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“Yes, I had an early appointment at the hospital this morning and ran into your sister. She was excited that the Outlaws had reached out to your family.”
Bailey rolled her eyes. “Sending someone instead of coming yourself is not what I consider reaching out. One of the Outlaws should have come themselves. Sending someone else is so tacky.”
“Yes, but they could have ignored the situation altogether. Some people get touchy when others claim them as family. You never know the reason behind it.”
Since Bailey and Josette were pretty much regulars at McKays, the waitress slid a cup of coffee in front of Josette, who smiled up at the woman. “Thanks, Amanda.” After taking a sip, Josette turned her attention back to Bailey. “So tell me about him.”
“Not much to tell. He looks okay. Seems nice enough.”
“That’s all you know about him, that he looks okay and seems nice enough?”
“Is there something else I should know?”
“Yes. Is he single? Married? Divorced? Have any children? What does he do for a living? Does he still live with his mother?”
Bailey smiled. “I didn’t ask his marital status but can only assume he’s single because he wasn’t wearing a ring. As far as what he does for a living, he’s a rancher. I do know that much. He raises bison.”
“I take it he wasn’t too talkative.”
Bailey took another sip of coffee as she thought of the time she’d spent with Walker yesterday. “He was okay. We had a polite conversation.”
“Polite?” Josette asked with a chuckle. “You?”
Bailey grinned. She could see why Josette found that amusing. Bailey wasn’t known for being polite. “I promised Dillon I’d be on my best behavior even if it killed me.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to run. I’m meeting with the reporter taking my old job at nine.”
“Okay, see you later.”
After Bailey walked out of the restaurant, she couldn’t help but think about Josette’s questions. There was a lot Bailey didn’t know about Walker.
She’d remedy that when she saw him later.
* * *
Walker was standing in front of Dillon’s barn when Bailey’s truck pulled up. Moments later he watched as she got out of the vehicle. Although he tried to ignore it, he felt a deep flutter in the pit of his stomach at seeing her again. Today, like yesterday, he was very much aware of how sensuous she looked. Being attracted to her shouldn’t be anything he couldn’t handle. So why was he having a hard time doing so?
Why had he awakened that morning looking for her at the breakfast table, assuming she lived with Dillon and his wife, since she didn’t have her own place? Later, he’d found out from her brother Ramsey that Bailey floated, living with whichever of her brothers, sisters or cousins best fit her current situation. But now that most of her relatives had married, she stayed in her sister Gemma’s house since Gemma and her husband, Callum, had their primary home in Australia.
He continued to watch her, somewhat surprised by his own actions. He wasn’t usually the type to waste his time ogling a woman. But with Bailey it couldn’t be helped. There was something about her that demanded a man’s attention regardless of whether he wanted to give it or not. Her brothers and cousins would probably skin him alive if they knew just where his thoughts were going right now.
The cold weather didn’t seem to bother her as she moved away from the truck without putting on her coat. Dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, a long pencil skirt that complimented her curves and a pair of black leather boots, she looked ready to walk the runway.
Squinting in the sun, he watched as she walked around the truck, checking out each tire. She flipped her hair away from her shoulders, and he imagined running his fingers through every strand before urging her body closer to his. There was no doubt in his mind he would love to sample the feel of their bodies pressed together. Then he would go for her mouth and—
“Walker? What are you doing here?”
Glad she had interrupted his thoughts, he replied, “I’m an invited guest, remember?”
She frowned as she approached him. “Invited? Not the way I remember it. But what I’m asking is why are you out here at the barn by yourself? In the cold? Where is everyone? And why didn’t you say something when I got out of the truck to let me know you were over here?”
He leaned back against the barn’s door. “Evening, Bailey. You sure do ask a lot of questions.”
She glared at him. “Do I?”
“Yes, especially for someone who just told me yesterday that one of her rules is not answering a lot of questions, no matter who’s asking. What if I told you that I happen to have that same rule?”
She lifted an angry chin. Was it his imagination or was she even prettier when she was mad? “I have a right to ask you anything I want,” she said.
He shook his head. “I beg to differ. However, out of courtesy and since nothing you’ve asked has crossed any lines, I’ll answer. The reason I’m outside by the barn is because I just returned from riding with Ramsey and Zane. They both left for home and I wasn’t ready to go in just yet.”
