Authors: Randi Alexander
Reno laughed. “Sure. With a nursing baby and
her overprotective father as my entourage?” She sucked in a breath.
“I forgot to tell you! I’m married!”
Chase’s laugh rolled through the phone. “Just
a small detail in the big picture of your life.”
“What?” Tracy sat up. “When?
Congratulations!” Tears burned in her eyes. “Oh my God, I’m so
happy for both of you!”
Reno held up her left hand. A beautiful
multi-color gold wedding band held a big sparkling diamond. “We did
it yesterday, just at the courthouse, but we’re planning a big
reception at Chase’s ranch in—”
“
Our
ranch,” Chase corrected.
Reno turned her head and smiled at him. “Our
ranch in a few months. I’ll send you the details.”
Tears ran down her cheeks. “Reno, that’s so
great. I wish I could be there to hug you.”
Reno sniffled. “Don’t cry, Tracy, you’re
making me cry, and you know how bad I look with red-rimmed eyes and
my pale skin.”
Tracy laughed through her tears. “You do look
worse than anyone else in the world after you’ve been crying.”
Reno chuckled. “You’re such a bitch. I miss
the heck out of you.”
“Me, too. Let me see Joy, just for a
minute.”
Reno jumped up padded down the hallway,
carrying her phone. “I’m always happy to show off my baby.” She
eased open the door then there was tiny Joy, bundled in a blanket,
sleeping on her side.
Her impossibly little cherry mouth puckered a
few times, then she settled into soft breaths.
“I wish I could smell her.” Tracy whispered
it as she inhaled. She could almost catch a whiff of her powdery
scent.
Reno crept out of the room and closed the
door. “Call me if things go weird at the concert, okay?”
Tracy wanted to grill her friend, but the
woman was a vault, and it would be a waste of both their time. “Get
back to your family. I’ll text you gory details as they
unfold.”
“Good luck, and just take things as they
come. Everything will be fine.”
“Thanks. I don’t believe a word you’re
saying, but thanks anyway.”
They ended the call and she grabbed a tissue
and blotted her eyes. When she opened the door, Steele came from
his room. “I was going to knock, but I heard your voice.”
“Reno.”
He tipped her head up and looked at her
welling eyes. “What’s wrong? Is the baby okay?” His eyes shifted,
looking panicked.
“Everything’s fine. I just heard about the
wedding.”
“Wedding? They’re getting married?”
Tracy laid her hand on his forearm. “Got
married. Sorry, I thought you knew, and were letting Reno tell
me.”
“No. I haven’t talked to Chase
since...married? When did they do this?”
“Yesterday.”
He put an arm around her shoulders and guided
her down the stairs and into the kitchen. “What do you think about
that?”
“It’s great. They belong together.” It seemed
like a strange question to ask. “They had their hard times, but
love brought them back together.”
“Love? After knowing each other for such a
short time?” He used a corkscrew to open a bottle of wine, watching
her from the corner of his eye.
“Sometimes a calendar isn’t as important as
what their hearts tell them.” She accepted a glass of wine from
him.
He watched her closely for a few moments.
“Huh.” Opening the freezer, he pulled out a foil pan. “Looks like
some kind of pasta and sauce deal.” He glanced at her. “Sound
good?”
“Sounds delicious.” She sat on a stool at the
kitchen island. They’d eaten the snacks he’d brought along on the
snowmobile ride, but she should get something in her stomach to
settle it.
He unwrapped the container and set it in the
oven, then tossed a bag of popcorn into the microwave and pressed
the button to start it. “For my popcorn addict.” He winked at
her.
He seemed calm, now, not the volatile man
she’d been with earlier. What was he hiding from her? What was so
horrible about the show in Tulsa? Whatever it was, she had a bad
feeling about the next two days. Really bad.
****
Driving down the mountain the next morning,
Steele felt a sense of loss, like the best time of his life was
ending, and he couldn’t do anything about it. And the worst thing
in his life—his half-brother, Ryder—would be performing a concert
with him. Something Steele had sworn he’d never do again after he
learned of Ryder’s paternity.
