Family dinners were one of Naomi’s favorite things about living and working at the ranch. Technically, she had no blood relation to the Cortez men, but seeing as how her parents and only sister had all moved to Florida when Gracie was two, she felt more at home with this family than her own. And now, with Jessa as part of the package, she looked forward to these gatherings even more.
Outside Jessa and Lance’s front door, Naomi paused. Hopefully, after she told them the news about the bed and breakfast they’d still want her to come, even after she moved to the Porter House.
“Let’s goooo, Mommy,” Gracie said, tugging on her hand. When she didn’t budge, her daughter let go and went inside without knocking. Lance wouldn’t mind. Ever since the girl was an infant he’d spoiled her, and now it was his own fault she had no boundaries. Naomi only hoped Jessa and Lance were decent. You never knew when you stopped by their house these days.
They wouldn’t be expecting anyone for another half hour, but she’d wanted to come and tell them her news before everyone else got there. After the meeting with the contractor yesterday, she’d decided she wanted to work at the ranch through mid-October, then take a month off before opening the Hidden Gem Inn.
Tears misted her eyes. She couldn’t wait to start a new chapter, but she’d miss life around here, too. They’d been so good to her…
“There you are.” Jessa traipsed out the open door and joined her on the porch. Her pet pig Ilsa trotted behind, occasionally stopping to root her nose around the ground. “Oh God,” Jessa gasped. “Are you crying? Is everything okay? Has the lab called?”
“Not yet.” They were supposed to call any time now. Lucas had returned earlier that morning, though she hadn’t seen him yet. He’d simply sent her a text saying the lab should be calling her today.
But she couldn’t think about that now. She had to deal with one life-changing announcement at a time.
Naomi brushed away tears. “Actually I need to talk to you and Lance about something. Before everyone else gets here.”
“Of course.” Her friend linked their arms together and led her inside. The pig scampered after them, snorting distastefully at the prospect of being left behind.
Gracie was already sitting at the kitchen island trying to catch the M&Ms Lance tossed in her direction.
Jessa shook her head. “I swear. I leave you alone for one minute and you’re feeding the princess M&Ms before dinner.”
“Eight out of ten,” Lance said, kissing his soon-to-be wife. “That’s our best record yet.”
“Yeah it is!” Gracie squealed, slapping him a high five.
“Well, you’ll have to give it a rest.” Jessa snatched the bag of M&Ms away from him. “Naomi needs to talk to us.”
“Oh.” That seemed to get his attention. “Everything all right?”
“Everything’s great,” she managed. Damn the womanly emotions. Why couldn’t she be more like the Cortez men when it came to hiding her feelings? Before she fell apart, she rested her hand on Gracie’s shoulder. “Do you want to tell them the good news, honey?”
Without missing a beat, Gracie popped off the stool. “We bought a new house!” she announced, dancing around. “It’s so so so pretty. Wait until you see it!”
Ilsa danced around with her until Gracie dropped to a knee and started to pet her. “Hello, Miss Piggy,” she crooned. “Aren’t you looking beautiful today?”
Her daughter didn’t seem to notice that both Lance and Jessa’s mouths had dropped open.
“The new house is right on the river and it has so many rooms and we’re opening a bed and breakfast there!” Gracie went on, mainly addressing the pig.
“Wow,” Jessa finally said.
But Lance didn’t even try to hide his disapproval. “You’re moving?” he demanded. It seemed having his favorite ten-year-old deliver the news hadn’t softened the blow. “When? Why?”
Naomi pulled out a stool and sat, caught between Gracie’s excitement and her own sadness. “Because it’s time,” she said with a smile. “You know I’ve always dreamed of having a small inn. And now you two are getting married. Everyone’s moving on. I want to move on, too.”
“We understand,” Jessa said quickly, making up for Lance’s stony silence. “Of course you do. This is amazing, Naomi. We’re happy for you.” She elbowed her fiancé as if prodding him to agree.
He didn’t.
“I won’t be ready to move out until October.” Which would hopefully give them all the transition time they would each need. “So nothing has to change until then. And even after we move, we’ll still see you guys all the time.”
“That’d better be a promise,” her friend said, nudging her future husband again.
