Temptation Ridge (27 page)

He’s letting her go,
Aiden thought.
For her, though it’s going to kill him.
Aiden leaned back in his chair and sipped his drink. “What if she just decides to stay? At her uncle’s place? Forever?”

Luke laughed. “She’s not going to, that would be a waste.”

“If she did?”

“Look, I admit it—I got a little comfortable. The whole chase is a little boring and it wasn’t exactly a punishment to have a sweet, pretty girl right there, handy. But that’s just convenience, I’m winding down a little. There’s this nice little bar in Virgin River—bunch of townpeople go there at the end of the day—real good people. They have the best food on the planet and the jukebox hasn’t been
turned on once since I hit town. A couple of marines run the place, so we connected. It spoiled me for entertainment, I lost interest in noisy, smoky bars with slutty girls looking for a pickup. I’ve been thinking… If I can rent out those cabins…work and live there, grab a beer at Jack’s, hunt and fish…I’m telling you—it’s almost a perfect life. You’ll have to come up sometime.”

Aiden let him think about that for a minute. Then he said, “How old do you have to be to appreciate that as a perfect life?”

Luke laughed. “About thirty-eight, twenty years of army, four wars. But now I’m thinking about staying in one place a while. I might look around for some flying in the area, something like medical-airlift transport or something.”

“Could someone like me get into that? Small town like that?”

“They have a midwife and everyone loves her.” Luke laughed. “You’d have some stiff competition.”

“What I mean is, could someone younger than thirty-eight want that life? Or do you have to be this crusty, beat-up old grunt?”

Luke got the point and his lips went back into that firm, nonnegotiable line.

“Do you suppose young women ever choose that life over Ph.D.s or world travel? Think that’s ever happened?”

“I think young women like Shelby might think they want that life and two years later realize they threw away their
real
life and they’re stuck, and everything would go to hell at that point.”

“But that’s a guess,” Aiden said. “And this is a remarkable, committed, stubborn, aggressive woman who’s been up against a lot and knows what she wants.”

“You tricked me,” Luke said. “You said you were going to be a little curious but now you’re up my ass.”

“What are the odds you’re ever going to run into someone like her again, once she leaves Virgin River? If you let her get away?”

Luke stood up. He put his drink, what was left of it, on a coaster. “But that’s not the point,” he said. “I’m going to bed.”

Late on Christmas Day, Shelby leaned on the corral fence and watched as her cousin Tom kept an eye on Art astride Chico. Ever since first seeing Chico, Art had wanted to ride him, but Chico was a lot of horse for Art. Tom, however, was more than happy to spot that. And when they were done, Shelby would take Art back to his cabin and Tom would go into town and find his girl.

She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. With the noise of churning hooves in the corral, she hadn’t heard Vanni’s approach. Shelby turned toward Vanni and then turned back, giving her cheeks a quick wipe.

“Come on,” Vanni said. “You can’t pretend. Something happened between you and Luke.”

“Nothing. Really, nothing.”

Vanni turned her around. “Something,” she insisted. “Did you have a fight?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s just that…” Her voice trailed away.

“What, honey? What happened?”

Shelby’s eyes welled anew and she shrugged. “Oh, well. I miss him.”

“It’s a couple of days, honey. That’s all…”

“I know.” She sniffed. “It would have meant the world to me if he’d called to wish me a merry Christmas. But I
haven’t heard a word out of him. He loves me like I mean everything to him, but he never says the words. I don’t know why. Why, Vanni?”

Vanni ran a gentle finger along her cheek, wiping off a tear. “Baby, I don’t know Luke like you do.”

“It’s almost as though he tries to keep this distance between us…”

“You said you wouldn’t cry.”

“No, I didn’t. I said if he made me cry, I’d get over it. I still don’t have any regrets.”

“It hurts, huh?”

She took a deep breath. “I guess I’m as naive as everyone thought. I fell in love with him. I didn’t mean to.”

“Aw, baby,” Vanni said, pulling her into her arms.

Shelby put her head on Vanni’s shoulder. “It’s going to be real hard to give him up.” Then she let out a little huff of rueful laughter. “It’s going to be real hard if he lets me go. But…I’ll get over it. What are my choices? I couldn’t have done anything differently.”

