Her Cowboy Prince, page 18
part #1 of Once Upon A Western Series
“You sound as if you speak from experience.”
She turned at the unfamiliar voice and found herself staring at none other than Justin’s ex-girlfriend. What the hell was she doing here? Caroline didn’t seem like the kind of woman to shop second-hand.
“Common knowledge,” Melody said.
“Mmm.” Caroline kept staring at her in a way that made Melody nervous. “You look familiar.”
No, no, no.
“We saw each other for a moment at the Peak View Resort.”
“Oh, I remember. But that’s not it.”
Could this woman possibly already know Melody’s true identity and was just toying with her?
Caroline stepped closer, resting her hands on the circular clothing rack straight across from where Melody stood. “So, I hear you’re going to the ball with Justin. Curious.”
Melody marshaled all her effort not to let this woman see how much her obvious condescension rankled. “How so?”
“After terrible rumors about me being a gold digger, why would he date someone who works for him?”
Melody crushed the dress in her hands, thankfully blocked from Caroline’s line of vision by the rack of clothing. But she put on her best imperious expression and said, “Perhaps because I couldn’t care less about his money.”
Caroline smiled in a way that said she thought she’d caught Melody in a lie. “I suppose we’ll see.”
“I’m pretty sure you won’t,” Lynn said as she returned from the opposite end of the store. “Because the way I hear things, you got kicked off the property the other day.”
Melody would have laughed at her friend’s glee-filled pronouncement and the narrow-eyed response it got from Caroline, but she was too busy being angry at this woman’s snotty attitude and freaked out that their altercation would cause Caroline to dig until she figured out Melody’s true identity.
“Why did you come back from Seattle anyway?” Lynn asked. “Couldn’t successfully find a man to fleece there?”
“I’d be careful of that attitude if I were you.”
Lynn just laughed. “Honey, you don’t scare me.”
Caroline shifted her gaze to Melody. “I’ve been underestimated before.”
There was a coldness in Caroline’s eyes that sent a shiver down Melody’s back. She tried to mentally shake it off, but even after the woman turned and headed toward the exit the chill lingered. It wrapped around her spine and started to squeeze.
“Wow, she’s not even trying to hide her nasty side anymore.” Lynn looked over at Melody. “You okay? You look as if a vampire sucked you dry.”
Think fast.
“Guess I just didn’t expect to be attacked while shopping.”
Lynn made a dismissive wave toward the door. “Don’t let her bother you. She’s just ticked off that Justin saw through her crap right along with everyone else. She had grand plans to be the queen of Logan Springs, so she’s bitter that they were foiled.”
Hell hath no fury…
All during the rest of her search for a suitable dress, Melody’s gut twisted in knots. Even after she arrived home, she jumped at every little sound. What if Caroline saw the news reports in the aftermath of Jane’s death? Angelica’s assertion that Melody was still alive but in hiding?
What if she put two and two together and went straight to Justin? No matter the source of the revelation, he’d no doubt be hurt by the most colossal of lies.
For the rest of the week, Melody slept terribly, worried that every time she saw Justin she’d also see the sting of betrayal in his eyes. She didn’t see Caroline anymore, but she wasn’t entirely sure that was a good thing. An enemy you could watch was less dangerous than one lurking in the shadows.
Even though nothing happened to indicate she’d been found out, Melody was afraid to dare hope that her fairy-tale evening with Justin would actually come true. She supposed she only had twenty-four hours to wait to find out.
*
Melody had thought she’d been nervous waiting for her senior prom date to arrive to pick her up, but she almost laughed at that memory as she looked in the mirror hanging on the back of her bedroom door. She pressed her hand against her roiling stomach. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to ruin the full-length, off-the-shoulder red gown she’d bought at the consignment shop before Justin ever saw it.
At least she had the time it would take her to drive to the resort to try to get her nerves under control. Justin had said he’d come pick her up, but she’d declined by saying he should be there to greet guests as they arrived. He’d looked worried, probably thinking she might bail, but she’d promised she would be there. She’d come this far. No matter how nervous she was, or how worried that Caroline might show up and ruin the evening, she wasn’t going to hide in her apartment like a scared little bunny.
She shoved worries from her mind and took one more look in the mirror. Staring back at her was more of the woman she used to be—at least visually. She’d changed too much since arriving in Logan Springs to ever truly be the person she’d been before, and she didn’t think that was a bad thing. To be honest, there were parts of this life she liked better. She might have to watch her checking account much more carefully, but she appreciated every single thing she bought be it food, a piece of furniture to refurbish or the dress that made her feel like a million bucks she no longer had. Though her life wasn’t filled with society events anymore, it was nice to dress up and experience an infusion of self-confidence.
But the fact that the sight of herself in a ball gown didn’t make her want to cry with loss told her that with everything else peeled away, she was seeing who she truly was for the first time. She didn’t need money to be the real Melody Redmond, even if she couldn’t use that name anymore.
