Cowboy After Dark (19 page)

20

S
TUPID
BATHROBE
.
Here Hope was, spending a lazy week in Phil and Damon’s cabin, the perfect place to lounge around in her favorite piece of clothing in the world, and Liam had ruined it for her. She couldn’t put it on without thinking of him.

But she wasn’t about to get rid of it. Finally she decided that wearing it was the best way to desensitize herself to the association with Liam. Besides, the kittens loved it, especially when she sat on the floor and let them romp around her. She first thought of doing that on the Fourth, when she’d wanted to distract them from the sound of fireworks.

Fireworks could frighten animals. She wouldn’t have gone to the celebration anyway because Liam might have been there. Instead she’d closed all the windows to mute the noise and had concentrated on entertaining the kittens.

That night they’d come up with a routine. The solid black one, MC Hammer, would go crazy over the sash when she twirled it for him. The black tuxedo, Nine-Inch Nails, preferred to hop onto her lap and knead his tiny claws into the soft fleece. When Hammer got tired of batting at the sash, he’d leap on Nails, and they’d wrestle until they rolled onto the floor. Then the whole thing would start over.

They made her laugh, thank goodness. Crying and swearing upset those little fluff balls more than fireworks, so she only did that on long afternoon walks. That was when she’d rehearse what she’d like to say to Liam if she ever had the opportunity to give him a piece of her mind.

On her third day of house-sitting, she woke up with a brainstorm. She’d go old school and write him a letter. She didn’t know his snail mail address, but he’d be at the ranch until the end of the week. If she mailed a letter to Thunder Mountain this morning, he’d get it before he left.

All through breakfast and during her floor time with the kittens, she congratulated herself on coming up with the letter scheme. She imagined him reading it and realizing that he’d had it all wrong. He’d curse himself for indulging in amateur psychoanalysis and messing up what might have been a fun week. Sweet revenge.

Oh, and she’d make damn sure he understood that he was no longer welcome to stop and chat when he dropped off rafting clients. Mister Know-It-All could stay in the van from now on and keep his opinions to himself. She wouldn’t be there much longer, anyway, but until she found a better position, she wanted him to stay the hell away from that lobby.

Once the kittens conked out for their morning nap, she found some stationery and stamps. Phil wouldn’t care if she borrowed them, and she’d replace them before she left.

The living room coffee table was adjustable, and she brought it up to desk height. Pouring herself a cup of coffee reminded her of sharing coffee and Baileys with Rosie. That was likely over.

The morning after the wedding, she’d packed up before dawn and waited in the kitchen until Rosie had come in to start breakfast. Explaining that she and Liam wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore had been tough.

Fortunately Liam hadn’t shown up to make it worse. She suspected he’d waited until she’d driven away before making an appearance at the house. He also might have asked Grady to hang out with him in their cabin until she was gone.

Rosie hadn’t seemed angry about the news and had hugged her goodbye, but she’d looked sad. Her loyalty was to Liam, as it should have been. Hope didn’t like the idea of ending her relationship with everyone at Thunder Mountain, but she understood now that it had been inevitable. Imagining herself as a part of the clan had been a fantasy.

Within minutes of beginning, she’d filled both sides of the first sheet and had to get more paper. Oh, well. So it would turn out to be a long letter.

Two hours later, her fingers had begun to cramp, and she had ten pages front and back. A
really
long letter. But she didn’t want to leave anything out. Belatedly she realized that she could probably download Phil and Damon’s printer specs to her laptop.

Since she had more she wanted to say, she might as well type the rest of it. Postage on this sucker would be a lot, but it felt great finally to get out all the things she’d been thinking for two days. More than two days, actually. These were thoughts that had been rattling around in her head for months.

She’d given him a lot of backstory so he would understand exactly how wrongheaded he’d been. Wave a magic wand and poof, she’d be off and running. Nonwriters didn’t get it, so in a way she forgave him. But he’d turned her bathrobe into some kind of symbol, and she wasn’t sure if she’d ever forgive
that.

Opening up a document on her laptop felt weird, but in a good way. She hadn’t used her computer for anything besides email and the internet in a year. The blank page sat there waiting to be filled with more pages for Liam to read.

Sometime later her stomach growled, and she quickly opened a bag of chips. She’d be finished soon and could fix herself a regular meal. Except she couldn’t seem to end the letter. She’d decided to explain the premise of her series so Liam could see how intricate it had been and why she didn’t have the heart to start over.

