9
THE VIEW FROM the Carson ranch was spectacular.
This view might very well be better, if that was possible.
Mick had to admit he was wowed. Yes, the cabin was beyond quaint with its sagging porch and drooping, snow-laden roof, like a framed picture of a holiday card you might pick up at a boutique and mail to your friends, but the lake and the mountains took his breath away.
Stately firs stood in stands sprinkled with the aspens that had no doubt inspired Matthew Brighton’s manuscript, and there was no one around for literally miles.
And miles.
Taking in the spectacular scenery, sensing the peace that came from such solitude, Mick knew Raine was right about this place being perfect for him. He’d been thinking for a long time about a change in venue to Wyoming, and certainly Slater’s documentary influenced him, but he’d never quite envisioned anything quite like this. He could build the house of his dreams right here. They got off the snowmobile and stood knee-deep in drifts and he inhaled the quiet.
“Thoughts?” Raine read his expression perfectly. It was there in her eyes.
“I’m afraid that you already know what they are.”
“Does it get any better than this?”
“I’m doubting it.”
“You accept my terms then?”
He huffed out a breath. “Raine, you essentially have no terms. I’d walk over thin ice to save Daisy with or without the property, and your grandfather is a hero of mine. I’ll leave the cabin as it is, of course, if you’re serious about this.”
“That will be all you need to do then.”
“Why is it I think arguing with you is just a lesson in futility, but let me try one more time. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about and then some, but let me have an appraiser put a fair price on it and—”
“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “It’s cathartic, giving it to you. Here, let me show you where I’d put a house.”
They waded through the snow for a few hundred yards and then she pointed. “There.”
The spot was idyllic to say the least, with a stream that was partially frozen right next to it, groves of trees, and a level area with a view that would support a house the size he was considering. A big one. Wraparound porch, a hot tub in the back, second level deck, and maybe three guest suites. He wanted to invite his family, but also use it for business purposes, and inside he wanted the real deal. Log detail, soaring ceilings, stacked fireplace, ultimate bathrooms...
“I agree it’s perfect.” He wanted to invite her to live with him and that was telling of itself. But he wasn’t necessarily there yet, and his spidey senses said she wasn’t either, so he left it alone.
“I assume you won’t go modest, so this would be perfect.” Raine nodded, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
It would be. “Lots of space...yes.”
Only perfect if you choose to share it.
Dangerous thinking for a confirmed bachelor, but the image was still in his mind. “You have artistic vision, so maybe you could help me design the house.”
That brought her head around. “I did study architecture in college. Just a few classes though. Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately, make a note. I’m always serious.”
That was true. He could kid around, but didn’t do it often or spontaneously.
Raine considered him thoughtfully. “If I have artistic vision, you have an artistic soul. Otherwise you wouldn’t catch on to what Slater wants to do so easily. I would love to help design your house here. It’s a dream come true for me. You’ll still need an architect, but we could at least draw up the idea of what you have in mind.”
We have in mind.
He wanted nothing more. “Let’s do it together. That aside, this is my night. Let me cook for you. I’ll have to borrow your kitchen, of course. I asked Harry if Daisy would eat lobster mac and cheese. She seemed to think that would go over very well.”
Of course she argued. “Lobster? You can’t get lobster in Wyoming in December. Last I checked they don’t abound around these parts. The local grocery certainly doesn’t have them.”
“I haven’t been in there but I’ll take your word for it. On the other hand, you can get it if you know the right people.” He tried to not sound smug and failed.
She pounced on it. “Grace.”
“Not Grace so much as her chef.”
“Stephano? He’s making it... Well then, I’m in.”
Such confidence. She was right, of course, Stephano adored Daisy so he’d been right on board when Mick had called. He said with mock indignation, “First you doubt the quality of my voice, and now this. How do you know I can’t cook?”
Raine gave him a gamine grin. “I know he can. You haven’t proven yourself.”
Mick just gave it up with a laugh. “I can’t cook usually but I spent a week in Maine when I was in college, hiking Acadia National Park. One of the rangers recommended this little restaurant and I had lobster mac there for the first time. The owner gave me the recipe when I ordered a second helping and she learned I lived in this godforsaken place called California. She felt sorry for any young man that didn’t live in Maine. The recipe is apparently an old family favorite.”
“My daughter loves lobster and she loves mac and cheese. Daisy will be thrilled.”
“Can we pretend it isn’t the only dish I can make?”
“Um, if you think you can fool her, think again, but go ahead and try. She’s a smart cookie. That kid figured out the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy way before any of her friends. I’m proud to say she let them go on believing but she sure was on to me. When asked flat out, I cannot tell a lie.”
“Good to know.” He said it lightly, but didn’t mean it lightly. Honesty was important to him. He kissed her cool cheek. “I mean that.”
“I take it we need to stop off at the resort before we pick up Daisy. The road crews will have been out by now.”
“We do.” He said it with a straight face. “A lobster waits for no one.”
