Cowboy After Dark

Once they were in the truck and circling the block for the second time, Grady glanced over at him. “Is Hope the blonde you told me about, the one you were thinking of asking out?”

“Yep. Small world, huh?”

“She’s pretty.”

Liam thought she was several notches above pretty, but if he said that, he’d give away too much. “She is.”

“She seems nice. Yeah, she tried to get us arrested, but I can understand. We were a little intimidating coming up the drive full throttle.”

“I suppose.”

“But now that the dust has settled, you have a golden opportunity to get something started while you’re both here in Sheridan.”

“Maybe.” Liam thought so, too, but he was still adjusting to the new reality. He’d shifted the possibility of Hope to another time and place, but then she’d appeared right in front of him, literally, and now he had to decide how to respond to that. He didn’t think she was quite as glad to see him as he was to see her.

“Think about it. We’re all involved in the wedding. It’s the classic time for fun and games.”

“Does that mean I can expect you to get horizontal with a bridesmaid?”

“Nope. Casual hookups don’t appeal to me the way they used to.”

Liam got a kick out of that. His little brother was growing up. “But they’re perfectly fine for me?”

“Hell, no. She’s from Cody. If things work out, you could keep seeing her after the wedding.”

“And if they don’t work out?”

“You quit going into the hotel lobby after dropping off clients. She doesn’t seem like the type who would stop sending you business.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

“Then what are you worried about? I’ve never known you to hesitate once a woman catches your eye—which she has. You winked at her. That’s one of your moves.”

“It is not.”

“Sure it is. You give them a little wink to test their reaction, find out if you have a shot. I’ve seen you do it a hundred times.”

“Did I ever mention that you’re a pain in the ass?”

“She blushed when you winked at her.”

“I know.” And he’d seen a flicker of sensuality in her gray eyes. But something about her was closed up tight. He’d felt a hint of that whenever he’d stopped to see her at the hotel. The feeling was stronger today. He sensed that if he approached her like he normally would approach a woman, she’d reject him.

“I say go for it.”

“I’ll give it some thought.”

“Okay.” For no reason Liam could see, Grady was cracking up.

“What’s so funny?”

“You just drove past the driveway.”

“Damn it! Why didn’t you say something?”

“I wanted to find out if you were as gaga over this woman as I think you are, and sure enough, you’re toast.”

“Am not.”

“But you missed the driveway, bro. That’s not a Liam sort of thing to do.”

Gripping the wheel, he blew out a breath. “Means nothing.”

“I beg to differ. Thank God I came back from Alaska in time to see my big brother lose his cool. When you first mentioned her, I heard something in your voice, and now that I see you with her, it’s confirmed. You’re twitterpated.”

“I’m what?”

“Twitterpated. An old prospector I used to drink with loved that expression. I’ve been waiting for a chance to use it, so thanks.”

“You make me sound like some starry-eyed fool with his tongue hanging out.”

“Nah, you’re not that obvious...yet. I figure we’ll all be invited to stick around after we unload the sculpture, so you can engage in some casual conversation, make some inroads, get her digits so you can message her.”

“I don’t want to push.”

“Since when is asking for a woman’s phone number pushing?”

“Normally it’s not, but with Hope... I don’t think it’s that simple.”

“Only one way to find out. And FYI, the driveway’s coming up again.”

“Yeah, I see that. Thanks.” Liam checked for traffic, but fortunately there wasn’t any. He swung wide and stomped on the gas. His truck protested all the way up the hill, but they made it—along with the trailer.

When he pulled in front of the cabin and turned off the motor, he heard the women cheering as they came down the porch steps toward them. And yes, he picked Hope out of the crowd and imagined that the color in her cheeks was due to his demonstration of superior driving skills.

Grady smiled. “Sweet.”

The sound of engines revving prompted Liam to glance in his side mirror. “Just in the nick of time, too. Here comes the cavalry.” He drove forward a little more to make room, but two pickups were coming up, and they wouldn’t both fit. He couldn’t give the guys any more space without heading down the other side of the drive, and he didn’t trust his emergency brake to hold all that weight. The second pickup slowly backed down to the street.

Liam and Grady piled out to greet Damon and Damon’s best friend, Cade Gallagher, who had arrived in the lead truck. Cade had been the first foster boy Rosie and her husband Herb had taken in, but Damon had been added soon afterward. Consequently they shared a special bond.

