No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) (8 page)

“Don’t call me that
. I wanted to surprise you and I think I succeeded.”  She laughed. “You should see your face. Wish I had a camera.”

Charlie glanced at Grace
. “It’s good to see you. Are you in town long?”

“I’m back to stay
. I’m out at the ranch with Nana.”  It was nice seeing Charlie. After he figured out she wasn't interested in being his girlfriend in high school, he had been like the big brother she never had growing up. He had taught her how to put worms on a fishing hook.

“Wonderful.
”  He pulled out a chair and sat between Grace and Jenna, spotting Grace’s empty glass. “Would you like something else to drink?” 

“Sure, I’ll have one more.
”  She wasn’t used to the altitude yet and the wine was beginning to affect her. She’d had a couple of drinks and this would be her last one.

He signaled for the cocktail waitress
. “We’ll have another round at this table. Put it on my tab.”

“Thanks
. I really like what you’ve done with the place.”  She smiled at Charlie, amazed at how good he looked sitting next to Jenna. With her fiery bright hair coloring and his sandy blond good looks they made a striking couple.

“It pays the bills and I’m enjoying it."  He smiled
. "So you finally gave up LA for our Colorado backcountry. It’s a blessing to have you back.”

“I’m glad to be back
. You know when you’re young, all you can think about is getting away, then when you get older and things go wrong, all you can think about is missing home.”  She sighed. “It’s a crazy old world we live in.”

“Welcome home, Grace.
”  He leaned over and gave her a hug. “It’s LA’s loss and our gain.” 

***

From across the room, Seth tensed when Charlie put his arms around Grace. Was Charlie coming on to her or were they just friends? Hell, why should it bother him? He scowled at what was happening at their table. He had no business feeling jealous about this woman. Come on man, keep it together. How long had it been? Seth thought to himself. He knew the answer well enough. It had been over seven years since his last serious relationship. Up until Grace’s arrival in Cedar Falls, he would have said that was not nearly long enough.

Nana had told him she’d watch Jamie, he should take the night off and go into town with the boys
. She hadn’t told him Grace would be looking so delectable.

When he’d tucked Jamie in earlier, she’d asked him to find Grace and dance with her
. Well, he had done it for his daughter. Who was he kidding? He had danced with her for himself. She had looked like an angel sitting there in the crowded room watching her friends.

From what Nana had said, he knew Grace was still coming to terms with what she could and couldn’t do with her life
. It would take time for her to realize she was a woman with needs. But when she did, it would be a lucky day for the guy who got to help her satisfy those needs. Business, Seth told himself. This relationship must remain strictly business.

He glanced away and started peeling the label off his beer bottle
. “Hey, Travis, Cindy, the cute little dark haired hairdresser who’s sweet on you is giving you the eye. You’d better put on your dancing shoes.”

“Do y
ou think she knows I’m alive? I’ve wanted to ask her out for a while now."  He sighed. “What would she want with a cowpoke like me? She owns her own business and everything.”  

“You might be surprised, but she knows you’re breathing and she’s planning on doing something about it
. Here she comes.”  Seth nodded at Cindy when she walked up to the bar.

“How are you boys doing tonight
? Around here a girl could get parched waiting on a fellow to buy her a drink.”  She stared at Travis.

“Ma’am, sit right down here and Travis will take care of it.
”  Seth moved off the bar stool and turned it over to Cindy. He’d go over and see how Grace was holding up with all the attention. Cowboys were coming out of the woodwork asking her to dance. She politely turned them down while she talked with Charlie. Seth let out a long, audible sigh while he leaned against the bar and watched the room. The woman had managed to crawl under his skin.

No wonder
—she sure stood out in a crowd. She was wearing an innocent-looking, long burgundy dress with a low neckline. Discreet, but attractive. The long blond hair and her pretty brown eyes told the story—class all the way. He always had a thing for blondes...and those eyes. A man could get lost in those big brown eyes.

