Lilly Russo wasn't looking forward to meeting with the man
who'd so unceremoniously dumped her a mere three weeks ago.
She'd do it, however, and just about anything else for the
clients of Horizon Adult Day Care Center. They were too
deserving, too much in need, too dear to her to lose out on
a golden opportunity because of her pride.
"Mr. Tucker will be with you in a few minutes."
"Thank you."
If his assistant knew that her boss and Lilly had recently
engaged in a brief affair, she gave no indication.
"Would you care for coffee or water while you wait?"
"I'm fine, thank you."
Lilly attempted a smile and sat on the closest piece of
furniture, which happened to be an overstuffed couch, and
instantly sank like a stone into its soft cushions. She
should have chosen the chair by the window instead. Then she
would've been able to stand gracefully when the assistant
or, worse, Jake Tucker himself came to collect her for their
appointment.
While she waited, she studied the comfortable and charmingly
appointed lobby. The rustic, western flavor of the mountain
guest resort was as apparent here as everywhere else on the
ranch. Green checked curtains framed large picture windows.
Heavy pine furniture, much of it antique, sat on polished
hardwood floors covered by colorful area rugs. Paintings
depicting nature scenes and wild animals indigenous to
Arizona's southern rim country hung on the walls.
Lilly had been acquainted with Jake Tucker—manager of Bear
Creek Ranch and landlord of the mini mall where the day-care
center was located—for almost two years. They'd first met
here in his office, when she'd become the day care's new
administrator and her predecessor had introduced her to
Jake. Since then she'd visited the ranch only a few times.
But at the Labor Day cookout nine weeks ago, Jake had
suddenly taken notice of her and asked her on a date.
If Lilly knew then what she did now, she'd have saved
herself a heap of heartache and refused his invitation.
The assistant appeared in Lilly's line of vision. "Mr.
Tucker will see you now."
She pushed out of the couch, wobbling only once, much to her
relief. If it hadn't been so important to make a
businesslike impression on Jake, she'd have worn something
other than a slim-fitting suit and high-heeled pumps. He
wouldn't guess by looking at her how much his abrupt breakup
had hurt. Not if she could help it.
"Follow me, please." Jake's assistant led Lilly behind the
busy front desk to an open office door. She gestured for
Lilly to enter before discreetly moving aside.
The moment of truth had arrived.
Mentally rehearsing her pitch, Lilly stepped into Jake's
office. She came to a halt when the door closed behind her.
Lilly's stomach, already queasy to begin with, knotted into
a tight ball.
Jake sat behind a large, ornate desk reading a computer
screen, his profile to her. He turned his head to look at
her, and she was struck anew by his intelligent hazel eyes
and strong, square jaw. Memories of cradling that face
between her hands while they made love flooded her.
She promptly lost track of what she'd planned to say.
He stood and extended his hand across the desk. "Good
morning, Lilly. How are you?"
His greeting jump-started her befuddled brain. "Hello, Jake."
She stepped forward and accepted his handshake. His grip was
confident and controlled and reminiscent of when their
relationship had been strictly professional. But she'd seen
him in those rare moments when he lost control and gave
himself over to passion. That was the Jake she found most
attractive, the one she'd fallen for harder than she
would've thought possible.
"Thanks for seeing me on such short notice." She cleared the
nervous tickle from her throat and sat in one of the two
visitors chairs facing his desk.
"I would've come to the center on my next trip to town," he
said, resuming his seat.
"I felt our meeting should take place here, since what I
want to discuss involves Bear Creek Ranch."
"Is that so?" he asked and leaned forward.
He wore his sandy brown hair a little longer than when she'd
first met him. It complemented his customary wardrobe of
western shirts and dress jeans—and was surprisingly soft
when sifted through inquisitive fingers.
"Yes." Lilly struggled to stay on track.
She couldn't afford to mess this up. The facility's clients
and staff were depending on her to make their hopes and
dreams a reality.
Besides, she and Jake weren't an item anymore, their
personal relationship over. Hadn't he made that abundantly
clear three weeks ago? He could get down on his knees and
crawl across the floor and she wouldn't agree to see him again.
Lilly Russo didn't court misery. She'd already had enough in
her life, thank you very much.
"As you know," she went on, finding her stride, "the center
isn't just a babysitting service for emotionally and
mentally challenged adults. One of our goals is to provide
clients with recreational activities that enhance their life
experience, either by intellectually stimulating them or
teaching them skills they can use outside the center."
