Unlucky in Love (6 page)

Lexi reached under Goldie's stomach, tensing when the horse stomped again. But she finally managed to grab hold of the leather and pull it through the buckle, tightening it to the best of her ability.

There. Take that, bratty-pants.

“Ready!” she said, hoping she was actually right—hoping she wasn't about to end the morning landing on her nose.

Gunnar pointed to her head. “Helmets are in the tack room. I'll hold onto Goldie while you go find one that fits.”

“Right. Of course.”
Duh.

As she tried on helmets, she glanced out the window at the corral, then felt her hands freeze as Gunnar quickly unhooked Goldie's saddle, settled it on her back, and pulled the straps tight.

Apparently she was a complete hack at saddling. Excellent. This boded
really
well for the rest of the parts of this riding thing.

She found a helmet that fit snugly, then waited for a few extra seconds to allow the heat in her cheeks to dissipate. She obviously wasn't fooling Gunnar with her
of course I know what I'm doing here
act, and she had a feeling he was about to call her on it.

But when she got back out to the corral, he stood in the same position she'd left him in, and he made no mention at all of her saddling job. Instead, he smiled, handed her the reins, and pointed to an overturned bucket in the middle of the corral.

“Need a bucket?”

Lexi looked at him, then the bucket, then Goldie. What in the world would she need a bucket for? Especially one that was upside down and empty?

“Um, no. I'm good. Thank you.”

He raised his eyebrows, but didn't question her. “Okay, then. I was thinking we'd do a few rounds here in the corral before we head out to the trail. Just so you and Goldie can get a feel for each other.”

“Okay. Sounds good.” She faked a confident smile until he turned toward the gate where he'd tied his horse, and then she swore internally as she realized just how far off the ground the stirrup was. She'd never been a gymnast, but even with abnormal flexibility, there wasn't any way she was getting on this horse without an elevator.

She looked around the corral, desperately wondering if there was anything she could use to give herself a boost.

Then she spotted the bucket.

Oh-h.

Feeling flames lick her cheeks once again, she pulled Goldie to the middle of the corral and tried to circle her around to a position where she could actually step up on the bucket and mount. Gunnar must have known there was no way she could get on, but he hadn't said anything—had just let her figure it out for herself while he pretended to be busy on the other side of his horse.

Goldie apparently saw her efforts as another challenge to her authority, so every time Lexi turned her in a circle and positioned her perfectly next to the bucket, she'd stand stock-still until Lexi lifted her left foot to hoist herself up. Then she'd move—just enough. The insufferable horse was having a flipping field day here at Lexi's expense. After she'd tried three times, missing the stirrup each time, Lexi was about to call mercy when finally,
finally
Goldie stood still as her foot hit the stirrup.

Sure it wouldn't last, Lexi launched herself upward, knowing Goldie would lunge to the right just like she had every time so far.

But this time, she didn't.

And Lexi went sailing over the horse's back, landing in an awkward heap on the other side.

Before she had time to get back to her feet—or to even quite figure out what had happened—Gunnar was beside her, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

“Are you all right?”

Lexi shook her head, mortally embarrassed. “Pretty sure Goldie and I are maybe not meant to be.”

“I'm really sorry.” Gunnar reached down to grasp her hand, pulling her up without looking like he needed to expend an ounce of effort.

“It's not your fault. I think I give off a vibe.”

Gunnar laughed. “Oh, really?”

“Yes.” Lexi brushed off her jeans and tried not to limp in her new boots as she stepped away from Goldie. “This is pretty much how it goes for me and horses.”

“I see.” He nodded sagely. “Sounds like you're definitely cursed.”

“Oh, I'm cursed, all right.”
You don't know the half of it, buddy.

“Well, it just so happens that I'm pretty good at breaking curses.” Gunnar raised his eyebrows under his Stetson, and Lexi swallowed hard. Oh, she'd just bet he was. But if he knew the real curse she'd been talking about, he'd be walking the other way fast in those damn Wranglers that cupped his ass so perfectly.

He'd want
nothing
to do with
that
curse.

“Hey, you know what?” He glanced at his watch. “I have a different idea. I've gotta run into town for a few things. Want to ride along? I can show you around a little. Not sure when you'll have time to get back down there once the guests arrive.”

Lexi took a deep breath. “Are you trying to save me from Goldie? Or Goldie from me?”

