Chapter 5
5
A iden wasn’t sure who he should hit first. Declan for getting him into this situation or himself because the image of Petra in his bed again was vivid and demanding, and he absolutely needed to not go there.
This was about High Water, period.
Maybe after the deception was done they could retest some mattress springs, but for now, Aiden was determined to be an utter gentleman and offer her nothing but respect for the help she’d been hijacked into offering.
Fuck his life. He was definitely punching the daylights out of Declan, first chance he got.
The meal was over, and Petra, who had spent most of her time nodding, grabbed Aiden by the arm. “You and me. We need to talk, stat.”
“No prob.” He tilted his chin at Declan. “Okay with me adjusting rooms and the rest of it?”
“Have at ‘er. Less than twenty-four hours. Knock yourself out.” Declan met Petra’s gaze again. “Thank you. We’ll find a way to make it up to you.”
“I don’t need a reward.” Petra lifted her chin. “Not for doing the right thing.”
“Good.” Declan nodded sharply before he and Jake carried off the remainders of the lunch, stuffed them into the fridge, then left the room.
The big open space suddenly seemed awfully small. Aiden folded his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. “So. Logistics.”
“How good of a liar are you?” Petra asked. Her eyes snapped, her expression serious.
“As good as I need to be,” he offered.
An enormous sigh lifted her shoulders. “Damn good,” she warned. “Also, I understand the need for secrecy, but this is nonnegotiable. My brother and sister-in-law need to know the truth. Because otherwise, this deception will not fly.”
Tangled, but he got it. “You trust them?”
“More than I trust you,” Petra offered dryly.
Aiden snorted. “Valid. Anyone else? I mean, we won’t be shouting that we’re engaged from the rafters, but it’s a small town. I get how things work.”
She made a face. “You had no choice in the matter, what with Declan running off at the mouth like that, but here’s the twist. I was seeing someone, but broke it off recently.”
Shit . He eyed her carefully. “Really? Damn, I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry, but this is why my brother needs to know the truth. And my two best friends, who are rock solid. When others in town hear you’re my fiancée, they won’t blink. That part might work to your advantage. Some people will assume you’re the guy my brother mentioned in passing. My ex isn’t local, but from Manitoba where I used to live.”
Which was good news for High Water, but still. “You’re okay with this, though? After being that close to someone, pretending to be with me might suck.”
“Only if you turn out to be a jackass.” Petra lifted a brow. “I called things off when I discovered he was a jackass, and that’s all you need to know about that. But it means I’m a free agent. I wouldn’t have kissed you the other day if I wasn’t. Don’t waste energy feeling sorry for me.”
“Deal.” His mind still flew through the possibilities of what the guy did to screw up that badly and how good it would feel to clock the bastard. “Which means I’m pulling us back to logistics because we have a deadline ticking. First priorities. You need to move in, and we need to make sure the new ranch hand—which is what we’re calling our guests—has a comfortable room to claim as her own.”
Petra offered a wry smile. “I was just talking to Tansy about my living options. I guess this makes that decision easier.” She stood, pulling out her phone. “Instead of our picnic, does supper with my brother work for you?”
God. “Sure.”
Her grin turned downright evil. “Did I mention I’m the youngest in my family?”
“Great. With a protective older brother?” Aiden winked. “It’s fine. I can handle him.”
“Oh, I’m sure you can talk your way around Zach. It’s my four older sisters you need to worry?—”
“ Four ?” Aiden’s gut fell. “Maybe I should start running now, just to be safe.”
She snickered then patted him on the cheek. “Zach is the only one who lives here in Heart Falls. The others we can ignore for a while because we will not be shouting to the universe about the engagement. I need to get my stuff together, but that won’t take long as I haven’t unpacked. So first, let me help you get the new hand’s room set up. Plus, you can give me a tour so I know where stuff is. If I’m going to help, and I plan to, I need to know the lay of the land. I’m not signing on to be chief housekeeper and cook, but I’ll do my share. Just as if I were a roomie.”
“Deal. And I promise to keep this as simple as possible for you.”
“I promise to make sure my brother and sister-in-law listen while you explain the situation, although I can’t promise they won’t toss threats your direction.”
“I get it. I have brothers too,” Aiden tilted his head toward the window where Jake and Declan were visible unloading boards from a truck. “Threats of death and dismemberment are like love taps.”
