Sharp Shootin' Cowboy Page 7

  She shook her head. “I love you too, Gramps, and know you only want the best for me, but I’m not a child anymore. This is what I want for my life. You’ll see. It’s not a mistake. I’ll make you proud. I promise.”

  On that note, Haley hauled her gear to her bedroom and began unpacking. She was home at last, but felt almost as if she was a stranger in the house she’d grown up in.

  She opened her closet to find Reid’s jacket still hanging there. She was suddenly reminded of his Christmas Eve phone call, almost four months ago. He hadn’t called her since. She wondered if he’d finally given up. She pulled the jacket from the hanger, wondering if she should just send it back to him. Something dropped from the pocket, landing at her feet. A Leatherman utility knife? She’d bought a similar one while in Alaska. Haley picked it up and shoved it back into the pocket only to encounter something else. Paper, but smoother, stiffer.

  A photograph? She retrieved it slowly, with a slight stab of guilt.

  It was a picture of Reid with his arms around a tall, slender brunette. They were staring into each other’s eyes as if in a prelude to a kiss. Her brows met and chest tightened as she flipped the picture over.

  A night I’ll always remember. Tonya.

  She stared at the note through burning eyes. She didn’t know why Reid’s deceit hurt so much. Maybe because she’d begun to trust him. She should have been relieved to discover his true colors, but felt only anger and a profound and aching disappointment.

  She’d wanted to believe he was different, but this just proved he wasn’t truly the man she’d thought he was…had secretly hoped he was. “Reid Everett. You are just another lying, cheating son of a bitch.”

  She should have known better. He was a marine, after all.

  * * *

  The next day, Haley stopped at The SJ Café on her way home from the post office, seating herself in Yolanda’s section.

  “Haley!” Yolanda’s face lit up the moment she emerged from the kitchen. She dropped off her order, whipped off her apron, and sat down across from Haley. “When did you get home?”

  “Day before yesterday.”

  Yolanda’s smile faded. “And you didn’t phone me?”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just been so hectic.”

  Apart from a couple of postcards, she hadn’t been in touch with her best friend in months. Part of it was her lack of cell service, but that didn’t excuse her for not calling once she’d returned home. It just seemed awkward all of a sudden, as if they’d drifted further and further apart.

  “I understand.” Yolanda’s hurt expression said she really didn’t. “How was Alaska?”

  “It was incredible,” Haley gushed. “Where else can you find polar bears, wolves, and humpback whales?”

  “I don’t know, but I can’t say I’ve ever looked for any of them before. The pelicans and sea lions at the La Jolla marina are enough wildlife for me. I can’t believe you stayed up there all winter.”

  “Me either actually, but it was really important. Jeffrey thinks we’ll be able to get new conservation legislation passed.”

  Yolanda arched a brow. “Jeffrey? Since when are you on a first name basis with your professors?”

  Haley’s face heated. “I’m not his student anymore. Not in the technical sense anyway. I’m his research assistant now. We’ve grown pretty close over the past few months.”

  “Really? How close?” Yolanda pressed.

  “Not like that…well, not yet anyway.”

  “But you’re thinking about it?”

  “Maybe,” Haley confessed. She was comfortable with Jeffrey. They understood each other. Wasn’t that the best foundation for a relationship?

  “What’s he like?” Yolanda asked.

  “Intelligent. Articulate.” Haley began ticking off her mentor’s qualities.

  “Is he good-looking?” Yolanda asked.

  “Yeah, I suppose he’s easy enough on the eyes.”

  “Does he make you laugh?”

  Haley had to think about that one. “No, not really. He’s more serious. Focused. Intense.”

  “Intensity is good and focus is even better at the right time…and in the right place.” Yolanda grinned. “But you’re too serious. You need a man with a sense of humor to balance you.”

  “I’m not sold on the theory that opposites make good relationships,” Haley argued, thinking immediately of lying, cheating Reid Everett. “Mutual goals and compatibility make a whole lot more sense to me.”

