Читать книгу Second Chance Pass - Робин Карр, Robyn Carr - Страница 11

Less than a week after visiting Grants Pass, Vanessa opened the front door of her father’s house to find Cameron Michaels standing on the stoop. “Well, hey,” she said, surprised.

“Hey,” he said, showing her that sexy, dimpled grin. “I decided to have a look at this little town, see what all the fuss is about.”

“No kidding? You should’ve called. We could have made some plans together.”

“Is it too late for that? Because all I was going to do is drive around the area. Maybe drop into that bar you and Paul were raving about. If you’re not too busy…”

“Kind of far to come for just a look around…”

He shrugged. “I have a couple of days off in a row, which I pay for by being on call all weekend, and I thought, what the heck? It’s worth a shot. It was a very last minute idea.”

She lifted one brow and folded her arms over her chest. “You didn’t have any trouble finding the house.”

He had the grace to laugh a little and avert his eyes, caught. “Carol,” he said.

“Look, you should understand something. I respect my mother-in-law, but she can be a little pushy and—”

He put a hand on her arm to stop her. “Hey, Vanni—I asked her. And I didn’t call on purpose. I didn’t want to give you time to think of an excuse. I thought if I popped in unannounced, you might just cave in. Spend a couple of hours with me. You can punish me for bad manners later.”

She smiled at him. “I look forward to it.”

“So, do you have a little time?” he asked.

“It’s not as though I’m busy, but I have a baby who still nurses a lot.”

He tilted his head and grinned. “I’m pretty comfortable around babies.”

“Yeah. You would be, huh. Well, come on in.”

He stepped inside and looked around. “Wow,” he said. “What a great place. From the outside it looks like just an ordinary house.”

“My dad had the inside completely gutted and remodeled while he was serving his last tour in the Army. Last summer he and my brother Tommy came out and I joined them in the fall.” She walked into the great room and found her boots sitting by the chair. She sat down to pull them on while Cameron went to the window and looked out at the stable, corral and pasture. “Do you ride?” she asked.

“I did years ago. I haven’t been on a horse since I was a teenager.”

“Do you like horses?”

“I have great respect for horses. The last time I was near one, he stepped on my foot. Broke it.”

“Yeah, they should beep when they back up. You have to be alert.” She stood and smoothed her jeans. “Mattie is due to wake up any second. I can feed him, change him, beg him to behave and we could take a little run around Virgin River. How’s that sound?”

“Like just what I was hoping for.”

“You’re very presumptuous, you know,” she said, but she smiled.

He smiled right back. Confident. “You’re very beautiful, you know.”

She felt her cheeks grow instantly warm. “Help yourself to something to drink from the kitchen. I’ll see about the baby.”

“Take your time. Put him in a good mood.”

Forty-five minutes later they were underway in Walt’s big Tahoe. Cameron had come to Virgin River in a Porsche and there was no room in it for a car seat. She drove him out Highway 299, through the redwoods, then out to sit at the Virgin River where there were only a couple of anglers, it not being the best time of year for fishing. She explained the seasonal sports—fly-fishing in the summer, salmon in fall and winter was best, bear and deer hunting season from September through October, waterfowl hunting season October to January. Forest fire season from June through October. In summer the hikers and campers were all over the place.

While they were looking at the sights she learned that Cameron hailed from Portland, went to undergrad and medical school at Stanford and had parents, one brother and one sister in Portland, both married with kids. He did his residency in family medicine, then decided pediatrics was his first love. “I’ve disappointed my parents in the area of grandchildren, but I don’t think they should be so quick to write me off.”

“Certainly not,” she said. “Mel, my midwife, and her husband, Jack, didn’t marry until he was forty—and they’re expecting their second now. Jack says each one makes him feel younger. Mel frowns at him when he says that. I think the babies are a little closer together than she likes.”

“Medical school and residency is consuming. I was thirty by the time I was ready to go into practice, and that wasn’t simple. I had big time bills to pay off and it wasn’t easy to find an existing pediatric practice in Oregon that needed me.”

“And it had to be Oregon, huh?” she asked.

“At the time, I thought it had to be. I’ve become a lot more flexible since then.”

“But you like your practice?”

“Yeah, good docs. One woman and two men—outstanding physicians.”

