He nodded. He would, that is—once he finally got the place paid off.

  “Is it usually busier?” she asked.

  “It’s early in the season,” Dave told her. “You should see it in the summer. I have about five months when it is packed almost every night. I have a band play on Saturday nights, a disc jockey on Fridays and karaoke, which is really popular with tourists. They love putting on cowboy hats and singing the old Western songs.”

  “Sounds like fun,” she said. “You must make a lot of money.”

  “I do okay,” he said, and she swore that he flushed.

  Which meant he did better than okay. It was so like Davey to play it down.

  “What about you?” he asked.

  She flipped her hair back. “What about me?”

  “Do you have a career, a job?”

  Tanya laughed. “A job?” She shook her head. “I’m too much of a free spirit to let myself get tied down to a job. I’m kind of a—” she gave it some thought “—consultant.” She laughed. “I advise people on what to do with their money.”

  “Really?”

  Before he could ask for more details, she said, “What’s in the bag?”

  Later, after being forced to split a tuna salad sandwich—apparently, his favorite since meeting someone named Melissa—she regretted saying she was hungry.

  “Where are you staying?” Dave asked.

  She thought about her lack of money. Fortunately, Davey had been supplying her with drinks and that awful lunch. She really hadn’t thought about what she was going to do. Once she got to Vegas... “Where do people stay in Buckhorn?”

  “There’s the Sleepy Pine Motel.”

  “You’re joking,” she said with a laugh. She’d had just enough to drink that she couldn’t help herself. “Anywhere else?”

  “It’s the only motel in town. Most of the bed-and-breakfasts haven’t opened yet, since tourist season doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but I could probably make some calls.” He finally picked up on her expression. “Oh, that’s right. You lost your purse. I’m sorry. How foolish of me.” She saw him glance at the shoulder bag sitting on the stool next to her and felt her pulse jump.

  “They took my phone and my wallet out of my purse,” she said quickly and mugged what she hoped was a sad face as she picked up her bag from the stool and held it to her. “I don’t know where I’m going to stay or what I’m going to do until the parts come in and I get my car fixed.” She looked up at him. “How long will that be?”

  He shrugged. “Gertrude’s good, but she isn’t fast. I’ll tell you what. If you don’t mind staying in my place upstairs... It isn’t fancy by any means, but it’s comfortable. At least I think so.”

  “Oh, Davey, that is so sweet.” She couldn’t wait to see what he thought was comfortable. He looked good, but he lived over his bar. “With the place doing so well I would have thought you’d have built yourself a house somewhere around here. Didn’t you used to work for your father? He built homes, right?”

  He nodded. “I can definitely do the work, but truthfully, living upstairs is so handy, and I really haven’t needed anything more.”

  Tanya was beginning to remember why it had been so easy to break up with Davey after his accident cost him his football career. She put a smile on her face. “I’d love to stay with you if you’re sure it isn’t an imposition.”

  “Not at all,” he said and smiled. “I’ll run across the highway and get your suitcase.” From down the bar, he heard Ralph groan.

  * * *

  DAVE ASKED RALPH to watch the bar for a minute while he went over to the gas station to collect Tanya’s bags. She insisted on coming along. “Beautiful afternoon,” he said as they crossed the highway. He never got tired of the view of snowcapped mountains against the huge blue sky this time of year.

  He’d started to point out one of the mountain ranges when she said, “It’s seventy-eight degrees in Las Vegas right now.” She shivered. “How can you live in such a cold, isolated place?”

  He quickly took off his jean jacket and put it around her shoulders. “Better?”

  She nodded and smiled. “Much.” At the sound of a semi horn, they quickly hurried out of the middle of the highway as the truck roared past. Traffic was supposed to slow down to thirty-five miles per hour once in Buckhorn proper, but often didn’t. It wasn’t like there was anyone in town to arrest the drivers. The nearest law was a good hour away in either direction.

  From the trunk of her car, Dave pulled out two large suitcases. He didn’t know much about luggage, since he’d never really had the need for any. But he could tell that these were expensive valises. Also well used, he noticed as he lifted them out and saw how worn they were. Knowing Tanya, these cases had probably already been around the world a couple of times. He couldn’t imagine the life she’d lived and tried not to compare it to his own.

  “I’ve been meaning to get new suitcases,” she said as she ran her hand over one of the worn spots on the larger of the two.

  “They look fine to me,” Dave said and felt her slide a glance at him before smiling.

  “You’ve always asked for so little in life,” she said.

  Her words made him bristle. “I don’t think that’s true.” It surprised him that, from her, judgment could still hurt. Seeing her again had made it slip his mind how she’d dumped him after his accident so many years ago.

  “No, that came out wrong,” she quickly corrected. “You appreciate what you have. Some of us are always wanting more, when if we could just stop and enjoy what we have, we’d be much happier. You’re content and that’s a good thing, Davey.”

  “It’s Dave now,” he said as they crossed the highway again. He’d always felt a sense of pride when he saw his place from a distance. He was surprised that it looked shabbier than he’d realized.