He wanted to cancel, wanted to fire his agent
and the PR firm right over the phone. But ticket sales had gone
wild when Steele’s name was added to the bill. He couldn’t
disappoint fans, and he couldn’t do anything to hurt the
charity.
His hands gripped the steering wheel so
tight, he had to flex them to get blood back into them.
Tracy was using her phone to pull up the
concert website. Most likely searching for whatever was making him
as cantankerous as a bear. It wasn’t something he was proud of, but
it ate away at him that circumstances dictated his life right
now.
He had no control over anything anymore, and
it made him more than half-crazy.
Last night with Tracy had been almost
sorrowful. They’d made love, slow and tender, and held each other
while they slept. Almost as if it was the end. But he didn’t want
it to be. Maybe on the plane he’d discuss it with her. They’d be
alone, he’d open a bottle of champagne and ask her if she’d see him
again. A lot. He puffed out a breath. He’d better come up with a
more intelligent offer than that.
She looked out the side window. “My roommate
said your assistant picked up my suitcase. Thanks for letting me
get my own clothes.”
“You couldn’t walk around a fine place like
Tulsa for two days in an oversized T-shirts and sweats.”
“I was partial to the robe and giant pink
slippers, actually.” She turned her body sideways to face him.
“What time do we have to be at the airport?”
He held back a smile. “Around five
tonight.”
She sat quietly for a minute. “How long will
it take us to get to the resort to pick up your car, then get to
the airport?”
“Taking this route, I’d say no more than
another three hours.” He knew exactly what she was getting at, and
let her get to her question in her own sweet time.
Tracy checked her phone. “It’s only ten
now.”
“Uh huh.” He turned on the radio, setting the
volume low.
“Do you have other stops to make?” She
fidgeted her phone in her lap. Damn, she was cute.
“Nope.” He leaned back and drove with one
hand on top of the wheel.
“I was wondering, since we have extra time,
and we’re going to the resort anyway...” She tipped her head to
catch his eye.
“I won’t tease you any longer.” He took her
hand and laced their fingers together. “You’re all set for the full
treatment at the resort. Facial, hair, mani-pedi, makeup.”
She squeaked and did a little dance in her
seat. “That is so nice of you.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m gettin’ the
works, too.” He ruffled his hair. “I’m getting shaggy, and my
pores...” He opened his eyes wide. “They’re just atrocious!” He
used his best drama voice.
Laughing, she touched his cheek. “You are a
mess, rich bad boy.” Her hand dropped to hold his on the middle
console.
“We get to do it together?”
“Some of it.” He rubbed his thumb on her
palm. “I set up a couple’s massage to get us started.”
“This is so exciting. Can I get
some...um...other things done?” She grimaced. “Girl stuff?”
He cocked a brow at her. He loved how she
blushed. “You can get whatever you want done. It’s my private
plane, and it won’t leave without me.”
“Ohhhh.” She dropped her head back on the
seat. “This is going to be heaven.”
To him, heaven had been the last three days
in Big Bear.
****
They boarded his plane at five-thirty, only a
half hour late, and she looked spectacular. She’d had some
highlights added to her hair and a fresh cut, her nails were blood
red now instead of the light pink she’d worn before. And a makeup
application made her eyes pop and her lips look ripe and sweet.
He couldn’t wait to mess it all up on their
flight.
She’d chosen a few new things at the resort’s
boutique and wore a green logoed polo shirt, white slacks, and
jeweled sandals. The other outfits he’d picked out for her—despite
her objections to his spending so much on her—were in the bags he
hauled onto the plane.
He’d cancelled the flight attendant, but
insisted on his usual two pilots. Safety first, and it had paid off
over the years.
“My suitcase arrived.” Tracy pointed to her
red carryon size bag in the closet, and set her big red tote bag
next to it. She stepped into the body of the plane. “I still can’t
believe this.” She practically danced along the aisle, her hands
brushing over the ten reclining seats in soft tan leather and the
couch in the back that folded out into a bed.
He’d begun to take it all for granted. Flying
seemed more like a chore than a convenience. Seeing it all through
her eyes made it new again. He leaned on a seat as the co-pilot
closed the hatch.
