~ Jorie ~

Returning to Mason had never been in my life plan.

That’s not true. Leaving Mason had never been in my life plan. I’d wanted to grow up, marry the cowboy of my dreams and be a ranch wife, making little ranch babies and living my happily ever after on our ranch while I helped my husband run the place.

Plans never really worked out. Not for me.

So, I’d left here and made a new plan.

That didn’t work either, ‘cause here I was. Back in Mason, five years after I’d run.

My thumb ran over the base of my ring finger where a promise ring had resided for oh-so-short a time before I’d left it behind, on the nightstand beside the bed where I’d given Nash everything. Promises. Useless promises of forever. I’d departed Mason, but the phantom specter of those empty words still surrounded me. To this day, I felt that ring on my finger, holding part of me back here.

I didn’t want to return to Mason. And I didn’t want anyone but my gran to know I was here. If I could convince her to leave with me, I wouldn’t be here for long. No matter what, I certainly wouldn’t be spending time with that jerk, Nash Davidson, or any of his friends.

Humiliation burned through me again, just thinking of the night I’d left. How his words had slashed at me and sent me running back up to the barn’s loft. How I’d snuck out through the secondary exit and run for my car, parked a quarter mile away in the field, so the Davidson’s hands wouldn’t know I was there and tell Nash’s parents. How I’d gone home, packed and run. Oh, Gran had been hurt and angry when I’d called her hours later, already on my way to Michigan to stay with my aunt and uncle. Though she hadn’t liked it, she’d had everything arranged before I’d arrived in Grand Rapids. I refused to remember all the details. I’d been hurt that night, but I’d hurt her so badly and still carried loads of guilt over it.

Ruthlessly, I shoved away the memories and once again, wished for amnesia. I wanted to forget every detail of my seventeenth birthday. I wanted to forget every detail about my supposed best friend, too.

I’d left here in the dead of night, so coming back in the pitch-black seemed all-too-appropriate.

My phone chimed as I hit the outskirts of town.

“Hey, Ryder,” I answered, glancing at the dash to see it was one AM, which meant it was two there.

“You there?” he asked on a yawn. He’d been checking on me regularly as I’d traveled across the States back to the Texas hill country.

“Almost. I’m on Bluebonnet, so I’ve got about twenty minutes ‘til I get to Gran’s.”

“I’m glad you’re finally there. You should have let me come with you so you weren’t traveling alone.”

“No way. You just started your dream job. You don’t need to screw that up by babysitting me.”

He made a sound that came across as disagreement but didn’t argue the point with me—because I was right. But he was overprotective, so there was no way he’d acknowledge that he agreed with me. When I’d left here and finished my senior year in Michigan, my cousin, Ryder, had stepped right into the big brother role, and he’d excelled at it—even when I’d been in college. No one messed with me, and knowing what had gone down with Nash, though it had taken a long time to get it out of me, he wanted to kick my ex-best friend’s ass from Mason to Michigan and back.

“Text me when you get there,” he demanded. “And give Gran a hug for me. Tell her I’m coming to visit in a couple weeks when we shut down for summer break. Mom and Dad are planning to come out again, too.”

My aunt and uncle had just returned from a visit down here. They’d been the ones to report Gran’s illness. I’d taken off immediately, though “big brother” had tried to dissuade me. Ryder worked for a small family-owned design company that closed every summer for vacation before kids went back to school. He’d wanted me to wait until then, but when I’d heard how sick my grandmother was, there’d been no way I was waiting. For all intents and purposes, she was more my mom than my grandma.

Magnolia Holland raised me after my parents had died in a wreck when I was seven. That’s how I’d ended up in Mason to begin with and how I’d met Nash when I’d walked into second grade, a brand new student in a brand new town.

Ugh, Nash! Why was he always in my head, even five years later?

I had to move on!

“I’ll let you know as soon as I pull in,” I promised Ryder. After saying goodbye, I tossed the phone on the passenger seat and fully focused on navigating the streets I knew like the back of my hand. Mason wasn’t tiny, but it was small enough to feel that way, especially after five years in the second largest city in Michigan. With less than three thousand residents in Mason, I was acquainted many of the businesses and their owners. Rolling through in the dark, I looked around to see who was still here and who was new. It was hard to tell. But I knew so many things could change in five years.

