31. Nate
Nate
My stomach tightens as I steer the SUV around a corner.
Almost from the moment we reached the outskirts of High Lonesome, I’ve been wondering if it was a mistake to leave Rory home alone with her mom.
We’re here to help her. Not to show up for an hour and then disappear.
“Fuck,” I mutter beneath my breath.
“What crawled up your ass?” Allie asks, popping another chocolate-covered pretzel in her mouth.
Uh, the fact that the love of my life is struggling with something huge, and I can’t fix it?
You know, minor things like that.
“You’re eating all the chocolate,” I say instead, looking in the rearview mirror.
Better to focus on what we can control. Maybe I sound like an asshole, but at the moment, asshole seems better than powerless.
Allie rolls her eyes, but she puts the bag down. “I’m an adult. I can eat what I want.”
This is one area where I don’t envy parents. “Yeah, but we bought most of that for Cathy. And Rory. If you eat it all before we get back, they won’t get any.”
“I can hold it.” Stacey reaches her hand from the front seat, calm as always.
Sometimes it seems like she addresses everyone like they’re her students. I’d almost be offended, but it seems to work, because Allie hands over the bag.
“We’re almost back,” I point out.
High Lonesome seems to appear out of nowhere when you drive into town.
There are stretches of desolate mountain passes, with nothing on the sides other than rock face or a sheer drop, and miles of dense pine forest, until you come around a bend and the sign for Lonesome Acres is in your face with the town just behind it.
“I should go over to the barn while I’m here,” Allie says, looking at the pastures as we pass. “I’d love to see Mandy.”
“Maybe you could help out while Rory stays with her mom,” Stacey suggests. “Or go with her one day. I’d love to help, but I’m kind of scared of horses.”
“Oh my goodness! I’ll introduce you to some of the horses. They’re just like big dogs. They’re lovers. And…” Allie launches into an animated sales pitch extolling the benefits of the equine species as I turn onto High Street.
Rory’s time at the barn seemed to help her a lot.
I don’t want her to miss out on time with her mom—I know all too well how it feels to wish you had a few more days or just a few hours with someone—but I wonder if Cathy is feeling strong enough that Rory and I could get away for a few days, or even a night.
The old familiar anxiety blooms in my stomach as I think about where I want to take her.
It’s been a long time since I brought anyone to Vail, but Rory didn’t react the way Melissa did. I can trust her. She won’t let the luxury go to her head. That’s not Rory.
As we get closer to Church, I see Lawton’s cruiser parked on the street.
“Anyone want to join the boys at the bar?” I ask, slowing the SUV.
I’m trying not to make it obvious, but I want Rory to myself for a bit.
“The boys?” Allie makes a face. “The way Dylan was acting earlier, he’ll probably cut me off after one drink.”
Stacey unbuckles her seat belt, ignoring Allie’s protest. “Let’s go.”
She leaves the bag of chocolates on the seat and closes the door behind her, then she opens the back door and practically hauls Allie out of the car.
I’m liking Stacey more and more, especially right now, when she seems to be understanding what I’m thinking without me needing to say the words.
“Call me if you need a ride back,” I say.
Stacey nods. “Thanks. Let us know what you need.”
She shuts the car door behind her, and I wait as the two of them make their way into the bar.
Once they’re safely inside, I send Lawton a text with my plans before I pull away from the curb.
Two more turns and I’m pulling up to the Kelleys’ house. The light through the front window is warm. The sun is starting to set enough that I can make out the figures inside, and I smile as Rory and her mother laugh together.
I’m so fucking in love with this woman.
I walk slowly toward the front door, trying to balance letting them talk alone some more with the cold air that swirls around me.
Spam’s familiar high-pitched yelp announces my arrival before I reach the door, and I don’t even have to knock before Rory pulls the door open.
“Hey. How was the drive?”
I pull off my wool cap as I step into the foyer. “Not too bad, actually. Roads were dry.”
I hold out the bag of chocolates.
We picked out a variety for them. Plenty of fudge, of course, in all varieties, but there are also filled chocolates, chocolate bark, and even a couple of pieces of milk chocolate shaped like bears.
“Thanks!” Rory peers into the bag. “Oh, Mom, you’re going to love these. You want to look through the options?”
“Maybe in a bit.”
“She just woke up,” Rory whispers. “I’ll put these in the kitchen.”
I head towards the living room. Cathy is smiling, even though her eyes are tired.
“Did you have a good time?” I ask, sitting on the couch next to her.
“Oh, we had a wonderful conversation.” Cathy reaches over and takes my hand. “Take care of my girl, Nate. She’s so happy with you. Take care of her for me.”
I give her hand a gentle squeeze. “Of course. I’ll always take care of our girl.”
It’s the perfect opening to ask, and Rory walks back in and sits next to me just in time.
“I was thinking. Could I steal Rory for a night? Maybe even two?”
“I don’t—“ Rory starts, but Cathy cuts her off.
“Of course. I’m fine, Rory. You need to keep living your life, and that’s with Nate. Go have fun.”
She looks like she’s thinking about protesting again, and I give her leg a gentle nudge.
“Go pack an overnight bag. We can leave as soon as you’re ready.”
“What should I bring?”
“Whatever you want to wear that you’ll be comfortable in. We’re not going to be going out much. Just relaxing.”
As far as I’m concerned, she doesn’t need to bring clothes at all. That would make for the best getaway of all.
“So where are we going?”
I smile at Rory as I shift into drive and back down my driveway. “You don’t want it to be a surprise?”
“Not particularly.”
I figured as much. I love surprises. Birthdays, holidays, any time of year. But Rory hates the anticipation.
“We’re going to Vail.”
“To a…hotel?”
I love that she doesn’t assume that we’re going to my place.