Hammer and Nails woke up, and she paused long enough to feed them. She was still wearing her bathrobe, so she plopped down on the floor and went through their familiar routine again. “You guys are the cutest things ever,” she told them. “I don’t know why I don’t have a couple of kittens. Probably because my apartment doesn’t allow pets. I need to fix that.”

They both stopped playing for a second and stared at her with their huge kitten eyes.

“I know! My life has been boring as hell, hasn’t it?”

Nails took that as an invitation to jump into her lap. Hammer followed, tackling him. They wrestled and fell off on the floor, like always. For some reason, Hope found it more hilarious this time. She was still laughing as they scampered away and played chase around the living room.

Moving might mean paying a penalty for breaking the lease, but she’d do it and rent a place that would allow pets. Maybe she should find a new job first and move somewhere close to work. Yes, better plan. Once she’d finished this letter, she’d go online and look for job openings.

The kittens settled down, and she returned to the couch to discover she’d finished the chips. Man, it was dinnertime! She wouldn’t get the letter mailed today after all. Opening a bottle of wine Phil had left for her, she poured herself a glass and got out a can of mixed nuts. She’d cook dinner the minute she finished the letter.

But something about the description of her series caught her attention. A character she hadn’t done much with initially seemed full of possibilities now. Why hadn’t she seen that before? He had such an interesting backstory that he could be a main character. She could change his name and alter his appearance a little so he’d be different from the character Tom had stolen.

For the heck of it, she opened a new document and typed a revised description of him. Then she wondered what he’d be doing in the first scene. What if it was a battle scene and he was fighting next to his best friend, a spunky woman? What if she got wounded, and...

Hours later, when both kittens crawled up the side of the couch and into her lap, she glanced at them in surprise. Oh, right. Hammer and Nails, her charges for the week. Slowly she returned to reality—Phil and Damon’s house, an empty bottle of wine, an empty can of mixed nuts, and
fifteen pages of a story
?

As the kittens scampered over and around her, she stared at the evidence on her laptop. Against all odds and in spite of all her loud protestations to Liam, she was writing.

* * *

L
IAM
FIGURED
THAT
C
ADE
, Lexi, Rosie and Herb had organized the poker game to take his mind off Hope. He appreciated the effort, but it wasn’t working too well. He kept losing track of the cards and screwing up his bet.

They’d spent the past three days getting ready for the next session of Thunder Mountain Academy, which would begin with students arriving the next day. He’d thrown himself into the preparations with a vengeance. He’d worked so hard that Rosie had taken him aside and given him the “many more fish in the sea” talk.

Funny, considering only days ago she’d thought he and Hope were soul mates. He’d listened, nodded and assured Rosie that he would continue to search for the love of his life.

But he’d found her. She just didn’t know it. Maybe she never would have that realization, and he’d have to live with the consequences. But he was counting on a few days of solitude to give her clarity. Solo treks through the wilderness always helped him see things differently.

He was holding three aces when someone knocked on the front door. A premonition made him throw in his hand. “I’ll get it.”

Heart pounding, he walked quickly through the living room, and there was Hope standing outside the screen door, clutching a handful of papers. He could barely breathe as he reached for the door. “Want to come in?” His voice sounded pretty ragged.

“No. Come out, please.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Once on the porch, though, he wasn’t sure whether to touch her or not. He wanted to grab her, but that could be a mistake.

She was breathing as fast as he was. She looked as if she’d dressed in a hurry in a T-shirt and jeans, and although her hair was combed, she wore no makeup. She shoved the pages at him. “Here.”

He took them. “What is it?”

“The...” She swallowed. “The first chapter.”

He stared at her in bewilderment. “Of what?”

“My new book.”

“Your new...you
wrote
this?”

She nodded. “This afternoon. Tonight. I started out writing you a letter and then it just happened.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “Liam, you were right. I’m a writer.”

With a shout of joy, he swept her up in his arms and swung her around, although he kept a tight hold on those precious pages. The screen banged, and everyone came running out to see what was going on. When he saw them standing there, he figured they’d been in the living room, eavesdropping, but he waved the papers anyway and made the announcement. “A book! She’s started a book!”

They surrounded Hope, gave her hugs and showered her with congratulations. She looked as if she’d won the lottery. He stepped back and watched, his heart full of love for her. He’d wished for a breakthrough, and here it was.

Then she turned toward him, took the pages back and handed them to Rosie. “Could you please move these inside? And don’t bother reading them. It’s a rough draft. I printed them out as physical evidence for Liam, but it’s a first chapter. First chapters always change.”

