12. Cord
12
CORD
“ O kay with you if we head to the cottage so we can give Beau and Sam some solitude?” I asked.
“Actually, I’d love to see the inside of it.”
“It isn’t much, but it does have a cool stone fireplace.”
“Is it where you’ve been living?” Juni asked.
“Yeah. I guess it’s where JD lived the last few years, at least part of the time.”
“Cord, I want to apologize?—”
“Don’t. You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s me who mucked everything up.”
She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “If someone were to ask me about you—about us—I would have no idea what to say. I know you, but I don’t.”
I nodded. “I feel the same way.”
“Grayson told me what you said while you were waiting for popcorn.”
We reached the cottage, and I stepped forward to unlock the door, then went ahead of her and turned on the lights. “He did?” I asked once we were both inside and I took her jacket. “Can I get you anything?”
“Are you having something?”
“I’ve got a bottle of red I opened last night.”
“I’ll have a glass if there’s enough.”
I held up the bottle that was still three-quarters full, and she smiled.
“So how are things going here? Are you able to wrangle things?” she asked.
I chuckled. “Truth is most of the horses here are about as elderly as Miss Cena, err, Mrs. Covert was.”
“It’s okay to call her Miss Cena. Everyone did. In fact, I don’t remember anyone calling her Mrs. Covert other than you.”
I nodded.
“Sorry, you were talking about the horses when I interrupted you.”
“They’re all in good health, but they’re lacking the kind of energy it takes to wrangle a herd as big as this one. I guess I’ll need to talk to Sam about that since it would mean investing a significant amount of money. There is one that seems quite a bit younger than the others. Name’s Apache. I’ve taken to riding him.” From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Juni flinch. “Everything okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, fine. Horses can be expensive,” she said so quietly I wasn’t sure if she meant for me to hear her.
“It isn’t just the horses. To be honest, there isn’t a single hand I want to keep on the payroll.” They were a pretty tight-lipped bunch, so much so I hadn’t been able to get a read on whether they were all part of Schultz’s crew or if they’d worked for JD. Something told me the former was more likely. While I could’ve put the hammer on them, I hadn’t been here long enough to risk either them ganging up on me or losing the only help I had.
I glanced at Juni, whose eyes had glazed over.
“Sorry, it’s not that interesting of a subject.” I motioned to the sofa. “Do you have time to sit for a bit?”
“Since you’re giving me a ride home, I guess you’d be the one to determine how much time I have.”
I wanted to tell her I’d keep her here all night if I could. Longer, in fact. “Okay if I get a fire going?” I asked instead.
“That would be nice. ”
The wood was already stacked, so all I had to do was light the kindling, which only took a couple of minutes to catch. I got up and turned around, smiling when I saw Juniper sitting in the dead center of the sofa.
“Mind if I join you?” I asked.
“I was hoping you would.”
I sat on her left and stretched my arm across the back of the cushions. “Are you warm enough?”
“I’m getting there.” She wriggled closer to me.
“Juni—”
“Let me go first, okay?”
I nodded.
“Earlier, I mentioned that Grayson told me what you said at the theater about how sometimes you meet a person and you feel as though you’ve known them for years even after only a few hours.”
“I did say that.”
When she turned her head and looked into my eyes, all I could think about was how much I’d wanted to kiss her—that night and now.
“It’s how I feel too, and while you said I don’t have anything to apologize for, I feel like I do. I was rude to you last night, and I’m sorry.”
I reached up and brushed her hair from her face. “You are so beautiful,” I murmured.
“Cord, I?—”
“No more talking.” I leaned forward and kissed her. It was like a whisper, a promise, teasing and taunting, even though I was mad with the desire to ravish her. When she whimpered and grasped the front of my shirt, it was like she’d taken me off a leash, allowing me to break away from all restraints. I pressed my tongue into her mouth and tasted a hint of the wine she’d sipped.
I kissed her slowly, deeply, my tongue winding with hers, and when a second breathy moan escaped her lips, I pulled her onto my lap and eased my hand under her sweater, touching her bare skin.
“Cord, please…”
My desire for her that had been building since the moment we met was like a volcano ready to erupt. But this was too much, too fast. And maybe my name on her lips wasn’t pleading with me to take things further. Maybe it was a plea for me to stop. I withdrew my hand, agonizingly pulled my lips from hers, and moved her from my lap .
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked.
I wrapped my arms around her, stroking her hair when she rested her cheek against my chest. “Everything you did was perfect.”
“Then, why…”
“Because I asked you here so we could talk. To clear the air between us, not to seduce you.”
She turned her head, burying her face in my chest. “What if that’s what I want you to do?”
“Then, I will. Soon, but not tonight.”
When she pulled away, I sensed surrender. As though, like me, she was giving in to what she knew was right, as difficult as it was.
“I like you, Juniper Chance. Very much, in fact. But there are some things we need to address before we take this any further.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“You told me you’re leaving town.”
