Rocky Mountain Home Read online

  One sunny day, overlooking the Grand Canyon while he waited for a rafting trip to start, an old friend had hunkered down next to him. “Spike Roberts!” Zach had exclaimed, giving his high school chum a bro hug. “What’s it been? Five years?”

  “Six,” Spike had reminded him, grinning like an idiot. “You graduated and left me to rot at Silver Springs High for a whole year before I could escape to Arizona State.”

  They’d spent as much time as possible that day reconnecting. Turned out Spike had been working for a competing tour company, and as they compared notes, the two men had discussed all the corners their employers cut on every tour. Realizing they could do better, Zach and Spike had returned to Silver Springs, borrowed some start-up cash from their families, and launched Rocky Mountain Adventures. It had been three years, and the business had grown beyond their wildest expectations.

  “Dude,” Spike finally said, interrupting Zach’s thoughts. “You’re banking on something my sister said a decade ago?”

  Zach frowned, but pressed forward. “It’s not like I’m going to ask her to marry me next week or anything.”

  “Maybe by the end of the year though?” Spike asked, watching Zach closely.

  The blush that crept up Zach’s face exposed him.

  “Zach, you’ve got to be kidding me! You really think something’s going to happen between you two after all this time? Worse than that, you’re taking the word of a seventeen-year-old girl as gospel.”

  Zach had never thought of it that way. He blinked furiously to hide the doubt in his eyes as he slumped back onto the couch.

  “Listen, Zach, I don’t mean to sound like a jerk. It’s just…it’s been a long time, man. People change, especially young people. Look at you. You are so not the risk-taker you were in high school.”

  Zach shot his friend a glare, trying to decide if he should take that as an insult, or a compliment.

  Spike held his hands up in mock surrender. “I mean that in the best possible way! If it weren’t for your careful planning and commitment to safety, RMA probably would never have even opened.”

  That was true. Before meeting Amy, Spike had played fast and loose with safety — at least for himself. But since becoming a father figure to a little boy, he’d become much more cautious with his own life.

  “Now think how much Mike has changed,” Spike said quietly, which only hammered the point deeper into Zach’s heart.

  He’d always known it was possible Mike wouldn’t even remember the promise he’d taken so much to heart. And even if she did remember, what were the odds she’d want to go through with it?

  The scent-memory of coconut whispered around him, and he couldn’t stop himself from feeling her in his arms all over again. Or the way her lips had felt on his, all those years ago. Or how she’d lit up like a Lady Gaga concert when she’d spotted him at her welcome home party. The odds Spike was right were fifty-fifty, at best.

  Zach knew which way he was going to bet.

  “Hey, thanks for bringing the jacket,” Zach said, standing and heading for the door pointedly. “If I don’t hurry up, I’m going to be late.”

  Spike sighed heavily and stood, but not before noticing an ancient hiking boot box completely covered in duct tape sitting on the pass-bar to the kitchen.

  “Hey, are those my boots?” he asked, reaching for the box.

  Panic flared in Zach’s chest. “No!” he practically shouted, leaping over the coffee table to block Spike from opening the box. “I told you the other day, I have no idea where your boots are. If they were in my house, trust me, I’d want those foul things out of here immediately.”

  Spike’s curious gaze followed Zach’s every move as he grabbed the box, threw it into the hall closet, and slammed the door shut. After a moment, Spike shrugged and turned to leave. Before he was all the way out though, he turned and caught Zach’s eye.

  “Good luck, buddy,” Spike said with worry in his own eyes. Zach was relieved he kept the second part of his comment to himself:

  You’re gonna need it.

  3

  Mike had just finished swiping some tinted gloss on her plump lips when the doorbell rang. Just like Zach to be exactly on time.

  “It’s for me!” she shouted to her parents, who were somewhere in the house. For some reason she couldn’t quite identify, it seemed imperative she answer the door instead of them. She hadn’t felt like that since high school.