They worked together smoothly for the next hour, Petra’s sharp wit making Aiden grin multiple times before she called it quits.
“I’m going to run interference ahead of time so that supper goes smoother.” Petra made a face. “I hope you don’t have too many skeletons in your closet, dude.”
Aiden frowned. “I thought you’d want me there to explain things to your family?”
“Oh, you’ll do your share of explaining. But giving Zach a couple of hours to dig into your history will make him far more reasonable to deal with. Unless said skeletons cause issues.”
One area where Aiden had zero worries. “He won’t find anything.”
Her gaze narrowed. “That’s interesting wording.”
Aiden tossed her a grin but didn’t mention that Jake’s contact from his police force days had made certain all their records were clean as a whistle and very, very nondescript. “Have fun, and I’ll be there a few minutes early. If it’s safer to escape the country, text me.”
Petra laughed as she walked away.
He still wore a smile when he tracked down his brothers in the barn.
They weren’t as cool and collected as they paused and gave Aiden their full attention.
Scratch that. Declan was calm as usual, but Jake blustered as he tucked his notebook under his arm. “She still going to do it?”
“Said she would,” Aiden offered dryly. “I didn’t scare her off in the past hour.”
“Told you everything was fine, Jake. You need to relax and trust my instincts more.” Declan tilted his chin at Aiden. “We’ve figured out living quarters for now. You’re still in the house—security for the ladies. Take the room I was going to use.”
“Makes sense.” Although it was close enough that the temptation of Petra down the hall was going to be a thorn in his side. “I’m going to Red Boot ranch tonight to meet her brother. She insists that he know the real situation, and I agree.”
“He’s solid.” Declan nodded slowly. “Jake, stop scowling. You did a background search and cleared everyone at Red Boot ranch when we first checked out Heart Falls.”
“The more people who know what we’re up to, the more loose ends,” Jake growled. “That’s my complaint.”
“Then the sooner you get in touch with some of your military and RCMP contacts who want to spend time here, the better. Plus, contact the therapist and see if Kevin can move up his arrival. Layers of people we trust in place will help calm you down if nothing else.” Aiden pulled the notebook from under his brother’s arm and glanced at the detailed checklist for the day still to be completed. “I can deal with items seven and eight before I head out. As soon as I get a feel for Petra’s brother, I’ll text confirmation so we make sure Danielle keeps rolling on that new ranch hand.”
“Deal.” Declan raised a brow at Jake. “You got that stick worked out yet?”
“Fuck you.” Jake sighed. “Fine. Use your gut, Aiden. We’ll back whatever play you make.”
Aiden wanted to show up early, but in the end, it was past five when he rolled up the drive into Red Boot ranch. Straight-as-an-arrow fence lines ran from the nearby buildings into the distant west. Neat rustic rental cabins were strategically placed in a jagged line so each faced in a slightly different direction toward the gorgeous scenery of the Rocky Mountains to the west, the rolling foothills painted with fall sunshine.
Petra had informed him the last in the row was Zach and Julia’s place. As Aiden hurried from his truck, with Petra’s purse that he’d found on the bench by the front door tucked under his arm, a solidly built man stepped to the front of the porch and folded his arms across his chest. His expression and body language screamed disapproval.
To hell with it. Aiden went for passive aggressive and waved cheerily as he took the stairs two at a time. “You must be Zach. Great to finally meet you. Petra’s told me so much about you.”
The man’s lips twitched. “Really.”
Aiden thrust out his free hand. “Of course. Also, your charitable work with Sorenson Enterprises is noteworthy. You didn’t also inherit your father’s inventor’s gene as well, did you?”
Zach raised a brow. “You’ve done your homework.”
“I figured you’d be researching me and mine within minutes of hearing the mess we sucked Petra into.” Aiden lifted his shoulders in an easy shrug. “We get it.”
“I want to hate you, but between Petra warning me off and my curiosity, you get to live a little longer.”
Aiden let his grin shine out. “Always my favourite option. If you need to try to hit me or something, we can do that later. I’m hungry.”
“ Try to hit you?” Zach shook his head disapprovingly. “Please.”
“Youngest of three boys,” Aiden informed him. “I’m fast.”
“So you’ll run away?”
“Duck, if nothing else. Yup,” Aiden agreed.
Even as Zach grinned in response, a heavy sigh sounded from behind him where Petra had stepped into the doorway.
