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“Nope, and during the dry days of summer, I’ll be glad I did it. My mom called this afternoon.”
“No kidding,” Dani said. Nick and his mother weren’t close, but she and Dani got along okay. “It’s been ages since you heard from her. What did she want?”
“She asked me to come over after work Friday.”
Dani was puzzled. “I wonder why.”
“If I know my mother, she needs money.”
He sounded disgusted. Despite having a job that paid decently, his mother always seemed short of cash. And she often borrowed from Nick to make up the gap.
“Are you going?” Dani asked.
“If I don’t, she’ll nag me until I do.”
There the conversation died.
They usually chatted easily about everything under the sun, but tonight Dani couldn’t think of anything else to say. Apparently neither could Nick.
The ensuing silence was uncomfortable.
Finally Nick cleared his throat. “You probably want to get back to your laundry and then to bed. I’ll let you go. Sweet dreams.”
His signature sign-off. Tonight, Dani wasn’t sure what kinds of dreams she’d have. She hoped they didn’t feature Nick doing delicious things to her... “You, too,” she said. “Good luck with your mom.”
They both disconnected.
Feeling oddly discombobulated, she folded the rest of the laundry and wondered how long it would take before she and Nick were at ease with each other again.
* * *
AFTER TWO DAYS of torrential rain and intermittent hail, the downpour suddenly braked to a stop just as darkness hit. During the nasty weather Nick, Palmer, Clip and Jerome had spent much of their waking hours fighting to keep the swelling river at the north end of the ranch from flooding the surrounding pastures. Meanwhile Blake and Wally, two seasonal ranch hands in need of work, had offered to herd the cattle to dry ground. The two men had impressed Nick, and he’d offered them jobs to last through September.
Now hungry, muddy and wet, he showered and put on a clean flannel shirt and jeans. After phoning in an order for a jumbo pie with the works he jumped in the truck and headed for Harper’s Pizza, his favorite.
As usual, the small pizza hut was packed. Salivating over the mouth-watering aroma of the pizzas, Nick nodded at people he knew and shared flood stories with several ranchers before taking his place in the crowd waiting near the takeout window. Every few minutes the teenage kid manning the window called out some lucky Joe’s name to pick up their order.
In the midst of the noise, the door opened and a redhead sauntered inside. Nick wasn’t the only guy who checked her out. Flashing a pretty smile, she joined him in line.
“What a big crowd tonight,” she commented. “The bad weather must’ve kept people home for a few days, and I guess they’re making up for lost time.”
Nick nodded. “It’s been a heck of a few days.”
“My hair and I are both relieved that it finally stopped raining.” With an apologetic smile, she touched her hair. “It gets crazy wild.”
“Curly looks good on you,” Nick said. So did the long sweater she wore in place of a coat. A wide leather belt emphasized her small waist and rounded hips. She had long legs, too. Pretty face, nice body—just his type.
For some reason he flashed on Dani and the red-hot kisses they’d shared the other night. But Dani was off-limits. They were friends, period, and they’d both agreed to forget those kisses had ever happened. “I’m Nick Kelly,” he said.
“Hello, Nick Kelly.” The woman tossed her head, drawing his attention to her slender neck and a pair of long, dangly earrings. “I’m Sylvie Kitchen.”
They shook hands. Sylvie’s fingers were slender and warm. Attraction flared in her eyes.
Nick waited for a similar spark, but felt only mild interest. Maybe if he got to know her a little better...
During the ten minutes they waited for their pizzas he learned that she worked for the local tourism department, which after ranching, was the second biggest business in Prosperity. During the late spring and early summer months, hiking, camping and bicycling swelled the town by as much as ten thousand people.
“To kick off this year’s tourist season, we’re going to host a joint function with Prosperity Park,” she said. The park housed Prosperity Falls, an eye-popping cascading waterfall that was a popular place for marriage proposals and outdoor weddings and drew visitors from all over. “It’s going to take place in mid-April. I could get a couple of tickets for you and your girlfriend.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend right now,” he said.
“Oh?” She flashed a pleased smile. “Maybe you’ll want to bring someone.”