  Swinging the door open, she was stunned into silence. The Zach McCormick she’d always known had worn only casual clothes — at best — and if the temperature was above fifty degrees, he would almost certainly be found in a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. This Zach, however…

  His short, dark hair spiked up in light clumps, as if he might have actually styled it himself instead of letting it simply air dry. A navy blue wool sport coat, which looked almost tailored to fit his tall, broad-shouldered frame covered a crisp white Oxford. There was even a coordinated white pocket square with blue trim jutting from the outer pocket.

  His lower half looked even better. Perfectly pressed khakis hugged his muscular thighs in a way that made her want to ask him to spin in a circle so she could see what other part of his body they hugged so nicely. A pair of soft brown suede loafers which would have been more at home on Wall Street, finished the ensemble.

  Yummy!

  Whoa, where had that come from? She hadn’t thought of Zach as more than a friend since her junior year in high school.

  “Wow, you sure clean up nice,” Mike said with a grin, trying to cover her embarrassment for thinking Zach looked hot.

  When his gaze skimmed over her pale pink sweater set and form-fitting jeans, she blushed furiously.

  “I think I’m under-dressed,” she stammered. “I forgot how nice the River House is. Gimme a minute to change.”

  She turned to rush upstairs to her room, when strong fingers wrapped around her wrist and stopped her.

  “Don’t,” he said. Just the one word, but it spoke volumes, and she blushed even redder.

  “But…” She looked helplessly at his finery, then down at her own casual duds.

  “You’re perfect,” he said, sending strange shivers down her spine.

  What the heck was going on here? She had no idea, but she wasn’t about to let her loneliness and insecurity come between her and her one best friend in the world.

  “Then let’s hit the road!” she chirped, hoping she sounded cheery instead of insane.

  Neither said a word the entire ride to River House Restaurant, the tension between them building to a point that made her want to scream. Only when they were seated and given menus, did he finally speak.

  “How are you settling in?”

  Mike laughed. “It’s barely been a day, but it’s okay. I’m not so crazy about having to move in with my parents, as much as I love them, so I’m already putting out feelers for a place of my own.”

  “If I hear about anything, I’ll let you know,” Zach said, snapping his menu closed as the waiter approached.

  Mike took one look at the prices on the menu and almost choked. Sadly, the last guy she’d gone out with had taken her to an IHOP, of all places. But this wasn’t a date, so she’d never expect Zach to pay for her meal. With her being suddenly jobless and all, she settled on a green salad with chicken.

  “Are you sure you don’t want something more substantial than rabbit food?” Zach asked, his tone worried. “It’s on me.”

  Oh, he shouldn’t have said that. Now her pride had been thrown into the mix. If she changed her order, she’d look like a moocher who couldn’t afford to buy her own meal.

  “No, I’m good,” she said stiffly, handing the menu to the waiter. “Besides, I should be buying you dinner. After all, you’re the one who’s going to tell me what I should do with the rest of my life.”

  Mike turned back to him, and as his gaze flicked away, she could have sworn he’d been staring at her mouth. Before she could think about it any furthe
r, he was ordering a big rib eye with all the trimmings. Her stomach growled.

  “So,” she said loudly, trying to drown out her rebellious tummy, “I hear you’re the man to talk to about career advice.”

  “I dunno about all that. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. After my injury, my sponsors were a little spooked, but my manager talked them into sticking by me. At least until I’d gone through enough PT to realize I’d never be truly competitive again. As soon as I decided to retire, they booted my butt off the gravy train.”

  Zach grimaced. “So what do retired skiers do these days?”

  Mike shrugged. “A few still have sponsorship deals because they’re big names. The rest…no idea.”

  “You’re a big name!”

  His sincerity was so cute.

  “Here in Silver Springs,” she conceded. “Maybe even in Colorado in general. But no one’s been knocking on my door since I called it quits.”

  “Have you given them a reason to knock?”