“Zane and Ramsey actually left you out here alone?”
“Yes, you sound surprised that they would. It seems there are some members of your family who trust me. I guess your brothers figure their horses and sheep are safe with me,” he said, holding her gaze.
“I didn’t insinuate—”
“Excuse me, but I didn’t finish answering all your questions,” he interrupted her, and had to keep from grinning when she shut her mouth tightly. That same mouth he’d envisioned kissing earlier. “The reason I didn’t say anything when you got out of the truck just now was because you seemed preoccupied with checking out your tires. Is there a problem?”
“One needs air. But when I looked up from my tires you were staring at me. Why?”
She had to know he was attracted to her. What man in his right mind wouldn’t be? She was beautiful, desirable—alluring. And he didn’t think the attraction was one-sided. A man knew when a woman was interested.
But he didn’t want her interest, nor did he want to be interested in her. He refused to tell her that the reason he hadn’t said anything was because he’d been too mesmerized to do so.
“I was thinking again about how much you and Charm favor one another. You’ll see for yourself when you meet her.”
“If I meet her.”
“Don’t sound so doubtful. I’m sure the two of you will eventually meet.”
“Don’t sound so sure of that, Walker.”
He liked the sound of his name from her lips. Refusing to go tit for tat with her, he changed the subject. “So how was your day at work, Bailey?”
* * *
Stubbornly, Bailey told herself he really didn’t give a damn how her day went. So why was he asking? Why did she find him as annoying as he was handsome? And why, when she’d looked up to see him staring at her, had she felt something she’d never felt before?
There was something so startling about his eyes that her reaction had been physical. For a second, she’d imagined the stroke of his fingers in her hair, the whisper of his heated breath across her lips, the feel of his body pressed hard against hers.
Why was her imagination running wild? She barely knew this man. Her family barely knew him. Yet they had welcomed him to Westmoreland Country without thinking things through. At least, that was her opinion. Was her family so desperate to find more relatives that they had let their guard down? She recalled days when a stranger on their land meant an alarm went out to everyone. Back then, they’d never known when someone from social services would show up for one of their surprise visits.
Knowing Walker was waiting for her to answer, she finally said, “It went well. It was my first day as a features editor and I think I handled things okay. You might even say I did an outstanding job today.”
He chuckled. “No lack of confidence on your part, I see.”
“None whatsoever.” It was dusk and being outside with him, standing by the barn in the shadows, seemed way too intimate for her peace of mind. But there was something she needed to know, something that had been on her mind ever since Josette had brought it up that morning.
Not being one to beat around the bush when it came to things she really wanted to know, she asked, “Are you married, Walker?”
* * *
Walker stared at her, trying to fight the feel of air being sucked from his lungs. Where the hell had that question come from? Regardless, the answer should have been easy enough to give, especially since he hadn’t been truly married even when he’d thought he had been. How could there be a real marriage when one of the parties took betrayal to a whole new level?
Silence reigned. Bailey had to be wondering why he hadn’t answered. He shook off the unpleasant memories. “No. I’m not married.” And then he decided to add, “Nor do I have a girlfriend. Any reason you want to know?”
She shrugged those beautiful shoulders that should be wearing a coat. “No. Just curious. You aren’t wearing a wedding ring.”
“No, I’m not.”
“But that doesn’t mean anything these days.”
“You’re right. Wearing a wedding ring doesn’t mean anything.”
He could tell by her frown that she hadn’t expected him to agree with her. “So you’re one of those types.”
“And what type is that?”
“A man who has no respect for marriage or what it stands for.”
Walker couldn’t force back the wave of anger that suddenly overtook him. If only she knew how wrong she was. “You don’t know me. And since you don’t, I suggest you keep your damn assumptions to yourself.”
Then, with clenched teeth, he walked off.
Three (#ulink_2cec1161-9205-523f-b682-083d6151a5a5)
The next morning Bailey sat behind the huge desk in her new office and sipped a cup of her favorite coffee. Yesterday had been her move-in day and she had pretty much stayed out of the way while the maintenance crew had shifted all the electronic equipment from her old office into this one. Now everything was in order, including her new desk, on top of which sat a beautiful plant from Ramsey and Chloe.