She arched her eyebrow and angled her chin slightly, as if half expecting him to ask her out.
“Nick Kelly, your order’s ready,” the teenage boy called out.
Nick signaled that he’d be right there, then redirected his attention to Sylvie. “I’d like to, but spring is pretty busy at the ranch. I doubt I’ll be able to make it.”
She seemed genuinely disappointed. “Here’s my card,” she said, scribbling something on the back. “If you change your mind, give me a call.”
Before slipping the card into his pocket he glanced at what she’d written. In case you want to reach me after hours, and a number.
Minutes later, shaking his head, he carried the pizza to his truck. A beautiful woman had just given him her number, but he didn’t want to call her.
What was wrong with him?
* * *
DANI LIKED EVERYTHING about Pettit Ranch—the vastness of her brother’s holdings, the hints of new spring grass coloring in the brown winter pastures, the grazing horses and cattle everywhere you looked. Most of all, the home Sly shared with his wife, Lana, and their daughter. Tonight Sly had gone to Tim Carpenter’s ranch, which was five hundred or so acres down the road, for a spur-of-the-moment Thursday poker game. Lana had invited Dani over for a girls’ evening.
“I come bearing gifts,” she said when Lana opened the front door. “Chinese, from Chung’s.” A take-out place they both loved. “And chocolate chip cookies, courtesy of Big Mama’s Café.”
“I so love those cookies!” Lana looked grateful, as well as tired. Between running two successful daycares and being mom to Johanna, a spunky two-and-a-half-year-old, she had her hands full.
As soon as Dani stepped through the door, the little girl squealed and threw herself at her knees.
“Hi, pumpkin!” Laughing, Dani scooped her up and swung her around.
Johanna giggled and held out her arms for more. “Again, Dani!”
She was no lightweight, but Dani couldn’t resist her adorableness. She spun around twice more, each time with Johanna reaching out to her and begging, “Again!”
Finally, breathless and worn out, Dani quit. “That was fun, but I’m pooped, Johanna. Now I want to visit with Mommy.”
Sometime later, she and Lana lingered over the dwindling pile of chocolate chip cookies, while Johanna marched around the kitchen, pounding on an old pan with a wooden spoon.
“She’s so cute,” Dani said.
“The cutest two-and-a-half year old ever, but then, I’m biased.” Lana laughed. “Sly and I are getting baby-hungry again.” She glanced at her daughter and lowered her voice. “Yesterday we signed up with an adoption agency. Of course, another miracle could happen. We could get pregnant again. But that’s unlikely, and we want another child.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed,” Dani said.
Drawn by their soft voices, Johanna stopped at the table. Her eyes lit on the cookies. “I want a cookie, Mama.”
“How do you ask?” Lana said.
“Please.”
“May I share some of mine with her?” Dani asked.
Lana nodded. “A small piece.”
Carefully breaking off a tiny chunk of her cookie, Dani gave it to her niece.
“Thank you.” The happy little girl kissed Dani’s cheek, then stuffed the treat into her mouth and continued marching around the kitchen.
“She adores you,” Lana pointed out. “And you’re so wonderful with her. Someday you’re going to make such a great mom.”
“First, I need to meet a guy who actually wants to settle down and start a family.”
“You will.”
“With my track record?”
“You forget that I’d basically given up on love when I met Sly. And look at me now.” Lana gave a dreamy smile. She and Sly had been married for two-plus years and they still acted like love-sick honeymooners. Dani envied them.
Her traitorous mind went straight to the one man she was trying not to think about—Nick. “Things have gotten weird with Nick,” she confided.
Lana frowned. “How so?”
“Swear you won’t tell Sly.” Dani’s oldest brother, who was seven years older than she was, tended to be on the protective side.
“I promise.” All ears, Lana leaned forward.
Assured, Dani explained. “You remember that Nick came over Saturday night.”
Lana nodded. “So that you could keep each other company after your breakups. I’ve always admired how you support each other that way.”
“Right. We had our usual great time together, but when we were watching a DVD after dinner, we fell asleep together on the couch. When I woke up, we were snuggled up close.” Remembering Dani hugged herself. “When Nick woke up, we kissed.”
