A Second Chance at Crimson Ranch (11 page)

Olivia felt the color drain from her face. She was so shocked by the boy's outburst, she couldn't form a reply. She almost crumpled to the floor and let his words, which mirrored her deepest fears, consume her.

Instead, she reached out and pulled the boy into a gentle hug. His shoulders stayed stiff for several moments before he deflated against her. “You're a good kid, Jordan. I bet your mom misses you every day. I would if you were my son.”

He looked up at her, wiping his sleeve across his tear-streaked cheeks. “Do you think so?”

She nodded. “Adults make mistakes sometimes, even parents. But it's not your fault. She loves you no matter what.”

He took a step back then leaned forward to give her another quick hug. “I'm sorry I've been a jerk to you.”

“Apology accepted,” she said with a smile.

Her mother called up from the first floor and Jordan turned back to his work. Olivia walked down the stairs feeling as if she'd finally gotten through to the boy. Perhaps Jordan would see that she wasn't the enemy. She knew a lot of that had to do with Logan's guidance. She explained Jordan's situation to her mother who'd been taken aback that Olivia would allow the reminder of Craig's mistress to be working under her nose.

But Olivia knew Jordan was just as much of a victim as she was. Jeremy Dempsey had even called to apologize for his outburst in the hardware store and to thank her for allowing Jordan to help at the community center. Jeremy also had asked if she'd heard from Craig and Melissa. She heard the longing in his voice along with the bitterness. It had renewed her anger at her husband, who'd not only turned her life upside down but also had destroyed another family. How could she have been such an idiot to actually marry someone like Craig in the first place?

Her heart went out to Jordan. She knew that even when his anger had been directed at her, she had been just an outlet for feelings that were difficult to manage. She often heard Logan speaking to him about responsibility and right versus wrong. Several times, she'd walked in on the two of them bent over Jordan's homework. Logan always played it off, saying that he'd skipped school so often that now he was trying to relearn some of the lessons. But she knew it was another way he was connecting with Jordan, making the boy feel special and cared for.

He'd done the same thing for her. Her mother left before the weekend. After that, Olivia and Logan fell into a pattern where she'd work on the business aspect of the community center most of the morning, then come to the building where he'd have some small job set up for her. Nothing technical or particularly taxing, but enough that she could feel as if she was contributing to the renovations.

They had dinner together almost every night, mostly simple meals in her kitchen. Craig had often worked late, or so she'd thought, although now she realized many of his late nights were probably spent with his mistress. But they hadn't shared many meals and Olivia forgot how much she enjoyed cooking. Logan didn't expect her to feed him, but he always complimented whatever she made and brought bread or dessert to round out the dinners. They talked and laughed and at some point each night, he'd pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. His hands and mouth would roam her body as if he was attempting to memorize every inch of her.

He always stopped before either of them lost total control. Olivia found herself resisting the urge to call her attorney for an update each morning. Then one day she walked out to the mailbox and her divorce decree had been delivered. There was no fanfare or big production, just a simple white envelope that pronounced her no longer married.

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Her marriage was officially over. She was free. Free to embrace her future with both hands. Free to become the woman she truly wanted to be.

Despite all her frustration over waiting to be with Logan, she suddenly knew it would be worth it. At the same time, a new kind of fear settled on her. She understood what it was like to have her hopes dashed.

All her fears and self-doubt came tumbling around her, but she pushed them aside. This was the new and improved Olivia, after all. Olivia 2.0. Olivia without the baggage of her no-good, cheating ex-husband.

Ex. Husband.

Her knees almost gave way and she leaned against the front door for support. She'd never expected to be facing her thirties divorced and alone. She'd done what she was supposed to for her entire life. First as a dutiful daughter and then as a good wife. All playing by the rules had gotten her were pain and disappointment.

Why not change her game?

With that thought spurring her forward, she straightened her shoulders and headed into the house. She didn't let herself think as she grabbed her keys from the counter. She made the twenty-minute drive to Aspen in silence, her heartbeat thrumming in her ears her only companion. She might be the new and improved Olivia, but she needed anonymity for this particular errand. It didn't take long for her to find the lingerie store—leave it to ritzy Aspen to sell fancy undergarments in the mountains. Too embarrassed to try anything on, she let the saleswoman help her pick out a lacy bra and matching panties.

Olivia couldn't help the nervous laughter that bubbled from her throat as she drove back to Crimson, the noon sun high overhead. She parked in front of the community-center building and carried the tiny bag in with her.

* * *

Logan looked up from where he was measuring trim as Olivia walked in. He smiled as she came to stand in the doorway. Shifting her weight back and forth on the balls of her feet, she crumpled the small plastic bag in her hands.

