CHAPTER THREE

 

The next morning, Austin put his coffee cup in the sink and turned on the faucet. He’d gotten up early as usual and began his day with a hearty breakfast and checking his emails. But for the first time in a long while he didn’t head down to the stables. Instead, he called his foreman Juan Carlos and asked if he could handle things today. Knowing daily operations were in good hands, he’d do some things around the house then go visit Angela at the hospital later.

He’d tossed and turned all night, thinking of the excitement of the evening. Rushing into that shop when he heard Angela’s scream was an impulse reaction. He hadn’t once thought about getting hurt. Yes, the day certainly hadn’t turned out the way he’d planned, but it had gotten better when that reporter waltzed into his room. He hadn’t expected to react to her the way he did. Before he knew it, he’d been flirting and enjoying it. He hadn’t seen her around town. He wondered if she was a recent transplant to Harper’s Grove or if he’d just been out of touch with the latest happenings.

He heard a vehicle coming down the road that led to his house. He strolled through the house and opened the front door to find Alex and the kids getting out of his SUV. But Peyton wasn’t with them.

“Uncle Austin.” Chloe ran over, gave him a hug and handed him a box with a pink bow on it. “Are you OK? I heard you were in a fire.”

“Yes, cutie pie. I’m just fine.” He smiled and gave her a squeeze. “There’s not much that can knock old Uncle Austin out.”

“I brought you some cupcakes.” Chloe smiled. “I baked them myself.”

“Thank you. I bet they’re delicious.”

“Hey, Uncle Austin,” Noah said. “I heard you were a real superhero last night.”

“It was nothing. Just helping someone in need.”

“Does this mean you won’t be able to give me a ping-pong rematch?” Noah gave him a toothy smile.

“I still have enough energy to defend my championship title, half-pint.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Why don’t you two go into the game room and see the surprise I have for you?”

“Cool!” The kids ran through the house toward the game room.

The kids’ frequent visits were one of the reasons for the improvements he’d made around the house. He wanted them to feel at home when they came over.

“Don’t make a mess if you’re going to get a drink from the mini-fridge!” Alex yelled after them. He looked at Austin. “What did you get them this time?”

“I bought a bigger flat-screen, a game console, and a heap of games.”

Alex laughed. “Bigger than the one you had? You could step into that thing and intercept a ball during those football games.”

“The picture quality on this one is even better. Oh. I got them some of those virtual reality glasses too.”

“You do know they’ll never want to leave your house, right?”

“Fine by me.” He enjoyed the time he spent with the kids. He was a pushover for anything Chloe wanted to do, including painting his nails, while he and Noah talked about things like girls and science fiction movies.

“Well, I guess that will come in handy when we watch the games. Everybody wins.” Alex smiled. “I hope you took my advice and got some rest last night.”

“I did.”

“Is everything OK? I thought you’d be at the stables by now.”

“I thought I’d take the day off. Juan Carlos can handle things.” He took a bag from Alex. “What’s all this?”

“Lunch. We stopped by the market and got a few things. Peyton and Grayson will be along after their art council meeting.”

“Come on in. I’ll fire up the grill.” Austin ushered him inside. “Any updates on Angela?”

“I called the hospital this morning,” Alex said. “She’s doing well.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m going to stop by later and visit.” He put the bags on the kitchen island and started unpacking them. Looked like they were having burgers. Alex loved to grill.

“There’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask you about the wedding. We got so caught up in the announcement celebration we didn’t get a chance to talk.”

He gave him a quizzical look. “OK, shoot. You know I’ll be there in the front row with bells on.”

“I want you to be one of the groomsmen.”

“Are you sure?” They continued onto the deck. He had a full cooking station by the grill.

“Of course I’m sure.” Alex examined the propane tank. “Derek is going to be my best man. And I want you, Theo, and Grayson to be my groomsmen.”

“I am honored. Let me know when I need to get measured for my monkey suit. Have you set a date?”

“We were thinking six months from now. A nice summer wedding at the house.”

“Why not have it here on the ranch?”

“We couldn’t impose,” Alex replied. “You’ve already volunteered to watch the kids while we’re on our honeymoon.”

“I have plenty of space, and it will be my wedding present to you.”

“Thanks.”

“How did things go with your in-laws when you broke the news?”

“They took it well. They said they were happy for me and said they’d come to the wedding.”

“Sounds like they’re supporting you.”

“They like Peyton. They know she’s not trying to replace Rachel, and I told them that it didn’t change our arrangement. They can still see the kids as often as they like.”

“You’ve done a good job at keeping Rachel’s memory alive while having a great relationship with Peyton.”

Alex nodded. “I want this to work. Thank you for the advice you gave me when we started dating. Being honest and the family counseling have helped us all tremendously.”

“I was just speaking the truth. The two of you deserve to be happy. It’s an auspicious time for the Popovich clan.”

Alex grinned. “Derek’s excited about being a dad again. Theo’s more focused now that he’s dating Aubrey. Serena’s happy being single. She sends her love, by the way.”

He noticed how Alex watched him as he mentioned his sister. Serena was an exciting woman who’d made quite the splash when she came to town for a visit last summer. They’d done some flirting, but he hadn’t made a move. Neither of them were looking for forever, and he didn’t want to do anything that would strain his and Alex’s relationship.

“Tell her I said hey.”

“What about you? Any chance our happiness is contagious? How are things with Lucinda?”

