The Bull Rider's Collection (25 page)

She felt him slip into the seat next to her, the heat coming off his body like a blast furnace. Or that pottery kiln her mom had bought ten years ago when she’d fallen into the ceramic craze for a few months. Her mom had been the fun mom in high school. Lizzie and Barb had known if they wanted a little independence or craziness, they went to Barb’s house after school. If they wanted to be fed, they went to Lizzie’s. Remembering Lizzie’s Betty Crocker mom lead Barb to remember how she’d died of cancer. Then she started hyperventilating thinking about losing her own mom.

“Hey, slow down. It’s going to be fine.” Hunter took the cup of coffee away from her and sat it on the built-in table between them.

“I know. I just keep thinking about how she used to be.” Barb smiled as she slowed her breathing. “Anything I wanted to do, she’d support me. Want to learn to ride? Here’s a horse. Want to take ballet? We’ll drive into Boise once a week for lessons. The woman was an amazing mom.”

“She
is
an amazing mom,” Hunter corrected.

“What?” Barb looked up at him.

“You said was. She’s not dead yet, Barb.” Hunter leaned forward, his forearms on his knees. “I lost my mom years ago. And now Kati’s dealing with the same loss, doubled.”

Kati. His girlfriend’s name was Kati. And she’d been sucking on Hunter’s face last night, wanting him to sleep with her, and he’d turned her down because of Kati. Now Kati would be hurt because they’d played bride and groom with Elvis. Maybe he hadn’t left because Jesse had been in her room. Maybe he needed to be back in Boise, just like she did.

The world doesn’t revolve around you, Miss Barb. One of her mom’s favorite sayings. But Barb knew her mother well enough to know the woman thought the world revolved around herself. Or should. She put her hand on his arm and almost immediately jerked it back, surprised at the jolt of energy that flowed between them.

“I’m sorry about your loss.” The words sounded stupid but the feeling was there. And she hoped he would take it the right way.

“Kati’s the one who’s jerked up about this. She puts on a big front, all hard and grown up, but inside, she’s hurting. I could kill my brother for doing this to her.”

Barb stopped focusing on the feel of his bicep on her hand and replayed his words. “Your brother? What did he do?”

Hunter looked into her face like he was checking to see if she was kidding. “I guess your file on me didn’t cover that part of my life, huh? I’m raising my seven-year-old niece because my brother and his wife chose to be reckless and got themselves killed the first of the year.”

Barb froze. She hadn’t known. Why hadn’t she found this when she’d been researching Hunter and his family business? She’d been on the computer preparing for the trip when her phone had rung. The agency calling, telling her that her mom needed a new care provider again. She’d shut the laptop and headed to her room to pack, and never got back to her prep work. Sloppy. But at least she wasn’t shopping in someone else’s store. No wonder the bachelor was off the market, he’d been playing substitute dad. And heaven help her, she felt happy Kati wasn’t his girlfriend.

“I’m sorry, Hunter, I didn’t know. I should have known. There’s no excuse.”

Hunter held up his hand. “Stop. I didn’t tell you so you could feel sorry for me or bad that you didn’t know to treat me with kid gloves. Honestly, last night at dinner was the first time since the accident that I didn’t just focus on me. On how my life has been turned upside down just because my brother wanted to go on a motorcycle ride. Sometimes I wish he was alive again so I could kill him myself for what he’s taken away from that little girl.”

Barb nodded. “Jesse and James, his brother, lost their mom when they were little. She didn’t die — worse — she just left. Came to Vegas for a better, more glamorous life. James still hasn’t totally forgiven her but Jesse would do anything for that woman. I think he wants to prove to her that he still loves her, no matter what.”

Hunter leaned back in his chair, his long legs stuck out in the middle of the aisle. “Parents sure can screw us up without even thinking about it.”

“Sounds like Kati has a guardian angel for an uncle. She’ll be fine. You’ll see.” Barb stood and stretched.

Hunter caught her hand. “You’re wearing the ring.”

Heat filled her face. She’d forgotten about the ring. “I’d meant to give it back when I saw you but with Mom and all, I’d forgotten.”

Hunter frowned. “Give it back? Why?”