Raine burst out laughing and picked up a handful of snow and tossed it at him. “Okay, now you do win for the worst line ever.”
He reached down and retaliated. “If you want a snowball fight, I’m in.”
“In that case, I should probably warn you I’m vicious.”
“I have good aim.”
Raine pelted him with another snowball. “Good luck, cowboy. I was born in snow country.”
He needed luck. She was pretty accurate as well. After the third one caught him right in the chest he surrendered, arms in the air. “Mercy.”
Of course she pelted him again.
He tackled her and the resulting kiss made him forget about the cold even though they were both lying in the snow.
“I’m falling in love with you.” He definitely hadn’t meant to admit that, but it was true and she already knew it.
“If you haven’t figured out we have the same problem, then you aren’t paying attention.” Raine looked reflective lying beneath him. “We’re both idiots.”
“I don’t think I am.”
“I don’t think I am, either.” Her eyes were suddenly shiny. “But I’ve been wrong before.”
“Raine, do you really think Slater was a mistake?”
She sat up and shook snow out of her dark hair. “No, of course not. I wouldn’t have Daisy if it wasn’t for him, and I’ll always care about him. It’s just that I keep hoping to find gold in a muddy river bed, but I haven’t had a strike yet.”
He probably had snow in his hair as well but didn’t care. “You sure about that? I’m going to finish that manuscript, by the way. I don’t know if I can do it justice, but maybe I’ll get a strike.”
She kissed him then, snowy mittens on his cheeks but her mouth was warm and giving. “I’m so glad.”
“I won’t know what I’m doing.”
“You’ll do great. I feel it.”
“I’ll trust you to tell me if it’s terrible.”
“Oh, don’t you think you’d be the first to know?” Raine gave him a merry glance before getting to her feet. “I’m not shy with my opinions in case you haven’t noticed. I believe blatantly outspoken is the Carsons’ preferred term for me. I have bad news for you, though. Their head ranch hand, Red, is a die-hard Matthew Brighton fan. It’s his opinion you really need to worry about, because he won’t pull his punches if you can’t tell a snake hole from the Grand Canyon.”
“Great. Well, I guess I know who my expert consultant will be if I need help with research.” Mick got up also and tried to brush off his jeans. “I’m probably nuts even to try this, but I do like a challenge.”
The look she gave him was only half-teasing. “Is that why you fell for me? Because I’m a challenge?”
“Maybe it started that way,” he admitted, catching her hand as they made their way back to the snowmobile. “You do keep me on my toes. But if you haven’t figured out that I’m crazy about everything that makes you you, then you’re the one who’s not paying attention.”
“Likewise, cowboy.” She started the snowmobile again. “Climb on board. Isn’t there a lobster with your name on it?”
* * *
Cream, cheese, pasta, garlic...there was no way to go wrong with a meal like that, so Mick was cheating. He did let Raine do the salad and got the bread from the restaurant, but otherwise he prepared everything himself. And if the purse he’d given Daisy had won her over, the dinner he served them made her his devoted fan for life.
That was so important to her, Raine thought as she watched her daughter interact so naturally with Mick. Daisy’s face was animated as she described the midnight ride in the snow, and she’d definitely cleaned her plate so his dinner choice had been about as popular as Harry’s cooking, which was saying something.
Clever man.
“Remind me to kiss Stephano next time I see him,” Raine declared during a lull in the excited conversation. “That lobster was the perfect touch.”
“How about you kiss the actual cook, not just the ingredient-supplier?” Mick gave her a look of mock reproof. “Besides, I’m way better looking than he is.”
“Maybe a tinge.” Raine gave him a dreamy smile. “But he has that Latin air, you know?”
* * *
Daisy joined her mother in giggling at the expression on Mick’s face. Raine knew she was taking it all in—their unexpected guest, the overt affection between them. What Raine wanted her daughter to walk away with from tonight was a sense that love was supposed to be fun. It wasn’t supposed to be easy all of the time, but fun was very important.
* * *
Mick threw up his hands. “In that case, how’s an ordinary guy supposed to compete?”
She shouldn’t say it so softly, but she did anyway. “Oh you aren’t ordinary by any means.”
“No?”
“No.”
Enough said. Daisy was clearly paying attention to the nuances of the conversation, listening avidly. The good news was that purse aside, she seemed to really like Mick. That hadn’t been the case last time she’d introduced her daughter to a man she’d briefly been dating, a doctor from a nearby town. Daisy had instantly pronounced him boring and that put an end to that. She might not have known him long enough to give him a fair shot, but Raine trusted her daughter’s instincts. Besides that, any man who was a part of her life would be part of her daughter’s as well. Her opinion counted.
Daisy jumped up. “Who wants ice cream? I’ll get it.” She began to eagerly stack the plates. They had an agreement. Raine cooked and cleaned up the kitchen, but Daisy cleared the table.
“Her grandmother is Blythe Carson,” Raine confided. “According to Blythe, ice cream is an essential food group all by itself. Beware.”
Mick lifted a brow. “Beware? I love ice cream.”
