Chapter 14
INDYA
My knees bounced as I checked the time. Two o’clock.
Another hour until the meeting.
Another hour until I had to face West.
It had been six days since we’d had sex. Six days since I’d sprinted away from his bed like the room was on fire. Six days, and if I’d done two things well during that time, it had been avoiding West and thinking about West.
Except I couldn’t ignore him forever. There were important things with the resort and ranch to discuss, and I’d delayed this meeting for as long as possible.
Anxiety churned my stomach, and my granola bar lunch threatened to make a reappearance.
And as every day had passed, I was being twisted tighter and tighter. I was jumpy and anxious. Whenever I heard footsteps in the hallway outside the office, I’d hold my breath, wondering if it was West.
Last night, I’d been sitting on the couch replying to some emails when a knock had come at the door. I’d jumped up so forcefully that my phone had fallen to the floor, and I’d slammed my shin into the corner of the coffee table.
Reid had brought over samples of the vegetarian dinner options to the Beartooth, and I’d been both relieved and frustrated to see him—at least the food had been delicious.
For all my efforts avoiding West, he’d put in as much to steer clear of me too.
Not today. One more hour—then whether I was ready to face him or not, I didn’t have a choice.
What was wrong with me? Of all the idiotic choices to make, sex with West ranked number one. As if this situation weren’t complicated enough.
What was I doing here? This entire adventure had been doomed from the start. Not the business—I’d be damned if I let this resort and ranch fail. But my heart was doomed to break.
It was inevitable.
Deep down, I’d known that from the moment my tires had crossed
the Montana state line.
West and I had too much history.
No matter how many years passed between us, no matter how many times I’d told myself I’d moved on, there was no forgetting.
I’d loved West Haven for what felt like my entire life.
Even though I’d never said the words. Even though I’d never made
him a promise.
Even though I’d married another man.
West was mine.
Even though he wasn’t.
When I left here with that broken heart, I’d have only myself to blame.
Because six days ago, I’d been the one begging him to fuck me.
“Ugh.” I groaned and buried my face in my hands. God, I was an idiot. “Never again.”
Dropping my hands, I closed my laptop. There was no way I’d be able to sit still for another hour. It had been hard enough to make it through the morning, constantly watching the clock as time ticked away.
I’d texted West this morning and asked if he and Jax could meet me at three. He’d replied with a thumbs-up. I didn’t know what a thumbs-up meant. Maybe he’d been too busy to type out a reply. Maybe he liked emojis.
It was the first time I’d ever texted West. I didn’t know his texting habits.
Abandoning my desk, I headed to the lobby, then gave Deb a tight smile as I passed her at the desk.
She hadn’t spoken a word to me this week, not since the egg incident last Sunday. Whatever. Deb didn’t need to like me as her boss.
At the moment, I just needed a warm body at the desk until I was ready
to execute my backup plan.
Tara.
Tara was my contingency plan. She was hardworking. She was kind and, while guarded, respectful. We’d talked on Monday about her housekeeping team and the struggle finding employees on her existing budget.
So I’d increased her budget and given her a raise. An easy fix.
She’d had to sit down when I’d handed her the slip of paper with her updated salary.
The days of poor guest reviews and employees stretched too thin were over. No more cutting corners to trim expenses. Within the month, I expected a lot of new faces on the staff.
If Tara wanted to keep cleaning rooms, I’d make that happen. But if she wanted a change, I’d give her the front desk if—when—Deb was gone.
“Good afternoon.” I smiled at the guest rocking in one of our new front-porch chairs. “Having a good day?”
“The best,” the woman said, setting the book she was reading on her lap. “My husband is off on a hike, and I’m enjoying a day to myself.”
“Oh, I finished that book a few weeks ago. It’s fabulous.”
“I’m really loving it.”
“Enjoy.” I waved, then jogged down the stairs and through the parking lot.
The sun streaked through the white clouds that dotted the blue sky.
The scent of cut grass clung to the air.
Someone had cut the lawn around the lodge this morning. I’d woken to the sound of a mower, but by the time I’d showered and dressed, whoever had done the work was gone. A few days ago, the slow drip in the sink of the lodge’s main-floor ladies’ room had disappeared.
I suspected West was my mysterious groundskeeper and maintenance man.
I would have asked, except I’d been avoiding him all week, keeping busy and concentrating on details for the cabin remodel.
The sun’s heat had soaked into my black tee as I walked to the farthest cabin. As I got close, the sounds of pounding hammers and
buzzing power tools drifted from its open doorway.