Damon’s brown eyes flashed with amusement as he grinned at Liam. “What a fustercluck, huh?”

“Shit happens.” Liam was so glad to see his foster brothers that the screwed-up plan didn’t matter anymore. They both looked tanned and fit, as if life was treating them well. “I’ve missed you two jokers.”

“Same here.” Damon gave both Magee brothers a hug, and so did Cade. Most of the foster boys had come from difficult situations, which caused them to cherish the connections they’d made at Thunder Mountain Ranch.

About that time, Rosie’s husband, Herb, walked up the driveway with Finn O’Roarke. Finn towered over Herb, but the older man walked with a proud dignity that made him seem larger than life. He, too, seemed to be flourishing as a result of his work with the academy students. He was the only father Liam had ever known, and seeing him always caused a surge of love and gratitude.

Finn had been the third boy Rosie and Herb had brought to the ranch. He, Damon and Cade had dubbed themselves the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood that first year. Some who’d arrived afterward had been jealous, but Liam never had been. Then again, he’d always had Grady.

More hugs followed, and Finn explained that his fiancée, Chelsea, had encountered some last-minute work issues. She’d be flying in the next day. Finally somebody broached the subject of the mix-up.

Phil looped an arm around Damon’s waist. “We can blame everything on our cozy cabin. Once everyone was here, they wanted to stay.”

“I can believe that.” Damon glanced at Liam and Grady. “Still, I’m sorry the plan got messed up.”

“If certain somebodies had told me—” Rosie paused to gaze pointedly at Grady and Liam “—I would have made sure things went as they were supposed to.”

“I wanted everyone to be surprised,” Grady said.

“Well, we were certainly surprised.” Lexi linked an arm through Cade’s. “Too bad you boys missed the excitement.”

Liam noticed the affectionate gesture and was glad for Cade. He’d loved that woman since high school. Rumors continued to circulate about their eventual marriage, but Lexi’s ring finger was bare.

Ring or no ring, though, her eyes were filled with love when she looked at Cade. “You should have seen Hope stare those boys down,” she continued. “It was epic.”

“And brave,” Liam added, because Hope seemed uncomfortable with the conversation.

She glanced at him and shook her head, which made her silky blond hair gleam in the sun. “It wasn’t brave. It was stupid. What if the trailer had jackknifed and dumped the sculpture? Or you two had been hurt? I would never have forgiven myself.”

“But we’re fine and the sculpture’s fine.” Liam had the urge to wrap a protective arm around her.

“Maybe the way this turned out is even better,” Grady said. “Now that we have more guys, we can do an unveiling for Phil.”

“You mean just take off the tarp?” Damon gave Phil a squeeze and released her. “Yeah, let’s do that. I’m eager to see it, too.”

“Wait.” Grady moved to stop him. “I meant get it off the flatbed with the tarp still on it, and once it’s standing where it should go, then we take the tarp off.”

“Oh.” Damon paused to adjust his Stetson. “Hmm.”

Liam understood the impulse behind Grady’s suggestion. His artistic pride was involved, and he didn’t want the crowd gathered here to see the sculpture until it was in a place of honor. But during setup, the piece could be damaged. Even worse, a person could be damaged. Liam didn’t like the odds.

“Grady, I know what you’re hoping to achieve,” he said, “but I think we could have problems wrestling five hundred pounds of metal off the flatbed while keeping the tarp wrapped around it.”

“I was a little worried, too.” Herb came over and laid a hand on Grady’s shoulder. “I have a suggestion, son. Since this is a wedding gift for Damon and Phil, how about if they go in the house while the rest of us set it up?”

“That’s a great idea.” Lexi smiled at Grady. “And while I’m perfectly willing to help, I see this as a manly bonding activity.”

“Aha!” Cade shoved back his hat. “Perfect timing. What if we make this the first official duty of the expanded Thunder Mountain Brotherhood?” He gazed at Finn and Damon. “You good with that?”

“Absolutely,” Damon said, “but in that case, I want to be out here helping.”

“We can let Grady decide if you should or not.” Cade turned to him. “Here’s the deal. Finn, Damon and me, we had a few beers at lunch and sat around shooting the breeze like we always do, reminiscing about all the great times we’ve had and the stuff we got into, and—”

“Blah, blah, blah.” Damon reached over and knocked Cade’s hat down over his eyes. “Cut to the chase.”