Vanni continued the tour by driving him up into the foothills where sheep and cattle grazed, down through the valley where vineyards were just beginning to come to life and finally, as the afternoon had aged, they ended up at Jack’s. By the time they got there, Matt was fussing and demanding dinner. Before she could get to him, Cam had him out of the car seat and was jiggling him against his chest. Cameron had the diaper bag slung over his shoulder as well, taking charge. It was nice, having a man do that. Not just any man could—it would take someone special to be so confident with a baby. At that moment Vanni realized she’d been feeling so alone, even with her dad’s continual support. She missed her man. She would like to have a partner. She would like Mattie to have a dad.

When they walked into Jack’s, she was pleased to see the dinner crowd included her people, her friends. The first order of business was to introduce Cam to Jack. “This is Cameron Michaels, Dr. Michaels, a friend of Matt’s parents. And Cameron, this is Jack.”

Cameron deftly held the baby against his chest while he shook hands. “Pleasure,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about this place. I thought I’d drive down and look it over.”

“Welcome,” Jack said. “What can I get you?”

“How about a beer?”

“You got it. Cameron, meet Paige,” he said just as Paige came from the back. “She’s married to the guy who really runs this place—our cook, Preacher.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said. “Looks like the stork is on the way.”

“Pretty soon now—this summer,” she said, smiling sweetly.

Jack put a beer on the bar and Vanni said, “Paige, can I impose on your hospitality for a few minutes? I should nurse Mattie—we’ve been out driving around all afternoon and he’s hungry.”

“Sure. You know the way.”

Vanni reached for Mattie and said, “Jack, can you introduce Cameron to the crowd? I’ll be back in a little while.”

She went into Preacher and Paige’s apartment behind the bar, settled herself into the soft leather chair and nursed her baby. In spite of her determination to be strong about the events that shaped her days, she felt the sting of tears. This guy had driven all the way from Grants Pass on the chance he might see her. She’d had a lovely time with him. But where was Paul? She’d give anything to see him, but he didn’t even call. Because, she reminded herself, I’m not a woman to him. I’m his best friend’s wife; he loves me like a sister, whether he’ll admit it or not. Hadn’t it always been like that?

Cameron was introduced to Preacher, who was very welcoming, if a little distracted by the dinner he was working on. With him in the kitchen was Christopher, who he introduced as his son except the boy called him John. Then there was Mike Valenzuela and Jack’s sister, Brie. Cameron sat down with them for a little while and learned that Mike was a former police detective and sergeant and Brie a former prosecutor. He hadn’t imagined he’d be meeting professionals with such sophisticated educations and experience in a little place like this.

He was offered dinner of pork loin, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, but he chose to wait for Vanessa to finish with the baby. And while he waited a beautiful young pregnant woman came in, followed by an old man carrying a young child. The woman leaned across the bar to kiss Jack and then Jack took immediate charge of the child. Cameron was soon introduced to Doc Mullins and Mel Sheridan. A couple more tables were pushed together and they joined the group while Jack, with his son on his hip, fetched the high chair from the kitchen.

“Mel, I’m fascinated by your work. You deliver most of the town, I’m told,” Cameron said.

“I don’t know about that. I do for the women who don’t have a lot of insurance. Or for special cases like Vanni. She doesn’t look it, but she’s kind of granola natural—she wanted to give birth at her father’s house, and she did a fantastic job. Textbook. In fact, we had a wonderful birthing party.”

“A birthing party?” Cameron asked.

“It kind of fell into place. When I was called out, Jack let it slip that she was in labor, so Preacher and Paige packed up dinner from the kitchen and closed the bar. Mike and Brie came out in case any of the children needed tending. With the general and Tommy, Jack and Davie, and of course Paul helping with the delivery, we were a full and happy house. It was great fun.”

“Wasn’t it a little melancholy? It being Vanni’s late husband’s child?”

“That’s the thing about babies, Cameron. They give you such hope. Such joy. That’s why I love this business.”

He laughed and said, “You obviously take it personally.”

She rubbed her swollen middle. “Not much longer. Jack promises we’re going to take a break after this one. And I’ve promised that if he doesn’t keep his word, I’m going to shoot him in his sleep.”