“Well, since we can’t be married and I’m sure your lawyer will take care of the paperwork, I thought you wouldn’t want me to have an expensive ring as a bonus.” She pulled at the ring, but her fingers were swollen from the flight. “Crap, I’m going to have to get some soap.”

Hunter stood and put his hands on her arms. “Barb, its fine. The ring’s a fake. What did the guy call it last night? A placer ring? One that we could replace when the jewelry stores opened.”

Barb stared down at the ring. “I would have never guessed. The stone looks like a diamond.”

“If this had been an actual wedding with Mr. Hunter Martin, the bride would have been given the Martin family bridal set, very exclusive and worth a literal fortune. At least to a Martin.” Hunter used the fake announcer voice from the emergency broadcast commercials.

“Funny.”

“So, yeah, the ring is just a souvenir from the great time we had last night. One you can keep.” Hunter chuckled. “I’ve never wanted to be married so bad as I did last night. Thanks for the fantasy.”

He leaned in and Barbara felt the heat from his body matching hers. He would kiss her, right now, right here. But his lips grazed her lips then landed on her cheek. Her breath caught. This was what she wanted, right? A friendly annulment. No fight, no marriage.

“So was Jesse upset about our fantasy wedding?”

The question confused her. “Why would he be upset?”

“The two of you are involved, right?” Hunter’s face showed no emotion, like he was preparing for the slap.

“Jesse Sullivan isn’t involved with anyone but himself.” Barb laughed. “He’s like a little bratty brother.”

Barb nodded to the information desk that was outside their gate. Several of the airline staff members had congregated where just a few minutes before, there’d been only one agent waiting to announce their departure. “Something’s going on. Want to go check it out?”

Hunter stood, but before they could walk the few steps to the counter, an announcement came over the speaker.

“Would all the passengers for Flight Forty-Five-Ninety-Five going to Boise, Idaho, please meet at the reservations desk at Gate Five?”

“Sounds like we’ve been summoned.” Hunter put his hand on her back and led her toward the desk.

“This isn’t going to be a good announcement. It’s never good when they call you over to the desk.” Barb looked at Hunter. “I learned that in fourth grade when Mrs. Todd sent me out for detention.”

“Let me guess, talking in class.”

“What else?”

The two of them stood at the desk, watching the other passengers huddle around them. A man with wire-rimmed glasses and a clipboard stood in front of the desk.

“Folks, please quiet down. We’ve lost a plane and will be unable to complete your flight to Boise until tomorrow morning. The airline will comp your room for the night as well as pay for your dinner if you haven’t already eaten. The hotel van is ready outside the terminal and your luggage has already been loaded on the van. If you’ll just come up when I call your name, I’ll give you your vouchers.”

“How in the world did you lose a plane? It didn’t crash, did it?” a tall, nervous woman next to Barb asked.

“The plane didn’t crash. We just don’t know what airport it’s at right now. There were some problems with the computers and they don’t have the entire inventory listing correct. We’ll have to track the missing plane by trip logs.”

Barb’s heart sank. She glanced around the deserted airport and realized getting a seat on another airline would be impossible. She sighed. Hunter’s arm encircled her.

“Your mom is fine. She’s sleeping and won’t even know you aren’t there.” Hunter started following the crowd, leading Barb with him. “It will do you good to get an almost full night’s sleep.”

Barb didn’t comment, but she knew he was thinking about their dinner and late night activities from the night before.

“I’m hungry. And I never turn down a free meal. What about you?” Hunter pressed.

“I could eat,” Barb admitted. The man had a way of making everything seem like it would work out. That even if tragedy struck, you’d be able to claw through it, because he’d be right by your side. Being married to him would be amazing. This was one man that believed in the good times or in bad vow they’d taken last night. Maybe after all of this, they could find a way to be friends.

“Then let’s get on the bus.”

The hotel’s restaurant was filled with customers and they had a thirty minute wait before they were seated. Barb almost just gave up. Then her stomach rumbled when a waitress walked by with a tray of food. The smell of the place made her mouth water.

When they sat down, a basket of fresh bread and cold butter was delivered by a busboy. Barb grabbed a roll like it was a lifeline. She’d finished the first one and held the knife filled with butter for the second one when she realized Hunter was watching her.

“What?”

