Page 15

Chapter

Eight

K elby nodded encouragingly as her dad took the last bite of his chocolate pudding, saying, “You did a really good job, Dad.”

For a moment, their gazes met, and she saw a glimpse of the father she had known her entire life.

Then it was gone. She had experienced a few of these fleeting moments over the last several days, but it seemed to her as if her dad were slipping away.

Despite numerous therapy sessions each day, Big Jim Blackstone had not made any improvement.

He also had not spoken once since his stroke occurred.

As he set down the spoon, she smiled brightly at him. “It’s just going to take some time, Dad. You know anything worth it never comes easy. You’ve told Chance and me that our entire lives.”

He merely stared back at her. His eyes misted for a moment, and she took his hand.

Chance entered the room. “Okay, Dad. I got everything settled with your occupational therapist.” He took a seat on the opposite side of where Kelby was and glanced at the tray. “Looks like you had a good dinner. Except for the peas.”

“He enjoyed the pudding cup the best,” she said. “As always, Dad is not a fan of English peas.” She glanced back at him. “Even though you insisted the two of us finish every last one on our plates.”

Her brother laughed. “I used to slip them into my hand and feed the dog,” he admitted. “I don’t know why Tammy insisted on serving them, knowing Dad didn’t eat them.”

“Tammy was always trying to get us to broaden our tastes. I was such a Daddy’s girl.

If he ate salad, so would I. If he gobbled up his carrots, I did, too.

” She smiled. “You never would eat any kind of fish, Dad, so neither did I. Then in college, I had a guy make dinner for me at his apartment my sophomore year. He served baked salmon and was so proud of the meal he’d prepared for us.

I didn’t know if I’d make it through the meal, much less the date.

Then I took a bite—and fell in love with salmon.

I eat a lot of seafood now.” She smoothed her dad’s hair. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“So, your tastes for fish remained, but the guy was history?” Chance asked. “Because I can’t see Bax ever cooking you anything.”

The mention of her ex caused her stomach to go queasy. “We didn’t start dating until the beginning of junior year,” she said lightly. “And no, Bax never lifted a finger in the kitchen.”

Chance gave her a sympathetic look. “Sorry I brought him up. Especially with what just happened to him.”

Kelby had told her brother about Bax’s murder, just to prepare him in case someone asked him about it. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t mention him again.”

“Got it.” He looked at their dad. “Guess Kelby and I will head home. I’ll see you tomorrow night, Dad.” Chance squeezed his father’s hand and released it.

Kelby brushed a kiss on his brow. “I’ll be back for lunch, Dad. See you then. Work hard at therapy tomorrow.”

They left the rehab center and climbed into Chance’s pickup. Kelby’s thoughts turned to West, and she decided to tell her brother she had seen him.

“West Sutherland is back in Hawthorne,” she said. “I saw him this afternoon. Told him about Dad’s stroke.”

“I hope we can get together and catch up. I sent him a text after his big retirement announcement. He thanked me and said he’d see me soon.”

“You may be seeing a lot more of him than you think.” She paused. “Coach Markham offered him a coaching position for next year, and West accepted.”

“Wait. You’re telling me that West will be moving back to Hawthorne?” Chance asked, excitement in his voice. “That’s pretty crazy to think he’d come back and live here after all he’s seen and done.”

He reached for his cell, which was sitting in the cupholder. Handing it to her, he said, “Call him for me.”

Kelby did as he asked, handing Chance the phone as it started to ring.

“Hey, buddy. Long time no see. Kelby just told me you were back in town. For good. Yeah. Uh-huh. She and I are driving back from seeing Dad. Hey, would you like to grab a bite? Maybe Sonny’s Sports Bar?

He’s moved to a bigger place. It’s about two blocks off the square.

Yeah. Sure. It’ll be good to see him. Okay. Be there in thirty. Bye.”

Chance placed his phone in the cupholder again. “We’re meeting West and Sawyer at Sonny’s in half an hour.”

“We? No, just drop me back at the ranch,” she said quickly. “That way, you guys can reminisce as you always do.”

“No, West specifically said to bring you. Besides, taking you to the ranch and then doubling back would be out of the way. Besides, you need to eat.”

Knowing she wouldn’t win this battle, she said, “I’d better text Tammy and let her know we won’t be home for dinner.”

