“We need a tomato.”
“Oh.” Grabbing one out of the basket, she showed it to him. “Isn’t it gorgeous? I pulled it off the vine this morning.”
You’re gorgeous. And I want to carry you upstairs and spend the entire night figuring out what makes you moan.
After washing the fruit, she grabbed a knife and cut thick slices. “I met a woman named Glori today.”
As far as he knew, there was only one Glori in town. “Kurt’s ex?”
“Yes, you know her?”
“Sure, she came to a lot of our games when they were dating. They’d cook dinner for us.” Well, mostly me. The other guys usually had to get home.
“She wants me to come over and talk about Kurt.”
“That’s great. If anyone knew him, it was Glori.”
“Oh, good.” She brushed the counter with her fingertips. “Hey, listen, if you’ve got other plans tonight…please don’t stay home on my account.”
“What? Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know. You just seem…preoccupied tonight.”
Right. That’s because I keep fantasizing about you naked. “Sorry. I heard from the GM of my team. They’re probably not going to give me a month off.” He brushed olive oil on one side of each of the slices and set two of them on the grill. Then, he layered the cheese, tomato, and basil.
“That’s terrible. Don’t they understand the situation?”
“They don’t care, and I can’t say I blame them.” He grabbed the sponge to clean up the tomato seeds and juice and rinsed it in the sink.
“Declan, you can’t lose your job over a ridiculous trivia contest. If I win, what will you have?”
“I suppose I’ll be part owner of a hockey team.”
“But that’s not what you want.”
Out the window, dusk settled over the land, making the snow-capped peaks glow. In the corral, a horse bobbed its head, its tail whipping back and forth. The truth sank like a stone in his gut. “No, it’s not.”
“Then, you have to fight for it. So many people work remotely these days—”
“Not hockey.” He pulled a clean dish towel out of a drawer. “It is what it is. I’ll figure it out.”
She lingered at his side for a moment, watching him. “I wish there was a compromise.”
“What do you mean?”
“That we could split the ranch in half. You’d keep the working parts that matter the most to Kurt, and I could sell off the land that’s not as important.”
“It’s all important. There’s not one single acre that—”
“I know, I know.” She laughed, touching him again. “I get it. I do. I just meant I wished there was a way for both of us to get what we want.”
“Well, I did get the potato masher.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and her smile tapped into a secret room in his heart, unleashing emotions brand-new to him. “So, thanks for that.” He turned away so she wouldn’t see the effect she had on him.
“You’re welcome. Anything else you want?”
“No. That’s really it.” Checking the press, he found the bread nicely toasted and the cheese softened, so he served them on plates and handed one to her.
“Glori’s not who I’d expect Kurt to date. She’s so fancy.” She cut her sandwich in fours. “I’m going to see her tomorrow. Would you mind coming with me?”
This woman had him wrapped around his finger. He’d do whatever she asked of him. “Sure.”
They were so hungry they wound up eating standing up, his lower back pressed against the counter.
“Mm.” She moaned. “This is delicious.” Her eyes rolled back in her head, and he had to wonder if she’d look like that when he licked her into an orgasm. “And it’s so simple. I can totally make this.” All of a sudden, she stopped chewing and her eyes went wide. “Oh, my God.” She set the sandwich down and looked around the room. “I just got this memory.” She moved to the kitchen table. “Did he get new chairs?”
“Glori did a lot of redecorating over the years, so probably. Why? What’re you thinking?”
“It’s nothing, really. I just remember my legs swinging in a wooden chair, licking an ice cream cone. It was melting all over my fingers.” Her features softened. “Strawberry. Well, there you go. That’s my earliest memory of being here.”
“What was Kurt doing?”
“I don’t know. He’s not in it.” Her forehead creased. “Oh, wait. Wait, wait, wait.” She drew in a sharp breath, and everything in her turned soft, sweet. “He was there. He was sitting sideways in his chair, angled toward me, and he had one arm resting on the table. His other hand was in his lap, holding napkins.”
“Was he trying to clean you up?”
“Not at all. He was smiling.” She looked up to him. “He was happy. To be with me.”
The yearning in her eyes did funny things to his chest. “I have no doubt about that.” You make everyone happy. He washed his plate and hands. “I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he’s gone. He held so much power in his body, so much energy. I guess, if you look at it that way, it’s not a surprise he died young. They say a heart only has so many beats, and I’m pretty sure Kurt’s beat in double time.”
When he reached for the dish towel, he found her seated at the table, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Jesus, Phinny, what’s wrong?”
Chapter Twelve
Declan closed the distance between them but stopped short before touching her. He didn’t know whether she needed a hug or tissues, so he wound up patting her shoulder.
Like an asshole.
“The way you talk about him…the way everyone talks about him.” Phinny pressed her palm flat to her forehead. “It was so much easier when I thought he was a cold-hearted bastard. Not one person has confirmed my mum’s stories about the way he abandoned her on this god-forsaken ranch while he went gallivanting about the country playing hockey and filming commercials. And now I’ll never know the man I was taught not to love.” Her features screwed up, and she cried in earnest.
He’d never felt so helpless. He didn’t know what to do, so he crouched in front of her. He’d only meant to be there for her, a quiet support, but she misunderstood his intentions and fell against him. Her body shook, her tears soaked his T-shirt, and he couldn’t take it. He just couldn’t take this woman’s sorrow.
Grabbing under her arms, he lifted her out of the chair and sat her on the counter. She flopped against him, her face tucked into his neck, and she wept. He didn’t think anything he had to say would help, so he just held her tightly.
When the tears subsided, she let out a few shuddery breaths. Sitting up, she said, “I’m sorry. I’m getting your shirt wet.”
“I don’t give a damn about my shirt.”
“You’re a good man, Declan Cadell. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Laughing, she reached for a paper towel and blotted the tears.