“Good. Get ready to prove it.”
He ended up with brownie fudge with cherries and marshmallow topping in a massive bowl, not to mention various kinds of sprinkles in rainbow colors. Before he dug in he muttered, “Beware. Now I get it. I’ll have to go to the gym fifteen times to work this off.”
“I’ll go with you.” Her bowl was half the size.
“You can go with me anywhere.”
There was that smooth Hollywood charm again. She scooped up marshmallow and cherry on her spoon. “You see, our problem is I’m not going anywhere. I can’t. That’s why I want to contact my Realtor’s office the minute it’s open, yank the cabin property off the market, and tell them to set up a closing.”
“Cabin? You mean Grandpa’s house?” Daisy had seemed to be focused on her own heaping spoonful, but Raine knew she was listening to their every word.
“That’s right. I’m giving it to Mick.”
“That’s a pretty good idea.”
Raine smiled. “Mick is a writer. He’ll love it there.”
That was a full-out dare. Daisy actually stopped eating ice cream, and that was something. Her eyes were wide. “You are? Like him?”
He blinked. “No.” Then relented. “Well, I’m afraid I’m nowhere near as talented as your great-grandfather, but I’ve tried a time or two.”
“He’s been published in literary magazines.” Raine couldn’t resist imparting that information and ignored the quelling look from the man across the table. “And he’s read the Matthew Brighton books.”
“Have you really?” Daisy grinned, obviously delighted. “My favorite is Mountain Sunrise.”
“I liked that one, too.” Mick acted nonchalant, but Raine sensed his passion for finishing the manuscript. No matter how it turned out, she was glad to have played a small role in encouraging him to explore the creative side he didn’t often get to give free rein to.
Raine got up. “I’m going to go clean the kitchen. I truly can’t eat another bite. I might need to go for a walk but someone should probably carry me.”
Daisy pointed out, “Then it wouldn’t be a walk.”
“I’ll help you clean up since I made the mess, and then I’ll take you on that walk.” Mick rose as well. “Beautiful moon out there.”
Raine probably should have predicted the total chaos that ensued when Mick took a step toward the kitchen.
Jangles did a daring guerilla move and went for his ankles, but now Samson was back in residence and wanted part of the action. Raine was almost swept off her feet—not in the romantic sense—as a giant puppy chased a giant cat and both of them nearly took her out, the cat dodging right in front of her and the dog accidentally slamming into the back of her legs. Mick managed to keep his balance during the mayhem and caught her shoulders, steadying her at the last second as the animals dashed past.
“Such a peaceful household,” she said darkly. “Bunch of wild critters that don’t realize if they break your leg you can’t get to the grocery store to buy them more food.”
They went by again at full speed, careening into walls and not caring, playing a classic game of circling the house. It was endearingly funny, but she made sure her computer wasn’t plugged in when they really got going because Samson could easily catch that cord. One day he might not be so clumsy, but for now she was taking precautions.
“I like it,” Mick said and kissed her swiftly out of Daisy’s sightline. “Full of life. I’m starting to think my house in California is entirely too quiet.”
“Then move here. I promise no peace and quiet at all.”
She was really losing it if she’d just said that. So she just blundered on. “You can’t live in the cabin while the house is being built.”
“Sure I could. I’ve also read Walden.”
“You wear Italian shoes.”
“So? Stop harping on my shoes and focus on the man.” He caught her playfully around the waist. “But invitation accepted. Where would I sleep? With you?”
“I’m thinking that might be the case.” She went serious because she might as well make her position clear. “But only on the nights when Daisy is at the ranch. I’m not so naive as to think she hasn’t cottoned on to the fact that there’s something going between us, but I also know Slater and Grace kept their feelings for each other off her radar until they understood where they were headed, and I appreciated that. Daisy likes you, and so do I—”
“Glad to hear it.” He was busy nuzzling her neck. “I can always stay at the cabin.”
“Don’t you have business on the West Coast?”
“That’s the beauty of modern technology. I can work from anywhere, to a certain extent.” He kissed her again.
“No plumbing.” She whispered it against his mouth, not quite sure why she was trying to warn him off when she so badly wanted him to stay.
“Versus no you? That’s hardly a contest.”
“I have to think of my daughter.”
“I will always think of her, too, I promise. And then there’s the other females in our lives to think of. We’ll have to handle my mother and your grandmother, Blythe, Harry, and the rest of the bunch.”
“The interferers. Grace, Luce and Kelly will be just as bad.”
“Exactly.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his grim expression. “They’ll be fine. They interfere, but mean well.”
“Women just don’t operate like men.”
“Do you think?”
His grin was instant. “Think? Your presence seems to impair the process. No offense intended.”
“None taken.” She disengaged from his embrace. “If you can rinse dishes and hand them to me while I load the dishwasher, I’ll be yours for life.”
“Hey, I thought I was the one that made the deals. Don’t try and show me up.” He picked up a plate and flipped the lever on the faucet. “Obviously I accept your terms. We can negotiate the details.”