Too Hot to Handle (Jackson Hole 2)

He wasn’t her boyfriend, and the truth was that they weren’t dating, either. “No,” she bleated, pressing her fist to her forehead. Maybe Grace would let her borrow Cole. Crystal would never know.

Or she could just be brave and ask Shane. It wasn’t the damn prom. It was just…an evening with her family.

“You are a terrible coward,” she told herself. And it was the most honest thing she’d said to anyone all day.

But she wasn’t going to let Crystal ruin her day. She’d done a good job with the board and now she was meeting Shane for a surprise.

That cheered her up. She got in her car and drove away with a big smile. No point being honest now. Everything was going her way today. And a surprise in Providence meant things were only going to get better.

* * *

SHANE LOOKED UP from his work at the sound of wheels on gravel. A car door closed. Merry was here.

He took a deep breath, set down his hammer and slipped off his gloves.

Why did he feel nervous? This made no sense. He was leading her to a broken down cabin in the woods, not presenting a ring. But he still had to wipe his hands on his jeans as he stood.

Maybe it was just this place. He was feeling less and less comfortable being here with her. He hadn’t sabotaged her. He hadn’t done anything illegal. And it had happened before he’d really known her. But being surrounded by the buildings and knowing what they meant to her… It was starting to weigh on him.

If his lawsuit succeeded, he’d take all this from her. He’d take her job, and her dreams for this place, and that joy she felt with every story she told.

He could see her here, telling the story of Providence to a group of kids, drawing them in past their boredom. Bringing the place alive. Making it real. Hell, she’d even managed to make him feel a friendly sort of affection for the place, and he had every reason to hate it.

His grandfather had given Merry Providence, but it had been done out of meanness. If Shane had only done what the man had asked, if he’d only given in, Gideon Bishop would’ve left a pittance for this town. Enough money to buy a plaque, maybe. An easement around the property. But most of the two million dollars would have gone to Shane as a reward for learning to obey. There’d be no Providence Historical Trust. Merry would’ve stayed in Texas. Her joy over Providence might be temporary, but she wouldn’t have had it at all if Shane had changed his name. And he would never have touched her.

Hell. He couldn’t regret that, could he?

She waved as she approached, her face bright with curiosity and excitement. Shane packed up his tools and turned to meet her.

“Hey. I thought I heard a car pull away.”

“Grace dropped me off so she could borrow my car. I hoped I could talk you into a ride home.”

“I think I can be persuaded. How was the meeting?”

“Super great! Well, I haven’t heard anything, but I think it went well. I’m trying to convince them to get more aggressive.”

“More aggressive?”

“Yes! We need to move forward and stop pussyfooting around. That’s a Western term, right?”

“Sure.”

“Anyway, possession is nine-tenths of the law, and all that. So if we can get more money released and start making improvements and pushing forward with plans before anyone else knows what’s happening… God, maybe we could even get this place open. Get the community invested. And if the money is already spent, then what’s that asshole going to do?”

“Asshole?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sure he’s fine. But the promise of money doesn’t exactly make for good behavior, does it? Hey, look at me! I’m power hungry.”

He smiled, half in amusement and half because this conversation had become surreal. “You seem pretty nice to me.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Yeah? What’d you do?”

He’d only been teasing her, but her forehead crumpled with worry. She shook her head.

“Merry?”