She turned away from the mirror, pulled her coat on over her dress and hurried to her car. The air had a definite bite that had her dreaming of a beach in the Caribbean. Lying on that beach with Justin would be even better. She smiled at the thought of dropping a cowboy on a beach, and dang if she didn’t smile all the way to the resort.
The parking lot was full, so she pulled around to the back where employees parked. That way she was able to drop her coat off in the break room and not arrive looking as if she’d just trekked in from an arctic expedition.
After hanging her coat in her locker, she didn’t leave the room. Instead, she stood with one hand pressed against the locker door, taking slow, deep breaths. All her co-workers might at least suspect there was something going on between her and Justin, but walking into that ballroom as his date, letting his arms come around her for everyone to see, would confirm it. And being public about their relationship would make her more visible.
She worried that the increased visibility might somehow get back to Angelica. Maybe she was being paranoid, but something in her gut told her she wasn’t. All she could hope was that Angelica would be too busy dealing with her mother’s death and eventually rolling in her ill-gotten gains to bother looking for Melody. If Melody wasn’t a threat, would Angelica let it go?
She was afraid she knew the answer. Angelica was vindictive, always had been. The fact that she’d seen a hint of the same kind of vindictiveness in Caroline’s eyes worried her, though.
But she didn’t want to spend the rest of her days looking over her shoulder, hiding from everyone and everything. That was no way to live, and she refused to let Angelica ruin not only her previous life but this one as well.
She pulled herself up to her full height and walked out of the break room with the same confidence she’d once used to stride into meetings with the Redmond board of directors. The lodge really did feel like a Christmas wonderland with all the decorations and twinkling lights, soft Christmas music playing over the sound system in the hallway, and the scents of cinnamon and evergreen seeming to emanate from the very walls.
As she approached the entrance to the ballroom, several sets of eyes turned her way.
“Love your dress,” Callie, who worked at the front desk, said.
Ken from night security, his wife by his side, smiled and did a quick little bow as if Melody were a queen.
“Girl, you look fabulous,” Erica said when Melody reached the ballroom doors, then looked over at Lynn. “You’re not half bad as a fairy godmother.”
“It’s just a dress,” Melody said. “You’re used to seeing me in a uniform.”
Erica shook her head. “It’s not just the dress. It’s the woman in it. This looks more like you than that uniform ever will.”
“I’m guessing she won’t be wearing a uniform much longer.”
Melody tried her best to ignore the leap of her pulse at Lynn’s insinuation. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s just a date.”
“Oh, honey,” Erica said. “Do you not realize that Justin McQueen wouldn’t be making a public declaration like this if he wasn’t serious? Not to mention that this event has never been open to employees, not until a certain gal in a housekeeper’s uniform caught the eye of the hottest bachelor in Montana.”
How easy it would be to allow herself to fall into the fantasy of happily ever after with Justin, but she’d promised herself that even if she was going to make the most of this life she wasn’t going to abandon caution. You never knew what fate might throw at you when you were least expecting it.
She glanced inside the ballroom just as the crowd seemed to part to reveal none other than Justin McQueen dressed in a dark suit that made him look so sexy her heart skipped a beat.
“I think perhaps the attraction is mutual,” Erica said to Lynn.
Melody ignored them the moment Justin’s gaze found hers. Somehow her brain remembered how to put one foot in front of the other, maneuvering around the milling crowd surrounding the dance floor. By the time she reached Justin, who hadn’t moved as if he’d been struck dumb, her heart was beating so hard that she wondered if the thumps might be visible to those around her. She resisted the urge to look down and check.
“Wow,” he said when she stopped in front of him.
She smiled. “I take it that means I clean up okay.”
“You have no idea,” he said as he took her hands in his. “You’re beautiful.”
Her face heated so much she wondered if her cheeks matched her dress. She wasn’t one to blush too easily, but being this close to Justin, having him touch her in full view of not only all of her co-workers but also an array of Montana bigwigs, made her feel as if she’d been set ablaze.
“I must say that while I appreciate your cowboy look, this here is not bad. Not bad at all.”
He grinned in a way that made her want to kiss the edges of his lips, audience be damned.
“Care to dance?”
“I’d love to.”
When he spun her onto the dance floor, pulling her close, it was hard to concentrate on placing her feet in the right spots instead of the feel of his large hand splayed at the small of her back, the heat of it radiating through the fabric of her dress. She nearly tripped when she thought of how that hand would feel against her naked flesh.
“There’s something going on in that head of yours,” he said. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“I was just thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve done this.”
“Danced?”
She looked up at him. “With a man. I don’t think boogieing around my apartment while I clean counts.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing that.”
She laughed a little. “Not going to happen.”
He leaned close to her ear. “Not even if I asked nicely?”
Delicious shivers radiated out through her body like ripples on a lake, the feel of his warm breath on her neck and ear the pebble that caused them. When she didn’t answer, wasn’t sure how to, he chuckled softly before vacating the region of her ear.
