“What about during the winter?”
She took a drink of coffee before answering him. “It slows down a little and we don’t do the campouts, but there’s always the people who come to ski and snowboard. They like our sleigh rides.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a good operation going.”
Her brows lowered. “We aren’t hurting, if that’s what you’re implying. The ranch makes a good living.”
Quinn straightened, his voice quiet when he replied. “I wasn’t implying anything. I was just curious about the ranch.”
Of course he was curious, she realized. This had been the only real home he’d ever known. That’s why it had surprised her so much when he’d offered her the ranch as part of the divorce settlement. Although apparently he hadn’t. Her lips thinned and she glanced at her watch before pushing her plate aside.
“I have to go get the horses ready. If you need anything, ask Martha.”
He gave her a lopsided smile. “I think can still find my way around.”
Doing her best not to look like she was bolting, she escaped through the back door.
* * * * *
Quinn closed the office door and turned to Duncan. “Did you get a chance to check out the bunkhouse?”
“Yes. It’ll take some work, but it should be okay as a gym. The hot tub will have to go outside, though. I figured we could put a deck in the back with a fence around it to keep Zack from falling in.”
“Are you sure all this is really necessary?” Quinn frowned. He hated the thought of Lanie finding out about his leg.
“You know it is. You’ve only been off the crutches six months. You can’t afford to let that leg go at this point. Not if you want to keep seeing improvement.”
Quinn sighed. “Okay, why don’t you start calling around and find someone who can do the work?”
“In a few minutes. First I want to know something. You aren’t actually planning on getting on a horse, are you?”
“Not in front of Lanie.” Quinn smiled ruefully. “I know my limitations. But sooner or later, I will ride again.” He held up a hand when Duncan started to protest. “I promise, I’ll start slow, and only when you’re around.”
“Quinn, your leg is still too weak. It hasn’t been that long since your final surgery.”
“And it won’t get any stronger unless I start using it. You just told me so yourself. Now make those calls.”
“Fine.” Duncan moved to the desk. “But I don’t see why we can’t have the equipment moved from the apartment. It would save a lot of money.”
“I don’t care about the money. I’d rather spend twice what it’s going to cost than take anything from that apartment. It never belonged to me anyway. It was my father’s.”
“You’re the boss.” He reached for the phone. “Why don’t you start the warm-up exercises while I’m on the phone and get them out of the way? Guess we can do the massages on the floor until the new equipment arrives.”
With a sigh, Quinn started stretching to loosen his muscles, only listening with half an ear to Duncan’s conversations. What was Lanie going to say when she found out they were transforming the bunkhouse into a personal spa? Better yet, what would he say? He wasn’t ready to tell her about his leg. Not because he thought she’d be put off by it, but because he didn’t want her pity. He could take almost anything but that.
His mind wandered back to earlier, in his room. Yes, she had definitely been nervous. Did she remember that he slept naked? Probably. Last night she’d told him that sex was out of the question, but he knew her too well to mistake the look he’d seen in her eyes this morning. And it hadn’t been the look of a woman well-satisfied with her love life.
He didn’t doubt for a second that she’d fight what she felt. Hadn’t he done the same thing for all these years? But denying his feelings hadn’t changed them. It would be the same for Lanie.
Right now she was angry and resentful. He’d have to work hard to make her trust him again. And to make himself trust her. Five years of betrayal and pain, true or not, wouldn’t go away overnight for either of them. But if this morning was any indication, Lanie still wanted him. He could work with that.
“Tough luck, Harper,” he whispered. “It’s only a matter of time until she’s back in my bed.” He could almost feel sorry for the man. Almost, but not quite. Harper wanted his wife and that was something Quinn couldn’t allow. He had one last chance to set right the lives Edward had destroyed, and he would fight tooth and nail to make sure it worked.
Chapter Seven
Leg still aching from his morning workout, Quinn stood at the back door, watching as the first of the contractors removed the old beds from the bunkhouse and tossed them in a waiting dump truck. Luckily, they had arrived after Lanie left with her second group of riders. It would give him another hour or two to think up a good explanation for the renovations.
He was contemplating going out to join them when he saw Duncan detach himself from one group and head for the house. Impatiently, Quinn pushed the door open for him.
“Well?”
“They said the building is structurally sound, and the changes we need are fairly simple. It shouldn’t take them more than a week, tops. Fortunately, the contractor has a plumber and an electrician he works with on a regular basis, so that won’t hold them up.”
“Good. That’s faster than I expected.”
“He’s got two separate crews working. One has already started on the deck for the hot tub, and the other is working inside.”
Before Quinn could respond, the phone on the wall next to him rang, and without thought he picked it up.
“Hello?”
There was a slight hesitation from the person on the other end. “Quinn McAllister?”
“Speaking.”
“This is Jared Harper.”
Every muscle in Quinn’s body tightened and his jaw went rigid. When he answered his voice was clipped. “Sorry, Harper. My wife is out working, but I’ll be sure to tell her you called.”