“Hello, there,” Logan said, wanting nothing more than to kiss her. But from the blush that covered her cheeks to the fact that she couldn't quite make eye contact with him, he could tell something was up. He gave her time to tell him what it was, although he had a pretty good idea.

“I have two things,” she said shyly. “Two new things. Three really if you count—” She cut herself off and stared at the floor.

He took a step forward. “The first is?”

“I'm divorced. Officially.” She scuffed the tip of one boot along the drywall dust on the floor. Logan could imagine that the blush that colored her cheeks covered her whole body. It made him crazy with want.

“We have a dinner reservation at The Church on the Hill. Eight o'clock.”

She glanced up through her lashes. “How do you know?”

He shrugged. “I grew up with the manager. He's been holding a table for me every night for the past week. I wanted to be ready.”

Her eyes widened and she thrust out the bag in front of her. “I bought lingerie. It's red and it matches.”

Logan's mouth went dry. “You're trying to kill me,” he whispered.

She drew back the bag. “I don't have to wear it.”

He ate up the distance between them in three long strides. “In a good way.” His fingers tipped up her chin until she met his gaze.

“Is there a good way to be killed?”

“When it involves you and red lingerie, hell yes.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “Are you going to show me?”

She clasped the bag tight to her chest. “I did this wrong. I'm supposed to surprise you later.”

“I hate surprises,” he assured her. “Let me see what I have to look forward to, Olivia.”

She pulled back and opened the top of the bag. “I can't,” she mumbled, then let out a shaky laugh. “I'm bad at this. If I can't even hold them up, I'll never be able to wear them.”

He pressed his forehead against hers. “Oh, you'll wear them. You can't deny me the pleasure of peeling them off of you.”

“I want tonight to be perfect,” she told him.

“It will be.” He'd gone over it in his head for what seemed like days, anticipating every moment, what he would say, how he'd look at her. If it was up to him, this was going to be the best night of Olivia's life. He forced his head back and looked in the bag. A tiny slip of red lace peeked out at him. His knees went weak, and he pressed the bag shut.

“Forget tonight. I think you should model this stuff right now.”

“Here?” Olivia's voice was a high-pitched squeak.

He nuzzled his face against the side of her head, nipped at her earlobe. “I've decided I can't wait.”

Someone cleared their throat behind where he and Olivia stood. “If this is a bad time, I can come back.”

Logan's body immediately went stiff upon hearing the voice. It was gravelly, familiar and immediately ruined his day.

Chapter Nine

T
he evening was much different than Olivia had expected. The man who'd interrupted them at the community center turned out to be Jim Thompson, Logan's closest friend from high school. Jim had gone to prison for shooting a man. A man whose life Logan probably had saved by calling the police and having his best friend arrested.

She could feel the tension between the two of them, but Jim didn't seem to hold Logan responsible for his fate. He didn't need to when Logan clearly blamed himself for the events of that long-ago night, for letting his wild streak rule his life years ago, for not stopping Jim from pulling the trigger. Jim had committed the crime, but Logan still held on to a lot of guilt from that time.

Jim recently had been released from prison and had come through Crimson on his way to his sister's home on the Western Slope of Colorado near the Utah border. Logan had seemed shocked to see his old friend, who'd tracked him down through people in Telluride.

Jim's arrival had changed their plans. Instead of a romantic dinner, the three of them had met Logan's friend Noah Conrad for burgers and beer at a bar in town. Olivia had met Noah several times while she was married to Craig and was grateful that Noah's affable nature brought some levity to their group.

Logan had been tense the whole night, barely making eye contact with her. At first she'd thought it was because he'd been left with as much pent-up sexual tension as she with no way to release it. Now, as she watched a trashy blonde she didn't recognize lean close to his ear while he lined up his shot at the bar's corner pool table, she couldn't help but wonder if his mind was simply elsewhere.

“Does it feel strange to be out after all that time?” Olivia asked Jim, hoping this conversation could distract her from how off track the night had gotten. She shifted uncomfortably on the bar stool where her lingerie-clad bottom had been sitting for the past hour. Were fancy underpants really worth this much fidgeting?

Jim Thompson looked at her over the rim of his glass. “I was sentenced eight years ago. The world feels a lot different now...”

She nodded. “Have you reunited with your family?”

“Reunited,” he said slowly, as if testing the sound on his tongue, “is a funny word.” He placed his glass of water on the table and studied her. “You ask a lot of questions, Ms. Wilder.”

“I'm sorry,” she said automatically. “Usually I mind my own business. But Logan doesn't talk much about his past or why he ultimately left Crimson.”

