“Now you’re older.”

Natalie continued to stare at him, arms crossed, the toe of her purple clog tapping on the floor.

“And smarter.”

“I don’t want anything to happen to Austin,” she said after a moment. “He’s all I’ve got.”

She didn’t meet his gaze as she said the words, but he could see how much they cost her. He felt a rush of emotion and a spark of envy. It was irrational and unfair, but Liam didn’t have anything—anyone—so precious to him in his life. He hadn’t since he’d left Crimson.

“I’ll keep him safe, Natalie.” He couldn’t stop himself from touching her, just a finger on the delicate bone at her wrist. “I’ll keep both of you safe.”

She went still as his finger grazed her skin. “I’m overreacting,” she said after a moment, shifting away from his touch. “It will be fun. Thank you for including us.” The words were as stiff as her body language, but Liam didn’t press her on it. He wasn’t sure what, if anything, he wanted from Natalie again—but he had an entire holiday season to figure it out.

* * *

Crimson, Colorado: Finding home—and forever—in the West

A Very Crimson

Christmas

Michelle Major

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MICHELLE MAJOR grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at www.michellemajor.com.

To Wendy. Thanks for being a fabulous friend and for loving the Indian buffet as much as I do.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Natalie Holt blinked open one eye and slapped her hand against the alarm clock blaring out heavy metal music. Heavy metal wasn’t typically popular in the mountains, but she’d managed to tune in to a college station situated a few towns over from where she lived in Crimson, Colorado.

Not her preference, but she slept through every other genre from classical to country to talk radio. Even the annoying default alarm buzz couldn’t jolt her awake these days. Probably a result of averaging about four hours of sleep each night.

Last night had been closer to three hours since she’d stayed up to finish the month-end medical billing for the senior living center where she worked. She’d been lucky to pick up the extra position—her official third job. She needed the money but couldn’t afford to take any more time away from her nine-year-old son, Austin. A decent night’s sleep was one of the few expendable items on her schedule.

Austin was the best thing in her life, and Natalie would manage through bleary-eyed sleep deprivation or walk on hot coals if it meant keeping him safe. Even if she collapsed from utter exhaustion in the process.

But she wasn’t dead yet, so she dragged herself out of bed and threw on a sweatshirt and pair of black yoga pants that hadn’t seen the inside of a yoga studio for years. It was Saturday morning, which she hoped meant Austin was still asleep. When she found the door to his room open she expected to find him at the computer or in front of the TV. Instead, the farmhouse where they’d been living for the past several months was quiet.

She headed down the stairs toward the hallway that led to the master bedroom, but something caught her eye out the front window. Shading her eyes against the bright morning light, she stepped onto the porch, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the frigid temperatures. It was the start of December, so the cold air and dusting of snow on the flagstone porch were to be expected, but still a shock. Not smart to brave the cold precoffee.

An enormous black SUV sat in the driveway, and a shiver of unease slithered up her spine. Who would be paying such an early morning visit to Ruth Keller, the elderly woman who owned the property? And where was her son at this hour of the day?

She turned and went back into the house. The farmhouse had been remodeled with two distinct sections, the bedrooms on one side and the main living area with the kitchen, dining room, office and family room on the other. Her heart raced, then slowed as she found Austin curled on Ruth’s bed with her, reading aloud from one of his beloved Magic Tree House series of books.

“Hey, Mom, I’m keeping Miss Ruth company.” He smiled, showing off the gap between his two front teeth. Orthodontia was definitely a part of their future, but Natalie would put off that financial worry for another day.

Ruth’s smile was softer. “Good morning, dearie. I hope you weren’t worried about Austin.”

“Not at all,” Natalie lied. “But next time wake me up before you come downstairs. Okay, bud?”

“Sure, Mom.”

“And maybe you should give Miss Ruth some room on the bed. I don’t want you to put any pressure on her hip.”

Ruth placed a hand on Austin’s arm when he went to move. “He’s fine. I like the company.”

Natalie didn’t doubt that for a second. Ruth Keller was a firecracker of a woman, even pushing her mideighties. She liked to be independent and active, which was why she’d initially hired Natalie to help with her care. According to Ruth, Natalie was the only nurse in town who didn’t treat her as if she had one foot in the grave. Natalie had been happy to coordinate doctors’ appointments, buy groceries and help around the house in exchange for using the two upper guest bedrooms. But Ruth had insisted on paying her as well, and Natalie was in no position to refuse the money. A few weeks ago, Ruth had fallen and bruised her hip, which increased Natalie’s responsibilities.

She knew Ruth was terrified of eventually ending up in assisted living, despite the fact that she already had a room paid for each month at the senior center. Natalie had vowed to help out as much as she could to make sure that Ruth could stay at the farmhouse as long as possible. There was another home-care nurse who came in for respite shifts, but it was a lot for Natalie to balance with her schedule at the senior center and the medical billing work. Natalie was determined to handle everything. She’d learned a long time ago that the only person she could depend on in life was herself.

“How about breakfast?”

“The man’s making it,” Austin informed her, then went back to reading.

“Don’t get too far ahead.” Ruth tapped the page with one bony finger.

“The man?” Natalie took a step closer to the bed, remembering the luxury SUV parked in front of the house. Her skin suddenly tingled. “What man?”

“I must have forgotten to mention it to you.” Ruth straightened the covers over her lap, keeping her eyes averted. “Austin, what happens next? Do Jack and Annie find the ninja?”

“Mention what?” Natalie asked, reaching forward to grip the bedpost. “Who’s here, Ruth?”

“Hello, Natalie,” a long-forgotten voice said from the doorway behind her.

Her fingers tightened around the wood until her knuckles went white.

“You remember Liam Donovan,” Ruth said cheerfully, although she still wouldn’t meet Natalie’s gaze. “The two of you knew each other in high school.”

Breathing was supposed to be an involuntary muscle reflex, but in that moment Natalie forgot how to draw air into her lungs. Concentrating, she forced her breath in and out. Saying she’d known Liam Donovan was like claiming Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton once had a passing acquaintance.

She turned, keeping her features a placid mask as stormy gray eyes clashed with hers. “It’s been a long time, Liam. Nice to see you.” Which was partly the truth. Yes, it had been over ten years since she’d spoken to Liam Donovan. But nice didn’t begin to describe how it felt to be in the same room as him after all this time. It made her feel nauseous, invigorated, desperately sad and filled with regret. But not nice. Her feelings for Liam had never been nice.

