“No, I haven’t, so don’t get your undies in a bunch. He’s been tearing in and out of the office all week like a madman so he can take care of his clients and help you out here. We’ve barely said two words to each other.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “But when I have seen him, he always had a smile on his face. I can’t say that’s been the case prior to his moving in here. So I figure you’ve been good for him, too.”

  “I hope so, but please don’t jump to conclusions.” She broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of Nick pushing Regan into an admission of his feelings for her one way or the other. Neither of them had taken that step, and maybe they never would.

  “Okay, but tomorrow night you’ll have a whole mob of people who are liable to jump to conclusions. You might want to decide how to handle that.”

  That was a scary thought. She sent him a pleading glance. “Could you caution everyone not to ask any leading questions? We’re at an uncertain stage right now, and I don’t want him to feel pressured.”

  “I can say something, but there’s no way I can control that bunch. Regan knows what they’re like. Have a talk with him. Come up with your standard responses.”

  “Okay, I will.” She cleared her throat. “I can’t deny that Regan and I are having a little fun, but I think it would be foolish of me or anyone to take his interest too seriously. He just broke up with his fiancée. He’s not ready for another relationship.”

  “Could’ve fooled me.” Nick adjusted the fit of his Stetson. “If anything, he looks happier than you do.”

  “Well, sure, he looks happy. That doesn’t mean he’s in love or anything.” That last part had been harder to say than she’d expected.

  Nick stared at the Tetons as the afternoon shadows gathered in the canyons. “Mighty pretty view.”

  “It is.” She figured he was buying time as he decided how to approach an obviously delicate subject.

  “Look, God knows I’m no expert on this subject, but I think both of you are heading into that kind of emotional territory, at least a little bit. And if you want my advice—”

  “Not really.”

  “You’ll keep an open mind,” he continued, ignoring her protest.

  “Nick, six months isn’t long enough. Most people need a year to get over a thing like that.”

  “Maybe most people do, but don’t assume he’s most people and don’t assume he’s not ready. Everybody heals at a different rate. My guess is that Regan’s more resilient than most because of his parents.”

  “His parents?” That shocked her.

  “That’s what I said. Got a banana in your ear?”

  “I heard you fine, but judging from what he’s told me, he doesn’t agree with their lifestyle or their parenting skills.”

  “He might not, but I’ve had a few years to observe the O’Connelli crew, and while Seamus and Bianca might have been too permissive, their kids never doubted they were loved. They all have an unshakable belief in their own worth.”

  Lily thought about Regan’s quiet confidence, especially when he was working with the horses. “You may have a point.”

  “I generally do.”

  She looked sideways at him and couldn’t help laughing at his cocky grin. “I’ll bet Dominique has to use a wide-angle lens to get you and your ego into the same frame.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll tell her you said that. She’ll love it. She wanted to come over to see you tonight, but she’s mounting a new show at the gallery, and that’s sucking up all her spare time. Plus, as she pointed out, she’s not a horse trainer.”

  “Neither am I.”

  “According to Regan, you’re better than you think you are, which doesn’t surprise me. You have a lot of empathy. I’m glad to see you getting into this. I think it suits you better than whatever IT gigs you had in Silicon Valley. Every time I talked to your folks you’d switched jobs.”

  “Because I’d get bored.”

  “Maybe that’s because you’re more into living creatures than electronic gizmos.”

  “You think so?” No one had ever said that to her before. “You don’t feel like I’m wasting my intelligence on this project?”

  “How could you be? In order to make a success of this venture, you’ll have to learn to think like a horse, run a business and attract both donors and potential adopters. Isn’t that enough of a challenge for you?”

  “When you put it that way, yes.”

  “Who said you were wasting your intelligence?”

  She thought back to a phone call she’d had yesterday, one she hadn’t mentioned to Regan. “A computer game company in Palo Alto wants me to work for them. I told them I don’t want to leave this place, and they said that while I might be able to telecommute from here, they generally discourage it. They’ve found that having everyone on site interacting with other designers contributes to more innovation.”