“I may have exaggerated my departure.” Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze in the way that drove me mad. “I’ve sent out resumes, but so far, no interviews. I may have blown my chances.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Right after graduation, I had several job offers, but I turned them down. Almost all were on the West Coast, and I wasn’t ready to leave the east. A big part of that is how much my parents need my help at the restaurant.”
Her mention of it reminded me that I wanted to ask about the name. “You said it’s called the Goat?”
“Yeah, kind of weird for a restaurant. I don’t know why my dad didn’t change it.”
“Change it?”
“He bought it from someone else. Why?”
“There’s a bar in Crested Butte with the same name.”
“That’s a coincidence.”
Something in my gut told me it might not be, but I didn’t have a logical explanation for it. “Do you know who owned it before?”
She shook her head. “No idea, but I’m sure my dad remembers.” Juni turned her body to face the fireplace. “You said there were things we needed to address. What else?”
“You just said you weren’t ready to leave the east. I don’t live on the coast, but Colorado is definitely the west. When my year is up, I plan to go home.”
“You make it sound like being here is a prison sentence. ”
I scrubbed my face. Other than to Pete, Beau, and Sam, I hadn’t told anyone else here why I was. “My being here wasn’t my idea,” I confessed.
Her eyes scrunched, and for the third time, I told the story of my father’s trust and its stipulations. I explained that if I hadn’t come, hadn’t gotten the job at the Lilacs, and if I didn’t stay a full year—that I couldn’t even leave for more than forty-eight hours—my brothers, sister, and I would lose the ranch, along with any other assets contained within the trust.
“What do you mean you can’t leave? You can’t even go home for a visit?”
“The way it was worded was very specific. It said I have to maintain residency at the Lilacs full-time and cannot leave for more than forty-eight consecutive hours.”
“You can’t leave the Lilacs?”
I nodded.
“How can that be legal?” she asked.
“When my older brother did his time”—I winked—“he had someone look into it. According to that attorney, it was iron-clad. He said whoever drew it up made sure of it.”
Juni stared into the fire. “So you really don’t want to be here.”
I reached for her hand. “I can tell you that, since I arrived, I found a lot I like about this place.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I should probably get home.”
After dropping her hand, I stood. She did too.
“Juni, I have to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’d like to spend time with you while I’m here. Is that something you’d like too?”
When she didn’t respond right away, I knew her answer. I leaned down and brushed her lips with mine, needing one last kiss from her.
“I’ll take you home now,” I said, standing up straight and squaring my shoulders against the disappointment I knew was inevitable.
“I’ve never been to Colorado.”
My eyes widened. “No?”
She shook her head.
“Do you think you’d like to?” I asked, daring to hope.
“Definitely.” She stepped away and grabbed her coat from where I’d set it. “We better go, Cord. If we don’t, I might end up in your bed, seduction or not.” She winked and I smiled.
Earlier tonight, before I approached Juniper, asking if we could talk, I’d checked with Decker about the installation schedule.
“It’s looking like we won’t work on your section until tomorrow morning,” he said. “However, you know from experience how early we start.”
“I’m up before dawn every day, anyway. In fact, I’ll have some ranch work to do before I meet up with you,” I’d told him.
After dropping Juniper off at home and returning to the Lilacs, I went looking for his crew, anyway.
“Can I help?” I asked when I found him and a few of the guys near the barn.
“Good timing,” said Deck. “I could use one more set of hands.”
We knocked off after midnight, but like I’d heard him promise Sam and Beau, both the house and the barn were secure. Tomorrow, we’d tackle the perimeter as well as what Deck referred to as hot spots throughout the estate. If someone did manage to get on the property—as unlikely as that was—there would be multiple areas where the system he designed would track movement, particularly from anyone who wasn’t identifiable. Even though I’d helped install the one on our ranch, I still had no idea how it all worked, but since we’d caught more than one cattle rustler in the first couple of months after, I was certain it did.
“Get some sleep, and we’ll see you in a couple of hours,” said Deck, nudging me as we crossed paths on my way back to the cottage.
Rather than get in bed, I stretched out on the sofa where Juniper had been a few short hours ago. I closed my eyes, remembering how our mouths had felt pressed together, her whimpers, and the heat of her skin when I eased my hand under her sweater. Mostly, her parting words had stuck with me.
We better go, Cord. If we don’t, I might end up in your bed, seduction or not.
I couldn’t remember ever wanting anyone the way I did Juniper. I yearned to feel her naked body next to mine. Not just that, but I wanted to know her better. Her words, her smiles, her teasing, her touch—all of it. But then what ?
A visit to Colorado was far different than picking up and relocating. Yeah, I was getting way ahead of myself, but I had to. If I didn’t, at the end of my year here, I might leave heartbroken.
We made good progress on the perimeter the following day. It was much easier than the installation on the ranch since there was a low stone wall all the way around the property where we extended coverage both inside and out. I was just finishing one section when I received a text from Decker, asking me to come up to the main residence.
“We celebrating something?” I asked when he opened the door and waved me inside and I saw Beau and Sam in an embrace, kissing passionately. I raised a brow. “Did you figure out how Sam’s connected to Miss Cena?”