He’d watch her to make sure none of the lonely cow
boys were out of line. Some of the boys were looking for a good time. Not knowing who Grace was, some might try something with her. He’d take care of them if anyone got fresh with her.

She was Nana’s pride and joy
. The least he could do was look out for the lady, for her grandmother. No skin off his nose. Yeah, he’d watch her for Nana.

He smiled and shook his head
. Yeah, right...who was he kidding? Old fool that he was...he’d watch her for himself.        

Chapter Seven

Seth leaned against the bar, sipping his beer and studied Grace
. It was obvious to anyone who knew about her condition that she was feeling some pain. He caught her pushing her fist into the small of her back when she thought no one was looking. Since Jenna and Cindy were dancing, and Charlie was checking out something behind the bar, she was alone. Maybe she needed someone to talk to. He shook his head regretfully. He’d made a vow to keep his distance but that wasn’t happening. He worked his way over to the table.

“Are you having a good time?
”  Caught off guard, her big brown eyes were full of life, pain and unquenchable warmth as she glanced at him. Half in anticipation, half in dread, he pulled out a chair and wedged himself in next to her.

“Yes.
”  The tenderness in her expression surprised him. “It’s great seeing friends.”  She managed a tentative smile. “How about you? Are you enjoying yourself?”

He laughed
. "All in all, they’re a good lot, but there are more enjoyable things to do than hang out in an overcrowded bar with the boys from the bunkhouse.”  He’d much rather be out on a date with her.

The gleam in her eyes spoke volumes
. “Like what?” she asked slowly with a lazily seductive look.

This was more like it
. The energy bouncing between them was almost tangible and she was feeling it, too. “Well.”  He moved in closer to her. “Do you like to look at the stars?” 

“Sure, doesn’t everybody?
”  She stared down into her wine glass, avoiding his direct gaze, seeming to be a bit shy. “Actually, I can’t remember the last time I noticed the stars.”

“Hmmm...
we’ll have to remedy that. There’s nothing quite like seeing the stars on a clear, crisp night from the high mountains of Colorado.”  He grinned at her, daring her to object.

“Yes, I remember
. They're beautiful.”  Her eyes became gentle and contemplative under his scrutiny and she smiled wistfully. “When we were kids, Cindy and I used to camp out in Nana’s back yard and watch the stars, pretending we were space travelers.”

He thought she seemed more like the star watching type than the star traveling type
. “Did you know there’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight?”  He sipped his beer and set the bottle on the table, realizing how much he wanted to be alone with the woman—to hold her in his arms—to take away some of her pain. A sobering thought, he couldn’t let anything happen between them, but maybe they could be friends, if nothing else.

“No, I guess I didn't hear about it.
”  Nervously, she bit her lip, watching Cindy snuggle closer while she danced a slow dance with Travis.

“I’m getting ready to head back to the ranch
. It looks like your friends are going to be here for some time."  He took a deep breath and glanced at the girls dancing with their fellas. “Would you like a ride?"  If she said yes, it would be okay. He was sure of himself and his rightful place in the scheme of things. He’d just give her a ride home—that’s all.

“Yes, thanks, if it isn’t any trouble
. I’m getting tired and the girls are having fun.”  The beginning of a smile tipped the corner of her mouth. “Nana dropped me off and I didn’t want to spoil their good time by asking Cindy to take me home.”  

“I’d like to show you the best place
for star gazing.”  He lowered his voice, being purposefully mysterious. “You can see for miles across the sky.”  The more he talked, the more excited he became. She was going to ride home with him. In another lifetime maybe it would’ve meant more than just a ride home.    

Her luminous eyes widened in surprise
. “Okay, but I warn you. I am tired. I don’t want to stay out too late.”

“Not a problem
. It’s on the way home.”  Had he lost his mind? Sure, he was sick and tired of watching the other guys flock around her, but should he risk being alone with her? Could he trust himself?