  “Are you considering it?”

  “No, of course not.” She watched Regan walking back with Lester, small for his age but incredibly likable. Each of them led a horse and both animals looked docile as could be. “Certainly not now, anyway.”

  Nick took a deep breath and blew it out. “Lily, you’re not going to break that guy’s heart, are you?”

  “No.” Longing tugged at her, as it always did when she looked at Regan. “But I’m still not entirely convinced he won’t break mine.”

  15

  REGAN WAS GRATEFUL for the Chance clan pitching in. Without them there would be no adoption fair, and Lily desperately needed to find good homes for at least six of the horses under her care. But their Peaceful Kingdom had been invaded late Friday afternoon by a Chance contingent ready to set up for the fair, and Regan knew he wouldn’t get to be alone with Lily until late tonight. By then they’d both be too exhausted to make love.

  On top of that, they’d agreed to be careful how they interacted with each other to keep gossip to a minimum. She’d told him about Nick’s suggestion that they come up with a standard response to any questions. It was We’re just good friends. Regan didn’t think anyone would believe that BS, but he said it, anyway, because apparently that’s what Lily wanted.

  He was a little irritated that she didn’t want to go public with their relationship. What was wrong with letting close friends and family know they were involved? They suspected it, anyway, so why be coy? But Lily insisted on a party line, so he was doing as she asked, because in the end, he’d do just about anything that woman asked.

  They’d been on a deadline situation this past week, but once they got successfully past the adoption fair, he needed to have a heart-to-heart with her. Technically he’d have no more excuse to live in her house. Oh, yeah, and that was the other thing. He’d had to move all his stuff to the guest room and pretend he was sleeping there. Lame.

  Anyway, he’d go along until after the fair, and then he’d flat out ask her how she felt about him. Would she still want him around when she no longer needed him to help her with the animals? Now that she had a paddock, a chicken coop and a pigpen, she could handle her menagerie a lot easier. Once a few horses went out the door, it would be a piece of cake for a woman of her abilities.

  So then what? They each needed to lay their cards on the table. He wanted to stay. He thought they had something going and he wanted to find out where it would take them. She might feel differently. Thinking about having that talk made him nervous as hell, but it had to be done.

  Right now, though, he didn’t have much time to contemplate the next step in their relationship. He was too busy helping set up bleachers next to the corral, a canopy for Mary Lou’s refreshment stand and another canopy for the kids’ activity center. Jack, Nick and Gabe were in the barn grooming the horses so they’d shine like new pennies. Although they’d settled on showcasing only ten of the twenty-one, Jack had insisted that every horse look tip-top to enhance the image of the place. He had a point.

  Regan was so busy moving from one job to the next that it was a wonder he even heard his phone. But when he did, he considered not answering. He knew that ring. He’d assigned it to the caller several years ago and had never bothered to change it or delete the number from his contacts.

  He couldn’t just let it go to voice mail. At the last minute, he punched the button and walked over to a darkened spot in the yard, away from all the action. “What?”

  “Hey, Regan.” Drake’s voice sounded strained. “I wasn’t sure you’d pick up.”

  “I almost didn’t.”

  Drake didn’t respond at first. “I get that,” he said at last. “The thing is, I’m here.”

  “Here?” Regan’s grip tightened on the phone and he glanced toward the gate as if expecting Drake to come walking through it. “What do you mean, here?”

  “In Jackson Hole. Not too far from that little town you always talked about, Shoshone.”

  “What the hell are you doing in Jackson Hole?”

  “Two things. I needed some time to think, and I needed to see you.”

  “Can’t imagine why you need to see me.” The anger he thought he’d tucked away came boiling to the surface. “We have nothing to discuss.”

