Her Cowboy Prince, page 9
part #1 of Once Upon A Western Series
“I’m sorry.”
Lynn shrugged. “It comes as no surprise, but I still feel like my hair is going to catch fire every time I hear another one of his pathetic excuses.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Know any hit men?”
Melody’s chest tightened, the panic of that day she’d been shot at swamping her.
“Oh, honey,” Lynn said as she placed her hand on Melody’s arm. “I’m just kidding. Man, the look on your face.”
That remembered fear, the knowledge that someone had tried to kill her, wasn’t easy to shake off.
“Nothing Steve has done is bad enough to warrant anything like that. He’s just so darn frustrating.” Lynn pointed toward the squealing coming from the living room. “But those girls in there are more mature and responsible than he is. I blame his mother. She babied him, still does. What he needs is a good kick up the posterior.”
Melody managed to smile at that even though the chills running down her back still lingered.
Jessie and a couple of her cohorts ran into the kitchen. “Can we have cake now, Mom?”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Lynn said, giving Melody a wink.
Melody’s mood lifted when the kitchen was invaded by half a dozen chattering, costumed girls. As Lynn handed out cake and ice cream, Melody listened as the girls exchanged thoughts on which superheroine was strongest, which houses gave out the best candy at Halloween, and how a boy named Dillon at their school was so mean he was destined to grow up to be a supervillain. As they started tossing out possible villain names for him, Melody darn near choked on her cake.
“They certainly have big imaginations,” she said when Lynn finally rejoined her at the bar.
“You have no idea. I feel like one day I’m going to wake up and they will have taken over the world, their own all-girl crime-fighting team.”
“Well, good for them. We need more women running things.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Lynn took a big swig of her wine.
The kids made quick work of their cake then sped out into the backyard to stage a mock battle. Melody tried to remember when she was that happy and carefree.
“So no more about the men in my life. I want to hear about yours,” Lynn said.
Melody schooled her face before she turned toward Lynn. “What?”
“All that time you’re spending with Justin McQueen is causing quite the buzz around the resort. What tantalizing things are happening over there in the executive wing?”
Melody lifted a brow. “You mean besides deciding who will play Santa and Mrs. Claus during the Christmas week festivities?”
“Oh, come on, I’ve seen how you look at him, and word is there have been some looks going the other way, too. So I think I deserve the scoop. Or do I need to ply you with more wine to get the good stuff?”
Melody sighed and redirected her attention toward the sliding glass door that led into the backyard. What she wouldn’t give for a cape and the ability to fly away right that moment.
“Come on. I can almost see the thoughts spinning in your head.”
“He asked me out.” She should have kept that tidbit to herself, but she realized how desperately she wanted a girlfriend to talk to so she wasn’t just trapped with conversations with herself in her head.
“What!?” Lynn knocked over her glass in her excitement, spilling wine across the countertop. “Oh, crap.”
Melody grabbed a handful of Supergirl napkins and tossed them atop the spill. Lynn hopped up, quickly cleaned up the mess, then stood across from Melody.
“Tell me everything.”
Melody considered the wisdom of sharing more with Lynn. After all, she didn’t know her that well. What if she gossiped to everyone at work? Spread it all over town? But she was so tired of holding in every single thought and feeling for fear that Jane and Angelica’s goons would somehow find her and finish the job they started.
“There’s not much to tell. He asked me out. I said no.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because he’s my boss, for one. And I’m not looking to get involved with anyone.” She tried not to think about how that could lead to a lonely existence. No, she didn’t need a man to be complete, but keeping a wall around herself and not even entertaining the idea of dating caused an ache in her chest.
“Honestly, one of the most eligible bachelors in the county—probably the state—asks you out and you’re like, ‘Nah, I’ll pass.’ Did you fall off a horse onto your head?”
“It’s not as simple as you make it out to be.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t want to get involved with anyone right now.”
Lynn shook her head. “You’re not interested in him at all?”
“He’s nice, and I appreciate the opportunity to work on the Christmas events, but that’s it.” No matter how much a part of her might wish that she could at least examine if there could be more. There was an appeal to fully immersing herself in her new identity, going about her new life collecting fulfilling relationships of all kinds. But she just couldn’t get past the lying. Yes, she was here forming a budding friendship with Lynn, but that wasn’t the same as a romantic relationship.
“Well, I might think you’re a little crazy, but I’m not exactly the best authority on men.”
“Your ex should have his wages garnished.”
Lynn just laughed. “It’s hard to garnish something that doesn’t exist.”
“He doesn’t work?”
“On occasion, but he gets paid under the table.”
Melody had the urge to find this guy and jerk a knot in his tail. Or give him a good, swift kick in the ass. Honestly, it was as if some guys thought women produced the children all on their own.
Talk of men fell away as the girls came swarming back inside insisting it was time to open presents.
“I’m not sure mine is going to go over well,” Melody said to Lynn. “It might be too, um, pink.”
“She’s not opposed to pink. As she likes to say, ‘It’s just a color, Mom.’”
