Rocky Mountain Valentine (19 page)

He climbed into the truck, put it into gear and headed down the lane. “You going to stay clear over there?”

Lisa’s took in his powerful presence, noting his outstretched arm waiting for her to move closer. She scooted over, leaving plenty of space between them.

If Adam noticed, he didn’t say anything. He rested his arm on the back of the seat and placed his hand on her shoulder. “So what’s the plan with this ex-boyfriend of yours? You going to look him up?”

Did she detect a twinge of jealousy in his voice? “You don’t exactly look up someone like Dale. It’s more like tracking him down.” She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the woodsy scent of Adam’s aftershave. She dragged her mind back to the conversation. “I want to move on, Adam. I don’t want to be bitter and unforgiving.”

The truck bounced along the rutted road. He pulled her closer. “I want you to be careful. If he’s out of jail, don’t go looking for him alone. Okay?”

“I know what he did was terrible, but he wouldn’t hurt me.” Why was she defending him?

“Excuse me. He already did hurt you. It’s beyond me why you ever stayed with him in the first place.”

“He taught me so much about photography, I hoped I could—”

Adam cleared his throat. “You can’t change a horse’s color. He’d only abuse you again.”

“He didn’t abuse me.”

“Use, abuse, what’s the difference? His back’s against the wall over whatever just happened to get him in trouble with the law. He’s not going to be happy to see you all of a sudden, being that you have evidence to bring more charges against the man.”

Adam wasn’t just worried, he was on the verge of jealousy. “I’m not tempted in the least to go back to Dale.” She smiled. “But I do need closure.”

Traffic was heavy on the interstate, another reminder of what she’d left behind at the ranch. Lisa had forgotten there was a world beyond, with its buzz of traffic, and life without schedules and deadlines tripping one over the other. For a few blissful days, the world had slowed to a snail’s pace and Lisa had seen the endless possibilities of life outside the perimeters of the lens of her camera. Suddenly the snippets of time she caught on film couldn’t do justice to the intensity of the real life within them.

A few miles down the road Adam pulled off the freeway to fill the truck with gas and grab a quick breakfast. She ordered an egg, ham and cheese croissant and a large juice, and Adam ordered sausage, egg and cheese biscuits and coffee.

While they waited at the drive-up window, Lisa told him she’d left her computer and most of her luggage in the suite. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m really not going to have time for much else this week, so it seemed silly to bring everything.”

“I offered.” Adam paid for the food, tossed the change into his ashtray and handed Lisa the sack. The welcoming smell of breakfast filled the cab. Fresh bread. Ham. Sausage. Coffee. The aroma crowded all other thoughts from her mind and sent Lisa back to the comfort of meals with Adam.

His voice burst into her dream like a pin into a balloon. “So if you don’t have an apartment someplace, where do you keep your photos and files? What if another magazine wants an article while you’re gone?”

How could the man think of such practical things right now? Lisa lifted the food from the sack and opened Adam’s for him while she collected her thoughts. “All my stories and photos are archived on an electronic storage site. That way I can access them from any computer. It saved a lot of money replacing the laptop. I didn’t have to worry about buying so much memory for the computer to handle all my files.”

Adam seemed to chew on all the information as he finished his bite. “You keep your car and other belongings in a storage unit somewhere?”

“This really bothers you, doesn’t it?”

He lifted one shoulder. “It doesn’t bother me. It’s totally beyond my comprehension.” Previously occupied with driving and eating, he balanced the biscuit on his thigh and paused for a drink of coffee. “And I know how it would upset your sisters.”

Lisa rubbed her hands on her jeans and to stall, took a bite of the breakfast croissant. Instead of moving to another subject, Adam waited. She’d have to face the issue. “I sold my car to stay afloat those first few weeks. It wasn’t much, but it did help.” Sipping her juice, Lisa felt the emotion of the experience return. “I rent a car when I need one. I don’t have to worry about storage, insurance, upkeep or having it at the right place when I need it. It was an adjustment, but I’m making it work. Same with an apartment. Think of all the money that would have been wasted while it sat empty. After Dale, finding a trustworthy roommate seemed impossible.”