To be fair, it doesn’t feel like my place, even to me. I’ve been out there fewer than five times since I found out about the properties, preferring to let the management company handle things.
But it is mine, which means that when I ask to use it, they’ll block anyone from booking, and I can just show up.
I shake my head. “We’re staying at my place.”
“The condo?”
“One of them. I’ve only stayed at this one since it’s the smallest, but I figured we didn’t need a lot of space.” I look over at her. Her brows are drawn together, a line of worry creased between them. “That sound okay?”
“Of course.” She seems to relax a little. “I’d love to see it. I just know you said you hadn’t taken anyone there in a long time.”
I reach over and grasp her hand. “Yeah, but you’re not anyone. You’re it for me, Rory. Forever.”
She squeezes my hand back, the simple gesture letting me know we’re on the same page.
As we drive along High Street, the golden light of the setting sun bathes the town in radiance.
The snow is piled along the sides of the street in heaps.
The road is dry, but that will only last until the next storm.
Besides, we need a good layer of snow on the street for the upcoming mule races, even if I’m not in the right mood to take part.
There’s so much I love about High Lonesome. The closeness of everyone here, the wacky town festivals, the ease of getting around. Hell, I even love the winter.
But I’ve never seen the town in quite this light. As a safe place, somewhere to raise kids.
In the late afternoon twilight, I can almost see our future ahead of us.
“Do you think we should have brought the dogs?” Rory asks, snapping me out of my reverie.
“Hell no,” I respond too quickly, then I laugh. “I mean, I love them both. But they’re in good hands, and I’m not sure I want to deal with cleaning up after them. Your mom has taken quite a liking to Spam.”
“She has.” Rory frowns. “I hope he behaves himself.”
I snort, remembering Spam’s spectacular failure out of obedience school. “I’m not sure he’s a stellar citizen. But I honestly think he’s smarter than he lets on. I get the feeling he just does what he wants.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right. Little manipulative thing.” Rory sighs contentedly.
I fucking love that sound.
“Do you think—” Rory starts again, but this time I stop her.
There’s no room for worries tonight.
“Everything is taken care of, Ror. You don’t have to worry about anything.
Ollie is with Lawton for the night. Allie is staying with Stacey, and she’s going to cover your chores at the barn tomorrow.
Dylan and your dad are with your mom and Spam, and the home care nurse should be getting there right about now.
Everyone has food and chocolate and everything they need. I promise.” I give her hand a squeeze.
“Nate?” Rory looks at me. Her eyes are bright with tears, and my gut twists.
This is supposed to make her feel better. Not worse.
“Yeah, babe?” I swallow hard, hoping that whatever is going through her mind, I can fix it.
I want to make everything better for Rory. It kills me that there are some things I can’t fix completely.
“Thank you,” she says. “I didn’t want to drag you into everything with Mom, but having you here, helping… It means everything. Thank you.”
My chest swells.
“That’s what being together means, at least for me. You can’t drag me into anything because I’m already there with you. And you’re stuck with me.”
It’s dark when we get to the condo.
I carry Rory’s bag inside, along with the one I picked up before heading out of town and flick on the lights. The hallway illuminates in a warm glow.
It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but the management company has been doing a great job keeping up with things. The entryway is spotless, and despite the cold outside, the condo is the perfect temperature.
I hold my breath as Rory walks in, takes off her boots, then continues into the main living area.
I keep reminding myself that this is Rory, that everything is different than the last time I brought someone here, but old habits die hard, and the knot clenches in my gut.
I don’t think I let out my breath until she returns, a wide smile on her face.
“This is beautiful, Nate. You should be proud.” Rory wraps her arms around me.
I drop the bags on the floor and return her embrace. “You don’t want to move here or sell it off?”
Rory laughs into my chest. “It’s nice to visit. But it’s a little fancy for me to live here. Plus, the commute to the barn?” She pulls back enough to look up at me, then stretches onto her tiptoes to kiss me. “But you know what I do want to do?”
“What?” I hope it doesn’t involve me letting go of her. Because I want her in my arms all night, or for as long as we’re here.
This is our little hideaway from the world for now.
“I want to cuddle by the fireplace.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Rory giggles as I scoop her into my arms and carry her back to the living room.
After I set her gently on the overstuffed leather sofa, I grab a blanket and spread it on the floor. I locate the remote for the gas fireplace on top of the mantel and flick on the flames.
Through the large windows on either side of the fireplace, you can see the runs on the mountain during the day, and right now there’s a view of lights that line the trails that are used for nighttime skiing.
Despite the impressive view, though, the windows are built so we have privacy, and no one can see in.
I add a few pillows to the setup on the floor. I intend to stay down here with Rory all night if I can. The carpet is thick and plush, but God knows I’ll go to any length to make sure she’s comfortable.
“Guess it’s a good thing we didn’t bring the dogs,” Rory says, watching me.
I pick up a candle and light it with the nearby matches. “See. I’m always thinking.”
Rory gasps in mock outrage. “You brought me here just to cuddle in front of the fire? The audacity.”
I land a kiss on her lips as I reach past her to grab the wine bottle on the side table and the corkscrew. A quick text while I packed my bag was all it took, and everything we need was in place.
I uncork the Pinot Noir, pour a glass for each of us, and hold one out to Rory. “Don’t worry, babe. I plan to do more than cuddle.”
Rory’s eyes widen briefly as she accepts the glass and takes a small sip. Her lips hold the shadow of a smirk that says she’s ready for this.
As she brings the glass to her lips again, I can’t look away, my attention fixed on every movement.
The way her fingers wrap around the glass.
The delicate movement of her throat as she swallows.
The way her tongue moves across her lips to gather any remaining drops of wine.
Fuck, she’s everything. And I’ll do everything in my power to win her back for good.
I just hope it’s enough.