Jesus! That right there proved it. He was losing his mind.
And yet even as he yelled at himself, he couldn’t get truly angry. For the first time in what seemed a very long time, he was looking forward to something that wasn’t climbing or skiing. Of course, there was always the chance that she wouldn’t call.
He shoved his boots in his locker, took off his parka, and hung it on its hook.
Matt walked up behind him, a piece of paper in his hand. “Hey, Jesse, I made a few calls. Nate West, son of the owner of the Cimarron Ranch, says he’d be happy to team up for the skijoring event. He and his dad breed quarter horses. Here’s his number.”
“I’ve heard of the Cimarron.” Jesse had been invited there for a trail ride once but hadn’t been able to make it. He took the number, tucked it in his pocket. “Thanks.”
Ben sat down across from him. “I saw you kiss that hot little number in the parking lot. Who was she?”
“Hot little number?” Jesse didn’t like hearing any man call Ellie that, but he didn’t get the chance to say so.
Matt glared at him. “Hey, we’ve got rules about getting it on with guests.”
“Wear protection!” shouted several patrollers in unison.
“Damned straight.” Matt walked back to the dispatch desk, chuckling.
“Who was she?” Ben wasn’t giving up.
Jesse was torn between irritation and laughing at the kid’s persistence. Had he been this annoying in his early twenties? “That was my neighbor. Her sister fell and injured her knee. I was helping out.”
“Interesting ‘helping’ technique.”
Jesse shut his locker, slapped Ben on the shoulder. “Watch and learn, grasshopper. Watch and learn.”
*
As it turned out, Claire had torn her anterior cruciate ligament and her meniscus. Based on the MRI results, Dr. Southcott recommended surgery. He discharged her from the ER with crutches, pain killers, and instructions to elevate and ice her knee until she could see a surgeon.
Cedar drove Claire home in his vehicle, while Ellie drove Claire’s Outback down the canyon to their home in Boulder. When Claire was inside, Cedar left Ellie to watch over her while he took off to get some Thai takeout.
Ellie did her best to get Claire comfortable, helping her take a shower and put on her PJs, giving her a dose of pain meds, and settling her on the sofa in front of the TV with an ice bag and a cup of tea.
“I’m so sorry, sis.” Ellie could see behind Claire’s cheery fa?ade and knew she was in pain. “The codeine ought to kick in soon.”
“I’ll be okay. My big sister’s a nurse. She’ll make sure of it.”
“You bet I will.” Ellie sat in the armchair beside the sofa. “Do you want to watch something on TV? I could put in a DVD or—”
“He kissed you.”
A thrill shivered through her. “I’m trying not to think about that.”
In truth, Ellie was finding it hard to think about anything but that kiss. Remembering it brought the sensation back—the softness of his lips, their heat, the nearness of his body.
What would it be like to be kissed for real by him?
“I could feel his muscles when he lifted me into my car. Good grief, girl! I can only imagine what he looks like naked. But then you got a glimpse.”
“Yes! Yes, I did. And he was ripped, okay? He was gorgeous. Part of me wanted to run my hands over his chest just to enjoy the feel of him.”
“So call him. You’ve got his number, right?”
“I’m not sure I can.”
“You’re not sure you can call him? Did you forget how to use a phone?”
“No! I’m not sure I can sleep with him. What if we’re in bed together and all I can think about is Dan?”
“Did you think about Dan when he kissed you?”
The answer to that question hit her squarely in the forehead. “No.”
“Call him, Ellie. Give him a chance. How many more years are you planning to live this sexless existence? You deserve happiness. Dan didn’t want you to be lonely. He wanted you to have a full life. You know that.”
Dan had told her more than once that she was to live her life to the fullest should anything happen to him. She’d promised to do just that. But she’d never imagined how hard it would be to live with that promise.
Ellie nodded, her throat tight.
“So you’ll call him?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Ellie was still thinking about it when her father came to pick her up and to check on his younger daughter. She thought about it all the way up the canyon. She thought about it when she gave the kids their bath, read them stories, and put them to bed.
She walked into the kitchen to pour herself some wine. But rather than getting a glass out of the cupboard, she walked to the rear window and looked across her backyard and up the mountainside toward his cabin. There, among the trees, she caught a glimpse of golden light spilling from his kitchen window.
She picked up Jesse’s business card, which still sat on the kitchen counter, then reached for the phone.
Chapter 7