Breaking Bailey's Rules

Knowing Walker was waiting for her to answer, she finally said, “It went well. It was my first day as a features editor and I think I handled things okay. You might even say I did an outstanding job today.”

He chuckled. “No lack of confidence on your part, I see.”

“None whatsoever.” It was dusk and being outside with him, standing by the barn in the shadows, seemed way too intimate for her peace of mind. But there was something she needed to know, something that had been on her mind ever since Josette had brought it up that morning.

Not being one to beat around the bush when it came to things she really wanted to know, she asked, “Are you married, Walker?”

* * *

Walker stared at her, trying to fight the feel of air being sucked from his lungs. Where the hell had that question come from? Regardless, the answer should have been easy enough to give, especially since he hadn’t been truly married even when he’d thought he had been. How could there be a real marriage when one of the parties took betrayal to a whole new level?

Silence reigned. Bailey had to be wondering why he hadn’t answered. He shook off the unpleasant memories. “No. I’m not married.” And then he decided to add, “Nor do I have a girlfriend. Any reason you want to know?”

She shrugged those beautiful shoulders that should be wearing a coat. “No. Just curious. You aren’t wearing a wedding ring.”

“No, I’m not.”

“But that doesn’t mean anything these days.”

“You’re right. Wearing a wedding ring doesn’t mean anything.”

He could tell by her frown that she hadn’t expected him to agree with her. “So you’re one of those types.”

“And what type is that?”

“A man who has no respect for marriage or what it stands for.”

Walker couldn’t force back the wave of anger that suddenly overtook him. If only she knew how wrong she was. “You don’t know me. And since you don’t, I suggest you keep your damn assumptions to yourself.”

Then, with clenched teeth, he walked off.

Three

The next morning Bailey sat behind the huge desk in her new office and sipped a cup of her favorite coffee. Yesterday had been her move-in day and she had pretty much stayed out of the way while the maintenance crew had shifted all the electronic equipment from her old office into this one. Now everything was in order, including her new desk, on top of which sat a beautiful plant from Ramsey and Chloe.

She couldn’t help thinking, You’ve come a long way, baby. And only she and her family truly knew just how far she’d come.

She’d had some rebellious years and she would be the first to admit a little revolutionary spirit still lived within her. She was better at containing it these days. But she still liked rousing her family every once in a while.

Growing up as the youngest Westmoreland had had its perks as well as its downfalls. Over the past few years, most of her family members had shifted their attention away from her and focused on their spouses and children. She adored the women and men her cousins, brothers and sisters had married. And when she was around her family she felt loved.

She thought of her cousin Riley’s new baby, who had been born last year. And there were still more babies on the way. A whole new generation of Denver Westmorelands. That realization had hit her like a ton of bricks when she’d held Ramsey and Chloe’s daughter in her arms. Her first niece, Susan, named after Bailey’s mother.

Bailey had looked down at Susan and prayed that her niece never suffered the pain of losing both parents like Bailey had. The agony and grief were something no one should have to go through. Bailey hadn’t handled the pain well. None of the Westmorelands had, but it had affected her, the twins—Adrian and Aidan—and Bane the worst because they’d been so young.

Bailey cringed when she thought of some of the things she’d done, all the filthy words that had come out of her mouth. She appreciated her family, especially Dillon and Ramsey, for not giving up on her. Dillon had even taken on the State of Colorado when social services had wanted to take her, Bane and the twins away and put them in foster care.

He had hired an attorney to fight to keep them even with all the trouble the four of them were causing around town. Because somehow he’d understood. Somehow he’d known their despicable behavior was driven by the pain of losing their parents and that deep down they weren’t bad kids.

“Little hell-raisers” was what the good people of Denver used to call them. She knew it was a reputation the four of them were now trying to live down, although it wasn’t always easy. Take last night, for instance.

Walker Rafferty had almost pushed her into reacting like her old self. She hated men who messed around after marriage. As far as she was concerned, the ones who messed around before marriage weren’t any better but at least they didn’t have a wedding ring on their finger.

Pushing away from her desk, she moved to the window. Downtown Denver was beautiful, especially today, seeing it from her new office. The buildings were tall, massive. As far as she was concerned, no other city had more magnificent skyscrapers. But even the breathtaking view couldn’t make her forget Walker’s callous remark.

