“I think that’s asking for trouble. You can’t tell anyone…” He died off there, waiting until she turned her gaze back to him.
When she did just that, Richard gave her a knowing look. “You can’t tell anyonecertain things, which means your entire relationship would start out with a lie. Doesn’t sound too promising to me.”
She fought back the stinging sensation as he confirmed her fear. “You could tell them eventually,” she insisted. “Like once we’re sure we can trust someone.”
“Still risky,” Richard persisted. “And even if youdidtell them down the road, that wouldn’t change the fact that you started out by hiding something from them.”
Andie looked for a way to challenge that, but the last thing she needed was for Richard to start prodding her about liking the cowboy again. Perhaps if she took another route…
“Emmitt’s planning to date,” she blurted, recalling something he’d said last night. “You know he’s planning to go tonight. He could have his eye on someone already for all we know.”
“You couldn’tpayme to go to that,” Richard mumbled.
Just days ago, Andie had felt that exact same way. But after hearing that Trenton would be there, performing a musical number on stage no less, not even Trigger himself could drag her away from it.
“Emmitt’s going to blow this for us,” Richard murmured. “Just watch. He’s going to cozy up to one of the chicks here—which would be inappropriate by the way—and tell them everything so he can get their sympathy.”
The ridiculous scenario yanked Andie from her musings. “You’ve got to stop being so paranoid. And try giving Emmitt a little credit. He’s not achild.”
“He acts like he is.”
But Andie disagreed. “Memphis and Maverick act like children. Emmitt…he’s just Emmitt. He’s a bit of a dreamer. He’s super sloppy. And he has a habit of biting off more than he can chew, but he’s actually pretty responsible most of the time.”
“Whatever,” Richard said, the look of disgust on his face. “You two are probably going to gang up on me here anyway. Everyone dumps on the messenger if they don’t like the message. And the message is none of us is going to have a normal life. We’renotgoing to fall in love, we’renotgoing to have a family, and the sooner everyone gets that through their heads, the better off we’ll be.”
She heard every word Richard had said. But even as he’d rambled about all of the things she would never have in life, Andie was musing on the one thing shedidhave—tonight. And with it came a world of possibilities.
Chapter 9
Trenton ran a hand through his still-damp hair as he eyed his reflection. Should he wear the collared, snap-up shirt or was it too much? He’d never given a lot of thought to what he wore, but at Milt’s funeral—the one and only place he’d worn the shirt—Trenton had received a whole lot of compliments on the thing.
Fine. He’d wear it. But he refused to shave his face. He’d taken a fresh razor to his neck and jaw line, trimmed up his rather short facial hair and, since he wasn’t wearing his hat, spread some of that texture mud Betty bought him through his hair. Clean hair looked about as silly on him as a clean shave.
Who cared that Andie was probably into clean-cut and shaven men who strutted around in business suits with flashy cufflinks? That’s not who he was. Even as his hair hung past his dark brows, the tips grazing the corner of his eyes, Trenton knew that probably set him apart as well. He wasn’t about to change that, either.
He headed over to the closet, grabbed his favorite belt, and gave in to the urge to check the mirror once more. Trenton scrutinized the face that looked back at him as he threaded the leather belt through each loop.
What in tarnation was he doing? Trying to impress a woman who’d sooner hire him to train her horses than go on a date with him? And she didn’t even own horses. Andie was a city girl. Sure, she’d moved to Haven Hills in some attempt to try a different life. But it wouldn’t last. Soon she and her brothers would pack up and head toward their next adventure.
The thought hit him square in the head as he realized the truth of hisownplans. “What are you whining about?” he asked his reflection. “You’releaving, dummy.” And so he was.
Tension drained from his body at the thought. Yeah, what was he so worried for? Sure, there seemed to be some attraction between them. More than simple attraction. There was chemistry and he knew it. But that didn’t change the fact that he was first, planning to remain single and second, fixing to leave Haven Hills and everything in it behind.
He fought off the wave of dread that came over him at the thought of saying goodbye. To Betty, to his beloved staff, and most of the inn’s horses too.
But tonight, he wouldn’t think about that. Tonight, Trenton would let himself enjoy the evening. It wasn’t long ago that he knew how to unwind and have a good time. Heck, there was scarcely a weekend that went by without him joining in on the fun at the inn. Why not go out with a bang? Enjoy some of the good times he’d miss most of all?
That warm and familiar spark of excitement flared back into place. A spark that flickered to life the moment Andie agreed to come to tonight’s gathering. He grinned as he reached for his aftershave, inhaled the spicy scent, and slapped it onto his jaw and neck.
Tonight, he’d forget about his worries and have a good time. Hopefully, at least some of that time would be spent with Andie.
* * *
The rich, tangy sweet scent of BBQ sauce hung in the smokey air as Andie walked from her cabin to the inn. Trenton had said temperatures were on the rise, but she hadn’t imagined it’d get as warm as it had so quickly. So warm, in fact, that the moisture in the once-drenched ground had dried up. Instead of walking over squeaking packed snow or melted mounds of slush, small twigs and pinecones crunched beneath her boots.
Even better, as the sun set over the valley, its heat warmed Andie’s back as she moved. A few minutes more, and it’d be hidden in the nook of the hills, leaving a pale tone of twilight in its wake. She wondered what Trenton would look like in such a light. Those mysterious eyes cast in shadow. The mere thought sent a swoosh of adrenaline from her chest to her tummy.
There seemed to be an unspoken promise between Andie and Trenton, an understanding that tonight they’d test the chemistry that blazed each time they were close. A chemistry that urged, begged, insisted they give in and get closer still.
