Chapter Two #2
Blair couldn’t help smiling as she looked out the window at the morning. She adored this little mountain town, its sun-bleached storefronts and friendly hellos on every corner. Most of all she loved its cowboys, strolling through town in Stetsons and worn denim.
Cowboy thoughts led inevitably to Hud. Tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes that had made her heart flutter when he walked her to her car. He’d asked her out, but she hadn’t heard a word since. She tried not to dwell on it, but anticipation had been warming her chest all morning.
At exactly eleven thirty she shrugged into her soft wool sweater, told Meridith she was heading to lunch and stepped out into the crisp air.
A pale sun hovered over the rooftops as she walked down to The Everyday Grind, Celine’s cozy coffee shop.
The door swung open before she reached it and a wave of roasted bean aroma and sweet pastry rolled out to meet her.
Blair groaned softly. She loved her coffee more than almost anything.
“Hey, Blair, just grabbing my sweater,” Celine called from behind the counter.
Blair leaned against the counter, tracing the knots in the wood with her fingertips. “Take your time.”
Celine reappeared in a soft cardigan, tugging the sleeves down over her wrists and shaking a swirl of hair from her eyes. “Nippier today.”
Blair inhaled deeply, tasting mountain air. “I love it, but I’m ready for warmer weather.”
“This early in May could still bring snow. I was shocked the first time I saw it. Killian isn’t fond of trudging through drifts to feed the horses or be out on a case.”
“How is that gorgeous man of yours?” Blair teased.
“Gorgeous as ever.” Celine’s smile could have lit the whole block.
Blair shook her head, feigning exasperation. “I hate you sometimes.”
“No, you don’t. Besides, there are plenty of single good-looking men in this town. You’ll find your match.” Celine paused. “You’ve already met Hud. He’s a catch. Those eyes of his...”
Blair laughed, imagining his easy grin. “He’s handsome, sure. But will he actually get in touch?”
Celine looped her arm through Blair’s as they walked along the sidewalk, the mountain air sharp against their cheeks and their breath visible in the cold.
“He was so sweet walking me to my car.” Blair glanced up at the bright sky.
“Killian says he rides every morning. Keeps six or seven horses, works the ranch too.”
Blair’s eyes lit up. “I love to ride.”
“See?” Celine nudged her. “Slip that into conversation when he asks you out. He might just invite you to saddle up.”
“If I ever hear from him.”
“Give him time.” Celine pushed open the diner door and gestured inside.
“This coming from you? The way you were all over Killian.”
“I was not all over him.” Celine laughed. “But I am now. Every chance I get.”
“Does the poor man get any rest?”
“Not if I can help it.”
The brass bell above the door jingled as they stepped inside.
Blair grinned when patrons waved or called out greetings from their vinyl booths.
She really did love this town. They crossed the checkerboard floor and took a booth by the window where sunlight streamed in warm and steady.
Blair slid onto the red leather seat facing the door.
Connie, the owner, appeared with two glasses of ice water beaded with condensation, her salt and pepper hair piled in a messy bun. She set them down with a warm smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes.
“Hello, ladies. What can I get you today?”
“Hi, Connie. My usual,” Celine said.
“Me too. Thank you.” Blair’s stomach growled at the thought of the juicy burger and crispy fries already on their way.
“My pleasure, hon. I’ll get right on that.” Connie winked and bustled away, her floral apron swishing around her knees.
Blair draped her sweater beside her and glanced around at the cozy diner, its vintage signs and black-and-white photographs of the town’s history lining the walls. “Connie is the sweetest.”
“Definitely.” Celine nodded.
Blair sipped her water and looked up when the bell above the door tinkled. Hud stepped inside, his broad shoulders filling the doorframe, another man following close behind. They settled onto red swivel stools at the counter.
“Hud is here,” she whispered, her pulse quickening.
Celine twisted around in the booth, eyes darting to the counter and back to Blair with a knowing smirk.
“You don’t have to whisper,” Celine teased.
“Shut up.” Blair felt heat rise to her cheeks. “Damn, he is hot. Those faded jeans and that Kevlar vest and badge for some reason are so sexy.” She glanced at the man beside him. “Who’s that with him? Very handsome. That jawline.”
Celine looked again. “Eli Hawkins. Married.”
“Well, damn. She’s a lucky woman.”
“Very. I’ll tell you their story sometime. It was a hard road for them.”
“I want to hear every detail.” Blair straightened when Hud pushed off his stool and headed their way, weaving through the tables.
