Kiss Me, Chloe Read online

  “Give me your hand,” he said quietly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Your hand?”

  Not knowing what to expect, she placed her hand in his. When his fingers closed on hers, she flinched, but Kyle didn’t let go. She relaxed a little, unnerved by this overt expression of sympathy.

  “You’re tired of waiting for some guy, who supposedly loves you, to make time for you, but he’s always too busy with his job to realize you can’t wait forever.”

  Still stunned, Chloe nodded. How could he have known? “That’s part of it.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s my problem and has nothing at all to do with you. I shouldn’t have bothered you with it.”

  “I lost Sherry the same way. Sort of. She was a lawyer, working sixty hours a week.”

  His thumb made little circles on the back of her hand, relaxing her marvelously. Such a simple thing, holding hands, yet it meant more to her right now than he could possibly know.

  “Sherry was tied to her job. She had an agenda for us, but I couldn’t fit into it. Just not the life I wanted to live. She’s married to someone else now, and realizing all her dreams. I quit trying to be a stock broker—which I was pretty good at. I went back to driving a truck and got the hell out of Dodge. Well, out of Ft. Worth.”

  “A stock broker? You?” The words were out before she could stop herself. A truck driver she could believe. But a suit and tie, stuck to a phone and computer every day, like Greg?

  “Yep,” Kyle said, “she found another lawyer to share the house payment who didn’t mind if they saw each other only when they happened to pass in the halls at the firm.”

  “So tell me about driving a truck.”

  “Driving a big rig gives a body plenty of time to think.” He squeezed her hand. “He might come looking for you.”

  “He doesn’t know where I am or where I’m going.”

  “Doesn’t matter. If he really loves you, he’ll find you, eventually, and ask you to come back.”

  Chloe looked away again. “He loved me once.”

  “You don’t think he loves you now?”

  “Let’s just say his actions proved otherwise.” She didn’t feel like sharing details on this painful matter with anyone else. It had been hard enough to tell Fran.

  Kyle studied her for a moment. “If he cheated on you, then you deserve better. If he finds you, he’ll probably say it meant nothing to him and ask you to forgive and forget. Will you take him back if that happens?”

  “I don’t know.” The thought of Greg, intimate with Ellen Delacorte, didn’t bother her now the way it had when she’d seen them in the restaurant. What had changed?

  Kyle whistled softly between his teeth. “Life’s too short to spend it with someone who can’t be trusted, who doesn’t share your dreams.”

  “That’s why I’m here. I’m looking for a new life. I have no idea where I’ll find it.”

  “It might just find you.”

  She laughed at that. “Thanks for listening, Kyle. I guess I needed to talk about it after all.”

  “Any time. How about dessert?”

  “Not for me, thanks.”

  He picked up both of their checks, then reached for his hat. Chloe started to protest, but one look told her his mind was made up. He paid for everything and followed her into an elevator.

  “I’ve been on the other end of the pain you’re feeling now.” He pulled a card from his pocket and gave it to her. “If I can help you through it, I’ll be happy to listen some more. I’ll be in Ouray for the Fourth of July weekend. I always stay at Mrs. Byrd’s boarding house—the Byrd’s Nest—near the 4J RV Park on the river. My cell number is on the card, in case you should break down, or get lonesome. Just holler and I’ll come running.”

  She had no doubt he would.

  “Byrdie’s the best cook in the world. I’ll show you the town—and treat you like my sister, so there’s no need to bring a baseball bat. That’s a promise.”

  “Thanks, Kyle.”

  He touched her cheek and delivered another of those spectacular smiles. “I mean it now.”

  She nodded, and felt her cheeks warm under his touch. Kyle was attractive, there was no doubt about that. And those lips of his … so kissable.

  “Ouray on the Fourth!”

  “I’ll remember. Take care of yourself.”

  “Always.” He got out on the third floor.

  She punched four and went back to her room with a sigh and a smile. Having someone to “help her through it,” might be wonderful, but she had a feeling his invitation to join him for the weekend would include more than holding hands with his sister.