"You have a great program there."
"I'm glad you think so because we'd like your help with a
project."
"What kind of help?"
Someone who didn't know Jake quite so well might have missed
the subtle change in his expression from mild interest to
wariness. Lilly suspected the wariness had more to do with
his feelings toward her and their breakup than not wanting
to help the center. She rallied against a quick, yet
intense, flash of pain and continued with her pitch.
"The center's revenue comes from a variety of sources,
including donations. Some of those donations are in the form
of equipment or furniture or even small appliances rather
than money. We've received an item that I initially thought
was unusable. But after some consideration, I've changed my
mind. Dave, our owner, and the staff, agree with me that if
we can find a suitable place to board this…item, it might
prove to be very valuable and enjoyable to our clients."
"Board?"
Trust Jake to pick up on the one key word in her long speech.
"Yes. A mule."
"Someone's given you a mule?"
"Tom and Ginger Malcovitch. You may know them."
"I do." Jake frowned.
Lilly knew why. Ginger's brother and Jake's ex-wife had
recently announced their engagement. In fact, it was right
after their announcement that Jake had asked Lilly out on
their first date.
Unfortunately, she hadn't seen the connection. Not until the
night he'd ended their relationship.
She pushed the unhappy memories to the back of her mind,
determined not to let anything distract her. "The mule is
old and very gentle, though slightly lame in one leg. But
not so lame that he couldn't be led around a ring carrying
one adult."
"Your clients?"
She nodded. "I'm sure you've heard of the positive effect
animals can have on the mentally, emotionally and even
physically challenged. They seem to have an ability to bond
with these individuals in a way people can't."
"I saw something on TV once."
"Yes, well, the benefits animals have on the elderly and
disabled is a documented fact." She wished he'd sounded more
enthusiastic.
"And you think this mule will help your clients?"
"I'm convinced of it." She gathered her courage. "In
addition to corralling the mule with the horses on the
ranch, we'd need to use your riding equipment. In exchange,
our clients who are able to will do some work for the ranch."
"What kind of work?"
"Mucking out stalls. Feeding. Cleaning and oiling saddles
and bridles. Whatever simple tasks can be accomplished in a
morning or an afternoon."
"How often would you come out?"
"Three times a week. More if I can recruit additional
volunteers."
Horizon employed ten full-time caretakers, including two
nurses and several student volunteers from the nearby college.
Outings required one caretaker for every two clients and put
a strain on the center's regular staff. She doubted Dave and
his wife would agree to hire more employees.
Jake expelled a long breath and sat back in his chair.
Lilly sensed she was losing him and panicked. "I've spoken
with our CPA. She tells me the cost of boarding the mule
would be a tax deduction for the ranch."
"It's not just money."
"You've offered to help the center in the past."
"I was thinking more along the lines of repairs and
maintenance. Not providing jobs for your clients."
"Work in exchange for boarding our mule isn't exactly a job."
"There's an issue of liability." Jake spoke slowly and
appeared to choose his words carefully.
Lilly's defenses shot up. "Because they're disabled?"
"Because they'd be neither guests nor employees. I'm not
sure they'd be covered by our insurance in the case of a
mishap."
"Oh. Of course." Insurance wasn't an obstacle Lilly had
considered, and she chided herself for her shortsightedness.
"I understand. You have to do what's best for the ranch."
"I'll call our agent later today. Check with him on how the
policy reads."
The wheels in Lilly's mind turned. "What if our insurance
covered the clients while they were on the ranch?"
"Does it?"
"I'll find out. If not, maybe Dave could have a special
rider added."
Jake drummed his fingers on the desktop. "Even if I end up
agreeing to your proposition, I'll still need to take it to
the family for their approval."
Here was an obstacle Lilly had considered. Jake
managed Bear Creek Ranch but it was owned equally by eight
members of the Tucker family, including him.
"I'd be happy to meet with them," she said, hope filling the
void left by her earlier disappointment.
"Let's wait a bit. That may not be necessary."
She sat back in her chair, unaware that she'd inched forward.
"Your clients would also have to keep a reasonable distance
from the guests. Please don't take this the wrong way, but
they might make some people uncomfortable, and I have to put
our guests' interests first."