One side of his mouth lifted as if he found her outright lie amusing. The smile didn’t reach his eyes, and the storm inside them cooled by several degrees. “I’m here to visit Ruth, to make sure she’s okay after her fall. And to find out why I’m paying for housing every month at assisted living when she’s still here even though she’s been injured.” Ruth had been Liam’s nanny when he was younger, but Natalie knew the woman loved him as if he was her own family.

“She fell two weeks ago and is almost fully recovered.” Natalie didn’t try to stop the censure in her voice. “She’s worked out how she wants to handle her room at the center with the director, so you’ll need to discuss that with him. I can assure you she’s well cared for. I’ve got it under control.”

His gaze flicked to Austin, whose nose was once again buried in the book. “So I see.”

She wondered for a moment what exactly Liam thought he saw. The boy who had been her first love was gone, replaced by a man who was so much larger, both in physical build and general presence. Liam had been beautiful in high school but now there was a raw masculinity to his features. He’d filled into his height and the potential of his looks. His hair was shorter than he’d worn it back then, the cut clearly from an expensive salon. It had darkened to almost black but remained streaked with the same chestnut shine she’d always loved to run her fingers through.

Even now her fingers itched to reach out and touch him, to prove that he was here before her, not just a visitor to her unwanted dreams and fantasies, as he’d been so many times in the past decade.

She ran a self-conscious hand through her own hair, several weeks past due for a trim and years from her last professional highlight. Her shoulders inched a little straighter. Pride was one of the few things so many years of struggling hadn’t taken from Natalie. As the only weapon left in her arsenal, she would use it without apology.

Before she could reply, Austin scooted off the bed to stand next to her. “My mom is Miss Ruth’s nurse,” he said, his small chin jutting forward. “She’s really good at it. Miss Ruth needs us.”

For better or worse, Austin had inherited both her pride and her stubborn nature. He was unfailingly protective of her and didn’t even blink under Liam’s scrutiny. She imagined grown men in boardrooms cowering before that stare, but not her beautiful boy. She gave him a small squeeze.

“I’m sure Ruth is happy to have you here, Liam.”

He gave the barest hint of a nod as he continued to study her son.

“Austin, sweetie, why don’t you finish the story with Miss Ruth while Liam helps me with breakfast?”

“That’s a great idea,” Ruth piped in behind them. “Happy reunions always make me hungry.”

Natalie threw Ruth a look over her shoulder and the older woman winked.

“I can help, Mom. I’m good at making coffee.”

“That you are, big guy.” She bent down to kiss his cheek, then whispered in his ear, “Miss Ruth needs you more this morning. Liam and I can handle breakfast. We’re fine.”

Clearly reluctant, Austin narrowed his eyes at Liam before turning to climb back on the bed.

Liam held out his arm, indicating that Natalie should lead him to the kitchen. She tried to hold her breath as she walked by him, but his scent twined through her senses as if by osmosis. He’d changed something in the years since she’d known him, his soap or shampoo maybe. But underneath remained a trace of something that was all Liam, clean and a little spicy. Unfortunately, parts of her that didn’t involve her brain had an immediate reaction to him. She reached out for the wall to steady herself.

“Cute kid,” Liam mumbled as she passed him.

Her temper quickly roared to life. “He’s an amazing kid. We’re a team.”

“What about Brad?” he asked as he followed her through the house.

She cringed at the mention of her ex-husband. “He’s not part of Austin’s life. He left Crimson and never looked back.” Not exactly the whole truth, but as much as she was willing to share with Liam Donovan. For good measure she added, “I seem to have that effect on men.”

When she glanced back Liam was frowning.

“You have no idea the effect you have on men, Natalie. You never did.”

Oh. Well. She didn’t know how to take that.

She moved to the refrigerator as a distraction and took out a carton of eggs, cheese and juice. “What are you doing back in Crimson? Ruth’s hip is healing just fine. In another week or so, she should be cleared to drive again. I don’t believe you’re here to see to her welfare.”

“She practically raised me until I was eleven. I love that woman.”

She rolled her eyes as she put a pan on the stove, then began to crack eggs into a small mixing bowl. “I know. And she thinks the sun rises and sets by you. It doesn’t answer the question.”

“I’m here to see to her welfare.” As he stepped closer to her, Natalie worked to keep her fingers from trembling. He handed her an egg and she took it, making sure not to touch him in the process.

She could feel him watching her but kept her attention focused on the task in front of her.

“I believe someone is stealing money from my former nanny,” Liam said after a moment. Her gaze crashed into his as he continued, “I’m wondering if it might be you.”

* * *

Liam wasn’t sure how he wanted Natalie to react to his little bombshell. He’d said it more for the shock value because he wanted her as off balance as he felt. A part of him expected her to throw a fit or crack an egg over his head as she screamed out her denial. Instead, she placed the egg on the counter as she went brittely still.

“Is that really what you think of me?” she asked, her gaze flaring as she watched him.

No, never, a voice inside him wanted to argue. I think you are still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

Even the ratty sweatshirt she wore couldn’t cover Nat’s perfect figure. Her dark hair pulled back in a messy ponytail was still shiny and looked as soft as he remembered from years ago. She wore no makeup, but he’d always preferred her that way. Unlike when they were in high school, she now had faint circles under those big melted chocolate eyes that told him something was keeping her awake at night. Liam found himself wanting to know what it was and figure out a way to fix her troubles.

But that wasn’t what this trip was about. Natalie had made her choice years ago. She’d picked this town over him. He wasn’t about to come crawling back to her.

“I don’t know what to think, Nat. You came to work for her and two months later almost ten thousand dollars is missing from her account.”

“Did you ask her about it?”

“Of course I did. I called her when the accountant alerted me. She told me to mind my own business.”

“Which wasn’t an option for you?”

“She’s a strong woman, but not as strong as she once was, either mentally or physically. You’re her nurse so you must see that she’s frail. I won’t let someone take advantage of her.”

“I would never do that.”

“But you haven’t denied taking the money and you’ve let her return to the house when I arranged for assisted living.”

She looked up at him now, her brown eyes blazing. “I didn’t steal anything, Liam.”

Her voice was quiet but lethal. Liam realized he’d misread her stillness. He thought it might be masking guilt, but now he saw she was reining in her anger. Anger that he would accuse her of something so awful.