“Neither.” He laughed. “Once Goldie's in a mood, she doesn't snap out of it very easily, so I don't want you to spend your first morning here fighting with an elderly mare who's being a royal pain. And I do actually have a couple of errands to do in town. Wouldn't mind company, if you want to come.”

Lexi realized Gunnar was totally giving her a free pass on the riding thing for today, without calling her on the faking-it part. She should really just accept his offer and be thankful she wasn't currently getting dumped on her butt in the corral.

“That sounds great, actually.” She unbuckled her helmet, ready to head back to her cabin to change.

“Excellent.” He turned toward the stable, leading his horse. “Just get Goldie there untacked and bring her back in.”

Lexi froze as he walked away, and when she turned slowly to look at Goldie, the darn horse bobbed her head like she was laughing, then trotted to the other side of the corral.

Oh, it was going to be a long summer.

“So do I get to hear about all of Carefree's ancient secrets and crazy people while we're here?” Lexi smiled across the truck cab at Gunnar, who braked gently at the end of the highway exit ramp. In total opposition to yesterday's driving, he'd been a perfect gentleman today.

His eyebrows pulled together. “Who told you we have either of those?”

“Every town has them.”

“Huh.” He stepped on the gas, and Lexi looked out her window, afraid maybe she'd offended him. But then he continued. “Well, let's see. Craziest person in town's probably old Mrs. Speltzer. She lives up Juniper Street there with her five dogs. But she came by her crazy honestly. Lost both sons in Afghanistan a few years back.”

“Oh. God.” Lexi pressed her lips together. “That's awful.”

“Then there's the guy who lives three miles west of town in a little wooden shack not much bigger than an outhouse. Pretty sure
his
crazy is an act, though. He just hates people, so he acts like a raging schizophrenic if anybody comes near.”

“Nice.”

Gunnar raised his eyebrows. “You asked.”

“Touché. How about the normal people? Want to tell me about
them
?”

“Sure.” He smiled. “We've got some of those, too.”

For the next twenty minutes, he drove slowly around Carefree's downtown area, pointing out the Scoop-de-Loop ice cream shop and the park, Salty's bar and the Java Beans café, and the creek he said came through Whisper Creek property, but wasn't actually Whisper Creek.

While he talked, Lexi scanned left to right, drinking in the tiny, colorful streets. Flowers spilled out of whiskey barrels, and almost every business had a white wooden bench in front of its plate-glass window. It was like the fifties had married a New England village and had this sweet little baby town. The buildings were freshly painted, the grass was a light shade of emerald, and the sky was an impossible blue above the spire of the church that stood proudly at the edge of the park.

She hadn't quite known what to expect, but as they rolled through town, Gunnar waving at every other person on the sidewalk, she knew it wasn't this. Somehow, in her mind, she'd built Carefree, Montana, as a dusty Western town straight out of
Little House on the Prairie
. Instead of cute little colonial houses serving as law offices and cafés, she'd been expecting wood-framed buildings with tall facades and peeling paint.

She shook her head when she realized she was scanning the storefronts for hitching posts.

“So what do you think?” Gunnar finally stopped pointing out the sights and pulled the truck into an angled slot directly in front of a building with a ridiculously cute pink awning. Lexi ducked to read the decorative lettering on the awning, smiling tightly when she realized they must be at Jenny's bakery.

Oh, goodie.
He'd brought her into town to meet his girlfriend.

“I think…it's not at all what I expected.” When she saw his eyebrows start to furrow, she put up a hand. “I love it. Really love it.”

“What were you expecting?”

“I'm not sure. In some ways, it looks just like home. But then I look toward the west, and omigod, how can a person not fall under the spell of those mountains?”

Gunnar smiled, and she felt like she'd scored ten good-tourist points. He slid out of the truck and came around to open her door.

“Come on. Let's walk around a little. If I can get one of Jenny's cupcakes and a cup of Mac's coffee into you, you might never want to leave.”

As she stepped onto the sidewalk, she felt Gunnar's hand at the small of her back—just the lightest of touches, and probably an automatic move he considered polite, but damn. It sent tiny flickers zinging around her body, and she felt more than a little pathetic that the breath of a touch could do that to her.

Tristan's had done that, back at the beginning.

Hadn't it?