Just like Bailey would never forget the pain and torment Josette had suffered while being married to Myles. Against their parents’ wishes the two had married right out of high school, thinking love would conquer all as long as they were together. Within a year, Josette found out Myles was involved with another woman. To add insult to injury, he’d blamed Josette for his deceit, saying that it was because she’d decided to take night classes to get a college degree that she’d come home one night to find him in their bed with another woman. A woman who happened to be living in the apartment across the hall.

That was why Bailey had been so mad about Walker’s insinuations that wearing a wedding ring meant nothing to a man. She’d been so angry that she’d only hung around Dillon’s place long enough to hug his sons, Denver and Dade, before leaving.

It was obvious that Walker was just as mad at her as she was with him, but she didn’t have a clue as to why. Yes, maybe her reaction had been a bit too strong, but seriously, she didn’t give a royal damn. She called things the way she saw them. If he hadn’t meant what he said, he should not have said it.

The beeping of the phone on her desk got her attention and she quickly crossed the room to answer it. It was an interoffice call from Lucia. Ramsey’s wife, Chloe, was the magazine’s founder and CEO but it was Chloe’s best friend Lucia who ran things as editor in chief. Lucia was married to Bailey’s brother Derringer. Although it was nice having her sisters-in-law as first and second in command at the magazine, it also put a lot of pressure on Bailey to prove that whatever accolades and achievements she received were earned and well deserved and not the result of favoritism. Just because Chloe and Lucia were Westmorelands, that didn’t mean Bailey deserved preferential treatment of any kind. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yes, Lucia?”

“Hi, Bailey. Chloe stopped by and wants to see you.”

Bailey raised an arched brow. What could have brought Chloe out of Westmoreland Country so early today? It wasn’t even nine in the morning yet. After marrying Ramsey, Chloe had pretty much decided to be a sheep rancher’s wife and rarely came into the office these days.

Bailey slid into her jacket. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

* * *

Deciding to take the longest route back to Dillon’s place, Walker rode the horse and enjoyed the beauty of the countryside. There was a lot about Westmoreland Country that reminded him of Kodiak Island, minus the extremely cold weather, of course. Although the weather here was cold, it was nothing compared to the harsh winters he endured. It was the middle of October and back home the amount of snowfall was quadruple what they had here.

But the differences in the weather weren’t what was bothering him today. What bothered him today had everything to do with the dreams he’d had last night. Dreams of Bailey. And that talk they’d had by the barn.

Even now the memory of their conversation made him angry. She’d had no right to assume anything about him. No right at all. She didn’t know him. Had no idea the hell he’d been through or the pain he’d suffered, and was still suffering, after almost ten years. Nor did she have any idea what he’d lost.

By the lake, he slowed the horse and took a deep breath. The mountain air was cleansing; he wished it could cleanse his soul, as well. After bringing the horse to a stop he dismounted and stared at the valley below. Awesome was the only word he could use to describe what he saw.

And even though he was mad as hell with Bailey, a part of him thought she was pretty awesome, as well. What other way was there to describe a woman who could rile his anger and still star in his erotic dreams? He had awakened several times during the night with an erection. It had been years since that had happened. Not since he’d returned to Kodiak from California.

He had basically thrown himself into working the ranch, first out of guilt for not being there when his father had needed him, and then as a therapeutic way to deal with the loss of Connor. There were some days he’d worked from sunup to sundown. And on those nights when his body had needed a woman it had been for pleasure and nothing else. Passionate but emotionless sex had become his way of life when it came to relationships, but even that had been years ago.

Walker no longer yearned for the type of marriage his parents and grandparents had shared. He was convinced those kinds of unions didn’t exist anymore. If they did, they were the exception and not the norm. He would, however, admit to noticing the ease with which the Westmoreland men openly adored their wives, wearing their hearts on their sleeves as if they were a band of honor. So, okay, Walker would include the Westmorelands in the exceptions.

He remounted the horse to head back. Thoughts of Bailey hadn’t ended with his dreams. Even with the light of day, she’d invaded his thoughts. That wasn’t good.