“I’m sorry, Natalie. The way the accountant spoke it was too much of a coincidence to ignore. You started working for her and soon after money goes missing from her savings account.”

“Does she know you’re monitoring her finances?”

Liam blew out a breath. “She does now.” He watched as she put two bagels in the toaster, then poured the egg mixture into the heated pan. “She’s mad as all get out.”

“Do you blame her?”

“I want to keep her safe. People know I’ve settled money on her and that she barely touches it. I would have expected someone to take advantage of her long before this. That’s why I keep track of things.”

“All signs to the contrary in your life, you can’t always bully or manipulate people into doing what you want. Ruth can make her own decisions about her savings.”

“Trust me, I know very well that not everyone bends to my will just because I want them to.” He thought of a night long ago when Natalie had made him believe his heart was breaking in half. “But why is she acting like she doesn’t know what I’m talking about? Why isn’t she the least bit concerned the money is gone? That’s not like her. She’s hiding something. Maybe it’s not that someone is stealing from her. But there’s more to what’s going on. I’m going to find out what it is.”

He saw her fingers tighten around the handle of the pan. “Either way, I’m sure Ruth will be glad to see you. If you want to use the guest bedrooms upstairs, Austin and I can move out.”

“Natalie.” He placed his fingers on her shoulder. His chest took a direct hit as she flinched at the contact. “Kicking you out or waging some kind of war with you was never my intention.”

She took a stack of plates from the cupboard, her sweatshirt rising above the waistband of her pants as she reached for a high shelf. His mind went blank for a moment at the sight of the creamy strip of skin across her lower back and the small birthmark that peeked out from her hip. Memories flooded back to him, along with a rush of heat to the lower half of his body.

“You accused me of stealing from a woman we both love. How is that not waging war?”

He shook his head to bring himself back to the present. “I had to be sure.”

“And you are now?” Something about her tone and the way she wouldn’t make eye contact with him made his skin prickle with doubt.

“I’m not getting the whole story, but I will figure it out.”

“Go for it,” she snapped back quickly. “I don’t have Ruth’s money.”

Her movements jerky, she dished eggs, bagels and sliced bananas onto the plates.

“It wouldn’t matter if you did,” an unsteady voice called. “Thanks to Liam, I have plenty to spare.”

Liam turned as Ruth and Austin appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. His breath caught as he watched her lean heavily on a carved wooden cane. He’d arrived in Crimson late last night, so he hadn’t seen his former nanny before this morning. Knowing she was an early riser like him, he’d come to the property at the crack of dawn. She’d been awake but still in bed, so he hadn’t fully noticed how frail she looked compared to the hearty, healthy woman he once knew. Ruth had always been larger than life, the only constant he’d known for most of his childhood. She’d seen his shock this morning and had immediately sent him off to survey her property.

After checking to make sure things looked good around the house and small pond near the edge of the forest, he’d returned to the house to find Austin curled up next to her in her bed. Liam had never been the type of kid to snuggle with anyone, let alone his nanny. He’d been too busy getting into trouble as a kid. He envied Natalie’s son the easy affection he had with both his mom and Ruth. Austin was clearly loved, a thought that gave Liam an unfamiliar stab of envy for what he’d only felt as a boy from the paid help.

“That isn’t the point.”

“Leave her alone.” Ruth straightened and pointed at him. “Sit down and have breakfast with us. Stop harping on Natalie. I’m glad to see you. Don’t make me change my mind.”

“There isn’t—” he began at the same time Natalie handed him a plate. “You made enough for me?”

“When I cook it’s for whoever is here to eat.” She picked up the three remaining plates, balancing two in one hand. With her opposite elbow she pointed to a drawer at the end of the kitchen island. “Bring forks over with you.”

He stared at her.

“Please,” she added as an afterthought.

“I don’t eat breakfast.”

“It’s the most important meal of the day.”

Ruth lowered herself into a chair and patted the one next to her. “Come on over. Catch me up on your life.” She leaned closer to Austin. “Liam is powerful. He has lots of money and dates gobs of brainless supermodels who are too young for him.”

“Ruth, stop.”

“Are you a supermodel, Mom?” Austin asked.

Natalie set down the plates with a clatter. “No, bud, I’m not a supermodel.”

Her son nodded, looking relieved.

Natalie brushed by Liam to get the orange juice and glasses, her mouth tight with obvious disapproval.

He wanted to tell her she was more enticing than any model he’d ever known. She was a real woman, and it was more than her physical beauty that had made Natalie irresistible. It was the way she carried herself, how she knew who she was, the fact that she wouldn’t ever take any crap from him.

He slid into the seat next to Ruth instead. “You can’t stay here,” he said, changing the subject back to the argument they’d been having before she sent him off to look over the property this morning.

“It’s my home.”

“It’s too much for you. You’ll move in with me while I’m here and we get the property ready to go on the market. When I leave, you’ll go to assisted living. Why am I paying for a room there if you don’t use it?”

“Because I like the social activities. They only let residents go on outings. You have the money, so I didn’t think you’d mind.” Ruth forked up a slice of banana, the tremor in her hand clearly visible.

“Are you selling the farmhouse?” Natalie looked shocked.

“No,” Ruth answered at the same time Liam said, “Yes.”

“Ten acres is too much for her, too far away from town—”

“That’s why Natalie and Austin are here. And I have Clarence come by for a few hours every day to maintain things.”

“Clarence is almost as old as you.”

“Don’t sass me, Liam.” Ruth stabbed at her eggs with the fork. “I’ll have Stan give you extra chores when he gets home from work.”

Liam glanced at Natalie, who gave a sharp shake of her head. Ruth’s husband, Stan, had died the same year she retired and they moved to Colorado. He wasn’t sure if he should argue with her or let the comment pass. After a moment he sighed, trying to remember that he had to tread lightly with his former nanny. She’d always been fiercely independent. Liam had gotten used to people doing what he said without question. In the space of an hour, these two women and one boy had given him more trouble than he’d had in years.

“I just want to take care of you.”

“If you’re only here to pester me, you might as well leave now.”

He knew she meant it. Her heart was as big as the Rocky Mountains, but Ruth Keller didn’t mince words.

“Is it so hard to believe I missed you?”

“It’s hard to believe you haven’t been to see me in two years,” Ruth answered, her gaze shrewd.

