“Then that changes everything.”
She studied him, trying to figure out what he was thinking. “Are you mad?”
“No.”
“Do you hate me?”
“No.”
Do you still want me?
She didn’t speak those words. Her courage only took her so far.
“Do you forgive me?” she asked instead.
“Yes.”
She smiled. “Thank you for saying that, instead of telling me there was nothing to forgive. I really am sorry.”
He raised his hand as if he were going to touch her face, then lowered it back to his side. Disappointment swelled inside her. Terrified she’d blown it, she didn’t know what to say. How was she supposed to ask a man to want her again?
RESTLESS FROM HER ENCOUNTER with Simon, Montana decided what she needed was a good book to distract her. An evening curled up on the sofa reading would make her feel better. When she was done with work, she swung by Morgan’s Books.
As usual, the place was busy, with a dozen or so people browsing and chatting. The scent of fresh coffee filled the air, along with the distinctive and delicious smell of brownies. Morgan’s daughter Amber must have come by with a fresh batch from her bakery.
Montana waved to people she knew and headed for the romance section. Her love life was in the toilet, but there was no reason not to live vicariously through others, she told herself. She scanned the shelves, looking for a book that fit her mood, and stopped in front of a red book with a picture of a woman on the cover.
“Visions of Magic,” she murmured, studying the flame tattoo on the woman’s back. She’d never read Regan Hastings before, but was intrigued.
She reached for the book, only to bump hands with someone else.
“Sorry,” she said, stepping back and turning. “Oh, hi.” She recognized the curvy blonde as new to town. “Heidi, right?”
The woman, about her age, but much prettier, smiled. “Yes. And you’re one of the triplets. I’m sorry, I can’t tell you apart yet.”
“Montana.”
“Right.” She tilted her head, as if studying Montana and hoping to find a difference.
Montana grinned. “If it helps, Dakota is pregnant, so for the next few months she’ll be easy to find.”
“Great. Thanks for the tip.”
Heidi had golden blond hair she wore in two braids and large green eyes. Green eyes that made Montana think about Simon, which she didn’t want to do.
“You and your grandfather bought the Castle Ranch outside of town, right?”
“That’s us.”
“How are you settling in?”
“We’re figuring it out as we go. The house needs a complete renovation. I don’t think anyone has lived in it for a while.”
Montana tried to remember who had lived there last. “Old man Castle died ages ago. Maybe twenty years or so. I can’t remember. He had a family living there. The mom was the housekeeper and her three boys worked the ranch. It wasn’t much, even then. I don’t know what happened after that. When he passed away, the family left. There was talk of someone from back East inheriting, but no one ever showed up.”
“The place looks like it.” Heidi wrinkled her nose. “I remind myself I’ve lived in worse. At least the plumbing and electricity work and the roof will last another couple of years, but seriously, when was the last time you saw an avocado-green stove?”
Montana laughed. “Once. In the movies.”
“If you want to see the real thing, let me know. I have one.”
Montana hadn’t heard much about Heidi and her grandfather. “Are you running cattle on the ranch?”
Heidi shook her head. “No. I’m not big into cows. There are a few roaming around. They’re wild or feral or whatever it is cows get when no one is around to take care of them.” She paused. “I have a few goats I milk and I use the goat milk to make cheese.”
Goats? “Your name is Heidi, you live with your grandfather and you have goats?”
Heidi laughed. “The irony is not lost, believe me. The difference is Glen, my grandfather, is very friendly, so I won’t have to act as a liaison between him and the villagers.” She glanced around the bookstore. “I’ll bet Morgan has a copy here. When was the last time you read Heidi?”
“I think my mom read it to me and my sisters when we were pretty little. Wasn’t there a girl in a wheelchair?”
“I sort of remember that.” Her smile faded. “My mom read it to me, too. It’s a good memory.”
Sadness replaced humor and Montana had the feeling Heidi had lost her mother a long time ago. Having suffered through the death of her father, she knew what that was like.
“Do you get to town much?” she asked. “We have a girl’s night out, or sometimes in, every few weeks. Just a bunch of us getting together to talk. If you want to give me your number, I can let you know when the next one is and you can join us.”
“I’d like that.”
Montana pulled out her cell phone and took Heidi’s number.