Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Addie spent most of the flight on the luxurious jet trying to avoid looking at Price.
He gave her space but kept checking on her and making sure she had water and food options and showed her how to lower her recliner into a bed, brushing her arm and hip with his arm in the process and making her tingle despite her anger at him.
Dang him. Why did he have to act like a nice, heroic guy when he was in reality a lying jerk? Okay, Price wasn’t a jerk, but he had gouged her deeply with his deception. She’d trusted him, and he’d been lying to her.
She couldn’t believe she’d let down her guard with the wrong man again. Price had felt right, perfect truly. The humiliation of acting like a twitterpated teenager when he was a secret bodyguard, a professional spending time with her because he’d been hired to, was almost too awful to comprehend.
She hadn’t let him fully explain about Daphne and whatever twisted plan her little sister had.
She didn’t want to hear his excuses or shift the blame to Daphne.
Her sister held plenty of blame, but Price had humiliated her.
She would cling to her anger and damaged trust like a mother possum to her baby.
It was her only defense from him prying his way into her heart with his vows to protect her and those dark eyes begging her to listen to him.
They landed at a small airport at eight-ten a.m. according to her watch. The detectives had taken her phone so she couldn’t be traced.
She was exhausted, not being able to sleep at all as she was so stirred up with despair over losing her home, the lingering terror of almost dying, anger at Price and Daphne, and far too aware of every movement Price made.
How long would she have to endure being around him?
Would she miss Daphne’s wedding? What about Jamison’s trial?
The police would probably get her back to the trial or postpone it if they felt it wasn’t safe to return, but they wouldn’t make her appearance at Daphne’s wedding a priority.
What about Christmas? She doubted this mess would be solved before then.
Was she destined to spend the holidays stuck with Price in some windowless, dark, dusty cabin in the woods?
She didn’t know about the windowless cabin, but all the snow-covered trees and sky-high mountains surrounding the valley they’d landed in said staying at a remote cabin was a high possibility.
What if it was a small, romantic cabin where she could snuggle in front of a real fire with Price?
No. Snuggling and romance were an absolute no.
Addie groaned inside. She’d have to forgive her sister, but Price? He’d chiseled out her heart. Whatever confusing feelings warred inside her, it couldn’t possibly be true love.
The plane taxied to a stop, and she stood and stretched.
Price nodded to her, standing himself. He shouldn’t look so appealing, but it was impossible not to notice his strong, tall frame in a T-shirt and golf pants and the smoldering intensity in those thick-lashed dark eyes.
He looked at her as if one kind word from her and that smolder would erupt into a fire that would consume her.
Her stomach flipped over, and she swore no kind words would escape.
The pilot exited the cockpit and smiled at them. The tall, lean man had introduced himself as Paul Braven earlier. Price already knew him as he was Aiden Porter’s ‘top pilot’.
“How was the flight?” Paul asked.
“Good,” she lied. “You’re an expert pilot.”
“Well, thank you, Addie. I try.” He grinned and winked. It was a nice, teasing older brother type of wink.
She glanced at Price. The way he looked at her wasn’t teasing. It was a broody, tortured hero type of look. He could give Heathcliff a run for his money.
Paul opened the door and they walked out into a very different type of cold than she was used to.
It was dry air like her home in Arizona as opposed to the wet humidity of the east coast. This air wasn’t warm like it usually was in Arizona, though.
This was a biting cold and there were mounds of snow on the ground.
It was gorgeous and freezing. She zipped the borrowed North Face coat up, shoving her hands into her pockets. It wasn’t good to not have gloves.
She and Price had arrived at the airport early this morning with her in PJs and a too-big coat from his house that smelled too much like his sea salt and cedar scent.
Thank heavens when they got on the plane there were clothes in a closet of the bathroom that Price said she was welcome to change into.
She didn’t question whose clothes they were.
Probably the famed Aiden Porter’s wife Chalisa.
The clothes and running shoes she had borrowed were high end, warm, and they fit.
A cowboy leaned against a four-door white Chevy truck, almost as if he were posing for a cowboy billboard as he waited for them.
