Читать книгу The Last-Chance Maverick - Christyne Butler, Christyne Butler - Страница 9

Chapter Two

“Are you telling me you honestly didn’t know Nate had hired Vanessa to paint a mural in the resort?” Eli asked.

They’d managed to find an empty table with a couple of tall stools—one with a trio of half-finished drinks still sitting there—in the back corner of the Ace in the Hole, the local bar that catered to everyone from cowboys to bikers. Between the cracking of the pool balls against each other to the country music blaring from the jukebox for the dancers on the crowded parquet floor, the place was loud and noisy and Jonah had to lean forward to hear his brother. “No, I honestly didn’t know.”

Eli looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

“I didn’t.” Jonah dropped his gaze and fixed it on the icy longneck beer he turned in slow circles against the table top. “Not that it matters now.”

“Why’s that?”

Because Vanessa had walked out this morning with Callie following close behind, leaving Nate to make it clear the mural was going to happen and since the man owned fifty-one percent of the resort, he was going to get his way.

“I missed the email explaining Nate’s vision,” Jonah said. “Add the fact the rest of the investors had already approved the idea and it’s a done deal.”

“So your vote wouldn’t have made any difference?”

“No, but that doesn’t mean—” Jonah looked at his brother again. “Wait, what makes you think I had a vote on the subject?”

Eli’s mouth rose into a half grin. “You’re one of the investors, aren’t you?”

Jonah glanced around. No one seemed interested in their conversation, but he kept his voice low. “Why would you think I’d be—”

“Give me some credit, little brother. You’ve been in love with that old place from the moment it was built back when we were kids. You used to ride all the way from the ranch just to watch it being constructed. Even when it sat empty for years, you’d sneak in and hang out there. Remember that night with the football players from Kalispell?”

It took him a moment, but then Jonah smiled. “Yeah, we just about had them out of there, convinced the place was haunted, until Derek tried to steal their beer. That was a heck of a fight.”

“Only because that one guy had a can of spray paint aimed at one of the walls. You took him out with a flying karate leap and the fists started flying.”

It’d been him, his two brothers and three cousins—the Dalton gang as they’d been known back then—against the entire offensive line from the nearby high school, but they’d won. At least until word got back to the town sheriff and their folks. “I never shoveled so much horse manure in my life as we did that fall.”

“Anyway, I figured a rich and famous architect would have plenty—”

“I’m not famous.” Jonah cut off his brother and sat back in the tall stool, the heel of his steel-toed cowboy boot caught on the bottom rung. “Or rich.”

Eli toasted him with his now empty bottle. “You better be tonight. You’re buying and I could use another beer.”

Jonah watched his brother turn away and attempt to flag down a waitress. He never confirmed Eli’s suspicions, but the man was right. When Nate had contacted him about his plans for the forgotten log mansion and he’d found out about the investor team Nate was putting together, Jonah had insisted on buying in, easily parting with a healthy chunk of his savings.

Still, would he have voted along with the majority for the mural?

Probably, since after talking with Nate and finally reading the email, he liked the idea and what the painting would represent, even though it meant added work for the interior-design team when it came to including the painting in the overall plan. It seemed this Vanessa Brent was a pretty famous artist from back east. He hadn’t had a chance to do any research on her yet, but obviously she, and her work, had made an impression on Nate.

Just the sight of her had done something to Jonah that hadn’t happened in a long time.

Made him curious.

What was she was doing in Rust Creek Falls? Was she here as part of the influx of females influenced by an online blog about life in the Wild West his mother and sisters had talked about at dinner? According to his dad and brothers there’d also been a fair amount of single men and families who’d come to town as well over the past year, thanks to jobs created by both the recovery work from last summer’s flooding and more recently, the resort. They’d even hired on a few new hands at the ranch, putting the bunkhouse to use again for the first time in a long time.

Along with his cabin.

He couldn’t help but wonder what Vanessa might have done to the empty slate he’d left behind after she’d moved in. Were the few pieces of furniture he’d put in still there? Including the bed he’d handcrafted and now refused to picture her sleeping in?

And that flash of anger in her golden-brown eyes when he’d shot down the idea of a mural... Why had it changed to relief just before she’d walked out?

Stifling a yawn, Jonah drained his beer and chalked up his interest in Nate’s artist to his being dead tired.

Coming to the bar his first full day back in town hadn’t been part of his plan for tonight. A quick meal and then crashing headfirst into a soft bed had been more of what he had in mind, but the talk at dinner had quickly turned from the town’s population boom to him. His job, his travels and after one too many questions from his mother about his personal life, Jonah had willingly agreed to Eli’s idea they’d grab a beer or two to celebrate his homecoming.