She could believe her husband who’d been dead for over fifteen years was coming home yet still intuit that Liam was hiding something from her. Liam had to respect the way her mind still worked. He also had to come up with another reason to stay in town so he could get to the bottom of what was happening with her money. “I’m working on my own software company—it’s a new type of GPS technology for outdoor activities. It’s called LifeMap. Besides wanting to see you, I’m looking at basing the company in Crimson. I know how much you love this town and I thought it would make you happy if I could give a boost to the local economy.”

She studied him for a moment, then reached out and wrapped her veined hand around his. “I like the sound of that. You’re a good boy, Liam. Much better than either of your parents. I raised your father, just like I raised you. And I certainly raised him to do better than that gold-digging mother of yours. She always resented me because I knew how to take care of you better than she did. No offense, sweetie.”

“None taken,” Liam said with a smile. “When was the last time you talked to Mom?”

“She sends flowers on my birthday,” Ruth said without hesitation. “Pink roses.”

“You hate roses.” He looked up as Natalie clapped a hand over her mouth.

“I know,” Ruth answered. “Liam’s mother does, too. She sends them anyway.”

Liam closed his eyes for a moment, anger building at his parents for all the things they didn’t care about because they were too busy with their own lives. When he opened them again, Natalie was watching him with a look in her eyes that he didn’t want to believe was pity.

“What do you think?” he asked her, his voice tight. He could take her anger and irritation, but pity he had to shut down immediately. “Should she stay in this house alone when I’m paying for a room at Evergreen?”

“She’s not alone,” Austin offered around a mouthful of food. “She’s got us.”

Liam raised an eyebrow at Natalie. “Not the point.”

“It’s up to Ruth to decide where she wants to live, but I think you’ve been generous.”

“You won’t mind if she sells this place and moves to Evergreen full-time?”

“I’m not selling.” Ruth pushed back from the table. “I bruised my hip in a fall, Liam. I’m not one foot in the grave quite yet.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“It’s what you’ve implied.” She lifted herself to her feet. “Austin, will you walk me back to my bedroom?”

The boy glanced at Natalie, who nodded. “I’ll clean up the kitchen, Ruth, then come back to help you dress.”

“Ruth, listen—”

“No, Liam, you listen. I know you’re trying to help, but pushing me into changing my whole life isn’t going to happen. I’ve lived on my own since Stan died. I don’t see any reason to change now. You keep your big mansions and private jets. I’m happy with the simple life I have here in Crimson.” She leveled a look at him. “As I remember it, you were pretty happy here once upon a time. Maybe you should focus on that instead of all your high-handed plans for me.”

“I didn’t—”

“Come back here at six and you can take me to Saturday night bingo at Evergreen. I’ve got a hot streak going and I missed last weekend.” She leaned on her cane. “You can join me for church tomorrow morning, as well. A little time in the pew will do your soul good.”

Liam shot a look at Natalie who only shrugged. “Okay, Ruth, whatever you say.”

She left the room, muttering to herself. Austin made a face at Natalie over his shoulder but she gave him a bright smile and a thumbs-up and began clearing the dishes from the table.

“I pushed her too hard.”

“Ya think?” Natalie stacked plates on the counter.

“I forgot how stubborn she can be when she gets riled up.”

“The fall has been hard on her. She’s healing, but Ruth isn’t used to depending on other people. She’s a proud woman, Liam.”

“I know, Nat. That’s one of the things I love about her.” He moved to the sink and rinsed the plates, then put them in the dishwasher. “You’re a lot like her, you know.” And you both frustrate the hell out of me, he added to himself.

After a moment, he looked up to find Natalie’s eyes on him. “What are you doing?”

“Um...the dishes?”

“I didn’t think big, important CEO types did their own dishes.”

“Apparently the CEO card doesn’t get me far in my nanny’s house.”

“Are you really thinking of headquartering a company in Crimson?”

Leave it to Natalie to see right through him. “Sure. If I can work out something with the town, that is. It’s a good place to live and the GPS technology we’re developing will appeal to people who like the outdoors. It’s a natural fit.”

She nodded but still looked doubtful.

They finished cleaning the kitchen in silence. There had been a lot of nights Natalie had eaten dinner over here when they were in high school. Her mom waitressed in town back then and wasn’t around very often. Ruth would cook while Liam and Natalie took cleanup duty. Being here with her now brought him back to a time long past. A time his heart didn’t want to forget but his brain wouldn’t let him revisit.

His cell phone beeped in his pocket. “I’ve got some stuff to do to get settled in today.”

“Before bingo?” Natalie asked, flashing him the first smile he’d seen from her.

He’d missed that smile but forced himself not to show it. “Before bingo,” he agreed. “Are you okay if I head out?”

“This is my job, Liam. One of them, anyway. We’re fine.”

She didn’t need to add “without you.” He knew she’d never needed him in the same way he did her.

He nodded and turned, but stopped at the sliding door that led from the kitchen to the back of the house. “In case you were wondering, I haven’t dated gobs of supermodels.”

Her gaze crashed into his and he hoped it was relief he read in their dark depths. “It’s none of my business who you date.” Her words were sharp but her voice breathless.

He could see her chest rise and fall as she busied herself wiping invisible spots from the counter. It gave him the confidence to say exactly what was on his mind.

“And, Natalie?”

She looked at him again.

“No one ever compared to you. Not even close.”

He watched her jaw drop as he let himself out the back door and walked away.

Chapter Two

“That’s how he left it?”

“He’s just cruel.”

“But so dang hot.”

“Why didn’t you tell us your old boyfriend was hot?”

“And rich.”

Natalie looked at her group of friends and licked a bit of salt from the rim of her margarita. Austin was sleeping over at a friend’s house so she’d called Olivia Travers after Liam and Ruth had left for bingo and asked her friend to meet her for a drink at her favorite Mexican restaurant. She’d explained a little about the situation without giving too many details or revealing her conflicted emotions about Liam.

When she’d arrived, it was to find not only Olivia waiting, but also Olivia’s sister, Millie, and their friend Katie Garrity, who owned the local bakery.

Heat crept into her cheeks. “I didn’t realize this was going to be an inquisition.”

Olivia looked a little guilty. “You sounded bad on the phone.”

Millie held out her cell for the table to see. “I’m sure Liam Donovan could make you feel much better.”

Katie took the phone and let out a low whistle. “He was cute in high school, but time has definitely been Liam’s friend.”