I’d been raised in a modest ranch-style home here in town, but I’d spent a ton of time out at the Davidson’s ranch, so I’d had the best of both worlds. For a time, Nash’s parents had been my second parents, and I’d thought someday, I’d live there on their spread, the Lazy D. ‘Cause…well, I’d thought I loved Nash, and I’d thought he loved me, too.

My snort was loud in the quiet car. Love. Right.

Apparently, I was still kinda angry at him…even five years later. I needed to work on that. Indifference would be better. Still, nostalgia pushed in on the edges of my consciousness as I traveled past my old stomping grounds. Ms. Margie’s where I’d gotten ice cream during hot summers. The park where I’d swung for hours on the swings. The movie theater where I’d gone on my first “secret” date with—

“Ugh, geez! I’m doomed,” I moaned. This would be a long stay if I couldn’t get it together.

Minutes later, I pulled into my gran’s driveway, noting it looked as manicured and perfect as usual. Over the years, I’d spent hours outside doing yardwork on Saturdays. I hoped she wasn’t doing it herself now. Renewed guilt hit me hard when I thought of my sick grandmother pulling weeds from her flowerbeds. The porch light popped on as I turned off my little Kia, and Gran opened the door as I pulled my small suitcase from the backseat. The rest of my things could stay in the car until tomorrow.

“Gran, what’re doing up?” I asked as I climbed the few steps to the covered porch. “It’s almost two in the morning.”

“It’s good to see you, too, Jorie-girl,” she chided, stepping outside in her robe and pulling me into her arms. The warmth I’d missed for so long filled me, and I breathed in her scent of roses and powder. Dropping my bag, I hugged her back, fighting tears. I’d missed her so much. My aunt and uncle were great and loving, but my gran… She was everything. She was as close to a mom as I’d ever have.

“I’m sorry. I love you,” I muttered into her shoulder. “I missed you.”

She pulled back, holding my upper arms and studying me in the porch light. “Well, it’s about time you’re back. You shouldn’t have stayed away so long. Come inside, and we’ll get you settled. I bet you haven’t eaten. I’ll fix ya up something, yeah?”

“Gran, you should be resting. I can get myself something to eat.”

She blew out an annoyed breath, ruffling her perfect platinum bob. “If I can’t take care of my only granddaughter, you might as well put me in the grave now. Now, shush up.”

“Don’t say that!” I exclaimed. “You’re going to be okay. You are, right?”

Her lips pursed, and her brow furrowed. She looked at me, carefully studying my face as if deciding what to tell me. Was her news really that bad? “Sure, girl. I’ll be fine.” Turning away, she headed into the house and led the way toward the kitchen where I’d spent half my life. I grabbed my bag and quickly followed. “Now, how ‘bout a sandwich, potato salad and some of the pickles I put up last week, yeah? I know they’re you’re favorite.”

“Sounds great,” I replied weakly, unsure whether or not I believed her assertion that she’d be fine. It was beyond obvious she was hiding something from me. Looking around me as I followed her, I took note of the changes around me—or lack thereof. The paint was fresh and bright, but little had changed since I’d been away. In the hallway, I saw she’d added photos from my high school and college graduations and remembered how disappointed she’d been when I’d opted to attend school in Michigan rather than go to UT or one of the other nearby universities. A year away just hadn’t been enough for me to show my face back here. Five years might not be enough. That didn’t stop be from vowing I’d put on the confident, happy face of a city girl who’d moved on with her life—moved way beyond from this little hick town and the boys who lived here.

* * * *

~ Nash ~

“Jorie’s back in town.”

I stared at my old friend, Scott Reynolds, not quite comprehending what he was saying.

“Jorie…Holland?” I asked slowly.

“Do you know another one?”