While Doc had his whiskey, Cameron grilled him with questions about small town doctoring, asked Mel about some of her other cases and quizzed Mike about local policing. He asked Brie what kind of law she was practicing and learned that while she’d been a prosecutor in Sacramento, she was now occupied with small cases that included divorces, property closures, water rights disputes and such. The county D.A. used her as a consultant on some cases, as well. He was completely fascinated, completely enchanted. Before long Vanni joined them, Mattie full and content against her shoulder. Cameron reached for the baby across the table and said, “Get yourself a beer. Lucky for you, it’s good for nursing mothers.” When Jack joined them, they were ready for dinner together.

Cameron enjoyed this excursion far more than he expected to. He had hoped for an opportunity to be with Vanni on the excuse of checking out Virgin River, but it had happened that he was delighted by the town, the people and the families that gathered at Jack’s.

“Are you staying at the general’s?” Jack asked him.

“No, there’s a motel in Fortuna that has plenty of room.”

“You’re welcome to stay with us,” Vanessa said.

“Or, I can give you another option,” Jack offered. “The cabin Mel and I just moved out of is empty and furnished, and right here in Virgin River. Clean sheets on the bed, towels in the bathroom, but no food in the fridge. If you want it, it’s yours. I can even fix you up with food and drink to take with you—I’m tight with the cook.”

“Are you sure?” Cameron asked.

“Absolutely. Let me draw you a map—the door is never locked.”

“Hey, that’s fantastic of you. Since it’s already kind of late, I really appreciate it.”

“I’ll write my number at home and at the bar on this map,” he said, drawing on the back of a napkin. “Give me a call anytime. If my family isn’t visiting and using the cabin, you’re welcome to it.”

“What can I pay you for it?” Cameron asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s there for friends and family.” He finished with the map and turned it around to Cameron. “Any friend of Vanni’s is a friend of ours.”

The night was still young when Mike and Brie said good night. Not long after Jack fetched his son out of the high chair and swept his family away. Doc Mullins said goodbye.

Cameron had enjoyed his dinner while holding Mattie against his chest; he had loved looking across the table at the beautiful and sexy Vanessa. Julia Roberts, that was what she was. Leggy, full-breasted, her hair a reddish hue shot through with blond, her smile wild and spontaneous, her laugh loud and free. He didn’t think he’d ever run into a woman like this in his life.

“What do you think? Time for you and the baby to go home?”

“Yeah,” she said, and she smiled as though she’d had a good time.

“Let’s get going. If you’re not too busy tomorrow, maybe you could introduce me to the horses before I head back to Grants Pass.”

“Sure,” she said. “We should go for a ride. The bear are just coming out of hibernation with their cubs, and the deer have fawns now.”

“I would love that. But is it dangerous? Any worry about the bear?”

“Not for you,” she said with a big laugh. “I carry a rifle. I’ll take care of you.” Then she laughed some more.

As they stepped out onto the porch of the bar, Cameron stopped and listened. He looked up at the sky—the magnificent clear, black sky studded with a billion stars—and heard in the background the gentle strumming and picking of a Spanish guitar. He held the baby against him with one arm, put the other around Vanessa. “Do you hear that?”

“Hmm. That’s Mike. Miguel, actually. Isn’t it beautiful?”

He leaned closer to her. “I love this place.”

When Jack had settled Mel and Davie into bed, he crept into the kitchen and placed a long-distance call. Paul Haggerty answered and Jack said, “Hey, it’s me.”

“Hey, Jack. What’s up?”

“What’s up is that doctor. Cameron what’s his name. Down here putting the moves on Vanessa. Paul, I’m not going to tell you twice. You better not let this happen.”

“Jack, listen. She’s not ready.”

“You sure it’s not you who’s not ready?”

“I was there when she met him—at Matt’s parents’ house. She told me—she’s not ready.”

“But the problem is, he’s ready. Buddy, don’t be stupid.”

“Yeah,” Paul said. “Okay. Thanks.”

When they hung up and Jack went back to Mel, crawling into bed and slipping his hands under the T-shirt to feel her belly, she said, “You’re doing it again, aren’t you?”

He sighed. “I thought you were asleep.”

“You’re getting in the middle of stuff.”

“Mel, I wasn’t going to tell you anything. But I’ll tell you, because you’re so goddamn nosy. Paul loves her.”