“I have to say good night to
Jenna and Cindy before we leave.”  She glanced around looking for Cindy.

“Fine
. I’m in no hurry.”  His eyes raked boldly over her when the dance ended and the others came back to the table. He couldn’t help it; a definite lurch of excitement hit him at the prospect of taking her home.

“Hey, Seth, it’s about time you came over to join us,
” Cindy murmured, half laughing.

“We’ll do it another night, right now I have to head out of here.
”  He had better things to do than hang out in the bar. He was going to be alone with Grace. “I have a big day tomorrow stringing fence and I need to get an early start.”  He stood and pushed the chair back from the table, pulling on his sheepskin coat, glancing at Grace. “Are you ready?”

“Sure, that'll save Cindy the trip.
”  She started to pull on her jacket. Seth moved closer, holding the coat as she put her arms through the sleeves. A familiar shiver of awareness passed through him when his hand brushed the hair from her neck. The softness of her skin amazed him. She was all woman from head to toe. He had been alone too long. He was powerless to resist her charms.

“Oh, it’s still early,
” Cindy exclaimed. “I don’t mind taking you home. Please stay.”

“I’m still playing catch-up with my rest from driving from California
. I’m tired.”  Grace smiled. “You and Jenna stay. Have a good time. I’ll call you tomorrow.” 

Seth put his hand on Grace’s shoulder in a protective gesture
. He knew Cindy hadn't missed the significance of the look that passed between him and Grace when he helped her into her coat, but he didn’t care.

“Okay, we’ll talk tomorrow.
”  Cindy hugged Grace for a moment and stepped back.

Turning, Grace bumped into
Jenna. “Good night, Jenna, it was a pleasure meeting you. I love to read so I’ll come see you at your book store.”  Grace waved at Jenna. “See you all later.”

“Looking forward to it
. I’m there most of the time.”  Jenna returned Grace’s friendly smile.

Seth held her arm as he guided her across the dance floor, through the crowd and out the door
. The strange surge of protective affection he felt toward her both surprised and excited him when he held her hand leading her out the door.

***

Flutters erupted in the pit of Grace’s stomach when she thought about being alone with Seth, watching the stars. On the way to the car, she let him hold her hand, listening to him speak in a low husky tone.

“Sure was crowded in there.
”  He inhaled a gulp of fresh air as soon as they stepped outside. “That many people gets to me after awhile.”

“I don’t like
crowds either but it was fun.”  Grace smiled as they walked into the parking lot.

He guided her through the parked cars to his truck
. “Now, don’t you mind the appearance of Old Betsy? She doesn’t look so good these days, but she won’t leave me stranded in a snow drift and she keeps me warm.” 

Her mouth twitched with amusement
. It didn’t matter. She would walk if it meant being with Seth. “Why, Old Betsy is fine, but I hope you’re right about keeping us warm.”  She could see her breath on the cold night air as she pulled her coat tighter.

Ope
ning the door for her, he helped her in the cab, and came around to the other side to get in the truck. “The engine will warm up in a minute and I can turn up the heat.”  The truck started with the first turn of the key.

“I bet you feel the cold more, coming from the sandy beaches of California.
”  He glanced at her, teasing her. “Are you warm enough?”

“I’m okay
. I like the cold. I always missed the seasons.”  She snuggled deeper into her coat while he backed out of the parking lot.

The truck moved through the quiet, deserted streets of Cedar Falls
. “It’s starting to get warm.”  He held his hand in front of the heater. “Do you feel the heat?”  He glanced over at her.

“N
ot yet.”  She put out her cold hand to the vent in front of her. Nothing was coming out. “It’s not working.”   

He held his hand to the opening in the middle of the dash
. “Here, slide over to the middle of the seat. All the hot air is coming out of this side.”  He hesitated. “Come on, I won’t bite you. It’s warmer over here.”