He pulled his hand back as they strolled into the bakery, where Lexi stopped in front of the glass cases and gaped at the sweet, frothy sugar-filled display. There were cupcakes, donuts, cookies in every shape and size…and her favorite—brownies. Be still her saturated fat-loving heart.

Jenny came bustling in from a backroom, tying on a pink apron as she hip-checked her way through the swinging counter by the register. Once she'd fashioned a sloppy bow with her apron ties, she reached out a hand toward Lexi.

“Jenny Dubuque. It's nice to properly meet you.” She smiled, and Lexi was reminded of Katie. Jenny's smile was huge and unaffected, set off by sparkly, bright blue eyes and light brown hair. No wonder Gunnar was probably smitten.

“It's nice to meet you, too.” Lexi shook her hand. “I hear this is the best place in town.”

“Well, that's because you have Gunnar as your tour guide.” She laughed as she headed back through the swinging counter. “Now, what can I get you?”

Lexi practically drooled as she looked through the glass. “Everything looks divine. I'm not sure how I could possibly choose.”

Jenny grinned as she got a pink bakery box from behind her and set it on the counter. “You're my favorite kind of customer, then.”

Gunnar pointed at a neat pile of bread and rolls behind the counter. “Ma asked me to pick up her order, if it helps. Said Roscoe's not having a great day?”

Jenny's face fell a little bit, and Lexi felt sympathy for this woman who was losing her father in such a painful way.

“Actually, that'd be great. Thanks, Gunnar.” She looked back at Lexi. “How about I put together a taster box? Little bit of everything?”

“Oh, God. Please, no. My arteries will hate me.”

“I use only the finest artery-clogging materials here, thank you very much.” Jenny started placing items in the box. “Your arteries will
love
me. So will your taste buds. And if you find yourself addicted to my baking—which is a common occurrence around here—there's a nice little workout studio three doors down. Skylar will be happy to set you up with a personalized program for the summer.”

Lexi laughed. “Are the two of you in cahoots? You fatten the tourists up, Skylar trims them down?”

“Shh.” Jenny snapped the box closed and put a sticker on the top. “Our little secret.” Lexi pulled out her wallet to pay for the box, but Jenny waved her off. “This one's on me.”

Lexi shook her head. “You just boxed up, like, ten pounds of bakery heaven here. I can't just take it for free.”

“Oh, yes, you can.” Jenny winked. “I consider it an investment. You'll be back.”

“Well, thank you. Wow.” Lexi balanced the box as Jenny handed it over the counter. Despite the volume of baked goods she'd stuffed into it, the box actually felt almost as light as air.

“Just watch the peanut butter cookies around Gunnar. Between him, Cole, and Decker, I can barely make enough for paying customers.”

The phone on the counter rang just then, so Jenny said her goodbyes. Gunnar held the door for Lexi, then led the way down the block toward the artsy little Java Beans sign on the corner.

“Next, coffee. Jasper's is the best in the West, as he'll tell you, should you argue.”

Lexi made a lip-zipping motion. “I wouldn't dare.”

They stepped inside the café, and it reminded her of an old hardware store-slash-soda fountain. She'd been in one once, somewhere in New Hampshire, and this one had the same feel. Creaky wooden floors, mismatched tables and chairs, and omigod, a coffee smell that might just send her to her knees.

All she'd had yesterday was bad airport coffee and a lukewarm Coke somewhere over Ohio, most of which had bounced out of her cup and onto her tray table. Ma's coffee this morning had been good, but a little bland. She glanced behind the counter at shelves full of tall glass jars, each brimming with fresh coffee beans, and inhaled deeply.

“I have found nirvana.”

Gunnar laughed, stepping up to the counter. “Hey, Jasper. This is Lexi Maguire, Whisper Creek's new ranch nurse.”

Jasper wiped his hand on a white bar rag, then stuck it out. “Welcome to Carefree, Lexi. Gunnar tell you we've got the best coffee west of the Mississippi?”

“He did.” She smiled.

“Good. He's right.” Someone signaled from down the counter, so Jasper put up a finger toward Gunnar and Lexi. “Be right back.”

Lexi watched him walk toward two older women seated way down at the back end of the café, and was struck by the realization that Carefree, Montana, seemed to have a lock on good-God-gorgeous men. Jasper wasn't her normal type, with his sandy brown hair and green eyes, but she could totally see Katie going all flirty with him.

One minute later, he was back. “What'll you two have?”

Gunnar leaned on the counter. “What's on tap?”

