Page 14 of Montana Rain

Lena picked up the wine bottle and looked in it. “Oops, looks like we need more. Come on, Rayne.”

“I’m okay.”

She grabbed me by the arm and pulled me up, tugging me over to the bar by the fireplace, and I let her. “Girl, what is going on?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lena rolled her eyes and actually looked through the bottles of wine. “Like hell, Rayne. You and I know each other better than that.”

“He gets under my skin so fast,” I whispered. “And he loves that he’s doing it. I just need him to go away.”

“You know who this reminds me of?”

“Who?”

She glanced behind her. “Grace and Harlan. I know you weren’t as close with all of us back then, but they were at each other’s throats constantly. And now…”

There was no need to finish the sentence. I knew.

Over the years, some of these people had been my clients. But as we grew closer as friends and a community, I had to step back as their therapist. Now I only worked with clients of the ranch itself. Ethically, I couldn’t do anything else.

“This isn’t the same,” I said.

“No?”

“It’s not.”

She held up her hands. “Fair enough. But I’m just saying… No one will deny I’m the town expert on knowing when a man looks at you and wants you. I did it for three years. And that man?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “That man wants you so badly, the whole room knows it.”

“Well, I don’t want him.”

“All of us know that’s a lie,” Evie said, reaching between us and taking the bottle of wine Lena still held hostage.

I sighed, glancing back at the table. Our absence was conspicuous. “Not now, Evie.”

“All right,” she said mildly. “But it better be soon.”

A laugh finally came out of me. “Fine.”

Thankfully, dinner went back to normal.

Mostly.

I was still aware of every move Cole made, and I found his eyes on me more than once. But I tried—and failed—to ignore it. The undercurrent of energy that made me want to push him and fight with him just so he fought back was strong.

What was wrong with me?

For the most part, no one bothered me or commented on my being quiet. All the women in the room already knew why—and most of the men too.

Finally, when dinner was over and I’d done my part to help clean, I waved goodbye. Cole was still here, but I thought I could slip out before we had another awkward or charged moment.

“You better come by Deja Brew,” Evie said as I put on my coat. “I’m serious.”

“I will.”

Now I knew why Cole chose Montana Jewels as the meeting spot.

I settled into my car with a sigh. And…nothing. The key was turned in the ignition, but there was no sound at all. Not even a hint of the engine turning over.

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