She couldn’t help thinking, You’ve come a long way, baby. And only she and her family truly knew just how far she’d come.
She’d had some rebellious years and she would be the first to admit a little revolutionary spirit still lived within her. She was better at containing it these days. But she still liked rousing her family every once in a while.
Growing up as the youngest Westmoreland had had its perks as well as its downfalls. Over the past few years, most of her family members had shifted their attention away from her and focused on their spouses and children. She adored the women and men her cousins, brothers and sisters had married. And when she was around her family she felt loved.
She thought of her cousin Riley’s new baby, who had been born last year. And there were still more babies on the way. A whole new generation of Denver Westmorelands. That realization had hit her like a ton of bricks when she’d held Ramsey and Chloe’s daughter in her arms. Her first niece, Susan, named after Bailey’s mother.
Bailey had looked down at Susan and prayed that her niece never suffered the pain of losing both parents like Bailey had. The agony and grief were something no one should have to go through. Bailey hadn’t handled the pain well. None of the Westmorelands had, but it had affected her, the twins—Adrian and Aidan—and Bane the worst because they’d been so young.
Bailey cringed when she thought of some of the things she’d done, all the filthy words that had come out of her mouth. She appreciated her family, especially Dillon and Ramsey, for not giving up on her. Dillon had even taken on the State of Colorado when social services had wanted to take her, Bane and the twins away and put them in foster care.
He had hired an attorney to fight to keep them even with all the trouble the four of them were causing around town. Because somehow he’d understood. Somehow he’d known their despicable behavior was driven by the pain of losing their parents and that deep down they weren’t bad kids.
“Little hell-raisers” was what the good people of Denver used to call them. She knew it was a reputation the four of them were now trying to live down, although it wasn’t always easy. Take last night, for instance.
Walker Rafferty had almost pushed her into reacting like her old self. She hated men who messed around after marriage. As far as she was concerned, the ones who messed around before marriage weren’t any better but at least they didn’t have a wedding ring on their finger.
Pushing away from her desk, she moved to the window. Downtown Denver was beautiful, especially today, seeing it from her new office. The buildings were tall, massive. As far as she was concerned, no other city had more magnificent skyscrapers. But even the breathtaking view couldn’t make her forget Walker’s callous remark.
Just like Bailey would never forget the pain and torment Josette had suffered while being married to Myles. Against their parents’ wishes the two had married right out of high school, thinking love would conquer all as long as they were together. Within a year, Josette found out Myles was involved with another woman. To add insult to injury, he’d blamed Josette for his deceit, saying that it was because she’d decided to take night classes to get a college degree that she’d come home one night to find him in their bed with another woman. A woman who happened to be living in the apartment across the hall.
That was why Bailey had been so mad about Walker’s insinuations that wearing a wedding ring meant nothing to a man. She’d been so angry that she’d only hung around Dillon’s place long enough to hug his sons, Denver and Dade, before leaving.
It was obvious that Walker was just as mad at her as she was with him, but she didn’t have a clue as to why. Yes, maybe her reaction had been a bit too strong, but seriously, she didn’t give a royal damn. She called things the way she saw them. If he hadn’t meant what he said, he should not have said it.
The beeping of the phone on her desk got her attention and she quickly crossed the room to answer it. It was an interoffice call from Lucia. Ramsey’s wife, Chloe, was the magazine’s founder and CEO but it was Chloe’s best friend Lucia who ran things as editor in chief. Lucia was married to Bailey’s brother Derringer. Although it was nice having her sisters-in-law as first and second in command at the magazine, it also put a lot of pressure on Bailey to prove that whatever accolades and achievements she received were earned and well deserved and not the result of favoritism. Just because Chloe and Lucia were Westmorelands, that didn’t mean Bailey deserved preferential treatment of any kind. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Yes, Lucia?”
“Hi, Bailey. Chloe stopped by and wants to see you.”
Bailey raised an arched brow. What could have brought Chloe out of Westmoreland Country so early today? It wasn’t even nine in the morning yet. After marrying Ramsey, Chloe had pretty much decided to be a sheep rancher’s wife and rarely came into the office these days.
