Home For Christmas (A Copper Mountain Christmas) (15 page)

"Sure as hell better not be in the biblical sense."

That wasn't worth a response. "Today I figured out the best way to keep Rachel in Montana."

"How?"

"By giving her what she wants most for Christmas." Nate wasn't talking towels or more kisses, but when she'd talked about presents, he knew what would keep Rachel in Montana. That made the gift perfect for Ty, too. "I'll take care of everything tomorrow. Trust me, you'll be able to pack her stuff up in Phoenix and be back here in time for New Year's."

That way she'd be kissing Nate when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve.

Ty led the way to the shed. "Promise me it doesn't have anything to do with kissing or the exchange of bodily fluids."

"Promise."

"Okay, then." Ty looked over at him. "Do you think the Broncos will beat the Seahawks on Sunday?"

After dinner, Rachel retreated to her room. She assumed her brother and Nate had worked things out, given she saw no split lips, bloody noses or black eyes. A big relief.

She put on her pajamas and slid into bed with a cookbook. Staring at ingredients and cooking techniques was better than analyzing every second of kissing Nate earlier.

A knock sounded on her door.

Rachel's heart leaped. She placed her book on the bed. A few kisses could change everything. She wasn't falling for him. She'd fallen. Hard.

Anticipation hummed through her. She brushed her fingers through her hair then pinched her cheeks to give them color. "Come in."

Ty entered.

She ignored the rush of disappointment and kept her smile in place. "Hi."

He sat on the edge of the bed. "New cookbook?"

She nodded. "Like to check out the competition."

A beat passed. And another. "He won't touch you again."

Rachel didn't need Ty to tell her who
he
was. "I'm an adult. You don't have to watch out for me. I can take care of myself."

"What about the Darbys?"

That hurt. But Rachel wasn't about to cower or cry like she'd done in the past. Nate had made her see she was stronger than that. She raised her chin.

"I made a mistake." She'd been playing it safe, but that hadn't kept her from getting hurt. Maybe it was time to try something new and take a chance. "But Nate's not like that. You said so yourself."

"I was talking about getting business advice from him, not having a vacation fling."

"We kissed. That's a far cry from a fling. Though whether I have sex with anyone is none of your business."

A pained expression crossed his face. "Rach…"

"You told me you trusted Nate. You must. You work for him."

"I don't really work for him," Ty said. "We're more like partners. All the Bar V5 livestock, except a couple horses, belong to me."

"I don't understand. I knew you owned some animals, but all of them?"

"Nate's father suffered dementia. Decided to have a barn sale and get rid of the livestock. I tried to stop him. When that didn't work, I called Nate, but couldn't reach him. I drained my bank account, maxed out my credit cards and borrowed money from Brock Sheenan to keep the herd together. The horses, too."

"I can't believe you kept that a secret. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you kept asking me to come back to Arizona. I knew if I told you, you wouldn't ask even if you needed me back."

"Ty…"

"It's okay. "He touched her hand. "When Nate took over for his dad, he offered me a half stake in the Bar V5 for half a share of the animals. Land. A house. My name on the deed. But I said no."

"That sounds like more than a fair offer."

"Overly fair, but this land has been in his family for generations. It was an original homestead way back when. Only a Vaughn should be on the deed. We made a deal, a partnership. I keep my animals here and run the entire operation."

"That's wonderful." The reality of his words sunk in. Weight pressed down on her chest, making breathing difficult. "You're never coming back to Arizona."

Her words were whisper soft. All she could manage under the circumstances. She knew he loved Montana, but she'd always hoped they could live closer someday.

"Well." He blew out a breath. "I've been thinking about moving back."

Rachel straightened. "But look what you have here at Bar V5. You can't leave and give up all this."

"I'm too far away from you."

And Mom and Dad. She never understood his choosing to live so far away from the place their parents were buried. A place Rachel found solace. Her family. She studied Ty's face. "You'd give up everything for me?"

"You might not be a kid, but you still need your big brother. And I need my li'l sis."

"I do need you. I love you," she said. "But you've sacrificed enough. You put your life on hold once for me. I'm not letting you give up your dream and your animals for me. It's not an option."

"Any chance you'd consider moving this way? Bozeman is a nice town. Butte, Billings and Helena are bigger cities."

"I don't need a city. Marietta or Livingston would be fine, but I hate to leave Mom and Dad."

"Baby, you know they aren't there."

"It's all I have left. I've… forgotten so much."

"Mom and Dad would want us to be together, even if that meant we weren't near their graves."

Rachel nodded, in her heart she knew that was true. "There's another reason I could see moving here."

"Your business."

"That and… I like Nate."

"I like him, too."

"I really, really like him."

Ty stared at her, confusion written all over his face. His mouth formed a perfect o. "So it wasn't all about the mistletoe."

"Not for me."

His gaze narrowed. "Nate? Really?"

She nodded.

"I thought you'd end up with a chef, someone you had a lot in common with."

