“And…?”
She laughed. “And I am just figuring out the fixing us part.”
“And now there’s Jake.”
Lauren sighed, but she was smiling as she did. “Now there’s Jake.”
“How long were you planning to stay out here?”
“As long as we needed; I really had no timeline set up. One thing about being a workaholic for the past ten years is that I am in the comfortable position of not having to rush into anything right away.” She looked at her mother. “I have time to figure things out. I want to enjoy some time with you. I’ve really missed you, missed us. And, now…”
Her mother’s smile was knowing bordering on wicked. “There’s Jake.” She even wiggled her eyebrows.
Lauren swatted in the general direction of her mother, but also spoke before thinking. “See, that’s the passionate, tempestuous woman I know. I can’t believe you’re stifling that part of yourself in any way.”
Her mother’s expression immediately shuttered a bit and Lauren wanted to kick herself in the ass. Or tape her mouth shut. “I’m sorry, truly. I was just—”
“No, it’s fine.” She looked at her daughter, all sober, serene, and looking wise beyond her years. Or maybe wise because of her years. But Lauren also noted, for the very first time, the weariness there. Or maybe it was resignation.
And she started to worry all over again. Dammit.
“Let’s look at the sunset and just appreciate that we’re here. Together. And we’re good,” her mother said. She pulled the truck over at the crest of the next ridge, and the valley spreading below them was breathtaking, aglow with the colors of the setting sun behind the rigid and jagged peaks rising above it on the other side. “We are good, aren’t we?” she asked quietly, a few moments later.
Lauren hated with a passion the renewed niggling in her gut. “We’re the best,” she whispered. “The very best.”
Maybe just as parents worried about their kids no matter their age, kids worried about their parents, too. It was natural, normal even. A sign of a loving partnership. At least that’s what she told herself as they finally turned around and headed back toward home.
Home. As the light faded, and they drove on in what she desperately wished was companionable silence…she found herself wondering how that word applied to her life now. And realized she had absolutely no clue.
R
uby Jean threw her arms around Jake’s neck and held on tight, kicking up her heels and making him grunt as he grabbed hold of her to keep from tumbling them both to the ground. “Paddy would be so insanely proud of you right now.” The widest smile split her pretty face.
“You think so? I’m not so sure. But it was my only choice.”
“He just hated the commercialization that came with investors. You kept control of how the
Betty Sue
would be maintained and marketed. Besides…” She bussed him noisily on the cheek as he set her on her feet again. “You bring that trophy home and put it on the wall, next to his picture, and he’ll be smilin’ in heaven for all eternity.”
Jake laughed, feeling too good to argue the point. “I wonder if you can claim bragging rights in the afterlife?”
“Oh, I’m certain if there’s a way, he’ll be the one findin’ it,” she said, affecting the brogue that always grew far more pronounced whenever their grandfather was exercised over something—which was almost always—and despite the fact that Patrick McKenna had spent all but ten of his seventy-five years on American soil.
“I’m sure you’re right.” Jake glanced over his shoulder at Roger and the group, who were presently arranging rooms at the resort registration desk. They had consumed, perhaps, a wee bit too much celebratory champagne, and while Jake was perfectly sober and could have flown them back to Vegas, they’d opted to return in the morning. Jake had had to scramble to rearrange two of his lessons, but a bit of inconvenience was more than worth it, considering what they were doing for him. And for
Betty Sue
. “Sorry, about earlier. I know they got a bit out of hand.”
Along with the celebratory champagne, a few of the guys had been more than a little obvious about wanting to do some celebrating of a more personal nature with his sister. And while he’d teased her about their availability, in no way did he expect her to put up with that nonsense.
“If I’d had any idea they were going to behave like that, I’d have—”
Ruby Jean put her hand up. “I can handle myself, big brother. They were just excited about the prospect of seeing big jets fly at ridiculously fast speeds. It’s a testosterone rush and I was an available outlet to cut it loose on. But, trust me on this, no one manhandles Ruby Jean McKenna.” She flashed her dimples in a sweetheart of a smile. “At least not without her explicit permission.”
Jake groaned and clapped his hands to his ears. “I do not need to hear about this, much less think about it.” But his sister had been telling the truth about being able to handle herself. She’d handled their drunken advances with an easy demeanor and quick wit that kept things friendly, but made it perfectly clear she wasn’t going to play.
It was funny, though in some ways Jake had always been a little in awe of his baby sister, from how young and how quickly she’d taken to flying, to her daredevil nature, but in most other ways, she was, in fact, his baby sister and always would be. So, it always kind of set him back a step when she showed just how mature and responsible for herself she really was. She might come crying to him about, well, almost everything, or so it seemed, but when it came down to it, she was a smart, resourceful, highly capable, independent young woman.
She frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like a proud principal or something. What’d I do now?”
He hugged her. “I know I hassle you, and that’s largely because you drive me crazy on a regular basis, but if I haven’t told you this lately, I really am proud of you, Ruby Jean McKenna. You’ve grown up good.”
She eyed him warily. “I’d have sworn I didn’t see you drink more than a half glass of champagne.”
“I didn’t.”
“So…where is this flattery leading?”
He managed to look affronted. “It’s sincere flattery. Can’t I tell my sister I’m proud of her?”
“Sure. Right after you tell me you’ve decided to go back to the state fair air show circuit with
Betty Sue
. Because there’s about as much chance of that as—”
Now he frowned. “I’m not that bad, am I?”
“You didn’t used to be,” she said, then nudged him in the ribs.
“Ow,” he said, rubbing the spot. “You have the pointiest elbows.”
“It’s a girl weapon. Shh, don’t tell.”
The guys called out that they were heading up, and Jake and Ruby Jean both turned and waved to them. Then RJ slipped her arm through Jake’s and turned them both in the direction of the doors. “But now you’ll understand why I’ve been so set on finding you somebody. You were getting downright cranky.”
“I wasn’t cranky. It just takes a lot to keep the school going and trying to figure out how I was going to get
Betty Sue
race ready and—”
“And you needed to get laid. Regularly. And by someone who knows how to do it.”
“Seriously, stop before I need therapy.”
She stopped them both short, just as they stepped out of the wide glass doors and into a clear, star-studded night. “So,
that’s
why you’re being all nice to me!”
“I’m always nice to you,” he said, truly affronted now.
“You…and Lauren Matthews. You’re not just getting laid regularly, you’re—oh, my God.” She didn’t wait for him to say anything, not that he knew what he’d have said, but threw her arms around his neck and hugged the breath right out of him. “Oh, I’m so happy.” She leaned back and looked at his face. “It’s so obvious, I can’t believe I missed it. Of course, I don’t think I’ve ever known exactly how you were going to look when you finally got hit with the arrow, but wow.” She punched him on the arm. “It looks good on you. You’re actually glowing.”
He rubbed at the spot on his arm. Ruby Jean was no featherweight when it came to punching. “You missed your calling. Professional wrestling could make a fortune with you. And I don’t glow.”
She was too busy smiling and buffing her nails on her shirt. “And I take all the credit for being the one to hook you two up.”
Jake groaned, even though he knew this moment had been an inevitability. “You already knew I was seeing her. You told me so earlier.”
“Yes, but I thought…well, I thought you were just, you know…being how you usually are with women.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you enjoy their company, but you always pick women who have no chance of turning into anything permanent.” Her expression suddenly fell. “Wait, you…what are you going to do about her being from Washington? I mean, you wouldn’t follow her back, would you?”
“First of all, you know me better than that. And it’s not that she’s not worth changing my whole life for, but she wouldn’t expect me to and I don’t know that it’s going to be an issue.”
“Why? Isn’t the senator she works for like in line for the presidency at some point?”
Jake knew that Lauren hadn’t told her mother yet, but that she’d planned to tonight. Still, he couldn’t be the one to share her secret, not even with Ruby Jean. “We just started seeing each other. Trust me, okay?”
“Why, so you can let her walk away? Jake, I swear—”
“You don’t have to. And I have no intentions, at least at this point, of letting her walk away from me. I don’t know what or where or how, but we’re both interested in figuring that out. And that’s the best I can offer you. That, and that I’ve never been this sure of anything in my entire life.”
She goggled, then beamed. “Wow, now look whose gone and grown up.” She hugged him again. “I’m so proud of you.”
He laughed and hugged her back. “Thanks.”
She linked her arm through his again as they walked over to where they’d parked their cars. “If there is anything I can do, anything—”
“I appreciate the offer, but I think we can handle it.”
Ruby Jean snorted.
“You just said how proud you were, remember?”
“Yes, but your track record, frankly, sucks. Remember?”
“I never wanted any of them to stick around. This is completely different. And I’m usually pretty good about getting what I want.”
Ruby Jean laughed. “That much is true. Well, the offer stands. I’m more than happy to provide a united front and do what I can to help win her over.”
Jake grinned. “Oh ye of little faith.”
“Oh, I know you know how to hook them, why do you think I asked you to escort her in the first place? But keeping them on the line? Novice.”
“Says the woman who hasn’t dated anyone for more than a month in the past four years.”
She merely lifted a shoulder. “Haven’t found anyone I want to stick around longer than that. But I always had hope that I would. I don’t think that you ever hoped for that; in fact, I was beginning to think you preferred to keep your single status in check.”
