Real Men Do It Better (15 page)

Jorey’s expression said it all. The flesh around his dark eyes wrinkled. His dimple appeared and his smile spread from one side of that handsome face to the other. “So how long can you stay with me, Kate?”

“I’ve worked it all out. Here.” She reached for the piece of scrap paper she’d left on the table behind them and handed it to Jorey.

He squinted at her doodling and laughed. “Are you serious?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve had three weeks of vacation and two weeks of sick time each year I’ve worked for Monica, and I’ve never used a day of it. That’s five weeks each year over a period of seven years, or thirty-five weeks. That’s eight months, give or take a few days or however long I’ve been up here already.”

One of Jorey’s eyebrows arched high on his forehead. “You’ve only got one set of clothes,” he reminded her, still laughing.

“In case you haven’t noticed, that’s turned out to be one more than I’ve needed.” Kate glanced down at herself and shook her head in amazement that she’d actually felt comfortable eating
naked
with a man. She smiled when Jorey reached over and wiped a smidge of peanut butter from her cheek and licked his finger. “By the way, what day is it?” She sat up straighter. “I’m so out of it I don’t even know what day it is!”

Jorey lunged for her, rolled with her on the floor, and landed on top of her. He pinned her wrists to the pile of cushions beneath them. “It’s the best day of my life, Princess,” was his answer.

*   *   *

The sky had been so clean and blue the last two days that if it weren’t for Archie’s continual teasing that she brought the rains with her, Kate would have completely forgotten the gloom. She stuck her shovel in the sandy dirt and looked up to see Jorey’s neighbor smiling at her—again.

“Now, any woman who’ll dig a hole for you is a real keeper,” Archie said.

A lopsided grin appeared on Jorey’s face as he tightened the last remaining bolt on the bridge support. He gave the post a hearty slap of approval. “The girl sure knows her tools,” he replied, winking at her in case she didn’t catch the inside joke.

Kate snorted. “Okay, guys. I’m done for. See you up at the lodge.”

“We’re driving the truck back in a few minutes,” Archie said. “Wanna ride?”

Kate dismissed his offer with a friendly smile and a wave. “No, thanks. I’d like to walk. It’s a beautiful day.” She began to walk up the road.

“Then walk in beauty, dear.”

Kate stopped. She turned around to study Archie. A big smile spread over his weatherbeaten face, and his dark eyes danced. He was an odd old man, and she remembered how calm he’d been in the moments after Jorey brought the horse back to dry ground. He soothed the animal in what was obviously a Native American language. Jorey later told her it was Navajo.

“Thank you,” she said. “I will do that.”

Walk in beauty.
The words repeated in Kate’s mind, proving the backdrop to the beat of her borrowed boots on the already dry earth. She produced a wistful smile and stared over the scrubby desert landscape, remembering the split second before her luggage was whisked away. There were some beautiful things in that La Tour Eiffel rolling suitcase—and every one of them were replaceable. Jorey had offered to drive down to the Chama River to see if anything had washed up, but suggested she not get her hopes too high.

Walk in beauty.
Kate concentrated on the rhythm of her breathing, the way she and Jorey had practiced yesterday. As they sat cross-legged on the floor, he spoke of how to use breath to stay connected. “When we are alone, the shadows can creep in, bringing negativity and fear,” he said. “Just remember to breathe, and know that we would not be able to appreciate the glow of the light, if it wasn’t for the contrast provided by shadow.”

She’d never been a real fan of yoga—it never seemed like she was
doing
anything—but then again, she’d never had an instructor as handsome, as sweet, and as patient as Jorey. She’d also never had an instructor who promised that if she mastered the basics, they could move right on to the tantric sex part.

Walk in beauty.
The lodge appeared as she made progress up the slight hill. Its earth-tone adobe walls and fences were low-slung and rounded, and if it weren’t for the bright blue shutters and trim the lodge would have been camouflaged by its surroundings. It used to be a convent, Jorey said. And it was quite run-down when he bought it. Kate smiled at how charming he’d made it, a reflection his own unassuming serenity.

Joan had mentioned that the phone lines were back up, and once she got to the lodge and made sure her help wasn’t needed with dinner, Kate planned to call Monica and break the news. She wondered how exactly she’d put it …
Looks like I’m running a little late, Mon. Don’t expect me until the Fourth of July, next year.