Was Jake one of those "uncomfortable" people? Lilly
compressed her lips and paused before replying. She
encountered this discomfort on a regular basis. And not just
at work.
It had started with her ex-husband, immediately following
their son Evan's birth. She'd also seen it in the
expressions of countless friends and relatives who had
visited during the two months little Evan resided in the
hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. Then later when
they brought him home, still hooked to machines and
monitors. The discomfort prevailed even at Evan's funeral
seven months later.
Differences and abnormalities, Lilly had sadly learned,
weren't always tolerated. All she could do was try to show
people that special needs individuals were frequently
affectionate and charming.
"That won't be a problem," she told Jake. "The people we
choose to bring will be closely supervised at all times. At
least one staff member for every two to three adults."
"That should be acceptable."
"Good." She made a mental note to contact the college
regarding more student volunteers.
"I'll let you know what the family says." Jake rose.
Lilly did likewise. "Do you know when that might be?" She
started to mention the Malcovitches impending house sale,
then bit her tongue. Another reminder of Jake's ex-wife's
engagement wouldn't advance her cause. "We need to find a
place for the mule this week."
"Saturday's the earliest I can get everyone together. If
you're stuck, you can board the mule here temporarily."
"Really?" She couldn't help smiling. His offer was both
unexpected and generous. "Thank you, Jake."
He came around the desk toward her, a spark of interest
lighting his eyes. "It was nice seeing you again, Lilly."
As they walked toward his office door, his fingers came to
rest lightly on her elbow. The gesture was courteous. Not
the least bit sexual. Yet, she was instantly struck with an
image of that same hand roaming her body and bringing her
intense pleasure.
Oh, no. She didn't need this now. Not when she'd
finally resigned herself to their breakup.
"I'll call you in a day or two about our insurance policy."
She casually sidestepped him, the movement dislodging his hand.
"Take care, Lilly."
Was that concern she heard in his voice? Did he regret the
ruthless manner in which he'd informed her they were
through? A more plausible explanation was that she'd only
heard what she wanted to.
But then, there was that look on his face….
"You, too, Jake." She left his office before she could jump
to a wrong conclusion, barely acknowledging the young woman
seated at the workstation behind the front desk.
Lilly's thigh-hugging skirt hampered her hasty retreat
across the lobby. She slowed before she tumbled down the
porch steps. From now on, she vowed, whatever happened
between her and Jake Tucker would be strictly business.
Forget all those looks and touches and vocal inflections.
She wasn't going to endanger a valuable program for the
center. Nor was she risking her heart on the basis of a few
misread signals.
* * *
Buttoning his flannel-lined denim jacket, Jake headed out
the main lodge and along the uneven stone walkway leading to
the parking lot. A gust of wind swept past him, sending a
small pile of leaves and pine needles dancing across the
hard-packed dirt.
He held the crown of his cowboy hat, dropped his chin and
walked directly into the chilly breeze. Fall came quickly to
this part of the state and stayed only briefly before winter
descended. Within the last few weeks, the temperature had
dropped twenty degrees. By next month, frost would cover the
ground each morning. Soon after that, snow.
Bear Creek Ranch was always booked solid during the holiday
season, which stretched from late October through the first
week of January. Nestled in a valley at the base of the
Mazatzal Mountains, it was surrounded by dense ponderosa
pines and sprawling oak trees. Bear Creek, from which the
ranch derived its name, ran crystal clear and icy cold three
hundred and sixty-five days a year. Fishermen, both
professional and amateur, flocked from all over the
southwest to test their skill at landing record-breaking trout.
Jake had lived on the ranch his whole life—until two years
ago when he'd walked in on his then-wife with another man.
Given the choice, he'd have sought counseling and attempted
to repair his and Ellen's deteriorating marriage, for the
sake of their three daughters if nothing else. Ellen, on the
other hand, had wanted out and promptly divorced him.
Because he wanted his daughters to grow up in the same home
he had, enjoy the same country lifestyle, remain near the
close-knit Tucker family, Jake had let Ellen keep their
house on the ranch until their youngest child graduated from
high school. He'd purchased a vacant lot a few miles up the
road. There, he'd built a lovely—and terribly empty—house on
a hill with a stunning view no one appreciated.
Never once did Jake dream Ellen would bring another man into
his home to sleep in his bed, eat at
his table, live with his daughters. The
very idea of it made him sick. And angry. That anger had
prompted him to invite Lilly on a date.