“I don’t know that I thought about it one way or the other. I had other things on my mind, and it wasn’t a particular goal, but it wasn’t something that ended up just happening, either.” He stepped closer. “I do want you to be happy and…you know, you’re bright, smart, sharp as a whip, and well, RJ, you’re too good for Cedar Springs. Arlen doesn’t know the goldmine he has in you. I really think you should consider maybe heading out to a more populated place like Denver, or beyond. Lauren might even be able to help you with that. I know she probably has some great contacts and I’d have to ask, but I can’t imagine she wouldn’t be willing—”
Ruby Jean put her hand on his arm. “I don’t want to leave Cedar Springs—well, you. I don’t want to leave you. You’re all I’ve got, Jake.”
“You’ve got the whole world, Ruby Jean. And I’m not going anywhere; I’ll always be right here. So spread your wings a little. Think about flying a little farther from the nest.” He shook his head when she started to speak. “Just think about it. Okay?”
She looked into his eyes for a long moment, then took a breath and said, “Remember the other day, when I was asking—begging—you to go pick up Lauren?”
He smiled. “It’s now a day I’ll never forget.”
The sweetest smile flashed across her face. “I like you like this.”
“I like me like this, too. So, go on…”
“Okay, so remember when I told you that I had aspirations with Arlen, that I see a ladder to climb there?”
“Yes, you did say something about Arlen wanting to campaign for some other office, but didn’t mention which one. Why, what does he want to run for?”
“You can’t say anything.” Then a stricken look crossed her face. “Wait…you’re seeing Arlen’s stepdaughter. I wasn’t thinking about that.”
“Just tell me, RJ. I’m always first with you and you with me. I’ll deal with the juggling.”
“Okay. And I’m sorry in advance, but…”
“Just tell me.”
“He’s gearing up to make a run for governor.”
“Governor? Of Colorado? Does he have the right connections for that? I mean, I know he’s got a history in California, but that was a very long time ago.”
“I think his time as the Covingtons’ son-in-law sort of got him noticed and he’s been working toward this for a long time, more than anyone knows. Certainly more than I did. I figured he was considering retirement, not…well, not this.”
“How could the whole town not know about it?”
“I’m not kidding when I say he’s been super hush hush about this. No one on his staff here knows. I didn’t either, until it kind of slipped when he was asking me about Lauren. I guess because we’re such a small town, he doesn’t want to make it known until he actually declares.”
Which was understandable, but still…“Governor. I didn’t think he still had any aspiration for higher office. I’d have thought, especially now with being married that he’d be eyeing the other direction. Retirement.”
“Me, too. I think everyone is thinking that. And I think he’s letting them think about his replacement, only he doesn’t plan on riding off into the sunset; he plans on hitching his ride to a whole new star.”
“Does Charlene know?”
“I have no idea. But when he was talking to me about Lauren, about being worried about her estrangement from her mother, and let it slip that he couldn’t afford to not have family harmony if his plans for…and then he broke off. I waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. So I asked him, plans for what. I told him that, as his executive assistant, I was on his side, in his corner, and would do what I could to advance his cause. So, he told me in strictest confidence that he was being considered by his party as a possible contender for a bigger role in Colorado politics, but that it had to remain under wraps for now. I can’t think of any other role he’s ever wanted but that one. Ever since being part of the Covington family and their talk of helping him get the nod.”
“Does he still have their support?”
“I’m not really sure what he has. He didn’t tell me anything else. I’m frankly surprised he trusted me with as much as he did.”
“You’re his senior assistant.”
“I know, but…I don’t think he’s working with anyone here on it.”
“Meaning he has someone somewhere else helping him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it is just Lars and Chuck Covington helping him lay the groundwork. All I know is that if he declares, then I want to be in the best possible position to be on the team that runs his campaign. And then, who knows?”
Jake shook his head. It was a lot to take in. On many levels. “Is this what you really want to do? Do you really support him as a man, or is this just your ticket out?” He lifted a hand. “I’m asking sincerely.”
“I’m not offended, Jake, because I don’t really know. I didn’t picture this for me, either, but there aren’t exactly any other pictures falling into place, and so this seems like the best, I don’t know, launch trajectory, for lack of a better description. I don’t necessarily want to leave here and I definitely don’t want to leave you, but maybe I just need to put myself in a place where more options are available, where I can see and learn about new things.” She smiled. “Find my picture.”
“I think that’s a great plan.” He was happy to hear she wasn’t planning to hitch all her dreams on Arlen’s star, because he was the type to use people up and spit them out when they no longer served their purpose…and that was just here, in small town Cedar Springs. If he had more power, greater leverage, who knows what he’d become. “And no clue on whether Charlene knows about this?”