“We were young and stupid back then.” Jim gave her a friendly smile. “No need to apologize. I don't think I should have come here, though,” he added, his gaze following hers.

Noah gave Logan a quick high five after the shot, and the young woman said something that made Logan smile at her.

What had happened to make things go off track so quickly?

Sure, it was disappointing to have to wait a little while longer, but the change in him had been so immediate that she couldn't help but wonder if something else was going on.

She squeezed Jim's hand. “I'm sure Logan is happy to see you again.”

“He was a better friend to me than I was to him back in the day. You know, he came to visit me every couple of months all these years. But I shouldn't expect that friendship to continue now that I'm out.”

“Why wouldn't it?”

“Guys move on. I'm a reminder of the past he doesn't need.” He shrugged. “That's why I was surprised he was here in Crimson. From what he told me, he had no plans to return anytime soon.”

“He came for his brother's wedding.”

Jim stared at her. “That's not why he's stayed.”

At this moment, Olivia had no idea why Logan had stayed. His intentions toward her certainly had seemed to change in an instant. He'd barely said two words to her the entire night, other than to drop unsubtle hints about how Noah was single and available. He'd purposely sat her at the table next to his friend, and then pointed out all the things they had in common. Noah had handled it much better than Olivia, playfully flirting with her even though he seemed not to understand Logan's motivations any better than she did. She'd hardly touched her food and almost spat her beer across the table when, out of the blue, Logan had mentioned that Noah's favorite color was red.

The longer the night wore on, the surlier Logan had gotten, until Noah had pulled him out of his chair to play pool. The women had descended on the two handsome guys like a pack of starved vultures. The curvy blonde in particular had made a point of wrapping herself all around Logan, giggling into his face with regular frequency. She wore a low-cut tank top and short denim skirt that made Olivia wonder if she'd get frostbite on the way to her car at the end of the evening. It was obvious that if the woman had anything to say about it, Logan would be there to keep her warm.

He looked up at that moment and his gaze crashed into hers. She gave him a small smile, then cursed herself when his mouth tightened. Maybe being out tonight with women who knew what they were doing when it came to seducing a man had made him realize that she wasn't worth the trouble.

She watched him lean forward and say something to Noah, who returned to the table a few minutes later. “Do you want another?” Noah asked as he settled into the chair next to her.

She shook her head. It was clear that Logan had sent Noah to tend to her again. She'd never felt more like a charity case in her life. The humiliation of it was enough to spark her temper into a fast flame.

“You don't need to babysit me.” She huffed out an annoyed breath.

“Is that what you think I'm doing?”

“I can't remember when I've had a more enjoyable evening,” Jim offered.

“You've been in jail,” she reminded him.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Good point.”

Noah's smile widened. “You don't seem like the type of woman who needs looking after, and it's definitely not a chore to talk to you.”

“You forgot I'm the daughter of a politician and I was married to one. I can see the crap flying a mile away, and you two are neck-deep in it.” She shot a glare at Jim. “Neither one of you needs to sit here, forced to keep me company because Logan's suddenly taken the notion to sow his wild oats with Crimson's finest.” She slapped her palms against the table. “There's a group of guys hanging out at the bar. Maybe I'll just find my own entertainment for the evening.”

She went to stand but both Noah and Jim clamped a hand on her arm.

“Not a good idea,” Noah told her.

“And why is that?”

“Because I'm not much for bar fights anymore. Logan would go ballistic if any one of those guys looked in your direction.”

She scoffed. “As if he has any right. You're saying it's okay for him to cozy up to the blonde who's shellacked herself to the front of him, but I can't even talk to another man?”

“You can talk to me.”

“I don't want to talk to you,” she said through clenched teeth, then remembered her manners. “No offense.” She sank back into her chair. “You're a nice person and a good friend.”

Noah made a face. “Nice?”

Olivia continued as if Noah hadn't spoken, “Logan doesn't owe me anything. I know I'm making a spectacle of myself.” She plastered a smile on her face, hoping it looked more self-deprecating than watery. “You'd think I'd have gotten my fill of having men make me look like a fool by now.”

“You're not the fool here tonight.” Jim gave her a warm smile and stood, releasing Olivia's arm as he did. “But I see where this train is headed and I don't want be around when it hits the station. Olivia, I appreciate you letting me stay with Logan in the apartment for the night.”

“Of course,” she said, regaining a bit of her composure if not her pride. “It really was lovely to meet you.”

He chuckled. “Ex-cons aren't called lovely very often.” He smoothed a hand over his chest. “I think I like it.” He picked up her hand and bent over it, dropping a gallant kiss on her knuckles.

Something crashed on the other side of the bar, making Olivia jump. But when she looked over, Logan's back was to her as helped the blonde bimbo line up a pool shot.