Two more beers arrived and Jonah swore this would be his last as he twisted off the cap. It was then he heard a familiar laugh from a nearby table. He turned and looked at the group of men playing a lively game of poker, recognizing one of them right away. “Didn’t Derek rush through dinner because he had a big project to do in the barn?”

“Yeah, so?”

Gesturing toward the table, Jonah saw Eli’s gaze shift until it landed on their younger brother who sat with his back to them.

“Guess he finished early,” Eli said. “Or else he got tired of listening to mom’s excited chatter about your many accomplishments.”

Jonah’s face heated. “I was getting tired of that, too.”

“Hey, she’s proud of you. Dad, too. You’re the first one of us kids to make it big with your fancy Denver penthouse, traveling the world designing everything from skyscrapers to celebrities’ homes, not to mention dating a famous ballerina.”

“How did you know about that?”

“Mom cut out a picture of you two attending a charity event—nice tux, by the way—from some magazine. She had it hanging on the refrigerator for months until we all got so sick of seeing it she finally moved it to her sewing room.”

He groaned. “Please tell me you’re screwing with me.”

Eli grinned. “She was hoping you’d bring the lady home for a visit.”

Not likely. He’d returned from a business trip and walked in on her entertaining a fellow dancer—a ballerina—in her apartment. Hey, he was all for a person being true to themselves, but he wasn’t going to be her stand-in. Especially after the way she’d hinted about the two of them getting married. “I haven’t dated Nadia in a year. That was over before I left for Brazil.”

“Whatever happened to that sexy architect from your office I met when I visited a few years back? Before Nadia?”

Yeah, getting involved with a coworker he’d collaborated with on a couple of projects, moving their relationship from the office to the bedroom had been a mistake, too. He didn’t realize that until she decided to move up in the world and left him to marry a partner in a rival company, when he made it clear that he and marriage were not a good fit. Not anymore. “I wasn’t rich or famous enough for her.”

“Well, I guess mom’s just getting antsy for one of us to finally settle down,” Eli said. “Again. You’re the only one who’s tried the marriage bit. As much as she and dad were against you becoming a husband while still in your teens, I think she’s ready now for some grandchildren to spoil.”

This time the memory flashed in Jonah’s head before he could brace himself.

The pregnancy test found in the trash. His joy at becoming a father after what he’d thought had been four years of wedded bliss. Lisette’s stunned silence. His mistake in thinking her reaction was because he’d ruined the surprise.

Yeah, she surprised him all right—

“Hey, you okay?” Eli clicked the bottom edge of his bottle against Jonah’s, pulling him from the past. “You grip that beer any tighter and it’s going to shatter in your hand.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.” He must be. He hadn’t thought about that night in a long time. It was almost like it’d all happened to someone else. Someone he used to be. He forced his fingers to relax. “It’s been a long few days. Months, actually.”

“Well, you’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight. Back in your childhood bedroom.”

Same room, but thankfully the furniture had been updated. There was no way he’d be comfortable in a twin-size bed. “Very funny.”

“So, I’m guessing you decided not to kick Vanessa out?”

After the way her eyes lit up and hearing the excitement in her voice as she described the cabin, Jonah knew he couldn’t ask her to leave. It wasn’t her fault he’d come back assuming the place would still be empty. “The subject never came up, but no, I don’t plan to ask her to move.”

“She got to you, huh?”

“What’s her story?” Jonah avoided his brother’s question with one of his own. “What do you know about her?”

“Not much.” Eli shrugged. “I hadn’t met her until Mom had her over for dinner one night back in August and announced she was renting your cabin. I didn’t even know she was an artist until you mentioned it. She’s nice, always with a smile on her face and rarely at a loss for company, from what I’ve heard. But hey, my days usually run twelve to fourteen hours taking care of the ranch. I don’t have time for much else, which should show my brotherly love in saving your butt tonight by coming here. Why are you asking?”

“No reason. Just curious about who’s living in my place and who I’ll be working with for...well, for however long it takes her to paint a mural.” Jonah tipped back his beer for a long swallow.

“Maybe you should ask Derek. Seeing how he promised to teach her to ride a horse. Convenient, huh?”

The cold liquid caught in the sudden tightening of his throat. Jonah tried not to cough, but failed and did his best to hide it as he wiped at his mouth. “Derek’s chasing after her?”

“You know our brother.”