“I know.”

“Well then why are you all over me?” he asked.

“Because this is for them to work out. Not you.”

“But Paul loves her. And this Cameron—he’s nice, he’s a good guy, he’s slick.”

“It’s for them to work out.”

“Well, what the hell do you expect me to do?”

“Stay out of it.”

“But what if…”

“Stay out of it. You are such a mother hen.”

“We owe Paul…”

“Jack, if Paul isn’t smart enough or aggressive enough or in love enough to handle this, maybe Vanni is better off with the pediatrician.”

“How can you say that?!”

“Because I’m the wise one in this marriage,” she said. “And you’re too emotional.”

“Aww.”

“Why did you give Cameron the cabin if you don’t like seeing him with Vanni?” she asked.

“Because. He wouldn’t be under the general’s roof tonight.”

She laughed. “Jack Sheridan, you are such a sneak. I never give you enough credit.”

The next morning Cameron was invited to breakfast with Vanni and the general, then out for a ride. It was a weekday and Tommy had school so the general was needed to baby-sit. Vanni took him out alone, just the two of them. Vanni rode Tommy’s horse, a gelding named Chico who was pretty frisky, while she put Cameron on their gentlest mare, Plenty, short for Plenty of Trouble. There were four horses in the stable, all of them good riding mounts with the general’s stallion, Liberty, being the most difficult to manage. As promised, she had a rifle strapped to her saddle.

“You ride, shoot, have babies at home—I thought you grew up in the city?”

“When you grow up with the general, you learn lots of interesting things. And my mom was a farm girl.”

“When did you lose your mom?” he asked.

“A few years ago. She was a real amazing, strong, beautiful woman. She did so many things—besides riding and hunting with my dad, she was also a licensed pilot and followed Dad all over the world. When both my brother and I were born, Dad was off in one conflict or another. For some of the most important times in our family, he was missing—and she never once complained or ragged on him. She admired him, respected the work he did—they were true partners. She was the strongest woman I’ve ever known.” She took a breath. “She was killed in a traffic accident in D.C. Such a waste, such a loss.”

“I’m sorry,” Cameron said. “You take after her, don’t you?”

“I hope I do. That would be the highest compliment you could give me.”

They rode along the river for a while, enjoying the crisp air, the spring foliage. Ponderosa, fir and pine spattered with sequoia rose high above them, covering the foothills. “You’re doing pretty well,” she observed.

“If this old girl doesn’t make any fast moves, I can hang in there.”

The river trail opened up into a field and Vanni stopped. “Look,” she whispered. On the other side of the field was a small herd of deer, two bucks, several doe and their babies. “It’s not even the best time of day to see them.” A gentle breeze caressed her; she removed her hat and lifted her hair off her neck to take advantage of the cooling. “What’s not to love about this place, huh?”

“Fantastic,” he agreed. “Can we take a break? Get off and walk around?”

“Sure,” she said, dismounting. She led Chico toward the river edge and he lowered his head to drink. Cameron did the same with Plenty.

Vanni gazed off at the deer. She could feel Cameron move up behind her; the warmth of his body was right there, though he didn’t touch her. Then one hand caressed her upper arm while the other pulled her hair away from her ear.

“This is the first time I’ve ever driven two hundred miles to see a woman I’ve barely met, Vanessa,” he whispered.

Vanni bit on her lower lip. She’d been sleepless last night, thinking. She knew Cameron was interested in her, but that wasn’t enough. Her mind was on Paul.

She turned around. “I’m very vulnerable, Cameron,” she said by way of warning.

“I know. I’ll treat you carefully.”

“You’re going to have to treat me patiently,” she said. “I’m not prepared to be any more than friends right now.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I’d sure like to see where this could go.”

“Friends,” she said. “Or nothing at all.”

He cocked his head and smiled. “Do friends kiss? Just to see if there’s…chemistry?”

She shook her head. “They do not. Not yet.”

“Yet is a much more encouraging response than nothing at all. I guess friends kiss when they’ve gotten to know each other and there’s trust. Do I have that right?”

She sighed deeply. If not for Paul, she might be attracted to Cameron. He was handsome, sexy, sweet. “It’s too soon. My mother-in-law jumped the gun, introducing us and—”

“Nah, it’s not Carol’s fault. I’m jumping the gun because…” He shrugged. “Because you’re beautiful and fun. So shoot me.”

