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The meeting time had only been set last night. Winn pulled his brows together. “Where is he?”
“In Idaho Falls, I believe. A business meeting.”
Winn fought a stab of temper. The old man could have at least called or texted the change in plans.
“The meeting was last-minute,” Elena confided. “A red-hot deal.”
Winn couldn’t help it. The wry amusement in her eyes when she drawled the words made him laugh.
“May I offer you lunch?”
“No, I—”
“I made chicken escabeche.”
The look in Elena’s eyes told him she’d filed the fact that the cold Mediterranean salad was one of his favorites from the time he’d lived at the ranch.
When Winn had first arrived in Jackson Hole, he’d planned to stay only a few weeks. Living at the ranch seemed to make sense. It hadn’t taken Winn long to realize he and his dad did better with lots of distance between them.
“Mr. Ferris?” Elena waited with a smile on her lips.
“I’m definitely staying for lunch.”
Elena started out of the room then paused in the doorway.” Would you prefer to eat in the dining room or on the terrace?”
“The terrace.” Winn pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’d like a glass of iced tea, too, please.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
Winn made his way to the flagstone terrace shaded by tall, leafy trees. He chose one of the comfortable chairs positioned strategically around a counter-high fire pit.
While he waited for his lunch, Winn made quick calls to city hall and let several high-placed officials know just how unhappy he was with the latest round of delays.
He turned at the sound of the French doors opening. Elena stepped out with a cut-crystal glass filled with ice and what he hoped was unsweetened tea.
“Lots of ice, just as you like.” The housekeeper placed the glass on the side table next to his chair. “Your lunch will be right out.”
“No rush.” Winn lifted the hand holding the phone. “I have calls to return.”
“You and your father.” Elena clucked her tongue. “Always working.”
“What else is there?” he said automatically.
Elena opened her mouth then closed it and only smiled.
It was obvious she didn’t understand the drive he and his father shared. But then, not many did. Elena probably thought his emphasis should be on home and family rather than business. But that road could be a rocky one.
He thought of the look in Hailey’s eyes when he told her he’d seen Josh with another woman. And the unmistakable pain on her face when she relayed how the creep had been using her to get close to Tripp.
He thought of Vanessa, a woman he once thought he might love. She was a kindergarten teacher with a girl-next-door persona and zest for life. In some ways, she reminded him of Hailey. But just as Hailey had discovered that Josh couldn’t be trusted, he’d learned the bubbly Vanessa was a liar and a cheat.
Winn raked his hand through his hair, forcing air past the sudden tightness in his chest. He hated that Josh’s cheating on Hailey had caused him to think about Vanessa and her fiancé. He preferred to keep thoughts of that time in the back of his mind, locked tight in a rarely opened file cabinet.
Winn heard the doorbell chime and straightened. It appeared he wasn’t the only visitor his father stood up today.
“Come in, Miss Hailey.” Elena’s voice radiated welcome. The women spoke in lowered tones for several seconds. Other than the initial greeting, he’s in the barn were the only words Winn made out.
Curious as to who was the mysterious “he” Hailey had come to see, Winn pulled to his feet.
He reached the foyer and found Elena trying to convince the pretty blonde, still wearing the hot-pink hoodie, to stay for lunch.
“Thanks for the offer,” Hailey told the housekeeper, “but my parents are expecting me and—”
Hailey’s eyes widened when she saw him. “Winn. I didn’t realize you were here.”
He smiled quizzically. “My car is parked out front. Didn’t you see it?”
“I saw a sedan in the driveway. I thought it was your father’s.”
Winn winced. He loved the S550, but was going to have to see about exchanging it for a sportier model. Driving an old man’s car didn’t fit the image he wanted to project. After putting a new vehicle on his mental list for tomorrow, Winn refocused on Hailey.
“Reconsider Elena’s offer and join me for lunch,” he said with an easy smile, leaning against the doorjamb. “Did she mention we’re having chicken escabeche? I bet she could also scare up a glass of sangria for you.”
“I don’t think—”
“Don’t tell me you’re full,” Winn said. “The scone you had this morning can’t be enough to hold you.”
Winn ignored the gleam of speculation in Elena’s eyes. He could explain he and Hailey had shared coffee at Hill of Beans, but that was their business. Taking Hailey’s arm, Winn made an executive decision. He turned to Elena. “Miss Randall will join me for lunch on the terrace.”
“Yes, sir.” Elena hurried off, ignoring Hailey’s faint murmur of protest.
Two bright swaths of pink colored Hailey’s cheeks. “I didn’t come over expecting to be fed.”
“You made Elena happy.” Winn kept his tone conversational as he took her arm and ushered her through the house to the terrace. “Now, tell me about this man hidden in the barn.”
“Man?” Hailey stopped dead in her tracks, a frown furrowing her pretty brow. “What man?”
“Elena told you he was in the barn.”
Hailey dropped into a chair. The peel of laughter that burst from her lips both puzzled and delighted him. Try as he might to fight it, the gregariousness of the woman seated across the table had always appealed to him.
“The he is a dog.”
Winn blinked.
“Barks. Four legs.” Hailey’s tone was serious, though she appeared to be struggling not to laugh again.
Elena appeared with a glass of sangria and a tray of tapas, including mixed olives and cheese. The housekeeper’s smile appeared to widen at the ease between him and Hailey. Elena slipped back into the house to finish the salad preparation with a light step.
