“One of my girlfriends back in Chicago wore contacts and she was forever losing them. I figured Gabe wouldn’t know for sure whether I wore them.”
Crossing to where Bandit stood quietly like the well-trained horse he was, Jack tucked the blanket back in the saddle bag. “I never realized you had such a devious mind.”
“I don’t, really. But I don’t want people to know our business any more than you do.”
Jack buckled the saddle bag before glancing over at her. “People like your brother, for instance?”
“For instance, yes.”
“I keep meaning to tell you that Sarah said if he’s still here the weekend of the wedding, he’s definitely invited.”
“You still call her Sarah, then.”
Jack frowned. “I’ve always called her Sarah.”
“I know, and I wasn’t around your family all that much, being sort of a sore point with your dad, but I distinctly remember that Sarah wished you’d call her Mom. I thought maybe, after your dad died, that you—”
“She’s not my mother. In fact, she’s a hell of a lot more honorable than my mother, so I think calling her by her name is actually a step up.”
Josie looked at him without saying anything.
“What?”
“Nothing. Never mind. But speaking of Alex, there’s something you should probably know. This morning he’s interviewing for a job with a radio station in Jackson. He’s decided to leave Chicago and move here.”
“Oh.” Jack wasn’t exactly happy about that, but she probably was.
“I haven’t mentioned this before, but he came out for some R and R after his divorce. He fell in love with the Jackson Hole area.”
“That’s easy to do.” Jack tried to dredge up some enthusiasm for Josie’s sake. “Having family here will be nice for you.”
“You don’t have to be polite about it, Jack. I’m well aware that you can’t be overjoyed at the idea. Having Alex living here is a potential problem for you and me, unless… unless you two can become friends.”
“Considering the way we started out, that’ll be an uphill battle.”
“Probably.”
Jack gazed around the little clearing where he’d recently enjoyed amazing sex with Josie. “I’m guessing this project of ours isn’t the best way to endear me to your brother.”
“No. He wouldn’t approve. He’s convinced you’re a heartbreak waiting to happen.”
Jack turned to face her. “I don’t plan on hurting you again, Josie.”
“I don’t plan on letting you.” She stood before him straight and strong, her clear gray eyes filled with a self-confidence he hadn’t recognized ten months ago. Maybe it hadn’t been there ten months ago.
“I believe you,” he said. As he gazed at her, he had an unsettling thought. The person in danger of getting hurt might no longer be Josie.
Chapter Ten
“Set ‘em up, Jo!” Alex came into the bar at noon wearing a grin bigger than Josie remembered seeing on her brother in ages. “I got the job.”
“Congratulations!” Signaling Tracy to get Alex a beer, Josie came around the bar to give her brother a bear hug. Maybe the pain of the divorce was fading. “That’s awesome!”
“They want me to start right away. I’ll see if Mom and Dad would be willing to supervise if I hire somebody to pack up my apartment and ship the stuff out here.”
Josie felt a pang of sympathy for their folks. “They’ll probably box themselves up and come along with your stuff.”
“I hope they do.” Alex was flying high, his beautiful smile flashing. “I want to sell them on this place as a retirement option in a few years. There’s that great B&B, the Bunk and Grub, where they could stay while they’re here. They’d love it.” He glanced over at the bar where Tracy had placed a glass of beer on a cocktail napkin. “Thanks.” He lifted the glass. “Here’s to being employed.”
“I’d drink to that, but I promised Tracy I’d help with the noon crowd.” Josie leaned over and kissed her brother on the cheek. “I’m thrilled for you, though.”
“I’m really happy about this.” Alex took a swallow of his beer. “In fact, I’m going to suggest the ‘rents each take some vacation time and come out ASAP so they can see why I’m so excited about the place.”
Josie tried to focus on the positives of having her family gather round and not the negative aspect to her reunion with Jack. Her parents had hated the way Jack had ended things last fall, so they wouldn’t be happy that she’d started seeing him again, either.
Not wanting to rain on Alex’s parade, she put out a mild suggestion. “If you invite them, you might want to suggest they come after Morgan’s wedding. I’ll want to spend time with them, and as co-maid of honor, I’ll be pretty busy between now and the wedding.”
“Good point.”
“Plus you’re invited to the wedding. I found that out this morning.”
“Right. Your riding lesson. How did that go?”
“Excellent.” She blocked all thoughts of being naked on a blanket with Jack and concentrated on her experience of cantering through the trees. “I’ve decided I want to get good at this. I like riding.”
“No kidding?”
“No kidding.”
“So this Jack guy is actually teaching you to ride and not using the lessons as an excuse to make a move on you?”
Josie could feel her deer-in-the-headlights reaction as she struggled to think of a diplomatic answer to that loaded question. “He—” The cell phone clipped to her belt chimed, and she’d never been so happy for an interruption in her life. Then she recognized the ring. It was Jack’s.
“Excuse me a minute, Alex.” She moved away from the bar.
“Sure.” He returned to his beer, and Tracy came over to offer her congratulations.
Tracy had a mega-crush on Alex, but he hadn’t seemed to notice. Josie hadn’t thought much about it before because she’d expected Alex to leave. But now he’d be staying, and he was on the rebound from Crystal. Josie wasn’t sure how she felt about Tracy, who was a good ten years younger than Alex, lusting after him.
She moved back into her office to answer Jack’s call. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. It occurred to me that your brother might know by now whether or not he got the job he was interviewing for.”
“He got the job.” She was a little surprised that Jack even remembered about the interview.
“Then I have a big favor to ask. Would you let me talk to him?”
“About what?” Josie’s pulse rate jumped at the very idea of these two guys having another conversation, even over the phone. The last time they’d met had been a complete disaster.
“For one thing, I mentioned the interview to Gabe, and he wants to offer Alex the job of handling the music for the reception. I said I’d ask him and find out what he’d charge.”
“You’re a strange choice as a negotiator if you really want him to say yes. But maybe you don’t.”