“She’s still raging about our breakup on the radio every chance she gets.”

“What happened?”

He laughed. “You know what they say, fools rush in.”

“And you were in no hurry to go charging blindly through the gates of the unknown?”

“In the military, we call that a suicide mission. But in relationships, it’s called taking things too fast.” He scratched at his beard. “She and I were on different wavelengths. I wanted to get to know her better, and she was already making long-term plans. We barely knew each other. It was way too soon for that.”

Lucinda was fun, but he hadn’t felt those sparks with her. He liked having a natural connection with a woman. Something you just felt deep down inside without thought. It was a gut feeling that permeated up to the heart.

“Were you interested?”

“Somewhat. I thought she was lively and charming, just like she is on the radio. Turns out she only had that one speed. She’s on all the time. There was no depth to her.”

“You’ll find the right person someday. But if I were you, I’d increase my dating efforts or Peyton’s going to fix you up with another teacher from her school.”

“I did meet someone interesting last night. She—”

Peyton and Grayson walked onto the deck, and Austin clammed up. Alex gave him a nod that meant they’d talk later.

Peyton gave him a hug. “There’s the man of the hour.”

“Let’s toast the hero.” Grayson held up a bottle of champagne.

“It’s not a big deal.” Austin ran a hand through his hair, wondering how long it would take before he didn’t have to listen to this “hero” business anymore. “How was the committee meeting?”

“Screw the upcoming art fair, your rescue was all anyone could talk about,” Grayson mused. “A few of the women actually swooned when they heard what you did.”

“I love your heroics last night.” Peyton laughed and swatted Austin’s arm. “But what were you thinking?”

Austin opened his mouth to answer, but she continued. This was a turnaround from all the fussing over him she’d done last night.

“I know. I know. It was the right thing to do.” She paced the deck. “But it was still a reckless, brave thing to do. We could have lost you. You are such a boy scout.”

He held up his hand like a scout reciting a pledge. “I promise never to do anything so reckless again.”

“I don’t believe you,” she replied, squinting at him.

Grayson rubbed his hands together. “I have more great news. And it involves you.”

What had Grayson gone and done now? “Do I really want to know?”

“While everyone was caught up in your act of valor, someone suggested we do something as a town to thank you. We mulled over some ideas like an Austin Holbrook Day. We could give you a key to the city.”

“Is this town big enough to have a key?” Austin quipped.

“Ha, ha. Most people wanted to have a parade.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Come on. It’s an awesome human interest story. A resident risking his own life to save a local business owner. You stopped the town from burning down.”

“Now you’re just exaggerating.”

Grayson held up his hands. “It could have if you hadn’t arrived in time…and the entire fire department was on vacation.”

“You should have been a public relations person. You really know how to spin a tale,” Alex said as he put the burgers on the grill.

“Look, this will be a good thing, Austin. We can call attention to the everyday heroes instead of the ones we see flying around in capes in the movies. Real people doing brave things reinforces a sense of community. I can see it now. There will be lots of press and a party at the town hall.”

“I’d like to change the subject.” He turned to Peyton. “Alex and I were talking, and I’d love it if you two had the wedding here on the ranch.”

“Thank you!” She gave him a hug. “That would be perfect! But I could have sworn you and Alex were talking about your nonexistent love life when we came in.”

“Uh.” The woman heard everything. She was going to be a great mom to the kids.

“I’m just giving you a hard time,” Peyton said with a laugh. She pulled out her cell phone. “I’m going take a golf cart and snap some photos. There’s a spot halfway between here and the main stable building that catches really good sunlight. It would be perfect for a summer wedding. I can get some great photos at sunset.”

Alex looked amused. “Babe, you do know you can’t take your own wedding photos?”

“Watch me. I have to call my wedding planner. We can take photos by that clearing that’s really romantic at sunset on horseback. This is so exciting!” Peyton darted into the house with her phone.

“That woman is insane.” Alex shook his head. “We hired a wedding planner, but Peyton does all the planning.”

“Yeah, but you love her.”

“With all my heart.” Alex smiled.

“Isn’t love awesome?” Grayson interrupted. “But I’d like to get back to my mayor duties. Austin. We need to do something. Something like this could bring the town closer together. You see the community spirit that poured in after the opening of the clinic. Even the snooty residents came together for it and to visit the clinic, by the way.”

“Yes, some of those fat cats actually mingle with the middle class they used to avoid.”

“It’s something. The nouveau riche used to parade around town. I think the classism has scaled back a lot the past few years.”

Alex chuckled. “Maybe. I think I actually saw Earl the Mechanic having lunch with Henry the Silicon Valley Tech Guy the other day. It made me want to break out into a Simon and Garfunkel song.”

“Jest if you will, but I’d like to think I had something to do with that. I’ve been fighting for the heart of Harper’s Grove. I want this town to get even better, to foster a real sense of community and togetherness. So what about the story? You’d be doing your good friend and mayor a huge favor. Two birds with one stone.”

He was right. Grayson had made great strides in repairing the income and social divides that had been cropping up since the tech and Hollywood folks decided this was a quaint town to live in. People like Wally, Angela, and other small business owners were seeing an uptick in business. Hell, Marco was even thinking of opening up a wine bar in town. The story could further those efforts. Grayson was a good friend, and he’d been doing his best to be a darn good mayor too. It was worth mulling over.

“I’ll think about it.”

