Jackson Hole Valentine (5 page)

Meg pressed her hand against her thigh as the wind whipped at her wool skirt. Thankfully she had tights and boots on today as well as a heavy sweater. “I’ve been looking for an apartment.”

Ryan’s finger jabbed the doorbell again before casting a curious glance her way. “How’s that going?”

“Could be better.” Meg wrapped her arms around herself for extra warmth. “Even the dumps are expensive.”

The attorney punched the doorbell and chuckled. “Welcome to Jackson Hole.”

A brisk breeze slapped Meg in the face. She shivered. “Are you sure Cole is home?”

“I called him on my way here. His knee has really been hurting him.” A frown furrowed Ryan’s brow. “I hope he didn’t fall.”

Remembering Cole’s unsteady gait and his determination to push his limits back in Ryan’s office made losing his balance a definite possibility. Meg’s heart picked up speed. “Since he knew we were coming, perhaps he left the door unlocked.”

She grasped the ornate door handle with her gloved hand and pushed. It opened easily. A flood of escaping warmth washed over them. She hurried inside with Ryan on her heels.

“Cole, are you okay?” Ryan called out, slipping off his cap and stuffing it into the pocket of his coat.

“Just moving a little slow this morning.” Cole hobbled into view on his crutches, the brace on his right knee. He’d ditched the suit he’d been wearing the last time she’d seen him for running pants and a blue long-sleeved cotton shirt.

Meg let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She told herself her racing heart didn’t have a thing to do with him. It was simply that as a rehabilitation professional she saw the signs of a man in considerable pain and facing a long road to recovery.

Slipping off her parka, she placed it in Ryan’s outstretched hand before refocusing on Cole. “Have you been doing your exercises?”

“Exercises?” Ryan scoffed. “The guy can barely get around.”

“It’s important that he starts strengthening his quads right away.” Although Margaret now spent her time working primarily with stroke patients, her first job had been at a sports-medicine clinic.

Cole’s chin lifted in a defiant tilt. “It’s been a busy week.”

“I’ll take that as a no.” Margaret’s experienced gaze took in everything from the way Cole was standing to the lines of strain around his eyes. “Do you have a CPM machine?”

“What’s that?” Ryan asked Margaret, closing the closet door and picking up the briefcase he’d set on the marble floor.

“Hey, I’m right here,” Cole said a bit gruffly. “If you have anything to ask about my rehabilitation, ask me. Why ask her?”

“Because she’s the professional,” Ryan said.

When Margaret saw the blank look on Cole’s face she realized that he had no clue what she did to earn a living, any more than she knew how he could afford a place as expensive as this one.

“I’m a physical therapist,” she said. “I’ve worked with my share of sports injuries. I’m guessing you had an ACL reconstruction. The surgery was somewhere between five and seven days ago—”

“Five.” Cole exhaled a breath. “Right before I left to come here.”

“And the doctor let you fly?” Margaret didn’t even try to keep the surprise from her voice. Most patients were told not to get on a plane for the first two weeks.

“I didn’t see another option,” Cole said. “I heard the news about Joy and Ty right after I’d gotten out of surgery. I wanted to be here for the funeral. Pay my respects.”

His eyes met hers and something unexpected passed between them. She saw her own pain reflected in his and for the first time she realized they shared a common sorrow. In that horrific crash on Route 22, both had lost dear friends.

“I understand,” Margaret said softly. Recent surgery wouldn’t have kept her away, either. “But I’m sure the doctor emphasized that the first week is the most difficult and a critical time for—”

“He said a lot of things.” Cole maneuvered himself into a nearby chair and gestured for them to take a seat. “But we’re here today to talk about Charlie and his needs, not mine.”

Margaret stepped into the large family room, instantly taking note of the hardwood floor and the number of rugs scattered throughout the room.

Safety hazards.
She frowned. If he was her patient, the rugs would all come up until he was steadier on his feet. But he wasn’t her patient, so she kept her mouth shut. She contented herself with admiring the rest of the house before taking a seat on a burgundy leather sofa.

From what she could see, the kitchen off to her right held granite countertops and pewter-colored appliances. Over to her left was a study with French doors, and straight ahead a large stone fireplace with shelves of books on both sides.

Despite being a large home, the place had a surprisingly homey feel. It was easy for Margaret to see Charlie playing with his plastic dinosaurs in front of a roaring fire or running up and down the staircase. Or God forbid, sliding down the banister.

But for Cole and his limitations, this home had to be a nightmare.

“How are you managing the stairs?” The question popped out of Meg’s mouth before she could stop it.

“I’m not.” Cole repositioned his leg on the ottoman by picking it up and moving it with both hands. “Thankfully everything Charlie and I will need is on this level.”

“You’re not driving yet.” It was a comment, not a question.

“I’ve found a good car service,” Cole said. “Very responsive.”

She wondered if he planned to use the car service to transport Charlie to school. Had he even begun to consider any of the dozens of things that had to be done to keep a household running? Duties and tasks which required two fully functioning legs? “I can’t imagine how you’ll manage—”

“How’s the apartment hunting coming?” he asked, cutting her off.

“It’s coming.” Margaret straightened in her seat and smoothed her plaid skirt with the palm of one hand. “I expect to find a place any day now.”

He smiled and it was as if the sun had broken through the clouds. “If anyone will try to make this work it will be you.”

A compliment? From Cole? Startled, Margaret wasn’t sure how to respond.

Thankfully Ryan stepped into the conversational void.

“We can get into those specifics in a bit.” The attorney lifted his briefcase onto the log-and-glass coffee table. “I’d first like to know what your respective attorneys had to say about the enforceability of the joint-custody stipulation in the will.”