Like Natalie, Katie had been born and raised in Crimson. Olivia’s husband, Logan—also a Crimson native—had come back to town, and Millie was married to Logan’s oldest brother, Jake. The middle brother, Josh, also lived in Crimson, and his wife, Sara, who was currently away shooting a movie, rounded out Natalie’s group of girlfriends. She’d never had close friends when she was younger and as much as she enjoyed it now, opening up to people about her private life was still difficult.

“I don’t need any help from Liam.” She took a drink of the sweet margarita. “He accused me of stealing from his Ruth.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Katie said. “You work harder than anyone in town. How many jobs are you balancing right now?”

“Four if you count the jewelry business.”

“It counts,” Olivia answered. “Your earrings and bracelets sell better than any others in the community center gift shop.”

“When are you going to branch out into other stores?” Millie asked.

“When I figure out how to function on two hours of sleep each night,” Natalie answered. She loved making the jewelry she fashioned out of beads, metal and precious stones. The work both relaxed and invigorated her. The plan had always been to save enough from her nursing jobs to invest in her business so that she could expand. One more thing in her life her ex-husband had ruined.

“The point is,” Katie continued, “you live simply, you work hard. I’m assuming it’s to save money for Austin’s college fund.”

“Because it isn’t your addiction to fashion,” Millie interjected.

Olivia nudged her sister.

“Sorry,” Millie mumbled. “Was that rude?”

“It’s fine,” Natalie said with a wry smile.

“Katie’s right.” Olivia dipped a chip into the salsa. “You’re just not a big spender. Anyone who knows you would never think you’d take advantage of someone in your care.”

Natalie folded and refolded her napkin. The truth was she hadn’t taken Ruth’s money, but she had a pretty good idea what had happened to it. She knew she needed to ask Ruth outright but was afraid of knowing the truth.

She took a deep breath and blurted, “I think Ruth might have used the money to pay off my ex-husband.”

All three women stared at her. Their waitress approached the table, but Olivia shooed her away again.

“Why would Ruth need to pay off Brad Holt?” Katie asked after a moment.

“She doesn’t.” Natalie sighed. “She shouldn’t. But I told her that he was kind of...sort of...blackmailing me, and I’m afraid she took matters into her own hands.”

“Blackmailing you?” Olivia asked.

“Kind of, sort of?” Millie added.

“It’s a long story.”

Millie waved to the waitress. “Another round for all of us,” she called. “A big plate of nachos and an order of chicken quesadillas.” Luckily, the place was crowded and loud so Millie didn’t draw much attention. Not that she cared. When the waitress nodded from across the restaurant, Millie gestured to Natalie. “We’ve got time. Go on.”

“This is difficult to talk about.”

Millie tapped on her own drink. “Try another sip of liquid courage.”

Katie shook her head. “I don’t understand why you would share something like that with one of your patients and not your friends.”

Guilt flared in Natalie as she saw the hurt in her friend’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I spent a lot of time with Ruth over the past several months. She needed help with some of the most basic functions. It was embarrassing for her and seemed to help when I shared details about myself. I’m normally pretty private, so it became somewhat cathartic for me. I didn’t think she’d act on what I told her.”

Olivia reached out a hand to pat Natalie’s arm. “Tell us how it started.”

“Brad and I were only married a year when he got a job doing regional sales for a company based out of Grand Junction. We’d scrimped and saved to buy a house, and I’d stopped working when Austin was born.” She traced her finger along the cool condensation gathered on the side of her glass. “I was worried about money, and Brad assured me things were good. Honestly, I should have paid closer attention, but Austin was colicky. I was on my own so much. I just wanted to believe him.”

Olivia nodded. “I know how that goes.” Natalie remembered that Olivia’s ex-husband had cheated on her before leaving her for his mistress.

“We’ve all made bad choices in men,” Millie echoed.

Natalie glanced at Katie, who gave a slight smile. “Or no choices in men because we’re too scared of making a mistake. It’s no better, Nat. Trust me.”

“I’m not sure you’ll think that once you’ve heard the whole story.” She sipped her margarita, surprised to find there was nothing but ice left in the glass. The waitress slipped another one in front of her. “You’re driving me home, right?” she asked Katie.

“Always,” her friend answered.

Suddenly, Natalie wanted to share her embarrassing past with her friends, hoping it would help her feel not so alone. “Things were okay with us for almost a year, or so I thought. Brad traveled a lot, which made it tough for us to reconnect when he was back. I figured things would even out once Austin was a little older. I was picking up a package at the post office one day and Myrna, the old postmistress, asked me if I wanted the mail from Brad’s PO box, as well. She said he hadn’t collected it in months and it was taking up too much space.”

She stirred the straw around in her drink. “She gave me a whole box of stuff, mainly delinquent notices and demands for payment. I can still see the pity in her eyes as she registered my shock. She must have thought I was the most gullible fool on the planet.”

“I doubt that,” Olivia said, her tone reassuring.

“I was pretty darn close. I took the box home, put Austin down for a nap and opened every envelope. We were months behind on the house and car payments, utilities, credit card bills, the works. At first I thought it must have been a mistake.” She thumped the palm of her hand against her forehead. “Still such an idiot. We’d gotten a late notice call here or there, but Brad always explained it away. That box opened the floodgates. He’d been using his cell phone as a contact number, but I discovered things were worse than I could have imagined.”

“And was he able to explain it away?” Millie asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Actually, I think he was relieved to finally be caught,” Natalie admitted. “As soon as I knew, all the debts became my responsibility. He was off the hook once more.”

“Was it drugs?” Katie asked.

“Not really.” Natalie shook her head. “Maybe some dabbling but nothing hard-core. I lost count of his vices. Gambling was his main addiction. Most of the work he did was in Arizona and Nevada. He got sucked into the Vegas culture and couldn’t find a way out.”

Millie narrowed her eyes. “Tell me you aren’t making excuses for him.”

“Not at all. He cost us everything. My car was repossessed, the house was almost foreclosed on and our credit destroyed. It’s only in the past couple of years that I’ve felt comfortable answering the phone to an unknown number. I had creditors hounding me for so long.”

“Why you? It was Brad’s gambling.”

“Everything was in both our names. I could either pay off the debts or file for bankruptcy.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Katie got up and came around the table to wrap her arms around Natalie’s shoulders. “Why didn’t you tell anyone? We could have helped.”

“I was too embarrassed. It feels silly to say that now, but it’s the truth.”

“So that’s when you left him?” Olivia asked.

