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Chapter One
Norah Miles raised her glass high the second Thursday in February, joining her friends in making some noise. It was Galentine’s Day, a time to celebrate the amazing women she called her friends in Marietta, Montana. As the latest toast ended, she tossed back her beer and played along with the crowd, smiling to hide her dread of being single yet again on Valentine’s Day. Then again, who knew—maybe love was waiting right across the bar.
Hey, a girl could always hope.
Grey’s Saloon was darn near full and seventy-five percent women this evening, likely because the smart local men knew better than to intrude on ladies’ night. Well, all except the guys cozied up at the bar rail who were Grey’s regulars from the other side of the tracks, shamelessly hoping to get lucky. No thank you. Norah scanned the room, scouting for potential among the small percentage of men she didn’t recognize, and air-toasted with barista Sally Driscoll and Sage Carrigan, their local chocolatier, across the way. As she did, an arm landed on her shoulders, hooking her in an inebriated hug.
“Have I told you lately how glad I am that I moved out here?” a glassy-eyed Natalie Wright asked.
“Only about a dozen times this week.” Norah grinned at her oldest brother’s fiancée. After falling for Sam, Natalie had traded Indiana for Montana last September and was welcomed into the family with open arms. “Now, aren’t you glad I talked you out of being our designated driver tonight? You’ve been working a lot of long hours lately and deserve to have a little fun with all your new neighbors.”
Natalie chewed her lower lip. “I have been putting in more time than usual the past few weeks. But my boss assured me that they’ll have their staffing shortage corrected soon.”
“Is that an Indiana thing, needing an excuse to let your hair down?” Charlotte Barnes asked from across the table, rattling the ice in her glass of soda with a smirk. “I’ll tell you what—it’s a good thing I’d already volunteered to help at Hudson’s Valentine’s Day party at school tomorrow, or I’d be buying us more shots than beer. Poor Sam would show up later to drive us home and have to carry us out to his truck, one by one.”
Norah laughed at the thought. Char had reconnected with Norah’s younger brother, Jaxon, over the holidays, which stirred up some drama, seeing as their families had been feuding for generations. But those two being together was destined—Char and Jax had been in love since they were kids, and he adored her son, Hudson. So, when push came to shove, they stuck together, forcing both sides to finally call a truce.
Yep, both her brothers were head over heels in love, with wedding bells surely in the not-so-far future. Norah was happy for her siblings, and Natalie and Char were already feeling like the sisters she’d never had. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t a tiny bit jealous watching everyone else stumble into love.
At thirty-eight and never married, single was starting to feel like her destiny.
Which was why it was time to make a change. Now that Jaxon was home from the rodeo, Norah felt she could finally step away from the family business. And like a sign from the universe to reinforce her thinking, Norah had received an unsolicited request from the region’s largest travel publication last week asking if the Flying J would like to have its spring cabin renovations project featured in their summer edition. Which, of course, she’d quickly agreed to. Because a featured article in Big Sky Travels wouldn’t just be great for the lodge—it’d be a fantastic resumé booster for her, too.
She hadn’t planned to move home after college, and Bozeman was still calling her name. There, she could focus on building her career and look for new love while leaving her past relationship dead ends behind. She just hadn’t shared her opinion with the rest of the family yet. Now she was just waiting to hear if the magazine had found a way to make it out to the ranch without jeopardizing Monday’s planned start date.
“Oh! Norah, I’m supposed to tell you—Madison applied to Montana State University today,” Natalie said. “Guess your recent tour helped make up her mind.”
Norah’s chest swelled. “That’s great news! I know she’d been struggling with the idea of going away to college, but it’s such a great experience. And they have the degree program she’s most interested in. Plus, it’s only an hour from here in case she gets homesick.”
And soon, I’ll be only a few minutes away from campus.
Norah had just twisted the top off another Michelob Ultra when the screen of her cellphone lit with an email notification from Big Sky Travels.
“Please be good news,” she murmured, tapping the screen to read on.