Yes, he did. Derek had been popular with the ladies ever since he’d figured out the difference between boys and girls somewhere back in elementary school. Derek did his share of chasing, but usually it was the ladies who went after him, most winding up with nothing to show for their trouble but good times and a broken heart when they got too serious.

A fire burned in his gut at the idea of Derek messing with Vanessa that way and damned if he knew why. He’d only met the woman today. Just because she’d stirred his curiosity, among other things, didn’t mean anything.

Neither did the sparks that crackled between them the moment he’d taken her hand this morning. Maybe he’d just been alone for too long. There hadn’t been a woman in his life—or his bed—in a long time. Hell, there hadn’t really been anyone since his ex-wife destroyed their marriage eight years ago and just about destroyed him along with it.

“Boy, you really must be tired.”

Jonah blinked, realizing he’d been so lost in his own thoughts he’d missed whatever his brother had said. “Yeah, I am. You must be, too. Maybe we should head home.”

“Oh, don’t leave now.” A soft feminine voice spoke. “The party’s just getting started.”

Jonah and his brother turned in unison and found three ladies standing there. His gaze immediately went to the brunette with bouncy curls who stood head and shoulders taller than the two petite blondes flanking her.

Vanessa.

She reached for the glasses on the table, handing one each to her friends. Keeping the wineglass for herself, she sent him a wink over the rim when their eyes clashed. A quick glance at all three ladies’ slightly disheveled appearances and apparent thirst at how they finished off their drinks, made him realize he and Eli had taken their table while they’d been on the dance floor.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to steal your seats.” His brother quickly came to the same conclusion and slid off his stool, but instead of stepping away—as in heading for the exit—he just moved to make room. “It’s pretty crowded tonight. Do you mind if we share?”

“Only if you’re buying the next round.” One of the blondes spoke while the other giggled.

Yeah, actually giggled.

Vanessa smiled, remembering what it felt like to be barely legal enough be in a bar. Not that at twenty-six she was that much older than her new friends, but there were many times she felt much older than her actual age.

And woefully out of shape.

Grabbing at the front of her sweater, she yanked it back and forth, enjoying the slight breeze against her heated skin. Thursday nights were busy here at the Ace and the dance floor was crowded. She was finally getting the hang of the steps, dips and sways that went along with country line dancing, but boy, she wished she’d thought to change her outfit before coming tonight.

She had, in fact, almost stayed home, but then she’d seen the reminder on her calendar and once again thought about the list.

Number sixteen: learn how to line dance.

She’d arrived early but the bar had filled up quickly, so she’d offered to share her table with the two girls she’d just met tonight who managed somehow not to look the least bit sweaty or have a lock of their flowing golden manes out of place.

“Of course, I’m buying.” Eli readily agreed and offered to escort the ladies to the bar. He started to walk away, but then stopped and pointed back at Jonah and her. “No need for introductions, right? You two remember each other?”

She sidled a look in Jonah’s direction. Oh, yes, she remembered him.

In fact, Vanessa hadn’t been able to think about much else but Jonah Dalton all day, even when she should’ve been concentrating on the design for the mural that after much more prodding from Nate and Callie was back on.

“Yep, I think we’ll be fine.” Ignoring the stool he’d vacated the same time as his brother, Vanessa moved closer to the table and set her empty glass down. “Hello again, Mr. Dalton.”

“Please, call me Jonah.”

There they were again. She’d thought she’d imagined the tingling that felt like a thousand tiny pinpricks dancing along her skin at the smooth tone of his voice the few minutes they had talked this morning, but now he’d only spoken four words and they were back. Like gangbusters.

Maybe she should just peel off this darn sweater. It’s not like she didn’t have anything on beneath it. In fact, she wore a double-layer tank top—

“What can I get for you at the bar, Vanessa?” Eli asked. “Another glass of wine? Maybe a bucket of ice water?”

His question caused her to stop her frantic moves, her hand now still against her chest. “Oh, an ice water would be great. Just a glass.”

Eli smiled, then looked at his brother. “Jonah? Another beer?”

“Yeah, sure. Why not?”

Hmmm, four more words but with an edge to them this time. Eli and the girls disappeared into the crowd. Vanessa leaned against the table, elbows propped along the edge and her beloved bracelets jangling as they landed on the smooth surface. “So, are you having fun...Jonah?”

“I’d rather be in bed.”

Five words this time and boy, the heat level rose again. That’s it. She straightened and eased behind Jonah, as he stood between the table and the back wall, one hand already under the bottom edge of her sweater. “Do you mind?”

“Mind what?”

He started to look back over one impossibly wide shoulder, but she nudged him forward with her elbow. “Just give me a minute, I need to...”