“It was just leftover enchiladas tonight. Remember, she has book club tonight. That’s why she made a big batch last night, so we could simply heat things up.”

Kelby worried seeing West again would cause her to want to heat things up between the two of them. She couldn’t allow that. It would be a mistake to get involved with him.

Even though she badly wanted to do so.

She had never forgotten the single kiss they’d shared.

She’d kissed a handful of guys during college, finally settling into a relationship with Bax.

While she had been physically attracted to her ex-husband and they had enjoyed a healthy sex life until his first serious football injury, his kisses had never stacked up to the one she had shared with West.

Was the universe telling her something, placing West and her in the same place again after fourteen years apart?

She had never been a believer in fate or coincidence.

People made choices on their own. Yet the fact both she and West were now in Hawthorne at the same time, neither involved in a relationship, gnawed at her.

Maybe one kiss. Just to prove it wasn’t as big a deal as she remembered.

Memory was a funny thing. It could play tricks on you.

Kissing West once might free her from thinking how special he was.

He was just another guy. Plus, she had no plans to stay in Hawthorne once her dad came back to the ranch and was settled into a routine with a caregiver.

She needed to find a job. Dallas was home now.

Not Hawthorne, where West would be settling down.

Kelby desperately wanted to pull down the visor and look in the mirror.

If she did, though, Chance might pick up on it.

She had never told him that she and West had kissed, and her gut told her West had never shared that with his best friend.

She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

Her appearance was fine. She was just going to have a casual meal with an old friend.

It would also be good to see Sawyer, her best friend’s brother.

In fact, she would pay for Sawyer’s meal since he’d helped her with her negotiation with Wyndham & Warren.

Sawyer had teased about sending her a bill, something he had yet to do. She would insist upon it tonight.

They reached the outskirts of Hawthorne, and a lump formed in her throat.

Images of the past flooded her, the happy days of her childhood.

Riding horses. Roasting marshmallows. Swimming at the lake.

Leading cheers on Friday nights for the Hawks.

Whether he realized it or not, West was woven into many of those childhood memories.

They pulled into the parking lot of Sonny’s, which was about half-full. She spied the sleek Jaguar which West had gotten into after leaving Burger Heaven. Butterflies beat in her belly, causing nerves to ripple through her. She couldn’t help it as anticipation filled her at seeing him again.

Chance held the door for her as they entered the sports bar. Sawyer spied them and waved. Her heart beating fast, she walked toward the booth. Should she sit next to West? Or Sawyer? Such little decisions like this reminded her of high school.

Sawyer slid from the booth, wrapping his arms about her. “Good to see you, Kelby.” He released her. “I’m sorry to hear about Big Jim.”

“Thanks. I’ve got a beef to pick with you, Montgomery. Where’s that big bill you promised to send me?”

He laughed. “Must’ve gotten lost in the mail.”

She frowned. “I mean it, Sawyer. You went to bat for me at a critical time. And now that you’re opening a practice here in Hawthorne, I expect an invoice. By snail mail or email. Please send it.”

“Okay,” he said reluctantly. “But no rush in paying it.”

Kelby turned and saw that West had also climbed from the booth, greeting Chance. Her brother went to shake hands with Sawyer, and West looked at her.

Gesturing, he said, “Want to slide in first?”

Decision obviously made.

She sat on the bench and scooted over, West slipping in beside her. She caught his scent again and chastised herself for wanting to lean into him and sniff his neck.

“I’m glad you and Chance could meet us for dinner,” he said quietly. “I’m open to being friends. If you are,” he added, hesitation in his voice. “I acknowledge that I was a real jerk before, Kelby. I apologize for that. That isn’t really who I am.”

Smiling encouragingly, she said, “We’ve known one another forever. Being friends is part of that.”

He relaxed visibly. “Good to know.” Looking to Chance, he said, “Glad you could grab dinner with us.”

“I’m starved,” Chance declared. “We’ve been going to see Dad each evening around suppertime, making sure he’s eating okay. Checking in with the nurses and therapists on staff.”

“How is he doing?” West asked.

“Kelby knows more about that. She’s been with him a lot during his therapy sessions at the hospital, and she goes to the rehab facility twice a day.”

A server came and took the drink orders, and they opened their menus, looking over the options. Then she told them about the lack of progress she was seeing.