His drawn mouth hinted at disappointment but over the years Lance had mastered unreadable expressions. “What about Lucas?” he asked.
That sat her up straighter. “What about him?” She widened her eyes and nodded toward Gracie. She sure as hell didn’t intend to discuss anything about her and Lucas in front of her daughter.
“Hey, Gracie,” Jessa called. “Guess what I rescued the other day?”
Her daughter spun. “What?” She was a sucker for animals.
“A baby bunny with a broken leg.”
“A baby?” Gracie’s eyes widened with childlike awe.
“Yep. You wanna see?” Jessa asked. “I can take you up to the shelter.”
“Yes! Can I go, Mom? Can I? Pleeeeese?”
“Sure.” Naomi matched Lance’s glare, counting down the seconds before she could tell him that she and Lucas were none of his damn business.
“Come on.” Hand in hand, Jessa and Gracie bounded out the front door with Ilsa running to keep up.
“So you’re not even gonna give him a chance,” Lance said before the door had closed.
“A chance for what?” she shot back. Lucas hadn’t asked her for another chance. He hadn’t said anything about the complicated mess between them.
“A chance to be part of your life. To be part of Gracie’s life.”
She shook her head wearily. “He might not even be her father.”
“So?” Lance argued. “He loves you. And that means he’d love Gracie, too.”
And how was that supposed to work? “Lucas doesn’t want to be here.”
“And you won’t leave Topaz Falls,” he accused. “Even if it means being with the person you’ve always loved.”
She stood and marched over to him. “Don’t make me feel guilty for wanting to stay. My life is here. My support system. Don’t make me feel guilty for wanting to keep Gracie’s life as normal as possible, even with everything that’s about to change.”
His expression relented. “No. You’re right. Sorry. That was out of line.”
“I don’t even know what Lucas wants.” He hadn’t told her. He’d kissed her, but they’d been so busy sorting out the whole paternity issue, they hadn’t discussed any future plans.
“What do you want?” Lance asked.
“I want what’s best for my daughter.” For the last ten years that had been her guiding principle. The basis for all of her decisions, and it wouldn’t change now. She wanted love, too. Real love. That raw, soul-binding masterpiece that broke you and healed you all at the same time. But that couldn’t be her focus. Not for herself. Not right now.
“I’ll miss you,” Lance said, and she’d never heard him sound so sweet.
“We’ll still come around. I’ll still nag you all the time,” she promised. “And Gracie will probably babysit your kids someday.”
“That’s a crazy thought.” A smile reached up and grabbed his eyes. “Bet you never thought you’d see the day—”
The front door opened and cut him off. Lucas walked into his brother’s house and the oxygen levels in the room seemed to take a dive. At least for her. A woozy feeling pulled the rug out from under her composure—from dizziness or elation, she couldn’t be sure. Whatever it was, she couldn’t let anyone else see it, so she forced an easy smile. “Hey,” she said casually. “Glad you made it for dinner.”
“Yeah. Me too.” He strode over to where they sat in that confident gait of his, never taking his eyes off her. “No phone call yet, huh?”
“Not yet.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and looked again, just to be sure.
“I’m gonna go check on the meat.” Lance walked away in an obvious ploy to leave them alone. “Threw a few racks of ribs on the smoker this morning. Should be about done,” he said as he slipped out the back door.
Even though she was suffering from serious heart palpitations, she turned to Lucas. Without his hat on, his hair was mussed and so sexy. She swallowed. “How was Denver?”
“Good. Easy,” he corrected as though he wanted to reassure her.
“Glad to hear that,” she said awkwardly. “Thanks again for going all the way down there.” As if a simple thanks could make up for all of the trouble he’d gone through.
“No problem. I had some other business to take care of anyway.” Lucas slid onto the stool next to her, and she let herself lean over just the slightest bit to smell that manly woodsy scent that always seemed to cling to him. Undercover indulgences were all she could allow herself right now. Even that was enough to tighten her stomach and ignite her cheeks.
Lucas turned to her, his lips jacked into quite the hot little smile, as if he’d noticed the blush.
Down, girl, she told herself. God, it had been way too long since she’d been with a man. Even just his aura was pulling her in.