“I've got your favorite Sumatran.”

“Sold.” Gunnar turned toward Lexi. “What's your poison?”

“Darker the better,” she answered.

“Two Sumatrans.” Gunnar smiled. “You want cream or sugar?”

“And pollute the best coffee west of the Mississippi?” Lexi raised her eyebrows. “I'd never.”

Jasper smiled as he handed two mugs over the counter. “I like her. She can stay.”

“Thank you.” Lexi smiled as she took her mug, reaching for her wallet.

Gunnar put a gentle hand on hers. “My treat.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, feeling a little unbalanced by how generous everyone was being. This was the kind of thing that happened to Katie, not her. Katie rarely had to pay for a drink or a sandwich back in York, no matter where she went. Everyone knew her, and everyone loved her. It was like they handed her free stuff to thank her for gracing them with her presence.

Lexi shook her head. No one could hear her thoughts, but still. She sounded petty, and she didn't mean to. Didn't want to. Katie'd never asked for any of the freebies she got. People just loved her.
Lexi
loved her.

She just wished she didn't wish so many times that she
was
her.

Gunnar watched Lexi as she tried her first sip of Jasper's coffee and got an uncomfortable feeling way down low as he watched her sigh in pleasure.

“Oh God, this is good coffee.” She smiled, opening her eyes. “Please tell me he ships to the East Coast.”

Gunnar shook his head. “Nope. He doesn't ship anywhere. He says the beans lose their mojo if they leave the shop. If you want to drink Jasper's coffee, you have to get it straight from his percolators.”

“This could be a problem.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Do you think I'd have time to get down here every morning before guests wake up?”

“Depends.” He smiled. “How early do you like to get up?”

“I get up at five-thirty on school days, but was hoping to break that pattern this summer.” She tipped her head. “However, for this coffee, I might have to suffer.”

“One problem.”

“Hmm?”

“You don't have a car.”

Her face fell, which made him laugh. “Shoot. You're right.” Then she raised her eyebrows. “Know any cowboys who are particularly vulnerable to bribery?”

He shifted in his seat, clearing his throat unintentionally. “What does that mean?”

“I just mean…say, if I promised someone Jenny's donuts—or, what was it? Peanut butter cookies?—might he be willing to drive me into town for Jasper's coffee?”

Gunnar rolled his eyes. “And I thought my addiction was frightening.”

“You probably get them for free, anyway, right?” Lexi's eyes met his, then darted away, like she was uncomfortable.

“Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Jenny's just…generous.”

Lexi nodded slowly. “Dating a baker—it's a tough job, but I guess somebody has to do it.”

“Dating? We're not—no. Jenny's just a friend.”

He put down his mug, intrigued at the veiled relief he saw in her features. Interesting, but he knew better than to make her aware he'd noticed. Small talk would be much safer here.

“So I'm curious—why Montana? Of all the places you could have gone, why did you choose this job?”

Lexi put down her mug as well, taking a deep breath. “A number of reasons, I guess. One, I signed up so late with the agency that there were exactly two positions they offered that matched my credentials and availability—this one, or a hospital in downtown Atlanta.”

“Ouch. Atlanta in July.”

“Exactly. So it wasn't much of a toss-up. And then I checked out your website, and…well, have you
seen
your website?”

“No, but I've heard about it.”

“Has anyone mentioned that you're kind of front-and-center on it?”

“Only the guys, when they want to be asses.” He raised his eyebrows. “And you, when you got off the plane.”

She picked up her mug again, looking like she wished it was just big enough that she could hide behind it. “We were supposed to forget about that.”

“So what made you up and leave Maine?”

“The tourists.” She nodded decidedly. “You can barely navigate my town in the summertime. Nine months a year, it's a sleepy little paradise. But once school lets out, get
off
the roads. It's bumper-to-bumper insanity.”

“That's it? The tourists?”

He had no idea why he was pushing for a different answer, like he didn't believe the first one. Except that he didn't. He didn't even know why.

She sighed, looking over his shoulder at what he assumed must be a gaggle of toddlers in the park across the street, given the noise. He watched emotions fly across her face, like she was trying to decide whether to say anything more.

“I'm not…not just running from the tourists.”

“Figured.” He sat back, sipping his coffee like he could care less who she was running from. “You on the lam? Witness protection? Ex-boyfriend with a grudge?”