“I wasn’t calling to speak with Lanie.” There was another hesitation. “I think we need to talk, McAllister, but not over the phone. Would you meet me at the Spotted Horse in an hour?”
“I’ll be there.” Quinn dropped the phone into the cradle.
Duncan was leaning against the counter, one eyebrow arched. “You’ll be where?”
“He wants to meet me at the Spotted Horse. It’s a combination bar and restaurant in Watson.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“Thanks, but I doubt it will come down to throwing punches. Besides, one of us needs to be here in case the contractor has any questions.”
“And what if Lanie wants to know where you are?”
Quinn started out of the room. “Tell her the truth.”
* * * * *
Watson had changed, Quinn realized as he drove through the town. He had seen two new hotels and several fancy restaurants that hadn’t been there five years ago. Most of the stores along Main Street now catered to tourists instead of residents. A huge banner spanned the roadway, proclaiming the start of Frontier Days in a few weeks.
The Spotted Horse hadn’t changed, though. It still looked exactly as it had when he was eighteen and spent most of his weekends at the bar. There were only a few vehicles in the parking lot, but it was midway between breakfast and lunch. He knew it would fill to capacity in an hour or so. During the day the bar section was closed, the business catering to families. At eight on the button, the families left and the bar opened. It was a system that worked well for the owner, Buck Denton, and customers alike.
Buck himself, sitting behind the checkout counter, glanced up from the newspaper he was reading when Quinn entered, a grin splitting his face.
“Dang, McAllister. I thought we’d seen the last of your sorry hide around here. Do I need to get my ball bat out from under the bar?”
Quinn returned his smile and shook hands with the older man. Buck had put on a little we
ight, but for the most part, he still looked exactly the same. Like a slab of solid granite.
“No need, Buck. My fighting days are over. Guess we all have to grow up sometime.”
“Speak for yourself. That’s a disease I never plan on catching. Just ask Ruby. She’ll vouch for me. How long are you here for?”
“I’m back for good.”
“Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard in weeks. You always were one of my most regular customers. Tell you what. How about I treat you to a welcome back breakfast?”
“Thanks, but maybe next time. I’m here to meet someone.”
Buck glanced toward the dinning room, a slight frown on his face when he turned back.
“I’m beginning to get the picture.”
And if Buck got it, everyone in town would know what was going on before the day was out. Quinn stifled a sigh.
“I’ll talk to you later.”
Since only three tables were occupied, it didn’t take him long to identify Harper. The man was sitting alone near a window, his gaze fixed on Quinn. Warily, the two men assessed each other as Quinn crossed the room, and he wasn’t sure he liked what he saw. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but Harper was too damn good looking for his peace of mind.
The veterinarian stood as Quinn reached the table and gestured to the booth across from him. “Thanks for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” He slid onto the seat.
Harper shrugged as he sat down. “You have to admit this is a little awkward.”
They both paused as Buck stopped by the table and filled two cups with coffee, his gaze shifting between them warily. He moved on quickly, not bothering to ask if they wanted to order.
Quinn ignored the cup, keeping his gaze on his rival. “Did Lanie ask you to try and talk me out of this?”
“No. She’d probably be upset if she knew I called you.”
“Then why did you?”
“Partly curiosity, I suppose.” The man’s expression didn’t change. “I wanted to see what I’m up against. Lanie never told me much about you.”
Quinn curled a hand around his cup, forearms propped on the Formica top of the table as he studied the man who wanted to marry his wife. Lanie couldn’t have found anyone more opposite from Quinn if she’d searched deliberately. And he wasn’t just opposite in appearance. Harper exuded a calm steadiness that was palpable. Would anything shake him up, rattle that placid exterior? Maybe it was time to give Harper a dose of the truth.
“Lanie still loves me, you know. She may not be ready to admit it yet, but she does.”
“You’re right. Part of her does love you. You’re Zack’s father, after all.” Harper lowered his gaze to the table. “I met Lanie when Zack was a month old and I rented her grandparents’ place. For me, it was love at first sight, but it took over a year to convince her to go out with me. It was another three years before she agreed to marry me.”
Exaltation surged through Quinn but he kept it out of his voice. “Why are you telling me this?”
Harper looked up, his eyes narrowed. “Because I want you to understand a few things. I’m a patient man when it comes to something I want, McAllister. I’ve already waited years for Lanie. Three more months isn’t going to make that much difference. In spite of what you think, she loves me, too.”
Quinn leaned back, straightening his leg a bit. “I’m going to fight for her, Harper. And I’m going to win. There’s nothing you can say that will make me change my mind.”
“I can’t blame you for trying, even if you are wasting your time. If I were in your shoes I’d be doing the same thing.” He ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair. “As much as I hate to admit it, maybe it’s a good thing this happened. I don’t like seeing Lanie upset and hurting, but at least now she’ll have to make a choice. A bed can get awfully crowded when there are three people in it. When this is over, the only people who’ll be in mine are me and Lanie.” He shrugged again. “Better get used to the idea.”
“I suppose that means you’ll still try to see her?”