  “You said that six months ago, too. You may have nothing to say to me, but I have plenty to say to you. I’d like that opportunity, Regan. For old time’s sake.”

  “Old time’s sake?” He realized he’d gotten loud, and he walked farther into the shadows and lowered his voice. His heart was pounding like a snare drum. “I can’t believe you can say such a thing. Old time’s sake? You don’t give a shit about old times, Drake. Don’t pretend like you do.”

  More silence, followed by a sigh. “Okay, forget about that. Don’t agree to talk with me because of our former friendship. I suppose that’s not important. Something else is, though. You’re still furious with me. I can hear it in your voice.”

  “What if I am? That’s my business.”

  “True. But this situation isn’t good for either of us. We’re both festering, Regan. You’re a doctor. You know wounds like this have to be lanced. Let’s get together and take care of that. If we end up beating each other to a bloody pulp, so be it. At least we’ll get it out, drain off the bad stuff.”

  While a part of him longed to get into a fistfight with Drake, he’d have to actually be in the same room with the guy to make that happen. He had no wish to do that. “Sorry. You’ve caught me at a bad time. I’m too busy to play your silly reindeer games.”

  “That’s good, at least. It’s good to be busy.”

  “Yes, it is. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to what I was doing.”

  “Yeah, okay. But if you change your mind, I’m going to be here for a couple of months.”

  “A couple of months?” In spite of not wanting to prolong the conversation, Regan couldn’t resist asking about that. “It’s the middle of the damned thoroughbred racing season! How can you afford to be out here instead of back at the clinic? Or even more to the point, how can you leave your parents and their cronies in the lurch like that?”

  “I have someone covering for me. If he gets overwhelmed, there are plenty of vets in the area who will be glad to have the business.”

  Regan wasn’t sure he’d heard right. “You don’t care if your parents are pissed? You don’t care if your business goes down the tubes because you needed a long vacation?” That wasn’t the Drake Brewster he knew.

  “No, I don’t. Those things aren’t a priority right now. I have two goals—getting my head out of my ass and talking things out with you. Since the first one will probably take at least two months, I thought I’d make a start on achieving the second one.”

  “Good luck with that. I have no interest in seeing you.”

  “Just think about it. I know you, Regan, and you will think about it. The cabin where I’m staying is just outside the boundaries of the Last Chance Ranch.”

  “How the hell did you know to go there?”

  “That’s where you had me forward your mail, Regan. The cabin’s owner said the Chance family knows where the place is, so they can direct you if you decide to pay me a visit.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Your choice.”

  “You bet it is. Goodbye, Drake.” He disconnected the call and stood in the darkness, adrenaline pumping through his system. Damn Drake Brewster to hell and back. Regan began to pace in a tight circle, keeping to the shadows.

  This sucked. Right when he was starting to mellow out and enjoy life again, specifically life with Lily King, and forget about that nasty chapter in his past, here was Drake to remind him of it. Worse yet, the guy intended to stay in that little cabin for two friggin’ months.

  Sure as anything, Regan would run into him at the Shoshone Diner, or at the ice-cream parlor, or...wait. The most likely place would be Spirits and Spurs. Shit! Now Regan wouldn’t be able to go in for a beer without worrying about Brewster riding a bar stool and polluting the atmosphere by his very presence.

  Regan wanted him gone, but it was a free country. He couldn’t make Drake leave. His only recourse was to convince him, one way or another. And that meant going over to that blasted cabin. Damn it!

  “Regan?”

  He turned, and there stood Lily looking worried. No wonder; he’d been pacing and muttering to himself like a crazy man. “What?”

  “I came to ask you something, but...you’re obviously upset. What’s wrong?”

  “I...” He took off his hat and scrubbed his fingers through his hair. His head hurt. His whole body hurt. He crammed his hat back on. “Never mind. It’ll take too long to explain.” With a supreme effort, he dredged up a smile. None of this was Lily’s fault. “What’s the question?”