  “Tell me, what brought you to Buckhorn?” she asked, clearly trying to smooth over things with him.

  He wasn’t one to hold a grudge or stay upset long. Anyway, he got the feeling that Tanya wasn’t as happy as she pretended to be. He doubted she could ever be content, but it made him wonder where life had taken her in the years since high school.

  “A friend of mine owned the bar here,” he said as he carried the suitcases up the stairs to his apartment. “I stopped by to see him and ended up staying and buying the place.” He opened the unlocked door and pushed it open for her to enter.

  Dave had never been a slob, so he wasn’t worried about the place being a mess. But as he pushed open the door, he saw it through her eyes.

  “It isn’t much,” he said apologetically.

  “It’s adorable.” He looked at her to be sure she was serious. “Did you decorate it yourself?”

  “My friend Melissa.” He chuckled. “She’s good at making something ordinary beautiful.”

  * * *

  MELISSA, TANYA THOUGHT with a silent groan. The friend who brings lunch, who can make something ordinary beautiful. It was enough to make her grind her teeth.

  “You’ll have to tell me more about her,” Tanya said.

  “You can have the bedroom,” he said, carrying her bags in. “I just changed the sheets this morning. It’s almost like I knew you’d be dropping by.” He turned to smile at her, everything forgiven. He reminded himself that Tanya had always been out of his league. He couldn’t hold it against her that they were so different.

  “I don’t want to toss you out of your bedroom.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  “You were going to tell me more about your friend. How long have you known Melanie?”

  “Melissa?”

  “Sorry. Melissa.”

  “She arrived in town about six months ago, looking for some property to invest in.”

  Tanya raised an eyebrow. “She has money?”

  He laughed. “Not like your family. Her grandmother left her what she calls her stake. She wanted to invest it wisely.”

  Wisely? “In Buckhorn?” Her tone must have given away her disbelief.

  “You’d be surprised. For some reason, the place is starting to grow. I think more people are anxious to get out of the big cities and are looking for open spaces and a more laid-back lifestyle.”

  Couldn’t get more laid-back than this town, she thought. “You’ve never married?”

  He shook his head. “Didn’t I hear that you got married not long after high school to some tycoon?”

  She laughed. Tycoon? What he meant was some older man with money. “I can’t imagine where you could have heard that.” She turned away and quickly changed the subject. “Well, can I at least buy you dinner for letting me stay with you?” He started to say something, no doubt remind her that she had no money. “Silly me. I keep forgetting that I don’t have my credit cards or any cash. It’s such a nuisance.”

  “I thought we’d get dinner from the café,” he said. “I’ll just call and get tonight’s special delivered for the two of us. We can eat it in the bar.”

  She couldn’t hide her disappointment. “I thought for sure you’d have a steakhouse in town. I’m really craving a nice, thick juicy steak.”

  “Funny you should mention steakhouses. I’ve been thinking about opening one. Mel—Melissa—thinks I should add on a kitchen for the busy season.” He shrugged. “I’m thinking about it.”

  She noticed how his face lit up when he talked about Melissa. If this was going to work, Melissa was going to have to go. She looped her arm through his and squeezed his biceps. “Nice muscles.”

  “It’s all the construction work I’ve been doing for Mel. You’ll have to see the project we’re working on. In fact, I need to be there first thing in the morning. The bar is closed tomorrow until two, so I can get more done on the remodel. I have to get it completed before the tourist season starts. She wants it available for lease by May.”

  “I could tend bar so you don’t have to be closed,” she said with a burst of inspiration. “I’d love to do that for you.”

  He hesitated. “Have you tended bar before?”

  “At my father’s parties, silly. I can handle it with one hand tied behind me, trust me.”

  “Well, then, thanks, but I still want you to see the old carriage house I’m remodeling. The bar doesn’t open until ten, normally, so we’ll have plenty of time in the morning.”

  “I can’t wait,” she said as they headed back downstairs. She felt her stomach growl. The half a tuna fish sandwich was all she’d had to eat all day. “What is the daily special at the café tonight?”

  Dave shrugged. “I have no idea. But I promise that it will be good.” She pretended to pout. “Come on, you used to like surprises,” he added with a laugh.

  Did she used to like surprises? She tried to remember the girl she’d been in high school. She had only vague recollections of those days. They were a blur of clothes shopping, parties and boys. She’d had it all. That was probably why she’d never given any thought to the future.

  She cut a look at Dave as he stepped behind the bar and she took a stool. Was he the answer to at least some of her problems?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE AFTERNOON AND evening passed quickly as the bar got busy. Tanya seemed to enjoy herself, playing pool with the locals, even dancing with a few of them. He kept her in fresh drinks, a little surprised how much liquor she could put away.

  He liked watching her. It was as if she could sense his eyes on her, because she would look in his direction and smile or wink. He still couldn’t believe that she’d walked back into his life. Not that she would be here long. He was no fool. She was on her way to Vegas. Buckhorn wasn’t her kind of place. He wasn’t her kind of man.

  But a few times when she’d looked at him, he wondered if things would have turned out differently if he hadn’t gotten hurt and lost his football scholarship. She didn’t seem happy now, as if she were looking for something. He remembered that, for a while in high school, he’d made her happy.