“Hang on, bridegroom.” Cade repositioned his hat. “I needed to set the scene. Anyway, it occurred to us that since every guy who was at the ranch is our brother, the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood should be inclusive, not exclusive. You and Liam don’t have to go along with that idea if it doesn’t appeal to you, but—”

“It appeals to me.” Grady glanced at Liam. “How about you, big brother? Wanna be part of the club?”

Unexpected emotion tightened his chest. He hadn’t thought this mattered to him, but he was incredibly touched. Tucking his thumbs in his belt loops, he rocked back on his heels and grinned. “That depends. Do I get a secret decoder ring?”

“You bet,” Finn said. “Just pop one off your next can of beer, put it on your pinky and you’re in business.”

“Then I’m in.”

“Good.” Cade looked incredibly pleased with himself. “It was mostly my idea, but—”

“It was not.” Finn rolled his eyes. “Way to hog the credit. If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do, it was—”

“Boys!” Rosie clapped her hands. “We’re getting off track, and I want to see that sculpture. Who’s going in the house with me?”

Damon glanced at Grady. “Can I stay? I can help you figure out where it should go.”

“Yeah, let him stay,” Phil said. “He has a good eye. I’m sure I’ll be happy with the placement.”

“Okay.” Grady nodded. “You’re right. It’ll be better if one of you tells us where to put it. We won’t end up having to move it later.”

“Then it’s settled.” Rosie motioned toward the porch. “Women, inside. Men, get to work. Call us when you’re ready for the big reveal.”

“There’s only one thing wrong with this plan, Rosie,” Phil’s stepmother said.

“What’s that, Edie?”

“We don’t get to watch all these gorgeous men flex their muscles.”

That got a laugh. Liam checked Hope’s reaction to the remark and discovered she was smiling. More than that, she was smiling at him. Maybe Grady was right. He should go for it.

3

ONCE THEY WERE INSIDE, Hope accepted with gratitude the glass of wine Phil handed her. Somehow she kept herself from knocking it back like a shot of whiskey.

“I’m organizing card games so nobody’s tempted to peek out the window,” Rosie said. “Who wants to play?”

“Count Hope and me in for the second round,” Phil said. “We’re going to take inventory of beer and snacks for the guys after they finish.”

Lexi glanced their way. “Need help?”

“Thanks, but we can handle it.” Phil led the way into the kitchen.

Hope followed. She hadn’t offered to help organize the food and drinks, but Phil must have guessed she needed a time-out. Plus, she and Phil hadn’t had a chance to talk by themselves all day. Until Phil and Damon left on their honeymoon, Hope was staying in one of Rosie and Herb’s guest rooms out at the ranch.

That put her at the center of the activity, which had been great for getting to know everybody. Rosie, Herb, Cade, Finn, Damon and Lexi were all wonderful people, but Phil was the one she’d come to see.

“What did you do with your kitty cats?” she asked as they walked into the kitchen.

“Once I realized we’d be hanging out here, I closed them in the bedroom. They have food, water and a litter box. It’s better if they’re not part of this craziness.”

“Much better.”

“And if I haven’t said this before, I so appreciate that you’re willing to stay here after we leave and take care of MC Hammer and Nine-Inch-Nails.”

“Of course! It’ll be fun. So what are we doing to get ready for the testosterone invasion later on?”

Phil laughed. “No kidding. Beer is the magic potion. I have some in the fridge and more in the pantry.” Phil opened the pantry door and pulled several varieties of chips from the top shelf.

“See how you do that? I’ve always envied your height.” Phil had been the designated top-shelf gal for their crowd in high school.

“I always envied your boobs.”

That made Hope laugh. “These old things? I’ve had them for years, but where have they gotten me?”

“Prom queen.”

“Besides that. That doesn’t matter.”

“It does when you’re seventeen.”

“I suppose.” Prom queen. What an empty accolade that was now. “So I assume you invited Debbie and Joan. Couldn’t they come?”

“Sadly, no. I guess you didn’t hear that Debbie moved to New York and Joan took a job in South Carolina. Debbie’s about to deliver her first kid, and Joan was coming but she just started this job and couldn’t wrangle the time off.”

