Chapter Twenty-Three
Trip stood at the kitchen sink, smiling to himself as he listened to Shelley and Harper laughing in Harper's bedroom. He hadn't been sure if he should come to the cottage with them today to help them get moved in, but he was glad he was here. Both Shelley and Harper had told him several times how much they appreciated his help.
He finished rinsing the dishes they'd used for a late lunch. He’d run up to the Mustang Café in town for sandwiches for them all and brought back one of Sue's coffee cakes. He always felt a little disloyal to Candy at the bakery whenever he bought Sue's coffee cake, but he was addicted to the stuff. He consoled himself with the fact that Candy didn’t make anything similar.
He set the last of the plates on the rack to dry, then turned back to the window when he heard a vehicle approaching.
He sighed when he saw Banner's truck. Banner was Jim's foreman, and Trip had a feeling he knew exactly why he was here. He let himself out the front door quietly, hoping to head him off before Shelley and Harper realized he was there.
Banner jumped down from his truck with a puzzled smile.
“Hey, Trip. I wasn't expecting to see you out here. Isn't Jim's new lawyer moving in today? And her friend?” He paused. “Oh, wait. Shit. Sorry. I should have realized, shouldn't I? The new lawyer—she's your woman.”
Trip had to smile at the description. He wouldn’t put it that way himself, even though he enjoyed hearing it. It just wasn’t the kind of language he used, although he knew most of his friends did.
“Her name’s Shelley. And yeah—we’re together,” he confirmed.
Banner gave him a puzzled smile. “The way you say it sounds like it’s permanent.”
Trip gave a slight nod, not wanting to confirm that until he knew for sure it was true.
“I get it,” said Banner, as if he’d read Trip’s mind. “If it’s not permanent yet, you’re hoping it will be. Right?”
Trip wasn’t going to deny that. “I am. And if I’ve got it right, I know why you’re out here, and I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I should have told Deb to make sure that the delivery driver knew they were coming to the cottage and not the bunkhouse.”
“It’s not a problem,” said Banner. “I was glad of the chance to come over here and introduce myself. I wanted to let Shelley and her friend know that I’m around if they need me for anything.”
“Thanks,” said Trip. “I’ll take you in and introduce you in a minute. But can I just check if Deb managed to get everything I wanted?”
“All I can tell you is that I’ve got three boxes on the back seat. Let me guess—a housewarming gift from you?”
“It is.”
“Do we need to try and sneak them inside?”
Trip chuckled. “No, thanks for the thought. But after you meet Harper, you’ll realize there’s no way I’d get away with that.”
Banner laughed with him. “I already heard she’s a bit of a character—and I reckon she must be. She’s a New Yorker, but people around here speak highly of her already.”
“They do?” Trip asked. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am a little. Don’t get me wrong—she’s good people. I just didn’t know how folks around here would take to her.”
Banner shrugged. “You know how it is. We might not be all that welcoming to outsiders—but we soon warm up to people who prove we can trust them.”
Trip mulled that one over for a moment. It made sense. He wouldn’t have described it that way himself—but hearing Banner say it, he realized he was right.
They both turned when the front door to the cottage opened, and Shelley and Harper came out. Shelley smiled at Trip, and Harper came straight over to introduce herself.
“You must be Banner,” she said, extending her hand to shake with him. “It’s good to meet you. Jim said he’d introduce us when he could, but I’m glad to run into you without taking up any of his time.”
Trip got the sense she’d said exactly the right thing. He knew damn well that before he made any judgments of his own, Banner would be waiting to see if Harper—and Shelley, for that matter—proved themselves to be worthy of his trust.
As he shook hands with Harper, Banner said, “It’s good to meet you, too. And yeah, I try not to take up too much of Jim’s time on unnecessaries.”
Trip exchanged a smile with Shelley when Harper said, “Noted. I’ll do my best to keep my unnecessary ass out of your way.”
Banner laughed out loud and touched the brim of his hat. “Forgive me, ma’am. I didn’t mean that how it sounded.”
Harper laughed and slapped his arm. “I’m glad to hear it—although I wouldn’t blame you if you had meant it that way.”
Banner looked more serious as he said, “I take my time before I judge anyone.”
Harper nodded solemnly. “And I respect that.”
Banner then tipped his hat at Shelley. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Shelley. I know Jim’s looking forward to working with you. He told me he might bring me in to help work through some details and explain some things about the ranch to you.”
Shelley stepped forward to shake hands with him. “I’ll look forward to it. From what he’s told me already, Jim thinks the world of you.”
Trip nodded his agreement. Banner was a good man. Jim had taken him and his two brothers in as youngsters, and all three now worked as foremen—Banner for Jim, Brad for Mav MacFarland, and Brody, of course, for Trip.
Shelley frowned at the sound of her phone ringing. “Excuse me,” she apologized, pulling it out of her back pocket. “Oh, it’s Jim,” she said as she checked the screen. “I should take it. It was lovely to meet you, Banner.”
As she walked away, holding her phone to her ear, Banner gave Trip an inquiring look and tilted his head toward his truck.
