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Authors: Vicki Lewis Thompson
Daredevil videographer Langford “Hutch” Hutchinson has put his career on hold to help his widowed father run their family store in Wyoming. He doesn’t mean to stay in town for long—though it’s long enough to rekindle his lust for Trina Bledstone. Hutch always had a thing for Trina, but she’s his best friend’s sister—and that meant hands off!
But Trina still has the power to set his pulse racing—and her brother isn’t around to stop them from exploring their sizzling chemistry this time….
A Sons of Chance series novella.
Vicki Lewis Thompson
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A Sons of Chance Series Novella
1
L
ANGFORD
H
UTCHINSON HAD
been known as
Hutch
ever since he’d turned five and demanded a better handle from his parents, Ronald and Susan. They’d named him Langford after a long-dead ancestor who’d been the first Hutchinson to settle in Shoshone, a little town in the Jackson Hole area of Wyoming.
But that bit of history hadn’t carried any weight with their only son. Even at five he’d known that a name like Langford would get his ass kicked once he started school and he’d wanted to avoid that.
Other than objecting to the unfortunate name choice, Hutch hadn’t quibbled much with his parents over the years. But as he stood behind the counter of the Shoshone Feed Store trying to make sense of the day’s receipts collected by his father, his frustration escalated into the red zone. No wonder his mother had handled all the transactions.
But she’d been gone for more than a year, a year in which Hutch had put his career as a California-based videographer on hold. He’d come home to help his grief-stricken dad with the store. Truthfully he’d needed some time off to grieve, as well, so it had been a logical move, and his dad loved having him there.
Unfortunately Ronald also insisted on being in charge of the cash register, a job for which he had no talent. Consequently Hutch had spent countless afternoons tearing his hair out trying to reconcile the receipts. They had the same goal—for Ronald to learn how to run the store properly so Hutch could go back to his career. But Ronald wasn’t a numbers guy and should probably sell the business.
He didn’t want to for many reasons, and Hutch understood that. Losing his wife of forty years was tough enough without losing the store, too. It gave his dad a sense of identity and social contact, both of which he needed right now.
But honest to God, some days Hutch felt like heading back to California and letting his dad sink or swim. He couldn’t make himself do it, but something had to change.
For the first few months he’d been helping out, his dad had been there at the end of the day to answer questions about the mess he’d created. Recently, though, Ronald had developed the habit of strolling around town an hour or so before closing time, probably to avoid having to explain his screwups to his son.
Yesterday Hutch had bought walkie-talkies and handed one to his father with instructions to carry it during his afternoon ramble. Time to test that program. Picking up his unit, Hutch paged his dad. When a cheerful beep sounded from under a stack of papers beneath the counter, Hutch used up most of the swear words he knew as he crouched down and pulled out the useless walkie-talkie his dad had left there.
“Got a problem?”
He recognized that voice. Glancing up, he met a familiar brown-eyed gaze. He hadn’t seen Katrina Bledsoe in years, but she still had the power to set his pulse racing. He’d always had a thing for her, but she was the little sis of Nash Bledsoe, his good buddy, so he’d restrained himself.
He stumbled a little in his haste to stand up. “Hey, there, Trina! I didn’t know you were back in town.” She’d cut her hair, and he missed the long ripple of it, but the color was still a glossy brown and the short bob looked good on her. He automatically checked her left hand. No ring. Nice to know.
She blessed him with one of her wide, happy smiles. “Just got in today. It was past time for a Mom visit. She comes to New York a fair bit, but I haven’t been back here in way too long.”
“Still training those thoroughbreds for the racing circuit?”
“Yep. Exciting stuff. Livingston Stables had a horse finish third in the Derby this year.”
“That’s awesome, Trina.”
“Yeah, it was quite a thrill for all of us. We have a tight-knit bunch of trainers. They’re covering for me now, but I have to go back at the end of the week. So what’s up with you? I just talked to your dad, and he told me that you—”
“You talked to my dad? Where the hell is he?”
She acted surprised that he had to ask. “Over at Lickity Split with my mother.”
“Oh.” Then he thought about how she’d phrased her answer. It didn’t sound as if Ronald had simply stopped in for an ice cream cone, although he was fond of them. “What do you mean he’s
with
your mother?”