Melody smiled. “Blink a few times and your daughter is going to be running the world.”
“Good! Maybe I can kick back and get a weekly massage from a hunky masseuse then. Erica really should get some gorgeous guys to work in the spa.”
The unwrapping of gifts commenced with much squealing and jumping up and down. Melody found herself oddly nervous when Jessie got to her present.
“If you don’t like it, I’m sure you can exchange it for something else.”
But Jessie’s grin when she saw the box caused warmth to spread through Melody.
“Awesome!” Jessie said. “I can keep all my cards in here.”
Melody thought Jessie meant her birthday cards, but then she saw the look on Lynn’s face. There was such heartfelt love for her child there. Lynn noticed Melody watching her.
“She’s kept every card I’ve ever made her,” Lynn said.
“They’re pretty. Would you like to see?” Jessie asked.
“Sure.”
When Jessie returned bearing a shoebox, Melody expected to see construction paper cards with simple drawings and sweet words. What she saw were a wide assortment of gorgeous, three-dimensional cards, all of which obviously took a good bit of time, care and talent to construct. She glanced over at Lynn.
“You made these?”
“Yeah. It’s fun. I always liked art class in school.”
“These are beautiful. You should totally start a business making these.”
Lynn scoffed at that. “They’re just cards.”
“Which you could get good money for.” To prove her point, Melody retrieved her phone and pulled up a sample online shop with handcrafted greeting cards.
“People will pay that for a card when they can get them at the store for a lot cheaper?”
“These,” Melody said, placing her finger on a card that had a collection of little colorful birds sitting on a wire and sliding it toward Lynn, “have a lot more heart and soul than anything mass produced.”
Lynn shook her head. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“I can help you.”
Lynn gave her a curious look that made Melody fear she’d given too much away.
“You have experience with this kind of thing?”
“No, but how hard could it be?”
It wasn’t exactly a lie. Even though one of her friends back in Atlanta crafted the most heavenly scented candles and sold them online via the same platform she’d just showed Lynn, Melody hadn’t had anything to do with the setting up of her shop. Sure, she’d given her some marketing tips, but that was different.
“I suppose it couldn’t hurt to try.”
A new wave of excitement rushed through Melody. This combination of helping others and innovative business thinking was definitely the kind of thing that made her feel alive, as if she was living her true purpose. First Justin and his need for a new event to bring in customers, and now helping a single mom with a cute kid and a deadbeat ex. Life in Logan Springs was giving her more to look forward to than she could have ever imagined.
As the girls played and then settled in to watch a movie, Lynn and Melody got to work. By the time Melody said she needed to head home, Lynn not only had an online shop with a cute logo but also several items listed for sale based on the cards that Jessie had saved over the years. And Jessie’s precious collection had migrated from the shoebox to the treasure box Melody had bought her. When Jessie gave her a big hug, Melody had to unexpectedly bite her lip to keep it from trembling. It made her realize how long it’d been since anyone had touched her in any sort of affectionate way. She hugged Jessie back, soaking up the feeling like a desert soaking up rain.
Lynn accompanied Melody to the front door. “Thank you, for everything.”
“It’s nothing. I mean, you gave me cake, ice cream and wine.”
“Your help means more than you can imagine,” Lynn said, more serious than usual. “I would have never thought of launching my own business. And even if the thought had crossed my mind, I doubt I would have made the leap.”
“Well, I’m glad I was here to give you a push.”
“Right off the cliff,” Lynn said with a smile. “Now it’s my turn. If Justin McQueen ever asks you out again, say yes. I don’t care what’s in your past that’s making you believe you can’t.”
Melody’s mouth fell open in shock before she could stop it, but she tried to pretend it hadn’t.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Lynn said. “Everyone is entitled to their secrets. But there’s more to you than you want people to see.”
Melody shifted her weight, wanting to flee out the door.
“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything to anyone. You’re just a good person, so you deserve to be happy.”
“I’m happy.”
“Part of you is happy, the part that likes to work on things like Christmas events and launching online businesses. A bigger part looks sad when you don’t even realize it.”
Lynn was getting way too close to the truth, as in trampling all over the top of it. “I’m fine. Thanks again for inviting me. I had a nice time.”
Lynn didn’t press any further, instead giving Melody a quick hug and saying she’d see her at work Monday. Melody forced herself to walk at a normal pace to her car and maintain the speed limit on the way home. It wasn’t until she was in the confines of her apartment that the full impact of Lynn’s words hit her. She might be taking steps toward accepting her new life, finding moments of happiness, but she was a long way from completely happy, from living a full, rich life that didn’t have a cloud of loneliness and loss hanging over it.
She thought about what Lynn had said, that if Justin asked her out again that she should say yes. Even though she knew in her core that it would be wrong to do so, would make any lies she had to tell even harder to forgive, she couldn’t deny that a part of her wanted to do exactly as Lynn suggested, consequences be damned.
*
Justin looked up from where he was cleaning his saddle with leather conditioner to find his brother Wes coming into the barn.
“Look who’s playing hooky,” Wes said, then grinned.