She smiled at him. “I don’t think your life is in danger for calling me beautiful and fun. That’s very nice. But I’m not getting involved with you right now.”

“You said we’d be friends,” he argued. And he reached out to stroke her hair.

“Behave like a friend, Cameron. Like a Boy Scout.”

He laughed at her. “You’re asking way too much. I’ll behave, but let’s keep this in perspective. I’m a man. You’re a damn sexy woman.”

“Do I have to worry you won’t mind your manners?” she asked, lifting a brow.

“Absolutely not,” he promised. “You’re in charge.”

“Then no touching until…No touching.”

He put his hands in his pockets. “Whatever you want, Vanessa. I’m just going to—”

At that very moment, Plenty whinnied, backed away from the stream and bolted.

“Shoot!” Vanni said. “That little troublemaker.” She pushed Cameron away, grabbed the reins of the gelding, leaped into the saddle and said, “I’ll be back.” She directed her horse after Plenty. “Don’t go away,” she yelled, laughing, as if he could go anywhere, stranded as he was. She whipped at Chico’s rear flank with the end of the rein.

Vanni took off at a gallop and burst into a dead run, leaning low in the saddle and urging the horse with her heels, going after the mare. The deer lifted their heads and headed for the trees while Plenty ran across the meadow, clearly enjoying her freedom. But Plenty was no match for Chico, who was the second fastest horse in their stable. On the other side of the meadow, Vanni caught up with her, leaned out of her saddle to grab a trailing rein, pulled back on the runaway and slowed her down.

She trotted back toward Cameron, delivering his horse, laughing in spite of herself. “I forgot to mention, she’s a runner. She sneaks off.”

“That was no sneak. That was bold-faced.”

“Yeah,” she laughed. “You gotta love a woman with nerve.”

Vanni had known for a long time that her best friend Nikki was in a troubled relationship and that it wasn’t going to last. Cameron had barely departed, headed back for Grants Pass, when the phone rang and Nikki said. “It’s over.”

“Oh, honey,” Vanni commiserated. “Something major must have happened. Big fight?”

Through her tears, Nikki said, “It started out as the usual fight—me saying I needed a relationship with a future and him saying he wasn’t ready because of his short, terrible marriage years before we met. Then he dropped the big bomb. A couple of years ago, without telling me, without talking to me about it, he had a vasectomy.”

“What?” Vanni asked. “But how could he do that without you knowing?”

“I was gone on a couple of trips for a little over a week. He only needed a few days to recover completely. I never suspected.” She sniffed into the phone. “Craig was afraid I’d stop taking my birth control pills and try to sneak a baby out of him. He said he was sorry, but he didn’t want a family and was tired of fighting about it.”

Vanni sank into the chair by the phone. “This is just…unbelievable.”

“He said that if what we have isn’t good enough—just like it is—then it would probably be better for both of us if I just made good on my threat. Vanni,” she said with a whimper. “When did he become that kind of man?”

Vanni grimaced. It was tempting to say he’d always been like that—selfish, insensitive, an egotistical bore who took a lot more than he gave. But Nikki’s heart was breaking so all she said was, “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. The creep.”

“My dad helped me move out—all my things are in my parents’ garage. I’m staying with them while I look for something to rent. I’m calling from the car. I don’t have to work for a few days. Can I come up?”

“Of course,” Vanni said. Nikki and Vanni had been best friends since they both started at the airline. They’d gotten each other through a dozen rotten boyfriends, but nothing like this. Nikki had been with Craig for five years.

Nikki had been Vanni’s maid of honor when she married Matt. Vanni would have been lost without Nikki to talk to, to lean on when Matt was deployed to Iraq. When he was killed, she spent hours on the phone with her best friend. Of course she would try to comfort Nikki now.

“I feel so stupid,” Nikki said. “Why’d I let myself fall in love with him?”

“Can we really help who we love?” Vanni asked with a sigh. “Just get up here. We’ll eat fattening food, play with the baby, tease Tom, ride the horses and stick pins in a Craig doll. Nikki, you know it’s time to move on—he wasn’t good enough for you. And what he did—that was so deceptive, you could never count on him again.”