Harper gave him a cool smile. “You aren’t the only one who plans on fighting for what he wants. I’ll see her every chance I get.”
“Too bad,” Quinn commented. “She’s already promised me she won’t see you alone.”
“You may be able to keep her away from me, McAllister, but you can’t force her to trust you again. You had your chance five years ago and you blew it.” He hesitated. “There is one more thing, though. Zack. I promised him he could go on some calls with me Saturday. I’d still like to take him.”
Quinn nodded. “I told Lanie last night I wouldn’t stop you from seeing Zack. Having me show up suddenly is enough trauma for him. I’d like to keep the rest of his life as normal as possible.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And now that we’ve drawn the lines, you might as well call me Quinn.”
Harper arched an eyebrow.
“We’re never going to be friends, Harper—” Quinn paused to smile. “But we do have one thing in common. We both have great taste in women. And it will make it easier on Zack if we can keep this civil.”
“Quinn.” Harper nodded. “And you can call me Jared.”
“You aren’t going to win,” Quinn told him quietly. “Lanie and I have too much tying us together.”
“And Lanie knows that at the end of these three months I’ll still be here waiting. I’ll always be here for her. Can you honestly say she believes the same thing about you? Don’t count me out yet, McAllister. You may have won the first battle, but the war is just starting.”
* * * * *
Jared stayed at the table after McAllister left, finishing off his coffee and thinking. A frown creased his brow. From Edward’s description, he’d expected Lanie’s husband to be the nerdish type, more interested in business than people.
Nothing could be further from the truth. He was going to have to be very careful with this man, maybe keep his distance from Lanie for a while. At least until he came up with a legitimate excuse for seeing her. Lanie wouldn’t break a promise easily.
He paid Buck then stepped out onto the wooden sidewalk. For the last four years, he’d followed Edward’s orders. They hadn’t seemed demanding at the time, and he owed the man a lot. Now he was beginning to wonder if Edward had told him the entire truth about Lanie’s past with McAllister.
With an inward sigh, he walked to his truck and climbed in. Even if Edward had been lying through his teeth, it was too late to back out of the deal. It had been too late the first time he’d seen Lanie.
* * * * *
“What do you think you’re doing?” Lanie stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the horde of men who had come to a standstill at her barked question. One of them, obviously the crew chief, finally stepped forward.
“Mr. McAllister hired us. I have the order right here.” Tentatively, he held out a yellow piece of paper.
She yanked it out of his hand, rapidly scanning the list with growing disbelief. A weight room? A sauna? A hot tub and deck? But that was undeniably Quinn’s signature on the bottom. Was he trying to turn her ranch into a spa, for God’s sake?
So furious her hair was prickling erect, she shoved the slip back at the confused foreman, spun on her heel, and ran smack into a hard male body. When she lifted her gaze it was to meet Duncan’s calm brown eyes.
“Where’s Quinn?” she spit the question through clenched teeth.
“In the kitchen. He just got back.”
She paused suspiciously at the wicked gleam in his eyes. “Got back from where?”
“From town.”
Something was up. Duncan looked at her speculatively, and she could see he was waiting with great interest for her next question. For a second she contemplated ignoring him, but curiosity won out.
“Okay, what was he doing in town?”
“Meeting Jared Harper.”
The anger left her like a deflated ball
oon, replaced by fear and a hollow ache in the pit of her stomach. Without a word, she headed for the kitchen.
Quinn looked up and smiled as she stomped through the door. “Perfect timing. Martha just finished making us lunch. I noticed the picnic table is still under those trees out back. I thought we could eat there.”
“How dare you?” She wanted to yell, but her voice wasn’t cooperating. The words were barely a whisper. “I agreed to your terms, Quinn, but they didn’t include you going after Jared. I won’t have him hurt anymore than he already has been. He doesn’t deserve this, and if you persist, our deal is off. We can fight this out in court.”
His smile faded before he reached for the picnic basket on the table. “We can talk about it while we eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Then you can sit and watch me.” His grim gaze met hers, flickers of yellow anger shooting through the amber depths. He reached around her and pushed the door open. “After you.”
“Quinn—”
“I said we’d talk about it while we eat.”
Her lips thinned to a straight line as she followed him across the yard. His back was stiff, his gait jerky. From his body language, he was as upset as she was. Puzzled, she let her gaze sweep over him again. There was something odd about the way he was walking, something she couldn’t put her finger on.
Mentally, she shook her head. He was only compensating for the weight of the picnic basket. And she wouldn’t allow anything to distract her.
“You really have a low opinion of me, don’t you?” Quinn took a cloth from the basket and spread it over the table before removing dishes of food.
“If I do it’s because you’ve given me good reason.” Her chin squared defiantly.
“I suppose I have.” He sat down and filled two plates, pushing one across in front of her. “But for your information, Jared Harper called and asked to meet me, not the other way around.”
“What?” She sank onto the bench. “Why would Jared want to meet you?”
A half-smile lifted one corner of his lips. “He wanted to see what he was up against. I have to admit, I was curious myself.”