For a guy who spent most of his time behind a desk, astride a horse or walking across his land, he was a pretty good dancer. At least he didn’t step on her feet and managed to make her feel as if she were dancing on air. She lost count of how many songs they danced to before he slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and escorted her off the dance floor toward the refreshment area.
Justin had enlisted the help of his cousins to cater the event. Though Lena and Dinah were in attendance as guests, their employees were handling the food and drinks for the evening. Melody’s mouth watered as she spied the artful display of miniature desserts. She’d barely eaten anything all day because she’d been so anxious about tonight.
“I recommend the little cheesecakes,” Justin said as he pointed toward the tower of different flavored cheesecakes.
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’ll be back in a little bit. I need to say hi to some people.”
“Take your time. I’m going to get to know these desserts a little better.”
His smile filled her with a burst of joy. Yeah, she was definitely in love with the guy.
After watching Justin weave his way through the crowd to speak to a group of people at the edge of the room, not even caring who saw her ogling him, she selected a piece of cheesecake with a sliver of chocolate on top. As she bit down into the sugary treat, she turned to watch other people dancing. The view of her co-workers dressed up, laughing and smiling and having a good time made her happy. It reminded her of the holiday parties they’d had at Redmond before her dad had gotten ill. If Erica and Lynn were right and she’d been the inspiration for this event opening up to the people who helped keep Peak View running every day, she was glad for it.
After enjoying a scrumptious lemon petit four and a miniature key lime tart, she dragged herself away from the dessert table. As she headed for the exit on her way to the ladies’ room, she made eye contact with Justin. His gaze was such a combination of warm affection and leashed desire that she gasped a little. And for the first time she wondered if this evening might end up with them doing more than dancing and kissing.
She smiled back, hoping that her expression revealed that she felt the same way about him. That she was willing to take their relationship to the next level.
A few minutes later she’d finished in the ladies’ room and headed back to the ballroom, intent on reclaiming her date for another spin around the dance floor. She wanted to feel his hands on her again, but as the host he couldn’t exactly duck out early for exploring how else they might occupy their hands. But when she stepped out of the restroom, her path was blocked by none other than Caroline.
“What are you doing here?” Melody didn’t even try to mask her dislike of the woman. “I’m pretty sure you’re not on the guest list.”
Caroline smiled. “You think I dated Justin for a year without knowing every way into and out of this place?”
Melody’s jaw clenched at Caroline’s insinuation that she and Justin had engaged in some hot and heavy carnal relations in this building. For the first time since she’d last seen Angelica in person, she wanted to punch another human in the face.
“And to answer your first question, I think Justin is going to be really interested to learn that his new little pet has been lying to him.”
Melody’s blood ran cold, but she couldn’t let this woman see that. Caroline was a predator and she’d pounce at the first sign of weakness. Plus, she could just be fishing, trying to get Melody to slip up or indicate she was on the right track.
“So, you have a choice, leave Logan Springs or I let Justin know that a woman who is supposed to be dead is not only working for him but trying to work her way into his family as well. He doesn’t take too kindly to that.”
Melody thought she might have to run back into the restroom to throw up all the little desserts she’d eaten.
“What’s it going to be?” Caroline asked.
“Why are you doing this? You think he’s going to take you back?”
Caroline’s viperish grin telegraphed that the real answer to the question was something much worse.
“You never know. When compared to a woman who is even lying about her name, I might look pretty attractive.”
Melody took a step toward the other woman. “You don’t care about him at all. You’re just a leech, like everyone says.”
“But I’m not a leech like you—one who might get him killed when your stepsister finds out where you are. Can you live with that?”
Caroline might as well have stabbed Melody in the heart. An image of Justin gunned down because he was too close to her made her head spin. She reached out to steady herself, but she was too far away from the wall and Caroline took two deliberate steps out of her reach.
To right herself, Melody focused on Caroline. For a moment, she could so easily see Angelica’s face staring back at her instead. “You’re evil.”
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
Melody could not look at this creature a moment longer. And as the music from the ballroom floated out to fill the hallway, she realized with a dreadful sinking feeling that she couldn’t go back in there either. She wouldn’t be able to face Justin and hide how upset she was, wouldn’t be able to explain before Caroline marched in and ruined everything. She didn’t trust herself to not let Justin talk her out of leaving, so she wouldn’t give him the opportunity. Caroline might be a despicable person, but she was right about one thing. If Angelica found out where she was, Justin could be in danger. And Melody could not live with herself if anything happened to him, his family or any of the new friends she’d made here in Logan Springs.
So without another word, she turned in the opposite direction and started walking down the hall, feeling as if her feet were encased in concrete blocks. She had no choice. She’d go home, pack a few things she couldn’t leave behind, and call her contact at the U.S. Marshals office to tell him her cover was blown and she had to be relocated again.
As she picked up her pace, tears formed and fell. She didn’t even remember her coat until she stepped out the rear door and the winter wind bit into her exposed skin. For a moment she hesitated, but then it hit her that she couldn’t go anywhere without returning to the break room. Not only would she freeze, she also wasn’t driving anywhere without her car keys.
