The Art of Love (The Windswept Saga) (5 page)

“No,” she said, “I was the one who asked.  I’m glad you’re all doing so well.  I thought of you, for a long time, as my family. I’m sorry I lost
touch.”

“It happens.”  He met her eyes with just a little too much familiarity then, and quickly tore his gaze away.  “The office is this way,” he added, his face turned toward the back of the building.  He walked in that direction and she followed with b
eing prompted.  If they were this uncomfortable already, how were they supposed to work together?

Inside the office, she glanced around and found it pretty spare and clinical compared to the artwork-covered walls of the gallery.  The only concession to per
sonalization was a grouping of portraits on his desk.

“Coffeemaker and refrigerator over here,” he said, extending a finger, “but you can go out for lunch, too, if you’d like.  I’m not a hardass.”

She smiled and nodded.  “Where do those stairs go?”

“My apa
rtment,” he rejoined.  “I’ve been staying here during all of the remodeling work.”

“Do you miss the ranch?”  It was a deeply personal question, but he didn’t mind.

“Some.”  He looked toward the adjoining door before meeting her eyes again.  His face was partially shadowed under the brim of his hat, and she couldn’t read his complete expression.  “I left out a minor detail in your interview.  I own the whole building and thus the store just across this wall.  You might be needed to pinch-hit if the lady of the shop has to run an errand.”

“I could probably handle that.”  Taylor cleared her throat.  “Is she nice?”

He chuckled and his mouth quirked up strangely.  “I’ll let you be the judge of that one,” he drawled.  “Let’s see if I can drag her over this way.”  He stuck his head through the door and whistled.  Within a minute, they were joined by Alison.  Her face brightened and she pulled Taylor into a swift hug.

“He told me that you were our first employee, but I couldn’t wait to see it for myself.  Welcome hom
e, Taylor.”

“Thanks,” she replied, overcome with remembrances.  Her time with Alison and Christa had been somewhat limited, as they were away at college for much of her relationship with Chandler—but she’d admired them, their confidence, strength, and grit
.  She’d been a little more awkward and reserved, all the while wishing she could steal just a touch of Alison’s resolute temperament and Christa’s easy, refined beauty and store both in a jar for hard times.  She’d thought herself something of a tomboy before those two made it abundantly clear that a cowgirl could still be every inch a lady.  And Chandler’s attraction to her, and the confidence he carried in spades, had gradually softened her stance until she realized she had something to offer the world, and the opposite sex.

Alison held her at arm’s length and inspected her.  “You always were too good-looking for this lunkhead over here, you know that?”  Chandler rolled his eyes and grinned, and Taylor recognized the gentle teasing in her voice.  Alison a
nd Chandler shared the same wry sense of humor that was occasionally lost on the rest of their families.  “Why don’t you come over here with me and check out the shop?  I’ll show you about a hundred pictures of my kids while we’re at it and I’ll get you caught up on everything you might have missed.”  Taylor glanced at Chandler for a reprieve, but he put up his hands in acquiescence and smiled when Alison practically dragged her through the passageway.

He plopped down at his desk, removed his hat and ran bo
th hands across his face and through his hair. He expelled a huge burst of air and frowned.  This had been a terrible idea, and he freely admitted that, but Taylor needed a friend and a job, and God knew he needed her at this point in his life.  She was like a breath of fresh air in a life that was good, but missing a vital piece.  The final piece he’d need to taste eternity.

It didn’t work before, cowboy
, he suddenly remembered. 
Why should this time be any different?
  “Because I’m older and wiser,” he muttered quietly, “or at least older.  Maybe I appreciate her more now.”

And I want her just as much
, he said, but only in the privacy of his mind. 

Chapter 4

Alison offered her a seat behind the checkout counter and smiled.  “You want anything to
drink?”

Taylor shook her head.  “Not right now.”  She twisted her fingers together nervously.  “To be honest, this is all a little…overwhelming.”