Natalie nodded. “I gave him an ultimatum. Go to rehab for his addiction or I was leaving. He told me he’d change but was unwilling to get professional help. I filed for divorce within a month of discovering what he’d done.”

Katie sat down again. “I don’t understand why you think Ruth would pay him off now. You’ve been divorced for almost eight years.”

“At the time, I wanted him out of our lives until he could get control of things again. I was angry, hurt and scared. Jason Crenshaw was my attorney for the divorce. He begged me to go after Brad for full custody, to reveal everything Brad had done to wreck our finances, but I didn’t want to air my dirty laundry in front of the whole town. Being a single mother seemed to hold enough stigma.”

“Because of how your mom was treated when she returned to Crimson?”

“I guess,” Natalie said with a shrug. “She’s definitely had a chip on her shoulders for a lot of years. You know she still has a tendency to go off the rails. I couldn’t handle everyone thinking I was like her in any way. The bottom line was I didn’t listen to Jase. I told him to make the conditions of the divorce fair to both of us, to give Brad the option of visitation when and if he straightened out his life.”

She leaned forward and took a long drink from her straw. “As a result, whenever Brad runs out of money, he comes to me making veiled threats about getting back into Austin’s life. If I thought he really meant it, I’d welcome him. No boy should have to grow up without a dad around. But it’s all about the money every single time. As soon as I offer it to him, he takes off again.”

“Scumbag,” Katie mumbled. Olivia and Millie nodded in agreement.

“Things have gotten worse in the past year. He’s racked up a lot of debt again. He’s telling the guys holding most of his loans that he helps me out financially, letting them think that’s why he can’t pay. I’ve given him as much as I can spare, but it isn’t enough.”

Olivia’s mouth dropped. “Natalie, this is serious.”

“I know it’s serious.”

“You have to go to the police.”

“And Jase,” Katie added. “Take legal action against Brad. File a restraining order. Whatever you need to do.”

“What happens when he wants to see Austin again? I can’t legally keep him from that.”

Katie shook her head. “Have you talked to Jase? He’s a good attorney and now that he’s on town council, he has a lot of pull around here. He could help you.”

“I’d planned to, but I didn’t think it would get this far. I gave Brad everything I’d saved almost seven months ago and told him that was the end. Then he started calling again. That’s when I told Ruth what was going on. I’m afraid she’s taken matters into her own hands. She’s got strangely good connections for someone her age.”

“Did you ask her?”

As her stomach pitched, Natalie gripped the stem of her margarita glass. “I only realized it when Liam accused me of taking the money. She kept Austin at her side most of the day yesterday. She’s definitely avoiding me. Once I know for sure I’m going to have to tell Liam. How humiliating is it to admit to the guy who left me behind that I’ve royally messed up my life?”

“You didn’t mess it up. The scumbag ex-husband messed it up,” Millie offered sympathetically.

“I married him.”

Millie lifted her glass in a mock toast. “Good point.”

“I have money from the inheritance I got when my grandma died,” Katie offered. “I can help you pay back Ruth if she did indeed give money to Brad.”

Natalie shook her head. “As much as I appreciate the offer, I need to take care of this mess myself. I know I have to stand up to Brad so this stops. It’s no way to live.” She took a bite of the chicken quesadilla wedge Olivia put on her plate. “It’s not fair to Austin. I’m always struggling to get ahead and I should be putting money away for his college. He deserves so much more than I’m giving him right now.”

“You deserve more, too,” Olivia reminded her.

Fear and guilt warred inside her. Her ex-husband was a problem that had been growing for years, like a festering wound she continued to try to hide with a Band-Aid. As worried as it made her, she had to deal with him, no matter the fallout. “I’m going to talk to Ruth and if she did give money to Brad, I’ll figure out how to pay her back.”

“And?” Katie prompted.

“And ask Jason Crenshaw about getting the terms of the divorce redone. It will mean going back to court, but if Brad tries to fight me I’ll go public with everything. I’ll press charges if I have to.”

“Attagirl,” Millie told her.

“Whatever happens,” Katie added, “you’re not alone. You have friends and we’re here for you, Natalie.”

“Thank you.” Natalie blinked several times. She was a lot of things, but a crier wasn’t one of them.

“Your mother?” Katie asked. “How much does she know?”

“Very little. Mom was always very pro-Brad. She thought if I’d managed to catch a husband, that my main job was to keep him happy. She was furious when Brad and I divorced. I tried to explain the situation to her then, but she didn’t want to hear it.” She took a deep breath. “I guess it’s time to try again.”

“What about Liam?”

Natalie thought about Liam’s stormy eyes and the way her whole body tingled when he towered over her. “I’m hoping to have everything sorted out with Ruth before Liam has to know any details.”

“You two were close once,” Katie said gently. “He’s rich and powerful. He could make a good ally.”

“No way. Liam made it clear what he thought of me when he left Crimson for college. He walked away and never looked back. As far as he will ever know, staying in town only brought me happiness.”

Her friends looked skeptical but didn’t argue with her.

“Whatever you need, we’re here,” Katie said. “Promise you won’t go forward alone.”

Natalie gave a jerky nod and wiped her fingers across her cheeks. “I’m going to make this right.” She just hoped she could do it before her life blew up any more than it already had.

* * *

Liam walked out the front door of Ruth’s house later that night, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck. He’d brought her home after she won several rounds of bingo. He’d promptly fallen asleep in her bedroom’s big recliner as they watched reruns of I Love Lucy. She was fast asleep when he’d woken up a few minutes ago.

It was almost midnight as he pulled his phone out of his coat pocket. Several texts had come through from his latest ex-girlfriend, asking to see him again. Gretchen had called herself his girlfriend, although they’d only dated a couple of weeks before he’d ended things. Liam hadn’t allowed himself to have a serious girlfriend since—well, since Natalie had chosen Crimson over him.

Seeing her boy had been like a swift kick to the gut for Liam. Long ago, he’d imagined himself as the father of Natalie’s children. Those days seemed like a lifetime ago. He looked over his shoulder at the dark house. Liam’s chest tightened at the thought of Natalie curled up asleep inside. He tipped back his head, marveling at the amount of stars in the sky above him even as his lungs burned from the frosty air. He’d forgotten that about Crimson, both the hollow cold of night and how clear the sky could be without the city lights in the distance.

As he turned for his SUV, he noticed a light on in the workshop that sat at the barn across the driveway. He started toward it, then noticed a woman’s frame silhouetted in the window. Natalie.

