Your Ranch Or Mine?

Anna went out the back of the house and Mitch headed to the stairs. He’d hoped to take a minute to pull on a shirt but the doorbell was now one steady ring. Instead of making a quick detour to his bedroom, he stopped in the foyer and pulled open the door. Alexander Darst, his eight-o’clock appointment, stood on the porch, a briefcase in one hand, the other hand firmly fixed on the buzzer.

Alex’s hand dropped from the bell and his eyes widened at the sight of Mitch.

Ignoring the questioning look, Mitch motioned the attorney inside. In his three-piece suit and Brooks Brothers tie, Alex appeared to be dressed more for a day in court than touring a dusty building. “I’ll pull on a shirt and we can talk. Coffee is in the kitchen if you want some.”

Mitch had already reached his upstairs bedroom before he remembered Anna’s cup on the table. But there was no way to get it now. He only hoped Alex wouldn’t notice.

Even if he does, he won’t know it was hers.

The thought took Mitch by surprise. As did the realization that he was feeling the need to be as secretive as Anna. He shrugged aside his unease and pulled a long-sleeved cotton shirt over his head. He refused to think about Anna Anderssen. She was the past. The meeting today was about his future.

Of all the buildings in Sweet River, the one known simply as “The Hattan” had always been his favorite. As an architect he could fully appreciate the design of the brick-and-granite neo-Romanesque structure. As a boy it had been the two lizards and salamander on the top spire that had earned his admiration.

The insurance agency that had occupied the building for decades had moved out long ago. Since then family squabbles had kept it boarded up and off the market. When Mitch heard the property was finally for sale, he’d been seized with the idea of owning a piece of Sweet River history.

Although the two-story structure was solidly built, the wiring, plumbing and interior walls needed work. That meant he’d have to dip into his cash reserves to pay for the improvements.

Still, he couldn’t get the place out of his mind. He’d mentioned his interest in the building to Alex—who’d recently started handling his financial affairs—and the attorney had told him there might be grants or tax credits available for such renovations. Mitch had made an appointment to tour the building the next morning.

He slipped the watch on his wrist, grimacing at the time. Anna’s unexpected visit had definitely put him behind schedule. Yet he’d hated to see her leave. For some reason it felt as if there was still unfinished business between them.

Shaking off the crazy notion, he hurried down the stairs, boots clattering against the hardwood. He shoved open the kitchen door and found Alex sitting in the chair Anna had vacated less than ten minutes earlier. “Thanks for waiting.”

Alex brought a cup of black coffee to his lips. “You’re running late this morning.”

Mitch shrugged. He prided himself on his punctuality, but he’d also learned that sometimes a guy had no choice but to go with the flow. “I was up past midnight getting these figures together.”

“Appears you were looking at figures, all right.” Alex glanced pointedly at the cup with the lipstick smudge and chuckled. “Of the female variety.”

Mitch ignored the comment. If the attorney was hoping he’d open up, he was going to be disappointed. Even when Mitch had a love life, he’d never been one to “kiss and tell.” He crossed the room, splashed coffee into a mug, then gathered the folder from the counter and took a seat in the chair opposite Alex. Pushing Anna’s cup and Cassie’s coffee cake to one side, Mitch placed the folder on the table and flipped it open. “As you can see—”

“You told me you weren’t dating,” Alex said at the same time.

Mitch gritted his teeth and counted to five. “I’m not dating anyone.”

Alex paused for a moment. His eyes narrowed in thought before a look of understanding crossed his face. “So it’s just sex.”

“No, it’s not ‘just sex,’” Mitch snapped. A surge of irritation washed over him. If Alex pushed much more, he’d be forced to lie and that was something he didn’t want to do ever again.

Lying had been a big part of that long-ago summer with Anna. He’d lied to himself when he’d told his heart it was just a summer fling. He’d lied to her when he’d acted as if he didn’t care. He’d lied to his friends every time they’d asked him where he’d been or what he’d been doing. The lies had gotten so bad that shortly before the centennial celebration, Seth had confronted him, asking if he’d gotten messed up with drugs.

But the only high Mitch had experienced that summer was Anna. In less time than it took to get thrown off a bull, she’d become the most important person in the world to him.

That was then, he reminded himself. There was really no reason to cover for her now. Of course, mentioning she’d been in his house when he’d been half-dressed would lead to speculation and more questions. Questions Mitch wasn’t prepared to answer. Certainly not to a man who talked way too much.

