Delta dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “We all need a friendly ear sometimes.”
“At least I’ve wandered into the friend zone and out of enemy range.”
“Friends, huh?”
Her bemused expression gave him pause. “It’s a start, at least.”
“I’ll give you that much.”
Over the rest of their meal Garrett continued to tell her about his kids. She’d listened intently as he spoke and had carried on their conversation as if he hadn’t made a repeated ass out of himself earlier. By the time their plates were empty, he realized he hadn’t asked much about her. Guilt over Rebecca forced him to tamp down the desire to make plans to have dinner with Delta again. Tonight was a one-time deal stemming from a chance encounter. That was it.
“Buy you another round?” The question was out of his mouth before he could stop it.
Delta rose from her stool, tugged a few bills from the pocket of her jeans and tossed them on the bar. “Thank you, but I need to get going. Jake’s waiting for me.”
Jake? “Oh, okay. At least allow me to pay for your dinner to make up for this afternoon.”
“Nah, I got it. Besides, I thought we just met tonight.” Delta winked. “I’ll see you tomorrow when we meet with Dr. Presley.” She began to walk away and then turned toward him. “Welcome home, Garrett. I hope you find the peace you’re looking for.”
* * *
BY THE TIME he arrived at Dylan’s to pick up Kacey and Bryce, he felt more certain moving back to Saddle Ridge had been the right decision for him and his family. He could hear his kids from the great room as he climbed the steps of the log cabin’s front porch. Peering in the window, he saw Kacey dancing around the room with his brother while Bryce and Emma—Dylan’s fiancée—clapped along with the music. It had been a long time since he’d heard his daughter laugh so freely. And it was better than any song playing on a honky-tonk jukebox.
Dylan caught his reflection in the window and waved him inside.
“Daddy we had pasketti!” Bryce ran over to him.
“Spaghetti,” Kacey corrected. “You’re old enough to say it right.”
Wise beyond her years, his daughter still hadn’t relinquished playing mother to her brother. She’d taken on the role herself the moment he and Rebecca told Kacey she was sick. In hindsight, they never should have told her. She’d barely had a chance to be a child.
“I see that.” Garrett knelt on the floor next to his son. He tried to give his daughter a hug, but she slipped under his arm and sat next to Emma on the couch. He didn’t want to pressure Kacey, but damned if it didn’t kill him to see her happy up until the moment he walked in the room. “Looks like you wore most of your pasketti, little man.”
Kacey huffed at him. “You’re not helping, Dad.”
“He refused to wear a bib.” Emma frowned. “Or a towel or a napkin. I wanted to get him changed and wash his shirt before you got back, but I didn’t have anything that would fit him.”
“It’s no big deal. He’s always been a messy eater. I keep hoping he’ll grow out of it soon.”
“How was dinner?” Dylan asked.
“Good. I ran into Delta at the Iron Horse. And don’t worry. I apologized and told her she can continue to do her job as she sees fit.”
“Thank God for that.”
“We wound up having dinner together although I’m afraid I did most of the talking. She seems pretty nice.”
“Dinner together, huh? You sly dog.” Dylan nudged his arm. “You went on a date with Delta.”
Garrett put a finger to his lips and glanced over at his daughter, who continued to ignore him. “Please,” he whispered. “Kacey’s mad at me enough. And I have absolutely zero interest in pursuing anything with Delta. It was just two people sharing a meal.”
“Okay, okay.” Dylan held up his hands in surrender.
“One question, though. When she left, she said Jake was waiting for her. Who’s Jake?”
“He wasn’t with her today?”
“No.” Garrett hadn’t spent much time with Delta in the stables, but as far as he knew, she was there alone. “Does he work for her?”
“Work for her? No.” His brother laughed. “They, um, live together. I’m sure you’ll meet him soon. When you see one, you usually see the other. Why the curiosity about Jake if there’s nothing between you and Delta?”
“Just wondering.” He hadn’t expected her to have a boyfriend after her comment about Valentine’s Day. Garrett lowered Bryce to the floor. “Run and get your stuff together. I need to get you home and into a bath, then it’s off to bed.” He tried to shake the flip-floppy sensation growing inside him. He was fine two seconds ago. It had to be from the chipotle whiskey. “Kacey, honey, time to go.” Garrett gave Emma a hug as she stood up from the couch. “Thank you for entertaining them tonight. I really appreciate it. I know you have your hands full with Holly.”
“Holly’s been a dream baby so far.” Emma held Garrett’s face between her palms and smiled up at him. “I know this move hasn’t been easy on you or the kids. They’re welcome here anytime. Don’t you ever think twice about it.”
Garrett took her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze. “My brother struck gold with you. He’s a lucky man.”
“Holly and I are the lucky ones. We inherited an amazing family.”
“Enough already,” Dylan called out from the kitchen table. “I swear you two are the ones who are related. I’ve never seen two more sentimental people in my entire life. Emma still has the baby hormone thing going on, but you, dear brother...” Dylan’s head tilted questioningly. “That must have been some dinner.”
Garrett ignored his brother’s comment and walked out to bundle the kids into the car. He’d been feeling nostalgic ever since Christmas when he first came home. He had so many memories in this town. Most good. One life-shattering.
He still hadn’t been able to drive past their old family ranch. The place where their father had died at the hands of their brother, Ryder. Shortly after the funeral, their mother sold the ranch and moved to California where she remarried and rebuilt her life. He and Rebecca had left from Saddle Ridge to escape the pain of the past, and years later he’d come back to escape even more pain. His grief emotionally drained him every day. He had to work—to continually stay active to keep his mind occupied and remain strong for his children. He refused to let them down.
Tonight, despite the bittersweet memories of Rebecca, some of the weight had lifted from his shoulders. He’d enjoyed taking time away from the ranch, and being in Delta’s company, even though the tension that still hovered between them. He’d been able to relax for a few short moments, and somehow that new beginning he needed finally seemed possible.
* * *
“THERE’S MY BOY!” Jake ran across the yard and jumped into Delta’s arms. At fifty-five pounds, he was no lightweight, but she didn’t care. He licked the side of her face as his body wriggled against hers. “I missed you, too. Did you have fun today?”
Delta’s Australian shepherd loved ranch life and her clients enjoyed having him around, but twice a week she treated him to BowWowWowzer’s Doggie Daycare where he could be among his own kind. It was her way of giving back to the animal who gave her so much unconditional love and support through the darkest days of her life.
That darkness had come flooding back when Garrett told her about Rebecca. Not that it was ever completely gone, but on most days, she managed to keep those memories