“That means I’ll have a firm yes by tomorrow.” Grayson fist-pumped then went into the house to chill the champagne.

Austin looked at Alex. “Hey. I’m not that easy. Am I?”

“You let Chloe give you a facial, and Noah convinced you to give him driving lessons. Yeah, you’re that easy. But waiting a day to give Grayson his yes will make you feel better.” Alex flipped the burgers on the grill.

Grayson came back onto the deck and started talking about the date he’d had last night after he left the hospital. Austin let his thoughts wander as his friend told his story.

Doing the right thing didn’t garner celebration in Austin’s book. He was just doing what anyone in his position would have done. The last thing he wanted was to be touted as some kind of hero. But then again, maybe this whole overblown event might have some positives to it. It would probably mean he’d see Savannah again. The attractive reporter had been in his thoughts quite a bit since she’d charged into his hospital room last night.

Fine. He’d do it. For the town. He’d wait the twenty-four hours before agreeing to do it, to make sure he kept up his street cred as being a rough-and-tumble cowboy. But he’d also work in that Savannah had to be the reporter to do the interview. Just in case she was too feisty to see him again on her own accord after he’d turned her down last night.

Who knows? This could turn out to be interesting after all…

 

* * *

 

Savannah held up the camera and took a few shots of the restaurant as the fire department continued to comb through the debris. The dining area was pretty much gone, and it was nothing short of a miracle that it was contained within the one business. Seeing the charred remains was a reminder that Angela and Austin were lucky to be alive. She wondered if he’d thought about the consequences of charging in there when the rescue squad was minutes away. It was one of the questions she’d planned on asking him. The man was either insane or one of the bravest people she’d ever met.

After taking a few more photos and scribbling notes onto her notepad, she decided it was time to get some breakfast. She took the short walk down to the bakery, went inside, and looked at the chocolate chip muffins behind the glass and groaned. Everything looked delicious. Too bad she’d restricted herself from anything too decadent. Sure she was seeing the results and felt much healthier, but she’d eaten so much salad the last three months she was afraid she’d start sprouting leaves out of her ears.

She stood when she heard a familiar, syrupy twanged voice in the back coming toward her. It was her friend and book club partner Barbara Jean. Savannah might have been new to the town, but the second she’d met the spunky baker, she’d felt like she’d had an old friend for years. Barbara Jean was one of the reasons Savannah had been hesitant to leave after the breakup. She was developing roots in this small burg and had real friendships for the first time in her life. It was worth staying to see if a new life could come out of it on her own terms.

“Hi, Savannah, honey. What can I get you today?”

“Hi, Barbara Jean. A cup of coffee and a—” She kept her eyes locked on the chocolate chip muffins. “—bran muffin.”

“Are you sure? That chocolate chip muffin looks like it’s calling your name.” Barbara Jean laughed.

She bit her lip. “No. I better not.”

“I’m starting to get a complex. You turned down my oatmeal raisin cookies at book club too.”

“You are a dieting person’s worse nightmare.” She rolled her eyes.

“Come on.” Barbara Jean held up the muffin on a plate. “You know you want it.”

“OK.” She threw up her hands. “You twisted my arm. I’ll just run twice around the entire town this weekend.”

“Have a seat, love. I’ll bring the coffee over.” She handed her the muffin then turned toward the kitchen and yelled, “Farrah, can you take over for me please?”

Savannah looked at her phone display. She had some time before she’d head over to the hospital again. With any luck she could talk to Angela and get the article turned finished in time for the Sunday edition. That meant she could spend the evening catching up on her emails. She went over and grabbed a seat by the window. Outside, the townspeople were bustling about on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

“My special gourmet medium roast house blend with one sugar and skim milk.” Barbara Jean set the cup down and took a seat with a cup of her own.

“Thanks. I love your coffee.” She took a whiff. It was strong but didn’t overwhelm her pallet. “How was the book club last night?”

“We pigged out and drank three bottles of wine. I tell you we’re never going to find out how that man got out of the life raft and ended up on that plane.”

“It would help if everyone actually read the books we select.” She giggled. She’d had a hard time cracking the spine of the latest book. The whole story was wrought with introspection. How many times could the same person ponder about his poor life choices while floating on a dinky raft? “Sorry I missed it.”

“How was your first assignment? Is Angela OK?”

“Technically it’s not over. I have to go back to the hospital today to see her. She was in no shape to talk. The guy who rescued her was a jerk and didn’t want to be interviewed. And to make matters worse, Levi was on call.”

“No.” Barbara Jean gasped. “This is your first time seeing him since the big makeover, isn’t it? How did he react?”

“He kept complimenting me and staring at me like I was a T-bone steak. Jerk.” She rolled her eyes. “He had the nerve to ask me out to dinner.”

“And you slapped his face and turned him down, right?”

“Yes. Well, not the face slapping part.” She stirred her coffee.

“You would have been totally vindicated after what that rat did to you. But at least phase one of your revenge has started.”

“Phase one?”

“Yes, he’s seen how great you look. Now it’s time to ramp things up. Go date someone hotter than him. He’s bound to see you around town. And then he’ll die of jealousy.”

“I don’t want to do that. It’s bad enough he wants to have dinner with me. I’ll refuse a few more times, and he’ll move on.”

“You’ve got to think bigger. You move here with him so he can follow his dream of being a doctor while you scrounge around for writing jobs.”

