Rocky Mountain Mornings (Roberts of Silver Springs Book 1) Page 10

  “You can’t give into my mother’s demands. She’ll start to expect it!”

  He gave her the sternest look she’d ever seen on his face. “She’s adopted me. I have to keep her happy now.” He turned and pulled her toward the door. “We’re telling them immediately.” He didn’t stop walking until he was in front of her parents, who had formed a small circle with her aunts and uncles. “Brina wants to tell you something.”

  “He keeps calling me Brina instead of Bri,” she said when all of the elder Roberts’ eyes were on her.

  Mom grinned. “You came out here just to tell us that? I think we figured out his propensity for using his own nickname days ago.”

  Bri looked at him over her shoulder, biting her lip. She wasn’t sure how to say it.

  Anthony sighed and took her left hand, showing her mother the ring he’d just put on it. “She seems to have lost her voice, but this should tell you what you need to know.”

  Mom squealed, hugging Bri close. To his surprise, she grabbed him in a hug next, whispering in his ear. “I knew you were the right man for her! Be good to my baby!”

  Then Bri was hugged by everyone else. First Dad, and then Uncle Bob and Aunt Christina. Then Uncle Steve and Aunt Patricia, and then she ended up being hugged by Mom again. She finally stopped them with a laugh. “I have to go back to the kitchen and finish up!”

  Aunt Christina grinned, shaking her head. “I never thought you’d be the first of the cousins to marry. You’re the youngest!”

  “I didn’t think I would either.” Bri waved and hurried back toward the kitchen, just then realizing that Jennifer was standing close by, gawking at her. “Excuse me.”

  “Did you really just get engaged?” Jennifer asked. “Moving fast so you don’t have to worry about me taking him from you, I see.”

  Bri smiled sweetly. She wasn’t going to let Jennifer ruin this moment for her. “You’ve made a bigger play for him than you have for any other guy I’ve dated. I think you need to give up on this one.”

  Jennifer folded her arms over her chest. “Don’t you think you should be doing the job I’m paying you to do instead of running around with him?”

  Bri took a step closer to Jennifer, poking her in the middle of her chest. “I’ve worked my butt off for this party. I made everything you wanted, and then I added in even more when your mother asked. You have no right to criticize a thing I’ve done here. I won’t stand here and listen.”

  “You can’t talk to me that way!”

  “I just did.” Bri walked around Jennifer back toward the kitchen, a smile teasing her face. She’d put up with Jennifer treating her like garbage for altogether too long. She may not be a pretty, flighty blonde, but she was a strong, competent woman. She wasn’t going to allow herself to be victimized for another minute.

  *****

  After the mess from the party was cleaned up, and each of the servers had received their wages, Bri, Anthony, and Bekah loaded up the empty trays to take back home. Bekah rode back home with Bri, while Anthony followed in his truck. “You knew he was going to propose tonight, didn’t you?”

  Bekah laughed. “Who do you think helped him pick out the ring?”

  “It’s beautiful. I couldn’t imagine he knew my taste so well already!”

  “Of course he didn’t, but I do. I’m so happy for you, I just can’t stand it! Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to keep my big mouth shut and not shout it from the rooftops?”

  Bri laughed. “I can imagine. You didn’t even tell your mom, did you?”

  Bekah shook her head emphatically. “I couldn’t! Cuz she’d tell your mom, and then she’d tell Emma, and Emma would tell you… I had to keep my lips zipped, and it felt like I was going to burst, and then there would be little teeny tiny pieces of Bekah everywhere!”

  “You did good. That’s why you’re my favorite cousin,” Bri said with a grin.

  “I’m really proud of how you handled Jennifer tonight. I know how hard that must have been for you. You’ve let her have way too much power over you for too long. Good job.”

  “Thank you. It wasn’t easy, but I wasn’t about to let her ruin this night for me. I’m getting married, Bekah!”

  “You are. We’ll figure out the living situation later. For now, you just enjoy being engaged to the man you love.”

  Bri smiled. “I have a feeling he’s not going to want a long engagement.”