“Way to jump right in there, Ry.” Cole shifted his gaze from Margaret to the attorney. “Before we get started, would either of you like a cup of coffee? Of course, you’ll have to get it yourself.”

Margaret started to say no but then the deep, rich aroma hit her nostrils. “It smells delicious.”

“It’s one of our signature blends,” Cole said. “Umakkamecrazy.”

Margaret’s brows slammed together. “I do what?”

Ryan laughed heartily. “How appropriate.”

She cocked her head, feeling as if she’d come late to a party and everyone knew the joke except her. “I don’t understand.”

“Cole owns Hill of Beans,” Ryan explained.

Margaret was familiar with the chain of coffeehouses. There was even one in Omaha, not far from her apartment. She shifted her gaze to Cole. “Is that what you do? Have a franchise in Austin?”

“Something like that,” Cole said.

“Actually, he owns the whole company,” Ryan said. “Tell her your success story. Local boy makes good and all that.”

Cole shot Ryan a warning gaze. “I’m not a trick pony that will perform on command.”

“Duly noted,” Ryan said, appearing not at all repentant. “Tell her anyway. It’ll be a good way to update her on what’s been going on with you since high school.”

Cole knew his friend too well. Ryan was like a dog with a bone. He wouldn’t move on until he got his way. Cole shifted his gaze to Meg.

“I earned a degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Texas then opened my first coffee shop shortly after graduation,” he said matter-of-factly. “We now have forty franchises in seven states.”

“But not one in Wyoming,” Ryan interjected.

A smile played at the corners of Cole’s lips. “Not yet.”

Meg’s heart dropped. Instead of finding the rags-to-riches story inspiring, all she felt was depressed. And scared. No wonder Cole had attorneys at his disposal and could afford to rent a house like this without batting an eye.

“I think I will take you up on your offer,” Ryan said to Cole. “I’d love some coffee.”

When the attorney made no move to get up, Meg rose to her feet. “I’ll get it.”

Cole leaned back in his overstuffed chair like a sovereign on his throne. A rich king who could have anything he wanted…including a little boy who needed a mother.

A little boy who needs me.

The fact that after all these years it took only one look from Cole’s baby blues to make her heart skip a beat made Meg even angrier. At herself. At the situation. At him.

“Thank you,” he called out when she reached the doorway to the kitchen.

“No thanks necessary.” She turned and shot him an imperious gaze. “I don’t want to see you fall and have to pick up the pieces.”

Pick up the pieces.
Like he was some loser who couldn’t pull his own weight.

Cole fumed as Meg disappeared into the kitchen, her boots clicking on the hardwood.

He resisted the urge to call her back, to tell her to keep her hands off his coffee. But that would be childish, so Cole kept his mouth shut and spent the next few minutes listening to Ryan discuss current ski conditions. Not that Cole would be out on the slopes anytime soon.

Still, it beat worrying about how he was going to care for Charlie and wondering what he’d done to make Meg so bitter.

She returned moments later with a tray holding a carafe of coffee and three mugs. It didn’t surprise him that she’d remembered to bring the cream and sugar. She’d excelled at anything she’d set her mind to do. Unlike him, who’d struggled through life for years.

When she bent to place the tray on the coffee table, he reluctantly admitted that the plaid skirt and green sweater suited her coloring. He even liked the way she’d pulled her hair to one side with a large tortoiseshell barrette.

Cole glanced down at his shirt and running pants. Ryan had told him the meeting today would be casual. Either Meg hadn’t received the message or she’d decided to dress up anyway.

Ignoring his gaze, she filled a cup with the steaming brew then handed it to him, her fingers accidentally brushing against his.

A spark of electricity traveled up Cole’s arm. His gaze shot to hers to see if she’d felt it, too. But she’d already turned away to fill Ryan’s cup.

By the time she sat down, Cole’s leg had begun to throb and all he wanted was to get through the discussion and ice his knee.

“My attorneys say the will is well crafted and completely enforceable.” Cole shifted his gaze to Meg. “I assume that’s what you discovered, as well.”

“Unfortunately yes.” Meg’s lips pressed together for several heartbeats. “I still can’t understand what Joy and Ty were thinking, but it is what it is.”

“Which means we’ll have to come to a consensus on how to split custody,” Cole said. “For now at least.”

“For now?” Meg asked.

Cole took a sip of coffee. “Until I discover a way to obtain sole custody.”

“I don’t understand.” Meg placed her cup down with a clatter. “Even your attorneys said the terms of the document are completely enforceable.”

“I crafted it carefully,” Ryan said in a defensive tone. “There is no way around the stipulations.”

“Perhaps.” Cole raised the mug to his lips. “But I learned long ago that everything is not always as it appears. Given time I
will
find a way to obtain sole custody. I feel it’s in Charlie’s best interest to have a single stable home…and I can assure you that home will be with me.”

Chapter Four

B
y the look of shock on Ryan’s face, Meg knew the attorney was as stunned as she was by Cole’s bold assertion.

“I have to tell you, buddy. I have real concerns about your ability to care for a kid right now.” Ryan spoke before she had a chance to respond.

Her spirits rose at the look of shock on Cole’s face. Apparently he’d finally remembered the stipulation that gave the attorney the ability to declare either of them unfit.

“If I discover that I need help,” Cole said, “I’ll hire a live-in nanny to help me until I’m able to care for him by myself.”

“You’d bring another new person into Charlie’s life?” Ryan’s tone made it clear what
he
thought of the idea.

Meg sipped her coffee, waiting to see where the conversation would lead.

“You have a better suggestion? One that doesn’t involve—” Cole’s gaze shifted briefly to Meg “—giving her sole custody?”

Her.
As if she didn’t have a name. But Meg was too interested in how Ryan would respond to interrupt.