Alison comprehended the situation immediately.  “I must seem a little overbearing, dragging you to my side of the wall against your will.”

“It’s fine,” Taylor replied.  “I just…I didn’t think I’d still…I mean, my feelings.  I don’t know what I mean.”

“I think I do, but I won’t press the issue.”  That old spark had been clear to Alison as soon she spotted her brother-in-law and his ex-girlfriend standing so awkwardly in his office, but she wouldn’t stick her nose in—yet.  “Christa is so looking forward to seeing you, and I’m sure Bryn is, too.”

“I have all of her books,” Taylor relayed.  “How is it that she looks as
good now as she did ten years ago?”

“Love,” Alison clarified.  “When you love and are loved that well, you age to match.  She and Chase remind me every day that
love in the strongest force in the world.”

“Sometimes I think I’ve forgotten how to love,” Tay
lor mused.

Alison rested a hand supportively on her shoulder.  “
Listen, when you’re ready, I’d love to see a picture of your son.  If you ever need to talk, I’m always here.  Well, except when I’m home.”

“I think…”  Taylor fumbled with her words.  “I think
I was too harsh on Chandler yesterday.  I closed myself off and told him not to snoop around in my life.  It’s like I was accusing him of firing the gun before he’d even loaded the bullets.”

“Interesting metaphor,” Alison answered wryly.  “Look, Chandler’
s assertive—we both know that—but he’s got a great heart.  Can you imagine him making you uncomfortable, or even hurting you, on purpose?  Negative.  He puts himself on display and if you check him out, fine.  If you move onto the next piece of merchandise, he doesn’t hold it against you.”

“What if I just want to be friends?”  Taylor tried to regulate her tone, and her face, but she was already giving too much away.

“Then he’ll respect you.  He’ll also plunder your soul with those blue eyes until you change your mind.”

“I’m in over my head, and it’s just day one.”

“This is getting too heavy, too fast,” Alison observed.  “Come on.”  She smiled at Taylor.  “Let me give you the tour.”

Taylor followed along as Ali
son pointed out shelves full of books, including ones written by her, Bryn, and Susan.  It was amazing to think that so much talent could exist in one family, and Taylor was glad to have been a part of it, once upon a time, reveling in a creative, supportive environment.  Her parents were amazing, of course, and she missed her father every day, but Chandler’s family life had always seemed almost grand.  They shopped for their clothes in town like everyone else, but somehow Taylor felt the Big I Ranch occupied an otherworldly sphere.  She chided herself again for losing touch with them over the years, but it’d been too hard, after she broke things off with Chandler, to ever inhabit their realm again.  Until now, when she’d stuck a foot firmly back in his orbit, consequences be damned.

“I love the colors you
used in here,” Taylor complimented.

Alison glanced up at the walls, covered in shades of taupe, green, and slate.  “These are the colors of the ranch,” she expounded.  “
I wanted it to feel like home.”

She noted the elk antlers, pressed tin stars, and flat
smooth stones available for purchase, along with a selection of Western shirts and assorted workwear.  Against one wall were shelves of handcrafted, wooden toys.  Nearby was an old-fashioned cooler full of soda in glass bottles, and along the back wall rows of Native American pottery and quilts.  There was no limit of objects in the store to capture the eye—and the imagination.

“Chandler said you might need me to help you in the store, from time to time.”

Alison smiled agreeably.  “I’d like that, if you’re interested.”

“Of course.  It looks like a great business.”

She shrugged, self-effacing in her gestures.  “This is just my hobby but I hope it’ll be a success.” She smiled warmly at Taylor.  “Come with me into the office and I’ll give you a spare key.”

Tay
lor followed closely, heartened to have been welcomed so quickly back into the fold.  Alison treated her like an old, valued friend, almost as though she was family.

“Here we go.”  She handed the ring to Taylor.  “Big one’s the front door, small one is for
the office.”

“Thank you,” she replied.  “This really means a lot to me, this chance to work.”