“I did not scrounge. I was gainfully employed until the online magazine I worked for got sued into oblivion and went out of business.”

“OK. But you could have had better opportunities in Southern California or New York. I’m sure your mother would have put in a good word for you.”

“And would have wanted one of my kidneys in return.”

It wasn’t easy being the daughter of a popular, nationally syndicated talk show host. Clare Brewster was the woman America tuned-in to every afternoon to watch her interview stars, give fashion tips, suggest books to read, and other life hacks. They hung onto her every word, and she had the audience share to prove it. Savannah got a kick out of watching her mother host chefs. The woman couldn’t boil an egg without calling for the cook to ask how to turn on the stove. The Clare Brewster of television fame came off as knowledgeable and down to earth, but the reality was very different. She was an overbearing tyrant of a parent who never supported Savannah when she was a kid.

She also wasn’t blessed with her mother’s high metabolism and the ability to lose five pounds at the drop of a hat. Savannah had always been a chubby child. She was an odd duck, and her mother never let her forget it. Her mother had even offered to get her liposuction for her sixteenth birthday after her dieting attempts failed. But Ella, her sister, was the perfect child. Her mother had doted on her budding beauty since she was three. Whether it be criticizing Savannah’s clothes or her choice in men, her mother always had something to say. Although her mom had liked Levi. He was just as ambitious and shallow as she was.

“You’ll make a name for yourself at the Harper’s Gazette,” Barbara said. “I know it feels like small potatoes, but Ralph is an old-school newspaperman. He comes in here and asks for the same plain black coffee, hold the fancy. Just nail the fire article and Ralph will see you don’t need any handholding. By the way, who’s the jerk who refused to be interviewed for the article?”

“I thought the grapevine would’ve made its rounds to your bakery by now. Some rough-around-the-edges cowboy named Austin.”

“Austin Holbrook?” Barbara Jean’s eyes glazed over.

“The one and the same.” She examined her friend’s dopey expression. Why did women react to him that way? He was just a man. “Don’t tell me you’re a member of his fan club too?”

“Lifetime member,” Barbara Jean gushed. “He’s hot. I’d love to latch onto to those broad shoulders and gaze into those soul-stirring eyes, but I’m too chicken to flirt with him. And he has a bit of reputation.”

“If you like that type.” She shrugged. “What kind of reputation?”

“You know Lucinda the DJ at the radio station?”

“Of course I do.”

Lucinda was a local media sensation. They’d met a few times, but she got the feeling the woman didn’t like her. She’d pretended twice not to remember her name. She wasn’t being conceited, but Savannah was a city for heaven’s sake, who could forget her name?

“Well Lucinda started dating him after she introduced that relationship and romance segment to her broadcasts. A month later she’s calling for a public lynching of any man who’d ever broken a woman’s heart. She’d come in here and buy whole birthday cakes for no occasion. I worried about her.”

“Ah.” That explained a lot. Lucinda’s chats about love and romance had taken a depressing turn a few months ago, which was odd because she had confidence, style, and was pretty to boot. She would’ve been a perfect catch…until she started spewing her broken-heart rhetoric on the air. These days she seemed jaded and bitter. “So you’re saying Austin Holbrook is the man who bolted out of Lucinda’s house when it was time to define their relationship?”

“The one and the same. I don’t think Lucinda’s ever been dumped before. Hence the meltdown.”

“So, he’s a player.”

“I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean you’re not sure? Running out of someone’s house like a cartoon character when it’s time to talk about the relationship indicates he has a fear of commitment and doesn’t care who he hurts. He had the woman buying sheet cakes.”

“Austin’s hard to pin down. What I could surmise from the gossip is that once he’s done with a relationship, he won’t be coming around to woo you back. So what happened with you two?”

She took out her smartphone. “Mr. Austin Holbrook got all upset because I barged into his hospital room when he was getting dressed. But that was no reason to refuse to give me a meager quote.” Her fingers flew over the keys of her phone. She looked up when she realized Barbara Jean wasn’t saying anything. “What’s wrong?”

“You saw him naked?” Barbara Jean grinned. “I want details. Feel free to draw me a picture on a napkin.”

“Not naked. He had on his boxers.”

“Is he as muscled as he looks? Those work shirts hug him pretty tight. How’s his package?”

“What package?”

“How long has it been since you had a roll in the hay? How’s he hanging?”

“Barbara Jean!” Her cheeks heated up. “I will not answer that.”

“OK. If you were to mail this package. Would you need to pay additional postage because of the extra weight?”

“You are officially losing it. I’m heading to the hospital to see if I can finish my story.” Her phone made a notification ping. It was Ralph, her editor-in-chief, asking her to come into the office. “Look, I have to go.”

“Wait. I want you to take some treats to Angela and give her my love.”

“Will do.”

Savannah walked over to the glass counter and watched as Barbara Jean put a variety of sweets in a box. Barbara Jean had her tongs hovering over a cinnamon bun when she looked at her and her eyes lit up. “I have the perfect idea. Someone sexy like Austin would definitely stick in Levi’s craw.”

“I doubt it. He’s too involved with himself to be jealous over anyone else. As a matter of fact, if it were possible to be jealous of yourself, he’d do it.”

“It’s called having narcissistic personality disorder,” Barbara Jean said thoughtfully. “Just give it some thought.”

“Maybe when Hell starts serving snow cones.” She took the box of treats her friend handed her.