“But can I read it?” Rosie held the pages as if they were breakable.

“If you want.” She glanced at Cade, who still had cards in his hand. “Did I interrupt a game?”

“Yes,” Rosie said, “but that’s okay. Want to come in and join us?”

Liam held his breath.

“Well, sure, but I was wondering if I could borrow Liam for a few minutes first.”

All four of them fell over themselves assuring her they didn’t mind and she could borrow Liam for as long as she wanted. Everyone else went in, but as sounds of rejoicing drifted out from the kitchen, Liam prayed they weren’t being premature.

Her back ramrod straight, Hope faced him. “I don’t know how to say this.”

“Take your time.” He was a wreck. She’d found her writing vibe. That didn’t mean she’d changed her mind about being with him. But it might mean just that.

She dragged in a shaky breath. “A year ago a man took something very precious to me.” She met his gaze. “And you, Liam Magee, have given it back.”

“I just gave you a nudge. You did the rest.”

“But that nudge made all the difference.” She hesitated. “And I wasn’t very appreciative at the time. Now I know that you did it out of love.”

He clenched his hands at his sides. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I love you for that.” She took a step toward him. “But I also just plain love
you
.”

He closed his eyes as the breath whooshed out of his lungs. “Thank God.”

“And if you don’t kiss me this very minute, I might die.”

Opening his eyes, he saw her standing there smiling and knew he was the luckiest SOB in the universe. “Can’t have you kicking the bucket.” He gathered her close. “You have a book to finish.”

“Not just one.” She wound her arms around his neck. “Some cowboy told me I have dozens inside me.”

“Smart man.” And a smart man would hold this woman to his heart and never let her go. As his mouth found hers, he vowed to do exactly that.

Epilogue

D
ELIVERING
A
SCULPTURE
to a client in Buffalo, Wyoming,
provided the perfect excuse for Grady to swing up to Sheridan and help Cade pick
out artwork for his cabin. They’d talked about it during the wedding
festivities, but they’d run out of time to drive into town. Apparently Cade
needed to demonstrate more of a nesting instinct before Lexi believed he was
ready for marriage.

She was in Billings conducting a riding clinic, so she’d never
have to know that Cade had brought in a consultant. Grady had suggested they
meet at the Sheridan Art Barn, a recently opened artists’ co-op on the outskirts
of town. He had no trouble spotting it. The converted barn had been painted deep
purple.

Cade was leaning against his truck as Grady pulled in. “Sure do
appreciate this, bro,” he said as he walked over to Grady’s truck.

“No problem.” Grady hopped down and grinned at him. “It’ll be
fun.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“It will be.” Grady punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Buck
up, pardner. You been in there yet?”

“Not me! This is foreign territory for this ol’ boy. Thank God
that Liam suggested you help me.”

“What’s your budget?” They walked together toward the open
double doors.

“I have some cash and I also brought plastic. I guess my
budget’s whatever my credit card limit is.”

“We’re not going to max out your card. I’m sure we’ll find some
good stuff that’s reasonable.” He paused next to an easel holding a sign listing
the artists’ names. “Hey, Sapphire Ferguson’s part of this. We went to school
with her and her sister.”

“Yeah.” Cade peered at the easel. “I don’t remember her very
well but her sister is a different story.”

“Amethyst.”

“Yep. I was blown away by her performance in the school musical
and I remember thinking she was hot, too. Which I never told Lexi, by the
way.”

“I should hope not.” But Cade was right that Amethyst had been
the flashier of the two sisters.

Grady had thought Sapphire was more interesting, though. She’d
been into art back then, too—delicate pottery that had sometimes shown up in the
school’s display case. Her mom had been the art teacher, maybe still was. If he
hadn’t been so damned worried about his manly image in those days, he would have
taken Mrs. Ferguson’s class.

“Are you cowboys coming in or still thinking about it?” A woman
stood just inside the doorway. Her long auburn hair was pulled back on one side
to show off an earring of turquoise feathers that dangled almost to her
shoulder. Her sleeveless yellow blouse displayed a fair amount of cleavage, and
she’d woven a colorful sash through the belt loops of her snug jeans.

Grady wasn’t about to ignore an invitation from a beautiful
woman. “We’re coming in.” He walked through the door, and once his eyes made the
adjustment from sun to artificial light, he was able to see the color of the
woman’s eyes. They were bright turquoise. “Sapphire?”

