Why was her imagination running wild? She barely knew this man. Her family barely knew him. Yet they had welcomed him to Westmoreland Country without thinking things through. At least, that was her opinion. Was her family so desperate to find more relatives that they had let their guard down? She recalled days when a stranger on their land meant an alarm went out to everyone. Back then, they’d never known when someone from social services would show up for one of their surprise visits.
Knowing Walker was waiting for her to answer, she finally said, “It went well. It was my first day as a features editor and I think I handled things okay. You might even say I did an outstanding job today.”
He chuckled. “No lack of confidence on your part, I see.”
“None whatsoever.” It was dusk and being outside with him, standing by the barn in the shadows, seemed way too intimate for her peace of mind. But there was something she needed to know, something that had been on her mind ever since Josette had brought it up that morning.
Not being one to beat around the bush when it came to things she really wanted to know, she asked, “Are you married, Walker?”
Walker stared at her, trying to fight the feel of air being sucked from his lungs. Where the hell had that question come from? Regardless, the answer should have been easy enough to give, especially since he hadn’t been truly married even when he’d thought he had been. How could there be a real marriage when one of the parties took betrayal to a whole new level?
Silence reigned. Bailey had to be wondering why he hadn’t answered. He shook off the unpleasant memories. “No. I’m not married.” And then he decided to add, “Nor do I have a girlfriend. Any reason you want to know?”
She shrugged those beautiful shoulders that should be wearing a coat. “No. Just curious. You aren’t wearing a wedding ring.”
“No, I’m not.”
“But that doesn’t mean anything these days.”
“You’re right. Wearing a wedding ring doesn’t mean anything.”
He could tell by her frown that she hadn’t expected him to agree with her. “So you’re one of those types.”
“And what type is that?”
“A man who has no respect for marriage or what it stands for.”
Walker couldn’t force back the wave of anger that suddenly overtook him. If only she knew how wrong she was. “You don’t know me. And since you don’t, I suggest you keep your damn assumptions to yourself.”
Then, with clenched teeth, he walked off.
Three
The next morning Bailey sat behind the huge desk in her new office and sipped a cup of her favorite coffee. Yesterday had been her move-in day and she had pretty much stayed out of the way while the maintenance crew had shifted all the electronic equipment from her old office into this one. Now everything was in order, including her new desk, on top of which sat a beautiful plant from Ramsey and Chloe.
She couldn’t help thinking, You’ve come a long way, baby. And only she and her family truly knew just how far she’d come.
She’d had some rebellious years and she would be the first to admit a little revolutionary spirit still lived within her. She was better at containing it these days. But she still liked rousing her family every once in a while.
Growing up as the youngest Westmoreland had had its perks as well as its downfalls. Over the past few years, most of her family members had shifted their attention away from her and focused on their spouses and children. She adored the women and men her cousins, brothers and sisters had married. And when she was around her family she felt loved.
She thought of her cousin Riley’s new baby, who had been born last year. And there were still more babies on the way. A whole new generation of Denver Westmorelands. That realization had hit her like a ton of bricks when she’d held Ramsey and Chloe’s daughter in her arms. Her first niece, Susan, named after Bailey’s mother.
Bailey had looked down at Susan and prayed that her niece never suffered the pain of losing both parents like Bailey had. The agony and grief were something no one should have to go through. Bailey hadn’t handled the pain well. None of the Westmorelands had, but it had affected her, the twins—Adrian and Aidan—and Bane the worst because they’d been so young.
Bailey cringed when she thought of some of the things she’d done, all the filthy words that had come out of her mouth. She appreciated her family, especially Dillon and Ramsey, for not giving up on her. Dillon had even taken on the State of Colorado when social services had wanted to take her, Bane and the twins away and put them in foster care.
He had hired an attorney to fight to keep them even with all the trouble the four of them were causing around town. Because somehow he’d understood. Somehow he’d known their despicable behavior was driven by the pain of losing their parents and that deep down they weren’t bad kids.