“No.” Unfortunately. I only knew one Jorie, and I wasn’t thrilled to hear she was back, even if the news made my chest a little tight and knotted up my stomach with the anticipation of seeing her after all these years. I wondered how she’d matured, if she’d kept her light brown hair long—God, I hoped she had. I wondered who was in her life now and what she’d been doing and why she was back after all this time.

Not that I cared. Not after she’d cut and run on me and left me destroyed. She hadn’t even given me a chance to talk to her, talk through what was bothering her, what had upset her so much. Of course, I didn’t suppose that mattered to her. If it had, she would have talked to me, called me, answered my emails…something.

“What’s she doing back?” I asked as we walked toward the barn where he had a horse for me to see. I relied on him to find the perfect stock for my vacation ranch. He never let me down.

Scott shrugged. “She’s visiting her grandma. Look… Shit, Nash, I know what went down between you two—at least, what you’ve told me. But take it from someone who knows: talk to her. Listen to her. I almost fucked it all up with Jessie after she ran off to Belize. Don’t do what I did. Get her side of the story and hash it out between you. We’ve all seen y’all growing up and in high school. If anyone was meant to be together, it’s you two.”

“I don’t know about that. This is different,” I replied. “At least, you had Jessie back after five weeks. It’s been five years for me, man. I don’t think there’s anything left for us.”

“Do you want there to be?”

“I don’t know. We were best friends. I know she was upset about something, but she hurt me. Bad.” That might not be manly to admit, but I’d known Scott longer than I’d known Jorie. If anyone knew what I’d been through with that girl and how I felt about her, it was him.

“I don’t think I can go there with her again,” I admitted. “If she’s here for a visit, I’ll do my best not to see her before she leaves.”

God, it would gut me to see her, to see how beautiful she’d become—and I knew she had. There was no way she hadn’t. And if she was here with someone? Fuck… My vision darkened slightly at the thought.

Scott shook his head. “And if she stays?” he asked. “What if she’s back for good?”

I shrugged. “We’re strangers now. I’ll do my thing, and she can do hers.”

And now, I was lying out of my ass. The look he gave me said he damn well knew it, too.

“Right,” he laughed in disbelief. “Fine, dude. Whatever you say,” he said. “Let me show you that horse. I think she’ll be a great ride for your tourists.”

He paused and pinned me with a stare. “Just one thing: think long and hard before you write Jorie off. Think about what you really want. I don’t even want to consider what life would be if I hadn’t given Jessie a chance when she came back from Belize.”

I should have known he wouldn’t let it lie. Problem was: Jorie wrote me off a long time ago.

When I didn’t reply, we both let the subject drop and headed into the barn where Jessie was brushing one of their horses. Minutes later, I knew Scott was right. About the equine, anyway. Maple was perfect for my ranch. After discussing the sale and when she’d be ready for me, I headed back home to the mile-long to-do list waiting for me.

Shortly after Jorie had run off, I’d taken over the place. The work never ended or even lightened.

At the thought, my fist hit the steering wheel of my F-250. I hated that I marked time by her: when we’d met. When I’d begun to see her as a girl and not one of the guys. When we’d dated. When she’d left… I just couldn’t get her out of my head. Once upon a time, we’d believed we were soul mates. Now, I thought she was the demon sent to taunt me.

I clenched my jaw and forced my focus onto my day. I had a ranch to run. About four and half years ago, my dad had gambled away most of our revenue and stock. Then realizing the straits it was in, he’d taken his life. It had shaken my world and left Ma and me to deal with the aftermath. I don’t know if he thought life insurance would kick in and we’d be able to save things that way or if he’d just taken the cowardly way out, but it hadn’t helped matters. It hadn’t solved any problems. And there had been no life insurance, just a huge disaster.

I’d had a trust from my grandparents that could have kept the place afloat for a few months, but I hadn’t been allowed to touch it until I graduated high school, even with the extenuating circumstances. After Dad’s death, my ma checked out, and even now, she hadn’t checked back in. She signed the ranch over me when I didn’t want to leave, when I wanted to fight for the place, then she packed up and moved to Wyoming to live with her brother.