A quick tug and one arm came free. After a tussle with both her bracelets and oversize hoop earrings, she deftly pulled the garment over her head. The cool air lapping at her damp skin felt wonderful. “Ah, so much better.”

Running her fingers through her hair would be a lost cause, the wayward curls did whatever they pleased, but she did it anyway and then adjusted her bra straps to make sure they didn’t show.

“Are you finished back there?”

The confusion laced in Jonah’s question made her smile. That and the fact he was still using five-word sentences.

“Thanks for being my screen.” She stepped back around to the table, laying her sweater over the closest stool. “I don’t think anyone noticed.”

Ha! Now she’d done it. Twice!

“Noticed what?” Jonah asked, looking at her. His gaze stilled, locked somewhere around her mouth before it slowly traveled the length of her body.

The slow appraisal caused those pinpricks to rise into goose bumps along her bare arms. She quickly blamed it on the bar’s air-conditioning, but her girly parts enjoyed his perusal so much her toes curled inside her favorite suede ankle boots.

“You—ah, you changed.” Jonah’s words came out in a low whisper. He lifted his beer to his mouth, ready to tip it back, but then noticed the bottle was empty and set it back down.

“Actually, I just took off a layer.” She tugged the edges of the tank top down over her hips, but it barely covered the pockets on her leggings where her phone, driver’s license and cash were safely tucked away. “All that dancing made me hot.”

“Yeah, I can see that.”

Vanessa smiled and leaned against the table again. “Hmmm, I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment.”

Jonah started to reply, but before he could, Vanessa’s gaze caught on something—or should she say someone—on the other side of the room.

Without stopping to think about what she was doing, she laid a hand over Jonah’s and said the first thing that popped into her head. “Hey, architect, want to be a hero?”

His gaze dropped to their hands for a moment, and then he looked at her again. “Excuse me?”

“There’s a cowboy—tall, big shoulders, plaid shirt—heading this way.”

Jonah quickly looked around the bar. “You do realize you’ve just described about every man in here?”

“This one’s wearing a hat like your brother’s...I know, a lot of men are, but he’s standing on the other side of the third pool table and stealing glances at me with a determined look on his face.”

This time Jonah glanced to his left and Vanessa watched as the two men made eye contact. Oh, boy, she hoped this was a good idea.

“Is that bothering you?” He turned back to her.

“Well, ever since I told him I don’t kiss on the first date, he’s been angling to get me to go out with him again.”

Jonah’s hazel eyes darkened. “For a second date?”

“Third, actually. I didn’t kiss him the last time, either,” she hurried to explain, wanting him to understand. “I just wanted to get to know him a bit better, but no sparks, ya know? I told him it would be better if we were just friends, but the guy won’t take no for an answer.”

At that moment Eli returned, setting two beers and her glass of ice water down with a noisy clank before pushing their drinks across the table. “Your friends decided to stop by the ladies’ room—drinks in hand—so who knows if we’ll see them again. Hey, look at you. Getting more comfortable?”

“Much.” Vanessa reached for her glass, enjoying a long sip of the cool liquid. She didn’t know if her throat was so dry because of the dancing or this crazy idea of hers. “Oh, I so needed that.”

Jonah took a long swallow from his beer. “Yeah, me, too.”

“So, what do you say?” She set the glass back down, and gave him a gentle squeeze. “Help a girl out?”

Eli’s gaze bounced back and forth between them, before it landed on her hand on Jonah’s wrist. “Ah, did I miss something?”

“I just need a favor from your brother.”

“Jeez, I’m the one who bought the lady a drink.”

Jonah shot his brother a dark look, then turned to her again. “What do you want me to do?”

Now that he was agreeable, Vanessa realized she was at a loss for ideas. Boy, what else was new?

Was it enough they were standing here, practically holding hands? Maybe she should slide a bit closer? Press up against his shoulder?

Biting down on her bottom lip, she tried to come up with something when the jukebox switched songs and a classic country music ballad came on.

“Dance with me,” she said.

This time Eli laughed. “Oh, you’ve picked yourself the wrong rescuer, Vanessa. If there’s one thing Jonah doesn’t like to do, it’s dance.”

Okay, maybe it would be enough if she just stood next to him. Surely, her admirer wouldn’t cause any trouble if it was clear she was here with someone else, and now that Eli was back...

“How presumptuous of me. I’m sorry.” She released her hold, her fingers lightly sliding back across his skin. “I guess I’ve got to learn that I can’t assume every man in town is a cowboy or likes to two-step. Never even thought—”

Jonah surprised her by capturing her hand in his. “Come on, let’s dance.”