She gasped. “Grady?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He touched the brim of his Stetson and tried not
to stare. She was
nothing
like he remembered. Back
in high school she’d had short hair and worn flowered dresses and almost no
makeup. This far more dramatic Sapphire had on eye makeup, and her glossy
lipstick was fire-engine red.

“I’ve been hoping I’d run into you sooner or later! You’ve done
very well for yourself.”

“Thank you.” That kind of comment always made him a little
skittish, so he shifted the focus. “You remember Cade Gallagher.”

“Of course I do.” She smiled at Cade. “I heard you were
back.”

“Back to stay this time,” he said, “which is why we’re here. I
have a cabin that needs artwork.”

“You’ve come to the right place. We have some wonderful local
artists. Oils, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, fabric art, you name it.”

“What about you?” Grady had a hard time imagining that this new
version of Sapphire made dainty little teapots.

“Still doing pottery. Love it. Although my style’s changed
quite a bit.”

“I know what you mean. I’ve noticed how different my newest
pieces are from what I was doing a year ago. I—” He caught himself. He wasn’t
here to have a discussion about art while Cade stood around twiddling his
thumbs. “Anyway, we’d better start looking.”

“
I’ll
start looking.” Cade clapped
him on the shoulder. “I’ll yell for help when I get stuck.”

“No, I’ll come with you.”

Cade was already backing away. “I’m caught up in the spirit of
adventure. You wouldn’t want to spoil that, now would you?”

“Guess not.” Grady laughed. “I’ll be there in a few.”

“I take it you’re supposed to advise him on what to purchase?”
Sapphire looked amused.

“He thinks he doesn’t know anything about art.”

“I don’t!” Cade sang out as he continued down the aisle. “But I
know what I like!”

“Then you’ll be fine!” Sapphire called after him. She turned
back to Grady. “As long as he’s giving us a chance to talk, I might as well tell
you about the great idea I just had.”

“What’s that?” Several interesting possibilities came to
mind.

“Next month we’re doing a charity event here at the barn.”

That wasn’t one of them. “Oh?”

“We’ll all spend the evening putting the finishing touches on
our current project and invite the public to watch. There’ll be a silent auction
for those works. Would you be part of it?”

He wasn’t going to tell her what he’d been thinking the moment
he recognized her. It had nothing to do with charity and everything to do with
getting to know her better. Much better. That was impractical on many levels,
and so was this request.

Besides being up to his neck in commissioned work, he needed to
carve out time to make something special for Rosie in the next few weeks. Liam
had passed on her request for a sculpture and he wanted to fill that request
ASAP. The charity event might be only one evening, but he’d need to allow
several days to set up his workspace and make enough progress that he could
finish it during the event.

She sighed. “Okay, it was a long shot, but I had to ask.”

“I’ll do it.”

“You will? Really?”

“Sure.”

“Oh, Grady, this is huge.” For a moment she looked as if she
might hug him.

He would have been okay with that.

But instead she took a deep breath and gave him a brilliant
smile. “Thank you.”

He might have spent a lot more time gazing at that wonderful
smile if Cade hadn’t yelled out that he was in desperate need of advice. Grady
excused himself and went to do the job he’d promised. Cade ended up with some
great stuff at a reasonable price.

Before they left, Sapphire gave Grady the date and time of the
event, and they exchanged email addresses so they could work out the details. He
and Cade loaded everything in the passenger side of Cade’s truck as Sapphire
stood in the doorway, watching.

“A charity event, huh?” Cade said in a low voice. “What’s the
charity?”

“I have no idea.”

Cade seemed to find that hilarious. “Gonna ask her what it is?
She’s right over there.”

“Don’t need to.”

“Because it doesn’t matter, does it?” Cade grinned at him.

He didn’t bother confirming. Cade already knew the answer. “See
you at the ranch.” He walked over to his truck. Before getting in, he gave
Sapphire a wave. She waved back. She was still in his rearview mirror as he
drove off, so he tapped on the horn as a last farewell.

He’d have to work his ass off to make up the time he’d lose
while participating in an event to benefit some unknown cause. But as he
pictured Sapphire Ferguson standing in the doorway, gazing after him, he had a
strong feeling it would be worth every late night slaving over a hot blowtorch.
That woman was dynamite.

* * * * *

Sparks are flying between Grady and Sapphire! Read their story in
COWBOY UNTAMED, the next book in Vicki Lewis Thompson’s
THUNDER MOUNTAIN BROTHERHOOD
series, coming soon only from Harlequin
Blaze!

Keep reading for an excerpt from
MAKE MINE A MARINE
by Candace
Havens.

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