“Is the bridge back in business?” The second she’d heard the heavy front door close, Joan had poked her head around the kitchen archway. Kate looked up at her as she tugged off the too-small cowboy boots.

“Yep!” She hopped around on one foot, then the other.

Joan laughed and wiped her hands on a kitchen towel as she made her way across the large lobby. “Sorry I have such darn tiny feet. It runs in my family.”

Kate smiled at her, and thanked her again for the loan of the old jeans, boots, and wool work shirt. Kate’s remaining wardrobe consisted only of what she’d worn the day she attempted to slog through the rain to the highway—a pair of Ralph Lauren pleated menswear slacks, a black cashmere turtleneck, and her Jimmy Choo ankle boots. And those weren’t exactly things you could toss in the washer.

“I brought you another bag of stuff to last a bit. Nothing fancy, just a nicer pair of jeans and a couple more shirts. I put a pretty nightgown in there, too.”

Kate cocked her head and nodded to Joan. She was a petite, white-haired woman with worn hands and a lovely smile. She’d ridden another one of their horses up to the lodge after the rains the other day, wanting to help Kate in whatever way she could. Since Joan had already seen her at her worst, it was like they were old friends. “That was very kind of you,” Kate said, joining her on the oversized couch. “I’m lucky you and I are about the same size.”

“I’d say we are.”

By the look of anticipation in Joan’s eyes, it was clear to Kate that Jorey’s neighbor had about a million questions she’d rather be asking, but she was too polite to force the subject. Kate figured she’d give her something for her trouble.

“I think now that the bridge is up I’ll get to do a little shopping in Santa Fe.”

Joan’s eyes got big. “You’re going to stop on your way to the airport?”

Kate chuckled. “Actually, I’ve decided to stay on a little longer. I plan to help Jorey around the lodge, go on some hikes, and just enjoy myself.”

Joan was trying very hard not to show her excitement, but wasn’t succeeding. “A week longer?”

Kate shrugged. “Longer than a week. We’ll see how it goes.”

Joan slapped the kitchen towel over her shoulder and gave Kate a hard hug, then gripped her tight around her upper arms. “Does Archie know?”

All Kate could think was that these people needed cable TV in a bad way. “Uh, I’m not sure.”

Joan let loose with a big laugh and started to get up from the couch. “I’m making Jorey’s favorite—green chile stew. I made some fresh tortillas and I’ve got a little carne adovada going on the side for Archie. As far as he’s concerned, if it don’t have meat in it, it’s not a meal.”

The older woman headed back into the kitchen with a curious spring in her step. “Do you need some help?” Kate called after her.

“Oh no. There’s a grand plan at work here.” Joan waved an arm high in the air. “You just go on and clean up.”

Joan’s words bugged Kate the whole time she was in the shower. After selecting a pair of Levi’s and a waffle-knit long-sleeve T-shirt from the bag, she decided to call Monica. If she remembered correctly, it was Friday, and back in Los Angeles it was about three in the afternoon.

“Kate! My God! I thought you were dead! I’ve been trying to reach you on your Blackberry for days and days—do you realize that Spencer sent you up there the wrong month?”

Kate snorted. “Yep. I figured that out pretty quick.”

“Then where
are
you?” Monica sounded slightly perturbed. “Jorey didn’t return any e-mails and didn’t answer the phone up at the lodge. It’s like you’ve fallen off the face of the earth.”

“There was a storm and the bridge washed out, and we didn’t have power or phones for most of the week. I couldn’t get out and I couldn’t get a message to you. I’m sorry.”

Monica was quiet for a moment. “Okay, so where are you now?”

“I’m still here.”

“Are you all right? You don’t sound like yourself.”

Kate chuckled. That about summed it up, all right. “Well, Mon, you know how you said I really needed to get away and make some changes?”

“Yes.”

“I’m doing that.”

“But—” Monica’s breath hitched. “There’s no pilgrimage, Kate. It was last month—in October. Spencer screwed up.”

“That’s correct.”

“So what are you doing up there in the rain without the group? I don’t under—”

For a moment, Kate thought the phone had gone dead. “Monica? Are you there?”

