Fifteen

Thursday, February 1, 2024

After overhearing the conversation between Stevie andNico, Stone spent a solid week sulking.

And then he spent another week hating himself for it.

As punishment, he forced himself out of the house. He spent time in town, interacting with people he hadn't seen in years. He went to the diner for meals, got full on good food and interesting rumors. He went to Moonshiners for drinks, got a pleasant reminder of the energy that this town had. He went to the General Store when he was bored, spending time with his sister because, as had always been the case, he found being around Reilly the easiest thing in the world to do.

In between, he dealt with the occasional encounter with Stevie and Nico. Although they were rare, Stone found himself looking forward to even the slightest glimpse. It was slow going, but they were exchanging pleasantries, and Stevie was no longer glaring at him. He considered that progress, but he knew he would have to take action if he wanted them to move forward.

Which he did. More than anything.

Only there was one problem. He'd been back for three weeks, and he'd made absolutely zero progress in getting his life on track. His career path was still up in the air, and though he was rekindling friendships, that wasn't exactly where he'd envisioned himself at this point.

It didn't help that he still had boxes that needed to be unpacked. Seeing them sitting there made him wonder whether that was his subconscious's way of telling him this might not be where he belonged.

Now, as he stared at those boxes, he sipped his coffee and reminded himself that this was where he was supposed to be. From the moment he got back to town, he'd felt the sense of belonging he'd left behind years ago. It had come flooding back. And then seeing Stevie and Nico…

"This is where you belong," he said aloud, setting his coffee cup on the counter before wandering over to grab one of the boxes.

The least he could do was finish unpacking.

So that was what he did. Unpacking more of his boxes, using the empty ones to pack up a few of Reilly's things that she'd left behind. There wasn't much. Not enough to fill one small box, but he set it aside so he could drop it off at the store later. At the very least, it would give him something to do.

Unfortunately, they'd had some sleet overnight, and more was expected in the afternoon, so it didn't make sense for him to drive around. Wasting gas and risking running his truck into a ditch was not high on his list of things to do.

At noon, he made himself a sandwich, but before he could take a single bite, his cell phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, concern filling him. "Hey, Uncle Curtis. How're you doin'? Everything okay?"

"Just soakin' up some peace and quiet before the weekend."

Stone didn't know why, but the gruff sound of his uncle's voice had always had a calming effect. Growing up, he'd been close to his aunts, uncles, and most of his cousins. Enough that he found himself awash with nostalgia each time he heard Curtis's familiar voice.

"All those grandkids keep you on your toes, huh?" Stone teased.

"On my toes and my ass," he huffed. "You think maybe you could make time to stop by today or tomorrow?"

The request surprised him. "Stop by? Your place?"

"Yep."

Of course his uncle wasn't going to elaborate. Where was the fun in that? Instead, Curtis let the silence hang until Stone had no choice but to fill it with a response.

Stone glanced at the clock. "Sure. I could get by there today. Give me an hour?"

"We'll be here. I'll make sure there's a pot of coffee on."

"See you then."

Stone disconnected the call and stared at his phone, wondering what Uncle Curtis might want.

He couldn't remember the last time any of his aunts or uncles had called him. He saw them at holiday get-togethers. Some of them, anyway. Stone's dad, like Reilly, was the youngest, but he had eight older siblings, five of whom were still alive. His sisters, Celeste and Katherine, had died when Owen was four, and his sister, Adele, had died almost twenty years ago. That left Lorrie, Mitch, Bruce, Rose, and Linda. One of the benefits of living in a small town was that they saw each other often. Stone knew from experience that being away from family wasn't easy. It was another reason he was bound and determined to put down roots here.

After he finished his sandwich, he cleaned up the kitchen, trying his best not to leave too early. He didn't want Uncle Curtis to think he was just sitting on his thumbs, waiting for someone to call and invite him over.

When he ran out of ways to be productive, he pulled on his coat and hat and headed out.