  “No, he’s not. Every time he looks at you, it’s obvious that he’s not going to wait long.”

  “Do you think we could have the wedding outside at the B&B? We’d talked about having a wedding arch built, and now we have a free handyman.”

  “Free? I didn’t think about that. We’ll have to pay him for the bathroom, of course, but after that… Do we still have to pay for the sidewalk?”

  Bri laughed. “We’re not even married yet. It’s not time for you to think of ways to take advantage of him.”

  Bekah sighed. “You’re absolutely right. I’ll wait until you’re on your honeymoon.” She was silent for a moment. “But wait…a honeymoon? You can’t leave me alone at the B&B right after we open it! How am I going to manage without you? I can’t cook!”

  “You can. You just don’t like to! We’ll get Mom to help. She loves to feed people.”

  Bri parked her vehicle and looked over at Bekah. “Thanks for being my best friend and my best cousin. Wanna be a bridesmaid? I think you and Emma need to be beside me.”

  “Absolutely!” Bekah slid out of the car. “I think your man would like a little of your time. I’m going to my room.” With that, she slid out of the car and hurried into the house.

  Anthony opened her door. “All right if I come in for a bit? I know it’s after midnight, and we’re both going to turn into pumpkins soon, but I need to sit with you for a little while and let it sink in that you actually said yes. I didn’t think it was possible!”

  “You’ve been telling me that we’re getting married for almost two weeks now. How could you not think it was possible?”

  He took her hand and walked toward the front door with her. “I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t sure I’d ever convince you that I loved you for more than your cooking.”

  She laughed. “And I love you for more than your skills with your hands.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He led her to the parlor, sinking onto the couch there and pulling her down onto his lap, his arms around her. “Now that we’re engaged…wanna make out?”

  She laughed. “You’re crazy. How would you feel about a three-year engagement?”

  “Three days.” He knew she wanted to negotiate, or she’d never have started so high.

  “One year.”

  “Three weeks.”

  “Three months?” she asked. “Mid-May or early June? When the flowers are in bloom and Colorado is at its best?”

  He nodded. “Sounds perfect. Mid-May.” He kissed her softly. “Now for what I’m really after.” He pulled her head down to his and kissed her.

  She sighed contentedly. Life had never seemed so exciting.

  Keep reading for a peek at the next book in the Silver Springs series by Cassie Hayes, coming out March 10th.

  Interested in learning more about the Roberts of Silver Springs? Join our Facebook group, just for this series! Discuss the books you like with your friends!

  Rocky Mountain Hero

  Silver Springs Book 2

  Cassie Hayes

  Chapter 1

  “Would you hurry up, you’re embarrassing me!”

  When he heard the hissed reprimand, Spike Roberts looked up from helping a woman get started on a Jacobs Ladder machine. Some guy across the small gym stood with his hands on his hips, scowling at a figure clinging halfway up the rock climbing wall. Spike instantly recognized the signs of someone panicking, and sighed.

  “Excuse me, Kate,” he said to the woman. “I’ve set the timer for three minutes. Just take it slow. I’ll check back in a bit.”

  Trai
ning sports enthusiasts wasn’t his normal gig, but the owner of the Silver Springs Training Center asked him to cover for the day. Spike and his partner Zach McCormick had a handshake agreement with their buddy Trent, the owner of SSTC, that they’d help out when they weren’t busy with expeditions. In return, Trent referred customers to their outdoor guiding company, Rocky Mountain Adventures. As a result, their small, just-for-fun ‘business’ had grown by leaps and bounds. In fact, Zach was off leading the very Black Diamond ski trip that Trent was enjoying…leaving Spike alone to deal with the busy gym.

  As he crossed the small yet impressively appointed space, Spike spotted a line of several people waiting impatiently to climb the narrow wall. It was meant to be a timed exercise, where the climber would punch a big red button to start the clock. The challenge was to climb up and down in less than two minutes. The number display currently read 7:49.

  He sighed again. Eight minutes. He had no idea if the climber froze going up or coming down, but whoever it was hadn’t moved a muscle since he’d looked over. And the dude on the floor looked pissed.

