CHAPTER 11
The guest cabins were the definition of rustic chic. I opened the windows to air them out, following the instructions Lil had given me, reeled off in a rush the previous day when I’d agreed to help out. The guests weren’t due until tomorrow, but I needed a distraction. Badly.
Doing our best not to catch each other’s eyes.
Sighing, then sneezing as I beat out some of the cushions on the large couch, my hungover brain tried to fire up again. There had to be a way to really help her, to get the Elk Creek bastards off her back. Then there was the not-so-small issue of whatever this was with Cole.
I sat on the couch for a moment, bed sheets still folded over my arm.
Dust motes swirled in the shaft of sunlight that struck the tribal-style rug, right in front of the wood-burning stove in the corner.
I pictured us in here, locked away together, the warmth of a fire removing the need for clothes . . .
I knew I had to snap out of this, to think of all the practical implications before launching ahead into what – a rebound fling? I had five days left here. Three days to prepare for a job interview. I didn’t have time for this.
‘I’ve never met anyone like you . . . Fuck London.
’ His words echoed in my mind and I felt the frustration rise.
Why did I have to meet someone like him now, at the messiest time of my life?
For once I knew calling Hestia wouldn’t solve anything.
She’d tell me to follow my heart and . . . that just wouldn’t work. Would it?
Forcing myself up, I took a couple of deep breaths and got back to work, stretching fresh sheets across the bed and scrubbing the bathroom as though the royal family was on its way.
I noted the few little touches Lil had made here and there: a couple of antique vases on the mantle, a beautiful driftwood mirror above a sideboard.
But it felt . . . sparse somehow. As though someone had grabbed things at random, as opposed to trying to curate a real feel for this place.
To me, this place represented family – both the blood and the chosen variety – fun and sanctuary. But it was also the cowboy state, with its stunning sweeping landscapes and its vast, endless skies. The cabins didn’t reflect that at all.
I stopped, suddenly inspired.
The throw cushions in my room would match the rug beautifully and make the bed look even more cosy. There was also a set of old Wyoming postcards in an interconnected pewter frame that would match the colours in the bathroom just right.
Finished with the cleaning, I peeled off the gloves and stepped outside, heading up the path towards the entrance of the second cabin on the left.
A small patch of delicate yellow flowers danced in the breeze, right next to the long, feathered grasses behind them.
Picking a small bunch and trying not to ruin the wild meadow vibe, I headed back into the first cabin and arranged it in one of the antique vases, filling that with water and setting it under the mirror on the sideboard.
There. A bright, live snapshot of the real ranch, right as you walked in.
Satisfied and encouraged, I jogged over to the house, scanning down the slope towards the barn and corral for signs of life.
I’d yet to see Cole today, yet to figure out how we’d pick up after last night.
Whatever the others thought, whether or not they’d bought the excuse of us pretending to kiss to get Eli away from me, we needed to work out what we were – if we were anything at all.
Inside, not bothering to slip off my boots, I headed straight for my room. As I reached the door, the phone rang from Lil’s office down the hall and I hesitated, listening out to hear if she was in there, ready to pick up.
Instead, the answerphone clicked on, the beep sounding before a pause.
‘Hi there, my name’s Jenna.’ I crept closer to listen.
‘I was at the rodeo yesterday with my family. We’ve been looking for a ranch to stay at later this summer for a family get-together.
Our usual place is booked and, well, we umm .
. . noticed your cowboy in the roping competition – Jesse, is it?
’ Her voice became lighter and she giggled.
‘Well, we noticed the ranch name on the back of his jacket and googled you. I had no idea you were there – the cabins look nice and you’re so close to town .
. . so, anyway, we wanted to know if you had any days free this July . . .’
Opening the door, I strode over and picked the phone up.
‘Hi there,’ I started, slightly startled by myself. ‘I’m Lottie, part of the Diamond Back team, thank you so much for your message. I heard a little of it – was it a week you were looking for in July? I’m sure we can help.’
My mind whirred as we spoke, and as I scrambled to find the booking system on Lil’s computer, I realized that she did it all from a paper diary, scrawled reservations in barely legible handwriting. The summer months were worryingly free.
As I hung up, having secured a week’s booking from Jenna at the end of July for all three cabins, my mind kept going in the silence. That family was taking the cabins here for a week, spending thousands of dollars for three reasons.