Trip had to laugh when Harper raised her eyebrows.
“Since there’s no way I’m going to be able to keep a secret from you, do you want to help bring these inside?” he asked.
Harper laughed. “Oh, secrets. I like those. What is it?”
She turned to Banner. “Do you know?”
“It wouldn’t be my place to tell if I did,” he said with a smile, opening the back door of his truck. “But I’ll help carry the boxes inside.”
Trip grabbed the smaller box and handed it to Harper, before he and Banner each took one of the heavier boxes. Just as they reached the cottage door, Shelley came hurrying back.
“Listen, I need to go over and see Jim.”
“Is everything all right?” asked Trip.
“Is he okay?” said Harper.
“I can come with you and—” Banner began.
Shelley let out a short laugh. “I reacted exactly the same way when he asked if I could come over, but he assured me there’s nothing to worry about. He sounds fine. He just said there are a couple of details he wants to go over with me, and he’d rather not wait.”
She met Trip’s gaze. “Is that okay?”
Part of him loved that she was checking in with him. Part of him felt bad, because he didn’t want her to feel like she needed to.
“Of course it’s okay,” he assured her, before turning to smile at Harper. “I think I can probably be of some use around here, but if not, I can get out from under—”
“Oh shush!” Harper turned to Shelley. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him disappear before you’re done. There’s plenty of work for him to do around here. Just do us a favor and text to let us know that Jim really is okay when you get over there.”
“I will.” Shelley came and pressed a quick kiss to Trip’s lips. “I’m really sorry.”
He cupped her cheek in his hand. “There’s no need. You go do your thing, and I’ll get on with mine.”
He winked at Harper as he added, “As soon as Harper tells me what I’m doing.”
After Shelley had driven away, headed toward the ranch house, and Banner had bid them farewell, Trip and Harper went back into the kitchen.
She tapped on one of the boxes they’d brought in. “I’m dying to know what’s inside here, but I have an even more pressing question—if you don’t mind me asking it.”
“Fire away. You can ask, but I can’t guarantee I’ll answer.”
She laughed. “Fair enough, I can respect that. But I couldn’t respect myself if I didn’t at least ask—why don’t you just move all Shelley’s boxes into your place? Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to share this place with her. We haven’t been roommates for anything more than vacations since college, but…”
She let her words trail off and folded her arms across her chest, raising her eyebrows.
Trip had to laugh. “I’d swear you’re channeling my mother with that look.”
Harper laughed with him. “And you adored your mother, right?”
“I did,” he agreed.
“So…” She lifted her eyebrows again. “If I’m channeling your mom, then you know I’m coming from the right place. I’m not trying to interrogate you. I’ve come to care about you—not just Shelley—and I can’t for the life of me figure out why you haven’t moved her in with you yet. And since you haven’t… why you don’t take the golden opportunity you’re being presented with here. I deliberately asked her to help me with my stuff all day so that hers is still in boxes, mostly.”
Trip chuckled. “I appreciate the thought, but…” His smile faded. “I would never do that to her.
“Yes, I’d love for Shelley to move in with me instead of in here with you, but I put that offer out there a while back. I told her it’s what I want. But I understand. She needs to take her time. She needs to make her own decisions when she’s ready to.”
Harper grinned at him.
“What?” he asked, feeling a little self-conscious,
She shook her head. “Just that you two are perfect for each other—and what you said just proved it. I’ve known her for almost forty years. You’d think I know her better than anyone, and yet I still would have ridden roughshod over her feelings just to get her what she wants.”
She gave a small shake of her head. “You… you know her even better than I do. Or maybe know her isn’t the way to describe it. I do know her well—it’s just that you put her wants and needs at the center of your decisions. She needs to feel free—and independent—and you’re never going to trample that.”
She nodded. “But you know what? She needs to feel loved, too. And as smart as we women are… we can’t always read your minds. Sometimes we need it spelled out for us.”
She met his gaze and held it. “Preferably in words of one syllable—you know, like three of them.”
He had to smile. “I take it you don’t just mean any three random little one-syllable words, right?”
She laughed. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. And I know damn well that it’s none of my business, but I can’t help myself—and I think you know that about me already.”
“I do. And I don’t have a problem with it. More than that—I love that Shelley has you in her corner.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And most of the time I will stay in the corner. I’ll never try to interfere between the two of you.”
He tried not to smile, but Harper rolled her eyes. “Okay, I know I just did exactly that. I tried to interfere. But it was on your behalf as much as Shelley’s. Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he told her. “You’re her friend—and you’re just doing what friends do. At least, what good friends do.”
He jerked his chin toward the largest of the boxes Banner had brought. “And just to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are no hard feelings—that box is for you.”
Her grin widened. “Just for me? Not a housewarming gift for the two of us?”
“Nope. That one’s just for you,” he confirmed. “The other big one is the housewarming gift—and the small one’s for Shelley.”
“Want to tell me what you got her?”
“As long as you promise not to tell her before she opens it.”
“I promise.”