The day after Christmas, while Walt was babysitting so Vanni could spend some time working on the wallpaper at her new house, Shelby drove over to the new neighbor’s place. She banged on Muriel’s front door and heard the sound of welcoming dogs inside. Muriel beamed when she pulled the door open.

“Any chance you have a cup of coffee?” Shelby asked.

“Sure. Come in. Everything all right?”

“Well, not exactly. Thing is, I need to talk to someone who’s not a member of my family. About Luke.”

“Gosh,” Muriel said. “I’m honored. I would’ve expected you to go to Mel. The two of you are awful close.”

“True. But she’s got a lot of family in town right now,”
Shelby said. “And I just thought, maybe…I don’t know, Muriel. Maybe you can tell me something I don’t already know. About…you know…men.”

“You do realize I’ve been married five times and never could make it work,” Muriel said on her way to the kitchen. “It wasn’t my fault, I swear it, but still…”

“I think maybe I’ve been a fool,” Shelby said.

“Oh, now,
that
I’ve been a hundred times. I am an expert.” Muriel laughed, pouring Shelby a cup of coffee. “Just tell me what’s going on. I won’t breathe a word to anyone. Especially Walt.”

Shelby ran it down quickly. She met him, fell for him, bought into that whole never-settling-down program because she had big plans of her own and she didn’t regret it. Now she wanted more, but he was still in that same place, while she was suffering. “When he said he’d never put down roots and didn’t want that whole marriage-and-family deal, I really thought that meshed pretty well with what I was looking for. At the time, anyway. He never once lied to me, Muriel. He didn’t lead me on and he’s always treated me like pure gold. Maybe I was the one who lied to him—I thought that worked for me. But things changed. I still want to travel, go to school, but I also want the whole deal—a partner, a family, the security of a relationship I can trust. I don’t want to be with a man who’s just going to dump me right about the time I think I can’t live without him.”

“Oh, little darling,” Muriel said. “I wanted all those things, too.”

“You did?”

“I did. It didn’t work out for me. I hope it works out for you.”

“But you’ve had such an amazing career!”

“I was real lucky that way,” she said. She reached across her kitchen table and grabbed both Shelby’s hands. “I have some bad news, my sweet girl. One—you can’t change people. If he doesn’t change himself, you’re flat out of luck. And two—you want what you want. Need what you need.”

“I keep looking for a compromise…”

“Shelby, there are many compromises in relationships. You learn to live with men’s underwear on the floor just shy of the hamper, toothpaste spit on the mirror, and you learn to keep your mouth shut while he drives around in circles for hours because he won’t ask for directions. But the things you feel in the marrow of your bones, the deep and meaningful desires that will make your life complete—there’s no compromise in it.”

“No?”

Muriel shook her head. “You can force yourself to go along. You might even find a way to force him to go along. But there’s bitterness in it. It’s not worth it.”

“I guess you didn’t go along,” she said. “Do you have any regrets? About being alone?”

“I’m not alone, Shelby,” she said patiently. “I’m on my own—there’s a difference. And I have the most wonderful family of friends. It is so much better than having a man I’m not compatible with, even if I thought I adored him. Believe me.”

“Of course,” Shelby said. “I so love the way you see things….”

Muriel laughed. “I’ve had so much practice at
seeing
things. Far more than I’m happy about.”

They talked through a whole pot of coffee, about Shelby’s life, about Muriel’s. It surprised Shelby to have anything at all in common with this Hollywood icon. After a couple of hours, Shelby asked, “What am I to do?”

“Oh, you’ll know what to do. Don’t be hasty, sweetheart. But don’t wait too long. There will be a moment of clarity, my little darling, and it will come to you that it’s time to take care of yourself. You don’t have to give up your dreams, Shelby. Never take scraps. Never.”

R
ight after Cameron Michaels had a nice holiday in Portland with his parents, brother and sister and their families, he drove to Virgin River, towing a U-Haul with his books, computer, bedroom furniture, clothes, TV and stereo equipment. He’d traded his Porsche in for a Suburban with all-wheel drive for getting around the mountains, valleys and foothills. When he pulled up in front of Doc’s house, Mel came out onto the porch immediately, all smiles. “Welcome, Doctor,” she said.