“Oh,” she said, a new edge to her voice. “It’s Jorey, isn’t it?”

Kate’s heart just about stopped. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, honey. He’s a very spiritual guy, don’t get me wrong, and I think he really does have the best intentions, but obviously, he’s too gorgeous for his own good. Don’t worry—we all fell in love with him. Why do you think most of the pilgrims are women? I mean, come on.”

Kate’s knees buckled and her butt hit the edge of Jorey’s bed. She jumped right up again when it occurred to her that she couldn’t be in that bed anymore. She’d never heard that most of his pilgrims were women.
What was Monica saying?

“I hope I didn’t burst your bubble or anything. And I’m really glad you’re chilling out up there. I’m just bummed that you didn’t get the whole pilgrimage experience—I just loved our day hike to the cliff dwellings in Bandelier. So are you coming home on Sunday like you’d planned?”

“Uh,” Kate didn’t know what to do or where to look in the room. Everything in there reminded her of the hours—days, really—they’d spent making love and talking. Jorey felt special.
She
felt special with him, in this place. She’d convinced herself that there was real magic at work here, not just hormones and loneliness.

Kate felt her heart snap shut. The heat of embarrassment spread through her.

How could she have been so stupid? How could she have allowed herself to fall in love with a stranger?

Kate brought a hand to cover her mouth. She was in love with Jorey. She’d given him the one thing she’d never given any man—her complete trust, her love. No, he’d not run off to Vegas with a community college student, but he’d hurt her just the same. He’d led her to believe she was the woman he’d been waiting for.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

She had a lot to do—she needed to contact the airline about the lost ticket and lack of photo ID. She needed to arrange for transportation from LAX because her car keys were no more, and she really had to get to a boutique in Santa Fe because there was no way she’d be wearing this Green Acres getup back to Los Angeles.

She’d deal with the grief later. Not here. Not now.

“I’ll see you at the office on Monday as planned,” she said, then hung up.

*   *   *

Jorey had always had the ability to detect the slightest change in a person’s mood and energy. He’d had the gift since he was a child. But after being ridiculed as “oversensitive” one too many times, he’d shoved it down, ashamed. It was only after his heart attack and the divorce that he felt hollowed out enough for the gift to reappear, and it did with a vengeance, welcome at last.

Such highly developed instinct wasn’t needed that night at the dinner table. It was obvious that hell had broken loose in Kate, and if there was ever proof that all in the universe is interconnected, this little group of four was it.

He and Archie had come back from fixing the bridge victorious, tired, but pleased at a job well done. Joan had been singing in the kitchen when they disturbed her. She spun around and hugged her husband, whispering something in his ear that made him grin. Dinner smelled delicious. Jorey’s heart was full.

His first indication that something was amiss was when his bedroom door was locked and Kate wasn’t responding. His second indication was when she dragged herself out for the meal, her despair about as subtle as a nuclear bomb.

That aura was back—angry red and dark purple-black—and it vacuumed the joy right out of the air. Jorey had to hand it to Archie, that he had plowed right ahead and offered a prayer before they ate.

“Great Spirit, you designed the land and all of its creatures to have seasons.” Kate let out a little sob, and Archie kept right on. “This land of yours is a powerful teacher, so help us to be open to its lessons. Oh, Spirit, we are all guests here. Help us to leave this place with eyes that see more compassionately, ears that hear more wisely, feet that step more gently, and a heart that loves more deeply. Let us walk in beauty.”

Kate raised her head. Tears rolled from her big blue eyes and her chin trembled. Jorey wanted leap over the table and pull her into his arms, but he knew damn well that much of her anger was focused directly at him.

“That was … so…” Kate stood up from her chair. “I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well. Excuse me.”

When she ran from the room the air went still.

“I really apologize,” Jorey said, looking at the delicious and colorful meal spread out on the table before them. “I need to go see what’s wrong.”

“She’s full of doubt,” Archie said simply, looking to Joan before he continued. “That day I rode the gelding up here in the rain—it wasn’t about no eggs.”

Jorey let go with a surprised laugh. “Not about eggs?”

“No. See, Joan had a dream two nights before that. She told me she saw your life mate coming up the road with a sense of purpose. She bugged me all the next day to find out who’d come. She said—”