  Someone grabbed his arm as he walked past the line-up. He stopped and did his best to keep his expression placid. “Yeah?”

  “I’ve been waiting here forever,” growled the beefy guy who’d clearly taken an extra dose of steroids with his Wheaties this morning.

  “Not forever,” Spike replied with a fake smile. “Eight minutes and ten seconds, maybe, but not forever.”

  The guy looked like he was chewing glass, but let go when Spike shrugged off his hand. Smart move. He might not match Mr. Muscles in bulk, but he had a good three inches on the man, and his tall, lean frame was ripped from leading ski tours, river rafting trips, mountain climbing expeditions, and any other kind of outdoor activity he and Zach thought might be fun and attract customers.

  “What’s the problem here?” he asked the guy glaring up at the stuck climber. He recognized him as a semi-regular member. If he remembered right, his name was Dick Johnson.

  Cruel parents, he thought as Dick frowned at him.

  “The problem is that she won’t come down. She made it that far, and then stopped. I keep telling her to just let go, that the belay rope will keep her from getting hurt, but she won’t do it.” Dick shook his head in disgust, then leaned in to whisper something. “I think she’s…crying.”

  A crying woman was the bane of every man’s existence. Spike patted Dick on the back in sympathy, even though he seemed a little douchey at the moment.

  “Have you gone up to try to help her down?”

  Dick rubbed the back of his neck, and blew out a breath. “Nah. I dunno, man. I mean, she can’t even climb a wall.”

  Spike must have missed a crucial piece of information. “So?”

  “Dude, this is our first date. I’m all about extremes, bro. I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with a chick who can’t even climb a frickin’ wall. Plus she has a kid!”

  “Ah.” It made sense, to a degree — mothers didn’t usually climb sheer cliff faces with babies strapped to their backs, and Spike personally shied away from dating moms for this very reason. He was far too busy for an insta-family, but he hoped he didn’t come off as callous as Dick.

  “You didn’t know?”

  Dick shrugged. “She told me after I asked her out. Couldn’t back out then, or I’d look like a—”

  “Dick?” Spike finished.

  Dick shot him a glare. “Whatever, man. This is BS. I’m outta here.”

  Spike watched in shock as Dick stormed off toward the exit. “Hey, you can’t just leave her up there!”

  “Watch me!” Dick flipped him a one-fingered salute and pushed through the double doors.

  Spike stared after him until the doors banged shut, then turned to look up at the paralyzed woman. Then at the line of increasingly angry wanna-be climbers. Then at the clock.

  10:02.

  Spike sighed again. He’d have to go up and get her just to keep the growing mob from complaining to Trent. Wouldn’t do to have ten complaints waiting for him when he came in tomorrow. They worked hard to keep this arrangement moving smoothly, and he wasn’t going to let a petrified newbie mess it up.

  “Hang on, I’m coming,” he shouted up to the woman, and took a running leap at the wall. It was only twenty feet high, and rated moderate, after all. He’d free-climbed much more difficult faces than this. Good thing Trent had insisted he always wear his harness while on duty, just for occasions like these. Landing just a few feet below the quivering figure, it only took him few more seconds to pull level with her.

  “Hey, you okay?” he asked.

  Her helmeted head was pressed against the grey faux rock so he could only see a sliver of her profile and a spray of dark hair feathering out of the helmet. Her body shook like an aspen leaf in the wind. A breath of a whisper reached his ears.

  “No.”

  A pang of sympathy made him frown. “What’s your name?”

  Again, a barely audible whisper. “Amy.”

  “Hi, Amy. I’m Spike, and I’ll be your tour guide today.”

  She snorted, then let out a terrified squeak and clung even tighter against the wall. At least she’d laughed.

  “Okay, Amy, it’s time to get you back to solid ground, sound good?”

  “Very.”

  “I’m going to wrap my arm around your waist, then you’re going to let go and put your arms around my neck, got it?”

  She shook her head frantically. “Nope, can’t do it. I’ll fall.”

