Shine Not Burn(64)

“Does he live alone?” My hands clenched into fists as I waited for her answer. I didn’t know what I wanted it to be. Either one would complicate things.

“No. He has a roommate. I suspect that’s another reason why he’s been here so much lately.”

I got dizzy again and instantly melancholy over something that made zero sense. Why did I think he’d still be single two years after being with me? He’s gorgeous, smart, comes from a good family and has a ranch business. He’s more than a great catch; he’s … my husband. Anger and jealousy and sadness all washed over me at once, threatening to push me to tears. That girl in the picture. It’s her. That’s who he lives with.

Maeve climbed the step into the house and then the stairs from the foyer, giving me time to collect myself. By the time she started talking again, I was back to my new normal - confused and angry at myself.

“We normally just grab a bite to eat and a coffee before we do some work around the place, then we sit down and have a real breakfast around eight thirty or so.”

“Mack and I were going to have a chat around nine. I guess we’ll do that after breakfast.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” She walked down a hallway and stopped at an open door. “Here you are. Bathroom’s just there down the hall, and if you need anything, you can either tap on Mack’s door there or find my room downstairs off the dining room.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” My face went red as I pictured myself tapping on Mack’s door. Like that’ll ever happen. I stepped into the room, noticing my satchel sitting on the end of the bed and the troll doll on the sidetable. Good. I can call Bradley and get my head on straight. Taking in all the baseball memorabilia on the walls, I quickly realized where I was. “This is Ian’s room,” I said.

“Yes, how did you guess?” Her smile told me there was no point in answering. “He was a superstar in high school, but he wasn’t interested in doing it in college. We never could figure that one out. He had offers.”

“I don’t want to put him out.” All Ian needed was another reason to not like me.

“No, he doesn’t sleep here anymore. This room has been empty for a few years now.”

There were several of the photographs around the room that had someone missing out of them. Whoever it was had been cut out roughly with scissors. I picked up the nearest one off a dresser. Ian looked about ten years younger, fresh-faced and not as tall or as broad. He had one arm around a taller boy and the other over an empty space that used to have a person in it. “Looks like a bad break up.” I said, putting the frame back down.

“Ginny. They were together forever. Engaged to be married and then … well … not. It ended right after he got back from Las Vegas.”

I moved farther into the room. “What happened? Or is that too personal a question?”

She sighed. I glanced back and caught her leaning on the doorframe as she crossed her arms and looked at the carpet.

“I wish I knew. Ian’s not that open about his relationships and things he has going on outside of his life here on the ranch. I’m not even sure Mack knows. I know Angus doesn’t.” She pushed off the doorframe and dropped her arms to her sides. “It’s neither here nor there, though. It’s over and they’ve both moved on as best they could.” She gave me a brief smile to try and cover up the sadness that had descended. “Is there anything else you need?”

“A towel maybe?” I hated putting her out, but I felt like I had Baker City dust particles in every single crack and crevice of my body. A shower sounded like heaven. Maybe it would wash away my confusion too. My failure to push Mack into signing the papers was definitely due to exhaustion.

She smacked her forehead lightly. “I’m so sorry. Of course you need a towel. In the bathroom, under the sink. Take any one you like. There’s a robe on the back of the door, a small white one we keep for guests. Feel free to use that too. I laundered it just the other day.”

“I don’t want to steal anyone’s robe.”

“It doesn’t fit any of my men, so you don’t need to worry about that.” She tapped the doorframe with her palm a couple times. “Goodnight then, Andie. It was nice meeting you, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yes, thank you for everything. See you tomorrow.”

I closed the door behind her and walked over to sit on the bed. Scanning the walls and shelves around the room, I counted no less than twelve pictures with Ginny’s face cut out of them. I wondered how much the trip to Vegas had messed up Ian’s life, just like it had Mack’s and mine. I also considered how much better off we all would have ended up if the trip had never happened.