As she walked down the street, she mulled over Barbara Jean’s suggestion on how to make Levi jealous. If it were possible, someone like Austin would definitely stick in Levi’s craw. She generally stayed away from men like Austin though. The kind who were drop-dead gorgeous, broke hearts wherever they went, and didn’t care about the damage they left behind.

A few minutes later, she was back at the newspaper. She hurried up to her editor-in-chief’s office and tapped on the door. He was on the phone, but he waved her inside. Ralph’s office was like something out of a museum for journalists. There were photos of old printing presses on the wall, and he had a typewriter on his desk she was pretty sure was from the sixties.

Ralph was a bit of an enigma. He was a celebrated newsman and had won plenty of awards over the years. That was one of the reasons she’d wanted to work for him. He was known for journalistic integrity and his pursuit of the truth. But he, much like her, had ended up in Harper’s Grove instead of fighting the good fight in a major city where exciting news happened every second of the day.

Right now he was spouting off numbers and something about a bad rate of return. He must be talking to a vendor. He finally ended the call in the gruff way he did with everyone.

“Trouble with an advertiser?” she asked.

“No, that was my son-in-law asking for a loan but cleverly disguising it as an opportunity to invest in his marijuana farm.”

“I do hear that they are profitable once they’re up and running. It’s not like it’s illegal anymore.”

“I don’t like him. He’s been full of get-rich-quick schemes since my daughter met him.” He patted his shirt pocket. “Days like this, a man could use a good cigar.”

“But you won’t do that because you quit.”

“I never quit anything in my life,” he huffed. “It was a mandatory cutback ordered by the doctor and Dottie.”

“They both know what’s best for you.” She smiled. For all Ralph’s gruffness, his wife Dottie was the sweetest person in the world. “I got your text. What’s up? I was just about to go to the hospital to see Angela. I should have everything finished for the article by this evening.”

“There’s been a change in the angle on that story.”

“I thought it was pretty cut and dry.”

“You’ll do the fire angle, but that’s just the first part of the story. I talked to the mayor. He thought it would be a good idea to do a spotlight on Austin Holbrook.”

Oh no, this was not a good idea. Chasing that disagreeable, taciturn man around town trying to get him to say something, anything of merit would be a nightmare she didn’t need. “Since when do you take orders from politicians?”

“It wasn’t an order. I agree with Grayson. He’s always thinking of ways to get the community together and get to know each other. That used to be the cornerstone of small-town living. Neighbors helping each other.”

He made a good point. But still— “Did anyone get the cowboy’s input? He hardly wanted to talk about it last night.”

Ralph chuckled. “Austin isn’t one for words. But I think this will be a good thing. He’ll come around. One thing about him, he may grumble about it, but he’s one man you can count on.”

“How so?”

“I guess you’ll find out after you spend some time with him.” Ralph tapped on his desk with the papers in his hand. “I’ll let you map out the details of how you’re going to go about this, but I’d like to see some progress by month’s end.”

She could complain, but she was getting a chance to stretch her wings, which is what she wanted.

“I won’t let you down.”

Besides, how bad could Austin Holbrook really be?

 

* * *

 

Austin placed the bouquet of flowers on the passenger seat and pulled out of his parking spot. After spending a wonderful afternoon with his friends, he was off to check on Angela at the hospital.

He looked at the time display on the dash and wondered which state his brother Logan was in today. Austin pulled out into traffic, thinking about Logan and all the recent changes. His long-distance relationship with girlfriend Megan required a lot of traveling, but he seemed happy to spend time with her even if it meant practically living on a jetliner. If a year ago anyone had told him that his brother would finally settle down in a committed relationship, he would have said they were nuts. If someone had told him Logan was contemplating marriage, he would have declared them insane. But it was true. Logan had evolved into a man who thought seriously about his future. And he wanted one with Megan. Austin had to admit they complemented each other well. There was a carefree, fun aspect of their relationship that he admired. But when it was time for them to get serious, they were present and always willing to talk.

Logan’s open heart had also sparked a desire for the family to be closer, which gave everyone a chance to renew their family ties. They’d never been much for talking and they’d had their fair share of disagreements. Railing against T.K. was second nature to Austin, as he’d done it most of his adult life. He was still slow to forgive his father for how he’d treated his mom in the divorce. The legal battle to get an adequate settlement went on for years until after a knockdown, drag-out fight with his father. T.K. finally capitulated and gave her a settlement that was worthy of her time as his wife for all those years and taking care of his children.

That was all water under the bridge as far as his mom Aurora and Logan were concerned. His mom had long let go of her animosity over the ending of her marriage. Logan had called a truce because he worked with their dad. For Austin, things weren’t as simple. It was hard to let go of the ill-feelings that had mounted over the years, but he’d promised Logan he’d give it a chance.

The old man was making an effort and seemed to be getting wiser in his later years. Gone was the order-spouting, larger-than-life businessman who wanted everyone to bend to his will. Now he was a little more considerate before sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong. That was something of an olive branch. His father had also come to his senses about the wife number six he was going to marry a year ago and called off the wedding. Austin and Logan agreed that showed some growth on their dad’s part. But his father had also decided he wanted their mom back instead. Which presented a whole new family dilemma. His mom had called and complained about his attempts to woo her back, but Austin couldn’t help feeling like his mother was falling for T.K. again.

