Always Remember (18 page)

“Nate,” she whispered, ready to contradict his statement, or maybe just ready to concede her own loneliness.

The pressure of his mouth against hers silenced Jessie completely. Her eyelids drifted shut and she reached out blindly, rested her hand against his chest. Beneath her palm, she felt the racing beat of his heart match her own.

Heaven in his arms. She’d dreamed about moments like this ever since she’d run away.

He broke off the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “Something happened when I saw you at the airport. I couldn’t acknowledge it then.”

Her heart did a tap dance inside her chest.

“I realized that when you left, you took my heart away. And when you returned, you brought it back home.”

“Nate, please don’t.”

He pressed his finger across her mouth, a somber light in his beautiful eyes. “Hush, sweetheart. I know you’ll be leaving soon. But can’t we just, for this one moment in time...pretend?”

The sun crested a distant mountain and shone full on him, drawing his attention, killing the moment. He released her, pushed to his feet, swayed, then caught his balance. Dragging sunglasses from his shirt pocket, he settled them across the bridge of his nose.

Another precious moment lost because she was too afraid to face the lies.

He grimaced and started slowly down the steps, his movements stiff. Jessie followed him to the edge of the porch. “Nate?”

From beneath the brim of his hat, he peered up at her. “Yeah?”

No. She couldn’t. Not after last night. Another few days and she’d be on her way, back on the stage, pretending to be happy when all she wanted to do was cry out the pain of all the years she’d wasted. For now, keeping the truth from him might be her last chance for happiness. “Take it slow today, cowboy. Okay?”

He nodded and left, his shoulders squared, his stride determined. Jessie picked up the coffee cups and took them back into the silent house. She was alone again, with only broken promises and dreams to keep her company.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Jessie Adams and the Hometown Show

A rousing rendition of Jessie Adams’ hits rocked the Last Chance Saloon earlier this week, but the best part of the show was the duet ‘Always Remember’ sung by Jessie Adams and ex-singing partner, Nate Coltrane—

“Morning, Sara.”

Holy cow!
At the sound of Jessie’s voice coming from the doorway of Maude’s bedroom, Sara vaulted to her feet.

How did old people do that? Her dad was always sneaking up on her like that, too. “Where did you come from?”

“From the same place as you, I imagine.” A small smile played across the singer’s mouth as she leaned against the doorframe. “Is that the morning paper?”

“Nope.” A guilty flush worked up Sara’s neck and into her face. Without acknowledging the evidence, she folded the rag magazine in half, slid it out of sight, and waited for the older woman to step inside the room.

She still couldn’t believe her good luck. Jessie Adams, superstar, was Dad’s old girlfriend.
Totally awesome.
Except, Sara frowned as she tilted her head, the singer didn’t appear happy to be home. In fact, judging by the slope of her shoulders, the quickly fading smile, she looked like she felt exactly how Sara felt. Scared, uncertain, in urgent need of a friend.

Maybe they could help each other out.

“Would you like to come in, Miss Adams?”

“There you go again. All that formality. Please call me Jessie. Ms. Adams makes me feel as old as my mom.” Jessie shrugged away from the doorframe. “How’s my mother doing today?”

Sara waited for the other woman to sit before she settled back down on the chair. “She’s been sleeping since I came in.”

“Do you come here often?”

“Yeah. Usually, I just read to her. But sometimes, she tells me stories about her days on the road with you.”

Jessie slumped down in her chair. From beneath the sweep of her lashes, Sara studied her expression. She looked really unhappy. Uncomfortable. Maude hadn’t told her why Jessie never came around, only that her daughter was far too busy to be bothered with her old life.

For a long time, Sara hadn’t been able to understand how any child could ignore their parents. And then she’d grown up, seen some of the world, experienced some of the heartaches and disappointments that were part of getting older. She still couldn’t understand it, but now she accepted that not every parent was as great as her dad.

Of course, she thought as she chewed on her bottom lip, he’d never really been tested. Would he pass the test when it came?

“I’ll bet you’re a real comfort to my mother.”

Startled, Sara sat up straight, shrugged her shoulders, fiddled with a loose thread on the seam of her jeans. “I guess. She kinda took the place of my own mom, you know.”

