’t know. Does it?”
“Dark hair. Pale skin. Big green eyes. A city lady.”
“I like green eyes. The first girl I dated in high school had green eyes. Do you remember Halie? I wonder what she’s up to these days?”
“Find her on social media. Everyone’s on it these days.”
“Even you?”
“Nope. Not me.” But it did give him an idea. He could search Grace’s name and see what turned up. That is if he felt the motivation. Probably didn’t. “There’s nothing on it for me.”
“I hear that’s how people are hooking up in modern times.”
Ruger chuckled. “No thank you.”
“Maybe it’s time you moved on.”
“I have moved on.” He shooed away a fly that kept buzzing around his head.
“Yeah, you’ve moved on, but you haven’t opened up. What’s it been?”
“A long time,” he responded grumpily.
“But hell, what do I know?” He scratched his temple with his thumb. “I stopped out to see if you’re signing up for any of the events at the festival?”
“I haven’t had the time to think about it.”
“The Hawkes need a partner for the cattle run.”
Each year he joined the clan of brothers to raise money for a charity. He swiveled a gaze toward the house and shrugged. “I don’t see any reason why I can’t take a day or two.”
“I’m sure your guest will want to check out the big festival too.” Hank pushed off the truck, grabbed his Stetson and placed it back on his head.
“She’s not my guest. She’s my employee,” he corrected.
“But green eyes? Curvy. Dark hair. What’s a little flirting going to hurt?”
“Did I say anything about curves?”
“She’s a woman ain’t she? Better than holding a pillow every single night,” Hank groaned.
“Man, you sure are talking a lot about curves and green eyes. Maybe you’re the one who needs a little curve action.” Ruger knew his buddy hadn’t dated in a long time. He’d gone through a rough patch after coming home from across the pond with PTSD and missing a couple of fingers.
“It’s been so long I think I’ve forgotten what it’s like to date.”
“Muscle memory, my friend. I’m sure it’s like riding a bike. Once you learn you never forget how, you just have to be willing to climb back on and pedal.”
“Oh, well.” Hank pulled open the driver’s door to his truck. “I need to get going but I’ll see you later.”
Ruger started for the house just as he heard the rattling of an engine and saw the old beat up truck coming onto the lane. He waited for Grace to slide out then he slipped off his hat and forced his fingers through his hair. Some of his anger dissipated when he took in her smile and the new energy in her step. She was wearing sunglasses but no doubt with a grin like that her eyes would have to be twinkling.
Roscoe got up off the front stoop and greeted Grace. The fellow didn’t even do that for Ruger. Feeling a little betrayed, he strolled toward her and asked, “Where have you been?”
She hauled off her glasses and dropped them into her purse. Her irises absorbed the sun’s rays, which only triggered more emotion in him. He didn’t understand what was happening. The more he fought it the harder it became to suppress his feelings.
Feelings? Where did they come from?
“At the nursery. This place will look so much homier with some bright color in the flower beds. We also need to resurrect the garden in the back. It’s crying out for attention.”
“And so do the walls for a coat of paint,” he muttered.
His words didn’t even touch her smile. “Don’t worry. I have a plan. The forecast calls for thunderstorms all day tomorrow, and I can focus completely on the inside.”
Hell, he’d give her credit for planning, and truthfully, he hadn’t even thought about flowers. He stepped around to the back of the truck, let down the gate and sighed. “Where are they?”
“That sweet florist, Daisy, over at Daisy Blooms is coming out today, taking a look around and letting us know her suggestions.” Grace didn’t miss a beat.
His chest tightened as he tampered down his frustration. When did “he” become “we” in this situation? Was she paying for anything? “I don’t think “we” have the money for things like that.”
“The visit and plans are complimentary as long as we buy the flowers off her. But where else would we go? Have you been to her shop? Amazing flowers. In fact, the best I’ve seen.”
There was that “we” again. “I’ll help you unload the bags of soil.”
“I can do it if you need to get back to work.”
He hoisted two bags onto his shoulder. “I might be a lot of things but not a man who’d let a woman do the heavy lifting alone. Where do you want them?”
“Just place them on the porch.” She hurried ahead of him to drop her purse on the rail. “By the way, I ran into your mother as I was leaving the nursey. She said to tell you hello. Does she live in town?”
“Yeah. She sold the farmhouse we lived in after Pa passed away.” Dropping the bags, he gritted his teeth against the twinge in his back. He’d been working hard, and his body was resisting.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just an ache—” His breath came out in a hiss when she pressed her fingers into the muscles of his back.
“Wow. You’re very tight.” She continued to rub while he forced ai
r into his lungs.
Lord help him. He should move away, but her hands massaging his back felt like heaven. There was nothing erotic or seductive in her touch, but it did amazing things south of his belt. This both embarrassed and excited him. “I probably lifted something wrong.”
“You must have. You know, death isn’t easy, especially for those left behind.” She moved her hands along the tense chords of his spine.
He gave a nod, trying hard to focus on her words when he felt like putty under her touch. “We found out he was sick and he was gone fast.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been difficult.”
“Yeah.”
“There you go. Better?” She took a step back.
He rolled his shoulders. “Actually, the kink is gone.” He noticed that her smile was gone and something invasive had taken its place. “You okay?”
She turned away for a mere second and when she looked back at him again her expression was stoic. “Today is my ex-husband’s birthday.”
“Oh. Does that bother you?” Ruger didn’t remember when his ex’s birthday was, not even the month.
“I usually call and wish him happy birthday.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know, my sister thinks that’s ridiculous.”
“It’s only ridiculous if you’re trying to hold onto something that can never happen.”
“That ship has long sailed. I loved him once upon a time, thought we’d be together forever, but doesn’t everyone when they get married. One never believes they’ll come to the end until it happens. Once the glue is gone it’s difficult to put a marriage back together.” Moisture filled her eyes and she blinked and it was gone.
“Sorry.” He meant it. “Are you sure that ship has sailed?”
She shrugged, sending the spaghetti strap of her shirt down her shoulder. His eyes naturally fell to the top of one firm breast making him feel guilty. He jetted his gaze back on her face. “He was a good guy, but yes, I’m sure,” she said quietly.
Grace seemed to want to open up and he was more than willing to listen. “I don’t know if that makes things better or harder. Being with someone who’s great, but you can’t make it work.” She looked off into the distance as if she could find her words there. “People say we find someone, we fall in love, and we just belong with them. We support one another and grow together. What those very people don’t take into consideration is that circumstances change. People change. Hearts change.”
Cowboy Wilde (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 2) Page 9