Chapter 1
April, Red Boot ranch
Chance Gabrielle was tired of living out of suitcases.
He followed the GPS of his rental car, turning down the rustic driveway. A scene from a country and Western movie lay before him as he stopped in the wide car park outside a small cabin. One of a dozen scattered around the area.
Stepping outdoors, he was assaulted by fresh air and the scent of the spring afternoon. The distant mountains still held snow, but the nearby fields were mostly clear. Brown grasses and open fields flowed toward rolling hills dotted with pine trees of varying heights.
The landscape held grace. A kind of beauty that reminded him of his homeland in Ireland and yet something fresher. Younger. A land that Chance could already sense would suit the man he called brother to a T.
It didn’t matter how few years they’d had together before Chance had grown up and moved away, that truth had always been clear. His little brother, Cody, was a man of the earth and eager to work with his hands.
Chance’s career might be less physically challenging, but it too was full of life and appreciation of beauty. Hopefully, Heart Falls would inspire him and suit him as well as it did his brother.
He turned from the majestic scenery and made his way up the cabin steps.
Before he could knock, the door swung open and a tall man dressed in jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat jerked to a stop in the doorframe.
His stepbrother’s expression flashed quickly through surprise and confusion to settle on utter delight. “Chance. Holy shit—you’re really here.”
“I really am,” Chance agreed, a smile coming easily. “Gawd, look at you.”
Cody caught him in a tight embrace, slapping Chance on the back with enthusiasm. “I had no idea you were coming. Did I miss an email or something?”
“No, I didn’t warn you because I wasn’t certain I’d be able to pull it off.” Chance stepped back and clasped Cody by the shoulders. His brother’s eyes were bright, the white skin of his face and hands tanned in spite of just having come through winter. Contentment sat easily on his shoulders. He looked good. “I don’t have long, but I wanted to see with my own eyes that you were still kicking.”
“I would have told you if it were otherwise,” Cody promised with a hint of twisted humour. “Come back as a ghost, or somehow made myself appear in one of your fantasy paintings.”
Chance had so much to share, but his brother’s quick glance at his watch warned a drawn-out conversation was not in the books. “I’ve surprised you, and I’m keeping you from your duties. Can you take a break later for us to chat?”
“How long can you stay?” Cody asked.
“I return to Ireland tomorrow with a weeklong stop in Germany first. My flight’s at four p.m.”
A snort escaped his brother. “This isn’t a visit; it’s a flyby.”
“Pretty much,” Chance agreed. “But I needed to try my luck.”
Cody took a deep breath then motioned to the deck chairs outside the cabin. “Let me contact my boss to tell her I’ll be late. She won’t mind, but I have a site evaluation in an hour with an inspector, and they’ve been a pain in the ass to schedule. I have to make that one.”
“We’ll have time,” Chance promised.
“In the morning, if nothing else.”
Chance waited as Cody made a call, using the opportunity to admire not only the surroundings but how well his younger brother fit into the space. He looked completely at home.
A sharp jab of jealousy struck before being instantly vanquished. Chance wanted nothing but the best for his family. The choice to wander the world and live apart from them had been his own.
The decision to change his mind was also his to make.
Cody settled into the other chair. “Talk fast,” he teased before sobering. “It’s good to see you. Seriously.”
“I would have given you more warning,” Chance said, “but I had three different meetings myself. The final gallery thankfully decided I was one step shy of God himself and didn’t ask for a single change to my proposal. Which meant, instead of being done tomorrow with barely enough time to head to the airport, I had an extra evening.”
“I’m glad you came. Just pissed off that this is one of the few days I’m absolutely booked solid.” Cody shook his head. “So tell me—the gallery showing in Calgary. Can you come for a longer stay when that happens? I assume you’re still curating shows for your fancy art goddesses and what have you.”
“I am, but I have other plans as well.” Chance leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I’m moving.”
“Interesting. London? Berlin?” Cody tilted his head. “New York?”
“Heart Falls.”
Cody coughed and frowned. “You’re shitting me.”
Dear Lord. “Your expressions never fail to make me laugh. No, brother, I’m not taking the piss, as we would say in Ireland.” Chance paused to let out a peal of laughter. “God, your face.”
“You’re full of surprises today. Moving to Heart Falls.” Cody glanced around then back at Chance. “Did you somehow pull me into one of your fantasy pictures? Are we living on the edge of reality, surrounded by the myths and legends of ancient Ireland?”
“I tell you I want to move back to Canada and closer to you, and you think I’m winding you up?” Chance shook his head. “You have no idea how much I look forward to the change.”
Cody dipped his head. “Okay. I didn’t mean for that to come off as not wanting you around. I’m shocked, though. It’s not what I expected, but having you here would be great.”
“I’ll share more as I figure it out myself. In the meantime, tell me what you’ve been up to. And show me your couch so I have a place to sleep tonight.”
His brother rose to his feet, glancing at his watch. “I can do one step better than the couch. You can have your own cabin for the night. I know they’re not fully booked right now.”
Chance was led to a cabin a few doors down, and Cody pointed out salient parts of the ranch as they walked. Catching up felt good.
They emailed and messaged occasionally, but living on different continents had made the past few years more hit-and-miss for communication. Chance had missed the daily exchanges they’d enjoyed when young.
“I’ll try to get free for dinner,” Cody offered, “but, like I said, today is hell. I’m working the afternoon and evening, and I’m on call tonight.”
