Chapter 5
Reese
“I heard that you had dinner with Devon at your place last night,” Anna said in a teasing voice as we had lunch with Lauren and Hannah the next day at Charlie’s.
I really liked Anna, but I still wasn’t quite used to seeing her over a lunch table in rural Montana.
She was one of the most famous pop stars on the planet, and the adjustments she’d had to make to marry Kaleb and live here with him in Crystal Fork hadn’t been easy.
Strangely, she seemed to love it here, and she seemed incredibly happy.
She had to go out of town fairly often for appearances, but she wasn’t doing big tours anymore, which she’d told me had completely burned her out anyway.
It was pretty apparent to me that she and Kaleb belonged together, and she fit right into the town and was embraced as one of their own.
It didn’t hurt that Kaleb had a private jet that would wing her away to any of her appearances.
He joined her as often as possible, and it was pretty sweet that he got a little testy when she was away, and he couldn’t be with her.
Her recording studio in Billings was completed and she was currently using it to record her next album release.
My brows rose as I stared at Anna. “How did you hear that?”
“I heard it, too.” Lauren said from her seat beside Anna.
“I heard it early this morning from my mother, but I’d already figured something was up when Devon asked me for your phone number last night,” Hannah joined in from beside me. “Surely you don’t think that you could do something like that quietly in this town. Juicy gossip spreads like a wildfire here. Everyone knows Devon’s truck and his other vehicles, and the neighbors were paying attention when he walked up to your door.”
“How was the date?” Lauren said excitedly. “Devon has never dated anyone here, so I’m dying to know.”
I shook my head as I swallowed a bite of my salad so I could speak. “It was not a date,” I said emphatically. “He stopped by the office late, and he mentioned that he was eating cardboard food. He invited himself to dinner and I fed him because I didn’t want him to have to eat nasty food. It was completely innocent. End of story.”
“I personally think he likes you,” Hannah commented after she polished off her sandwich. “He’s at my office every day when he can get off work in time to pass by.”
“He wants to check up on me,” I told her drily. “He’s still trying to figure out why I’m here in Crystal Fork and why I left the city to take this job.”
Anna sent me a quizzical look. “Did it ever occur to you that he might just want to get to know you?”
I hesitated before I answered. “No. Until yesterday, he was almost hostile toward me. He treated me like the enemy. I’m not quite sure what happened, but he’s suddenly being…nice.”
Too nice!
I wished that I could figure out why he was suddenly so different.
The change in Devon was confusing, and it had thrown me off-balance.
It wasn’t exactly unwelcome, but after so many months of him antagonizing me, I had no idea what to think about him anymore.
I wanted to believe that this was the other side of Devon that everyone talked about, but it had happened so abruptly that I couldn’t be completely sure that he was sincere.
Hannah snorted. “Devon is hostile and careful with everyone until he gets to know them. Once he trusts you, he lightens up.”
“Devon and I bonded over music,” Anna mentioned. “But I can’t say he was that open about anything else until I’d known him for a while.”
“I know he plays because he filled in for some band member at The Mug And Jug one night,” I mused. “But I didn’t get a chance to see him perform.”
Anna nodded. “He usually does that on the guitar, but Devon is a musical genius. Much more talented than I am. There aren’t many instruments he can’t play, and he’s better than I am on the piano, too. He collaborates with me on writing some of my songs, but he’ll never take credit for that. Give him some time, Reese. He’ll grow on you. He really is a nice guy.”
The problem was, Devon was already starting to grow on me. I’d seen a much nicer, more interesting side of him yesterday.
Unfortunately, he could also be very charming when he chose to be, and I was seeing a much more attractive side of him.
“He invited me to stay and use his pool and his hot tub after my riding lesson,” I shared.
Lauren sighed. “Do it. He has the most amazing pool, and his hot tub is big enough to have a party in. I’ve gone there to use them both over the winter.” She paused before she said, “You don’t look excited about his offer. Are you afraid he’s going to turn into the grouchy Devon again?”
So he let Lauren use his pool and gym?
Maybe offering to let people use the space was something he did on a regular basis.
He’d obviously been sincere in his offer to let me use it any time I wanted.
I wasn’t afraid he was suddenly going to do an about-face on me and turn back into the grumpy Devon again.
Not really.
I hadn’t seen a single sign of the old Devon last night, and it was probably unlikely that he was suddenly going to change…again.