A pensive expression crossed Jessie’s face. “Sara, do you ever think about searching for your natural parents?”

Thought and thought and thought. Sara shrugged. “Sometimes. I mentioned it to Maude once. She convinced me to wait. Didn’t think it would be fair to Dad, what with him having no other family but me.”

“You’re a very lucky young woman. I imagine there are lots of children out there who aren’t so lucky.”

A solemn slant to her mouth, Jessie lapsed into silence. In the background, Sara heard the tick-tock of the living room clock. A thump came from the basement, then a swish of water flowing through the pipes — Harley doing laundry. Beside her, Jessie shifted on the chair.

“Can I ask you a personal question, Jessie?”

“Sure, sweetie.”

Dad’s pet name. It came from the singer’s lips so naturally it surprised Sara and made her feel braver. “Were you and my dad, you know, involved?”

Wariness lit the green gaze before Jessie answered, her voice soft, wistful. “Your dad and I grew up together. We were the best of friends for years.”

“What happened?”

“Your grandpa was real sick, Sara. So your dad stayed behind to take care of the ranch. My mother took me on the road and, well, we just never connected again.”

“He never talks about the past. Or you. I always wondered why.”

A strangled laugh escaped Jessie. Her gaze reverted to her mom. Her fingers twisted together on her lap. Sara wanted to reach out and cover her hands with her own, offer her a measure of comfort. Instead, she kept silent, waited patiently.

“No, sweetie, I don’t imagine he would talk about me. I’m sure he was very angry with me for a long, long time.”

Sara frowned down at her hands. Her dad reminded her of Hale when he’d first started to pursue her. Taunting, teasing, coaxing, kissing. Maybe he still loved Jessie.

“He didn’t seem mad when I saw him kissing you the other night.” God, now Jessie would think she was a total kid. Sara rolled her eyes and slumped on her chair. The magazine fell to her feet. As she scooped it up, she sensed Jessie’s withdrawal. “Sorry. Dad says I talk too much. Maybe he’s right.”

Jessie pulled the paper from Sara’s hands and scanned the front page. “Unfortunately, we can’t go back and undo the past. We can only go forward and try to fix our mistakes.”

Mistakes? What would Jessie think if she told the singer about her own mistake? She gave herself a mental shake and decided it was best to wait. “I hear Mattie convinced you to sing in the park next Sunday. Maybe we could do a duet like you and Dad did the other night.”

Interest replaced the frown on Jessie’s face. “Do you sing?”

“My friends tell me I do a great imitation of you.”

“Really? That’d be great, Sara—”

A sound at the doorway drew her attention. “What would be great?”

Beside her, Jessie stiffened. Sara studied the strange expression on her dad’s face. He looked like a forlorn puppy staring out the pet store window.

“Miss Adams...uh, I mean, Jessie and I were just talking about singing a duet together.”

He strode into the room, stopped behind Sara’s chair, and with one hand, gently squeezed her shoulder. “Not this year, young lady.”

She glanced up at him, conscious of the undercurrents in the room, more curious than ever about what had separated her father from his childhood love. “Why not?”

“Because I said so.”

No chance of arguing with
that
tone of voice, at least not in front of their guest. Beside her, Jessie scrambled to her feet and thrust her hands into the front pockets of her jeans.

“How are you feeling, Nate?”

“Fine. I’ve got a tough head. Just ask Sara.”

His eyes never left Jessie and suddenly, Sara felt like an intruder. She recognized the look that passed between them, even if they were too stubborn to acknowledge it. It was like standing in a crowded room with Hale, unable to touch him, unable to admit how much she loved him. She pushed to her feet, winced as the chair legs scraped against the floor.

She had enough problems of her own without delving into theirs. Hale...she still had to talk to him. Explain. How would he react?

“Um, Sara? Since you’re home, you can come help set up the bandstand.”

“Sure, Dad. Can Jessie come?”

“I...uh...”

As Jessie stared up at him, looking lost and somehow hurt by his hesitation, Sara saw the grim light in her dad’s eyes soften, turn gentle.