Two of those had nothing to do with us: Jackson Hole was beautiful, and it was a favourite destination for a ton of people, which meant that often places were booked out months in advance.
But the third, most important reason – a reason we had control over – was Jesse had caught a potential client’s eye and captured her attention long enough to sell the ranch as a whole.
What if this was the way to help Lil? Really help her? As in, beat back Elk Creek for good and make the Diamond Back a destination in itself?
Just as a depth of feeling had unfurled as I’d kissed Cole last night, a feeling of knowing rather than guessing, so an idea grew and grew in my mind, green flags and bells making a symphony.
I took off, leaving the house again, cushions be damned for now.
‘Lil?’
Swearing I’d heard her voice from outside the barn, I ran over, hair flying out behind me in the breeze. I knew it likely looked chaotic, but I didn’t care. This felt important.
Rounding the corner, I walked into the stalls, stopping abruptly.
Lil and Cole stood in the corner, Cole’s arm around her shoulder as she leant on his chest, tears streaming down her face. They looked up simultaneously, Lil immediately wiping her cheeks and taking a step back.
A hollow sensation opened up in my chest as Cole removed his arm from her shoulder, his eyes creasing in concern at my expression.
I tried to speak, but the vision of Kyle returning home with the blonde woman flashed through my mind; the way his arm had draped across her shoulder in a similar way, a gesture of familiarity and closeness that I realized I’d never known from him – or from any other man.
‘Are you okay, Lil?’ I asked, not able to bear the sight of her upset, whatever else was going on.
‘Hey, uh, yeah,’ she croaked, moving forwards, but stopping as I stepped back. ‘Sorry, I just . . . the whole Elk Creek situation got a bit—’
‘It’s fine,’ I replied, my voice suddenly robotic. Maybe I’d read this whole situation wrong? Maybe Lil did have feelings for Cole, but was just unwilling to admit them to me or even herself? What if me and Cole kissing last night had forced it all to the surface?’
‘Lottie,’ Cole began, but I shook my head.
‘I just wanted to tell you that I picked up a message from someone wanting to make a booking in July,’ I said, keeping my eyes fixed on Lil. ‘She noticed Jesse at the rodeo, took a look at the website and booked out all three cabins for a week in July.’
Lil’s eyes widened and she glanced at Cole for a moment. He remained fixed on my face, but I didn’t look back.
‘Well, that’s . . . Wow, really? All three of them?’ she asked, her voice clearing.
I nodded. ‘I’ve had an idea. If you’ll let me, I’ll set up some social media stuff for you.
I just thought . . .’ I paused, a lump threatening to rise in my throat.
‘I thought I might be able to extend my trip to help get it off the ground for you. Maybe. I think the key to making this place a success is letting people really see it, get to know the people behind the business, see it the way that we do.’
I couldn’t help a glance at Cole. His jaw was clenched tight, but his eyes were soft. Pleading.
‘Oh honey, I’d love you to stay,’ Lil said, striding over, giving me an all-encompassing hug. ‘You really think the social media stuff would help? Isn’t it a lot of work? I thought you had some interviews in London?’
I returned her embrace, relief at seeing her happy, temporarily overcoming my anxiety about the truth of whatever was between her and Cole. We squeezed each other hard and I focused on the plan of action I’d had before coming down here.
‘Yeah, I do. They’re both online, though, so I can do them from here. And I can do the social stuff, no problem.’
She studied my face, frowning.
‘If you’re sure,’ she said slowly. ‘You feeling okay? You look kinda pale?’
I nodded, risking a glance at Cole. The tension between us was instant, our gazes connecting in the way they always seemed to, like magnets pulling towards each other. Desperate to touch, to lock together.
‘Just hungover,’ I reassured her, smiling, forcing myself to concentrate on her relief. ‘If you’re okay with it, then, I need to find Jesse. He’ll be my first victim, given he’s proven himself already.’
Lil rolled her eyes, wiping underneath them one last time, but still leaving a small smudge.
‘He’ll love that,’ she said, waiting as I reached out to finish the job, taking off the last bit from her cheek. ‘Thank you for this, sweetie. It means the world.’
I nodded, looking down to prevent myself from catching Cole’s eye again.