The sound of an incoming ring filled the truck’s cabin. He looked at the dash display. It was Logan.

He hit the talk button. “Baby brother, I was just thinking about you.”

Logan’s voice boomed around the cabin of the truck. “What’s this I hear about you going off half-cocked into a burning building to save someone?”

Uh oh. The extended family grapevine was at work again. “The way you say it makes it sound dumb.”

“Fine. Fine. You pulled that hero crap and could have been killed.”

“How did you find out?”

“Aubrey told Parker who told Avery who told Cassidy who told Megan.”

“We have quite the party line going in our circle of friends. Spread the word that I bought an alpaca farm in Minnesota, and I’ll see if it comes back to me without any alterations to the message.”

“This isn’t funny. Megan said she’s going to wring your neck. First, she said she’d give you a big hug and kiss because she’s happy you’re OK, but then she’s still going to wring your neck.”

He laughed. “I like the sound of the kissing part.”

“Keep your lips off my woman.”

“I can’t help it if she likes to kiss me. I have been told I’m irresistible.”

“To the horses in your stables maybe,” Logan replied. “How are things at your ranch?”

“Busy as usual.”

“Yeah, I know how it is. I’m calling to give you a head’s up.”

“Oh no. What did T.K. do to momma now? Did he skywrite that he loved her again over her house?”

“No. But he did fly her to Utah to have dinner at that ski resort she loves.”

“At least he’s toning it down,” Austin said sarcastically. The man wouldn’t know what a small gesture was if it bit him in the butt. “What’s going on?”

“We had dinner the other night and had one of those ‘thinking about the future’ chats. He’s worried about his legacy.”

“No worries, he’s still going down in history as one of the richest fat cats in the world.”

“It’s more than his wealth. I don’t know how to say this, but it sounds like he wants us to take a more active role in the business.”

“You already co-own the Tomcats. What else does he want?”

“He wants you to run the baseball team. Maybe even Holbrook Holdings.”

“No. Absolutely not.” Austin hit the steering wheel. “The ranch is a fulltime job, and I love what I do. Does he expect me to just drop everything and go sit behind a desk? He’s crazy.”

“I don’t think he’s thought it through. He just feels—”

“T.K. is always feeling some kind of way about something. The problem is he expects everyone else to feel that way too.”

“I think it’s safe to say he knows he won’t get a good reaction from you, but I think he’s going to ask anyway.”

Austin clenched his jaw. “What brought this on?”

“He asked me how things were progressing with Megan, and I told him I’m going to ask her to move in with me. Then he started going on about the whole legacy thing.”

He rolled his eyes, not wanting to talk about T.K. anymore. The news about Logan and Megan was far more interesting.

“Wow,” he said. “That’s a big step. It’s not surprising. You two spend every spare minute you have together.”

“I’m ready. I hope she’s ready.”

“Of course she’s ready. She loves you. She glows when she’s with you. What about the distance?”

“I’m putting together a compelling case for her moving to Texas. She’d inquired a few months ago about a regional position at her job that would have some travel involved but she could reside in Texas. And there’s moving closer to Channing, Cassidy, and the boys.”

“Good luck. I’m sure everything will turn out just fine.”

“What about you? Have you met anyone lately? I know you said you broke things off with the disc jockey a couple of months ago, but you haven’t mentioned anyone else.”

“I’ve been busy. There’s lots of work to be done. I have a few fences to reinforce so the horses don’t get loose.”

“Work will always be there. What about having some fun?”

The feisty reporter popped into his thoughts. “I think it’s nice that one Holbrook man is having a great relationship. I’m content with that.”

“Well if Momma keeps accepting T.K.’s dinner invitations that will be two.”

“Momma said that will be the day hell freezes over.” He pulled into the hospital parking lot and found a spot. “Listen, I have to go. I’m going to visit the woman I helped last night. She’s a good friend, and I want to check on her.”

“Any romantic interest in this friend?”

“No, but I am in love with her mussels marinara.” He hesitated a minute. There was nothing wrong with telling Logan about Savannah. “There’s a reporter in town. She wanted to interview me last night, but I said no. She’s pretty and feisty.”

“You’re going to ask her out.”

“Not a good idea. Grayson talked the newspaper into doing a story on me. It would be a conflict.”

“The story won’t go on forever. Get to know her. If you feel something by the time it’s over, ask her out.”

“I’ll think about it. If we don’t end up killing each other first.”

“If she can get to you, she sounds like a winner.” Logan laughed. “You need someone who’s going to shake things up and hold your attention.”

“Ha. Ha. Give Megan my best. I want to see the two of you soon. It’s been a while since you’ve come for a visit.”

“Maybe I’ll get to meet this Savannah,” Logan said. “You can’t run from love forever.”

“I’m not running.”

“Trust me. Seeing that round of hell Momma and Daddy went through left a bad taste in my mouth for a long time too. Then one day I decided I’d take the chance that I wouldn’t screw up a great thing like T.K.”

“Momma says it was a midlife crisis on steroids.” He shook his head. “They’d be crazy to get involved again.”

“They are both kind of nuts,” Logan replied.

“Yes, they are.” Austin smiled.

“Listen, I know you love your freedom and I respect that you’ve always carved your own path. But T.K.’s going to call. I thought I’d give you a chance to think of a way to let him down gently without damaging everything you’ve built over the past year.”

“You’re getting pretty good at playing the peacemaker.”