  Yolanda rolled her eyes. “Sure, if you like predictable and boring…”

  “I only said I’m thinking about it. I’m not ready to jump into anything with anyone right now. I’m just glad to be home for a while. I loved the adventure of Alaska, but I missed the California sun.”

  “Then let’s go to the beach,” Yolanda suggested. “It’s been ages since I’ve been. Do you remember the summer I took you out to Black’s Beach?”

  Haley groaned. “How can I ever forget when you didn’t warn me it was clothing-optional.”

  Yolanda laughed. “I wish I’d had a camera when we ran into that group playing desnudo volleyball. The look on your face was priceless.” She burst into another ripple of mirth.

  “There were far too many jiggly parts for my taste.” Haley shuddered. “Why is it that the last people you’d ever want to see naked are always the first to take off their clothes?”

  “Let’s do it again,” Yolanda said. “It would be just like old times.”

  “No, thank you!” Haley shook her head. “I had nightmares for months. Besides, I have too much work to catch up on.”

  “Work? Don’t you ever take a break? All you ever think about anymore is work and books. You haven’t been yourself since you went off to that school.”

  Haley shrugged. “I just have a lot on my mind.”

  “Then your mind needs to take a vacation. C’mon, chica,” Yolanda cajoled. “You’ve been gone for months. Let’s drive out to Coronado Island. Just for half a day. We can have lunch and walk the beach.”

  “I really can’t,” Haley insisted. She had a pile of journal articles to catch up on as well as work on one of Jeffrey’s projects. He was brilliant, but horribly disorganized. She’d begun reordering all of his notes from Alaska. It would take weeks. The very idea incited a headache. She massaged her temples. On second thought, maybe she should take a short break.

  Yolanda shook her head with a sigh. “You know what they say about too much work and no play, chica…”

  “Okay. I’ll go.” Haley huffed. “Are you free tomorrow?”

  “I can be,” Yolanda said. “They owe me a day off after I pulled two extra shifts last week.”

  “Can we head out early? Maybe around nine? We could walk the beach first and then have an early lunch. That way I can still get some work done when I get back.”

  Yolanda’s brows met in a frown. “Why don’t you just bring it all with you?”

  “You know, I hadn’t even thought of that,” Haley replied.

  “Dios mio, Haley! Have you even forgotten sarcasm? I wasn’t serious.” She cursed under her breath. It was between lunch and dinner and the place was nearly empty. Nevertheless, the manager flashed them the evil eye. “Got to get back to work now. Are you going to order anything?”

  “Yeah, I’ll take the veggie pita and a mineral water.”

  “Got it. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at nine, but plan to make a whole day of it.”

  * * *

  Reid stared blankly at the package postmarked San Jacinto. He didn’t have to open it to know what it was. Why had she returned it? The message was clear. She wanted to break it off completely. Did it really matter? It wasn’t like they’d even been dating. He still hardly knew her.

  Hell yeah, it did. Maybe it was pure ego, but he couldn’t accept defeat. He’d never
failed at anything before, at least not anything he’d ever set his mind on. And he wanted her.

  It was time to change tactics. His notion of wearing down her resistance with patience and persistence had blown up in his face. He’d held back with Haley when he should have acted. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. If she wanted to break it off, fine, but she’d have to tell him to his face.

  “You still seeing Yolanda?” Reid asked Garcia between shots on the rifle range. Scout snipers had been the Marine Corps’ greatest asset in Fallujah. They went almost daily to keep their skills sharp.

  “Yeah,” his buddy confessed, looking almost embarrassed. “I backed off for a while. You know, it seemed to be getting too intense, but now we’re back on again. I don’t know what it is with her.” Garcia shook his head.

  Reid popped off a shot and then paused, eyeing Garcia again over his sights. “Think you could set something up?”