“Nah, I think they’re gettin’ married,” Deck responded.
“Yes, we’re getting married, but we also believe we found a link between Cena and my beloved fiancée,” said Beau, letting go of Sam. He picked up a picture and handed it to me. “We found this photo taped inside a cupboard. Pilar is Sam’s grandmother, and in this photograph, the woman with Manley Junior is identified as having the same unusual name. Also, the date is significant, given Sam’s mother was born a year after this was taken.”
My eyes opened wide.
“That alone doesn’t prove anything in terms of Sam being related to Cena. It’ll take DNA to make that determination. That’s where you come in. Have you ever had yours tested?” Decker asked.
“I haven’t, sir.”
“In that case, both you and Sam will get it done at the same time. There’s a version of the test law enforcement can push to be expedited. It only takes an hour or two to get the results, depending on how busy the lab is. It’ll be definitive enough.”
“Sure. Of course,” I told him.
“There’s a place in town that has the kits. They said they can get it to the lab right away. While you do that, I’ll check on my guys’ progress.”
Decker gave Beau the address of the drugstore.
“Perhaps, while we’re out, we could get something for lunch. Cord, do you have time to join us? ”
“Sure. I mean, you’re engaged, right? And Sam might be my cousin. I’d say we should celebrate.”
“I hope we are, Cord,” said Sam, looking over the seat at me.
“Me too.” I meant that sincerely. I liked Sam straight off and felt an almost brotherly connection to her. To think we could be family made me happy.
As Decker said, the DNA test was simple and only took a couple of minutes for each of us.
“I’ll forewarn you that it won’t matter where we go. By the time we order and our food is served, Beau will know everyone in the place,” Sam informed me as we walked out of the drugstore.
Before I could respond, someone caught my eye. “Fuck,” I muttered.
“What?” Sam asked, following my line of sight.
“Jimmy Rooker,” Beau muttered.
“There’s a place we could eat in the next town over,” I suggested. “If he follows us there, we’ll know we’ve got a problem on our hands.”
“Cord, did Samantha tell you the bastard’s contested Miss Cena’s will?” Beau asked.
“On what grounds?”
“I guess it’s because he thinks I’m not related to her,” said Sam.
“The test we took will tell us one way or another, right?”
She nodded, but I could see worry etched on her face.
Once we were in the vehicle, Beau called Decker and informed him that Jimmy Rooker appeared to be following us.
“He’s asked you to text him the name and address of where we’re going. He’ll have two of his guys there, waiting,” he said after ending the brief call.
“Where’s the wedding?” I asked in an attempt to change the subject.
They both mentioned spots in California, but when Beau suggested the Lilacs, that would’ve been my pick, if they’d asked.
“Here’s the place,” I said, motioning for Beau to turn into the parking lot.
“It says it’s been here since 1837,” said Sam when we walked in.
“Must be quite good, then,” Beau commented .
Historical-looking, black-and-white photos lined the walls throughout the dining area, and when the waitress took our order, Sam asked if it would be okay for us to walk around to look at them.
“That’s what they’re here for, honey,” she said, winking.
The three of us stood, and because the space was tight, I went in one direction and Beau and Sam went in the other. Many of the images appeared to be of customers throughout the years.
I hadn’t paid much attention to them the one other time I was here, but they were a fascinating glimpse into the history of the area. One particular image caught my eye. “Hey, look at this,” I said as I leaned in to study the photo.
“Is that Cena and Manley?” Beau asked from over my shoulder.
Sam stepped closer. “It says it was taken in 1975, the same year Manley died.” The two were holding hands, sitting close enough that their arms touched. “They look so in love,” she murmured.
“And they were,” said an older gentleman sitting at an adjacent table .
“Did you know them?” Sam asked.
I listened while they chatted about the car accident that killed Mr. Covert and James Rooker, Cena’s brother. Pete had told me about it during one of our meetings.
“Hell of a thing, the way Manley died. Worse was how his son went.” My ears pricked up.
“What do you mean?” Sam asked.
“Both were killed in car accidents, several years apart, of course. With Junior, though, rumor was his brakes had been tampered with. Couldn’t ever prove it. The car veered off the road and went over an embankment straight into Buffalo Creek. The condition of the car made it impossible to prove anything.”
Chills spread throughout my body. It wasn’t just that I was hearing the story. Something inside me was absolutely certain Junior’s death was no accident.
“Some say it was the good-for-nothing nephew did the tampering. Others say Junior had been drinking, but I knew better. After losing his dad that way, he never would’ve driven while intoxicated.”
I motioned to Beau and Sam when the waitress brought our food. I heard them thank the man before joining me at the table .
“Someone should write a book about the Coverts,” I said under my breath once we’d taken our seats. “So much needless tragedy.”
Sam nodded, and so did Beau.
We’d just finished eating when he received a message on his mobile.
“No sign of Rooker,” Beau said after reading it.
On the drive back, the two talked about visiting the Lilac’s winery, which I’d never seen.
“Can I come along?” I asked.
“Of course,” they both said in unison.