Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ONE MONTH LATER
Lincoln
“Are you sure about this?” My dad gives me a skeptical look as he takes off his straw hat and wipes sweat from his brow. “This is a lot of lettuce for two people.”
“I invited my whole team to come visit as soon as their season ends. And their wives and kids.”
He arches his brows. “Okay then. You should have some nice salads from this garden.”
“There’s also a garden co-op in Jackson Hole. I can donate anything we won’t be able to use.”
Satisfied, he returns to work. He and my stepmom, Pam, came to the ranch for the first time to visit a few days ago. I planned to stop the projects I had in progress and take them sightseeing and out to some of the many great restaurants in the area, but they both insisted they wanted to help me with the ranch.
“Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes,” Pam says, getting up from the spot where she’s kneeling on the ground, working the soil with a hand tool. “I’d better get cleaned up.”
She’s been making dinner every night, and it’s the first time in ages I’ve had home-cooked meals. Tonight we’re having beef stew and garlic bread, and after working on tilling the new garden plot all afternoon, I’m so fucking hungry I could chew on one of my hands.
“You should go get a shower,” my dad says. “You don’t want to be a mess when your girl gets here.”
I glance at my watch, which has dirt caked around the band. “Oh, shit. I didn’t realize it was so late.”
“We’re going to wait until she gets here to have dinner.”
I stand up and brush dirt off my clothes. Trinity’s finally on her way here. The past month has passed slowly, other than the long weekend I spent with her in Chicago two weeks ago.
We talked a lot and shopped for engagement rings. I’m more sure than ever about us, but I’m nervous about her seeing the ranch.
The setting couldn’t be more beautiful, with mountains in the distance and a small lake surrounded by woods. The view from every window is spectacular.
The interior of the main lodge is under renovation, though, and it’s currently a mess. There’s drywall dust everywhere and plastic sheeting up to keep the dust from covering every surface in the house.
Dad, Pam and I are all staying in the two-bedroom guesthouse for now. It has a kitchen and two bathrooms, so it meets our needs. It’s being renovated after the main house. Trinity’s been helping choose finishes for everything over FaceTime.
The bathroom I use in the guesthouse has forest-green tile and wallpaper with a border that has cowboy hats all over it. It’s still stuck in the year 1991, which is when the lodge and guesthouse were built by a Hollywood producer. He never spent much time here, so the place was frozen in time when I bought it.
It has great potential, though. When I looked at the property for the first time, it reminded me of my relationship with Trin. At first, we saw the green tile and wallpaper in each other. All the red flags and none of the green.
Our time together brought us past that superficial facade. We got to know and appreciate each other on a deeper level. I saw her push back against the anxiety that wanted to put her in a stranglehold. She accepted me as I was, even though I was neurotic about sex because of my own hang-ups.
We saw the best and the worst in each other over our months together. No one has ever known me like she does. The thought of us having a family doesn’t scare me in the least. I’d like to take our future kids to Alaska someday and show them the cabin where their parents fell in love.
After I finish shaving and showering, I go out to the kitchen, where my dad is scrubbing his hands at the sink.
“Pam’s taking a quick shower. She’s nervous about meeting Trinity.”
I furrow my brow. “She shouldn’t be. Trin’s easy to get along with.”
“I know, it’s just...Pam worries she’ll say or do the wrong thing. That’s just how she is. She’s been hoping we could have a relationship for a long time now.”
Even though my dad has told me to leave the past behind and move forward, it’s hard to forgive myself for not reaching out to him sooner. If I hadn’t survived the crash, he never would have known I found out the truth about my mom deliberately keeping us apart.
“I’m just glad you guys are here.”
He smiles. “We are, too. And we’re really looking forward to Thanksgiving.”
Trin and I offered to host Dad, Pam and all the extended family for Thanksgiving this year. We’ll have all the remodeling done by then. Dalton and Trinity’s mom will be here, too.
I never cared about holidays before. They were just another day but with turkey for dinner. Alaska changed my thinking on that, though. I want to be a better son, uncle, brother and friend.
The beep that signifies a car at the ranch’s front gate sounds and my heart kicks up speed. It has to be Trin. I push the button to open the gate, hoping she sees the new bronze “Shining Light Ranch” plate I had installed at the entrance.
She drove here so she could bring everything from her apartment. She sold all her furniture and only brought what she could fit in her car. I offered to come pick her up in my new truck, but she wanted to stop in Des Moines to have dinner with a friend from college last night.
“Pam, Trinity’s here!” Dad calls.
