One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

“I’ll show you attention.” He grabbed her face and kissed her quick before putting his hand back on the wheel.

I looked into the darkness outside my window. “We’re really far away from town.” My stomach was sick at the prospect of the awkward drive back to the airport. Maybe I could call a cab?

“Wait until you see it on horseback,” Patrick answered. “If the Chinook comes down, we’ll ride out to the lake. It’s beautiful... well, it’s beautiful everywhere.”

“I can’t wait to see it with you.” Elaine’s nose crinkled, and she slid her hand behind his neck. I watched her fingers thread into his hair before glancing out the window again.

It was too cold to hitch a ride back to town. Temperatures were already dipping into the teens, and snow wouldn’t be far away. Coming here like this was the craziest thing I’d ever done in my entire life, and now I’d have to face the consequences.

At the same time, maybe it was the right thing? Oh, god, I shivered, I couldn’t even hope for that much. All I knew was I couldn’t have that dream again.

Chapter 5: New Best Friend

Mariska

The windows of the sprawling ranch house were lit by lamps, and a strand of twinkle lights twined around a large side porch. In the starry evening, it was a beautiful place, and my stomach was so tight, my head hurt.

“Here we are!” Patrick hopped out of the truck and left his door open for me while he pulled our suitcases out of the back.

“It’s gorgeous!” Elaine skipped out of her side and slammed the door. “Which room is ours?”

“Hold your horses.” Patrick laughed as he stopped at the cab where I sat frozen in the back. “You need a hand?”

His question forced me to move. I shook my head and carefully eased myself out of the large truck. Elaine had already dashed up the porch and rung the doorbell. As the heavy wooden door started to open, I felt my head getting light.

“Elaine!” A deep male voice I didn’t recognize spoke. “I’d know you anywhere.”

“I take it you’re Bill!” I watched her embrace what could only be Patrick’s uncle, and then it was my turn. Kind brown eyes assessed me. I slowed my pace, but Patrick bumped me with the suitcase.

“This is Mariska,” he said. “She flew in with Elaine.”

His uncle’s thick grey brows rose. “Pleasure to meet you, Mariska.”

I was literally going to die. All these nice, attractive people were going to think I was a psychopath when they found out why I was here. If they could figure out why I was here—I wasn’t sure myself.

“Thank you.” I managed to answer.

“Come on in. We were just sitting down to supper.” Bill led the way, and I followed behind Elaine, dread twisting my insides with every step.

The short hallway ended at a large, open kitchen with a dining area on the side. A massive wooden table with long bench seats filled the opposite end, and a short, stocky woman with graying black hair moved around, stirring pots and taking down pl

ates. The whole room smelled delicious from whatever she was cooking.

“Winona, we’ve got one more for supper,” Bill said. “Mariska came out with Elaine.”

Patrick walked over and put the suitcases by a hallway I assumed led to where we’d sleep. I frantically scanned the room for any sign of his brother. He wasn’t here. Would he even join us for dinner? Was he staying somewhere else?

“Stuart’s putting Ranger in the barn.” It was like Bill read my mind. “He’ll be in shortly.”

“Is he...” Patrick didn’t finish the sentence, but his uncle nodded.

“He’s doing real good. Your coming here was the right thing, I think.”

His uncle was still talking when a tall figure walked through a doorway I hadn’t even noticed off the side of the kitchen. Stuart stepped into the light, and my heart jumped to my throat. He wore a brown shirt and jeans, cowboy boots and the same type of canvass overcoat as his brother. I could barely breathe as he slipped it off his broad shoulders. Then he took off his cap and raked his fingers through his dark hair. He looked even better than I remembered.

“Ranger’s brushed down and in his stall.” His deep voice sent a tingle across my stomach, and when he looked up, our eyes met.

It was just like that day at the gym. Quiet filled the space around us, and the world seemed to disappear. Deep satisfaction warmed my chest. His face was the only thing I wanted to see.