Her Favorite Cowboy

The speaker had warned them about his getting a cinder in his eye several years ago when he sat in the open railcar.

“I already bought the tickets for us, sweetheart. We’re all going,” Grandma May said.

“I can’t let you pay for us, Gram. That’s too much,” Cori protested.

Grandma May shook her head. “Nonsense. It’s my treat.”

The train ride, which was an all-day affair, had been scheduled for Saturday. That was three days away. The conference ended on Sunday with a business meeting and an excursion to Mesa Verde National Park. Cori and her family would be driving back to Gram’s house by then, and the conference—along with Gage Remington, given his apparent behavior—would be a fading memory.

All through dinner, Cori had tried to get his attention, but he’d seemed dead-set on avoiding her at all costs. It made Cori believe he took their grandparents’ warnings seriously. Although she admired his discipline in the matter, it didn’t bode well for them maintaining a friendship, even a clandestine one, which could have been fun.

After all the talks had ended and most of the attendees either went up to their rooms or headed over to the tavern, she walked the somewhat empty sidewalks of downtown Durango in the moonlight, alone. She thought about how nice it would have been to share this with Gage. Whatever was going on between their grandparents certainly shouldn’t impact their budding friendship. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, at least not with her life so unsettled, but a friendship with a man was something that she’d been missing for a very long time. And Gage Remington seemed like the man for the job. She liked that he seemed to really care about rekindling his relationship with his grandfather, and that he’d taken the time to escort him to Durango. Not very many men would want to do that.

Plus, he had a killer smile.

“Nice night,” a familiar voice echoed from behind her. She had heard the rustle of feet on pavement, but never assumed it would be Gage. She felt as if he’d been reading her thoughts, and a tinge of heat made her blush.

His distinctive voice echoed in her ears. “Mind if I join you?”

Cori spun around to see Gage standing close behind her, grinning. At once she noticed how good he looked, with scruffy facial hair, a gray button-down shirt open at the neck, revealing a dusting of dark chest hair, tight black jeans and those sexy black boots. His mere presence made her reconsider those silly friendship thoughts. This cowboy might have to be elevated to a friend with benefits. She’d never thought of that possibility with any other man she’d met, until now.

“Your timing is impeccable. I was just thinking about you.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, and quickly wet her lips.

“In a good way, I hope.” His grin grew wider, and his dark eyes sparkled under the glow of the streetlights. Her knees felt weak, and her pulse quickened.

“I thought you were ignoring me.”

“I was, and I’m sorry about that. My grandfather is a powerful force, but he finally went up to his room. The good news is I was able to get my own room, so we’re both much happier men this evening. And your grandmother?”

“She and Hailey called it a night.”

“What about you?”

“I’m in their room. We have a suite.”

“No, I mean why aren’t you up there with them?”

“I needed a walk. It’s too lovely to be inside. Don’t you agree?”

“Way too lovely,” he said, his gaze caressing her face, a shadow of a smile on his lips. She wanted to swoon, but controlled herself. “Much different from Manhattan.”

Cori didn’t remember telling him she lived in New York City.

“How’d you know?”

“Know what?”

“Where I’m from?”

“I didn’t. That’s where I’m from. Been living in New York for the past six years. And you?”

“Wow, it really is a small world... The past five.”

They continued up Main Avenue, past closed shops and bustling restaurants. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke, and not a single car passed them on the street. The silence of the town wrapped them in its serenity, as if protecting them from the rest of the hurried world, reminding Cori of her visits to her gram’s house when she was a child.

Gage broke the silence as a horse-drawn wagon filled with several tourists went clacking by. “So this is a vacation?”

“Not exactly. More like a major change. I was an ER doctor, but I quit. I’d been working too many hours and not spending any time with Hailey. I needed to slow down and rethink my career path...what’s important to me. I don’t know exactly where Hailey and I will settle, but I won’t be going back to New York. And you? Is this a vacation with your grandfather?”

His soft deep chuckle erupted from the back of his throat, reminding her how much she’d missed the intimate company of a man.

“The words vacation and grandfather can’t be used in the same sentence, at least not where I’m concerned. It’s more of an attempt at rekindling some burning embers with my family. I thought I’d start with my grandfather and work forward.”

“Sounds as if you burned a lot of bridges.”

“More like I soaked them in gasoline and used a flamethrower.” His voice took on a serious tone, as if he hadn’t liked where his life was heading and now he was seriously trying to change.

“I’m getting a little worried.”

“About what?”

“About us.”

“Things are looking up. I didn’t know we were an us.”

She chuckled and slowed her pace, wanting to make her intentions clear.

“That all depends.”

“On what?”

“On if your arson days are over.” She didn’t want to begin anything with Gage if he was already focused on the endgame. What few men she had dated in the five years since her husband’s passing had only been interested in hookups or sex without any commitment. In the beginning that was fine, but after you’ve experienced real love, hooking up with men who don’t care about you gets old really fast. She wanted something more now, and until she found it, she was willing to stay celibate. At least, that was the plan.

“I’m more into building bridges now. Not that I’m a very good carpenter, but I’m learning.”

She nodded, wanting to know more, but willing to wait for the details when and if he was ready to share.

“One plank at a time.”

“That’s a tough concept for a New Yorker. Especially in my line of work.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a trader.”

“A Wall Street trader?”

“Yes, but I’m on an extended leave at the moment.”