“What about now?” Adam asked as he took the last bite of his sandwich and wiped his mouth with the napkin. Within seconds, his arm was around her shoulder again.

What was Adam asking? She felt her hair glide through Adam’s fingers and words froze on her lips. She didn’t want to know what he meant. She had to say goodbye in less than two hours. If he answered, she might not be able to get on that plane. “Right now, I need a job—” she closed her eyes “—before I can even think of settling in any one place. If I’m going to continue freelancing, I don’t need—”

“You need a home as much as anyone, you deserve it more than anyone and you want it more than you’re willing to admit.”

Lisa took advantage of the chance to distract herself when Adam turned onto Pena Boulevard and continued toward Denver International Airport. She thumbed through her notes and found the information on her flight. She looked up at the signs and found the airline name. “Go to the west gates. You can just drop me off. I know you have to get back to work.”

Keeping her distance was impossible as the huge truck rounded the many curves. Adam didn’t seem willing to ease up on the gas pedal, which didn’t help matters much. “I’m walking with you as far as they’ll let me and waiting until the plane takes off.”

Adam pulled into the second level of the parking garage and immediately found a space. He shut the engine off, then turned to face her. Lisa tried to ignore the play of emotion in his gaze and failed.

He opened the door and pulled her out after him. Panic rose within her and all she could think of was to fill the silence with words. “I asked Emily to come get me. I hope you don’t mind, but I figured she and Kevin will be coming to the party anyway, and you’ll have plenty to do....” Each word tumbled from her mouth faster than the one before it.

“Whoa.” He bent his head down to hers, his kiss stopping her superfluous explanation. “All I want to know right now is that you’ll be back.”

She couldn’t open her eyes for fear that he would see through her brave facade. Lisa nodded. Reluctantly she pushed herself from his embrace and turned her back to him. Through blurry eyes, Lisa glanced at her watch. “I’d better get checked in, make sure there are no complications with my ticket.”

They rode the train to the concourse in silence, as if both dreaded saying goodbye, and finally came the announcement they’d both dreaded to hear. “Boarding flight 454 for Jackson Hole, Wyoming, rows 25...”

Adam took her into his arms for one last embrace.

Lisa gave him a quick kiss and turned, forcing herself to walk away.

“I love you,” an emotion-choked voice whispered behind her. Lisa felt a moment of pause before she stepped up to the security checkpoint and greeted the agent. You’re imagining things. Keep moving.

Thirty minutes later, the airplane still hadn’t taken off, prolonging the agony of her curiosity. Was the voice she’d heard Adam’s, or another passenger’s?

The flight attendant announced that they were waiting for weather clearance in Salt Lake City. Lisa leaned forward and looked out the tiny window toward the waiting area. Adam stood inside, watching and waiting, worry etched into his handsome face.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the seat. She fingered the necklace Adam had given her that night after dinner. She turned it around and read the words that had caused her to toss and turn for two nights.

Home is where your heart is.

Adam.

Had the week with Adam changed her life? Would she let it?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

L
ISA NEVER WANTED
to fly again. After two delays at DIA, a detour around a winter storm and enough turbulence to shake the sense out of anyone, she finally landed at the tiny Jackson Hole airport.

Nevertheless, Rashke, the managing editor, wanted to put in a few hours, citing the importance of getting the kids back to work as soon as possible.

Lisa picked up pizza and delivered it to the set, hoping it would set them all at ease. Before all was said and done, they’d put in a five-hour day. By the end of the evening, Lisa was happy to have that first meeting out of the way. More importantly, she hoped the kids would be ready to have fun working again the next day. She went back to her room and collapsed on the bed.

How quickly she remembered just why fashion photography paid so well. These were children, and she was worn-out. She could hardly imagine the stress involved in working with prima donnas.

She made a quick phone call to Adam, glad to hear his deep, calming voice. Activity at the ranch had stepped up as the committee began decorating for the masquerade ball. He asked for her advice on whether he should order flowers, and Lisa had to admit to feeling a bit envious about Adam spending the week with Tara at his side.

