I put my phone away and pull out my worn and tattered copy of My Antonia from my bag as soon as the plane takes off.
By the time we reach cruising altitude, I’m fully engaged in the story. The West always fascinated me, even though I’d only been west of Houston once when I flew to Montana earlier this year. But then my PR and marketing company was bought out by a larger one, and I was transferred to Missoula.
I honestly didn’t plan to ever leave the south. But it was either accept the transfer or I was out of work. One bonus—I’ll have plenty of opportunities to be around horses and to experience the true Wild West. Mia, my boss, offered me a cabin on the ranch where she and her husband live, which is a relief because the idea of apartment-hunting sends me spiraling further into overwhelm.
Mia’s husband, Declan, also happens to be the minority owner of the Montana Wild Kings ice hockey team. That’s a fact I’ve been trying to ignore all summer as I planned my cross-country move. I happen to know a couple of the players on the Kings—and one of them, in particular, I have a long history with.
My stomach flips over just thinking about Jared Storm. Thank God he doesn’t know I’m moving to Montana. I’ll tell him in my own time when I’m ready. First, I need to put my feet down in my new home and get settled. Jared knocks me off kilter enough as it is.
Granted, with Declan and Mia living on the ranch, I’m going to have to contact Jared sooner rather than later. But Mia told me my cabin is off the beaten path and I don’t need to see anyone if I don’t want to. That sounds perfect to me, and in a couple of days, I’ll give Jared a call and fill him in. He lives in the city anyway, and he’s about to be fully immersed in his hockey season, so it’s not like I’ll be bumping into him on the daily.
The plane ride is smooth and uneventful, and when we land, I take a moment as I walk through the terminal and wait for my bags at baggage claim to stare out the windows and appreciate the mountains. They’re so majestic, and I can’t wait to go hiking in them.
I grab my two suitcases off the belt. Unable to find a dolly, I start dragging them behind me as I follow the exit signs. I’m going to be leasing a car while I live here, but I can’t sign the papers until tomorrow, which means I don’t have a way to get to the ranch from the airport. However, I declined Mia’s offer to come pick me up. Mia has a new baby at home, and I don’t want to take up any of her precious time. I’ll take a cab; I hailed enough of those in New Orleans.
Between reading the signs and glancing back every time one of my suitcases tips onto its side, I’m not paying attention to anything else.
“Oomph.” I slam into a hard body. “I’m so sorry…” I glance up, right into the amused eyes of Jared Storm.
“Wild West Ash. Welcome to Montana.”
CHAPTERTHREE
I stare at him, half-torn between wanting to slap him and kiss him. So, basically, my normal resting state when it comes to Jared.
He looks back at me with his naturally flirty smile. His hands are in his pockets as he waits patiently for me to acknowledge him.
Typical Jared. He’s dressed down in a gray Big Easy hoodie and worn blue jeans, and he’s got a black nondescript baseball cap covering his dark, thick hair. But the way he carries himself is overwhelmingly sexy. He’s tall and confident with a casual air about him that screams “I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks of me.”
“You never look at social media,” is the first thing I can think of to say.
“I had a special reason to today.”
“What does that mean? And why are you here?” I drop both suitcases to put my hands on my hips. I hate that he can send me into a near-fit for no reason other than that sexy grin he’s shooting my way.
“Why do you think? I came to pick you up. Even turned down a night out with Arch to do so. That’s how important you are to me.”
“Please.” I roll my eyes. “You mean you’d miss out on a night of casual hookups to hang out with your old friend? I feel so special.”
Jared chuckles. “You jealous?”
“Never,” I say vehemently. “You know I don’t want to be one of your darn hookups.”
He lowers his head so we’re at eye level, and I hate that I break the eye contact first.
“Of course you wouldn’t.”
I can’t help the smile pulling at the corners of my mouth, and Jared opens his arms. “There’s my girl.”
I step into his embrace, and he hugs me warmly. I hold onto him like a lifeline. Because that’s what Jared Storm and I have always been for each other. We just hid that fact a lot better than Hunter and Winter did. We were best friends in the worst of times, although in the best of times…we drifted. It’s just who we are. Jared’s there for me when I need him the most and vice versa, but when we don’t, we live separate lives.
“I’m happy you’re here, Ash,” he says in my ear.
I fight the shivers that race down my neck. I’ve never allowed myself to get lost in Jared Storm’s orbit. If I did, we couldn’t have maintained our friendship. It’s difficult enough as it is. Jared plays hard, parties hard, and dates light. If we had ever slept together, it would have destroyed the rare bond that we have.
We both knew that, and we were careful to stay on the platonic side of the line. Doesn’t mean he didn’t piss me off all the damn time with his cavalier “dating” style. And I use the word dating with as much sarcasm as I can muster. Jared honestly doesn’t understand the world of relationships. I suppose I could teach him, but the idea of helping him find a future wife sends me into a sea of envy I’m not ready to process.
He pulls back to look at me, and his eyes flash with vulnerability. “Care to tell me why you didn’t want me to know you were moving here?”
