Callan nodded politely, tipping his gray cowboy hat. “Pleasure to meet you.” His frame was tall and wiry, his black hair shot through with silver. From his tanned skin, I would have guessed that he worked outdoors even if Matthew hadn’t already mentioned that Callan was the rancher who grazed his herd of cattle on Silver Sage’s property. His cows were the ones who nearly ended my life, but I wouldn’t hold that against him. After all, I’d left the gate open.
“Nice to meet you too, Callan,” I said. “Ella and I met at The Marmot the other night. Or should I call you Ursula?”
Ella raised her glass in greeting. “Hey, Lauren! Please never call me that. Sam knows I hate my given name.”
“They named her after the villain inThe Little Mermaid,” Sam said. “Beware.”
“Very funny.” Ella fake punched him in the stomach, and he pretended to be hit, doubling over dramatically. “I was named after my German great grandmother. Why they thought a toddler could pull off a name like Ursula is beyond me.”
“I never liked my name growing up either,” I said. “I had two Lauras, one Lori, and another Lauren in my grade in high school. I always wanted a more original name.”
“Grass is always greener,” Ella said. “I wanted so badly to be a Jessica or Heather.”
“Have you been enjoying your stay at Silver Sage?” Callan asked.
“It’s been wonderful.” I glanced up at Matthew. “In fact, if there’s space for me here, I plan to stay another week.”
Matthew beamed down at me. “Absolutely. I’d love to have you.”
His blushed deepened as he heard his double entendre. Sam gave a strangled laugh and Ella hid her smile behind her cup. Callan pretended not to notice, but even he was fighting back a smile. Poor Matthew.
“I mean, we’d love to have you stay longer at the ranch,” Matthew clarified. “All of us. Here. At the ranch.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” I squeezed his arm and tried to ease his embarrassment by changing the subject. “Ella, are you originally from here or somewhere else?”
“Born and raised in Three Rivers. My parents own a house about a mile from the bar. Like Matthew, I’m running the family business. My grandparents opened The Mangy Marmot in the late fifties. Not the German great grandmother side, my mom’s people.”
“That’s amazing,” I said. “I’m sure your family is happy you’ve taken over.”
“It was that or close the place. My mother has health issues, and Dad needed to retire and be home with her. I stay at their house a lot and try to help, but we also own the apartments over the bar, so I usually close up at night and go upstairs to sleep.”
“I don’t know how you do all those late nights.” Callan shook his head. “I’d be exhausted.”
“That’s why I want to turn The Marmot into more of a restaurant with a bar instead of the other way around,” she said. “We could change the hours and get rid of the pool tables, make it friendlier to older folks and people who want to have a fun evening that doesn’t end in a brawl. People around here don’t like change very much, though.”
“You could close down, rebrand and reopen,” I suggested. “My sister and I helped a friend of ours do that with his family’s Italian restaurant on Long Island.”
“Huh.” Ella tapped her bottom lip with her pointer finger. “That’s an interesting idea. I never thought about rebranding that way. Maybe we can brainstorm while you’re here?”
“That would be fun,” I said. “I’m not used to being away from work for so long, and my sister told everyone at the office not to call me with questions. I’d love to talk business with you.”
“Great!” Ella looked genuinely excited. “Can you come to The Marmot for lunch one day next week?”
“I’d be happy to take you into town.” Matthew tugged at his collar. “Is it warm in here or is it just me?”
I knew exactly what he was doing and played along. “It is really warm in here.” I fanned myself theatrically. “I think I’m going to get some fresh air. Care to come with me, Matthew?”
He followed me toward the door, but several guests who wanted to speak with him intercepted us. Then, they pulled me into the conversation, asking me where I was from and how I was enjoying my time at the ranch. At least twenty minutes passed before we stepped outside into the darkness, the screen door closing behind us.
“Alone at last,” Matthew said as we turned to face each other. “I thought they would never let us leave.”
“You’re a popular guy.”
“Are you kidding? You’re the one they’re curious about. Can’t say I blame them.” He traced his fingers over my cheekbone and down to my chin, tilting it up to bring my mouth toward his. “I was intrigued too. I still am.”
He kissed me, and the rest of the world and all its problems melted into the background. Our tongues teased, playing against each other, and any shyness we’d experienced the night before wasn’t there now. The fissions of desire running through my body were all-consuming as he kissed me slowly and thoroughly. I was unaware of anything but Matthew. I was his for the taking.
A sharp voice pierced the night air, shattering our cocoon. “Lauren? Is that you?”