He had told Dillon he would leave the Monday after this weekend’s wedding, but now he figured it would be best if he returned to Kodiak right after the wedding. The farther, and the sooner, he got away from Bailey, the better.

He’d learned enough about the Westmorelands and would tell Garth what he thought, regardless of Bart’s feelings on the matter. If Bart thought he could pressure Walker to do otherwise, then he was mistaken.

Walker had nothing to lose since he’d lost it all already.

* * *

Bailey walked into Lucia’s office to find her sisters-in-law chatting and enjoying cups of coffee. Not for the first time Bailey thought her brothers Ramsey and Derringer had truly lucked out when they’d married these two. Besides being beautiful, both were classy women who could be admired for their accomplishments. Real role models. The two had met at a college in Florida and had remained best friends since. The idea that they’d married brothers was remarkable, especially since the brothers were as different as day and night. Ramsey was older and had always been the responsible type. Derringer had earned a reputation as a womanizer of the third degree. Personally, Bailey had figured he would never settle down and marry. Now not only was he happily married but he was also the father of a precious little boy named Ringo. He had stepped into the role of family man as if he’d been made for it.

Chloe glanced up, saw Bailey standing in the doorway, smiled and crossed the room to give her a hug. “Bay, how are you? You rushed in and out of Dillon’s place last night. We barely spoke, let alone held a conversation. How’s day two in your new position?”

Bailey returned her sister-in-law’s smile. “Great. I’m ready to roll my sleeves up and bring in those feature stories that will grow our readership.”

Chloe beamed. “That’s good to hear. I wanted to congratulate you on your promotion and let you know how proud I am of you.”

“Thanks, Chloe.” Bailey couldn’t help but be touched by Chloe’s words. She had begun working for the company as a part-timer in between her classes at the university. She had liked it so much that she’d changed her major to journalism and hadn’t regretted doing so. It was Chloe, a proponent of higher education, who had encouraged her to also get her MBA.

“So what brings you out of Westmoreland Country so early?”

“I’m meeting Pam in a little while. She wants me to sit in on several interviews she’s hosting today. She’s hiring a director for her school.”

Bailey nodded. Dillon’s wife, Pam, was a former actress and had opened an acting school in her hometown of Gamble, Wyoming, a few years ago. The success of that school had led her to open a second one in Denver.

Taking her by the arm, Chloe said, “Come sit with us a minute. Share a cup of coffee and tell me how you like your office.”

“I love it! Thanks to the both of you. The view is simply stunning.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Lucia said, smiling. “That used to be my office and I regretted giving it up. But I have to admit I have a fantastic view in here, as well.”

“Yes, you certainly do,” Bailey said, agreeing, glancing around the room that was double the size of her office. When her gaze landed on Lucia’s computer screen, Bailey went still.

“Recognize him?” Lucia asked, adjusting the image of a face until it took up the full screen.

Bailey sucked in a deep breath as she felt the rapid thud of her pulse. Even if the clean-shaven face had thrown her for a quick second, the gorgeous eyes staring at her were a dead giveaway, not to mention that smile.

“It’s Walker Rafferty,” she said. He looked years younger, yet his features, sharp and sculpted, were just as handsome.

Chloe nodded, coming to stand beside her. “Yes, that’s him. At the time these photos were taken most people knew him as Ty Reklaw, an up-and-coming heartthrob in Hollywood.”

Shocked, Bailey looked back at the computer screen. Walker used to be an actor? No way. The man barely said anything and seemed to keep to himself, although she knew he’d formed a pretty solid friendship with her brothers and male cousins.

What had Chloe just said? He’d been an up-and-coming heartthrob in Hollywood? Bailey studied his image. Yes, she could definitely believe that. His grin was irresistibly devastating, to the point where she felt goose bumps form on her arms.

She glanced back at Chloe and Lucia. “He’s an actor?”

“He used to be, around ten years ago and he had quite a following. But then Ty Reklaw left Hollywood and never looked back,” Chloe said, sitting back down in her chair.

A frown bunched Bailey’s forehead. “Reklaw? As in Reklaw, Texas?”