  With the Fourth only a few days away, Kyle would find someone else to spend the weekend with. She’d be a lucky girl, too.

  The next morning, settling into the front seat of her Honda, Chloe tried to clear her mind of everything troubling and concentrate only on driving and sightseeing. Miles ahead, purple mountains floated in the distance, hazed with clouds, luring her toward Santa Fe. But she decided to go on to Colorado, through Aztec, to Durango. From there, she might even decide to spend the holiday weekend in Ouray. If so, she might need to practice hollering!

  Chapter 4

  Kyle left the Hilton before daylight, the highway stretching before him like a licorice whip. His thoughts turned comfortably to Chloe. Would she come to Ouray? He had to keep reminding himself she’d been recently burned and was as gun-shy as he’d ever seen. Lucky for him he’d gotten to the restaurant when he did, otherwise he would’ve had to spend the evening alone. He knew she had to be feeling pretty lonely, so far from home, with no clear idea of where she was going.

  He hadn’t felt this attracted to a woman since he’d left Sherry. From the sound of things, Chloe needed some pampering. Maybe she’d find her way to Ouray. He’d be tickled to pamper her for a few days. He reached for his cell phone.

  “Byrd’s Nest.”

  “Hi, Byrdie, it’s me.”

  “You’d better not be calling to tell me you can’t come for the Fourth. I’m planning all your favorite foods.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it. Will you have an extra room? Maybe that blue one I like so much?”

  “It’ll be vacant in the morning. Why?”

  “I met a lady in Albuquerque and invited her to spend the Fourth with us. Chloe Gale Llewellyn. She’s looking for a place to settle that’s as little like Houston as possible.”

  “I’ll hold that room for her.”

  “I appreciate it. I’m not sure she’ll come, just hoping she will. If she doesn’t, you’ll be able to fill the vacancy, won’t you?”

  “In about ten minutes. Everything’s going to be full by tomorrow. So you really like this girl?”

  “We’re just friendly at this point. She had a rotten relationship in Houston. I’d love to hear her laugh. Just looking at her makes me all soggy inside.”

  “That’s definitely promising. We’ll see if we can’t cheer her up a little while she’s here.”

  “If she comes, don’t tell her I mentioned her boyfriend, okay?”

  “Got it. Can’t wait to hug you!”

  After hanging up, he tried to imagine what sort of man would cheat on Chloe. She wanted what a lot of women wanted—a husband she could depend on, a family, and a life in a place where the fast lane meant driving down main street slow and easy. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.

  He’d be in Durango before long, and would stock up on groceries to replenish Byrdie’s pantry. He intended to consume an enormous amount of food while staying with her.

  Chloe ate like a bird. No appetite. Byrdie’s cooking would change that, too.

  <><><>

  Chloe got to Durango before dark, checked into a hotel, watched reruns of “Bones” and “NCIS” for a while then went to bed. She hung the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the handle of her door, wanting to sleep without interruption by a maid wanting to change the sheets at dawn.

  In the morning, she’d take a
good look at Durango and decide whether or not she wanted to stay. Kyle’s sappy grin floated in and out of her mind. His invitation to spend the Fourth in Ouray sounded better to her all the time. Being footloose and fancy free felt wonderful, but she longed for someone to share the adventure with her.

  Her thoughts jumbled together as she settled into layers of relaxation, like a bird drifting down from Sandia through a fluffy cloud to the city below. Kyle peered at her through the clouds from time to time.

  She got up and went out on the balcony. Where was he tonight? Was he thinking about her?

  <><><>

  After grocery shopping, Kyle parked near a blue Honda Civic, checked into a hotel and went straight to his room. A “Do Not Disturb” sign hung on the doorknob of the room next to his. Sounded like a good idea to him, too. He moved his card to the outer knob, then locked the door.

  Sitting on the edge of the king size bed, he pulled off his boots. They’d gotten tight during the day, and his toes were glad to have some stretch and wiggle room.

  He flipped through the television stations, checking to see which movies were offered, but there was nothing he wanted to see. He’d seen every episode of “Bones” and “NCIS.” Twice. So he turned the set off and went to the shower.