“…Our feature editor and staff photographer plan to arrive at your ranch at 7 a.m. on Monday, the 15th…”
“Yesss!” Norah looked to the others, hardly able to contain her excitement. “You all won’t believe—”
“Oh! I love this song!” Natalie cried, nearly spilling her drink as she dropped it to the table. “Come on, Nor, put your phone down and dance with me. You, too, Char!”
After a moment’s hesitation, Norah complied. Tonight was about celebrating her friends and having some fun; she could tell them about the email later. Halfway to the small dance floor at the back of the room, she recognized Dasha’s “Austin” and gave a loud whoop. The song had become somewhat of an anthem for her this past summer, after getting worked up—and then stood up—by a guy she’d resisted her whole life.
Norah’s first attempt to grab the reins of her relationship destiny in a long time, and she’d failed miserably.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if that particular guy hadn’t just retired from the rodeo and moved back to Marietta. Oh, and if he didn’t happen to be her brother Jax’s best friend, with a standing invitation to their family’s Sunday dinners. But no, she’d had a rare moment of reckless courage. Hope would do that to a person, same as the number forty that kept creeping closer and closer.
But, hey—that email from Big Sky Travels was just another sign of better things to come. Maybe the universe was about to place a tall, dark, and handsome someone in her direct path. Maybe this time next year, she wouldn’t be single anymore.
Now that was a reason to get up and dance.
Norah hooked both thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans and fell into step with the other line dancers, singing along as Dasha questioned why her man hadn’t shown.
Had his boots stopped working? Truck broke down? Nerves got him?
Damn men, bailing on their women.
Damn Rhett Foster for leading her on and then ghosting her the very next night.
No phone call. No text. No nothing.
She’d never seen that coming after running around with him all those years growing up. Worse yet, the next time he saw her, he’d acted like them making out had never happened. Most days, she wished it hadn’t.
Norah kicked up her heel and spun to the left, forcing the man from her mind. Her ego would heal eventually. It helped that he and Jax had been over in Bozeman all of last month, working on some virtual reality roping simulation with video game moguls, EB Sports. They’d returned last weekend, which meant she’d resumed the struggle to mind her manners.
Truth be told, she’d be perfectly content if he stayed away forever. But with his family in Marietta, same as hers, Norah didn’t see that happening. Guess it was good she’d already planned on leaving.
Norah pushed the Rhett debacle from her mind and focused on enjoying her night out. And staying on the lookout for love at Grey’s. The tricky part about being single in Marietta was that there weren’t exactly a ton of available guys her age in town. Tonight, though, there were a few good-looking newcomers out dancing. Like the guy ahead of her—nice Stetson, shiny dark cowboy boots, and jeans that hugged him in all the right places. Maybe she’d offer to buy him a drink once this set was done.
A startled cry rang out beside her, and Norah turned to see Natalie, wide-eyed and off-balance, tumbling toward her. She reached out to keep the woman from falling, but it was no use—Natalie’s momentum was already in full swing. Like a line of dominos, Natalie crashed into Norah, who toppled into Mr. Hot Jeans guy, whose line of dancers had picked the worst time to turn and face them.
Nothing like face-planting into someone’s chest to make a stellar first impression.
“Whoa! Careful, now.”
A surprisingly solid chest, Norah noted, which was apparently connected to a pair of strong yet gentle hands now helping to keep her upright. “Nice catch.”
She’d definitely have to offer to buy the stranger a drink now. But as she got her feet under her once again and took a step back, she found the man to be no stranger at all. In fact, it was the same man she’d just silently dedicated Dasha’s song to.
Mr. Boots himself, Rhett Foster.
Rhett watched a flash of fury sweep through Norah’s deep-blue eyes as recognition dawned, her scowl broadcasting to the room that no, she still hadn’t forgiven him for hitting the brakes on their almost-fling last summer. Shame on him for caving to the attraction he’d felt for her all these years. He hadn’t planned to kiss her and shouldn’t have crossed that line. But when the woman he’d secretly loved for as long as he could remember leaned in, an honorable cowboy like him felt mighty obliged to make her feel wanted and welcome.
And damn, if she hadn’t set his world on fire.
