Part 18 (1/2)

”Thank you, but I don't think-”

Celeste interrupted her, saying, ”You know, your sister is one of my closest friends in Eternity Springs.”

”She is?”

”Yes. Sage and I aren't Eternity Springs natives, so we had that in common, and it helped us bond. Now, I must run up and change into my swimsuit. Shall we meet back here in fifteen minutes?”

”Okay,” Rose replied. ”That will be nice.”

To her surprise, the woman reached out and patted her hand. ”We'll have us a nice long talk. You know, I think Sage could use a big sister these days.”

Rose smiled tremulously and spoke past the lump in her throat. ”Actually, Celeste, I could sure use a sister myself.”

THIRTEEN.

With the sound of Sarah's scolding still ringing in her ears, Sage took the long way out to her cottage at Hummingbird Lake. She needed time to process the implications of what she had just witnessed.

Colt was here. Rose was here. Which problem did she want to think about first?

Thinking about Colt felt less threatening, so she concentrated on him. The man had come to Eternity Springs. He hadn't called or texted or emailed or sent a telegram or a smoke signal that he was on his way. So, what did that tell her? He was done with her? While it's true they'd spoken on the phone only a handful of times since he left Eternity, between the text messages and emails, they'd actually been in contact quite a bit. Sage had enjoyed the interaction. Based on his response, she believed he had enjoyed it, too. So why wouldn't he let her know he was visiting?

Was this just a quick visit? Had he thought to get in and out of town without her knowing about it? Surely not. Nothing happened in Eternity Springs that everyone didn't find out about eventually.

Maybe he'd wanted to surprise her. Maybe he'd planned on showing up with another gift. ”Not another dog, I hope,” she murmured. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she added, ”While I do think you'd enjoy having a playmate at times, I'm afraid you're too spoiled to tolerate competing for attention on a regular basis.”

Snowdrop let out a little whimper, and it reminded Sage that it had been a while since their last potty stop. Not a good idea with Snowdrop and her itty-bitty bladder.

She pulled into the parking area for the park at the northern end of the lake and let the dog out to take care of business, knowing it would take some time since Snow had to sniff extensively to find the perfect spot. While Snowdrop sniffed, Sage's thoughts threatened to drift toward her sister, so she forced them back onto Colt.

He had been the perfect man for her. Sinfully s.e.xy, he had made her laugh. He helped her cry. He had given her such pleasure that sometimes in the teeth of the night she could lie in her bed and remember Colt and hold the nightmares at bay.

Yes, he had been perfect for her. Tall, dark, and temporary.

Safe.

”So what is he doing back in Eternity Springs?”

She could grab her phone and call him and ask. She could send a text or email. Doing that only invited trouble, however. He'd probably repeat his invitation, and she didn't think she could deal with him-with anyone-tonight.

”Hurry up, Snowdrop,” she said, speaking more sharply than she'd intended and immediately feeling bad because of it.

Snowdrop, who had finally picked her spot and begun to tinkle, looked at her as if saying, Are you kidding me?

Sage smiled at her puppy and said, ”Good girl.”

Why was Colt in Eternity Springs? Could business have brought him here? Had an accident of some sort occurred in the area and she'd missed news of it? No. She'd had the radio on part of the way home today. She had listened to news.

So if not his job, then what?

Why do you care? He doesn't owe you an accounting of his travels. We had a fling. It's over.

Snowdrop let out a bark. She'd finished and returned to the car, and she was waiting impatiently to be lifted back into her seat.

”You're right. Let's go home. Maybe take a nap. It's been a long day.”

Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into her drive and discovered that her day was about to get longer.

Colt Rafferty waited on her porch, a grocery sack at his side.

Her grimace upon seeing him wasn't exactly how he'd hoped to begin.

She climbed out of her car moving slowly, tiredly, looking weary and sick at heart. Aw, babe. What's the matter here?

It didn't escape his attention that this time she didn't run to him and bury her head against him and burst into tears. Instead, she said, ”What about the word no do you not understand, Rafferty?”

”Oh, come on.” He tried his best smile. ”You didn't mean it.”

She shrugged, retrieved the dog from the car and set her on the ground. Colt squatted down, clapped his hands, and the b.i.+.c.hon came running. ”Hey there, darling. I can't tell you how glad I am to see you in your naked skin and not wearing some stupid little costume.”

”Give it a rest, Rafferty. Please? I'm truly not in the mood for it.”

She truly was in a sorry frame of mind. He knew without a doubt that the Snowdrop-in-costume bit had been something she truly enjoyed.

She climbed up the steps and walked right past him, slipping her key into the lock and opening her door. She didn't attempt to stop him from following-apparently she knew him better than that-but she didn't make him welcome, either. Colt gathered up the grocery sacks and followed her and the dog inside.

That's when he noticed the dog's toenails. ”All joking aside, Sage, you painted her toenails?”

”It's called Paint My Moji-Toes Red.”

”I'm sorry, girl,” he said to the dog.

Sage walked into the kitchen, poured a gla.s.s of iced tea, then tossed it back as if it were bourbon. Refilling her gla.s.s and one for him, she asked, ”What's for supper?”

”Steak. Baked potatoes. Salad. Since Sarah wasn't around to bake today, raspberry pinwheels from the Mocha Moose for dessert.”

”I'm going to go take a shower.” She headed for her bedroom, then stopped abruptly. Looking over her shoulder, she announced, ”That is not an invitation.”

”I'll scrub the spuds.”

She stayed in the bathroom a long time. He did the prep work for dinner, then took the ball he'd brought for Snowdrop and let the dog out the back door. They played catch until Sage came outside wearing shorts and a green and gold Colorado University football jersey. Her hair was damp. Her feet were bare.

Colt wanted to cross the lawn and take her in his arms and give her the kiss he'd dreamed about since the day he left. Yet, everything about her, from the way she stood, to the way she moved, to the way she managed to look everywhere else rather than meet his gaze warned him to step carefully. She was fragile. Brittle. On the verge of breaking.

Not because of him, he thought, but because of her sister.

Well, maybe a little bit because of him.