CHAPTER 15
Emma’s phone buzzed from its place on the console. It vibrated again as she pulled into the parking lot across the street from the construction zone surrounding Dottie’s Diner. Putting on the brake, she glanced at the number.
Sterling.
Nervous energy zipped through her stomach. To her eternal surprise, he’d called every day this week, often leaving laugh-out-loud messages. And while she’d never admit it to him, she liked the way his voice made her insides vibrate with something close to anticipation. And she loved the way he touched her. She’d never been with anyone who made her feel so alive, so uncontrolled and wanton. Sterling knew a side of her no one else did. Had encouraged it. Seemed to feed off it.
But he’d also made it clear that their slide into sexy times was nothing more than an itch to be scratched. Sterling couldn’t be serious for love or money. So she’d sat on her hands, turned off the ringer, left the phone across the room to avoid temptation. But now that she was back in Prairie, she couldn’t in good conscience avoid him. He’d see her marketing plan in action when he returned the following week. She could at least give him a heads up. Her heart began to pound as she reached for the phone. “Yes?” she asked a little too breathlessly.
His rich laugh lit nerve endings all the way to her pussy. “Couldn’t hold out any longer, huh?”
“This is me rolling my eyes.”
He laughed again. “I knew you missed me.”
“Hmm.” She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Words formed on the tip of her tongue. Tell me about your week. But that would take things between them into dangerous territory. “I was just getting ready to grab a cup of coffee at the food truck.”
“Oh?”
“I’m meeting my photographer over at the ranch this morning.”
“But I’m not there.”
Was she imagining the pout in his voice? “But Travis and Cash and Kate are. It’ll be fine. When you get back into town next week, I’ll have a stack of publicity materials to show you.”
“Oh.” He definitely sounded disappointed.
“Everything okay?”
“Sure, sure.” He paused. “If you run into any issues, you know where to find me.”
“I didn’t think people took phone calls on Guard duty?”
“Not usually. But you know. If it’s an emergency…” his voice trailed off.
She bit her lip to keep from giggling. “Of course. Thanks.”
“Great. Is there anything else you need?”
“You called me. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, no. Just making sure everything’s okay.”
What was going on with him? He sounded… nervous. “Sterling?”
“Yes?”
“Be safe this weekend.”
“I knew you missed me.” The cockiness was back in his voice.
“Goodbye, Sterling,” she said, shaking her head as she crossed the street to the food truck.
Her sister-in-law, Jamey, waved her over to one of the picnic tables. “Em, you know Lydia and Emmaline, right?”
She nodded. They’d been within a few years of each other at the high school. She sat, taking the cup of coffee Jamey held out. “What’s up?”
“We’ve been catching up,” Jamey said. “Emmaline and Lydia are thinking of teaming up to create a line of western wear.”
“Oh?” Emma perked up. She appreciated her big accounts, but nothing got her excited like helping new businesses. “How can I help?”
“Branding for starters.” Lydia pushed a paper napkin toward her. “You know how gorgeous Emmaline’s dresses are.”
Emma nodded. “And your boots.” Lydia had made beautiful one-of-a-kind boots for each of her brothers’ brides. She’d do anything to help these talented women get off the ground.
Lydia blushed. “So we thought the obvious starting place would be to go into custom wedding attire, but we need help breaking into the Kansas City wedding market.”
“I can absolutely help.” All she’d need to do is show a few pictures to some of the socialites she knew and the women would be on their way. Her brain was spinning with ideas. They could do a photo shoot. Maybe even at Resolution Ranch. Or at Jamey and Brodie’s hunting lodge. They’d been talking about trying to break into the same market. “I’m going to rearrange my schedule next week and work from Prairie. Let me see what I can do.” She’d have to juggle a few of her clients and rearrange some design meetings, but her bosses would understand. And it would be worth it to help. “Have you thought of a name yet?”
Emmaline’s eyes grew big and she shook her head. “I only make clothing. Everything else is Lyd’s thing.”
Lydia took a big breath. “I always liked the sound of Grace Boots, but I’m not so sure if that works with the addition of apparel.”
Emma nibbled on a pen while her brain raced. “I’ll think on it. Maybe this needs to be a collaboration between two different brands.”
Lydia took a big breath. “I should also tell you in the name of disclosure, that I made a deal with Colton Kincaid.”
Emma’s eyebrows flew skyward. “Colton? That’s quite a coup. I think the man has more groupies in Vegas than Elvis.”
Lydia blushed to her roots and exchanged a significant glance with Emmaline. “Yeah. We… ah… have an understanding. But it’s very confidential.”