“Is that all?” Lana waved her hand dismissively. “There’s nothing wrong with a kiss between friends.”
“This wasn’t exactly a friendly peck,” Dani said. “Nick and I... We’ve always had an unwritten rule—we might buss each other on the cheek, but never on the lips. But those kisses...”
Talking about it was like reliving the experience. Dani’s lips and entire body warmed right up. She fanned herself.
“Those kisses? As in more than one?” Lana’s eyebrows jumped upward.
“A lot more.” Dani let out a sigh. “We made out, Lana.”
“You and Nick made out?” her sister-in-law repeated, sounding incredulous.
“Guilty as charged.”
“And you enjoyed it.”
Dani nodded miserably. “That would be a definite yes.”
“Wow.” Lana shook her head slowly and wonderingly. “I always sensed that you two were attracted to each other. How could you not be? He’s gorgeous, you’re gorgeous... What took you so long to figure it out?”
Dani knew she wasn’t half bad. She also know she was far from gorgeous. She gaped at Lana. “What are you talking about? Before Saturday night, there was no physical attraction between Nick and me.” Or if there had been, they’d hidden it from themselves and each other. “We don’t want a physical relationship. Our friendship means too much to us.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. Friendship and passion are essentials for a solid relationship. Look at Sly and me. He has my back and I have his, and I consider him to be one of my best friends. And we’re definitely not platonic. At all.” Lana’s smile oozed sexual satisfaction.
As much as Dani loved her sister-in-law, she sometimes wanted to hate her for living the life she’d always wanted. “You know how it is with me, though,” she said. “Some guy gives me a sexy smile and a few decent kisses, and I’m half in love. Once we have sex, I’m a total goner. But Nick...he doesn’t do love.”
Lana gave her a skeptical look. “A lot of guys say that, but then they meet the right woman and bam! They’re all in.”
“Not Nick. He’s so against falling in love that as soon as he starts to fall for someone, he ends the relationship. Trust me, I know. Getting physical would spell disaster for our friendship. We’ve been best friends forever, and neither of us want to lose what we have now. That’s why we can’t cross over the boundaries of friendship.”
“Let me get this straight—you and Nick both agree that a physical relationship could jeopardize your friendship. If you’re on the same page, how is that a problem?” Lana frowned.
“You wouldn’t think we’d have one, would you?” Dani said. “But since Saturday night, things have gotten a little tense between us.”
“Ah. So...despite what you just said about not wanting to cross the arbitrary boundaries you two have established, you and Nick aren’t quite on the same page anymore.”
“But we are,” Dani argued. “We both agreed to forget we ever kissed.”
Lana gave a wry smile. “And how’s that working out for you?”
Dani rested her head on her fist. “For me, not so well. I have no idea about Nick, except that when we last spoke on the phone, it was awkward. That was Monday. We haven’t been in touch with each other since.”
Three whole days—an eternity.
“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Lana said. “Our weather has been awful. Until last night, Sly and his guys were putting in twenty-hour days, with barely a moment to eat or sleep. That’s why he’s playing poker tonight—to give himself a well-deserved break from the ranch. I’ll bet Nick has been just as busy.”
“Probably. Still, he could’ve called last night, just to check in. Or at the very least, texted. That’s what he’s done in the past.”
“And you’re wondering if he’s staying away because of those kisses.”
“A little.”
Lana bit her lip in sympathy, making Dani feel even worse. “What do you want to do?” she asked.
“I’m not going to call him,” Dani said. “I’m keeping busy. Which reminds me. I don’t have any plans Saturday night. If you and Sly want a date night, I’m happy to come over and babysit.”
“That’s sweet, but my parents have already offered. They’re hosting an overnight for Johanna and her cousins. Johanna is excited. So are Sly and I. We’ll get a whole night to ourselves.” Lana all but salivated. “Didn’t you and a couple of girlfriends sign up for a silk painting class Saturday afternoon? Why don’t you hang out with them afterward? Go to dinner and out dancing, or catch a movie, or shop.”