Getting to Curtis and Lorrie's took twenty minutes because the roads were getting bad. The weather service was telling people to stay home if they could. Their warning wasn't too far-fetched, considering Stone nearly drove off the road twice due to some black ice on the less traveled back roads.

Thankfully, he reached his aunt and uncle's place without incident. Aunt Lorrie welcomed him at the back door, urging him inside and taking his coat.

"It's gettin' colder," she said as she walked over to the coffee pot. "I'm not a fan. These old bones prefer warmth."

Stone grinned. Lorrie was seventy-five years young and looked as youthful as she always had. There was a seventeen-year age difference between Lorrie and Stone's dad, so she was more like a mother to Owen than his own mother had been. Then again, Phillip and Dorothy Jameson hadn't been the best parents in the world. Some even said Stone's grandfather was the spawn of Satan. Not that Stone would know. The man died before he was born.

"You take it with milk and sugar, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

While she prepared his coffee, Stone looked around the kitchen, then glanced into the living room. The house was just the same as he remembered growing up. He'd spent a lot of time over here despite Curtis and Lorrie's boys being older than him. All except Zane, who was a couple of years younger. As kids, they'd run around together at family gatherings, but as they got older, they never really became friends.

Of course, he'd lost touch after he left, only seeing most of them on rare occasions. It was his own fault, he knew, and he was hoping he could reconnect with some of them now that he was back.

"There you are, boy," Curtis said as he strolled into the room. He was wearing his usual Wranglers and boots, along with a long-sleeve shirt covered by a thick flannel shirt, which was unbuttoned, the cuffs rolled up.

"Hey," Stone said, walking over to shake Curtis's hand.

As always, Curtis took his hand like he was going to be formal, then jerked him in for a hug.

Lorrie chuckled, delivering two mugs of coffee and going back for a third.

"Have a seat," Curtis said when he released him. "Your daddy tells me you're back for good. That right?"

Stone knew that his parents were close to Curtis and Lorrie. Always had been. They got together frequently, and not only to celebrate birthdays or holidays. It wasn't until Stone went out into the world that he realized that sort of closeness wasn't the norm. It was one of the things he'd missed most while he was gone.

"Yes, sir," he said, pulling out a chair and planting his butt in it.

"What made you decide to do that? You've been gone, what? Fifteen years?"

"Give or take a week," he joked. "I wish I could say I got the itch to come back, but it was circumstance."

"You got caught with the boss's daughter."

"Curtis," Lorrie admonished.

Curtis laughed. "What? It's true, ain't it?"

"Yes, sir, it is," Stone admitted, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I know your mama and daddy are glad you're back," Lorrie told him.

"Yeah. Mom's got me runnin' errands for her right now."

Curtis's eyebrow lifted. "‘Cause you ain't got a job."

Stone laughed but felt his cheeks heat from embarrassment. Curtis never did pull his punches. It was amazing how the man could pin that blue-gray stare on him and make him feel like he was sixteen, not thirty-six.

"You got any money saved up?"

"Yes, sir." He had enough to keep him afloat for a good long time at the pace he was going. If he wanted to live in his parents' barn for the foreseeable future, that is. Which he didn't.

"Jerry Lambert called me up yesterday," Curtis said, leaning back in his chair. "Mentioned you stopped by there."

"I did. Thought I'd see how they were managin'."

"You still wantin' to be a rancher?"

Stone glanced between his aunt and uncle, wondering how much he should tell them. Just being there made him want to open up and reveal everything because his family didn't judge. Could he use them as a sounding board?

"It's been my plan for a long time," he admitted, wrapping his hands around his coffee mug and staring into it. "Not sure I'm still lookin' to take the same path, but I'd like somethin' along those lines. Farming's an option I've considered, too."

Curtis gestured toward the back door. "You think you could do anything with what we've got here?"