“Vanni, what’s wrong with us?” Nikki asked. “Why are we stuck loving men who don’t love us?”

With a shock of clarity, Vanni gulped. Why indeed, she asked herself. And then we feel so stupid, like such failures. It was wrong, all wrong. “We’re going to work on that, my friend. Both of us.”

Joe Benson got a call from his old friend, Preacher, explaining that he and Paige had done a lot of talking about their growing family. Right now they were housed in Jack’s old apartment behind the bar—a small L-shaped bedroom/living room built for a single man—while Paige’s son, four-year-old Chris, was sleeping in the bedroom above the kitchen that had once been Preacher’s. With a baby coming and maybe more in their future, they had to do something. They thought about buying a larger house, but in point of fact, Paige and Preacher loved living right where they worked. As far as either of them could foresee, Preacher would always be the cook and manager at Jack’s bar with Paige as his right hand.

Preacher had talked to Jack about allowing him to enlarge their quarters. Jack thought it was a fine idea; it would at least double the value of the property. He made Preacher a deal—if Preacher would build on, Jack would get together a contract to make him a full partner and half-owner. If the bar and grill and attached home was ever sold, the proceeds would be split.

Before any further discussion could occur, an architect would have to be consulted to see if building on was feasible. There was room; the property on which the bar sat was comfortably large. Preacher wanted to find a plan that would give them plenty of space and wouldn’t disrupt business too much during renovation.

That’s where Joe came in. If Joe thought it was a good idea and could draw up some plans, Preacher could begin to look for a builder.

Joe loved an excuse to spend a day or two with Jack and Preacher. And it made him feel good when his buddies asked him for help; he always gave them a deal on the designs. So Joe said, “I’ll have to see the space and the structure, do some measuring. It’s not raw land, Preach. An add-on is a little complicated—the basic structure has to support additional square footage. Tell you what. I’ll drive down tomorrow, stay overnight…”

“Tomorrow?! Oh, man, that’s great of you!”

“For you and Paige, Preach? It’s an honor.”

And that’s what he had done. When you’re an architect with your own small firm, you make your own hours, design at three in the morning sometimes, if that’s when the inspiration hits. So he made it to the bar before noon on Thursday, had a nice long lunch with Mel and Jack, Preacher and Paige and they talked about the expansion. To Joe’s surprise, Preacher was the one with the most elaborate ideas—he wanted a large great room and dining room, a play area for the kids, a small office for himself, plus a total of four bedrooms. And, he wanted the family connected, not separated the way it was—right now they had to go through the kitchen and up the back stairs to get to Christopher’s room. Preacher wanted it to become a house like any other house—with a clear path to all the rooms. And maybe a fireplace. The only thing he didn’t need was a kitchen.

Joe got busy right after lunch, sketching, measuring, tromping through their quarters and around the yard behind the house. There were some beautiful big trees back there he’d rather not disturb and a huge brick barbecue he’d prefer not to move. He could see the potential for a nice, spacious house connected to the bar by one door through the kitchen, and with two separate entrances independent of the bar. The downstairs could be enlarged enough to hold a great room, master bedroom and bath, dining room and serving station with storage for their personal dishes and dining accessories, with a breakfast bar separating the serving station from the dining room. He could install a food-warming tray, dishwasher, trash compactor and sink in their serving station for convenience. He left the laundry room right where it was, just inside the door to the bar. The addition of a small office would square out the first floor and support additional bedrooms and a loft on the second floor. They could entertain friends and have family meals there. The stairs to the second floor could be removed to enlarge their ground space and they could put an open staircase to the second floor in the great room.

There was room upstairs for two additional bedrooms and an open loft. The bedrooms would be large enough for more than one child, with walk-in closets. Their total living space now was twelve hundred square feet and he could turn it into three thousand without even breathing hard.

The only inconvenience would be that Preacher and his family would have to move out for most of the construction. Joe knew they had some options—one of which was Jack and Mel’s cabin. Small, but serviceable for four to six months.

It was almost five by the time Joe was ready to discuss these possibilities with Preacher, Jack and Paige. Since Jack was busy serving, and Preacher and Paige were busy cooking and clearing, he would enjoy a beer while waiting out the dinner crowd. He had a large sketch pad and notebook full of measurements that he flipped closed for the time being.