Pushing past her was a second woman with deep-red hair, a wide smile, and curiosity in her bright eyes. She motioned them forward. “If you’ve finished the obligatory threat exchange portion of the evening, get inside. Dinner is ready.”
It should have been awkward, or at least uncomfortable, but from the minute they hit the table, it was as if Aiden had been a family friend for years instead of a newcomer.
“I can’t share all the details,” he said at the start, meeting their eyes in turn. “In some ways, the less you know, the better it is, but Petra says you’re trustworthy. Which means you’ll understand that when I don’t answer a question, it’s for your safety and the safety of others.”
“I only want to know two things.” Julia eyed them both. “How long does this deception need to last? And what happens when it’s over?”
Good questions. Petra faced Aiden. “Don’t know the first part, but I figure it’s possible to have a friendly breakup. Neither of us will have to leave town or anything drastic like that.”
“Absolutely. Mutual decision to go back to being friends. It would be best for both of us to have no villain in calling it off. High Water plans to be here for years.”
“Red Boot ranch isn’t going anywhere, and as long as Petra wants to be in town, this is her home.” Zach offered him the potatoes.
Aiden accepted the dish and scooped a healthy portion on his plate. “How long is going to depend on how quickly we get our housekeeper-slash-cook in place and how many ranch hands we get in the meantime. How attached people become to our situation. If the woman who shows up tomorrow needs you to stick around for a few months while she finds her feet, I hope that’s okay.”
Petra waved a hand. “I didn’t imagine the engagement would be called off instantly. But you do know I’m not a therapist or anything.”
“That’s not your role. We have a trained expert who’ll be joining us sooner than later. I expect you will get a lot of the kids—sorry, ranch hands—bending your ear, both because you’ll be in the house and because you’re a woman. We’re all going to get quick lessons from Kevin when he arrives so we know how to guide those conversations to his court.” Aiden’s smile softened, growing a little sad. “It’s hard to wrap our heads and hearts around, but some ranch hands will come into High Water and leave a few days later. Those are the ones who have a better spot to live while they make a change, and we’re just a safe place on the journey. The ones who will need a home could be there for a while. We won’t know much about them until they arrive, not even their names, because until they walk in the door, it’s their right to change their minds and say no, and the less we know about them, the safer they'll be.”
Zach asked a few questions, and Petra did as well. Then Aiden turned the tables and got Zach and Julia talking about Red Boot ranch.
They were passing around plates of pie before Petra got an elbow in the side from her sister-in-law.
Julia leaned closer. “He’s smooth.”
Petra looked Aiden over again, admiring the muscular lines of the man as he spoke with Zach. Aiden had been a lot of fun on the night they’d fooled around years ago and again on the recent night when they’d kissed.
Smooth only began to describe him.
“You’re drooling,” Julia said softly.
Petra wiped her hand over her mouth then stiffened as Julia snickered. “You’re such an ass.”
“Maybe, but you were one step away from eating him up with your eyes. You sure you know what you’re doing?” Concern clouded Julia’s tone.
Which was rich, coming from her. Petra raised a brow. “What? You have an issue with fake engagements? Really?”
Julia’s cheeks flushed. “Zach and I weren’t a fake engagement.”
“Oh, excuse me. Fake dating and accidentally married.” Petra stared at the ceiling and considered. “Yeah, I can see how this is totally different.”
Julia laughed softly. “I was just thinking about how tempting it’s going to be for you to get more involved. He seems like a good guy with strong morals and a smokin’ body.”
Petra nearly snorted her water out her nose, glaring at Julia. “Comments on his body are not appreciated.”
“Just saying. He’s temptation, and you are sort of on a rebound right now.” Julia winced. “I wasn’t going to say that, but…”
“You’re showing amazing restraint and not asking what actually happened that first time Aiden and I met that made both of us willing to throw ourselves onto a limb like this.”
Julia rolled her eyes. “Please. As if it’s not obvious.”
Nope. Not falling for it. Petra leaned closer and whispered her response. “That’s my brother’s favourite ploy. Pretend you know more than you do and hope the beans get spilled. Not a chance, sis.”
A pout curled Julia’s mouth. “Not fair. You know all my best cards.”
“I do trust Aiden.” The words popped out so easily Petra blinked.