“That’s a good idea,” he finally said, a smile warming the hard line of his mouth. “Jessie can test the equipment for us.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Fanning her face with one hand, Jessie scrutinized the spruce trees lining the park where the last stubborn remnants of snow clung to the shadows. She’d forgotten how warm springtime in the mountains could be. Blistering hot, just like a sweltering mid-summer day.

A cluster of preschool children zoomed past, their carefree laughter tugging at her heart, bringing her both sorrow and joy.
If only.
One of them could have been hers, should have been hers. Flinging shoes and socks in all directions, they plunged into the freezing white patch and snowballs started flying. Ah, to be so young and free. She’d like nothing better than to pull off her boots and run through the snow with them.

Well, why not? She reached out and grabbed the heel of her boot and gave it a tug. A movement drew her attention toward the man loafing against the stage front and all thoughts of children vanished in a heartbeat.

Arms folded across his chest, hat pulled low over his eyes to block out the afternoon sun, Nate appeared unaffected by the activity buzzing around him. The white t-shirt he wore hugged his chest and upper arms. With every movement, every shift in position, the muscles across his broad chest and lean belly rippled.

Jessie sighed at the sight of white material clinging to tanned, brawny flesh. No man had the right to look
that
tantalizing. If only he would glance her way.

She straightened on her seat as a woman wearing a skimpy top and shorts strolled past him. His gaze skimmed over the exposed flesh on her back and settled on her derriere.

Men!
Maybe she ought to rip off her shirt and go for a walk herself.

Hot, uncomfortable, and undeniably jealous, she huffed out a sigh and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt.

Sara slid onto the chair next to her. “You’re frowning, Jessie. Something wrong?”

“I was just noticing the fine job of girl-watching your dad does.”

“Yeah, he’s got that job down pat.” Sara squeaked out a sound of dismay. “I’m sorry. You know, he doesn’t look at any of them like he looks at you.”

Jessie’s insides stilled. She gulped and felt her face heat. “Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything. In fact, we shouldn’t be talking about him like this.”

“Why not?” Sara cocked her head and studied her dad. “For an old guy, he is kinda cute, isn’t he?”

The understatement of the year. From beneath the sweep of her lashes, Jessie peered at the broad width of shoulders and tried not to think of laying her head against his comfortable strength.

Sara leaned toward her and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “He looks at you when he thinks you’re not looking.”

Jessie’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Another skimpily clad woman walked past him, grabbed and held his attention. She squashed the flare of jealousy and kept the tone of her voice flat. “If you notice, your dad looks at all the women like that.”

“It’s not the same. You’re different. He’s different around you. It’s like he’s looking at his favorite dessert, but can’t have any.”

“Enough.” Jessie laughed as she dragged her gaze from Nate, covered her ears and glanced at the girl taunting her. Then she noticed her pale face. “You okay, sweetie?”

“Yeah, sure. I’m just peachy.”

Jessie touched her hand to the girl’s forehead. Sara twisted away and for just a moment, Jessie felt as though she was staring into Nate’s eyes, tempestuous, like the rivers running through the mountains during spring thaw. “Are you sure? You don’t look well.”

“Too much sun on the ski-hill. You know, reflecting off the snow.” The girl shifted to the front of the chair, her hands resting on her knees, her fingers tapping impatiently against the well-worn blue jeans. “Say, have you seen Hale around? He mentioned he was coming into town to help.”

“No.” Jessie regarded the anxious, edgy posture and recalled the curious behavior between Sara and Hale the day Nate had been thrown from Diablo. Leaning forward, she covered Sara’s hands with her own. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

Tension radiated from the girl. “I thought Dad might need his help, that’s all. George is great at mending people but he sure doesn’t know much about wiring equipment.”

“Did you have a fight with Hale? Is that what’s bothering you?”

“A...a fight? Why would we fight? We barely even talk to one another.”

“Sweetie, I’m a real good listener.” Beneath her hands, Jessie felt Sara’s fingers start to tap again. “If you don’t want your dad to know about you and Hale, that’s your business. But if you ever want to talk—”

Sara pushed Jessie’s hand away and lunged to her feet. Just as quickly, she dropped back onto the chair and slumped down on her tailbone. She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Can you keep a secret? I need to talk to someone. Someone who’s not going to go running to my dad.”