Stone frowned. He was confused. Curtis owned a large portion of land because, at one time, the Walkers had owned every inch of the town. Back before Curtis renamed it Coyote Ridge in Lorrie's honor, it had been Granite Creek, named for the tributary of the San Gabriel River that ran through the town. From the stories he'd heard, Curtis's father had rented out some of the land to others, and when Curtis inherited it, he'd dissolved those debts, gifting the land to the renters and, ultimately, giving the town a chance to thrive.

"It ain't gettin' much use anymore," Curtis said when Stone didn't respond. "Ethan and Braydon are the only ones still livin' on it. They've got no interest in any more than what they've got. We've rented out a couple of the boys' houses, but we ain't gettin' any younger. Plus, we've still got a few thousand acres left that we haven't figured out what to do with. We'll be leavin' that to the boys when the time comes."

Stone glanced at Lorrie, curious if she might clue him in on what Curtis was getting at. She was looking at her husband with the same love he'd always seen in her eyes whenever she looked at anyone in her family.

Curtis sat forward, resting his forearms on the table. "I guess what I'm tryin' to say is, are you interested?"

"In your land?"

"Yep." He waved a hand. "Not all of it, mind you. But a good portion."

Stone wasn't sure what constituted a good portion.

Curtis continued. "Out here, I'd say you're good with about one cow per three acres. Four acres for a mature bull. We've got about four hundred acres we're willin' to part with. Part of it's on this side of the road. The rest is on the other side. We've rented out three acres to that landscapin' company. They've got a fifty-year lease, so you won't be able to touch it. You'd own it, though. Collect rent or whatnot."

Holy shit.

Stone glanced between the two of them.

"Provided you've got a plan," Lorrie noted. "You'd need a business proposal, of course."

"Of course." He'd actually been working on one for some time. Back when he thought he'd take over the Double J, Stone had wanted to prove to Doug that he was serious and capable.

"The boys agreed they'd be willin' to let it go as long as it stays in the family," Lorrie added.

"And provided it'll be used for somethin' worthwhile," Curtis tacked on. "There are stipulations: no retail shit, no big master-planned housin' communities. The soil's fertile. Perfect for farmin' or grazin'."

Stone wasn't sure what to say.

"It's contingent on a couple of things," Lorrie explained. "First, you've got to stay here. In Coyote Ridge."

"I'm doin' that," he told them. "No matter what path I take."

Curtis nodded, looking at his wife to continue.

"You'll have to agree not to sell it for one hundred years. That goes for your children, too. And when the time comes that it is sold, the Walkers and Jamesons'll have first option to buy at market value."

"Makes sense." Stone wasn't sure who he was supposed to look at, so he directed his question at both of them. "How much're we talkin', though?"

Lorrie looked at Curtis.

"I paid nothin' for it," he said. "It's been in my family for generations. I want it to stay there. One thing people forget is that it's not about the money."

That was generally what people with money said, but Stone didn't mention it.

"It'll be a gift."

Stone choked down his surprise.

Curtis pinned him with that blue-gray stare. "Just keep in mind, gifts like that don't come free. You incur responsibility for others when you get handed a gift like that. It's your job to help those who need help."

Stone swallowed. Was that why Curtis was the way he was? Because he saw good fortune as a reason to help others? It explained a lot. Stone had always admired his aunt and uncle for the things they did for this town. He'd never met anyone as generous as them.

But he still had one question. "Why me?"

"Why not you?" Curtis countered instantly.

"You've got a couple dozen nieces and nephews. Why not one of them?"

Not to mention seven sons and all those grandkids.

"Fifty-seven," Lorrie said with pride. "We've got fifty-seven nieces and nephews."

It was a big number, but not so big when you considered Curtis and Lorrie each had seven siblings. Big families produced big families. At least that was what his mother always said.

"Out of those fifty-seven," Curtis said, meeting Stone's stare. "One of ‘em has been chasin' a dream and gettin' in his own way at every turn. "

"Yeah." Stone looked down at the table. "I've gotten good at that."

"You have," Curtis agreed. "But sometimes, it's that one who's capable of holdin' everything together. Even if he doesn't know it yet."

