“Thanks.” She took the dish, the ceramic warm against her palms. Something savory and rich-smelling wafted up from beneath the foil. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since the gas station breakfast sandwich twelve hours ago. “That’s really nice of her.”
River rocked back on his heels, clearly in no hurry to leave. “Jo figured you might not want to brave the madhouse that is communal dinner on your first night.” His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “So she set the most handsome permanent resident here to welcome you.”
“You think you’re the most handsome resident here?” She couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips.
“Well, I don’t like to brag, but...” He gestured to himself with a dramatic sweep of his hand, then laughed. “Actually, I’m probably third on the list, depending on how you feel about beards. But I am definitely the most charming.”
His easy manner was so different from Anson’s stiffness that it eased the knots in her shoulders. She stepped back, opening the door wider. “Do you want to come in? I was about to make some tea.”
“Tea would be amazing.” River took off his hat and bounded in with the energy of someone who rarely stood still. The cabin suddenly felt too small for all that enthusiasm, but the company was welcome after hours of solitude with her disappointment. His gaze caught on her tools lined up on the dresser. “Nice set. Craftsman?”
“Mix of brands. I use whatever works best for each job.” She filled the electric kettle and set it on its base. “You’re the mechanic, right? Anson mentioned you can fix anything with an engine.”
He dropped into one of the chairs by the window, all loose limbs and restless energy. “That’s me. Resident grease monkey and chaos agent.” He drummed his fingers on the chair’s arm. “So, how was your first day at the ranch? Besides the whole awkward reunion with our resident blacksmith?”
Maggie winced as she set two mugs on the counter. So everyone knew. Great.
He must have seen her expression despite her attempt to school it back into a pleasant smile, because he added, “Sorry about that. Anson’s not exactly skilled at expressing his feelings. Or acknowledging they exist.” His smile turned sympathetic. “If it makes you feel better, he’s been weird all week, knowing you were coming. Well, weirder than usual.”
Something warm unfurled in her chest. He had been thinking about her arrival, then. “He mentioned me?”
“Not exactly mentioned. More like checked the mail obsessively and disappeared into his workshop for hours.” He glanced around the cabin. “So, how’s the place? We call it Jo’s cabin, but she hasn’t actually lived here since she and Walker finally stopped dancing around each other seven or so years ago, but?—”
He froze mid-sentence, eyes going wide as his gaze snapped back to her. “Whoa. Wait. Holy shit.” He pointed at her, mouth hanging open. “You’re Magnolia Rowe. FromMagnolia Builds!”
She hated the chill of fear that chased down her spine at his recognition. Hated that Landry’s obsession had made her fear meeting fans. She squashed down the involuntary reaction and managed a tight smile. “I am. You watch my show?”
“Watch it? I’m obsessed!” He popped to his feet, energy crackling off him like a live wire. “That tiny house episode last season? The fold-down table design was genius. And the barn restoration with the reclaimed materials?” He bounced on theballs of his feet. “Does Anson know? Wait, of course he knows. That’s so cool!”
Despite everything, she laughed. River’s enthusiasm was contagious.
“I’m surprised anyone out here watches DIY shows.”
“Are you kidding? We’re renovating constantly. Last spring, we converted the east stables into recovery rooms for the rescue horses. Your tip about using sealed pine instead of drywall for humidity control? Lifesaver.”
“You actually tried that?”
“Tried it? I won fifty bucks betting Ghost it would work.” He grinned. “The guy still owes me, come to think of it.”
Ghost. Anson had talked about him, too. The ex-CIA operative who carried around a blue mug as if it were precious. When it broke recently, Anson had repaired it with kintsugi and sent her a picture.
More beautiful for having been broken, he’d written.
That letter had been the one to seal her decision to come to Valor Ridge. She needed to feel safe, and Anson was the only place she’d felt safe in years.
“So,” River said, rubbing his hands together eagerly, “any chance I could get your expert opinion on the bunkhouse bathroom renovation? The tile work is giving me nightmares.”
She found herself smiling genuinely for the first time since she’d arrived. “Sure. I’d be happy to take a look.”
“Awesome!” He pumped his fist in the air. “Wait till I tell the guys I got renovation advice from the actual Magnolia Rowe. X is going to lose his mind.”
The kettle clicked off, and Maggie busied herself with the tea, grateful for something to do with her hands. “Is X another resident?”
She felt like she already knew all of these men—from Walker to Boone, Ghost and Jax, River and even Creed Calder, thetroublemaker who caused the ranch all kinds of headaches before taking off into the night without a word. But Anson hadn’t mentioned X in his letters. Were there others? She didn’t know why, but the thought that he hadn’t shared his whole family with her made her feel strangely hollow. Was there a whole world at Valor Ridge he’d kept from her?
“Yeah, Xavier Vega. I’d call him my best friend, but he’d hate that. ‘What are we, pre-teen girls?’” He dropped his voice in what she assumed was an approximation of X’s voice. Then he waved a hand. “But, fuck it, I call it like it is, and he’s the best friend I’ve ever had. You’ll meet him and the others tomorrow. You’ll like them all, and they’ll love you.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” And she meant it. The prospect of meeting more people at the ranch was overwhelming, but if Anson wasn’t going to be the refuge she’d hoped for, maybe she could find other connections here. “Though I’m just Maggie, not Magnolia. That’s for the show.”