He watched her for several minutes, her hair pulled back in a messy bun and wearing a faded chambray shirt rolled up to her elbows. Memory sparked in his mind, and he smiled as he headed for the door to the barn’s workshop.

Natalie didn’t notice him come in and he realized she had earbuds in her ears as she hummed softly along with music he couldn’t hear. She held a pair of needle-nose pliers in one hand as she twisted a thin wire held under a bright light. After a moment, she reached for a bead from a case in front of her. She glanced up, and her gaze crashed into his.

She screamed, slapping one hand to her chest as the earbuds ripped out of her ears. Her fingers upended the jar of beads, which went flying in all directions.

“Sorry,” Liam said, although he wasn’t sorry to not be the only one in the room with a racing heart, even if it was for an entirely different reason. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” That much was true.

“What are you still doing here?”

“I fell asleep watching TV with Ruth. Someone put a blanket over me.”

She took several deep breaths, her chest rising and falling in a way that made his mouth go dry. “I check on her before I go to bed each night.”

“You’re not in bed.”

“So observant, Liam.”

“And you’re wearing my shirt.”

At this, her gaze dropped. “Was this old thing yours?” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’d forgotten.”

He didn’t bother to call her out on the lie. “It was my favorite.”

“Want it back?”

“It looks better on you.” He crouched down and began collecting the scattered beads from the floor. “As I remember, most of my clothes did.”

She also picked up beads, and Liam found the silence oddly companionable. That was until the waistband of her jeans slipped down her hips and he got a flash of creamy skin again. He forced his thoughts away from her and focused only on reaching for the last of the beads.

But as he came around the table and straightened, he found himself directly in front of Natalie. She stood totally still, her hand holding steady the bowl of beads. He dropped the ones he’d collected in and interlaced his fingers with hers, drawing his thumb along the calluses on the pads of her fingers.

“How long have you made jewelry?”

“A few years now,” she whispered with a self-deprecating smile. “I don’t sleep much and it relaxes me.”

“You have talent.”

“It’s just for fun.”

He let out a bark of laughter. “I don’t believe that for a minute. When was the last time you did something just for fun?”

Her mouth tightened as she looked deep into his eyes. “You were the last thing I did just for fun, Liam.”

Despite how wrong it was, he wanted to be that for her again. He smoothed back the hair from her face and leaned forward. She closed her eyes, but instead of taking her mouth the way he wanted, he kissed the edge of her lips, then the tiny birthmark on the side of her temple. Her skin was as soft as he remembered, and she smelled like everything that had ever been good in his life.

When she turned her face toward his, he couldn’t resist anymore. He claimed her mouth, gently exploring her with his lips and tongue. She opened for him and he delved in, reveling in the feel of her in his arms once again.

Before things became too heated, she pulled away. Liam nearly groaned, but he took a step back. One thing he knew for certain about Natalie was that if he pushed too hard and too quickly, she’d only retreat further.

“My life isn’t simple anymore,” she said quietly.

“I don’t want to be a complication.”

She took a breath and raised her hand as if to touch him before pulling away. “I think I know what happened to Ruth’s money.”

He stiffened.

“I didn’t take it. I promise.”

“Tell me everything.”

She shook her head. “I can’t until I know for sure.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means you’ll have to trust me.” She dropped her gaze to the floor, then back to him. “Please, Liam.”

Trust her? The last time Liam trusted Natalie it had been with his heart, and it ended up crushed into a million pieces. But in the quiet of this evening, he didn’t want to fight. Right now he remembered all the reasons he’d first been attracted to her, how she’d pulled him to her in a way no woman had before or since.

“I’ve rented a house outside of town for a month. You have that much time to get this figured out, but you have to promise me that no more of Ruth’s money will go missing in the meantime.”

She gave a small nod. “Don’t you usually stay in Aspen when you visit?”

So she had kept track of him, at least a tiny bit. The knowledge gave him a rush. He’d always stayed in the nearby town using the excuse that it was more to his taste than homey, quaint Crimson. The real reason was standing in front of him. He had never trusted himself to be so close to Natalie, hadn’t wanted to chance running into her around town. Now he realized how foolish that had been. Even if she wasn’t standing in front of him, she had never been far from his mind, no matter what he’d told himself.

“I wanted to be closer on this trip. If she weren’t so stubborn, I’d have her living with me now. Or in the room at Evergreen I get billed for every month.”

“I thought you knew about her arrangement there. Really I did. But she loves this place. It’s her home.”

He shook his head. “I’ve never understood the concept of home.”

“What do your parents think of you looking at Crimson as a headquarters for the new company?” She bit down on her lower lip as she waited for his answer, a gesture of concern he recognized from long ago.

It took him a minute to follow her words, as her teeth tugging against that full mouth distracted him. “I haven’t mentioned it to them.”

“They won’t like it.”

“This company is mine,” he told her. “It’s none of my parents’ business where I locate it.”

“You’ve had a lot of success, Liam. You’ve accomplished so much in the past ten years.”

“Have you kept track of my career, Nat?” The thought gave him another jolt of adrenaline.

“We do get news in Crimson. Donovan Enterprises is kind of a big deal. A Fortune 500 software company.”

It was also the company his father had founded, and Liam was reminded every day that he was lucky to be riding the family coattails. Even when the innovations and products he’d spearheaded had led to much of the company’s recent success. That’s why this new venture was so important to him and why his father didn’t know anything about it.

“Plus Ruth brags about you to anyone who will listen.”

“She does?”

“Ruth is very proud of you. Being your nanny, helping to raise you, was special to her. I’m sure she’s going to take full credit for convincing you to bring more jobs to Crimson.”

That got his attention and not in a good way. “I said I’m considering Crimson,” he clarified. “Nothing is decided yet.”

“I know.” She smiled. “She’ll take credit anyway.”

“You really care about her?”

She nodded. “Of course. She’s a wonderful person.” Her smile faded. “My relationship with my mother has never been great. It means a lot to me, and to Austin, to have someone like Ruth in our lives.”

She was right, of course. His nanny had been a huge bright spot in his life when he was a kid, even if he hadn’t appreciated it at the time. She’d helped raise his father then come back to work for his parents when Liam was six. Even as a young kid, his mom and dad hadn’t had time for him. Ruth always had. A little voice inside him said Natalie might fall into the same category, but he silenced it before he had no choice but to listen.