“Nah. I just like having my family back together again.”

“I’ll try to be mindful of what I say when I turn him down…as long as he doesn’t come at me like a wild bull loose at a rodeo.”

Logan laughed. “That’s not fair. It’s his signature style.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said. “Talk to you soon.”

He disconnected the call and started walking across the parking lot toward the hospital. Love seemed to be blossoming all around him. Alex and Peyton were planning their wedding. Logan and Megan were about to take another big step in their relationship. Even his parents were trying to reconnect again. It was hard not to feel the tug of loneliness at his restless heart. So many opportunities had passed with very nice women, but none of them had felt right. He knew he didn’t want a relationship without the unyielding love and passion he yearned for. When he found the right person, it would be all or nothing.

 

* * *

 

Savannah breathed a sigh of relief when the nurse at the station told her Levi wasn’t working today. So she didn’t have to sneak around trying to avoid him. She didn’t want to see him and have to turn down his invitation to dinner again.

She knocked on the open door to Angela’s room. “Ms. Bianchi, I’m Savannah Brewster from the Harper’s Gazette. I was hoping you’d have some time to speak with me.” This time she’d wait for an answer. She learned her lesson last night about charging in.

“Sure. Come on in. And Angela is fine.”

Great. She walked inside, keeping a smile on her face. “I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

“No, it’s OK. But I can hardly believe my accident is worth a write up in the Harper’s Gazette.”

“You are a beloved member of the community. Your food is legendary.” She put the box on the table. “Here’s some treats courtesy of Barbara Jean.”

“I don’t recall seeing you in there.” Angela raised an eyebrow. “You’re new in town?”

“Yes, I am. I haven’t gotten the lay of the land yet. Also, I’ve been on a super strict diet, and I’ve been watching what I eat. Pasta is delicious, but it’s fattening too.” She’d seen Angela’s decadent offerings when some of the staff ordered takeout at the newspaper office. Ralph ate there just about every other day. “But I can attest that I’ve drooled over the penne in vodka Ralph loves to eat.”

“Well, I have a few healthy alternatives too. I have some wheat pasta dishes that have lots of flavor. You should stop by when I’m up and running again.” Angela looked her over. “Although, I have no idea why you’re watching your weight.”

“I didn’t always look like this. I did a massive lifestyle change recently. Dumped a lot of dead weight. A hundred and sixty pounds of it was in the form of an ex-boyfriend.”

Angela chuckled so hard she started coughing. “Good for you.”

“You have no idea.” She smiled. “Can I get you a glass of water or something?”

“No, my wind capacity isn’t what it should be right now, that’s why I’m coughing. But thanks for the laugh.”

“I’d love to ask you a few questions. I won’t take up a lot of your time.” She took a seat, got out her voice recorder, and pressed play. “What do you remember?”

“I was in my office and had finished the wedding menu tasting, so I thought I’d prepare the menu for my Night of Romance event. I was thinking of trying something different this year because it’s always such a big time of year for me. I make a divine lovebirds lemoncello cake with a marscapone frosting that’s heavenly and goes well with a sundried tomato tortellini dish I serve. It’s a good lovers’ meal, ya know?”

“I bet. When did you notice something was wrong?” She wanted to keep the lady on topic, but she also wanted to stop talking about food. It was making her hungry.

“So I’m answering a few emails and putting together the schedule for the next week. I’ve been over-scheduling the bus boys for some reason.”

“Then what happened?”

“Then I smell smoke. I’d been having trouble with my oven for the past couple of days and had made an appointment to get it repaired. Make sure you note that in your story. James is my repair guy, and I don’t want people to think he was negligent in some way. Bad word of mouth can kill a business.”

“Got it. The fire was before the appointment for the repairs.”

Angela continued. “Next thing I know, there’s smoke coming from under the door. I open it and flames are everywhere. The smoke was so thick I almost immediately succumbed to them. My eyes were burning; I couldn’t see where I was going. I called out for help, but then I walked right into a baking rack and hit my head. The next thing I know—”

Savannah scooted to the edge of the seat. Angela told a story like her aunt Nancy. Long and filled with colorful random facts.

“This tall drink of water is carrying me out of there in his arms.” Angela’s eyes shined as she looked toward the door. “And then I pass out.”

Savannah turned to see none other than Austin Holbrook standing in the doorway with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and his cowboy hat in the other. He looked good. Actually better than good. You’d never know he’d spent the previous evening saving someone’s life.

 

 

Austin tried to suppress a grin when he saw Savannah sitting in the chair next to Angela’s bed. She looked pretty in a jean jacket, colorful dress and tan, knee-length boots. Her hair was done up in a long French braid whose tail-end rested on her voluptuous breasts.

“Here’s my hero.” Angela beamed. “Come on over here and get your thank-you kiss.”

“Good to see you’re looking well.” He walked over and gave the woman a hug and kiss. “How you feelin’?”

“I won’t be doing any photo shoots any time soon.” She held up the hand that had the dressing on it. “But thanks to you, I’m alive.”

“These are for you. I hope they cheer up the room a bit.” He turned to Savannah. “Ms. Brewster. Good to see you again.”

“Mr. Holbrook. I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.”

“Austin isn’t the dead weight, is he?” Angela said to Savannah.

“No!” Savannah stood. “It’s not him.”

“Good. Because I can’t imagine my favorite cowboy intentionally breaking anyone’s heart. Despite what Lucinda says on her radio show.”

