Home For a Cowboy Christmas(84)
Her mother grinned. “How did that go?”
“It was the most incredible two days of my life.”
“He a good lover?”
Cady smiled as she hugged herself. “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”
“Those men are rare, honey. Very rare.”
“We spent hours talking and hours having sex. It was…”
“Life-altering?” her mother offered.
Cady nodded. “Yes. I’ve never been so open with anyone. And I think he was the same. I was just myself.”
“As you should always be.”
“That isn’t easy to do all the time. Yet, it was with Zane. Then, the storm stopped. I wasn’t ready to get back, even though I knew all of you would be concerned. We decided to have Christmas day to ourselves. We had just woken that morning, and he was making breakfast as I went to freshen up. When I came out, the sheriff was there. They found my rental car.”
Her mother sighed as her lips pressed together. “And the bubble that protected you two from the world burst.”
“Yeah. In an instant. Zane wouldn’t look at me the entire time the sheriff was talking. I kept waiting for him to give me a sign that he wanted me to stay.”
“Did you tell him you wanted to stay?”
Cady glanced away. “I was too afraid he’d say it was time to get back to the real world.”
“Oh, Cady,” her mother said dolefully. “Both of you agreed to have the day, even though either of you could’ve said to get back to the world. Why would the sheriff arriving make a difference?”
“When you put it like that, it makes perfect sense. But, Mom, it was a weird situation.”
Her mother shook her head, her face lined with disappointment. “You wanted him to ask you to stay. And he wanted you to ask to stay. Both of you are idiots.”
“You might be right.”
“What happened after that?”
Cady tucked her hair behind her ear. “Zane drove me to the airport ninety minutes away. We didn’t talk at all. Before, we had so much to say. I wanted to say so much during those last miles, but nothing came out. Then we reached the airport.”
Tears stung her eyes. She tried to blink them away, but they fell down her cheeks.
Her mother leaned forward and put her hand on hers. “Oh, honey.”
“I thanked him for everything. He told me he’d never forget me and kissed me. Then he told me to take care of myself and drove away.” By the time the last word fell, she was sobbing.
Her mother scooted closer and wrapped her arms around her, holding Cady as she bawled.
“Why d-didn’t I s-say something?” Cady asked.
Her mother rubbed her hands over her back. “That doesn’t have to be the last time you talk to him.”
Cady sat back, blinking. She sniffed and wiped at the tear streaks on her face. “What?”
“It’s evident that your heart is in Wyoming.”
Cady considered her mother’s words, wondering if it was possible … if she dared …
Her mother took her hands in hers and smiled. “You asked me about destiny. I think you were meant to feel like your life was falling apart. How else would you be open to new possibilities with a man like Zane?”
“I wouldn’t have been.”
“Exactly,” her mother said with a knowing smile. “Jared had to hurt you so you’d see that he wasn’t meant to be in your life. You had to realize how crummy David was at the firm so you’d decide whether to stay or go. You had to be put in a situation that forced you to face yourself and the future that awaits. If you’re bold enough to take it.”
Cady couldn’t believe what her mother was saying. “You think that I should, should…?”
“Get your ass up to Wyoming and see if there is anything between you and Zane? You bet I do. It might turn out to be nothing. It might be something that fizzles in a few months or years. Or … he could be the love of your life.”
“But I hate the cold. He’s a rancher. With horses.”
Her mother laughed. “He got you on Brego.”
“Mom. He owns a huge ranch. Based on what I discovered today, his family is considered Wyoming royalty. He’s rolling in money.”
She shrugged. “So?”
“He didn’t tell me any of that.”
“There’s a reason for that, I bet.”
Cady thought about the picture she’d seen of Zane and the woman. She hadn’t told him about every ex-boyfriend she’d had. Why would she expect him to tell her everything in the time they’d had?
“New Year’s is coming,” her mother said. “You’re in between jobs.”
Cady couldn’t believe what she was thinking.
Her mother gave her a nod, smiling. “Come on. I’ll help you pack.”
Chapter 11
Zane ran a hand down his face and blew out a nervous breath. He had driven around the block six times, and he wasn’t any closer to getting up the nerve to get out of the car than he had been when he first arrived.
He looked at the charming house nestled in the Austin foothills. He could imagine Cady living there. It had a quaint, old-world appeal, mixed with a modern air that shouldn’t work but did. He’d hoped to see movement inside, but the house was quiet.