“I mean he’s helping her behind the counter, like he’s been doing for the past few weeks, according to her. In fact, that’s the main reason I’m in Shoshone. I needed to assure Mom face-to-face that she has every right to find happiness with another…” She paused and caught her breath. “Uh-oh. You don’t know a thing about this, do you?”
“A thing about what?”
“My mother and your father are sweet on each other.”
He stared at her. “No, they’re not.”
“I beg your pardon, Hutch, but I’ve just left the ice cream parlor, and the winks and nudges were flying. I think he might have pinched her butt one time, but I can’t be absolutely sure about it.”
Although he heard every word she’d said, none of it made sense. Surely if his father had a crush on Lucy Bledsoe, owner of the Lickity Split Ice Cream Parlor, he would have noticed.
Trina groaned. “Listen, I’m sorry. You probably aren’t ready to hear that. It’s only been a year, and I’m sure you can’t imagine your dad being interested in anyone other than your mom. I know when my dad passed away I refused to think of Mom finding someone else. But that was seven years ago, and now I—”
“It’s not that.” Hutch struggled to find his place in this bizarre conversation. “Okay, maybe it’s a little bit that. But I live with the guy! Sure, he’s on the ground floor of the house and I’m in my old room upstairs, but we spend
lots
of time together. I can’t believe that he has some hot romance going that I don’t know about.”
“I’m not saying it’s consummated or anything.” Then she glanced at him in horror. “Forget I said that.”
“Already forgotten. Erased, just like with
Men in Black.
”
“I mean, it’s not something you want to think about your parents doing
.
”
“No kidding. Let’s drop the subject, okay?”
“Fine with me.” She surveyed the receipts on the counter. “How close are you to finishing up? I’d love to buy you a drink at the Spirits and Spurs.”
“I’ll take care of this later.” Scooping everything into a pile, he found a manila envelope under the counter and shoved the receipts inside. Then he grabbed the front door key and came out from behind the counter. “Let’s go.”
“Excellent! I admire a decisive man.”
Hutch laughed as he walked with her to the door. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”
“Judging from your vocabulary choices when I first came in and the bombshell I just dropped on you, I’ll bet you could. Are you finding time to film your videos? Nash has kept me semi-updated on your wild and crazy life, so I didn’t expect to see you behind the counter of the feed store tallying receipts.”
“It’s a long story.” He opened the door for her. “And as for that drink, I’m buying.”
“But I invited you.”
Flipping the sign on the door from Open to Closed, he locked up and pocketed the key. “You’ve been back East too long, little lady. You’re in the West, now, and in these parts, the men do the buying.”
“That’s ridiculous, but if it makes you feel like a macho cowboy, go for it.”
“It does.” He’d always loved her sassy attitude. And her cute little ass. And her full mouth, which he’d never tasted. He’d thought about it, even dreamed about it, but he hadn’t been ready to settle down and Nash would have demanded a wedding if Hutch had slept with his sister.
In Shoshone, Wyoming, a guy didn’t seduce his best friend’s sister and then leave her high and dry. Not if he wanted to keep his teeth. So he’d never acted on his attraction to Trina Bledsoe, but times had changed. She’d invited him for a drink. And Nash wasn’t here.
* * *
T
RINA FELT LIKE
an insensitive jerk for blurting out the news about her mother and Hutch’s dad, so she was relieved that Hutch was up for a drink at the Spirits and Spurs, Shoshone’s only tavern and a favorite watering hole for the residents. Which of them bought the drinks wasn’t important, but a nice long chat would give her a chance to smooth over her faux pas.
Hutch was the last person on earth she wanted to make feel uncomfortable. She’d had a soft spot for him—or more accurately a
hot
spot for him—since she’d turned thirteen and realized that boys weren’t so bad, after all. Suddenly her big brother’s friends, two years older than she was, had become fascinating to her, especially Hutch, whose dark hair and green eyes had starred in most of her teenage fantasies. She’d never had the nerve to confess that to anyone, although Nash had figured it out.
Hutch’s dedication and enterprising spirit had impressed her almost as much as how fine he looked in a pair of jeans. When a film crew had arrived in Jackson Hole to shoot footage of extreme winter sports during Hutch’s senior year, he’d spent every free moment trailing after them.
He’d mastered the basics by the time they’d left, and that summer he’d produced a video of himself hang-gliding, a camera strapped to his chest. As he’d continued his daredevil stunts to get amazing videos, he’d won the hearts of all the girls in town, including Trina’s.