This was juicy. Colton Kincaid had been trouble with a capital T when they’d been young. Kicked out of the house when he was seventeen, he’d scrabbled his way to the top of the Pro Rodeo circuit and was killing it. He was a huge celebrity beyond rodeo, modeling everything from jeans to watches. If Lydia had managed to secure his help, that was huge. Emma couldn’t help but wonder what the story between them was. “Let’s talk more next week. Jamey, would you be willing to make dinner? I’m certain there’s a way I can help all three of you. I’m meeting my favorite print photographer over at Resolution Ranch shortly, so I’ll talk to her too. She may have some ideas.”
Jamey hopped up and gave Emma a hug. “I knew you’d be able to help.”
Emma stood and topped off her coffee. “Figure out what night works for the three of you and send me a text. I’ll bring my laptop and pens.” Her phone buzzed again as she made her way back to the car. “Alex, how are you?”
“Still miss your sweet face. How are you?”
Funny. Her ex’s voice didn’t do anything to her insides the way Sterling’s did. “Not that much, you don’t,” she laughed. “And I’m great, thanks.”
“Aww, you know you’ll always be the one that got away.”
“Don’t let your girlfriend hear that. Were you able to check with management?”
“Yep. Unfortunately, the organization can’t do anything in an official capacity. Not this time, at least, although we should start talking about next year now.”
Emma let out a small sigh of frustration. It had been a long shot talking to Alex about getting the Kansas City Kings to come out on short notice. Now that they had back to back World Series wins, things had changed for the organization. “I understand. I appreciate you asking.”
“But there’s nothing in our individual contracts that prevents us from coming out on our own for a charity event.”
“Yeah?”
“So I talked to a bunch of the guys, and we’re all on board. We think it’s a great idea. My cousin Paul lost an arm to an IED in Iraq last year. Marki’s brother is overseas with the Marines right now, and Rock’s sister is an Army specialist.”
“I could hug you right now, Alex. This is great news.”
“I’ll settle for lunch when I’m back from Spring Training?”
Six months ago, she’d have jumped at the chance. But now, the only face she wanted to see was Sterling’s. Damn him for getting under her skin that way. “Only if you bring your manager so I can ask him about next year. I’d love for the team to develop a long-term relationship with the ranch.”
“For you, anything.”
“One more thing? Connect me with someone in your PR department so I can start working on materials, and then let me know who’s Army and who’s Navy. I’ll set up the rest.”
“You got it, sweetheart.”
Don’t let Sterling catch you calling me that. Emma gave herself a little shake. Sterling had no claim on her. And Alex was a friend. “’Kay. I’ve gotta run. Let’s be in touch.”
She drove to the ranch floating on air. There was nothing quite so exhilarating as seeing a plan come to fruition. Especially when it was helping people she loved. Rebekah, her photographer, was waiting when she pulled into the space in front of the ranch house. “Morning, Bekah,” she trilled, unable to keep the excitement from her voice. “I’m going to turn you loose today. Travis has offered up a horse if you prefer.”
Rebekah shook her head, tilting her chin at the bags sitting at her feet. “Not with all this equipment. I’ll be fine hiking around. Travis’s wife… Elaine?”
Emma nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”
“Elaine offered to take me around on foot today.”
“Great. Be sure you grab pictures of Travis, Cash, and Kate, too. We’ll want a variety of shots to choose from in the promotional materials.”
“Elaine said something too, about a Weston coming this afternoon?”
“Weston Tucker. He’s our new Police Chief. Served with Travis. Sure, grab pictures of him too. Just make sure he’s not in his uniform.”
“Got it.”
“And when we’re done here, I have an idea for a new project for you.”
Elaine, Travis’s wife, joined them, looking adorably pregnant in a soft blue sweater. “Are you ready?” she asked. “Travis and Cash are framing the foreman’s residence today. Some of the guys from town are coming to help.”
“Even better. Too bad it’s not warm enough for them to take off their shirts.” Rebekah answered with a wink.
“There will be plenty of eye-candy. But why don’t we start by walking the fence line? Then after lunch we can ogle the men.” Elaine turned to Emma. “Would you like to join us?”
She shook her head. “No, I’ve got other work to take care of, but thanks.”
The women ambled away, and Emma made a beeline for the foreman’s residence. She’d bet money that Sterling was irritated the men were working on his future home without him. The least she could do would be to send him a few snapshots of the progress. When she rounded the corner of the barn, she stopped short. Half the fire department was there. Her heart beat a little harder as she studied the framework.