Bailey slid into her jacket. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
* * *
Deciding to take the longest route back to Dillon’s place, Walker rode the horse and enjoyed the beauty of the countryside. There was a lot about Westmoreland Country that reminded him of Kodiak Island, minus the extremely cold weather, of course. Although the weather here was cold, it was nothing compared to the harsh winters he endured. It was the middle of October and back home the amount of snowfall was quadruple what they had here.
But the differences in the weather weren’t what was bothering him today. What bothered him today had everything to do with the dreams he’d had last night. Dreams of Bailey. And that talk they’d had by the barn.
Even now the memory of their conversation made him angry. She’d had no right to assume anything about him. No right at all. She didn’t know him. Had no idea the hell he’d been through or the pain he’d suffered, and was still suffering, after almost ten years. Nor did she have any idea what he’d lost.
By the lake, he slowed the horse and took a deep breath. The mountain air was cleansing; he wished it could cleanse his soul, as well. After bringing the horse to a stop he dismounted and stared at the valley below. Awesome was the only word he could use to describe what he saw.
And even though he was mad as hell with Bailey, a part of him thought she was pretty awesome, as well. What other way was there to describe a woman who could rile his anger and still star in his erotic dreams? He had awakened several times during the night with an erection. It had been years since that had happened. Not since he’d returned to Kodiak from California.
He had basically thrown himself into working the ranch, first out of guilt for not being there when his father had needed him, and then as a therapeutic way to deal with the loss of Connor. There were some days he’d worked from sunup to sundown. And on those nights when his body had needed a woman it had been for pleasure and nothing else. Passionate but emotionless sex had become his way of life when it came to relationships, but even that had been years ago.
Walker no longer yearned for the type of marriage his parents and grandparents had shared. He was convinced those kinds of unions didn’t exist anymore. If they did, they were the exception and not the norm. He would, however, admit to noticing the ease with which the Westmoreland men openly adored their wives, wearing their hearts on their sleeves as if they were a band of honor. So, okay, Walker would include the Westmorelands in the exceptions.
He remounted the horse to head back. Thoughts of Bailey hadn’t ended with his dreams. Even with the light of day, she’d invaded his thoughts. That wasn’t good.
He had told Dillon he would leave the Monday after this weekend’s wedding, but now he figured it would be best if he returned to Kodiak right after the wedding. The farther, and the sooner, he got away from Bailey, the better.
He’d learned enough about the Westmorelands and would tell Garth what he thought, regardless of Bart’s feelings on the matter. If Bart thought he could pressure Walker to do otherwise, then he was mistaken.
Walker had nothing to lose since he’d lost it all already.
* * *
Bailey walked into Lucia’s office to find her sisters-in-law chatting and enjoying cups of coffee. Not for the first time Bailey thought her brothers Ramsey and Derringer had truly lucked out when they’d married these two. Besides being beautiful, both were classy women who could be admired for their accomplishments. Real role models. The two had met at a college in Florida and had remained best friends since. The idea that they’d married brothers was remarkable, especially since the brothers were as different as day and night. Ramsey was older and had always been the responsible type. Derringer had earned a reputation as a womanizer of the third degree. Personally, Bailey had figured he would never settle down and marry. Now not only was he happily married but he was also the father of a precious little boy named Ringo. He had stepped into the role of family man as if he’d been made for it.
Chloe glanced up, saw Bailey standing in the doorway, smiled and crossed the room to give her a hug. “Bay, how are you? You rushed in and out of Dillon’s place last night. We barely spoke, let alone held a conversation. How’s day two in your new position?”
Bailey returned her sister-in-law’s smile. “Great. I’m ready to roll my sleeves up and bring in those feature stories that will grow our readership.”
Chloe beamed. “That’s good to hear. I wanted to congratulate you on your promotion and let you know how proud I am of you.”
“Thanks, Chloe.” Bailey couldn’t help but be touched by Chloe’s words. She had begun working for the company as a part-timer in between her classes at the university. She had liked it so much that she’d changed her major to journalism and hadn’t regretted doing so. It was Chloe, a proponent of higher education, who had encouraged her to also get her MBA.