  Ten minutes later, he stretched out on the bed. Exhaling long and slow, he tried to blank his mind for sleep, but one image kept showing up. Chloe.

  He smiled. Maybe he could persuade her to give Ouray a chance. Seeing her once a month when he came to visit Byrdie wouldn’t be half bad.

  He wasn’t ready to sleep yet. He went out on the balcony and took a deep breath. Sensing movement, he glanced over to the adjacent balcony, but it was empty. The drapes were closed.

  Probably a good idea for him, too. He went back inside.

  <><><>

  Chloe didn’t open her eyes until ten the next morning. It was a mistake, though, sleeping so long, and the grogginess refused to leave until she’d had her second cup of coffee and half a honeydew melon sprinkled with lime juice, brought by room service.

  Dressed in a pale blue knit top and jeans, she wiggled her toes, glad to be wearing a comfortable pair of white sandals instead of the heels she usually suffered through every day.

  Her first thought was to tour Durango, but a quick turn around the town told her the city, as lovely as it was, simply didn’t feel like “home.” Well, there were other places. Silverton, for instance. Or Ouray, as a certain gravelly voice had suggested.

  Was she crazy to spend the weekend with some guy she hardly knew, in a place she’d never been, with no one else around if he grew six more hands? Yes. Still, there was something about Kyle that suggested she could trust him. Call it woman’s intuition. Or, wishful thinking.

  If she went to Ouray, she didn’t have to stay at the boarding house he’d suggested. She could stay somewhere else. By seeing Kyle only at the festivities on the Fourth, she could control her time with him. If she couldn’t say “No!” convincingly enough, she had no business being on the road by herself.

  There. She’d talked herself into it. She’d go to Ouray, with a stopover in Silverton on the way. Another decision—and a big one. It felt good.

  She turned her cell on, noted six messages from Greg—which she deleted without reading—and three missed calls. She called Fran. Fran was such a worry-wart she’d be walking the floor already.

  “Greetings from cool Colorado!”

  “Chloe? Thank goodness you called. I’ve been worried sick!”

  “I’m fine. Actually, I’m more than fine. I’m in Durango, but I’ve decided to go to Ouray for the weekend.”

  “You-ray? Where is that?”

  “North of Silverton, in the mountains. I’m meeting a friend there.” She probably shouldn’t tell Fran about Kyle, but they told each other everything.

  “Do I know her?”

  “Him. A truck driver from Fort Worth. We met in a restaurant in Albuquerque. Kyle Stanton. You’d like him a lot.” I like him a lot, she thought.

  “Chloe, I can’t believe what I just heard you say! Then it’s over for good between you and Greg?”

  “Yes, but don’t go assuming anything about Kyle because there’s nothing to assume. He’s just a friend.”

  “Uh huh. And I’m Dolly Parton. Is he good looking?”

  “Six feet, dark brown curly hair and scraggly beard, green eyes, cowboy hat and fancy boots.”

  “Not fair, Chloe! First Greg, now Kyle with the green eyes! If I’d known Albuquerque was the place to meet men, I would’ve moved years ago.”

  “How’s the job hunt going?”

  “Nothing yet. I called your boss, but they’ve already hired a temporary who was there filling in for Wanda somebody. Don’t worry. I have some money saved.”

  “I have to go. I’ll call again when I get to Ouray.”

  “Greg has called twice a day since you left, trying to get me to tell him where you are.”

  “He’s left messages for me. I didn’t read them. Even if he knew where I was, it wouldn’t make any difference. Don’t tell him. I’m turning my phone off so I won’t have to hear all the da-dings when his posts come in, and so I won’t have to send him to voice mail when he calls.”

  “You’re so far away. I won’t ever get to see you.”

  “I don’t know where I’m going to settle for sure but don’t worry about me. I’m going to be fine. Really. And I’ll call you at least twice a day, I promise.”

  “Okay. Let me know if I can help.”

  “I will.”