Lucia chuckled as she poured Bailey a cup of coffee. “I doubt it. Probably Reklaw as in the name Walker spelled backward. You know how movie stars are when they don’t want to use their real names.”

Bailey’s gaze narrowed as an idea popped into her head. “Are you sure Walker Rafferty is his real name?”

“Yes. I asked Dillon.”

Bailey’s brow raised. “Dillon knew who he was?”

“Only after Pam told him. She remembered Walker from the time she was in Hollywood but she doubted he remembered her since their paths never crossed.”

Bailey nodded. Yes, she could imagine any woman remembering Walker. “So he used to be an actor with a promising future. Why did he leave?”

Lucia took a sip of her coffee. “Pam said everyone assumed it was because of the death of his wife and son. They were killed in a car accident.”

“Oh, my God,” Bailey said. “How awful.”

“Yes, and according to Pam it was quite obvious whenever he and his wife were seen together that he loved and adored her. His son had celebrated his first birthday just days before the accident occurred,” Lucia said. “The loss was probably too great and he never recovered from it.”

“I can understand that.” Having lost both her parents in a tragic death a part of her could feel his pain. She reflected on their conversation last night when she’d asked if he was married. He’d said no and hadn’t told her he was a widower.

She then remembered the rest of their conversation, the one that had left them both angry. From his comment one might have thought the sanctity of marriage didn’t mean anything to him. Or had she only assumed that was what he’d meant? She shuddered at the thought.

“Bailey? Are you okay?”

She looked up at the two women staring at her. “Not sure. I might have offended Walker big-time last night.”

“Why? What happened?” Lucia asked with a look that said she wished she didn’t have to ask.

Bailey shrugged. “I might have jumped to conclusions about him and his attitude about marriage and said something based on my assumptions. How was I to know he’d lost his wife? I guess he said what he did because the thought of marrying again is painful for him.”

“Probably since, according to Pam, he was a dedicated husband and father, even with his rising fame.”

Bailey drew in a deep breath, feeling completely awful. When would she learn to stop jumping to conclusions about everything? Dillon and Ramsey had definitely warned her enough about doing that. For some reason she was quick to automatically assume the worst about people.

“Is that why you rushed in and out of Dillon and Pam’s place last night? Because you and Walker had words?” Chloe asked.

“Yes. At the time I was equally mad with him. You know how I feel about men who mess around. Before marriage or after marriage.”

Chloe nodded. “Yes, Bailey. I think we all know. You gave your poor brothers and cousins hell about the number of girlfriends they had.”

“Well, I’m just glad they came to their senses and settled down and married.” Bailey began pacing and nervously nibbled her bottom lip. Moments later she stopped and looked at the two women. “I need to apologize to him.”

“Yes, you do,” both Lucia and Chloe agreed simultaneously.

Bailey took a sip of her coffee as a question came to mind. “If Walker was so hot in Hollywood, then why don’t I remember him?”

Lucia smiled. “If I recall, ten years ago you were too busy hanging with Bane and getting into all kinds of trouble. So I’m not surprised you don’t know who was hot and who was not. I admit that although I remember him, he looks different now. Still handsome but more mature and definitely a lot more rugged. The beard he wears now makes him nearly unrecognizable. I would not have recalled who he was if Pam hadn’t mentioned it. Of course when she did I couldn’t wait to look him up this morning.”

“Was he in several movies?” Bailey asked. She intended to find any movies he’d appeared in as soon as she left work.

“No, just two. One was a Matthew Birmingham flick, where Walker played opposite actress Carmen Atkins, as her brother. That was his very first. He was hot and his acting was great,” Chloe said, smiling. “According to Pam, although he didn’t get an award nomination, there are those who thought he should have. But what he did get was a lot of attention from women and other directors in Hollywood. It didn’t take him long to land another role in a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. A Western. He’d just finished filming when his wife and son were killed. I don’t think he hung around for the premiere. He left for Alaska and never returned.”

Bailey didn’t say anything. She was thinking about how to get back in Walker’s good graces. “I’ll apologize when I see him tonight.”

“Good luck,” Chloe said, chuckling. “When I left this morning, Thorn and his brothers and cousins had arrived for the wedding and you know what that means.”

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