  “You don’t take no for an answer, do you, esé?” Garcia chuckled. “It seems to me she doesn’t want anything more to do with you.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Reid shrugged one shoulder. “I’m thinking the latter, but then again, I’ve always been a stubborn shit. You gonna make that call?”

  “Yeah, I’ll make the call. Just don’t blame me when she hands your balls back to you.”

  Chapter 9

  Surprisingly, Yolanda was right on time. “Do you want to drive all the way or park at the bay and take the ferry over to Coronado?” she asked.

  “Let’s drive,” Haley replied. “I hate lines and crowds.” She’d always despised being confined but had noticed it a lot more since coming home. California seemed so much more congested after the wide-open spaces of Alaska.

  They took Yolanda’s VW convertible, driving with the top down, the radio blaring, and the wind whipping their hair. Haley leaned back, relishing the combined sensations of warm sun and cool breeze. The day was picture perfect, clear and cloudless, casting rays of light rippling over the frigid waters of San Diego Bay. The bay was dotted with sails and kayaks as they drove over Coronado Bridge.

  Traffic into San Diego was surprisingly light but became heavier once they crossed the bridge, and then came to a virtual standstill once they hit Ocean Boulevard toward Central Beach. With its silvery sand and backdrop of majestic mansions, there couldn’t be much greater contrast after living for months in the Arctic wilderness.

  After driving up and down the street several times, they finally found a parking spot. Haley shaded her eyes and gazed out at the pristine beach while Yolanda unloaded a couple of folding beach chairs and a small cooler.

  “If you’re hungry, I packed a few snacks, but save your appetite for dinner. We have an early reservation at Candelas.”

  “Sounds great to me,” Haley replied. Candelas on the Bay was a local favorite offering a unique fusion of Mexican and French cuisine and breathtaking views of the San Diego skyline. “You know, I’m really glad you talked me into this.”

  “Me too, chica.” Yolanda’s mouth curved into a wistful smile. “Who knows if we’ll ever get another chance to do this kind of thing again?”

  “Probably not for a while,” Haley agreed.

  “You aren’t coming back after you graduate, are you?”

  “I don’t know where I’ll end up, but probably not here.” She laid her hand over Yolanda’s. “But we’ll still keep in touch wherever I end up.”

  “Sure we will.” Yolanda didn’t meet Haley’s gaze. “There’s a perfect spot for us.” She pointed down the beach, and they walked past a cluster of small dunes where they set up their chairs. They stripped down to bikini bottoms but left their shirts on. Although it was a gorgeous day, it was still a bit early in the season for sunbathing.

  “I’m dying for a run,” Haley said, already kicking off her shoes. She couldn’t wait to bury her toes in the soft, powdery sand. “Wanna go with me?”

  Yolanda shook her head with a laugh. “You know how I hate to sweat. Besides, this body was not designed for that kind of physical exertion.” She waved Haley on. “You go ahead. I’ll be right here.”

  Haley headed down to the waterline where the mile and a half of packed sand offered the perfect surface. She hadn’t run on the beach in forever. It was another simple pleasure she’d missed. She started at a fast jog, but, invigorated by the ebb and flow of the Pacific waters blasting her feet and ankles, quickly sped to a sprint.

  Panting from her run, Haley returned to her original spot where she waved to Yolanda. Throwing trepidation to the wind, she tore off her shirt and dove into the frigid surf, emerging a few moments later with a shriek of laughter that died on her lips the second her gaze met a pair of sky-blue eyes.

  * * *

  Reid had always preferred the mountains to the ocean, but then again, there weren’t many beaches in Wyoming. On top of that, he’d experienced about as much sand as he could stomach after three tours on the Arabian Peninsula, but Garcia had insisted the beach was the best place to meet up with Yolanda and Haley. He’d agreed with little enthusiasm—until spying a mermaid, in all of her golden-skinned glory, emerging from the water.

  Dripping wet in her tiny turquoise bikini, Haley blasted the breath from his lungs. This new version of her obliterated all lingering memory of the girl in the demure yellow sundress at the Temecula Stampede.