She slid across the short distance to his side, brushing against his thigh, causing her body to vibrate with new life
. “It’s warmer here. Thanks.”  Sitting next to him, she couldn’t stop herself from pondering what it would be like if Seth wasn’t a criminal, if he wasn’t acting a part.

“Tell me about LA
. Did you like it there?”

“For a while.
”  She sighed and continued. “I had a great house and a wonderful flower garden. I loved working in my garden, until I became ill. Then everything fell apart, including me.”  She shivered from the memory. “It was rough for a while, but I made it.”  She had been trapped in a useless body racked with pain with no way out.

“I’ve been in a similar situation
. Everything is going great and then someone flips a switch and your life goes down the tubes.”  He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “The place I was telling you about is right up ahead. It’s a plateau where the whole valley opens up and it feels like you’re sitting on top of the world.”

She heard the traces of longing in his voice
. “Is it located on the ranch?”  She thought she knew the place. It sounded like where she used to go to think things through when she was growing up.

“Yeah, it sits at the edge of the back forty
. It’d be a perfect spot for someone to build a home. The views are incredible, yet it has easy access to the road.”  He sighed, glancing out the window. “Jamie and I rode out here on our horses last spring. The blue Columbines and orange Paintbrush flowers were blooming all over the hills and in the valley. She liked the view and the flowers.”    

The stars shone brightly high above the mountains, with one racing across the sky in a blaze of glory as Seth parked the truck overlooking the valley
. Grace scooted forward in the seat pointing at the sky. “Oh, look, a shooting star. Make a wish.”  She watched the western sky and closed her eyes, wishing for better health and a child of her own.  

“It’s a perfect spot.
”  A sense of peace came over her while she took in the magnificent site. It had been many years since she had been here, but this was where she used to come as a child. The sky held a patchwork of twinkling stars high above the mountain peaks but from this location they felt close enough to where she could almost reach out and touch them. “I had forgotten how beautiful it is out here at night. We take so much for granted in our daily lives.”

“Yes, people have a tendency to do that when they're working too hard, caught up in the day-to-day make a living world, pushing from one place to the next.
”  He waved his hand in the air expressing his opinion. “That’s one of the main reasons I like ranching. I always have time for my little girl and I can enjoy being close to the beautiful things God has put on this earth for us to appreciate.”      

“You believe in God?
”  For some reason this caught her off guard. She hadn’t pictured Seth a believer. She really didn’t know this man, but she somehow knew she was safe with him. At this moment in time she couldn’t believe he was a criminal. The man was good.

He put his arm across the back of the seat, resting lightly behind Grace’s shoulders
. “Yes, I believe in a higher being. I don’t go to church every Sunday and I don’t push it down anybody’s throat, but I believe.”  He relaxed against her while he gazed at the stars. “How about you?”

“Oh, yes, I believe
. Without my faith, I probably wouldn’t be here now.”  She laid her head against his shoulder looking for the big dipper.

“How’s that?
”  He turned toward her. “If you don't mind telling me, what happened to your back?” 

Pleased, she could see the concern shimmering in his eyes from the light of the full moon
. He wanted to know about her. “It’s a long story, but I’ll try to make it short.”  She snuggled closer to the warmth of his body heat. “When I became ill, everything fell apart.”  Her heart clenched when she remembered being diagnosed. It was a terrible lonely time for her. “It started out with a low backache that never went away and within six months the pain was so bad, I couldn’t work, walk or care for myself.”  She sighed. “Then I was stuck in a nursing home.”

He reached for her hand and held it snugly against his coat
. “What caused your pain?”  Recalling the ecstasy of being held against his strong body when she tripped over her suitcases, she enjoyed the warmth of his hand enclosing hers.

Other than doctors, this was the first prolonged contact she’d had with a man in years
. She’d forgotten what a wonderful thing it could be and went with the moment. “Eventually, they diagnosed me with an incurable progressive disease of the spinal cord called Arachnoiditis.”