His boots clicked against the tile and people kept stopping him, handshakes and friendly pats on the back slowing his progress.
His aftershave reached her just before he did, warm and clean, and she felt a shiver move through her.
“Hi, Blair. Celine.” He touched the brim of his Stetson, and she nearly sighed out loud.
“Hey, Hud.” Celine smiled, eyes dancing.
“Hello, Hud.” Blair grinned.
“How are you, Blair?”
“Doing well.” She smiled up at him.
When he grinned back, white teeth against sun-kissed skin, she felt herself go weak in a way that was almost embarrassing.
“I’d better get back before Eli eats all the fries.” His gaze lingered on her a moment longer than necessary. “I’ll talk to you later.”
As he made his way back to the counter she couldn’t take her eyes off his Wranglers, which hugged every muscle and perfectly framed his backside.
“He can certainly fill out a pair of jeans. Back and front.” She fanned herself with her napkin.
Celine laughed, turning heads at nearby tables. “I feel the same way about Killian. Those strong arms and that dimple when he smiles. I love that man.”
“He loves you too. I see it every time he looks at you.”
“I know. That’s why I’m so happy.” Celine reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I want that for you too, Blair.”
“It’ll happen.” Blair’s eyes drifted back to Hud at the counter, and she let herself imagine possibilities for just a moment before Celine’s hand appeared in front of her face.
“Earth to Blair.”
Blair turned back to her. “I was right. I do hate you sometimes.”
Celine laughed, bright and easy. “Like I haven’t felt the same about you. You know I love you.”
“Right back at you.”
Connie arrived with their lunches, steaming plates that filled the air with grilled meat and spices. They dug in, talking and laughing their way through everything, including family.
“How are Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Dale?” Blair asked, dipping a golden fry into ketchup.
“Wonderful. They’re planning to visit next spring. I can’t wait. I miss them so much,” Celine said, her eyes softening.
“I miss my parents too, but at least we can visit each other. Maybe they could all come together next spring.” Blair’s face lit up at the thought.
“They’d probably love that. They’re so close.”
“Being brothers, our fathers are so much alike. Stubborn as the day is long.” Blair rolled her eyes.
“Must be where you get it,” Celine said with a grin, picking up her burger.
Blair laughed. She caught Hud watching from the counter, his face breaking into a grin.
“Like you’re not stubborn,” Blair retorted, dabbing her mouth with her napkin. “Poor Killian. It’s probably like talking to a brick wall sometimes.”
Celine balled up her napkin and threw it, catching Blair squarely on the nose.
They were still laughing when Connie came to clear their plates.
“Hud already took care of the check. You girls have a nice day.” She stacked the empty plates with a practiced clatter and disappeared through the swinging kitchen door.
“He paid for us?” Celine’s eyes widened.
“He did.” Blair twisted her napkin between her fingers.
Her ex would have scrutinized every bill, calculating the exact tip to the penny.
Even after everything, his stinginess had always stung more than she’d admitted to herself.
She should have seen the signs earlier. The heavy doors he’d let swing shut behind him; the times she’d stood waiting in the rain while he settled into his BMW without a second glance.
“I need to get back to the shop,” Celine said, sliding from the booth and pulling on her cardigan. Blair did the same, tugging her sweater around her shoulders as they stepped outside into air that smelled of pine and woodsmoke.
“Temperature dropped.” Blair shivered, goosebumps rising on her arms.
“It did.” Celine’s eyes lit up. “Oh. Look who I see.”
Blair followed her gaze and felt a smile spread across her face.
Killian and his brother Kian were striding toward them along the sun-dappled sidewalk, matching Kevlar vests with Livestock Agent stitched in white, badges on their belts, sidearms holstered.
The early spring breeze ruffled Killian’s dark hair as his eyes found Celine.
His face transformed instantly, crow’s feet crinkling at the corners, dimples cutting into his tanned cheeks.
Celine’s hair bounced as she closed the distance between them and launched herself into his arms.
“Damn, you just saw her this morning,” Kian teased.
Though fraternal twins, both brothers shared the same chiseled jawline and broad shoulders that strained against their vests. Blair laughed.
“They’re sickening, aren’t they?”
Kian’s dark eyes crinkled. “They can be. How are you, Blair?”
“Very well. You? How’s Gretchen?”
“We’re both great, thanks.” He glanced at his brother and Celine as they kissed, Killian’s hands splayed possessively across her lower back. “Stop making a spectacle of yourselves.”
Killian reluctantly broke the kiss, his lips still hovering near Celine’s. “Like you and Gretchen don’t do this.”