  “I will not let you fall, Amy.” Spike surprised himself by the intensity in his own voice. He’d helped a ton of freaked-out clients extract themselves from sticky situations — most a million times more dangerous than this one — but he felt strangely invested with Amy. “Do you trust me?”

  Only then did she turn to look at him. When her terrified, dark blue eyes locked onto his, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to breathe again. They bore into his very soul, seeing things he’d never shown anyone. The feeling was foreign and uncomfortable, and a very big part of him hoped it would never end.

  When she’d taken full stock of him, a hardness he admired but didn’t like glinted in her eyes. It spoke of difficult times and pain, loneliness and sacrifice, fear and survival. A surge of protectiveness for this woman with the probing gaze startled him. She should never know bad times, only happiness.

  “I trust you, Spike.”

  Her words nearly blew him off the wall like dynamite. In his entire twenty-seven years, he’d never heard anyone say they trusted him with such sincerity. Mostly because he hadn’t earned it. Sure, he had some bizarre reputation in town for being some kind of hero, but he knew the truth. He only helped people when it suited his purposes. Like now. He’d climbed up here to help her down to protect his working relationship with Trent. Now that he was here, looking into the face of an angel, he wanted nothing more than to be her hero.

  Clinging to the wall with one hand and one foot, he slowly slid his arm around her and pulled her body into his, never letting her gaze waver. His body sizzled so hot as their skin connected he swore he smelled smoke. When she flung her arms around his neck, panic flaring in her eyes for a brief second, he slid his arm lower and held on tight, acutely aware that he had hold of half a handful of delicious rump.

  Her breath came in short pants, but she held onto his gaze like it was her lifeline. Forget that her real lifeline could have easily lowered her to the ground ten minutes ago. But then he wouldn’t be holding one of the most magnificent creatures he’d ever laid eyes on in his arms.

  Dick’s an idiot, he thought, fighting the urge to kiss her. Now was not the time, but he certainly hoped to get the chance very soon.

  He released her just long enough to clip onto her belay rope, which brought them pelvis to pelvis — a position he wouldn’t mind trying again at a later time, and with far fewer people watching. As in, none. He tried to push the image from his mind, but it was a lot harder than it sh
ould have been. So was something else. The only thing to do was to get down, and disconnect from her as quickly as possible. That made him inexplicably sad.

  “Are you ready, Amy?”

  He certainly wasn’t ready for whatever was happening here. Spike was a free spirit, a vagabond, a wanderer. Make no mistake, he enjoyed the company of snow bunnies and climber chicks, but they never lasted very long. They’d also never had an effect on him like this woman. It scared and thrilled him at the same time, just like every extreme sport he’d ever tried.

  “Ready,” she said, tightening her grip on him.

  With a wink and a devilish grin, Spike let go.

  ***

  “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life,” Amy Sanderson said, dropping into a folding chair in the gym’s office as Spike went to a watercooler. “And that’s saying a lot.”

  As an unwed mother in the small Western Colorado town of Silver Springs, Amy had certainly suffered enough humiliation for ten lifetimes. But this…

  Of course, it didn’t help that Spike Roberts, of all people, had to rescue her. The only saving grace was that it appeared he didn’t remember who she was.

  Thank God for small favors, she thought.

  “Don’t worry about it, Amy. Happens all the time. Here.”

  Her fingers trembled uncontrollably as she took the Dixie cup of water Spike offered. He pulled a chair up across from her and settled in. She swallowed the entire cup in a single gulp, and crushed it in her fist, angry at herself.

  “I should never have let Dick talk me into trying the rock wall. Should never have agreed to go on a date with him in the first place. Where is he, anyway?”

  Her embarrassment deepened as she realized that she hadn’t thought about her date — her first in six years — since she locked eyes with Spike up on that wall. Their hazel depths somehow soothed her panic, allowing her to think again. Not clearly, but it was better than the blind terror that had blanked out her brain. She understood his words, but more than that, she felt his concern for her. That, more than anything, got her moving again.