But I wasn’t sure that spending more time with Devon than necessary was a great idea.
I was starting to feel weirdly attracted to him, and that scared me.
Devon was a devastatingly attractive guy, but I’d never wanted to get him naked until yesterday.
God, I hadn’t even liked the man before our dinner last night.
I certainly hadn’t had sexual fantasies about him in the past.
“He’s not going to change,” Anna assured me.
“How do you know that?” I asked her curiously.
“Devon is kind of like the people of Crystal Fork. Once he sees you as one of his own, he’s protective. He’s a little less obvious than his brothers, but that man has a protective streak a mile long.”
I put my fork down on my empty plate as I asked, “Can I ask a nosy question?”
“Yes!”
“Absolutely!”
“We love nosy questions!”
I smiled at the women at the table, and I was so glad that I could call them all my friends.
“It’s probably none of my business,” I started hesitantly. “But are all the stories about him being a player true?”
Hannah opened her mouth to speak first. “It’s a lot of exaggeration,” she explained. “I’ve known Devon for a long time. When we were all living in New York, I think he got laid occasionally, but he was never interested in a relationship. For the first year or two after he moved there, I don’t think he saw anyone at all. Not even for a hookup. The man is thirty-eight years old, and he’s never been in a meaningful relationship. I suspect that he got burned really badly at some point when he was in college, but he blows us off if we ask what happened. He’s never even mentioned what happened to Kaleb or Tanner.”
I digested that information for a moment before I replied, “Maybe he’s just not a relationship kind of guy.”
Hannah shook her head. “I don’t think that’s true. He has a lot to give to the people he cares about. I don’t think he loves being alone. I just don’t think he’s met the right woman. It would definitely have to be someone who could gain his trust completely.”
Lauren gave me an inquisitive look. “Are you interested in Devon? You’d be perfect for him.”
“No!” I said emphatically. “I’m not his type, and we disliked each other until yesterday.”
“Why couldn’t you be his type?” Anna questioned. “You’re beautiful and highly intelligent. Lauren’s right. You’d never put up with too much of his bullshit, and that would be good for him.”
“I’ve heard that his past women have been tall, thin, stunningly gorgeous, and sophisticated. I’m none of those things. I’m also very boring. My idea of excitement is cooking, reading a good book, or searching for antiques.”
“Devon isn’t exactly a party animal,” Anna pointed out. “He spends a lot of time in his music room, reading, and hanging out with people he likes. He goes to The Mug And Jug occasionally, but he’s kind of a loner most of the time. He has hooked up with a few supermodels for a fling, but people make a bigger deal out of that than they should. It was a long time ago, and there was nothing there but a very brief physical attraction. I really don’t think he has a type. He’s never really had a girlfriend.”
“Just keep an open mind,” Hannah suggested. “I still think he has a thing for you. Are you really not interested in him?”
“It would never happen,” I said firmly. “I guess I’m just hoping we can be…friendlier.”
If Devon needed someone he could trust completely that woman could never be me. I’d been lying to the people here in Crystal Fork from day one.
He’d most likely hate me if he ever found out the truth.
“Give him a chance tomorrow to show you a different side of himself,” Hannah requested. “Relax and just have fun. His property is gorgeous and there are endless trails to ride. Tanner made multiple mountain bike trails that run through his, Kaleb’s, and Devon’s properties. We use them for the horses, too.”
I knew the three brothers had connecting properties, and that they all had a significant amount of acreage.
My eyes widened. “That’s a lot of property and trails.”
“A ridiculous amount,” Hannah agreed.
I glanced at my watch and realized how long we’d been gone from the office. “I’d better get back to work. My lunch hour was over a while ago.”
Hannah laughed. “It’s Friday. We deserve a long lunch. The three of us aren’t available to get together very often.”
“We’re going into Billings on Sunday to do some shopping and then get something to eat,” Anna said enthusiastically. “Are you coming with us?”
God, probably none of them had any idea how badly I wanted to go with them.
I craved the company and the friendship these women were offering me, but I knew I couldn’t.
“I’m sorry. I can’t. I have other plans. Maybe next time.” I finally forced those words out of my mouth even though my heart was aching.
“You always say that,” Hannah grumbled unhappily.
She was right, and I was getting damn tired of saying no, but as of right now, there was no other answer I could give them.