If Lil did have feelings for him, whatever was between us would have to stop.
Not that it’d really had a chance to start.
But I couldn’t hurt her. The way Cole made me feel was unlike anything else, but my loyalty, my family, was Lil.
Squeezing her arm, I turned.
‘How long you gonna stay?’ Cole’s voice was steady, but I could hear the undertone. The same as last night, underlaid with need and thick with implication.
‘However long this takes.’ I shrugged. ‘Or until I have to go. Whichever comes first.’
I smiled at Lil as I left, watched her trying to read Cole’s expression.
Out of the stalls I let out a jagged breath, heading back up towards the ranch house.
I resolved to leave my feelings for Cole back in the bar in Jackson.
I refused to become another source of worry for Lil, and I needed all my brain cells firing to make this marketing idea for the ranch work.
Thankfully, Jesse was still humming along to the radio up by the wood store, just as he had been when I left.
‘Heyyyy, Jesse,’ I said tentatively, watching as he leant over a makeshift workbench, a measuring tape in one hand and a pencil held in his teeth as he shifted things around.
‘Oh hey, Princess,’ he replied, glancing up with his trademark open smile. ‘How can I help the new talk of the town?’
Startled, I came to an abrupt stop.
‘The what?’
He chuckled, tilting his head to one side.
‘It don’t take long for word to travel. Turning down Eli in the bar and then showing him what he was missing was a bit of a statement in a gossipy town like this.’
‘I . . . Oh, well, I just didn’t want Cole getting into a fight. It seemed like a more, umm . . . peaceful option.’
He laughed, setting down his tools and leaning on the bench, turning to face me.
‘I sure do like you, Lottie,’ he said, adjusting his hat, his brilliant white smile giving him the perfect model pose. ‘I’m pretty sure Cole was just fine with the arrangement.’
I tried to hide an almost instant smile, and failed.
‘As long as it pissed Eli off,’ I replied, shrugging. ‘But listen, I’ve got something to ask, something I need your help with.’
He raised his eyebrows, a suggestive expression taking over.
‘Hold on now, wait a minute – is it my turn to distract Eli?’
I blushed despite myself, giving into Jesse’s irrepressible charm.
There was a reason the woman had called earlier to book a stay after seeing him at the rodeo.
He was classically handsome, yes, the epitome of a gentleman cowboy, with his gravelled voice, strong jaw and beautiful grey eyes.
But it was his natural warmth, his unguarded joy that really shone through.
I could imagine it being all too easy to love Jesse, and receiving this kind of genuine, unfiltered love in return.
‘Quit it,’ I replied, mimicking his accent, making his smile even more broad. ‘No, I want to film you for social media.’
His eyebrows rose and eventually, in the pause, he removed his hat, running his hand through his hair.
‘Film me? Sounds like stepping up a gear from fake kissing in a bar?’
This time I laughed.
‘I’m going to promote the ranch across social media, try and boost our bookings. Once people get to know you and the others, I just know we’re going to get booked up. We just need something . . . compelling to get them interested.’
He shook his head, smiling.
‘I’m all yours, ma’am – use me however you like.’ His voice was light, casual, but the tone was suggestive. ‘I just need one favour in return.’
I folded my arms as though bracing myself against his charm.
‘Okay,’ I replied, eyes narrowed.
‘Elk Creek are having some kinda open day at their ranch this afternoon – something to do with their new backer. I reckon we can sneak in, have a nosy around and report back. If I go with you, no one’s going to try and start a fight, and if we need to distract Eli again, I’m sure I can help.’
‘Does Lil know?’ I asked, seeing the logic of snooping on the rivals, but wondering how Cole would react. Then reminding myself it didn’t matter.
He nodded, replacing his hat and turning back to the bench.
‘It starts at two, so I’ll just finish this up and we’ll head over, right?’
I agreed, and began walking back to the ranch.
The next hour was spent planning, quickly securing usernames for the ranch on various social channels, making notes and planning things out on my phone. It wasn’t until a horn beeped from outside that I suddenly realized the time, grabbing my hat and running out towards Jesse’s truck.
I climbed in and as we headed down the drive, passing the barn, Jesse raised his hand in greeting.
Looking up from my phone, I caught the edge of Cole’s stare but looked away, knowing that if I kept it up for long enough, he’d stop.