Though, to be honest, her reaction to his well-thought-out apology letter had surprised him—she’d always been the Miles sibling firmly rooted in common sense. And a wild night with him would have been anything but smart for either of them.
But cowboys didn’t date their best friend’s sister—it was an unspoken rule he’d upheld until then, and the reasoning he’d used to justify his disappearance. That wasn’t the only reason he’d backed away, but the rest didn’t matter. The two of them being together wasn’t going to happen.
Unfortunately, his decision to retreat was always easier to justify when she wasn’t standing right in front of him. Damn, the woman was a looker. Tonight, she’d allowed her long, dark wavy hair to flow freely instead of being trapped in the thick braid she often wore. It tumbled over the shoulders of her silky, cream-colored sweater like a waterfall, and his fingers itched to run through the smooth strands. But he knew from the growing red swath beneath the freckles across her cheeks that a move like that could earn him a broken nose.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Sam’s girl, Natalie, said as she helped tug Norah fully upright. “My boot found a slick spot on the floor, and I couldn’t catch myself. Are you all right?”
Norah smoothed a hand down her silky sweater. “I’m fine. Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Natalie’s cheeks flushed a deep red as she looked between Norah and Rhett. “Gah, I’m so sorry.”
“No worries.” Rhett offered her a shrug and smiled. “You’re all just lucky I have lightning-fast reflexes.”
Natalie giggled. Norah snorted.
So much for defusing the tension. At least he’d gotten one of the two to smile again.
“Darling, what are you out here apologizing for?”
Everyone turned to find Sam walking toward them, a smirk on his lips. With a squeal, Natalie hurried toward him with arms outstretched. She must not have seen him walk in with Jaxon and Rhett a few songs ago.
Usually, Rhett wouldn’t be caught dead at Grey’s the night before V-Day, but he’d offered to pick up his sister, Mimi, from the event as a way of thanking her for all the help she’d been at getting their father settled back at home after last week’s back surgery. And when Jax had offered to buy him a drink, Rhett was glad to accept, eager to extend the time away from his dad’s place. Hell, he’d do just about anything to avoid being trapped with the grouch any more than necessary right now. Donovan Foster wasn’t an easy man to get along with when he wasn’t in pain. Add in a surgery to repair bone spurs and two blown discs in his back, and the man was as angry as a cornered rattlesnake.
Or maybe that had more to do with Rhett refusing to take the reins of the family business now that his rodeo days were done.
He pushed thoughts about his family drama aside and looked to Norah, whose attention was divided between her siblings, each now lip-locked with their significant others. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Her tone held a sharper edge with him than it had with Natalie. “Sorry if I scuffed your pretty little boots.”
He should have kept his mouth shut. Should have just kept quiet as she turned to go. But somewhere between the beer and her snarky jab, Rhett’s temper got the better of him. “You ever gonna let bygones be bygones, Norah?”
“Bygones?” She snorted. “Don’t hold your breath, cowboy.”
She continued on, and this time he let her. Irritated or not, he knew better than to pick a fight with Norah Miles out here on the dance floor. Hell, he knew better than to pick a fight with her, period—the woman’s tongue was made of barbed wire. She came by that naturally—her grandma Sunnie was the same way. The upside to that was he always knew where he stood with those two.
The downside was, when they got mad, it wasn’t pretty.
But, damn, he hated this friction going on between them. It only reinforced the conclusion that he’d come to one make-out session too late—him being with Norah was a bad idea. Unfortunately, even after leaving that apology letter on her dash at the Livingston Roundup Rodeo, the woman would barely look at him, let alone be cordial. It seemed his penance included giving her space to process the letdown.
A letdown he thought for sure would be tougher for him than it ever would be for her.
The group finished their round of drinks and collectively headed out, the Miles entourage headed for one vehicle while Rhett and Mimi angled for the other. Everyone was all smiles as they left Grey’s…except Norah. And, he realized, himself.
“Not sure what you stepped in with my sister,” Jax said, pausing beside him with Char as Rhett closed the passenger door for his sister. “But if there’s one thing I know about Norah, it’s that she can’t hold a grudge forever.”
