Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley (7 page)

Deciding a strategic retreat was in order, Tony said, “Well, I should get back to the tavern.”

“We'll all see you there,” Lyndsay called.

Tony sighed. Leave it to his sister to hint at a gathering Kate hadn't been invited to.

“Why don't you come with us, Kate?” Emily asked.

Tony saw Brooke and Monica exchange amused smiles. Emily was always the one to try to make everything better.

When Kate hesitated, Emily turned to Tony. “You don't mind, do you? There'll be lots of people there. What else does she have to do on a Friday night?”

“Look,” Kate said, lifting a hand. “That's nice of you to include me, Emily, but . . . it would be awkward.”

“So you won't know anybody there?”

“Well . . . I'm from here, so yeah, I'll know people. I think.”

“Then you should come. Tony?”

Emily looked to him, Kate gave him a worried frown, and Walt's face was full of guy-to-guy sympathy. Walt's youngest started to cry, perhaps sensing the shifting emotions of the crowd.

Tony raised both hands and began to back away. “You guys do what you want. I'll be so busy it won't matter to me.” Though he did feel uncomfortable, and he wasn't certain why. “Kate, tell Ethan I had to go back to work. Enjoy the festivities, ladies,” he called to the group, very glad to be escaping.

O
nce he got back to the tavern, Tony jumped into the well and started pumping out drinks for the holiday crowd. Some of his friends were already there, shooting pool in the back room as they waited for their wives, fiancées, and girlfriends. Tony stayed behind the bar with Lamar Cochrane, one of his evening bartenders. Lamar moved with smooth efficiency, a young guy able to banter and never lose track of what he was doing. It was so crowded that Tony might not even be able to join his friends until the festivities died down.

A long time ago, he'd been the only one married, and it had made maintaining guy friendships awkward, because he hadn't been able to do the weekend partying his friends had. After the divorce, he hadn't wanted to party, although it was his job to make sure people had a good time. Soon his child-free weekends gave him more leeway, but he was always labeled the single dad. Women in their twenties weren't exactly lining up to be with a man with a kid. But now, in his thirties, things were different. Women
wanted
kids, were rather fascinated that he'd had his so young. Dating was easier, especially since he no longer needed a babysitter. He'd just never found anyone to be interested in for long.

The rest of his friends began to trickle in, the Sweets and Thalbergs after working a long day on their ranches. Matt Sweet, in charge of landscaping at the Sweetheart Inn, looked particularly beat. Tony knew he'd been working on their new and upcoming “Christmas by Candlelight” event. He could only imagine how many strings of lights decorated the grounds of that old Victorian. Then the ladies trooped past his bar in a long line, and he noticed that Whitney had managed to find a sitter for Olivia. It wasn't difficult, with Olivia being the first grandchild in both families. And he'd heard that Whitney's parents were in town at their condo up in Aspen.

Kate came in last, minus Barney, throwing her coat over her arm as she stopped at the bar to speak to him. The neckline of her shirt was draped in loose folds across her chest, and when she leaned across the bar, he got a glimpse of the cleavage he hadn't seen in over nine years. And for a moment, it was difficult to look back into her eyes. What the hell—? It'd been a long time since he'd thought of her in any sort of intimate way—even though in high school it had been
all
he could think about. He found himself noticing her unruly short hair and the way it feathered on her cheeks and forehead, emphasizing her amazing eyes. She looked like she'd rolled out of bed—and not in a bad way.

“Hey, Tony, we were both kind of surprised by this invitation,” she said earnestly. “Do you want me to head home? I can fake a reason.”

More than one guy was checking out her jean-clad ass as she leaned over the bar. Even Lamar was eyeing her with interest. Lamar saw Tony notice and quickly turned back to his work.

Tony was surprised she'd offered to leave so easily. Years earlier, she would have been offended; after all, these had been her friends, too, once upon a time, before her ambition had made her want different things. “No, stay,” he said, pouring a draft beer.
Go home
, he said in his head, deliberately avoiding looking at her again.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice relieved. “It's still pretty awkward with all these people, but . . . it's weird being home for hours on end. I don't really feel like myself, you know, with nothing to do?”

He nodded.

She looked around, and a smile quirked one corner of her mouth. “Nice Christmas decorations.”