“What are we talking about?” Austin gave her a quizzical look. It was his luck that everyone listened to Lucinda’s show.

“Savannah was telling me about the louse that broke her heart. He inspired some healthy changes in her.” Angela smiled. “Can you imagine anyone being stupid enough to lose her?”

“No, I can’t.” He locked eyes with Savannah. “He must be an idiot.”

“He is.” Savannah tugged on her ponytail. “But enough about me. I’m glad you’re here Mr. Holbrook. You were going to be my next stop.”

“Oh really?” He folded his arms across his chest. “Austin is fine. We’re laid-back people around here.”

“Austin then. I’ve been informed by my editor-in-chief that you’d changed your mind about being interviewed.”

“I said I’d think about it. I’m still thinking.”

She gaped at him. “But I was told it was all settled. Why are you being so difficult? What is there to think about?”

“Nothing is settled until I decide to give the go-ahead.”

“Let me guess. You’ve decided to be stubborn.”

“Maybe if you hadn’t burst into my room when I was half naked.”

“What’s the matter? You shy?”

“Right now I’d rather you focus your journalistic efforts on Angela. Community support is important at a time like this when a business owner is hit with a blow. How about an article about how it’s going to affect her annual event? Angela’s restaurant is the setting for many a romance on the most romantic day of the year. It’s a sight to behold. The intimate atmosphere. The band playing.” He smiled.

Angela nodded. “Don’t forget everyone gets a love poem with their appetizer.”

“How could I forget the poetry?” he agreed. “And those oysters. They are a natural aphrodisiac.”

“Let me guess,” Savannah said, raising an eyebrow. “You have a standing reservation for oysters every year with your latest fling?”

“You should go this year,” he said instead of answering her question. “Unless, you’ll be somewhere protesting declarations of love the entire month of February?”

“What are you trying to imply?” She moved closer to him, hands on her hips. “Not every woman without a date goes shrinking into some kind of hole because she doesn’t have a date. It’s just another day anyway. The rampant commercialism marred the true meaning ages ago.”

He looked down into her eyes. “Who doesn't celebrate the most romantic day of the year? Candy. Flowers. Romance. White-hot passion.”

“I refuse to fall victim to its trappings, is all.” She pulled on the lapels of her jacket. “Diamonds aren’t forever, no matter how catchy that slogan is. As a matter of fact, they can’t even get you six months with a decent guy.”

“Maybe the men you’ve been with haven’t been doing it right.” He looked into her eyes. “Amethyst would suit you better anyway. They would go well with the chestnut tones in your hair.”

Austin looked over at Angela, who was fanning herself with a tissue. “Angela, are you OK? Do you want me to get a nurse?”

“I’m fine.” She put the tissue down and took a sip of water. “The two of you bantering reminds me of the steamy love scenes on an old soap opera I used to watch.”

Austin gave her a warm laugh, then looked at Savannah. “Ms. Brewster. Can I see you in the hall for a moment?”

“Fine.” She turned off her voice recorder and followed him out. “Well. What is it?”

“Maybe this interview isn’t a good idea. It’s clear you’ve already made up your mind about me. This could cloud your judgment, and heaven knows I don’t need another media smear campaign.”

“Serves you right for running out on someone who speaks into a microphone for a living.”

He frowned. “My swift departure was misconstrued, but Lucinda won’t hear of it. I guess it’s better gossip to think of me as some inconsiderate jerk. I don’t need the hassle. I’ll tell Grayson my final answer is no. Or you can give the story to someone else at the paper to cover. I’ve had enough recriminations for the last three months.”

“Are you saying I can’t be impartial?” She squinted at him.

“Hell yeah. You’ve already jumped on the man-hating bandwagon. I don’t need the headache.”

“I’ll have you know I could report fairly on you if you walked around with a bear-skin rug wrapped around you, and I’m an anti-fur advocate. My views are my own, and I don’t cloud my writing voice with my personal opinions.”

“You’d be the first reporter in the last twenty-five years to be neutral.”

“Just watch me.” She put her hand on her hip. “The interview is happening, buttercup. After I cover this story, I can move on to real news instead of these buff pieces.”

He smirked. “Puff pieces.”

“Excuse me?”

“You said buff pieces. I think you meant to say puff pieces.”

She looked like she was replaying it in her head. “I did not say that.”

“Did so.”

“If I did it was a slip of the tongue.”

“Uh huh.” He stroked his chin. “I think that’s what’s called a Freudian slip. Did you see something you liked last night, Savannah?”

“I’ve seen better.”

He gave her a teasing grin. “Even if that were true, and I sincerely doubt it is, you could have left the room.”

“I’m a reporter. You, on the other hand, could learn a thing about humility.”

“The human body is a beautiful thing. I’m proud of my natural assets.”

“Get over yourself. I have a job to do. And you can stick your dime-store psychology right in your boxer shorts.” She turned and sauntered down the hall. “I’ll see you Monday morning Mr. Holbrook.”

“Austin.”

“Bright and early. I’ll come to your ranch. I’ll be the first thing you see when you open your eyes.”

“As lovely as that sounds, my day starts at six in the morning.”

“Oh.” She clutched the strap of her handbag. “Then I’ll see you around nine when the rest of the sane world starts their day.”

Austin watched as she stalked off down the hall. The woman sure knew how to make an exit.