Lorrie reached over and touched his hand. "I think if you look close enough, you might see that everything you've ever wanted has been here all along."

Stone wouldn't dispute that. He'd thought the same thing when he saw Stevie again. He'd felt an echo of what he'd felt for her as though not a single day had passed. He had his work cut out for him, that was for sure.

"Are you interested, boy?" Curtis asked, his eyes warm.

"Yes, sir."

He smiled. "I guess you'll have to figure out if you're interested in countin' bushels and bales or heads and tails."

In other words, farm versus ranch.

"We'll expect a business proposal in fourteen days," Lorrie stated. "Plus, you'll need to talk to the boys."

"In person," Curtis tacked on. "Don't do that whole textin' or emailin' nonsense. Face to face. Tell 'em your plans. Get their buy-in. You'll need it."

"Yes, sir. I can do that."

His uncle smiled. "Good. I'm lookin' forward to the next time we meet."

Stone was, too.

Fifteen minutes later, after saying his goodbyes and promising to get them the information they requested, Stone left Curtis and Lorrie's.

His head was swimming, and he wasn't sure what he was feeling—surprise, anxiety, hope, or maybe a mixture of all of it. He felt as though he was outside his body, watching himself. It was surreal.

And there was only one thing he wanted to do.

As he was heading back toward town, he passed D S Landscape Solutions. As soon as he did, he hit the brakes. A second passed before he found himself backing up and taking a turn down the narrow drive that led to their office. He wanted to talk to Stevie, so he figured it was a good place to start. His conversation with his aunt and uncle had given him an idea.

As he pulled up to the D S office, it started to rain harder—a mixture of rain and sleet, to be more specific.

Figuring it wasn't going to get any better, he hopped out of his truck and bounded up the steps. He thought for sure the door was going to be locked, so he stumbled forward when it opened.

He took off his hat when he walked in, once again encountering no one at the reception desk.

"Anyone here?" he called out. The last thing he wanted to do was overhear a conversation like the last one. He'd spent the better part of two weeks being pissed off at himself for making Stevie hate him so much she wasn't willing to have dinner with him.

Not that he didn't deserve it. He'd done her wrong, promising he would come back and that he would call her. He never did because he hadn't meant the words he'd told her. When he left, he did so with the sole intention of moving on and letting her do the same.

Now, here he was years later, regretting that he'd been so stupid.

He looked toward the offices. "Nico? Stevie?"

Stone heard mumbling, but he didn't move from his spot.

A second later, Nico appeared, holding his cell phone to his ear and motioning for Stone to come to his office.

Nico continued his conversation, gesturing toward the empty guest chair. "Yeah. I hear ya. We're dealin' with the same."

Stone took a seat and peered around the space. It was much nicer than he'd expected it to be. On the wall were several framed certificates. On a shelf nearby were some small glass statues. They looked like awards of some sort.

The desk was free of clutter. It held a laptop and a small lamp. A black leather cup holder held several pens and more than a dozen pencils.

He wondered whether Nico was as neat and tidy all the time. Was his house the same? Or was this an exception because he didn't want his customers to think he was a slob? He had at least two dozen more similar questions because the truth was, Stone didn't know Nico all that well, and most of it was hearsay. Back in the day, Nico had been dating Chelsea, so Stone only knew what she'd shared with the rest of the family. Which, like most teenagers, revolved around how good-looking he was.

"Sorry about that," Nico said, drawing Stone out of his thoughts. "Did you need somethin'?"

"I came by to see if Stevie was here."

Nico's forehead creased, and Stone could tell he wasn't exactly pleased by that revelation, but he didn't ask why Stone wanted to see her. However, the question lingered in his eyes, so Stone opted to enlighten him.

"It's business-related," he explained. "I saw her at the nursery a coupla weeks ago. She was talkin' to Byron."

Nico still didn't prompt him to continue, but Stone didn't want him to think he was there trying to poach the woman.