That’s when he saw her, the profile of a small brunette with long, silky dark hair that went halfway down her back. Right beside her, leaning toward her and talking in her ear, was Vanni. For a moment Joe was struck dumb. Then, gathering his wits, he said, “Vanni?”

Vanni looked up, past the back of her friend’s head and said, “Joe?”

“Yeah,” he laughed.

She immediately left her beer and her friend and came over to him. Of course they’d met more than once, the last time being at her husband’s funeral. Joe knew Matt; he’d met him in Grants Pass when he’d been home on leave. They’d been introduced by Paul.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, embracing him.

“A little design work for Preacher and Paige,” he said. “They want to enlarge their home. You know—to accommodate the baby and then some.” The thought that immediately came to mind was the conversation he and Paul had had a couple of weeks ago. Paul was in love with this woman and had messed it up so bad, he probably didn’t stand a chance. Joe peered around Vanni at the woman with her, but he saw only her profile. She was exquisite. Beautiful beyond words.

“Nikki,” Vanni called. “Come here.” When Nikki approached, her smile very small and maybe shy, Vanni made introductions. “Meet Joe, a friend of Matt’s and Paul’s. Joe, meet my best friend, Nikki.”

He put out a hand and she laid hers in his. “Nice to meet you,” he said.

“A pleasure,” she said, but then she glanced down.

“Gee, this is terrible,” Vanni said. “If I’d known you were coming, I’d have made plans to do something special for you. I would have cooked dinner or something.”

“I’d be glad to buy you a little of Preacher’s dinner if you’ll stay,” he offered. “I’d really enjoy that.”

“Thanks, that’s sweet. But I’ve left my dad baby-sitting for a while and I had Preacher pack us up something to go. I’m still nursing—my escapes are very brief. I could get Preacher to add to it if you’ll come out to the house.”

“I wish I could, but I have to discuss building plans with these folks tonight.”

“Doggone it, Joe. Next time, please let me know you’re coming. I’d like to spend some time with you, too!”

“It’s a promise,” he said. “And I’ll be back. Guaranteed.” But will she be back? Joe wondered. Nikki. He wouldn’t forget that name.

Right at that moment, Paige came out with a big sack holding their dinner. Vanni fished for her wallet and Joe said, “On me, sweetheart. Amends for not calling you ahead. A mistake I’ll never make again.” He pulled a couple of twenties out of his pocket, peeled them off, laid them on the bar and reached for the take-out sack to pass to her. “Enjoy the best food you’ll ever eat,” he said to Nikki.

Nikki gave her head a small nod while Vanni said, “Gee, thanks! I sure didn’t expect that.” Then she leaned toward Joe and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “That’s very sweet.”

“Enjoy,” he said. “Nice meeting you, Nikki,” he said, wishing that he’d had a little cheek press from her. But what he got instead was another small nod.

They left and he went back to his beer. It was quite a while before Jack was freed up enough to walk down to his end of the bar, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “How’d you do there?” he asked, glancing at the sketch pad.

“I think I have some good ideas here,” Joe said. “With the right builder, this could work out nicely.”

“The right builder is the problem. When I was finishing my house, I couldn’t find squat around here. That’s why I called Paul.”

“Well, I know some people,” Joe said. “I might be able to help you with that. First, we have to see if you three like my ideas. And, by the way, who was that woman with Vanni?”

“Girlfriend from the flight attendant days. I gather they’re best friends who flew together for years and she’s up here to visit.”

“Jesus,” Joe said. “She’s incredible.”

“Based in San Francisco,” Jack said with a smile. “She’s going home tomorrow.”

“Well, so am I.” He lifted his beer. “Here’s to another close call.”

Jack laughed.

Joe took a long drink, Jack wandered away and Joe thought, I’ve been to San Francisco five times in the past year and I never saw anyone like that. Why not? This is a town of six hundred. I shouldn’t see anyone that amazing here—I should see ten or twenty so gorgeous in the city.

Jack came back with his coffee cup. Joe merely looked up at him and said, “This place. It’s kind of scary.”

“Tell me about it,” Jack said, taking a sip of his coffee. “I found Mel here. That stuff isn’t supposed to happen.”