“The train is picking up speed,” Jim murmured, releasing her hand and heading for the bar's exit.

Olivia began to pick the label off her beer bottle. “You really don't have to sit here with me,” she said sullenly.

“I
really
want to,” Noah answered.

“Thank you,” she whispered and turned to look at him.

At that moment, the waitress sat a beer down in front of Olivia. “I didn't order—”

“It's from him,” the waitress told her, hitching her thumb over her shoulder toward the group still standing at the bar.

“Oh,” Olivia said on a tiny breath.

“Oh, no,” Noah muttered next to her.

“No trouble,” the waitress told Noah, pointing her finger at him.

“You're the one who delivered the drink.”

She smiled at Olivia. “I knew Craig from when we were kids.”

Olivia grabbed the bottle of beer and took a long swallow. Her throat burned.

“He was always a smooth talker but not much meat to him, if you know what I mean.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” Olivia said, rising slowly. “My divorce was final today.”

She heard Noah groan.

“I'd say that's cause to celebrate.”

“I thought I was going to but...” She trailed off and couldn't help that her gaze strayed to Logan. Who continued to ignore her, the big lug.

The waitress linked her arm in Olivia's. “Come over here, sweetheart. Let me introduce you to these fellows.” She jabbed one finger on the table. “This fine lady deserves a bit of attention, Noah.”

“What does it look like I'm doing, Amy?”

The waitress made a funny noise. “No trouble,” she repeated and led Olivia away.

* * *

A half hour later, Logan smacked the cell phone out of Noah's hand. It skittered to the far end of the table.

“Dude. My eBay auction is ending in minutes. Do you mind?”

“Where the hell is she?”

Noah reached for his phone but Logan grabbed it and held it out of reach.

“She's at the bar,” Noah said. “I'm keeping an eye on her.”

Logan pointed to where several men stood laughing and talking in front of the bar. Olivia was nowhere to be seen. “She's gone. I asked you to look after her and she's
gone
, Noah.”

“She can't be.” Noah's gaze followed Logan's. “Damn,” he mumbled.

Logan had half a mind to shove the cell phone where it would take a team of doctors to retrieve it. “You lost her.”

Noah rose, standing nose to nose with Logan. “Back off, Travers. She wasn't mine to lose in the first place.” He held out his hand and with more force than necessary, Logan shoved the phone into it.

“Was there a point to your little display at the pool table? I thought Josh was an idiot before he met Sara, but you give him some stiff competition. Why the hell am I sitting with your woman while you ignore her all night?”

“Because I...” Logan stopped before he revealed too much. Noah's affable, good–old boy charm masked a sharp perception. He knew he'd been a world-class jerk all night, but he'd been completely rattled when Jim had shown up. As much as he wanted to put his past behind him, he was afraid remnants of it would always find their way to the forefront. He couldn't stand to have Olivia tainted by who'd he'd been and what he might still become again. “She's not my woman. She needs to see who I really am, Noah.”

“You're a half-wit who attracts bimbos. Point made. Nice work.” His fingers punched in a few keys on the phone and he looked up again. “If that was the purpose of this entertaining evening, why do you care if she's gone?”

Logan closed his eyes to clear his mind but it didn't work. His whole head pounded from the frustration of trying to stay away from Olivia and the temptation she posed to his composure. He wasn't going to discuss this with Noah Conrad. “She's vulnerable right now. I don't want to see her get hurt. If she left with some jerk—”

“She left by herself.” Amy, the waitress, came up from behind him. “Not for lack of trying by those guys.”

Logan whirled around. “How long ago?”

“Why should I tell you?”

Logan gave her a look that would have had the surliest of bad boys running for cover. Amy only wrinkled her nose. “You look like your brother when you're ornery.”

Noah tipped his head around to study Logan. “Josh?” he asked.

“I was thinking of Jake, but I guess they all have the same mad face. It's kind of cute.”

Logan let out a low growl.

Amy gave a mock shiver. “Oh, that's very scary. I like it. Are you going to show me your teeth next?”

Logan took a step forward but Noah's hand flattened on his chest. “I thought you didn't want trouble,” Noah said with a laugh. “When did she leave, Amy?”

The waitress flashed Noah a sweet smile before narrowing her eyes at Logan. “About five minutes ago. I wanted to buy her some time.”

“Time's up,” Logan said and turned for the door.

Noah pulled him back around. “Don't do anything stupid.”

Logan stared straight ahead. “Define stupid.”

Noah didn't speak for several seconds, then gave him a pat on the back. “Never mind. Right now, you look a lot like my definition of stupid.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” Logan said and walked out into the cold.