“Wait, guys.” She hurried closer, searching for Travis. “Where’s the basement?”
Travis looked over, hammer poised ready to swing. “No basements. Too costly.”
Sterling couldn’t live there without a basement. No way. Not after last year’s tornado. “You can’t do that. Not after last year.”
Travis put down his hammer and came over. “It’s okay. We talked it through. Sterling is just across the yard from us. He can shelter with us if he needs.”
“But what about the tiny houses?”
“We’ve purchased a shelter. Same one as your brother put in by his tree houses on your ranch. It kept everyone safe in last year’s storm.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t worry, Emma. We’re not going to lose anyone to bad weather ever again.”
She nodded, worry slowly fading. Why was she worrying about Sterling anyway? He was fully grown. And had been in far greater danger than a freak tornado. “Can’t help it.”
Travis’s face shuttered. “I know. None of us will ever forget what happened. I’m going to get back to work. Want to help?” His eyes twinkled.
“No, thanks. But I’ll snap a pic and send it to Sterling.”
“Do that. He was pretty upset we were starting on his place first.”
“I can only imagine.”
Travis started back toward the building, then stopped, turning back. “Hey. I’m really glad you and Sterling have figured out how to work together. You make a great team.”
Something tugged inside Emma. “Yeah, we do. Thanks.” She stayed rooted to the ground, watching how the group worked together, hands and hammers flying, an idea for the perfect housewarming present forming in her head. She snapped a few pictures and sent off a quick text to Sterling. He wouldn’t see them until much later, but hopefully, he’d appreciate the gesture when he was able to check his phone.
Tucking her phone into her coat pocket, she wandered along the fence line before turning back and heading for the barn. The barn had always been her haven. It was the first place she visited when she came home to her brothers’ ranch. And now that she could take little Henry out to pet the horses’ noses, it was even more special. She slipped inside the barn door and paused, letting her eyes adjust to the dim light. Closing her eyes and leaning against a post, she let the warm smell of hay and horse settle in her bones. She couldn’t get this in the city. As much as she loved her loft, part of her deeply missed this aspect of country life. The smells, the quiet, the communion with earth and sky. If only she had enough clients to afford a little place of her own. She could see giving up city life someday far in the future.
The quiet sounds of guitar strings echoed through the barn. Her eyes flew open. The soundtrack in her head had either come to life, or someone in here was playing the guitar. She held her breath, straining to hear. Whoever it was had skill. She’d worked with enough musicians to know. Emma shut her eyes again, letting the music flow through her, but after a few minutes, curiosity won out as her mind began to race. Opening her eyes, she slowly made her way down the center aisle, following the sounds.
At the far end of the building, around the corner, sunlight streamed through a second story window, casting a dust mote filled beam on a stack of hay bales. There, perched on one of them, guitar in hand, sat Kate.
Her long brown hair caught in a low side ponytail that draped over her shoulder. And she played with her eyes shut, chin cocked, as if she were really listening to her fingers pluck the strings. The sounds coming from the guitar filled the enclosed space, ringing off the walls. Emma’s heart swelled as her body vibrated with the music. No wonder Kate liked playing in here. But Emma’s jaw hit the floor when Kate tilted her chin, opened her mouth, and the haunting melody of Shenandoah filled the barn.
Her voice was husky and sweet, with just a hint of a burr that would drive listeners wild and have them begging for more. There was such longing in Kate’s voice. Such sadness. Emma’s eyes welled up as the last note faded into silence. She should disappear. Leave Kate to her music. But she couldn’t. She had too many questions. And how could anyone leave the magic presence of that voice? Kate’s voice begged for an audience.
The young woman fiddled with the tuning, and then started into the familiar strains of a song Emma knew by heart. Dance with Me by country music’s darling, Kaycee Starr. Late last summer, Kaycee rocked the country world when she’d suddenly canceled all of her concerts mid-tour and literally disappeared. Kate’s voice was perfect for the song, like she’d been born to sing it. Emma whipped out her phone and pressed record. Sterling would flip to learn his employee could sing like an angel. She had to share this with him.
But as the words of the chorus rang off the walls, Emma narrowed her eyes. There was something hauntingly familiar about Kate. The way she sat guitar in hand, knee thumping to the beat, eyes shut, inside the music. Emma’s heart kicked against her ribs as she gasped, puzzle pieces falling into place. “Ohmygod. It’s you. You’re Kaycee Starr.” What on earth was Kaycee Starr doing on Resolution Ranch?