Pam comes rushing from the bedroom they’re staying in, running a hand over her short, dark hair. She gives me a quick, excited smile.
“You guys are gonna love her,” I say.
We all walk out to the lodge’s front entrance, where Trin pulls in and parks. A dark SUV driven by Gideon pulls in behind her. He gives me a wave, turns around and drives back out the gate.
I paid him to follow her here just in case that creep Ronan is still stalking her. Now that she’s here, where we have a tight security system and perimeter alarms, he shouldn’t be able to get to her. And if he did, he’d have to go through me first.
As soon as Trin steps out of the car, our eyes lock and she runs toward me.
She’s more beautiful than ever, wearing jeans, a Mammoths hoodie and tennis shoes, her hair up in a ponytail. I sweep her off her feet in a hug, closing my eyes and inhaling the familiar scent of her soap and light floral perfume.
I keep our kiss quick and PG-rated, even though I want to carry her to the nearest bedroom and do a hell of a lot more.
When I set her feet back on the ground, she smiles at my dad and Pam.
“Hi, I’m Trinity. You must be Tim and Pam.”
They both hug her, tears shining in Pam’s eyes. I had no idea my stepmom cared for me as much as she did until this visit. Even though she’d never met me, she never gave up hope for my dad and I to mend our relationship.
“I’ll unpack your car tomorrow,” I say. “Let’s just catch up tonight.”
“Pam and I are staying at a bed-and-breakfast in Jackson Hole tonight,” Dad announces. “We’ll be heading there after dinner.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Trinity says. “Stay here. The guesthouse has two bedrooms.”
Pam shakes her head. “We want to see more of Jackson Hole. We’ll be back tomorrow evening.”
I exchange a look with my dad, who winks at me. I guess no one’s going to say out loud that they’re leaving us alone so we can have all the loud, crazy sex we want tonight.
Which will be a lot. Trin and I have only had a total of four nights together since the first time we had sex. Phone sex doesn’t even compare. Her legs and hips will be sore tomorrow after all the positions I’ve been fantasizing about.
“This place is gorgeous,” she says, taking my hand as we walk to the guesthouse.
“You like it?”
She grins. “Linc, I love it. The photos don’t do it justice.”
We spend an hour laughing and talking over dinner, and then I show her around the main lodge. She squeezes my hand with excitement as we move from room to room.
“This is our bedroom.”
Her eyes widen as she takes in the mountain view. The room is on the main level and the builders are working on a private patio with French doors. We’re combining this room with another bedroom to make a massive primary suite with two walk-in closets, a laundry area and the bathroom of Trin’s dreams.
We’re having the same style of tub the cabin has, and I know we’ll spend many an evening in it together.
“It’s incredible.” She kisses me. “I’m so excited.”
Back out in the main living area, I gesture at the partially built staircase. “Can’t take you upstairs, unfortunately. It should be done in a week or so.”
We’re replacing a plain staircase with an open, curved one. By the time we’re finished with this remodel, the interior of the lodge will be brand new. We’ll have seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, a game room, a home theater and an office for Trin.
“I couldn’t love it more,” she says to me as we finish the tour in the garage. “It’s a dream come true. The pantry is the size of the living room in my apartment.”
My dad waves from a few feet away. “We’ll see you kids tomorrow.”
Trin and I pause to hug both of them. She makes plans with Pam for us to meet them in Jackson Hole tomorrow for some shopping and dinner out. Pam looks like she’s about to burst with excitement.
“We love you guys,” she says on their way out.
“Love you, too,” I say.
Trin squeezes my hand as we watch them drive away. She looks up at me.
“They’re so great, Linc. I really like them.”
“Me too.” I tug her ponytail gently. “You look so damn good. I’ve missed you.”
She laughs. “In my hoodie and jeans?”
“You’d look good in anything.”
“Well...” she backs up a few steps, giving me a playful look. “I might have something lacy on underneath the hoodie.”
I walk toward her. “Yeah? I might need to verify that.”
I take her hand and pull her to me, kissing her. She melts against me, moaning as I kiss her deeper.
“Back to the guesthouse,” I murmur against her lips. “You’ll get drywall dust in your ass crack if we take our clothes off here.”
She laughs and cups my cheeks, wrinkling her nose. “I’ll pass on that.”
I pick her up and walk toward the door, her legs encircling my waist. “To the guesthouse, then. Just like old times.”
Her gaze softens. “Are you going to make me fall in love with you all over again?”
I grin at her. “Damned if I’m not gonna try, gorgeous.”