“Ready, sir?” the man asked.
“Ready, Tracy?”
She came out of the decent sized bathroom,
pointing into it. “There’s a shower in here.”
He grinned. “Yes there is. Once we’re
airborne, you can spend the whole flight in there.”
She gave him a sly smile. “And ruin my
makeup? Uh uh.” She looked at the seats. “Where do you want
me?”
He lifted an eyebrow.
Her cheeks turned pink.
Steele turned to the pilot. “We’re ready.
Thank you.”
After the pilot closed the cockpit door,
Steele escorted Tracy along the narrow aisle past the first set of
seats, which faced backward, to the seats facing forward.
“Whichever you’d like, sugar.”
She sat and crossed her legs, looking so
perfect there that he was tempted to take out his phone and snap a
photo of her. He hadn’t taken any all weekend, but neither had she.
He plopped down in the seat next to her. He probably didn’t need a
picture since she’d be with him in person from now on. He blinked.
When did his future plans change to “from now on” from his original
“for a while?”
They fastened their seatbelts and the jet
taxied toward the runway.
Two bongs sounded.
“We’re next.” He set his hand on her armrest,
palm up. “Are you a nervous flier?”
She set her hand in his. “No. I don’t get to
do it much. I usually drive home. To Montana, I mean.”
“That’s a long way.” He didn’t like the idea
of her doing that trip alone.
Looking out the window, she leaned closer to
get a better view. “I can do it in two days.”
“When was the last time you were back
there?”
The jet turned then the engines revved. “This
summer.” She didn’t look at him.
“When are you going next?” He’d offer her his
jet both ways. Hell, he’d go with her, if she’d let him. He’d like
to see firsthand what made her sink into herself whenever she spoke
of her family.
She shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t
know.”
He wasn’t a slow leak. He could tell she
didn’t want the conversation to continue.
They raced down the runway and were wheels-up
in seconds, and climbing quickly. Tracy kept her face nearly
pressed to the window. “So cool up here. Like we’re floating
through time.”
His mouth curved in a smile. She had the
cutest sayings.
After a few minutes, three bongs sounded and
he unfastened his seatbelt. “Hungry?”
She nodded, then slid her face into a frown.
“Is this the ‘peanuts or pretzels’ question?”
He chuckled as he stood and walked to the
galley at the front of the plane. “No. The airport has a gourmet
service. They stocked us up pretty good.” He pulled two plates from
the small refrigerator, read the directions, and popped them in the
microwave.
“Today we have an appetizer assortment.” He
dug in the fridge for a bottle of champagne. “I thought we’d eat
somewhere nice once we get to Tulsa.”
“Need any help?” She was still staring out
the window.
“Nope. I got it.” He checked the label on the
champagne. Seven years ago, he wouldn’t have known real French
champagne from carbonated wine, but years of learning to impress
the ladies had changed that country boy into a connoisseur of finer
things. Except when he went home to Texas. Then he was all cowboy,
just the way he liked it.
Grabbing two tall champagne flutes, he
carried them and the bottle to the seat facing Tracy’s.
Her face lit up when she saw the label. “Wow,
fancy.”
He set the bottle down and pulled out the
small wood table from its cubby in the wall, and placed the glasses
on it.
After popping the cork, he poured full
glasses for each of them. Lifting his toward her, he took the
plunge. “Here’s to whatever comes next for us.”
She met his gaze with a blank stare. Tapping
her glass to his, she looked away before taking a sip.
This wasn’t going the way he’d planned. The
microwave beeped and he jumped up to get their food.
Placing silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin
at each of their places at the table, he cleared his throat.
She stared at her hands, clenched in her
lap.
Steele sat on the armrest of the chair across
the aisle from her. “Tracy, when we got to the cabin, I don’t think
either of us could have guessed how intense it would be for us.
Making love to you was amazing.” His groin heated just thinking
about it.
She nodded and looked up at him with wide
eyes.
“Sugar, I don’t know where it’ll go or what
will—”
“Steele. I think you may have misunderstood
what happened between us the last few days.” She reached out and
took his hand. “It was wonderful at Big Bear, but we both know it’s
over.”