Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

Hannah leaned against the paddock fence beside her friend Liz and watched as Travis, standing several feet away, spoke to Ben. She could see the sensual curves of Travis’s mouth move, but she was too far away to hear his voice. “Yeah. That’s our new hand.”

Liz Tennyson, Ben’s wife, craned her neck for a better look at Travis, propped her hands on her hips, and grinned. “Well, isn’t he something?”

Hannah narrowed her eyes and smiled. “You better watch that. It’s not exactly proper to ogle strange men in front of your husband, is it?”

Liz laughed and held up her hands. “The only man I ogle is my husband. I’m just looking this guy over for a moment or two and have absolutely no intention of touching.” She cocked her head to the side. “But you, however—”

“Oh, no.” Hannah shook her head. “Nope. We’re not going there.”

Liz elbowed her good-naturedly. “Why not? You’re single and if he is, too . . .” She surveyed Travis again, her lips pursing as he shook Ben’s hand. “Besides, Travis doesn’t look strange. He looks polite and possibly charming.”

“He’s definitely polite.” Hannah looked at Travis again, a pleasant flutter stirring within her belly as she noticed the way his big hand engulfed Zeke’s loosely, then said, “I guess you could say he’s charming.”

“Like I said, you’re single and if he’s si—”

“Okay, let’s not pull a Margaret.” Hannah wrapped her hands tight around the fence and watched Carl approach the mare on the other side of the paddock. The horse bolted for the other end of the fenced-in space. “I don’t need a matchmaker and I’m not looking for a man right now.”

“I know,” Liz said, grinning. “But he’s caught your eye, hasn’t he? I know your face, Hannah, and I haven’t seen that spark in your eyes in a long time.”

Hannah moved to deny it, but faced with the knowing look in Liz’s eyes, she remained silent.

Liz knew her too well. Originally from Michigan, Liz had traveled the rodeo circuit for years as an on-site equine vet. Fifteen years ago, Ben, Hannah’s friend from high school, had accompanied Hannah and Bryan to a rodeo in Nashville, where they met Liz. Over the following two weeks, Hannah had shared a lot of laughs with Liz and had found a friend. Ben had shared a lot of long, sweet looks and conversation with Liz and had fallen in love. Ben and Liz had married less than a year after they’d met, and Liz had relocated to Paradise Peak.

Hannah had been happy for her—still was—but Liz’s marriage was the exact opposite of what Hannah’s had been, and though Liz and Ben had helped see her through the worst with Bryan, they’d never fully know what a hell it’d been. Or how many scars Bryan had left her with—on the inside as well as on the outside.

Taking a chance on a man—on anyone, really—was a dangerous gamble. A risk Hannah wasn’t sure she’d be able to muster up the courage to take again.

“I hardly know the guy,” Hannah whispered.

“So you get to know him.”

“His flaws, too, I suppose?”

“Hannah—”

“Not every man is a hero willing to put his life on the line like Ben.” Hannah shoved her hands in her jeans pockets and glanced back at Ben and Travis. “I’m happy for you and Ben—I am. But not everyone has the happy-ever-after the two of you do—you have no idea how rare what you have is. Trust me, I know.”

“Cop or not, Ben will always be a hero to me,” Liz said softly. “But he’s still a man underneath that uniform and we have our bad patches like every other couple. All I’m saying is, every man and relationship is different; they’re not all like Bryan and what you went through.” She sighed. “What’s the alternative? Being like Red and never taking a chance?”

Hannah looked at her in surprise.

Liz’s brows raised. “Don’t look so shocked. Everyone knows Red has been sweet on Margaret for years, and that he hasn’t had the courage to tell her.” She shook her head. “All I’m saying is, it’s okay to take a chance when you think you’re ready.”

“I know.” Hannah grew still as Liz gently squeezed her upper arm.

“Zeke seems to like Travis,” Liz said, smiling at her son. “You know what my grandmother used to say about kids?”

Hannah shook her head.

“She said all it takes is one good, long look and they can see straight through to a person’s soul.”

Hannah laughed, glancing at the brown-haired toddler. “The first time I babysat Zeke, he took one look at me and kicked me in the shin. What’s that say about my soul?”

Liz laughed with her. “He’d just turned terrible two, I’d refused to give him a third chocolate chip cookie, and Ben and I were leaving him at home without us for the first time. He would’ve kicked anyone in the shin to get out the front door and chase us down the driveway.”

“I suppose.” At the sound of gravel crunching underfoot, Hannah straightened off the fence as Zeke skipped toward her, still clutching Travis’s hand, and smiled. “Hi, Zeke. Did you find a new buddy?”

“Giant,” Zeke piped, hopping in place and smiling up at Travis, who stood beside him. Zeke’s puppy sat beside Travis’s boot, his tail scattering bits of gravel as it wagged.