Nash had warned her off, saying Hutch wouldn’t be tying himself down to any woman for a long, long time. Trina had wanted to argue that she wasn’t looking for long-term. A temporary thrill would have suited her just fine. But she couldn’t say such a thing to her brother, who’d always been overprotective. And she hadn’t wanted to cause problems between Nash and his good friend Hutch.
“I don’t know how I missed hearing that you were back home working with your dad,” she said as they walked the short distance to the Spirits and Spurs. She tried not to ogle him, but he looked so darned good. His faded jeans, leather cowboy boots and yoked Western shirt were common around here, but Hutch wore the clothes better than most.
“I’m going to blame my lack of info on Nash,” she continued. “He knows, right?”
“He does, but he probably didn’t mention it because this was supposed to be temporary. I only meant to stay a couple of months until Dad got used to running the store by himself.”
“I can’t believe you’ve really been enjoying the experience.” She increased her pace to keep up with his long-legged stride. “The Hutch I knew would have been bored out of his skull clerking at a feed store.”
“Which I am.” He pushed open the door to the Spirits and Spurs and ushered her inside.
“But you’re still here,” she said over her shoulder.
“Turns out Dad’s great at schmoozing with the customers, but the financial aspects of the business elude him. Mom used to handle that. I didn’t realize that she did it out of necessity until she was gone and the whole operation fell to pieces.” He paused. “Booth, table, or bar stool?”
Trina took in the cozy ambience of a place that was one of two social centers in town, the Shoshone Diner being the other. A handful of people had already gathered for happy hour—two cowboys at the curved wooden bar, three women at a table and a young couple in one of the booths lining the room.
Trina recognized the couple as Lickity Split customers, but she didn’t know any of the others. Years ago she could have identified everyone in town and most of the dogs and horses, too. Not anymore.
“Booth.” She walked toward one in the far corner.
“Works for me.”
A young waitress who obviously had a crush on Hutch came over to take their order. Trina empathized with the girl’s calf-eyed adoration and hoped she’d been more subtle at that age. Probably not, though. Hutch seemed oblivious.
After the waitress left with an order for two drafts and a bowl of peanuts, a woman with a long blond braid came out of an office on the far side of the room. Now here was someone Trina knew well. Josie owned the Spirits and Spurs.
She’d also married the oldest Chance boy, Jack, the summer before last. Trina hadn’t been able to make it back for the wedding, but Nash had driven over from Sacramento. Nash, Hutch and Jack had been close friends through high school and into their twenties. Jack was the first to get married, and now he and Josie had a baby boy.
Josie’s casual glance around the room grew more focused when she spotted Trina and Hutch. With a smile, she walked over to their booth. “Trina!”
Trina stood to give her a hug. “How are you, Josie?”
“Terrific. Tired but happy.” She glanced over at Hutch, who had risen to his feet at Josie’s approach. “Sit, sit, both of you. I can’t stay long, anyway. Lucy told me you were coming for a visit, Trina. When can you head out to the Last Chance for a ride?”
“You name a time and I’ll be there. Riding at the Last Chance is such a treat for me.”
“In the morning, around nine?”
“Sounds great. And you look wonderful, Josie.” Trina beamed at her. “Motherhood obviously agrees with you. How’s Jack coping with being a daddy?”
Josie’s expression softened. “It’s beautiful to watch. I wondered if he’d guard his emotions because of his own trauma as a kid, but little Archie is his whole world.”
Hutch nodded. “He’s plain nuts about that baby. And speaking of Jack’s tough childhood, has anyone heard from that guy from San Francisco who showed up last year claiming to be his half brother?”
“A half brother?” Trina’s eyes widened. “Boy, I’m really out of the loop.”
“Not a lot of people know about it,” Josie said.
“Does my mom?” Trina needed to have a talk with both her mom and her brother about relaying important news from Shoshone.
“Maybe not,” Josie said. “It’s no big secret, and it might amount to nothing. Last summer Wyatt Locke appeared at the ranch and announced that Diana, who abandoned Jack when he was two and seemed to disappear from the face of the earth, moved to San Francisco, remarried and gave birth to twin boys, Wyatt and Rafe.”
“And Jack was blindsided by the news,” Hutch said quietly. “We had a beer one night and he told me Wyatt said he might be back this summer and he might not. Jack wasn’t sure which he wanted to happen. That’s why I wondered if he’d made contact.”