He straightened as they approached, giving her a teasing smile from beneath his two-gallon cowboy hat, a twinkle in his blue eyes. He was tall, lean, and wore a long-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, cowboy boots, and a large belt buckle. Wasn’t he freezing?
“Welcome to Montana,” he said with a cowboy drawl, nodding to her and Price. He extended his hand. “Paul. Good to see you.”
“You as well, my friend.” Paul shook his hand and clapped the cowboy on the shoulder. “Miss Adeline Belle. Captain Price Sanderson. This is my friend Easton Coleville. Only believe half of what he says, especially if he’s bragging about his bull riding record.”
“Ha!” Easton smirked. “Only believe that I’m twice as good as I’d ever humbly admit to being.”
Addie couldn’t help but smile. He was obviously an overconfident cowboy, but he seemed kind and harmless.
Easton stepped forward and shook Price’s hand. “An honor, sir.” His sudden humility surprised her. Did everybody know about Price’s honorary service and big Navy award? Just another reason she’d trusted him implicitly. To her eternal chagrin.
He turned to her. “Ma’am.” He shook her hand warmly. She noticed some scars on his forehead that his hat had shadowed. “You’re going to love Coleville Ranch. My mama will make sure you feel right at home.”
“Thank you.” She buried her hands back in her pockets.
The welcome meant a lot, especially as it was Christmas time and she was horribly displaced.
Her home blasted and burned. Far away from family.
Stuck with a man she wanted but couldn’t have.
She risked a glance at Price. Those dang soulful dark eyes threatened to yank her in.
She focused on Easton instead. “You’re some kind of heroic and charming bull rider. ”
“You don’t have to glaze me but yes, ma’am, I am.” He beamed.
Paul groaned.
“He’s also married,” Price pointed out, glancing at Easton’s wedding band.
She shot Price a glare. “I wasn’t hitting on him, just pointing out the truth. What does ‘glaze me’ mean?”
“Bragging me up.” Easton poked out his chest. “It doesn’t matter the hordes of women who hit on me; I’m a hundred percent committed to the most beautiful angel on earth, my Cassie.
” He seemed to be bursting with pride. “She’s the best wedding planner this side of the Mississippi.
” He glanced between Price and Addie. “When you all get hitched, I’ll have her give you a discount. ”
“We’re not …” Addie trailed off and shook her head, her cheeks hot, the cold air forgotten.
Price gave her a cautious smile.
“I also have a little girl. Presley.” Easton distracted her from Price’s smile. “You’ll love her.”
“I’m sure we will. How old is she?”
“Five. She’s almost as hilarious as her Pops.”
Addie laughed. “I also had a teasing and fun dad. Your Presley is lucky to have you.”
“That’s what I tell her and her mama every day. Some days multiple times.” He winked again.
“He has to remind Cassie all the time,” Paul said, laughing. “I need to get going. Plus I’m freezing.”
“Plus you can’t keep up with my banter,” Easton teased.
“Right you are, my friend.” Paul grinned and shook Price and Cassie’s hands, getting a manly backslapping hug from Easton.
“Thank you,” she and Price said.
“Have a good Christmas. Give Shay our love,” Easton called.
“I will. You do the same. Tell Cassie she is lucky to have you.”
“Ha!” Easton crowed. “That’s right!”
Paul hurried back into the plane and the door closed.
Easton gestured toward his truck. Price walked her around and opened the passenger side door for her.
She climbed in quickly so he wouldn’t have to assist her.
Knowing she’d never feel his touch again made her crave it even more.
The feeling went against all that was smart for her heart and damaged trust and pride.
Price shut her door and climbed into the backseat, hefting his duffel bag into the middle.
The truck was warm, and she unzipped her coat. Easton drove them out of the airport. He asked them about themselves and talked about himself, his wife, daughter, his family, bull riding, and the Coleville Ranch.
The cowboy could talk, and he could brag.
The drive passed quickly with the gorgeous scenery of a canyon, snow and pine tree covered mountains soaring on each side, the sun rising bright in the sky, and the quick wit and nonstop conversation from Easton.
He attempted to draw both of them out but, sensing their obvious reluctance, he filled the silence.
Addie was more than happy to ask him questions and keep him talking.
It was a relief as being stuck alone with Price would’ve been a nightmare.