"I just came from my aunt and uncle's—Lorrie and Curtis. I'm workin' on a business plan. For some of his land. I was wonderin' if she could answer a few questions for me. Regardin' greenhouses."

It wasn't exactly the full truth, but it was close enough.

Nico nodded, steepling his fingers, his wrists resting on his flat stomach as he leaned back in his chair. "I sent her home. The weather's supposed to get worse. I didn't want her drivin' in it."

Stone nodded and got to his feet. "Then I guess I'll stop by another time."

"You could go by the house," Nico said, also standing.

Stone was surprised by the suggestion. "I'm not sure she'll be thrilled with me showin' up on your doorstep."

Nico sighed. "You hurt her, Stone. When you left. What do you expect?"

"I know." Stone looked down at his boots. "I'd like the chance to apologize, but I know it'll never be enough."

"Stevie doesn't hold a grudge forever. I mean, she forgave me." A smile tugged at his mouth. "Eventually."

Stone frowned, peering up. "For what?"

"After you left, she blamed me for it."

"It had nothin' to do with you."

"I know that," he said earnestly. "But she was heartbroken. It was easier for her to blame me than the guy she was in love with."

Shit.

Stone met Nico's stare. "If it's any consolation, walkin' away from her is my biggest regret. I'd do it all over again, though." He gestured toward the space. "I would've held her back, and it looks to me like she's happy."

"She's successful," Nico clarified. "That doesn't mean she's happy. She pretends she is. But she's livin' my dream, not hers."

Stone wanted to ask him to explain that, but he refrained. Instead, he started walking toward the door. "Could you tell her I came by?"

"No."

He turned and looked at Nico, surprised by his adamant tone.

"Go by the house," Nico said. "Talk to her. You'll know where you stand if she sends you on your way. The least you can do is make an effort."

Stone stood taller. "I'd like to think I've been makin' an effort."

"By backin' out of dinner?"

"It saved y'all from havin' to cancel on me," he shot back.

Nico's eyes widened. "You heard that."

"Yeah."

Nico rolled his eyes. "It doesn't matter. One canceled dinner or not, you've been back less than a month, Stone. You haven't had enough time to make an effort."

"I invited her to dinner," he said hotly, not enjoying where this conversation was going.

Nico moved toward him. "Yeah. That was a half-ass request, and you know it. And you didn't invite her. You invited both of us."

Stone held his ground. "My mistake. I thought y'all were a matched set at this point."

"Don't start with bullshit excuses. That's beneath you. If you're lookin' to make amends with Stevie, you—"

Stone stepped toward him until they were practically toe to toe. "She's not the only one I walked away from."

Nico's mouth opened, then closed quickly.

Considering Stevie was doing her best to keep her distance, Stone figured this was his best chance to lay it all on the line. It might not make a damn bit of difference, but he knew he had to try.

"I was in love with her, Nico, so yeah, I owe her an apology. She deserves that much. But that night changed me. You changed me. I didn't just leave because of her. I left because I was feelin' somethin' I didn't fully understand."

Stone thought for sure that would spur some response, but Nico didn't say a word.

"I'll be honest with you. Walkin' away again is not in my plan. I asked you both to dinner because I wanted to know if there's even a chance of findin' a way back into your lives. Both of you."

Nico swallowed.

"As friends," he clarified but held Nico's stare. "Unless there's an option for more."

Again, Nico remained mute.

***

Nico had no idea what he wassupposed to say to that. It was exactly what he'd hoped to hear from Stone, but he damn sure hadn't expected it.

Stone lowered his voice. "Is that an option, Nico?"

Was it?"Maybe."

It was apparent his answer wasn't what Stone expected. "That's all I needed to hear."

As soon as Stone turned to leave, Nico reacted. He grabbed his arm, gripping but not hurting, wanting to halt his progress but unsure what else he wanted.

Stone decided for him, grabbing the front of his shirt and jerking him forward. Nico nearly plowed him over, but Stone was prepared, cupping his jaw to steady him as their mouths crashed together.