Alison nodded.  “How’d you like to see my bunch?”  She extended a framed photo toward Taylor.

Her eyes swept over the two small blonde children, their faces wond
erfully familiar.  “Beautiful kids,” she said.  “And you and CJ look so happy.”

“We are,” Alison responded, standing close to Taylor.  “There was a time I wanted to marry a cowboy.  Then I didn’t.  And then I did again.”
  Taylor watched as she chewed on her lower lip.  “There’s no more perfect man for me on planet Earth, and I wake up every day knowing that.  And waking up to his beautiful face every morning doesn’t hurt, either.”  She shot Taylor a sly grin.  “Isn’t he aging well?  Seems to get more handsome with each passing year.”

Taylor laughed, unsure of the proper way to reply.  “I can’t wait to see Mark and Christa.”

“Chandler has some photos in his office, too, but I’m sure you noticed that already.  They’ve got a beautiful set of kids, too.”

“Your p
arents must be so thrilled.”

“You know it.  Speaking of, when we have the grand opening you’ll get to visit with everyone and I’m sure they’ll have plenty of questions for you.”  She pulled Taylor into another friendly hug.  “I’ll try to keep them from int
errogating you.  I know you must get more of that than you’d ever want.”

Taylor nodded solemnly.
“People don’t know what to say in my situation.  Sometimes it’s better if they don’t say anything at all.”  Alison replied with an empathetic nod.  “Oh!  Chandler must think I’ve jumped ship.  I’ve gotta get back to work.”

“Good luck,” she emphasized, “and welcome to the company.”

“Thanks,” she said, turning to go.  “I may need it.”

She found Chandler seated at his desk, face locked onto the computer screen.  “
Taylor!” he said, startled out of his dream world.  “There’s something I’d like to show you on the computer.”  She found a seat close to him and he angled the monitor so she could get a clear view.  “The paintings are catalogued in this program.  It’s viewable anywhere in the world via the Internet.  Anyway, we don’t remove them from the program once they’ve been purchased; we mark them as sold and a chain of provenance begins.  It sounds complicated but it’s fairly simple.  Even a cowboy like me gets it.” He grinned and she warmed inside.  She’d have to get past the subtle effect he had on her if she hoped to work here without…well, never mind.  “Any questions?” he asked helpfully.

“I don’t think so,” she said with a firm nod.  “It’s like anything else.  I’ll have to adjust to it.” 

He smiled again.  “Did Alison manage to pull you onboard with her mercantile?”

“I’m a believer.  I think it’ll be a success.”

“Me too.  She was reluctant for the first five minutes, but CJ could sell ice water to the devil.”  He met her eyes, found himself unable to look away.  “He always was the charmer in the family.”

Taylor cocked her head to one side.  “Come on, you could be pretty charming if the nee
d arose.”

“You’ve gotta be able to hide your true intentions in order to charm someone,” he countered, “and I can’t hide anything.  Never could.”

Taylor felt her eyes water.  “That’s not true.  You hid it pretty well…”

“What?” he asked, well aware of what
she’d referenced.

“When I left you.”

He frowned, his jaw set hard.  His eyes betrayed him, maintaining their warmth.  “Had to.   I had to be okay.  We were headed in different directions and I knew it.  I couldn’t tie you down. You’d already lost your dad.  You needed to break free and spread your wings.”

Taylor stared at the computer screen, not focusing on the images but distracting herself nonetheless.  “I used to wonder about what would happen if I ran to you in New York.  And I don’t mean it in an impu
re way—I was happily married—but just…would I go up and introduce myself?  Would I recognize you?  Would you remember me?”

Yeah, I would have known you anywhere,
his mind rejoined.  But what he said aloud was, “Water under the bridge.  I probably left New York before you arrived.  It’s unlikely our paths would have crossed.”  He smiled, looked away, and dug in his desk until he found a form.  “This’ll be in tomorrow’s paper.  Grand opening Saturday.  Is that okay for you?”