“Your sisters are coming tomorrow to help out,” he added, and Lisa noted an underlying tension in his voice.

Why would they get involved? “Isn’t this a city event? I know they’re coming to the party, but...”

As if he could read her mind, Adam finished the question for her. “They insist on helping.”

“Everything’s going okay?”

“Everything except that I miss you.”

She closed her eyes and blinked away the tears. This was the grand opening. Professionally it meant everything that this go well. Personally it was a statement of his commitment to his family and his land. “I’ll be there, Adam.” She wondered again if she should have left in the first place.

“You’ll be my hostess, won’t you?”

She let out a gasp and her heart beat faster. “My flight is scheduled for early Saturday morning. I’ll come directly to the ranch.” Lisa took a deep breath. “I promise.”

“That’s a pretty strong statement.”

It was one she hoped she could keep. After all the delays she’d had on the flight to Jackson Hole, she had her doubts. Flying had never bothered her before. Delays didn’t usually stress her. Leaving had never been so painful. And landing had never rattled her. Today, all that had changed. Today, she’d left someone she cared about. Today, he’d asked her to come back. Today, she was needed.

His voice lowered. “Are all of your days going to be this long? You will call, won’t you?”

“If you don’t mind if it’s late. After we’re done shooting, we’ll go to the office, look over the photos, reevaluate the project and plan for the next day. We don’t have the luxury of time on this one. Dale set them weeks behind.”

There was a long silence. “It was him, huh?”

“Yeah.” She said softly. “The stories aren’t pretty. I can’t believe it’s the same man. Sounds like he’s dug himself a pretty deep hole.”

“You be careful, Lisa.”

I want you back, she heard in Adam’s silence. “Adam, please understand why I have to be here.”

“I’m trying,” he said honestly. “I’m fighting a terrible urge to run away—right to the Tetons.”

“Save a trip for sometime when I can show you the sights. In the meantime, what did you think of the article?”

The silence lengthened. She could hear papers shuffling on the other end of the connection. “Adam? You did find it on the table, didn’t you?”

“Well,” he said, clearing his throat, “I think Toby spent the day chewing on the story. I’ll ask his opinion.”

She felt a laugh rumble clear from her stomach. “He ate it?”

“I wasn’t sure what all those scraps were, to be honest, but I haven’t seen your story.”

Lisa shook her head, envisioning Toby ripping her story to shreds. She only hoped the editor didn’t share the dog’s sentiment. “It’s still on my laptop under Whispering Pines. Take a look and let me know tomorrow what you think.” She yawned so loud that Adam laughed. “Oh, I’m sorry, Adam.”

“It’s okay. I need to call it a night, too. Talk to you tomorrow. Good night, Lisa.”

She was unable to reach Adam the next night, but had a very short message waiting for her at lunch the day after. He said he’d been unable to find the article, and that he’d call back later.

The shoot continued to go well, but Lisa couldn’t seem to keep the lid on her insatiable curiosity. With a few questions she learned that the team had been working a week when Dale started showing up drunk, leaving the models terrified of one wrong smile. Rashke gave him two warnings, then fired him. When she’d tried to remove him from the location, he’d gone into a rage. By the time the sheriff arrived, Dale had broken the equipment and added charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest to numerous outstanding federal warrants.

In the quiet of the nights at the hotel, Lisa thought of the layers of paint being stripped away. How many layers of protection had she been wearing to keep people at a distance—hoping that would prevent another “Dale” from hurting her?

He was less than thirty miles away from the resort in the county jail, waiting for a hearing. Resentment welled inside until she couldn’t sleep. It was time she quit letting him ruin her life. She deserved a chance to move on, to remove the old and put a new “finish” on her life. She requested a long lunch the third day and made the trip to town.

After showing her driver’s license and explaining to the officer the circumstances of her relationship with Dale, Lisa was allowed to visit.

She waited nervously along with another handful of visitors. The inmates were escorted in. Dale searched the room and looked right past her. Lisa longed to run and keep on running, just as she had been doing.
One day, you’ll be ready to slow down, and I’ll be here, waiting for you to come home.
She wanted to do this for Adam, for herself, for them.