Julia leaned into her side. “You also have a heart of gold, and helping others pushes your yes buttons. I’m just saying we’re here for you, even as you dive into the deep end.”
“High Water begs for a dive or two.”
“Cannonballs are my favourite,” Julia volleyed back.
Petra snickered.
Across the table, Zach waved his hands in the air enthusiastically as he shared some story. Aiden nodded, but his gaze was on Petra, and for a moment, it was as if there were only the two of them in the room.
His sweet mischievous grin teased the butterflies in her stomach into motion. The great unknown was right there, and she needed to walk forward to find out what might happen next.
Aiden was going to walk with her.
It felt far too simple. Far too right. But after a lot of not simple and not right , Petra welcomed it.
Aiden insisted on helping with cleanup and dishes after the meal. His arms loaded with plates, he winked at Julia. “We’ll let your husband get in some time with his sister so she can work a little harder to convince him I’m not worth shooting.”
Julia rolled her eyes. “He’s not the one to worry about if you need shooting.”
He blinked then flashed his sweet grin at Petra. “I like her.”
“That’s good. She’s a dead shot at fifty paces,” Petra warned.
“She’s also a medic. If she shoots you, she’ll patch you up after,” Zach offered.
“Now this sounds intriguing. Tell me more.” Aiden carried the plates to the counter as Julia responded.
Zach held out his hand to Petra. “Come sit on the deck and tell me everything is okay.”
She tucked her fingers into his elbow and tugged him down the stairs toward the arena instead. “Walk. I need to gather my things and toss them into the truck. I guess I’m moving tonight.”
Zach strolled beside her quietly for a moment. “You sure you’re good with this, sis?”
“More than good. I think I need this.” Petra rested her head on his shoulder briefly then straightened and sped up their pace.
“To lie to the entire community?”
“To make a difference.” Petra glanced around at the gorgeous mountains. Heart Falls was a place to make a new start, but just having pretty things around her wasn’t going to be enough. “Curtis did a number on my confidence,” she admitted.
Zach cursed softly then offered her a very fake smile. “Please tell me when you decide he’d look better without his arms.”
“You know that’s never going to happen, so let the idea of vengeance go.” Petra stopped them beside the arena, stooping to pet the soft nose of the colt that came to greet them.
Zach leaned on the railing, disgruntled expression turning to acceptance. “So living at High Water will let you make a difference?”
“To one woman who needs a safe place to land—yes. More than that, I don’t know. And in a way, I don’t care. If I can help one person, I want to do it.” Damn it. Tears were rising, unbidden and unwanted. Petra brushed them away with her fingers, turning her head to the side.
“Hey, kiddo. None of that, now.” Zach tugged her in close and pressed her face to his chest. A big brother hug that was perfect and exactly what was needed. “You always did find the best ways to experience new things. Okay, fine. I’ll back you in this. We’ll make the engagement fly and keep it quiet from the rest of the family. You’ll have to post pictures carefully. Stick to the usual ooh and aah over the nieces and nephews as expected.”
He squeezed her one more time then let her go.
Petra took a deep breath. “Good. I’ll still get the work done for Red Boot that I promised, but can you give me a couple days before I start? Just until I get my feet under me at High Water.”
“Not a problem. Take the time you need.”
They wandered toward the house, chatting quietly. By the time they made it back, Julia and Aiden were waiting on the front porch. Julia held a cup of tea in her hands, and the two of them were laughing.
Zach grumbled. “Your fiancé is far too charming.”
“Same could be said of you.” Petra ducked from Zach’s mock swing. “How often did you actually get in trouble, big bro? And how often did you sweet-talk your way out of punishment?”
“I’m a saint,” Zach started, only to set Julia off into laughter.
He moved in on her, finger pressed to his lips.
Aiden slipped down to Petra’s side. “You have things to move?” he asked.
She nodded. “Not tons, but you can help me load up.” Petra glanced up at the house and shook her head. “You two are too adorable for words. Thanks for dinner.”
“Thanks for trusting me,” Aiden added.
“Make sure you keep that trust.” Julia said quietly.
Zach eyed Aiden for a moment longer then nodded once. “Good luck. I hope your new ranch hand settles in quickly.”
“We’ll stay in touch,” Petra promised before heading to the cabin where her things were stashed. In a relatively short time, she was already leaving her fresh start for something entirely different.
Funny how quickly life could change.