  Mike frowned in puzzlement. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, have you come up with a business idea or something they might want to support?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Zach. I’m a skier, not a businesswoman.” She swallowed hard to hold back the tears that pricked hotly at the back of her eyes. “I’m lost. Adrift on the sea. Rudderless. My whole world has been turned upside down, and I have no clue how to turn it right-side up again. I gotta tell you, Zach, it feels like my entire life is over.”

  His warm hand covered hers, his thumb gently stroking the soft spot between her forefinger and her thumb. A shiver skittered across her skin.

  “Or maybe it’s just beginning.”

  A memory she’d long forgotten jumped into her consciousness, making her giggle and flush at the same time. Zach frowned a little and pulled his hand away.

  “Did I say something funny?”

  “No,” she said with a final snicker. “Remember that time in grade school when I chased you around the playground? My little friends helped pin you down so I could give you a kiss. Remember?”

  What are you doing, idiot! She had no clue, but the image had popped into her head and she couldn’t shake it. Of course, that led to remembering a much more mutual kiss in high school, which got her all tingly, as if it had just happened that very day.

  “I remember,” Zach said, his eyes sparkling. “You know I let you catch me, right?”

  “Nuh uh!” she cried, turning the heads of nearby diners. Dropping her voice, she said, “Don’t be macho, just admit it.”

  Zach leaned back and grinned. “It’s true. I was in third grade, remember? I could totally have taken all those second-grade brats — you included!”

  Mike stared at Zach in wonder. Now that she really thought about it, his story made much more sense. He’d stood a foot taller than all the girls who had somehow managed to chase him down and hold him for her. Outrunning them would have barely winded him, in reality. She wasn’t sure what to make of it all, but the revelation gave her a profound sense of satisfaction.

  He’s your best friend, an annoyingly pragmatic voice whispered in her head. Right. Best friend. No flirting allowed.

  “Anyway,” she said, sipping her ice water to try to cool herself off. “I really have no idea what kind of business I should, or even could, start.”

  “Well, if all else fails, you could always join Spike and me at Rocky Mountain Adventures.”

  Mike knew Zach’s comment was a throwaway offer. He wasn’t, yet another, vulture trying to take advantage of her fame for his own gain, but after dealing with that kind of thing for so many years, her defenses automatically activated.

  “Oh,” was all she could manage.

  “Well, if it isn’t our hometown hero!”

  Mike glanced up at a very handsome man approaching their table. His sandy hair was trimmed short in a professional cut, and his green eyes almost startled her with their pale hue. He stuck a big hand out to her as he grinned expectantly.

  “Marc Ransome, city councilman,” he said, grinning from ear to ear, showing off a perfect set of veneers. He screamed car salesman.

  “Hi, Marc. Mike Roberts.”

  “You don’t need to introduce yourself.” He laughed and pumped her hand hard, like a politician might, then he shot a perfunctory glance at Zach. “Hey, man.”

  Zach nodded curtly, his jaw clenching hard.

  “Sorry to interrupt your date,” Marc said, sounding anything but sorry.

  The idea anyone thought she and Zach were on a date sent Mike into a bit of a panic. That’s exactly how rumors were started, and in a town as small as Silver Springs, it would run rampant in a matter of hours. Especially considering he’d brought her to the most expensive, most romantic, restaurant within fifty miles.

  “Oh, this isn’t a date,” she insisted, perhaps a little too forcefully, judging by the pained expression on Zach’s face. Still, once started, she couldn’t seem to stop. “Zach’s practically family…practically.”

  Marc’s eyes brightened at the news. “Great! Then I think you should go out on a real date…with me.”

  Mike couldn’t meet Zach’s gaze, which she could feel burrowing into her. Instead, she focused on the top button of Marc’s shirt, wondering how she’d gone from enjoying a wonderful evening with a wonderful man, to being asked out on a date by a stranger. The worst part was, she had absolutely no desire to go out with this slightly cheesy fellow.