“I just appreciate a woman with a good appetite. This is our second meal together and you still haven’t pulled out the ‘I’m on a diet’ card most women I date play.” Hunter grinned. “Is it all right for me to take a roll or will you bite my hand?”

“Ha, ha. I haven’t eaten since last night.” Barb blushed at the memory of who she’d been with last night, enjoying dinner. Two nights in a row, and she liked being with this guy. She didn’t have to put on the manager hat and treat him like a sponsor. That idea had flown the coop last night. She’d have to scrounge up a new potential sponsor and fast. She didn’t have a choice with her mom’s placement anymore. Time for Countryside.

The waitress brought their drinks and took their meal orders, polite but quick to leave. She looked frazzled.

“I am so glad I don’t waitress anymore.” Barb watched the woman tuck their menus under her arm and head to the next table.

“When did you do that? And where?” Hunter leaned forward.

“During college. I worked nights and weekends out at the truck stop. The hours worked with my classes and the tips were fantastic. You’d get the drunk crowd on the weekends from the bar just down the road, but mostly my drivers were just looking for a good meal and some conversation.”

Hunter cocked his head at her. “I could see you waitressing.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“No, that’s a compliment. You’re very good at reading people. Knowing what they need and getting what you want. That’s probably why you’re a great manager.” Hunter sipped his longneck, ignoring the frosted glass the waitress had left on the table.

Barb watched him. “I could say the same about you. But it’s not at all the image you portray — or at least it wasn’t before you became the world’s most amazing uncle.”

Hunter’s grin was sheepish. “I did like my party time. But for the last few months, getting to know Kati, I’ve been surprised at how much I adore that little girl. I mean, I was always the fun uncle. But now I get to tuck her in bed and listen to the woes and joys of second grade. And we’re even reading the wizard books.” He shook his head. “I bet Dad’s been throwing a fit when he’s had to read about castles and wizards and magic. He was always more of a Louis L’amour guy.”

“Tell me about Kati.” Barb sipped her beer, promising herself one beer wouldn’t lead her down last night’s path.

“The kid’s amazing. She’s smart and funny. You don’t realize how much kids know at that age. Or I didn’t. Getting thrown into fatherhood when a kid’s in elementary school is trial by fire. She loves horses. I’ve got her in lessons at a stable out near Meridian. Her horse is boarded there, so we spend a lot of time on the road most weekends.”

“She any good?”

“At riding? Hell, yeah. According to her trainer, she’s going to show this fall. And she’s only been riding for what, three months?” Hunter folded his napkin. “After the accident, she didn’t talk to me for weeks. Finally I asked her what she wanted to do. Anything — ballet, soccer, girl scouts, modeling, devil worshiping? I would have let her do anything if she’d just start to come back to earth.”

“And she chose riding?” Barb smiled.

“Apparently she’d been in love with horses since she could remember but her dad told her it was too dangerous. The man who got him and his wife killed on a motorcycle thought horseback riding was too dangerous. The jerk.”

“You must have loved your brother very much.”

“I did. The jerk.” Hunter wiped at his eyes. “But I love his daughter even more, if that’s even possible. I’d do just about anything for the kid. And I think after what we spent at the ’tween clothing store last weekend, she knows it.”

“Sounds like the girl knows how to pull the purse strings. Not a bad skill to learn early. My friend Lizzie never forced the issue. She was happy when James gave her scraps of attention, of love, until it was over. Now, no one is going to short change her again. And James knows it. Finally.” Barb leaned back and let the waitress put a plate of chicken parmesan in front of her. The steam from the red sauce brought her back to the present and her stomach growled again.

“If the women I’ve dated lately are any indication, your gender is born with that skill. Are you telling me it’s acquired?” Hunter salted his clam linguine before he even tasted it and twirled the pasta onto his fork. “The things we learn when we sit down to break bread with the enemy.”

Barb laughed. “I’m bound to tell you all our secrets now that we’re married.”

Hunter’s eyes flashed and Barb didn’t know if she’d gone overboard with the teasing. She cut a piece of the chicken and took a bite. “Yum.” The word escaped her mouth before she could even think.

“You are really just as open as you appear to be? I mean, this woman, this is who you are?”

Barb frowned. “Who else would I be?”