“How’re you feeling about everything?” he asked her, his eyes clear and at ease.
I’m feeling like I want to take you home with me. Let you undress me slowly. Let you kiss my lips and my neck until you earn free rein over my body…
Humiliation pinched her cheeks. What the hell was the matter with her! She’d been watching too much Starz, that was for damn sure.
“You okay?” Lucas asked, studying her like he might a rare sculpture.
“Fine,” she squeaked. “Good.” Better than good. Her lady parts were playing a seductive tune…
“Everything’s gonna be fine,” he assured her, covering her hand with his.
Now her body whimpered. Maybe she should just say screw it all. Who cared about being responsible? Who cared about how complicated it could make her life? Something told her sex with Lucas would be worth whatever complications came from it…
Before she could act on her lusty side, doors opened—the front and the back—and all of her favorite people started to file in to Lance and Jessa’s kitchen.
Jessa and Gracie, who chattered excitedly about the baby bunny. Levi. Luis, who looked stronger and healthier, with his special lady friend, Evie Starlington, by his side. Evie was a local stained-glass artist who’d moved to Topaz Falls after her husband had passed away last year. She and Luis seemed to be spending more and more time together.
Even Cassidy and Darla were joining them tonight. Seeing as how the wedding was only two weeks away and Jessa still hadn’t found a minister, they were going to have a special meeting to figure things out.
Naomi let out a breath. Saved by the family dinner. Two more minutes alone with Lucas and she may have thrown herself at him.
“Mom!” Gracie exclaimed right in her face. “Jessa says I can help her nurse the baby bunny back to health! Can I? I’ll have to check on it every morning before camp.”
“Of course you can.” She shot her friend a grateful smile. If she needed to justify the tears that had fallen earlier, there you had it. All of the people in this room had been such an important part of Gracie’s life. There wasn’t a day she’d ever felt like a single mom, because she hadn’t done it on her own. They’d been her lifeline.
Oh God. Now she was getting teary again. Before the emotions took over, she stood and worked her way through the group, greeting everyone.
The boisterous talking and laughing crowded the room, but she couldn’t quite join in.
From the outside looking in, she had everything. She was in a room with all of her favorite people. Then there was the house, a new adventure waiting for her.
So why did she feel like something was still missing?
* * *
“Dearly beloved…”
Lucas rolled his eyes at his younger brother’s audition to play the minister in Lance and Jessa’s wedding.
The rest of the room erupted into laughter.
They were all sitting around Lance’s living room after one hell of a ranch dinner, and he had to admit, he’d come to appreciate these kinds of evenings. He may have missed out on them for years, but for the last several months it had felt like those years didn’t matter so much. Family, friends—community—made him feel a part of something bigger, something more important.
“Sorry. I just can’t see you as a wedding officiate,” Cassidy Greer said to Levi. Even with his status as a professional bull rider, he didn’t seem to impress her much. ’Course she’d known him forever. He’d been her late brother Cash’s best friend while they were growing up.
“Maybe if you took off your shirt and tried again,” Darla suggested innocently.
“Now, that’s something he’s good at,” Lucas threw in. Every time he turned around there was another picture of his shirtless brother popping up online. The dig drew more laughter, but Levi walked over and threw a punch into his shoulder.
“I could do it,” he argued. “You get up there and say a few words. How hard can it be?”
“The point is to keep the attention on the bride and groom,” Lucas informed him. “Not to steer it to yourself.” He was giving him a hard time, but the truth was, Levi happened to be a pretty good guy. Cocky, sure. But he was also loyal and generous.
“Yeah, I’m not sure you’re right for the part,” Jessa said thoughtfully. She and Lance were snuggled up on the couch, arms entwined.
A pang of jealousy riffed him. While he’d managed to snag a seat next to Naomi on the other couch, there definitely wasn’t any touching. She’d hardly said a word all evening and he could almost see the weight of the unknown pressing down on her.
“I know who should marry you!” Gracie blurted, sprinting across the room and launching herself onto his father’s lap. “Papa Luis!” She wrapped her arms around him in a suffocating hug. “You could do it. You even have white hair!”