“She was saying the other day that she needs to buy herself a briefcase—that she hasn’t had one since she left Pennsylvania. But with all the papers she’s starting to accumulate looking into Jim’s stuff, she’s going to need one. What?” he asked, when he saw the way Harper was looking at him.
“Just that you’re exactly what she needs. And I’m happy for you both.”
He was surprised to see the tears shining in her eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She smiled brightly and waved a hand at him. “Of course I am. Or I will be. If you promise not to tell anyone that I may just have an ever-so-teeny sentimental streak.”
He nodded. It seemed to him that what she had was a heart of gold, but he didn’t think she’d thank him for mentioning it.
~ ~ ~
When Shelley got back to the cottage a couple of hours later, she was surprised to see that Harper's rental car was gone. She was glad that Trip’s SUV was still there, though. A rush of warmth filled her chest when she got out of her car and saw Trip standing in the doorway of the cottage, smiling at her.
He came out to greet her with a hug. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him, resting her cheek on his shoulder. “Everything’s fine. Were you okay here?”
He chuckled. “I was. I enjoyed Harper’s company—I mean, I already knew that I enjoy her company—but she was a laugh a minute this afternoon. What about you, though? Did you get on all right? Is everything okay with Jim?”
She straightened up. “He is. But…” She blew out a sigh.
Trip took hold of her hand. “Damn. Sorry—I shouldn’t be making you stand out here. Come on inside. Do you want a drink?”
She smiled at the way he led her into the cottage. Technically, this was her place, not his. But she loved that he wasn’t waiting around to be treated like a guest—it seemed he’d made himself right at home.
She laughed when she saw a new wine rack standing in the corner of the kitchen. “Let me guess—you had something to do with that?”
He gave her a guilty smile. “I may have. I wanted to get you something.”
She went over to it and selected a bottle, smiling when she saw the label—his favorite Shiraz.
He shrugged. “If you remember, when she first arrived, I did promise Harper I’d get her a case of the stuff since she liked it.”
Shelley nodded happily. “I bet she loves you even more now.”
She bit down on her bottom lip. That. Every time one of them used the word love lately, it made her breath hitch in her chest. She knew she felt that way about him. And she was almost convinced he felt the same way about her.
She just didn’t know if it was the right time to exchange the words.
When he tucked his fingers under her chin and made her look up at him, she could see the answer to that question in his eyes even before he spoke.
“You know, I like Harper—and what I like most about her is that she’s such a good friend to you. I’m glad that she seems to like me too. But…”
He rested his forehead against hers and looked deep into her eyes.
“I was trying to come up with something clever there—trying to make a play on words since you said that Harper will love me more now. But this is too important for that.”
He tightened his arms around her.
“What I want to say—what I’m trying to say and making a complete mess of—is that I love you, Shelley.”
Her heart felt as though it melted in her chest. She reached up and pressed a kiss to his lips.
“You took the words right out of my mouth. I was just debating with myself whether it was too soon to tell you.”
He cocked an eyebrow, and she smiled—then took a breath before finally saying, “To tell you that I love you too, Trip.”
She reached up and stroked her fingers over the back of his head, loving the way he seemed to shiver at her touch. He dropped his head and claimed her mouth in a kiss that left no doubt—he loved her. She tightened her arms around him as she kissed him back, hoping she could show him, as well as tell him, how true her words were.
When they finally came up for air, she could read it all in his smile—the warmth, the mischief, the love. He seemed more relaxed—lighter somehow.
“I feel like I should have planned this better—or at all. I feel like I should be cracking open a bottle of champagne.”
She laughed and inclined her head toward the wine rack. “I’m sure Harper won’t mind us opening the Shiraz. Where is she, by the way?”
“She’s taken herself off to Bozeman for the evening—and said she’s staying there tonight. She made out that she was only going because there’s some big-name guest conductor at the symphony that she’d be crazy to miss.”
Trip shook his head with a smile. “She even apologized that she wouldn’t be here to celebrate move-in night with us.”
Shelley laughed. “That’s typical Harper!”
“She loves the symphony that much?”
“Not that much, no—what I mean is, she comes up with excuses that make her sound self-serving so people won’t realize she’s really looking out for them.”
“Ah, right. Well, she didn’t pull it off this time. I thought she wanted to go, but I knew she was trying to give us the evening together.”
He reached for a bottle of Shiraz with a small smile. “What do you think—should we christen your new place?”
She nodded slowly, and once again, while she grappled with whether she should tell him what she was thinking, he beat her to it—and answered the question for her.
He ran his hands down her arms and took hold of her hands. “Or would you rather come home with me?”
He squeezed her hands as he added, “And make it your home.”
She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face to his neck. “Yes!”
He chuckled. “Are you sure about that?”
“I am. I know it’s taken me a long time to get there, but I think it works out better this way. I took my time to be sure. We haven’t rushed anything. We know we work, that we fit together, that this is… right.”
“It is right, honey. Being with you is the rightest my life’s ever been.”
“Rightest? Is that a word?” she asked with a laugh.
She loved the way he smiled; she didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so relaxed and happy—and maybe a little cocky—as he did when he replied, “It sure is—I just used it, so it has to be.”