Shelby stepped out of the clinic right behind her. “Hey, Cameron,” she said. “How was the drive?”

“Not bad,” he said. “At least the sun’s out here. It’s wet and ugly in Portland.”

“Leave the trailer and everything,” Mel said. “I’m going to grab the baby and walk over to Jack’s. Then the guys will help you unload. You’re going to stay with us at the house tonight, until we can get your bedroom set up.”

Shelby turned and went back into the clinic.

“I don’t want to impose,” he said.

Mel laughed. “Let me get this right. You’re coming to work in my town for a pittance and you don’t want to
impose? You’ll stay with us at least tonight, longer if necessary.”

Shelby was back with little Emma cuddled against her, Mel’s coat draped over her arm and the clinic keys in her hand, which she used to lock the door.

Mel put on the coat and took the baby from Shelby.

“Where’s the little guy?” Cameron asked.

“With his dad, serving. He’s in the backpack. So—you settled up all your affairs without difficulty?” Mel asked.

“Slick as grease. Had an offer on the house in three days, sold most of the furniture and put some favorite things in storage up there, traded in the sports car for an all-wheel-drive vehicle and had Christmas with my family.”

They began walking across the street to the bar. “What did they think of this idea?” Shelby asked him.

He chuckled. “They think I’ve completely lost my mind. And maybe I have. But what the hell, huh?”

“I really can’t figure out why you did this,” Mel said.

“Same reason you did, Mel,” he said.

“Nah, couldn’t be. My heart was in pieces. I had to go someplace simple and quiet to get a handle on my life. To heal. To be alone and not so obviously alone.”

“Same reason as you, Mel,” he repeated.

She stopped walking. “Ho boy,” she said. “There’s more to this story.”

“Yeah, we’ll get sloppy some night and compare our broken hearts. How’s that?”

She tugged at his sleeve. “This doesn’t have anything to do with any of our, ah, mutual friends, does it?”

“No, Mel. This has nothing to do with Vanessa.” Shelby’s eyes grew very round and Cameron looked at her. “Before Paul got smart and told Vanni how much he loved her, I had a couple of dates with her. That’s all—a couple
of dates. She disappointed me when she picked the other guy—but she didn’t break my heart. No worries.”

“Shew,” Mel said. “Had me worried there for a second. I mean, the gossip in this town is good, but it shouldn’t be
that
good!”

Cameron laughed. “This is going to be great. I’m going to learn to fly-fish on my days off.”

“You’ll have plenty of those,” she said, stepping up on the bar’s porch.

Cameron apparently didn’t think there was anything odd about the number of cars and trucks at the bar and on the street, but then he wasn’t up on the seasonal activities. From January to June things were usually pretty wet and quiet around Virgin River, hunting done and the fishing pretty much closed. But when he walked into the bar, a bar stuffed with people, a cheer and greeting erupted. He stood just inside the door, stunned, while the din slowly subsided. Jack came around the bar, little David squirming around in the backpack. “Come on in, Doc. Welcome.”

Next came Paul, his hand outstretched, then Vanni with a hug and kiss on the cheek, and Walt, pulling him into a hearty embrace. Preacher just about broke his ribs with his hug, then there was Paige, Mike and Brie with a brand-new baby. Next came introductions to friends and neighbors from all over town and the outlying ranches. A cold draft was pressed into his hand, there was a hearty and delicious buffet set out and lots of handshakes, grateful pats on the back. Among the crowd were doctors June Hudson and John Stone and their families, offering services and assistance at the call. June’s dad, Doc Hudson, offered to come out to Virgin River for a while and visit with him on the subject of country doctoring and maybe a trip out to the river. “We can get your angling up to speed before the real fishing starts,” he offered.

Cameron ate, drank, got to know the people from town and felt, for the first time in a very long time, a part of something personal and important. Something both hearty and delicate. There were very few single people among this happy throng, but it didn’t affect him in the way being out with his married partners had depressed him, made him feel like he didn’t belong anywhere. Here, he felt like one of them, though he was absent a partner with whom to share it all.

