Chance Encounter(17)

“Stop it.”

“Come on, where’s that sense of adventure you’re always threatening me with?” He lifted a mocking brow. “Just admit it. You wanted to kiss me.”

“Did not.” But she couldn’t help but wonder what Chance, a man who greatly treasured his solitude and freedom, would have done if she had admitted the truth.

That for a moment, just a short one, she indeed wanted to kiss him.



ON HER SECOND NIGHT in the wilds of Wyoming, Ally got another call from Lucy.

“Having fun?”

Ally tucked the phone in the crook of her shoulder so she could continue to stoke the small fire she’d finally managed to start in her fireplace. The cabin was tiny and cozy, but icy cold, so it was necessity that had driven her to this, rather than the aesthetic value. It’d taken nearly an hour, and every single paper towel in the kitchen to get it going, but Ally was determined to get warm.

She only hoped she didn’t have to use the toilet paper stock as well. “Am I having fun?” She’d taken three showers to get the lingering smoke smell out of her hair from the trail. She had mosquito bites in places no one should have to itch and her arm muscles were so sore from today’s work she practically cried every time she moved. She blew a strand of hair from her eyes and sat back on her heels. Then grinned. “Yeah.”

“Really? Oh, honey, I’m so glad. Tell all.”

Ally used the poker, satisfied to see the tiny flicker of flame maintain itself. “Well, the trails are looking good. And I got on a bike today and didn’t break anything.”

Lucy laughed. “That’s a great start.”

Somehow Ally had convinced a staff member to show her how to ride, and given that she’d hit a tree on her first run, she was really doing remarkably well.

Even if she could hardly walk.

“Be careful,” Lucy warned. “Watch out for the pesky rocks.”

“Yeah, well. I’ll try.” She doubted she’d get another shot at it. Chance had nearly blown a gasket when he found out, and now no one would even talk to her, much less show her a good time.

“Tell me more. Is everyone treating you right? I worry, because though I love every one of them, my staff can be…well, rather snobby when it comes to the resort, but I’m sure Chance’ll take care of you.”

Oh yes, good old Chance. He’d take care of her. Of humiliating her, that is.

“He has, right? Taken care of you?”

“Why are we talking about me?” Ally asked, tossing another piece of wood to the fire. “How are you?”

“Bah! I’m as good as it gets. Now don’t work too hard, Ally. We’ll open when we’re ready.”

“You keep saying that, but I thought work was the whole idea.”

“Good heavens, no!” Lucy sounded appalled. “You’re to have the time of your life, do you hear me?”

Ally couldn’t help but smile at her vehemence. “I hear you.”

“Maybe you’ll have such a good time, you’ll want to stay forever.”

Ally’s amusement at the both of them quickly vanished. Slowly, she set down the poker. “Forever?”

“You don’t have to sound so shocked.”

“But…” She didn’t have forever. She was here because…

Darn it.

Being here had nothing to do with obligation or family loyalty. It had nothing to do with her old life. She no longer had an old life—well, except for the apartment that she still had to get back to in order to close up, thanks to Mrs. Snipps, landlady from hell.

No, she was here because she’d wanted to do something purely for herself. She’d wanted to live, really live.

Still, it was temporary. When Lucy was better, Ally would go back and figure out what exactly to do with the rest of her life.

Forever wasn’t an option.

“Ally? Would it be so terrible?”

She sounded a little down, and a horrible thought occurred to Ally. “You’re not sick or anything, right? It’s just your hip and ankle—”

“No, I’m not secretly dying and trying to prepare you, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m going to live to a ripe old age. I’d just like to do that with some family around, that’s all.”

“But…why me? I know the family is small, but there’s my sisters and my parents—”

“Your sisters would never enjoy it here, they’re far too spoiled for this life, though I do have hopes that’ll change one of these days.”

“It already has,” Ally said grimly, thinking about how she’d told them just that morning, again, that they needed to work more hours to help pay for their own tuition. “They’re going to grow up, whether they like it or not.”

“Glad to hear it. And as for your parents, delightful as they are, they’re just not interested in Wyoming, and I can’t blame them for that. Look, honey…all I’m asking is for you to think about it.”

As if she’d be able to do anything else. But fun as this may be, Wyoming wasn’t her home.

“Oh, and if you want to jump Chance’s bones while you’re at it, that’s fine with me, too.”

Ally pulled the phone from her ear and stared at it in shock. “Lucy!”