“That’s too bad.”

“I know. They both wanted to be here. They would have loved to see you.”

“Likewise.” She regretted losing touch with both women, but a lot of water had gone under the bridge. Maybe it was too late to rekindle the friendship. “So! What do you want me to do?”

“I’ll get chip bowls if you’ll put more beer in the fridge. We’re well stocked, because I anticipated Damon’s brothers dropping by.”

Hope surveyed the cases of beer. “How much of this do you want chilled?”

“All that will fit. None of it is up to Finn’s standards, I’m sure, but he’ll just have to deal.”

“Why’s he so picky?” Hope carried a case over to the fridge and started making room on the shelves.

“He owns a microbrewery in Seattle, and he prefers his own beer. He shipped some to Rosie and Herb for the reception, but I can’t buy it locally yet.”

Kneeling, Hope layered cans on the bottom shelf by turning them on their sides. Phil was a lifesaver for bringing her in here to do this little chore. Working at something simple in the kitchen was perfect for calming her frazzled nerves. “It must be fun marrying into a family with so many brothers.”

“It’s a blast, and I haven’t even met them all yet. What a coincidence that you know Liam, huh?”

“Yeah.” Hope went for more beer. “Although I don’t really know him. He’s stopped in to chat a few times, but obviously I had no idea he used to live at Thunder Mountain or he was Grady Magee’s brother. That was a shocker. Grady’s one of Cody’s most famous citizens these days, but Liam never said a word about him.”

“Which gets him points in my book. He didn’t try to impress you with his brother’s fame.”

“Maybe he wasn’t trying to impress me, period.”

“I think he’d like to, just not by bragging about his family connections.” Phil paused to glance at her. “He seems interested in you.”

“Okay, yeah. I think he is.” Possibilities shimmered through her mind, teasing her with thoughts she hadn’t considered in more than a year. But she didn’t trust those thoughts. She wouldn’t surrender to them ever again.

“And?”

“Well, obviously it’s flattering. He’s hot.”

“No argument there. Damon’s the only man for me, but I can still appreciate beauty when I see it. Liam’s got that black Irish thing going on with his dark hair and blue eyes.”

“Uh-huh.” Hope had taken note of that—not to mention his insanely long lashes and shoulders a mile wide. He was dangerously attractive.

“You dating anybody?”

“Nope.”

“It must be tough. You and Tom were together a long time.”

“We were.” Thinking of him didn’t affect her anymore, thank goodness.

“I don’t know Liam or Grady, really. All I have to go on is Damon’s opinion, and he’s prejudiced. I’ve learned that these men are fiercely loyal to each other. In most cases they couldn’t depend on their biological families, but they sure as hell can depend on the family Rosie and Herb created.”

Hope smiled. “So now we have a hot guy who’s been through tough times and consequently sticks by the people he loves. That’s a damned appealing combo.”

“Don’t I know it, sister. I fell for Damon like a ton of bricks. Listen, I’m not trying to matchmake, but you and Liam will be seeing each other a lot in the next few days. It might be a perfect time to get to know him without having to play the dating game.”

“True.” She hadn’t thought of it that way. The idea of dating completely turned her off. But she and Liam would be thrown together on a regular basis without having to plan anything. If, during that time, their relationship took a sexy turn, so what? Other people had flings, so why couldn’t she?

Phil dumped the last bag of chips in a bowl. “How’s the new job going?”

“It’s good. I like the management, and setting up fun outings for the hotel guests has turned out to be satisfying.”

“I’m glad.” Phil tossed the empty bag in the trash. “What about your writing? Have you had time for that?”

Hope felt a slight twinge in the region of her heart, and then it was gone. “Not really. I could make the time, I guess, but I can’t get excited about it the way I used to.”

“Really? That’s my most vivid memory of you, always writing something in those journals you carried around. When your short story was published in the school paper, I saved it. I probably still have it somewhere.”

“Thank you for that.” Hope smiled at the memory of the person she used to be. So naive. “But at some point I realized I wasn’t going to write the Great American Novel, so I gave it up.”

“Huh.” Phil ran her hands through her red hair, which was shorter than it had been in high school. “I kind of get that, I guess. I used to think I’d be an Olympic figure skater, but eventually I realized it wasn’t gonna happen. We grow up and view the world as it actually is, right?”