He was shocked, but not enough to pull back. He kissed Stone like the starving man he was, his tongue sliding into Stone's mouth, battling for dominance. Stone let him take the reins for a brief moment, but as was the case all those years ago, Stone's dominance won out. The grip on Nico's jaw tightened as Stone grabbed his belt loop with the other. In one swift move, Stone pivoted, and Nico found himself against the wall, Stone's big body pinning him in place.

Stone wasn't kissing him, but he wasn't moving away. They stood there, lips hovering for several heartbeats before Stone finally spoke.

"The desire's never gone away. For her or you. I've wanted her since the day I met her. That hasn't changed. But I did. That night. I had a taste of somethin' I didn't think even existed."

Nico was trying to process the words, but he wasn't sure if Stone even had a point.

"I've wanted you since that night. The same as I want her. That's what scared the shit out of me. I didn't want to go back to what it was before. I wanted both of you. Together. Stevie didn't sign on for that. Neither did you."

But Nico would have if Stone had simply stuck around long enough to find out.

And suddenly, it made more sense. Although Nico wanted the same thing back then, Stevie hadn't signed up for that. She'd been Stone's girlfriend at the time. The two of them in a monogamous relationship. That night had been an anomaly, a one-time thing. Or it should have been. If Stone wanted more, it made sense that he'd distanced himself.

Not that Stevie would understand since she was the one Stone left. Nico got it, though. He understood because he'd felt the same way.

Stone's eyes implored him. "Does somethin' like that even work?"

"A threesome?"

"No. I know that works. But does it work when two turns into three?"

"Yes," Nico said, his hand fisting in Stone's shirt.

Stone pulled back, meeting his gaze. "You think so?"

"With Stevie? Yes." Nico truly believed that. "But you should know I love her. I'll do everything in my power to protect her. Even if it's from you."

"Is that a threat?"

There was no vehemence in Stone's tone, but Nico answered seriously. "It's a promise."

To his dismay, Stone released him and took a step back. "I'm sorry. That was…" He exhaled heavily. "I keep forgettin' you and Stevie are together."

"We're not," Nico said, but he didn't reach for him. He remained against the wall, fearing his legs wouldn't hold him up. "We're friends."

"With benefits?'

Nico nodded.

"And you love her?"

"Yeah."

"Does she know that?"

He'd told her as much, but since Stevie hadn't brought it up at all, he wasn't sure she'd heard him. That, or she didn't reciprocate and didn't want to hurt him by saying as much.

Nico went with the simple answer, shaking his head. "And I'd like to keep it that way."

"Maybe she should."

"If I thought we could find what we're lookin' for, maybe I'd tell her."

"I don't know what that means."

"You weren't the only one who was changed by the events of that night, Stone. You left a hole when you left. In both of us. It became a spot that needed to be filled, but neither of us knew how to do that."

Stone's eyes glittered with something Nico couldn't identify. Hope? Disbelief? He wasn't sure.

Nico's gaze shifted to Stone's mouth. He wanted to kiss him again, to feel that rush he'd felt a few moments ago.

Stone took a step closer, but he didn't kiss him. His fingertips brushed over Nico's bottom lip. "I get it. I do," he said, his voice barely audible. "No one's ever made me feel that … spark. Only you and Stevie." Stone's gaze lifted. "But I need to talk to Stevie first. She already said she has no desire to get mixed up with me again. The last damn thing I want is to make her hate me even more."

Nico took that as his cue, pushing off the wall and walking back to his desk to pick up his phone. "Go to the house. Give me your number, and I'll text you the address."

Stone rattled off the number, then added, "You might wanna warn her I'm stoppin' by."

Nico shook his head. "If I do that, she won't answer the door. Y'all have to talk. Sooner rather than later."

Stone glanced down at the phone when the text came through. "I hope you know what you're doin'."

Nico did, too. "I've got to meet with a client. Today's the only day they can do it. I'll be home after that. If you're still there, maybe we can have dinner tonight."

"Dinner would be good."

With that, Stone walked out the door.