  She became even more confused when she heard herself say yes.

  * * *

  Joe Martin had just set down another bourbon and water in front of Zach, when the door to Joe’s pub opened, letting in a refreshing burst of chilled night air.

  “Dude, the Bro Squad has arrived,” Spike said, slapping Zach on the back as he hopped onto the next barstool.

  Spike’s cousin, Sam, sat on the other side. “I’ll have a Coors,” he told Joe.

  “And a club soda,” Spike added. “So what’s up? It’d better be important. I was watching a movie with Amy and Ethan.”

  “Which one?” Sam asked, leaning his elbows on the polished bar to see Spike.

  “I dunno, some Disney thing,” Spike answered, rolling his eyes. “But we were at the part where the bad guy makes the hero’s life a living hell, and Ethan had just crawled in my lap for comfort. Man, that kid…”

  Zach’s gaze bounced between a sympathetic Sam and a choked up Spike. How was it possible that his best friend had turned into such a family man in a matter of a few short months? He didn’t begrudge Spike any happiness, but Zach was sitting there suffering, and they were talking about Disney movies!

  “Um, hello? Man down over here.”

  “Oh. Sorry, Zach,” Spike said, shifting his whole attention to his business partner’s deep, profound pain. “So what’s the deal?”

  “I’m an idiot, that’s the deal,” Zach said, shaking his head and staring into the amber depths of his drink. He’d already had two, and had no real interest in this one, other than to stare forlornly into it.

  “And this is news how?” Spike took a gulp of the club soda Joe delivered.

  “Burn!” Sam snorted, then sipped on his own drink.

  “Shut it,” Zach growled. “I’m serious. You were right, Spike.”

  “Of course I was. When?”

  “When you warned me Mike wouldn’t feel the same about me anymore. Can you believe Marc Ransome came over and asked her out before we even got our meals?”

  “Ouch!” Sam said, while Spike grimaced.

  “Even worse,” Zach continued, barely able to believe what had happened, “she said yes.”

  “Double ouch!”

  “I told you she’d changed,” Spike added, which didn’t make Zach feel any better.

  “Yeah, yeah, but what do I do now? Guys, I totally brought my A-game, but she called me…” Zach shook his head, unable to repeat her words.


  “What?” Sam prodded.

  Zach mumbled incomprehensibly.

  “What was that?” Spike asked, cupping a hand behind his ear.

  “I said, she called me family.”

  “Burn,” Sam murmured, pity dripping off the lone word.

  Zach looked between the men, hoping beyond hope they’d have a solution to this unexpected quandary. “Well, what should I do?”

  Spike glanced at Sam, who shifted his gaze to a baseball game unfolding on the TV over the bar. That wasn’t a good sign. Spike finally looked him in the eye.

  “Nothing.”

  “What? What do you mean?”

  “I mean nothing. There’s nothing to do. It’s over.”

  “There’s got to be something. I’ve been in love with her for…forever!”

  Sam turned his attention back to Zach. “What’s her favorite color?”

  “Huh?”

  “You heard me. What’s her favorite color?”

  Zach thought hard, trying to remember if he ever knew such a random piece of trivia. “Um, blue?”

  “Wrong!” Spike said. “It’s yellow. Don’t you remember that ridiculous yellow silky blanket she used to carry around with her as a kid? Sheesh, the prom dress she made Mom buy was even yellow.”

  Zach prickled at the mention of the canceled prom date. “How would I have known that? She stood me up, remember?”

  Spike shrugged. “Maybe not about the dress, but a man in love should at least know what color roses to buy his lady.”

  Sam nodded, then posed another question. “Does she prefer cats or dogs?”

  “Easy! Dogs. Who doesn’t love dogs?”

  “Nope,” Spike said, shaking his head as if he was profoundly disappointed in his best friend. “I’ll admit Mike is a universal animal lover, but if given a choice, she’d rather have a cat. Or maybe ten.”