“Knock, knock,” I called before stepping inside.
My contractor poked his head out from a bedroom. “Hey, Indya.”
“Hey, Mike. This looks . . . incredible.”
“Thanks.” He beamed under the praise, joining me in the kitchen.
“I’ve got a great crew.”
“I’ll say. This is remarkable. I can’t believe how much you’ve gotten done in just a week.”
Light streamed through new black-paned windows. The old floors had been ripped away, and they’d started installing white oak herringbone flooring. I’d drawn inspiration from the Beartooth and asked Mike to install the same hardwoods in each cabin.
The old light fixtures would be replaced with recessed lighting. In the dining area, we’d hang a sleek, stylish chandelier with a Western vibe.
I filled my lungs with the smell of fresh paint from the bedrooms.
Origami white, the same color that spotted Mike’s hands and Carhartt pants.
Mike had come out on Monday to discuss the remodeling project.
He’d made a few calls to find out the status of the materials Jonathan Lee had ordered—after I’d fired him, Jonathan had canceled those orders.
So Mike had hopped in his truck and hauled a trailer to Bozeman to pick up supplies himself. We’d had to stick with what the larger stores carried in stock, but everything he’d chosen was exactly what I would have picked myself.
It wasn’t fancy, but it was crisp and authentic. Gone were the rugged, rough edge and outdated finishes. These cabins would be clean and wholesome, yet appealing to guests who expected a certain quality of hospitality.
“Want to check out the bathroom? We’re just finishing up the tile.”
“Love to.” I followed him through the cabin.
Three of his men were in the bedrooms laying flooring, and I waved at each as we passed by. Outside in a dumpster were rolls of the old carpet.
No surprise, the bathroom tile was gorgeous. Another man was inside, working in the shower. The vanity’s backsplash was tiled with
cream marble in an intricate pattern.
“I don’t know what to say,” I told Mike. “This feels too good to be true.”
In just days, he’d accomplished more than I’d expected to have done in months.
“You know, it’s been a while since I did much work myself. These days, I mostly drive around and check on my crews. Spend too much time in the office with paperwork.”
Mike’s company built custom homes for wealthy people wanting a Montana escape. He had three houses in progress this summer, the smallest at seven thousand square feet.
“Vanessa and I were talking last night. I told her that I didn’t realize how much I missed holding a hammer,” he said. “This has been fun.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“Happy to,” he said. “West doesn’t ask for much help. In fact, he never asks. I’m glad I could do this for him.”
Mike wasn’t here for the money I was paying him. He’d made room in his schedule for West.
“We should be able to get this cabin wrapped up by the end of next week. Then we’ll dive into the others. I might not be around as much in July, but my guys will take care of you. We’ll get these cabins finished and then move on to the lodge.”
The renovations at the lodge wouldn’t be as extensive, but there were some cosmetic updates to be made in the dining rooms and guest rooms.
“I’ll let you get back to work.” I shook his hand. “Thanks again,
Mike. Have a great weekend.”
He dipped his chin. “You too.”
As I returned to the lodge, my nerves returned with a vengeance.
The brief distraction of the cabin remodel hadn’t lasted long enough. It would be fine. This meeting would be great.
I’d grab a Diet Coke, give Dad a quick call, and then meet with West. It wasn’t personal. This was a business meeting. I’d conducted a hundred of them in my lifetime. This one would be no different.
My mental pep talk was a waste of brainpower. When I spotted West’s truck pulling into the parking lot, I tripped on a pebble, barely catching my balance.
“Shit.” My face flamed as I glanced around, hoping no one had seen me.
Jax hopped out of the truck first, brushing the dirt from his jeans.
West climbed out next, adjusting the brim of his cowboy hat. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up his forearms. A pair of leather gloves stuck out of a back pocket of his Wranglers. His boots were dusty.
No wonder I’d fallen into his bed last week. He looked sweaty and tired and utterly breathtaking.
He looked like the boy who’d kissed me in his truck when I was sixteen.
My heart squeezed, but I steeled my spine and changed paths toward his truck.
The moment West spotted me, his expression blanked. He looked
through me, not at me.
It hurt. But I forced a small smile.
That blank look was my fault. For rushing out of his bedroom. For always keeping him at arm’s length.
“Hi,” I told him, then waved at his brother. “Hey, Jax.”
“Hey.”
“How did moving cows go today?”
Jax shrugged. “Good. Got it done.”