“I arranged for us to meet old man Hattan at nine and tour the building.” Mitch tapped a pencil against the table. “I assume that still works with your schedule.”

It was a comment, not a question. Alex had told him yesterday that he’d blocked out a couple hours in the morning for their meeting.

“Works fine,” Alex said. “Anna is opening and manning the office for me.”

Mitch now understood why she’d looked so good this morning. Her red dress had hugged her curves in all the right places and the ridiculously high heels had accentuated her shapely calves. Her honey-colored hair had hung loose to her shoulders, the way he’d always liked it. The summer they’d been together she’d often worn it down…just for him. He loved the feel of the silky strands between his fingers, against his cheek….

Mitch bit back a curse. Her unexpected visit had resurrected memories he’d buried long ago. He picked up a sheet of paper filled with figures and shoved it in front of Alex. “Let’s get down to business.”

One hour and two-pieces-of-coffee-cake-for-Alex later, the men stood on the sidewalk in the heart of downtown Sweet River, gazing at the granite front of the Hattan building. With the large storefront window and a Romanesque arch over the doorway, the exterior was impressive. Though old man Hattan’s grandson had stopped by and unlocked the building ten minutes earlier, Mitch and Alex hadn’t yet ventured inside.

“The surrounding buildings are all well-maintained.” Mitch shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his cowboy boots. He was glad he’d thought to grab a jacket on his way out of the house. Although it was only mid-September, the wind was brisk and the air had taken on a decided chill.

A particularly strong gust sent leaves and dust scattering across the sidewalk. Alex turned up the collar of his overcoat and hunched his shoulders. “It’s a nice building.”

“Nice?” an indignant female voice interjected. “Look at those carvings. The Hattan isn’t just nice. It’s the most beautiful building in the whole town.”

Mitch spun around. He’d been so focused on admiring the building’s facade that he hadn’t noticed Cassie’s arrival. She stood on the other side of Alex, her dark hair twisted in a halfhearted ponytail. With her well-worn jeans and bulky oversize sweater, she looked like she’d just hopped out of bed and pulled on whatever was on the floor.

He couldn’t help but smile, remembering his days in grade school when whatever was on the floor had usually been all there was to wear. For him, because his dad drank any extra money away. For her, because her single-parent mom was more interested in her boyfriends than in providing for her daughter.

Though his life had gotten easier, Cassie still struggled. Her sewing ability was the only thing keeping her out of the welfare line. Last night when they’d shared a beer on her porch, he’d mentioned how tired she’d been looking. She’d assured him that with Stacie’s wedding dress now finished, she was through burning the midnight oil.

“I thought you promised me you’d sleep in,” he chided. The older-brother role was a familiar one for him. After all, he’d looked out for her since they were kids.

“Change in plans,” Cassie said with a rueful smile. “Trenton left his math assignment at home.”

“Uh, Cassie, the high school is that away.” Mitch gestured with his head.

She shoved her shoulder against him. “I know that, you goof. I was headed back home when I got a craving for one of Stacie’s gooey cinnamon rolls. I saw you standing on the sidewalk and wondered if you’d like to join me.”

While a cinnamon roll sounded good, business had to come before pleasure.

“Your friend is welcome, too,” Cassie said quickly.

Mitch thought for a moment. “Can you wait while we check out the inside?”

Cassie’s eyes brightened. “Can I come, too? I promise I’ll zip my mouth and be quiet as a mouse.”

Mitch had to laugh. She wouldn’t last five minutes. “Of course you can come. And talk all you want. You know I value your opinion.”

Cassie blushed. “That’s nice of you to say.”

A look of speculation filled Alex’s eyes. He turned toward Cassie and stuck out his hand. “If we’re going to break bread together, we should know each other’s names. I’m Alex Darst, a new attorney in town.”

“Cassie Els. I live just down the street from Mitch.” She took his hand. “I’ve heard so many nice things about you. It’s a pleasure to finally put a face with a name.”

Mitch pulled his brows together. By the way they were acting, he’d have thought the two were strangers. “Didn’t you meet at the Young Professionals meeting?”

Alex shook his head. “I wasn’t there. I sent Anna Anderssen to represent the office for me. Remember?”

Of course Mitch remembered the evening. He remembered his shock at seeing Anna after so many years. And he remembered how determined he’d been to keep the conversation strictly business.