"Do you think you'll end up with a cowgirl?"

"No, but—"

"I tried the chef thing. Epic fail."

"Really? I had no—"

"You're not the only one with secrets."

"Guess not."

"We can't plan who we fall in love with."

Ty's mouth gaped. He closed it. "Is that what you think this thing with Nate is? Love? Because I'm not sure—"

"I'm not one hundred percent positive, either." Though Rachel was ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure she was falling in love with Nate Vaughn. She held her brother's hand. "But I want to find out. I need to."

Ty started to speak, then stopped himself. He tried again. "I told Nate not to touch you again or I'd hurt him."

Her shoulder's sagged. "Ty."

"I accused him of using you to keep me at the Bar V5. The guy has put the ranch before a woman every single time. You deserve—"

"To figure this out on my own," she interrupted. "Your business relationship with Nate is separate from mine with him. My choices or crises cannot dictate your decisions. You have to step back. Let me fail again if that's what it takes."

"Rach…"

She squeezed his hand. "One thing life's taught me—Nate's taught me, actually—is I don't have to be afraid of failure. Some ideas, some businesses, some relationships don't work out. That's okay. My failures are what got me here. Made me who I am. They'll lead to my success. I can feel it in my heart."

Ty's lopsided smile appeared. "My baby sister must be grown up if she's teaching me a thing or two."

"Too bad you won't learn to cook," she teased. "I don't know how you guys got along without me."

"Looks like we might not have to."

Rachel felt like she belonged at the ranch. She hoped Nate felt the same way.

"Come here." Ty hugged her, the way he'd done her entire life, but for the first time she let go before he did. "I'll still kick his ass if he hurts you. I'll quit, and he knows it."

"I'm sure he does. Nate's a smart guy."

Smart enough to take a chance on her? Only time would tell, but Rachel was ready to jump. She hoped he would be there to catch her.

Or have his extra parachute handy.

CHAPTER NINE

Sold out!

Two days before Christmas and no more gingerbread for Rachel to bake, unless the boys at the Bar V5 wanted more. She walked out of the toy store with a spring to her step, an unbelievable balance in her checking account, and her heart full of… intense
like
for the man at her side.

The clear blue Montana sky greeting her was the icing on the this-is-really-happening cake. "We did it! I have enough money for a deposit and fixtures and…I'm going to pull this off. Thanks to you."

Nate's smile made her breath catch in her throat and the sun pale in comparison. "This was all you. I was just the idea guy."

"And the marketing guy and the networking guy."

And her guy?

Tingles tap-danced through her. She sure hoped so.

She was staying, moving here once she packed up her apartment. She'd talked to her landlord last night. They had a waitlist for units, so he was happy to accept her notice to vacate and break her lease. Soon she would be living in Montana.

With her brother.

Maybe with…

No, she didn't want to jinx anything.

Nate had factored into her decision making, but she hadn't wanted the move to be dependent on him or what he thought or…

Tell him
, an inner voice urged.

Rachel hadn't told Ty about moving yet. Not officially, and Nate probably didn't have a clue what she was thinking.

She took a deep breath. The cold air stung her lungs, but she inhaled again to muster her courage.

"I have a surprise for you," Nate said before Rachel could open her mouth. "Come with me."

He led her across Main Street towards the diner. She followed excited to find out the surprise. "A celebration lunch?"

"Better."

They crossed First Street heading toward Grey's Saloon. Two customers sat at the bar, though it wasn't lunchtime yet.

"Little early for cocktails, don't you think?" she asked.

"We're not getting drinks, though we may later. To celebrate."

Another kiss? Rachel hoped so. She liked those kinds of surprises.

They passed Marietta Western Wear. "Guess that means coffee at the Java Café is out."

He stopped in front of an empty storefront with a
STYLES REAL ESTATE For Lease
sign in the window. "Look at this place."

"Great location." Rachel peered through the glass windows to see brick walls and wood floors. She imagined where the display cases would go and tables, including a separate party area. And the space was available. Her pulse accelerated, picking up speed until she had to force herself to breathe. "So much character. It's wonderful."

Perfect for a bakery.

Her
bakery.

Excitement buzzing down to her toes, she cupped her hands on the glass for a better look. This was the ultimate in window shopping, more of a thrill than anything she could buy. Having Nate think along the same lines was a double thrill.

The lone woman inside looked to be in her fifties or sixties, dressed stylishly in a long, tan wool coat and black boots. She removed the
For Lease
sign out of the window then walked out the front door, a beaming smile on her face. "Hello. Fancy meeting you out here."

Rachel stared at the sign in the woman's hand, her excitement replaced with a heavy disappointment. Someone had leased the shop.

Her shoulders dropped, but she straightened a second later, not about to let anything ruin a wonderful morning. Chances were she couldn't afford the prime retail spot anyway, and seeing this place gave her hope she could find something similar, if not in Marietta then another nearby town.