  She halted in front of him with a glare. “Reid? What are you doing here?”

  “It’s a gorgeous day.” He gazed up at the sky. “Do I need another reason?”

  “Are you trying to claim this is just a coincidence? You aren’t even dressed for this. Who wears jeans and boots to the beach?”

  “It’s not coincidental at all,” Reid said. “I wanted to see you and asked Garcia to set something up.”

  Her gaze swept past him to where Garcia and Yolanda lounged together. She’d wondered about Yolanda and Rafael, but had never asked if they were still seeing each other. She’d wring Yolanda’s neck for this.

  “You didn’t have the balls to just call me yourself?”

  “Would you have come?”

  “Nope.” She shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

  “That’s what I thought when I got your package. Why did you send it back when I told you I’d come for it?”

  “I didn’t want to see you again.” Her bluntness was like a blow to the gut.

  “I don’t get it. You answered all my emails. Why the sudden turnabout? Are you involved with someone?”

  “Maybe.” She tore her gaze away with a guilty look to focus on a group of squealing kids on boogie boards. She continued to avoid his gaze as she tied her wet hair into a knot on top of her head.

  “That’s not an answer. Either you are or you aren’t. Which is it?”

  “It means I’m thinking about seeing someone.”

  “But you aren’t yet. That means I still have a chance,” Reid said.

  “I t-told you before, I’m not into m-marines.”

  Her lips were blue-tinged and her teeth chattered. His gaze dropped a tad lower to her beaded nipples and his prick swelled. He whipped off his T-shirt and offered it to her. “So you keep saying, but you are into me.”

  “You conceited j-jackass! J-just because I l-let you k-kiss me once?”

  “It was more than once and more than just a kiss.” He grinned back. “And for the record, I’m very much into you, too.”

  Her eyes drifted over his bare torso, lingering for several seconds. When he caught her staring, she snatched his shirt from his hands. The shirt swallowed her delectable body, covering her to the knees. He almost wished he’d let her shiver instead.

  After a moment she broke the silence. “You want to know why I returned your jacket? I’ll tell you why. I found a picture in your pocket, Reid. A picture of you with another woman. It was inscribed on the back. A night I’ll always remember. Tonya.
Wanna explain that?”

  He exhaled in exasperation. “That’s an old picture. Taken three years ago at my brother’s last wedding. Tonya’s the ex I already told you about. It was over between us before I ever met you.”

  “Then why do you still have the picture?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “To be honest, I had forgotten all about it. I can’t even remember the last time I wore that jacket.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  He cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Because I’m telling you the truth. Look, Haley, I can understand your caution, given your history, but I’ve done nothing to deserve your mistrust.”

  “What do you mean given my history?”

  “C’mon. Let’s walk. We’ve got a lot to talk about.” He kicked off his boots, leaving them in the sand, and then pressed a hand lightly to her back. She balked at first but then gave in, reluctantly matching his steps. “When I met your grandparents, they explained a few things to me.”

  She halted, digging her heels into the sand. “What kind of things?”

  “Haley kind of things.” He guided her back into motion down the beach toward the red roofs of the Hotel del Coronado. “They told me about your mother and father.”

  “I don’t have a father,” she protested.

  “Sure you do. Have you ever tried to get in touch with him?”

  “No!” she snapped. “Why should I? He’s never tried to contact me.”

  “There’s two sides to every story, Haley. Maybe you should hear his.”

  “You’re justifying what he did?”

  “No,” he said firmly. “I’m not justifying anything at all. I just believe in hearing both sides before passing judgment on anyone.”

  She snorted. “I suppose it only makes sense when you’re as much of a dog as he was.”

  He grasped her tiny shoulders and spun her around. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? I told you the night we met that I’ve only been with two women in my life and that number hasn’t changed. I don’t sleep around, Haley. I’m not a liar, and I don’t cheat.”