“I don’t live at the resort, you know.”
“Could have fooled me. And I hear that you’ve got even more of a reason to work late these days.”
Justin knew exactly what Wesley’s teasing tone was getting at, but he wasn’t about to acknowledge it. “The Christmas events will take a lot of work, but if all goes as planned it’ll be a boon to the resort’s bottom line.”
“Doesn’t hurt that your co-organizer is pretty either.”
Justin sighed. “Does everyone not have anything better to do than gossip, especially when there’s nothing to gossip about?”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Positive.”
“Whatever you say, big brother.”
Justin kept his attention on his work as Wes led his horse, Hercules, out of his stall and set about saddling the big bay.
“So, if this Christmas stuff isn’t going to get you a date, at least it’s giving Dad something to do other than go gamble his money away,” Wes said.
Justin’s hand stilled atop his saddle. How much did his brother know? How much had Parker told him? How much had he just guessed but guessed accurately?
“That’s my hope. I keep thinking he’ll come out of this dark place he’s in.”
Any hint of teasing slipped away from Wes’s face. “Me, too. But, damn, if I loved a woman the way he loved Mom, I can’t imagine what it’d be like to lose her. I mean, it’s awful enough losing Mom.”
Though the sound of their mother’s voice had begun to fade from Justin’s memory, in that moment he remembered it clearly and experienced a sharp pain in his chest.
“Makes you wonder whether it’s worth it,” he said.
“Falling in love?”
Justin nodded.
“Yeah. Maybe casual relationships are the way to go.”
But the sound of that rang hollow to Justin, no matter how much sense it might make after seeing the type of grief his father had endured, was still enduring. He wasn’t like his brother, able to amble from one woman to the next.
“But you haven’t even had one of those in a good long while,” Wes said, not totally giving up his original topic of conversation.
“And you seem to think I should ask out an employee.”
“Maybe. Or at least somebody. You haven’t done more than have a drink with someone since Caroline left town.”
“Can’t say I was anxious to get back into the dating scene after the way that turned out.”
“That’s exactly why you should go out, have some fun—to forget her.”
“It’s not like I sit around thinking about her.” Honestly, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d given more than a passing thought to his ex-girlfriend or her reaction when she figured out he wasn’t ready to get married. She’d shown her true colors then.
“Good. Because that woman wanted to marry your bank account and not you.”
“Gee, thanks. I feel like such a catch now.” Though Wes’s assessment was spot-on.
Wes shrugged. “What are the odds you’d get a gold digger twice in a row?”
Melody didn’t strike him as one, especially when she’d refused to go out with him, but how could he know for sure? After all, she wasn’t likely a woman of means if she was working a housekeeping job and lived in a small apartment. Still, no matter that he hadn’t known her long, she just didn’t seem like the type.
“Well, if I attract more than one, I’m officially going to die an old, cranky bachelor.”
Wes laughed. “I’m picturing you as our family’s version of Clive Dunbar.”
“My future keeps getting brighter by the minute.” Clive Dunbar was ninety if he was a day, drove the same old pickup that Justin had seen him driving his entire life, and had an opinion on everything whether you wanted to hear it or not. Justin was pretty sure that the word cantankerous was invented to describe him.
“I hear a good woman can keep you from becoming a crusty old fart.”
“You were a pest when you were a kid, and some things never change.”
Wes just grinned wider, as if he was fulfilling his greatest purpose in life.
But after his kid brother rode out to check on some repairs being made to some fencing on another part of the ranch, Justin couldn’t stop thinking about how he might end up alone if he wasn’t careful. And he honestly couldn’t decide whether that would be better than the possibility of loving and losing someone as his dad had. He wouldn’t wish that kind of grief on anyone, the kind that made a person search for anything to dull the pain and make him forget. But there was a glimmer of hope in that his dad seemed at least interested in helping out in the building of the small Christmas village. Maybe if he could keep his dad busy with that and other projects, he’d finally leave his self-destructive tendencies behind him and really start to live again.
Justin decided if he still believed in Santa Claus, that would be the only item on his Christmas list. Or maybe he’d ask for two things. Melody Shaw changing her mind about going out with him wouldn’t be a half-bad gift either.
Chapter Eight
Five days. That’s how long it had been since Melody had seen or talked to Justin. She didn’t think it was a coincidence that it’d also been five days since he’d asked her out and she’d declined. She continued to come in early and work on the Christmas events, each day wondering if she was on the verge of being fired. Justin had said there was no pressure, that she was under no obligation to say yes to a date, but still she worried. If she lost her job, she had no idea what her next step would be, especially during the slow season when there weren’t as many service industry jobs available. And her fabricated background didn’t make her look qualified for any higher-level positions, even if she decided to go that route.
She took a big swig of her coffee as she walked toward the building where the pieces for the Christmas village were being built. The sounds of hammering and a saw meeting wood greeted her as she approached, and the first person she saw when she entered the open double doorway was Justin’s dad. He sat on a bench holding his own coffee cup and rubbing his temples.