  Chloe loaded her suitcase into the car and left for Silverton. The narrow gauge railroad tracks ran parallel to the road for a time, but the train was nowhere to be seen. It had left the depot around seven, according to the brochure in the desk drawer at the hotel. She’d decided not to ride the train today, eager to get to Ouray. The anticipation about seeing Kyle again felt great, even though it was mixed with a bit of apprehension.

  The highway wasn’t nearly as death defying as the tracks had been, and the scenery was gorgeous. She enjoyed the clean, cool air immensely, and stopped time and again to take photos that would’ve been perfect for postcards and calendars. She’d have lunch in Silverton, do the tourist thing, then go to Ouray. Was he there already? Would he be glad she’d come?

  <><><>

  Kyle got up early and out by eight. He’d never felt comfortable taking a big rig on the million dollar highway, so he rented a red three-quarter ton Chevy Silverado pick-up with four-wheel drive and paid to leave his truck at the car rental place while he was gone.

  Trees on the mountain slopes swayed with the breeze. Gusty winds meandered along the roadway. Sunlight flickered through the branches, glinting off trembling aspen leaves among a multitude of trees. Kyle breathed deeper and slower, trying to absorb the unique ambiance of the mountain atmosphere. A completely different world from the city, so much more relaxed and peaceful, it was exactly the place for healing a broken heart. Basic. Pure. Romantic.

  In Silverton, he spotted the same blue Honda he’d seen at the hotel last night. On a hunch, he parked next to it and strolled at a leisurely pace down the street. Chloe came out of a jewelry shop, carrying a small brown sack. He couldn’t get there fast enough, afraid it would turn out to be someone else, or that she’d disappear, like a mirage.

  “Chloe!”

  “Well, look who’s here.” She tried to sound calmer than she felt. Her heart leapt at the sight of him, dressed in a brown plaid shirt and a leather jacket over his jeans.

  “I sure hope you’re headed for Ouray.”

  “I’m toying with the idea.”

  He spotted a photographer’s studio nearby. “Have you ever had your picture made, dressed up like someone from the old west?”

  “I saw that shop, but—”

  “It’s really fun. I always love being a gunslinger. They have a bunch of dresses for you to choose from, and hats and all sorts of frilly things.”

  “All right, yo
u’ve convinced me. Lead on, pardner.”

  Kyle laughed. “That’s the spirit!”

  They went into the studio and took a look at all the costumes—split up the back for easy adjustment to practically any size—and picked out their favorites.

  Kyle went for his usual gunslinger look, a vest, coat, handlebar mustache, and a Colt strapped low on his hip. Chloe chose a pink brocade dress with a high collar, long sleeves, and a skirt that brushed the floor. A matching feather boa and a wide-brimmed hat completed the ensemble.

  After the photographer took pictures of them separately, Kyle suggested they do one together, “just for fun.”

  “Kyle, I’m not sure—”

  “Aw, come on, Chloe. We’ll give the picture to Aunt Byrdie for her mantle. It’ll be a great conversation piece. Please, for Byrdie?”

  “All right. For Byrdie.”

  The photographer had Kyle sit in the cane-back chair with Chloe behind and to one side. “Put your hand on his shoulder,” he suggested with a smile.

  Chloe complied, her fingers curved over his shoulder, realizing how strong he was, yet how gentle. And, how childlike, in the best possible sense of the word, eager to do something just for fun. She allowed a brief comparison between Greg and Kyle, and realized it had been months since Greg had done anything simply for fun. Or since she’d touched him in an affectionate way. Her impulse was to squeeze Kyle’s shoulder. Before she realized it, she’d delivered the squeeze, drawing a smile from him.

  The photographer took two shots, then grinned. “How about one more? Ma’am, if you’ll sit in his lap—”

  “I don’t think—”

  “Aw, come on Chloe, be a sport.” Kyle pulled her around and onto his lap. She had to remind herself to breathe.

  “Now, when I tell you, Miss, lean back, swing the hat and just do what comes naturally. Trust me, it’ll make a great picture.”

  Chloe felt the tremble in her shoulders first, then it shimmied through her, head to toe. Kyle’s arms around her brought a flush to her cheeks she knew would show up, even in a sepia-tone print.

  The photographer got set up for the shot. “Now!”