“Little hell-raisers” was what the good people of Denver used to call them. She knew it was a reputation the four of them were now trying to live down, although it wasn’t always easy. Take last night, for instance.
Walker Rafferty had almost pushed her into reacting like her old self. She hated men who messed around after marriage. As far as she was concerned, the ones who messed around before marriage weren’t any better but at least they didn’t have a wedding ring on their finger.
Pushing away from her desk, she moved to the window. Downtown Denver was beautiful, especially today, seeing it from her new office. The buildings were tall, massive. As far as she was concerned, no other city had more magnificent skyscrapers. But even the breathtaking view couldn’t make her forget Walker’s callous remark.
Just like Bailey would never forget the pain and torment Josette had suffered while being married to Myles. Against their parents’ wishes the two had married right out of high school, thinking love would conquer all as long as they were together. Within a year, Josette found out Myles was involved with another woman. To add insult to injury, he’d blamed Josette for his deceit, saying that it was because she’d decided to take night classes to get a college degree that she’d come home one night to find him in their bed with another woman. A woman who happened to be living in the apartment across the hall.
That was why Bailey had been so mad about Walker’s insinuations that wearing a wedding ring meant nothing to a man. She’d been so angry that she’d only hung around Dillon’s place long enough to hug his sons, Denver and Dade, before leaving.
It was obvious that Walker was just as mad at her as she was with him, but she didn’t have a clue as to why. Yes, maybe her reaction had been a bit too strong, but seriously, she didn’t give a royal damn. She called things the way she saw them. If he hadn’t meant what he said, he should not have said it.
The beeping of the phone on her desk got her attention and she quickly crossed the room to answer it. It was an interoffice call from Lucia. Ramsey’s wife, Chloe, was the magazine’s founder and CEO but it was Chloe’s best friend Lucia who ran things as editor in chief. Lucia was married to Bailey’s brother Derringer. Although it was nice having her sisters-in-law as first and second in command at the magazine, it also put a lot of pressure on Bailey to prove that whatever accolades and achievements she received were earned and well deserved and not the result of favoritism. Just because Chloe and Lucia were Westmorelands, that didn’t mean Bailey deserved preferential treatment of any kind. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Yes, Lucia?”
“Hi, Bailey. Chloe stopped by and wants to see you.”
Bailey raised an arched brow. What could have brought Chloe out of Westmoreland Country so early today? It wasn’t even nine in the morning yet. After marrying Ramsey, Chloe had pretty much decided to be a sheep rancher’s wife and rarely came into the office these days.
Bailey slid into her jacket. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
Deciding to take the longest route back to Dillon’s place, Walker rode the horse and enjoyed the beauty of the countryside. There was a lot about Westmoreland Country that reminded him of Kodiak Island, minus the extremely cold weather, of course. Although the weather here was cold, it was nothing compared to the harsh winters he endured. It was the middle of October and back home the amount of snowfall was quadruple what they had here.
But the differences in the weather weren’t what was bothering him today. What bothered him today had everything to do with the dreams he’d had last night. Dreams of Bailey. And that talk they’d had by the barn.
Even now the memory of their conversation made him angry. She’d had no right to assume anything about him. No right at all. She didn’t know him. Had no idea the hell he’d been through or the pain he’d suffered, and was still suffering, after almost ten years. Nor did she have any idea what he’d lost.
By the lake, he slowed the horse and took a deep breath. The mountain air was cleansing; he wished it could cleanse his soul, as well. After bringing the horse to a stop he dismounted and stared at the valley below. Awesome was the only word he could use to describe what he saw.
And even though he was mad as hell with Bailey, a part of him thought she was pretty awesome, as well. What other way was there to describe a woman who could rile his anger and still star in his erotic dreams? He had awakened several times during the night with an erection. It had been years since that had happened. Not since he’d returned to Kodiak from California.