In the matter of weeks, I’d gone from a carefree, eighteen-year-old high school student to a floundering, eighteen-year-old ranch owner who still had homework every night. To this day, I could barely comprehend how we’d gone from the proverbial All-American ranch family to a dysfunctional mess. Thank God, Garrett Mathews, from the Mathews Ranch, had stepped in to help me. He’d listened to my ideas for the Lazy D. He’d helped me get a loan against the equity in my land and guided me through those early days. He and his wife, Emma, had also helped me get the word out about my new “resort” and to hire the needed staff.

Eighteen years old, pretty much penniless, I’d turned my family ranch into a B&B vacation spot. Without the Mathews, I never would have made it. There was just no way someone in my position could have. Yeah, I’d worked the ranch my entire life, but I was just a kid. Five years later, I still felt like a child king on some days.

Shaking my head, I parked my truck in front of my house. So many deep thoughts today. I needed to get with the here and now.

Determined, to plow through my tasks, I headed into my office.

“Hey,” I called to Missy as I passed through the front reception area. Our administrative area were attached to my home, but not actually part of it. I enjoyed my privacy and didn’t want anyone messing around in my space. Normally, Missy wasn’t here, since she was based over at the guest house. I’d hired her when we’d opened, and she saw to cleaning and cooking and everything related to that.

We had eight, multi-bed “cabins” a short distance from the main house and the primary barns. They were all attached, much like a motel, with a long mess hall running the length of the backside. Each cabin had its own door leading into it. It worked well for rainy days or for those people who paid extra for food delivery to their rooms. Once a week, we hosted an end-of-week party in the hall, to celebrate our guests’ time with us—fun for guests; easy work for the staff.

“Hey,” she replied. “I was waiting for you.”

“Yeah?” I asked as I continued into my office. I pulled off my cowboy hat and tossed it onto the table by the door.

“Did you order the cleaners I asked for? I’m almost out, and I’ll need them tomorrow.”

“Shit…” I sighed and closed my eyes, running a hand over my face. “No.”

I needed to hire a manager who could look after all this crap, ordering, reservation, payroll, all the other business junk I couldn’t focus on while I was giving riding lessons, leading expeditions, doing actual ranching and whatnot.

“Want Max and me to grab enough to tide us over when we run into town later this afternoon?”

“That would be fucking great.”

Her arms crossed, her blue eyes dancing. “You’re very sweary today.”

She was right. My language tended toward clean most of the time. “Bad day.”

“Really? You’d think it was a great day since Jorie is back in town.”

“Fuck,” I muttered, rubbing my fingers between my eyes. I wasn’t up for another conversation about her.

“And there you go again.”

“You sure you don’t want to take over the ordering?” I asked, changing the subject. Beyond obvious, but whatever.

She laughed. “If it were just the ordering? Maybe. But we both know the job you’re offering entails a lot more than that.” Her hand rested on her still-flat belly, reminding me of her newly revealed condition. “I’ll stick with what I know and love. You know that other stuff is beyond me and too much stress.”

“No stressing out the pregnant woman,” Max growled, appearing behind her. I swear he’d been like an overprotective brother since the day he’d discovered her puking from morning sickness.

“Grand Central Station…” I muttered. Who else was going to traipse through this afternoon? Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised. Where Missy was, Max soon followed. They’d been close friends forever, but unlike me and Jorie, nothing romantic had ever developed between them.

Jorie. Again. Fuck, I needed a drink. And it wasn’t even noon.

“What’s going on?” Max asked.

“Uh, you know, just Nash trying to get me to run this place again.”

“He just wants your pretty face brightening up the place.”

“Max…” she muttered.

He turned to me. “You just need yourself a wife,” Max announced from left field. Where had that come from? “I heard—”

“Don’t say it,” I interrupted, holding up a hand to stall him. “Just go.”

“Crabby,” Missy stage-whispered, but they both departed, leaving me to bury myself in paperwork I couldn’t ignore any longer. I really had to get someone out here to help. Maybe tomorrow, I’d place a help-wanted ad. Problem was, I didn’t want just anyone here on the ranch. I had a very specific partner in mind, one I’d always had in mind, but there was no way I’d get that. Even if she was back in town. But who knew how long that would be?