“The dog is a stray.” Hailey took a sip of sangria. Pleasure sparked in her blue eyes. “This is good. Try it.”
She thrust out the sangria. Winn obligingly drank and wondered what it’d be like if, instead of the glass, his lips closed over hers? Would her mouth taste as sweet as the sangria?
Winn shoved the thought aside and handed the fruity drink back with an easy smile. “Very nice.”
When she placed her lips on the glass, Winn experienced a hard punch of lust. It wasn’t the first time he’d felt this, but she was his neighbor and just coming off a difficult breakup. He leaned back in his chair and forced a composure he didn’t feel. “Tell me about the animal you came to see.”
He listened as she explained the border collie mix had strayed onto his father’s property. No one had reported the dog missing. Apparently it had been hanging around for several weeks. The ranch hands hadn’t let him starve.
“The shelter said, based on the information given, he’d probably been dumped.”
“You came all the way out here just to catch a look at some stray?”
“His name is Bandit.” Hailey spoke almost primly. “It was engraved on a tag hooked to his collar.”
“Makes sense.” Winn lifted his glass of tea and frowned slightly. “I guess.”
“When the dog was found, your father told Bobby to take him immediately to the shelter, but Bobby—and some of the other guys—wanted to try to find him a new home. The shelter was full and there was a chance he’d be put down. From what I gather, he’s a smart, sweet boy, young though, more puppy than—”
Winn held up a hand, like a schoolboy waiting for the teacher to call on him.
Hailey smiled. “Yes, Winn.”
“Who’s Bobby?”
“One of your father’s ranch hands.” Her tone implied it was something he should have known. “Bobby and I went to high school together.”
“So a friend from high school—who now works for my father—called you.”
“Actually, I ran into Bobby downtown. He told me about Bandit.”
“The border collie.”
“A+, Winn.” She unexpectedly grinned. “You’re paying attention.”
“One major piece of the puzzle doesn’t fit. Why would someone put a dog’s name on a tag but not their contact information?”
Hailey lifted her shoulders in a little shrug. “Why would someone dump a dog?”
“I’m surprised your friend didn’t take him.” Winn grimaced. He wasn’t into wasting time. So why was he having a conversation about a stray?
“Bobby’s place doesn’t allow pets.” Hailey paused to savor another sip of sangria. “I’ve been thinking about getting a dog, so I said I’d take a look. If I like what I see, I’ll take him home.”
Yep, he really was wasting time discussing a dog. Winn opened his mouth, determined to change the subject, when Hailey lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Bobby told me I could take him home, too.” She chuckled. “A two-for-one deal.”
An uncomfortable tightness gripped his gut, but Winn reminded himself it wasn’t any of his business who she dated...or took home to her bed. “Are you taking him up on the offer?”
She rolled her eyes, waved a dismissive hand. “Bobby has a girlfriend. Besides, after that fiasco with Josh, I’m not feeling particularly charitable toward old high-school classmates.”
“A+ for you,” Winn said, and made her laugh just as Elena appeared with their salads.
“Thanks.” Hailey offered the woman an extrawarm smile. “This looks delicious.”
“Yes,” Winn added. “Much appreciated.”
“The woman is a saint,” Hailey confided once Elena was out of earshot. “I don’t know how she stands—”
She stopped, as if suddenly realizing she was speaking to the son of the man she was about to disparage.
“Don’t stop on my account.” Winn offered a humorless chuckle. “I’d be the first to acknowledge my father is a difficult and complex man.”
That was all he’d say on the matter. As tired as he was of the dog talk, he wanted to discuss his father even less.
Hailey took another big gulp of sangria. “I love dogs, don’t you?”
On second thought, perhaps discussing his father wasn’t such a bad idea. “I haven’t had much contact with animals.”
Hailey set down her glass, tilted her head. “Surely you had a dog growing up?”
“You’ve met my father. You know how particular he is about his home, his possessions. Does he appear to be the type of man who’d tolerate a slobbering, hair-shedding, shoe-chewing creature in his home?”
Hailey put a finger to her lips, drawing his attention to her full sensual mouth. “You’re right. Definitely not a dog person.”
“From what I’ve observed, a pet of any kind is a big responsibility.” Winn placed the linen napkin on his lap with a preciseness that was as much a part of him as his hundred-dollar haircut. “Are you certain you have time for an animal?”
“Absolutely. With Josh out of the picture, my social life is officially nonexistent.” Hailey gave a humorless laugh. “I have a great deal of free time. And I get lonely. Don’t you?”
“Not really.” As a child he’d often been alone, felt alone even when he’d been in a group, but that had been long ago. Now he simply valued his privacy and liked being able to keep everything in its place. With sudden horror, he realized he was very much like his father in that regard.
“After we finish eating, you can come and check out Bandit with me.”
Winn started to shake his head, until she took his hand in a friendly, companionable gesture.
“Please, Winn. If I take him home, Bandit will be your neighbor.” She squeezed his hand. “I really want your opinion.”
Her flesh was warm against his skin and Winn had to resist the urge to curve his fingers around hers.
“I’ll give you whatever you want.” His tone came out husky with a suggestive undertone.
Their eyes met and held for a long moment.
The sudden twitch of her lips broke the mood. She expelled a little giggle. “For now, I’ll settle for your opinion...though I’ll reserve the right to ask for more.”
Before he could respond, Elena returned briefly with another glass of sangria and a refill of tea.
Hailey smiled warmly at Elena, raving about the salad.