  She hesitated. “Is this problem something I need to know about?”

  “Eventually. Not right this minute. What’s up?”

  “Dominique’s offered to make up a poster showing each horse, just the face, and their name underneath. She can do it tonight, no problem. But should we include the lifers on there? And if so, how should we label them?”

  “Not lifers.” That made him smile for real. This past week he and Lily had started calling the permanent six by that nickname. “Sounds like we’re running a prison. How about calling them permanent residents and the others temporary guests?”

  “That works. I’ll let her know.” She paused. “Sure you can’t tell me what’s got you so upset?”

  “Drake called.” Just saying those words made it more real. His chest felt as if someone had wrapped a steel band around it and pulled it tight.

  Her eyes widened. “Why?”

  “He’s here in Jackson Hole. Staying in a little cabin near the Last Chance boundary for two months. He wants to talk.”

  “Wow.” She regarded him silently for a few minutes, her eyes full of compassion. “Well...maybe that’s good.”

  “Good? How can that be good? I came here to get away from the bastard!”

  “I know, but...if you could clear the air...”

  He stared at her in disbelief. Apparently she hadn’t been paying attention. “Sure, why not? Then everything will be fine. We can sit around a campfire, tell jokes and sing ‘Kumbaya.’”

  “I’m not saying it will be easy, but if he’s holding out the olive branch, don’t you have an obligation to take it after all you meant to each other?”

  “No! I don’t have a single obligation when it comes to Drake Brewster!”

  She didn’t respond to that, but he could tell from her expression that she didn’t agree with him. She thought he should make nice with his former best friend, mend the fences and forge a new relationship. Bull. Her advice sounded familiar, though. His parents had counseled him to do the exact same thing the last time he’d talked to them.

  “I’m not going to engage in some damned sensitivity session with Drake so that he can feel better about himself, Lily. I have no obligation to ease his guilty conscience. He did what he did, and now he can suffer the consequences. End of story.”

  She seemed about to say something, but then she didn’t. “Okay, fine. I’ll go tell Dominique how to label the horses.” She walked away, clearly disappointed in his reaction.

  He wasn’t too happy with hers, either, but he shouldn’t be surprised. She was the softie, the one who couldn’t help but say yes, the one who hadn’t been firm with the horses because she hadn’t wanted to damage their fragile egos. Naturally she’d want him to smooth things over with Drake. He wasn’t about to do that. Not even for her.

  * * *

  THE CHANCE FOLKS left around midnight. Earlier tonight Lily had looked forward to them leaving so she could spend some quality time with Regan. Now the issue of Drake hung between them. She could sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn’t matter while they frolicked in her bed, but that wasn’t her style.

  If she’d been in this relationship only for the sex, she might have considered ignoring Regan’s attitude toward Drake. But wonderful as the sex had been all week, the friendship they’d created was even more important to her. And friends didn’t let friends go off the rails, at least not without making some attempt to help.

  They stood together on the porch waving as the last of the Chance trucks pulled away. Lily felt good about the preparations. The horses were better disciplined, and Peaceful Kingdom looked like an organized rescue operation instead of the helter-skelter project it had been a week ago.

  She turned to Regan. “Thank you for all you’ve done. The adoption fair is going to be awesome.”

  “It should run smoothly.” There was a reserved note in his voice that hadn’t been there a few hours ago.

  She hated that, but judging from his cautious mood, she couldn’t have coaxed him into mindless sex even if she’d thought it was a good idea. They’d become so close in the past week, but they didn’t have a firm foundation that would allow them to postpone an important discussion while they blew off steam. The discussion had to come first.

  Earlier this evening she’d put on a fleece hoodie to ward off the chill of an early June night. Regan was wearing a denim jacket for the same reason. She decided to take advantage of that and suggest they stay out here and talk. For one thing, the porch was about the only place they hadn’t made love. It could be their neutral zone.