“Just a misunderstanding,” he said, sidestepping the underlying question. He didn’t relish getting decked by his best friend. “Thanks again for the beer.”
“No prob. And good luck with Donovan. If things get heated, there’s a guest bedroom with your name on it back at our place.”
Our place. Rhett was still trying to get used to the idea of his rodeo partner settling down. Jax had never been a huge lady’s man, commitment low on his list for most of their rodeo days. Ever since reconnecting with Char, though, the man was as good as married. More power to him, Rhett supposed. “’Preciate it.”
He climbed into his truck and angled for Mimi’s place. Slowly.
“Dragging our feet tonight, are we?” she teased.
Rhett grimaced. “Is it that obvious?”
She peered over at his speedometer and laughed. “Just a little. But hey, at least you got to get out for a few minutes. And who knows? Dad might be asleep by the time you get home.”
“Doubt I’ll get that lucky.”
Mimi gave his arm a pat. “I know he’s not easy to get along with, but thank you for staying. After helping with Mom last fall, I don’t have a ton of time off left to take.”
Truth be told, he was doing this more for her than Donovan. “Of course.”
“And to show you my thanks, how about we trade places Sunday afternoon? I’ll go over and sit with Dad, and you can come hang out with your two favorite rug rats.”
An afternoon with his favorite—and only—niece and nephew? Rhett flashed a grateful smile. “Deal.”
He dropped Mimi off at her place, then headed back to Donovan’s. Rhett remained on his father’s gravel half-moon drive, scanning the view around him as he savored a moment of quiet before heading inside. The front porch with a handful of loose spindles in its railing. The siding that could have used a good paint job years ago. The lackluster landscaping, the collection of semi-retired work trucks that Rhett’s RV was now parked beside around back.
Locals assumed his father was frugal, but the family knew better—Donovan didn’t spend time or money on this place because he was always too busy working.
Sure, his profit margin was enviable and his business reputation exemplary, but at what cost? Donovan Foster’s laser focus on work had driven away his wife and kids. He’d been trying to do better now that there were grandkids in the picture, but all the money in the world couldn’t buy back the time he’d lost with his family.
And that was the main reason Rhett wanted no part of the business.
Rhett didn’t have a wife or a family yet, but he’d be damned if he was going to end up in his dad’s shoes. It was that vow he silently reminded himself of as the frigid air eventually drove him to the front door. Because even though he’d struck a deal with his father a few weeks back—live here for a month, caring for Donovan as he healed from his back surgery, if his father backed off the career bullying and appointed someone else to run the family business in the interim—Rhett didn’t trust that his old man wouldn’t hound him to reconsider.
This former rodeo star may have been born at night, but it sure as hell wasn’t last night.
Former. It was still taking some getting used to, walking away from the circuit. But after his mom’s heart attack last fall, Rhett knew it was time to come home and be with his family while he still had the chance.
He dug out his keys and fought with the front door’s aged lock for several seconds before it finally allowed him entrance—yet another piece of the house his father had failed to upgrade before it had surpassed its life expectancy. Heaven forbid there was an emergency and someone needed in fast.
“That you, Rhett?” his dad called from down the hall.
“Yeah.” He flipped on the entryway’s light. “You ever gonna replace that lock?”
“No need, I never use that door.”
Rhett shook his head and added the lock to his growing list of honey-do’s. Usually, he’d ignore the issues—if Donovan didn’t bother taking care of this place, why should he? But having busy work would give him something to do when his dad was resting. Or watching television.
“Took you long enough.”
Or criticizing every move Rhett made. Often, like tonight, from the comfort of his La-Z-Boy.
“I wasn’t going to rush Mimi. She deserves a night out once in a while.” Rhett kicked off his boots. “Everything go okay here while I was gone?”
His father scowled. “I’m still breathing, aren’t I?”
“Seems that way.”
Rhett made sure his father had everything he needed within reach, then continued on to his old bedroom. Between Norah’s cranky behavior and Donovan’s lack of paternal instincts, he was feeling no love tonight. Good thing he was only bunking with one of them.
One month—that’s all the more he was staying. Then it was adios, Marietta.
End of Excerpt