A couple of poinsettia plants were scattered haphazardly, and silver garland draped from the deer antlers.

“Uh, thanks,” he said.

“Don't go too crazy.”

She turned away. Like lots of other guys, he watched her hips move as she walked.

Ned Ferguson whistled, and his twin, Ted, chuckled.

To Tony's surprise, Kate whirled and briefly walked backward, giving a little smirk and a wave before disappearing into the back room.

“That's some ex you've got,” Ted said, shaking his head. “Wish I was younger.”

Tony rolled his eyes, then focused on the next customer. Nicole rushed in and out of the back, taking drink and food orders, so in the weeds that Tony had to take a tray in himself.

“Tony!” came the rousing cheer from a chorus of voices.

As always, he laughed it off, though he was certain his face reddened. Travis Beaumont, Monica's ex-Secret-Service boyfriend of six months, turned back to his deep discussion with her brother, Dom, and Brooke's fiancé, Adam Desantis. Dom worked as an upscale food broker, and Adam was an ex-Marine and current cowboy. Though Tony didn't try to look for Kate, he saw her in a little group with Emily, Heather, and Whitney, dancing. He found it interesting that she was dancing with the newcomers to town and not the women she knew. Well, it would probably take time for everyone to get used to her being around, him included. Though he tried not to, he found himself glancing more than once at Kate as he handed out drinks.

Will Sweet approached and took a beer off Tony's tray. “In case you're wondering, your ex has turned down a couple offers to dance from various men, myself included.”

“Why am I not surprised,” Tony said dryly.

“You're surprised she didn't dance with men?” Will shot back, grinning.

“Maybe that, too. It's probably because this is my place. She must feel awkward. It's been a long time, Will. I wish everyone would get over seeing her here. It's not like she hasn't been back in town many times a year visiting her family.”

“But something's different, we all think so,” Will said.

Tony delivered the last drink and headed back out to the bar. “And you insist on telling me,” he said over his shoulder.

Will stood at the entrance to the bar, crossing his arms over his chest. “Don't you want to know?”

“Not really.”

“Okay, then, never mind.” Will ambled back to where he'd come from.

And Tony resisted the urge to call him back. No one had to tell him Kate seemed different. She'd become vulnerable with this job setback. That's all it was. She'd be her no-nonsense self again once she went back to work, and back to Vail.

“Hey, Dad, got a moment?”

Ethan shouldered his way between Ned and Ted, who chuckled and shouldered him back.

Tony smiled. “Sure, kid, come on back to my office. Lamar, give me a minute, will ya?”

Lamar nodded after waving at Ethan. Tony led the way into his small office off the kitchen corridor. The monitor of the POS, the computer system used throughout the tavern, took up a lot of room, and though Tony had a filing cabinet, his desk was still a mess. He shut the door, and the sound of country music faded a bit.

After sitting in his office chair, he swiveled to face the chair Ethan had dragged into the room. “Is something wrong? You looked like you were having a good time tonight.”

“Sure, it's not that. It's Mom.”

Tony frowned. “You know she's here, right?”

Ethan winced. “I forgot. She texted me, and I was talking to Brad, and—”

“Yeah, yeah, God forbid I ever miss one of
your
texts.”

“I'm important,” Ethan said loftily. “I'm your only kid. Just think how easy it would be for me to text on a smartphone like Brad's.”

“You know the rule your mom and I set down. When you can afford one—and that includes the monthly plan and insurance—you can buy one.”

“But you won't let me get a job!”

“Not during the school year. Let's not talk about this now. The bar is swamped, and they need me out there.”

“Oh, right.” Ethan shot a guilty look at the door. “I'm worried about Mom.”

“She understands her weekends with you won't be the same as in Vail. Did you think she was going to try to force you to stay at Grandma's with her?”

“Well, that wouldn't be terrible or anything. I'll hang around a bit this weekend, but my friends and I are going boarding Saturday or Sunday.”

“I'm sure your mom would understand.” Tony started to rise. “If that's all—”

“No, there's something else. Mom's not like other moms, you know? She's not used to having downtime. And lots of days of it? Forget it. She's already going a little crazy, and she's only been here two days.”