“Oh, you’re grand,” Chance said. “I’ll need a suggestion for dinner, though.”
Fifteen minutes later, after a few more quick exchanges and explanations, Cody was gone.
Amusement and contentment settled in Chance’s gut. This was going to work out fine. He tucked his hands in his pockets and took himself for a stroll. Wandering the place his brother called home.
His memories drifted to the past. They’d had a few rough moments between them right after Chance’s father had fallen in love with Cody’s mum—online dating, of all things—and brought the two boys together into one family. Mostly because back then, the age difference meant Cody had followed Chance around like an eager puppy.
Chance had been more interested in teenage exploration of his new Canadian home in Toronto, and having an eleven-year-old kid begging to accompany him on dates was not on his sixteen-year-old agenda.
Still, they’d both grown up, and they’d grown into a solid family. The years since had meant changes, good ones for the most part, but now it was time for the next step.
His stomach growled. Chance dressed as casually as possible from the options he had with him. He left off his suit coat and tie, pulled on a light jacket, then headed to town.
**
This was all her sister’s fault.
Rose Fields lifted the longneck beer and sipped while she took another peek around the dance floor, examining her options.
Okay, maybe standing in her hometown local bar while ogling men wasn’t specifically Tansy’s fault, but after twenty years of being sisters through adoption, blaming each other for imagined sins was more than habit. It was…
Well, family, Rose supposed.
A handsome cowboy approached, smiling with deep approval as he checked her over. “Hey, darling. Want to go for a spin?”
Tommy was a great dancer, and usually she’d have been thrilled to say yes. But he worked at Silver Stone ranch, which meant he was all wrong for tonight’s agenda. Too familiar, too local.
Too not-good for a one-night stand.
Rose shook her head and lifted her drink. “Just started my beer. I’ll give you a shout later.”
He winked. “Sure thing, beautiful.”
The pulsing beat of the music echoed around her. It filled her ears and set her toes tapping. Even as she examined the crowd for someone who was just right, her thoughts drifted back to the reason she was in Rough Cut by herself in the first place.
Girls’ Night Out Gone Wrong.
Okay, maybe labeling it that was pushing it, but when the larger assembly of girlfriends had dropped to just Rose, her sister Tansy, and two others, out had come those damn confessions. Three weeks later, and Rose was kicking herself for not being able to shake the conversation. The one where the other women in the room had all confessed to being wild and spontaneous. Looking for satisfaction, and finding it in one sensual night.
Not something you have to do, but if you want to do it and the chance arises, why not?
The comment from her friend Petra echoed loudly.
Rose had enjoyed a good, stable upbringing. Her adoptive parents were rock-solid, and her three sisters were golden. Add in the store and café she owned with Tansy, and she had nearly everything she’d ever dreamed of.
Why did she still feel as if the smallest wrong move could make it all vanish in an instant? She needed to stop living so carefully. Wanted to actively seek out adventures and see what might happen.
There lay the reason why she now stood in Rough Cut trying to open the door to opportunities. She wouldn’t mind finding a handsome stranger to take for a ride.
So to speak.
One thing was for certain. If she planned to pick up a stranger in their small hometown, it was not going to be under the watchful eye of her sister. Or friends. Or…anyone. Which was why she’d come to Rough Cut tonight when Tansy was busy and all her other friends were occupied.
Yet she needed to do this safely, which meant telling someone.
Petra. Petra was perfect. The youngest sister of one of the local ranchers, she didn’t actually live in Heart Falls, just visited often. Often enough that she’d become a regular at their girls’ nights, including the most recent one that still haunted Rose.
After a wonderful visit where she’d spent time with family and Rose and the others, Petra had returned home to Manitoba two weeks ago. Far enough away that Rose didn’t need to worry about the woman showing up to run interference, but connected enough that if Rose put out an SOS, help would be on the way pretty damn quick.
Decided, she messaged her friend.
Rose: FYI, you’re my emergency contact tonight. I’ll message you around midnight. If needed, again in the a.m. to let you know I’m safe.
Less than a minute later, a response slipped in.
Petra: Okay. Want to tell me what you’re doing?
Rose: I’m having a one-night stand.
Petra: Oh, really? Someone catch your eye to make this an urgent and top priority?
Rose wasn’t about to explain her entire agenda in text. She lifted her attention from her phone to consider the best answer, then the crowd parted and the overhead lights flared like a spotlight to land on a tall, gorgeous man, and everything vanished except him.
Broad shoulders, but lean. Less bulky than most of the cowboys she knew, he still looked sturdy enough to have muscle and strength in all the right places. Taller than her, but not looming. No cowboy hat, but dark, neatly trimmed hair that Rose suddenly wanted to run her fingers through to mess up the tiniest bit. He stood with his shoulders back and chin up, and as he rotated toward her, Rose found herself holding her breath.
His gaze drifted over the crowd then landed on her, and she swore a bolt of lightning sizzled up from the floor.
Green eyes. Intense, but with crinkles at the corners that deepened as his lips curled into a smile. The pale skin on his face was darkened by a five-o’clock shadow. Admiration rose as his gaze dipped quickly over her. No leering, just an honest, masculine appreciation, and Rose checked off another box on her must have these qualities before I take the leap list.
He stepped toward her, weaving through the crowd.
Rose quickly finished her message to Petra, happy to be succinct and truthful.
Rose: Yes.
Return to Rose’s One Night to Forever