Lucas cracked up. As if white hair was a prerequisite for officiating a wedding. God, he loved that girl. She was so precocious and full of life. And the way she sat on his father’s lap…It was as if he already was her grandfather.
Once again, that feeling rose inside of him, strength and power and conviction. He wanted to be her father. It had to be him…
His dad smoothed his wrinkled hand over Gracie’s red curls. “I’m not much for words,” he said. “Especially in front of all those people.”
Gracie took his cheeks in her hands and brought his face closer to hers. “Your words might be quiet,” she said wisely. “But they mean more than most people’s.”
The tenderness in her eyes sent a jab straight to Lucas’s gut. How could Dad turn her down now? Lucas sure as hell wouldn’t be able to. She looked at him like that and he’d give her whatever she wanted—whatever she asked for. He’d be putty in her hands.
“That’s a great idea, Dad,” Lance said, squeezing his fiancée’s hand.
Jessa was already teary-eyed. “Oh, Luis. It would mean so much to us.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Evie said shyly. Lucas sure had been seeing a lot more of her lately, though his dad insisted there was nothing going on. She was maybe a few years younger than his father, but her long white hair and flowered clothes made her look youthful. He’d have to remember to tell his dad how much he liked her. Luis could do a lot worse.
“I can help you get ordained online,” Levi offered, seeing as how they all knew Luis had likely never been online.
The old man shook his head slowly back and forth the way he always did when he didn’t understand something. “I guess I got no choice in the matter,” he muttered, but his smile told the truth. He was honored that they’d even ask.
“Oh, this will be so amazing. So perfect!” Jessa dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “Thanks, Luis!” She peeled herself away from Lance and stood. “This calls for dessert. Darla brought a chocolate cake.”
A murmur of excitement went around the room.
Naomi stood. “I’ll help—”
Before she could finish, some teenybopper song rang out from her pocket.
Lucas winced. Wow, that was quite the ringtone.
Everyone quieted as she dug the phone out and looked at the screen. Her gaze went straight to Lucas.
“I need to take this outside,” she nearly whispered.
“Of course.” Jessa shooed her along. “We’ll dish up dessert and save you a piece, won’t we, Gracie?” She tucked the girl under her arm.
Lucas stood, but he wasn’t sure how. This phone call could change his life. Change all of their lives. Wordlessly, he followed Naomi out to the back patio, heart thumping the same way it had when he’d kissed her after the play.
As he quietly closed the back door, Naomi stood facing the mountains, murmuring, “Mmm-hmm. Right. Yes.”
Lucas turned his eyes up toward the sky, giving her space, but wanting her to know he was right there with her. The sun hovered above Topaz Mountain, its rays cutting the sky. For a minute, he got lost in it—the brilliance and the peace. He’d missed sunsets those three years he spent in prison, and now he never took one for granted. A lot of nights since he’d come home, he’d pack up his fishing gear and head out to the river right when the sunset gave the world that rare lighting. No matter how bad a day had been, the sunset was a reward. It always seemed to set things right.
“Thank you,” Naomi seemed to choke out. She hung up the phone and stuffed it into her pocket.
Lucas couldn’t bring himself to ask. He simply waited. And when she looked at him, her eyes drawn and sad, he knew. She didn’t have to tell him. The flood of disappointment nearly took him down.
“I’m so sorry I dragged you into this,” she whispered, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. “I thought for sure…I’d hoped…”
“Don’t be sorry.” That would mean he’d lost her, that they’d say goodbye and go their separate ways. He’d never been a betting man, but he gambled with a few steps closer. The stakes were higher than they’d ever been. He’d never wanted anything as much as he wanted her. “This whole thing brought you back to me,” he said, refusing to let her look away. Before, she hadn’t even let herself see him. She hadn’t talked to him or sat next to him. Fear had kept her away.
Now her hand reached for his. “Oh my God, Lucas. I don’t know how to do this.”
He didn’t ask her to clarify. Maybe she meant how to let Mark in to Gracie’s life. Or maybe she meant how to open herself to him fully after all of these years. It didn’t matter. “You won’t do it alone.” He pulled her into his arms, sheltering her, holding her up. “I’ll help you.”
She leaned into him as though giving up the fight. “Okay,” she whispered against his chest. “Okay.”