“Ethan, aren't you exaggerating?”

“She tried to hold my hand at the tree-lighting ceremony!” Ethan threw his hands wide.

Tony snorted a laugh and tried to disguise it as a cough.

“Sure, you can laugh,” Ethan said, “but she needs something else to think about. Once her office opens Monday, she'll be trying to reach people there.”

“That's probably not smart.”

“Yeah, well, Mom has been mentioning leaving her clients hanging. Yeah, that might distract her from me, but . . . I don't want her in trouble with her bosses. She bought all these books today—some of them for me. Like I have time to read during ski season.” He put up a hand as Tony opened his mouth to protest. “I have time for my homework reading, and that's it.”

Tony hid a smile. “What do you want me to do, Ethan? Your mom and I only cross paths when it's about you.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. “You could have fooled me. You've seen her a couple times each day since she arrived.”

Tony swallowed and felt a little overheated in the small office. Of course he'd seen Kate; it was Thanksgiving, perfectly normal.

“Just . . .” Ethan began with exasperation, “just help me out, okay? Mom still thinks I'm eight years old. She doesn't need to babysit me, but she's bored enough to try. And it's the holidays, and I don't want her to feel bad and . . .” He heaved a sigh.

Tony stood up and put a hand on Ethan's shoulder. “I'll keep an eye out if it looks like she's freaking out on you.”

“Aunt Lyndsay might help. Maybe they'll be friends again, now that Mom's in Valentine Valley for a while.”

“Don't get your hopes up, kid. Those are two stubborn women.”

“Why did they fight in the first place?”

“It's probably my fault. Your mother and I divorced, and Aunt Lyndsay thinks no one should hurt me. Of course, a bad marriage has two people in it doing stupid things, not just one, but your aunt doesn't see it that way.”

“She thinks you're perfect. A lot she knows.”

As Tony opened the door, he grabbed Ethan around the neck with one arm, rubbing his head hard with the other hand while Ethan laughed convulsively.

And there was Kate, watching them from the doorway of the back room, her eyes full of love and happiness—and maybe even shining with tears. “Hey, E.,” she said softly.

Ethan cleared his throat, glanced nervously at Tony, and said, “So you don't mind if I go to Brad's? I'll be home by eleven.”

“Go ahead. But maybe you should check with your mom, since she has custody of you on the weekends.”

Ethan turned worried eyes on his mom, as if he thought he'd offended her.

“Hey, we don't have to be so strict with me in town,” Kate hastened to say. “Maybe we should just say that if you're going somewhere, text us both.”

Ethan held up his flip phone. “It's really hard to text on this.”

Kate didn't bat an eye. “I'm certain it is. Think what exciting technology you'll have when you can afford it. Say hi to Brad for us.”

Ethan good-naturedly stomped through the bar and out the front door.

“Whatever mistakes we made when we were young,” Kate said softly, “I think we've done a great job with our son.”

“But apparently he's the last kid in the entire world with a flip phone. Which is why he wants a job.”

Kate's smile faded. “A job? He's a little young. And his schoolwork—”

Lamar popped his head in the door. “Hey, Tony. Gettin' a little busy up here.” And then he was gone.

“You go,” Kate said. “I'll probably be saying my good-byes back there soon.”

He looked up at the beer clock on the wall. “It's all of nine o'clock. And you don't have to work in the morning.”

She winced.

“Sorry. I didn't mean to remind you.”

“I know, but . . . are you sure it's not bothering you that I'm here?”

“Kate, go have fun. Unless . . . people aren't making you feel too welcome. They see me a lot and don't see you much, so—”

“I can handle myself, don't worry. You've always been one of Valentine's favorite sons,” she added, shaking her head.

“Oh, come on . . .”

She just grinned and walked down the short hall, forcing him to look at her ass again.

She turned around and caught him looking, and in that moment, something . . . strange passed between them, a charged feeling that seemed resurrected from some deep pit of prehistory. He knew her well enough to see that she forced a smile.

“Hey, Tony, I keep hearing from people that the tavern needs to throw a party. A big event. Thought you might want to know. I'll keep my ear to the ground.”

“No big events!” he called. Then he grumbled, as he headed out to the bar, “They end up costing more than they're worth.”