  “Davey,” Tanya said as she collapsed on the countertop, laughing. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun. Dance with me.”

  He looked around the bar. Things were slowing down as patrons wandered home—usually after getting calls from their mothers, girlfriends or wives, reminding them of the time.

  Reaching into the till, he took out some money and handed it to her. “Play us some music.”

  Her blue eyes lit up as she took the money and twirled away. A few minutes later, a slow song came on and she reached for him. He could tell she was feeling the booze she’d been drinking all afternoon as she snuggled into him and stepped on his boot. He realized, in the few months that they had gone steady in high school, they’d never danced together. It surprised him how awkward it felt. He told himself it was due to the alcohol Tanya had consumed and all the years since he’d danced with a beautiful woman.

  “I’m so glad my car broke down here,” she whispered as she nuzzled his neck. She’d been flirting with him all afternoon and into the night. “What time do you close the bar?”

  By the time Dave closed, he had to help a staggering Tanya up the stairs to the apartment. He got her into the bedroom where she sprawled on his bed. The moment her head touched the pillow, she was out. He took off her shoes and closed the door.

  He was tired as he lay down on the couch. What a day! He still couldn’t believe that Tanya Owens was sleeping in his bed. He smiled at irony. And he was sleeping on his couch.

  * * *

  MELISSA WAS DETERMINED to keep her mind on what had to be done at the remodeling site. She would be all business when Dave showed up. She wouldn’t mention his old flame from high school. The last thing she would do was act jealous and make a fool of herself.

  But when Dave walked in—with that woman—she felt her heart break all over again. She’d been hoping his ex-girlfriend was just passing through and had left town.

  Dave made a beeline for her. “Hey, Mel, thank you so much for bringing me lunch yesterday. I suppose Ralph and Wilbur told you...” He stopped talking as the woman in question came up beside him and looped her arm through his.

  “...that his old girlfriend was in town?” Tanya said with a laugh.

  “Tanya and I knew each other back in high school,” he said.

  “Oh, Davey, it was much more than that,” Tanya said and laughed again.

  “This is my good friend Melissa and this,” he said as he retrieved his arm to motion to the inside of the carriage house and all the work they’d been doing, “is our project.” He sounded so proud, Melissa couldn’t be mad at him.

  “It’s nice to meet an old friend of Dave’s,” she said to Tanya. “Isn’t this a great building?”

  The woman glanced around. “So, what is it going to be?”

  “Whatever someone wants it to,” she said as she pointed out the built-in shelves along one wall. “It could be a candy store, a clothing emporium or gift shop.” She couldn’t help her enthusiasm. “Dave has done such a good job, I almost want to open my own shop, but we have other buildings that need to be remodeled.” She looked to Dave and saw that he was holding his back as if in pain. “Are you all right?”

  “It’s nothing,” he said quickly. Tanya had walked over to the window to look out on the street. “It’s my old couch,” he whispered. “Tanya’s staying with me for a few days until her car is repaired.”

  “I’m on my way to Vegas,” Tanya said, turning to smile. “But I’m not going to make Davey stay on that couch the whole time.”

  “Well, I’d better get to work,” Melissa said as she saw the woman give Dave a very pointed look. “I have a lot of varnishing to do if these shelves are going to get dry before my renter gets here.”

  “You already have someone interested in it?” Dave asked, sounding excited and happy for her.

  “I got a call last night. He’ll be coming through town next week. I described the place to him and he sounded really interested. He said he was looking for a spot exactly like Buckhorn.”

  “Amazing,” Tanya said and brushed dust off her trousers.

  “That’s great, Mel. I better get busy too.” He turned to Tanya. “You sure you don’t want to just spend the day taking it easy?”

  “I’d be bored to death.” She held out her hand. “Just give me the key. I’ll man the bar for you. See you later?”

  “It was nice meeting you,” Melissa said, but Tanya was already out the door. She looked over at Dave, who was watching her go. “So she was the one who got away.”

  Dave looked as if he wanted to dig a hole and climb into it. “Ralph and Wilbur.” He sighed, but he didn’t deny it. “It’s so weird that her car broke down here after all these years.”

  She could see where he was headed with this. “Almost like fate, huh?”

  “Yeah, maybe. You must think I’m silly.”

  “No,” she quickly assured him. “I think you’re sweet. I have one of those. The one I still recall fondly.”

  He looked surprised. “What would you do if he showed up here out of the blue?”

  “Truthfully? I don’t know. What are you going to do?”

  “Do? You mean like what?” Dave asked. “It’s not like I can wine and dine her and try to get her to stay.”

  “If that’s what you want, why not?” Melissa asked, even though it broke her heart. “Isn’t this your chance to see if there is something still there?”

  He laughed. “I wouldn’t even know how to begin. It’s been so long...”

  “I’ll help you,” she said and wanted to smack herself. But if this woman was his true love, then he needed to find out. Otherwise, even if Tanya left, he’d be mooning over her and she’d always be the one who got away.