At some point in the early evening, Mel told him Jack would bring him home and she’d see him later. Jack helped settle his family in the Hummer so Mel could take the babies home to bed. Little by little people bid good-night and wandered off and then at nine o’clock the bar seemed to empty of patrons, bidding him good-night and expressing, again, their grateful thanks and earnest welcome. And then it was down to Jack, Preacher and Cam.

Jack got down a couple of glasses. “We usually pour a shot at the end of the day, after the bar clears out. I’ll drive you out to the house if you’re up to one more.”

“You bet,” Cameron said. “Jack, this was great, what you did.”

Jack tipped a bottle of good, aged Glenlivet over three glasses. “I didn’t do it, Doc. These things happen when word gets out. It’s a real spontaneous place.”

“God, they’re wonderful,” Cam said.

“They don’t have much money, they’re not real sophisticated, they haven’t read the classics—most of them haven’t, anyway—but this place has heart. It’s a simple thing, really. They can’t feed your pocketbook too much, but they know the value of friendship and gratitude. You’ll never get hungry or lonely. That’s what the town gets by on. You’ll like that.”

“I’ve never felt unappreciated in my work, but this is something new.” He lifted a glass toward Preacher and Jack. “To new beginnings,” he said.

“To satisfaction,” Jack added.

Cameron drank to it. “I’m really glad I did this.”

“Had to be a big risk, Doc,” Preacher observed.

“Was it for you?” Cameron asked him.

“Naw,” Preacher said. “Once I got up here and saw what Jack had set up, it was a no-brainer.”

“I can see that,” Cameron said. “Thank you for giving me the chance,” he added.

Luke had drawn Shelby away from the party welcoming Cameron Michaels just after the crowd had begun to disperse. Luke took Art in his car and Shelby followed him out to the house and cabins in her Jeep. Once there, she went first to Art’s cabin to make sure he was all settled.

“Doing okay, Art?”

“I’m doing very good,” he said, grinning.

“I thought I’d check on you before turning in for the night. Sleep tight, okay?”

“Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” he said, echoing something she often said to him.

She laughed. “I won’t. Don’t forget your prayers.”

“I don’t ever,” he promised.

“And don’t forget to brush and floss.”

“I don’t ever,” he said.

Then she went up on Luke’s front porch, where he was waiting for her, grinning. “I thought I saved his ass, but it’s you he worships.”

“I don’t think it’s quite as serious as that,” she said, letting him enfold her in his embrace. “Eventually you should talk to someone about him. Let his people know
where he is, maybe have him evaluated. I’m sure they won’t have any problem with him being here, as long as he’s safe and healthy.”

“Yeah, I got a start on that. I found out where he’s from—not a good place. I’ll talk to Mike and Brie about how to get him out of there,” he said, kissing her.

She pulled away. “And keep him?”

Luke shrugged. “It’s not like I’m going to adopt him. I’ll give him a place to stay and he’ll do chores. But he shouldn’t have to do chores for someone who hits him.” He kissed her again and then he pulled her into the cabin.

“But you’ll be responsible for him?”

“Shelby, it’s not exactly a strain on me. He doesn’t need much watching, just a safe place.”

“And when you sell the cabins and leave here?”

He shrugged. “If that happens, it shouldn’t be any trouble to find him a good place. One I’m sure isn’t some Social Services scam.”

“But aren’t you worried that will hurt him? Confuse him?”

“I know how sensitive he is—I’ll treat that carefully. But I think maybe I’ll put off worry until it’s necessary.”

Shelby had known him a few months, a couple of months she’d known him intimately, and for her it had been thrilling. The way they came together was so amazing to her; just thinking about him filled her with shivering anticipation. She had no regrets about waiting so long to find out what this was about because she was certain it could never have been like this with any other man.

To her it was a miracle. Fate, putting her with the one man perfect for her. When he touched her, she believed he felt the same way. But he gave no other sign.

After the lovemaking, he held her close to him. He could never stop kissing her, touching her, stroking her. It mysti
fied her that he could be like this—so tender, so involved in her, so loving—and yet not in love at all. She wondered how he did that. She thought if she understood it, maybe she could walk away without being torn to pieces over him.