“Right.”

“And now you’re having a good time planning trips for your hotel guests.”

“And you’re in business with your soon-to-be husband, renovating homes that need some TLC. That must be satisfying, too.”

“I love it. You look at a home that’s not functioning the way it should and you figure out how to fix the dynamic through a bathroom remodel or a kitchen makeover. It changes people’s lives.”

“I’m sure it does.” Hope thought of her extremely basic apartment in Cody and yearned for a place she could really make her own. She was saving, but not fast enough to suit her.

Phil sighed. “We need to get back to the party, but I almost hate to. It’s been so good catching up after all this time.”

“It has.” Hope gave her a hug. “Cody isn’t that far away. We need to keep in better touch.” She glanced down at the almost invisible bulge that indicated Phil was pregnant with her first child. “Do you know yet if it’s a boy or a girl?”

“We don’t want to know before he or she is born. But I’m hoping for a girl. Damon’s foster family is chockablock with testosterone. Rosie’s been holding the fort with some help from Lexi and me, but honestly, we need reinforcements. I understand why Rosie and Herb decided to take only boys after they brought Cade home. Life was less complicated that way. But the ladies need more representation around here.”

“Then I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a girl.”

“Good deal. Now let’s go kick butt at some cards.”

“I’m pumped. Let’s do it.” She walked into the living room and discovered every woman with her nose pressed against the windows.

“Hey!” Phil’s shout made them turn around, and they all looked guilty as hell. “I thought we’d agreed not to watch.”

“We did, dear.” Edie gestured toward the window. “But we’re only human, and every one of those lovely men has taken off his shirt.”

“Which you wouldn’t have known if at least one of you hadn’t peeked.” Phil crossed her arms and tried to look stern, but Hope could tell she was working hard not to laugh.

“I confess,” Lexi said, grinning. “It was Edie.”

Phil sighed. “Come on, Edie. I’m sure you’ve seen shirtless cowboys before.”

“Not with muscles like theirs,” her stepmother said, “and not so many all at once.”

“Even Herb took off his shirt.” Rosie sounded proud of that. “If I do say so myself, he’s a fine figure of a man for his age. The sculpture’s almost in place. Do you want to—”

“No!” Phil clapped a hand over her eyes. “I’m not looking. Grady wanted this to be a surprise, and although I may be the only one in this room who will be surprised, I’m taking the high road.”

“Me, too.” As a gesture of solidarity, Hope refused to look out the window, even though the prospect of seeing Liam shirtless was a powerful draw.

Rosie walked over and wrapped her arm around Phil. “I admire your ethical stand. I’m also happy to report that the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood has settled your gift in its spot, and it looks magnificent.”

“Do you want a teensy-weensy hint as to what it is?” Edie looked ready to burst with eagerness.

“I do not.” Phil plopped into the nearest chair. “Don’t any of you dare tell me what it looks like, or give me hints, or whisper so I can hear you. Grady Magee, who is a god among sculptors, has made me—well, Damon and me—a fabulous work of art. I will not see it before its time!”

A decisive rap on the door grabbed everyone’s attention, but no one moved.

At last Hope got up. “I’ll get it.” When she opened the door, Liam stood on the other side, holding a bandana.

He wore a wide smile. “It’s up.”

Everyone in the room cheered, including Hope, although she was a bit distracted by the man standing in the open doorway. He’d put on his shirt, but it hung open to reveal a chest glistening with sweat. He must have taken the steps two at a time, because he was breathing fast. Hope stared in fascination at the droplets quivering on his dark chest hair.

Then she glanced up and discovered he was looking right at her with an expression that clearly said caught you looking. Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she bravely met his gaze. Talking with Phil had clarified the situation for her, and if he wanted to pursue this attraction for the weekend, she was game.

“So, can we go out now or what?” Rosie asked.

Liam walked into the room. “My instructions are to blindfold Phil and lead her to the sculpture. You can—”

“Why isn’t Grady doing the leading?” Rosie asked. “Or Damon?”

“Because both of them want to see her face when she takes off the blindfold, so I volunteered.”

Rosie nodded. “Makes sense. Proceed.”

“Thanks. You can all follow behind, but you’re not supposed to say anything. You might give it away.”

“Who, us?” Edie laughed. “Never.”