We’d had to pull Jax off guiding trail rides today because West had needed his brother’s help to move cows. Not that West had told me any of this. Jax had stomped into the office on Tuesday to tell me he couldn’t take guests out today and to have Wyatt manage.
“So what did you need?” Jax asked, tapping his foot. He seemed as anxious to get this over with as I was.
“Let’s talk in my office,” I said, risking a glance at West.
He was staring down the road like he wanted to drive away and never look back. But when I walked to the lodge, he fell in step with Jax behind me.
“Hey, guys.” Deb gave the Havens a beaming smile. She frowned my direction.
I just carried on to my office, then took a seat behind the desk.
Jax was the first to come inside, dropping into a folding chair—I really needed better chairs in here.
West didn’t cross the threshold. He was back to hovering in the hallway, ready to bolt at any moment.
“Please?” I nodded to the chair beside Jax’s.
He crossed his arms over his chest, but those feet didn’t move.
“Fine.” I opened my laptop and pulled up a browser. My designer had finished the rebranding late last night and launched the updates this morning. “This is the resort’s new website.”
Jax leaned closer as I spun the screen to face him. He blinked; then his eyes bulged.
My heart crawled into my throat, since I knew what he was reading.
I stared ahead, to the horse painting, and braced for his reaction.
And West’s.
“You. Renamed. Our. Ranch.” Each of Jax’s words was punctuated.
“Yes.”
West’s arms dropped to his sides, his hands fisting. “What?”
“She renamed our fucking ranch.” Jax shot out of his chair. “Our family’s ranch. Can she even do that?”
Would I ever stop being she? And yes, she could do that.
“To what?” West’s voice was low. Dark.
I sucked in a breath. “Haven River Ranch.”
West stayed silent.
Jax stood statue still, waiting for his brother’s reaction.
My heart hammered in my chest. I gave West a few moments, let that name sink in, and then looked to the door. When I met his gaze, the intensity in those hazel eyes was so powerful I couldn’t hold it.
“Is this meeting over?” Jax asked.
“Not quite yet.” I stood and gestured to the hall. “I’d like to introduce you to a few people outside.”
Jax didn’t move. Not until West gave him a single nod.
Then, shoulder to shoulder, they stalked outside.
I followed a few paces back, forcing air into my lungs as my pulse raced.
Did he like the new name? Did he hate it? Did he hate me?
It was going to end that way, wasn’t it? No matter what I did, his hatred was a foregone conclusion. I’d been a fool to think otherwise.
But I kept walking, one foot in front of the other, until we were outside.
Three eighteen-year-old boys were waiting.
“Hey, Luka.” Jax shook one boy’s hand and jerked his chin up to the other two. “Nicky. Gunner. What are you guys doing here?”
“Reporting for duty,” Luka said. “Hey, Miss Keller.”
“Hey. Welcome. Do I need to make introductions? Or do you all
know each other?”
“We’re good,” Nicky said.
“Great.” I faced Jax, because despite his shitty attitude, he was still the safer Haven brother. “Luka, Nicky, and Gunner will be working for us this summer. Trail rides. General help around the resort and ranch.
Gunner is going to take the lead on fishing so we can offer that to guests a few days a week. Jax, would you mind spending a couple hours today giving them a quick orientation? When you guys are done, pop into the lodge, and I’ll get you the rest of your employee paperwork.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Luka said.
Jax stared at me for a long moment, his eyebrows knit together.
Then he shook it off and jerked his chin for the boys to follow him to the barn.
I waited until they were gone before I faced West.
“You hired all three of them?” he asked.
“For the summer.”
Each of those boys had just graduated from high school. Luka was friends with Marie, and when I’d asked if she knew of anyone with some ranch experience wanting a job, she had given me his number. When I’d called Luka and invited him out for an interview yesterday, I’d told him to bring any friend who was looking for a job too.
He’d brought Nicky and Gunner.
All three of them were young. They’d make mistakes. But if it lightened West’s load, even a little, then it was worth having them around.
“Maybe you can have them mow the lawn so you don’t need to do it before dawn,” I said.
He dragged a hand over his jaw, the stubble he’d grown in the past
six days, then turned for his truck.
“West,” I called.
He turned. “Yeah?”
“Do you like the name?” Please, say yes.
The name was for him.
It was all for him.
“Yeah, Indy. I like the name.”
The relief was crushing. Before he could see the tears flooding my eyes, before he could turn his back on me, I walked away first.