She rolled over and wriggled on top of him, lying prone, lifted up, braced on his chest, looking into his eyes. “There’s a new doctor in town and Mel won’t need me so much anymore. I’ve been here since August. There’s less and less on my schedule every day.”

He ran a big hand down her spine, over her smooth bottom. He gave her a lusty squeeze. “I’ll keep you busy some of that time,” he said with a laugh.

She gazed down into his eyes, so filled up with love for him. How could he not know? She wouldn’t tell him she loved him first. She couldn’t ask him; her pride wouldn’t allow it. But she wasn’t too proud to give him a chance. “All my applications to nursing programs have been sent out—now I’m just waiting to hear. And remember, I even shot one in to Humboldt State U, in case you come to your senses and decide you can’t live without me. They have an excellent program.”

He pushed her hair back over her shoulder. “I bet there are lots of excellent programs out there, aren’t there?”

She nodded and tried to send him a mental message.
Say
it, she thought. Tell me you love me; tell me you wish I could stay right here. With you. “And the one right here is as good as any of them.”

Instead of talking, he tightened his arms around her and rolled with her until she was beneath him. Then he covered her mouth in a deep, hot kiss. And his hands began to move in long, slow, thrilling caresses, his fingers gently probing her again.

With a sigh of disappointment, she yielded to him,
filling up on sensation, knowing in her heart this might be all she ever had of him.

Abby had called Vanessa from her parents’ house in Seattle on New Year’s Day. “What are the chances you’re up for a little visit?” she asked.

“Perfect,” Vanessa said. “Your timing is great! We just moved into our new house before Christmas and there’s still lots of stuff to do around here. Between trips to the coast to shop and putting things right around here, you can help me.”

“I’d love to help,” Abby said. “How soon can I come?”

“As soon as you like,” Vanni said.

“Then get the sheets on the guest bed, I’ll be on my way in a few days.”

On her travel day, Abby kissed her parents goodbye in the driveway at dawn and headed south. The second she got into the car, her tummy muscles relaxed and she felt herself expand into the pants with the elastic waistband. She had a cooler packed with food and drinks and only stopped for gas and more potty breaks than seemed fair. By early evening, she was driving past the general’s house, around the curve past the stable and down the road to a brand-new house. She gave her horn a toot and got out of the car. Vanessa came out to greet her, her smile bright and happy. As Abby walked toward Vanni, the latter stopped suddenly, eyes wide. Abby hadn’t put her coat on and stood before her friend, running a smooth hand over a very slightly rounded belly.

Vanni recovered herself and wrapped Abby in her embrace. “You didn’t say you were bringing company,” she said with a soft smile.

“Vanni, I’m in a terrible mess,” Abby said.

“You’d better come in, honey. I get the sense you want to talk about some things.”

Vanni had something that smelled delicious in the oven, Matt was crawling around the living-room floor and pulling himself up on the furniture, and Paul, Abby learned, was not yet home, very likely having stopped off at the bar in town for a beer with his friends.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vanni asked.

“I’m pretty embarrassed for one thing,” she said. “I’m in some trouble, for another. The only people who know about the pregnancy are my parents and my doctor. And now you.”

“You know I’d do anything to help you, but not talking about it isn’t going to work much longer.”

Abby shook her head. “At Nikki and Joe’s wedding, you all knew divorce was in the wind. I couldn’t stand to talk about it—but the marriage to Ross was
long
over by that time. If you keep up with any tabloid news, you know he had been living with another woman for more than six months by the time our divorce was final.”

“Sorry, honey—I just don’t see any tabloids.”

“Well, I should have dispensed with that divorce immediately. The day he asked me, I should have signed the papers.” She laughed suddenly. “Did I say he asked me? His lawyer asked me. A threatening and hostile man, he called weekly. I let the machine pick it up. I haven’t heard from Ross in forever. More than a year by now. Don’t ask me why I waited—I didn’t want him back in my life. I think I was just stunned senseless and couldn’t move. Plus, I felt like such a fool for marrying him in the first place, thinking I knew him when clearly I didn’t. It just ripped me up. As soon as I got back to Los Angeles after the wedding, I signed. A little over a month later, I was a free woman.”