He took a step back and forced himself to focus on why he’d come to Crimson in the first place. “I’m here for Ruth, Natalie. I’ll give you time because she seems to trust you. But she’s my priority. I won’t let anyone take advantage of her and I’ll do whatever is necessary to make sure she’s okay. Remember that.”

Her gaze shuttered and Liam cursed himself for pushing her away so quickly, even when he knew it was the right thing to do.

“Got it.” She gave him a mock salute. “I’m expendable if it comes to that. Nothing much has changed on that front, so I won’t get confused.” She turned back to her worktable. “I work an afternoon shift at Evergreen tomorrow. If you want to be here while I’m gone, Ruth would appreciate the company. Otherwise, I can take her with me.”

All superficial business. That’s what he wanted from his relationship with Natalie, so why did it irritate him to have her speak so curtly? “I’ll be here,” he answered, unwilling to give away his feelings. If she could shut him out so easily, he could do the same.

“Good night, Liam.” Her hand reached out for the pliers once again. Liam wondered if he imagined the slight tremble in her fingers.

She was dismissing him, much like she’d done back in high school. Fine. He couldn’t care less. He turned, forcing himself not to look back at her, and walked out into the night.

Chapter Three

Liam was up for an early run Monday morning despite the layer of frost and temperature that made his lungs burn. The way he was huffing air as he got back to the house he’d rented reminded him that Crimson sat at an almost nine-thousand-foot altitude, tucked high into the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

He’d acclimate within a few days, he told himself as he came into the large, modern kitchen overlooking the valley below. Sun bounced off the snow that blanketed the trees and mountainside, almost blinding in its brightness. It looked like a picture postcard for a winter wonderland. He wiped his forehead on the back of his jacket sleeve and reached for a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

“I made coffee,” a voice said from behind him.

“You still on central time, too?” He turned to his assistant, Tanner Black, who was frowning at the screen of a laptop he carried into the room.

Tanner was a few years older than Liam and had been his right-hand man for almost four years. Liam’s father had a habit of taking his bad moods out on the people who worked for him. The first time Liam had seen Tanner, the other man had intervened when Michael Donovan was in the midst of a tirade that had brought a young secretary to tears. Who knew what the woman had done—not gotten Michael’s coffee order exactly right, answered the phone on the third ring instead of the second. When Michael went off, nothing rational seemed to matter.

Liam had been about to step in when Tanner, a junior project manager at the company, had come forward and given Liam’s father a stern lecture in his no-nonsense way. Tanner had been fired on the spot, but Liam had rehired him just as quickly. He knew how valuable it would prove to have someone in his corner who wasn’t afraid of Michael Donovan.

Tanner had quickly become indispensable to Liam. He was a great project manager, a forward thinker and one of the few people in the company Liam trusted implicitly. He’d helped every step of the way with the new company and understood why Liam needed to break off from the “father ship,” as he referred to Donovan Enterprises.

“Sleep is overrated.” Tanner placed the computer on the counter and filled a mug with coffee. He wore a charcoal-gray suit with a tailored shirt and red tie. Even in the mountains, Tanner insisted on dressing for business. “All things are possible with enough coffee as fuel. Don’t forget the Skype meeting today with the investors. You need to lock these guys up so we can move forward with a development plan for the new app.”

Liam nodded. “No problem. They won’t want to miss this opportunity.”

“Because your father pushed them out before the last stock split at Donovan Enterprises?”

“That’s one of several reasons.”

Tanner lifted a blond brow. “Do you have a plan for breaking the news to dear old dad?”

“Not yet.” Liam grabbed a muffin from the box on the counter and bit into it, the texture moist and the flavor out of this world. He looked at the name imprinted on the box, Life is Sweet. He remembered the small downtown bakery from his time in Crimson but didn’t remember the shop offering anything like this.

“It’s good, right?” Tanner asked with a smile. “You should try one of her cookies. I half fell in love with the woman who runs the place because of the way she bakes.”

“And...” Liam prompted.

“And it doesn’t hurt that she’s gorgeous.”

If Liam had a quarter for all the women Tanner “half fell in love with,” he’d have the money to fund his new company all on his own.

“Why didn’t you tell me Crimson was such a great town? Whenever we were in Aspen, you went out of your way not to spend time here.” Tanner snagged a muffin. “I think it has a great vibe.”

“Good,” Liam answered, “because I want you to look into headquartering the new company here.”

Tanner’s mouth dropped open. “I meant a great vibe for a weekend away. You can’t be serious.”

“Why not? I bet the town will offer incentives, the location will attract the kind of people we want working on the GPS software and it keeps us far away from Donovan Enterprises.”

“And...” Tanner used the same tone Liam had a few minutes earlier.

“And I told my nanny part of why I was staying in town was because I might start the company here.”

“Bold move.” Tanner broke off a piece of muffin and popped it into his mouth. “Are you serious?”

“I’m serious about making her believe it could happen.” Liam took a long drink of coffee, not wanting to admit how much the idea of once again calling Crimson his home appealed to him.

“Got it. How was bingo?” Tanner asked with a smile.

“A rocking good time.” Liam spun the laptop around and logged into his email.

“Is there anything more you want me to check out regarding where your nanny is spending her money or who’s taking it?”

Natalie’s soft “please” came to Liam’s mind, along with her big melted-chocolate eyes. Eyes that were haunted and hiding something. “Not yet.” He let out a small laugh as he checked his in-box for new messages. “I’ll be damned, word does travel fast from the bingo hall.”

“Can you translate that sentence into English?” Tanner asked, pouring himself more coffee.

“What time is the investor call?”

“Noon eastern time.”

Liam nodded, flipping the laptop shut. “I’m going to have breakfast with one of the Crimson town council members. He wants to talk about my plans for headquartering LifeMap here.”

Tanner whistled. “Are there any secrets in Crimson?”

“Sure,” Liam answered as he walked toward the master suite. “They just don’t stay secrets for long.”

* * *

He walked into a homey restaurant near the center of town a half hour later, trying to ignore the excessive amount of holiday decorations strewn up and down Main Street. Or maybe they just felt excessive to Liam. He’d never been a fan of Christmas, but Crimson clearly embraced the holiday with lights and garland strung between shops and ornaments and other trimmings hanging from every window.

He looked around the oversize Christmas tree at the front of the restaurant to see Jason Crenshaw at one of the side tables. Jase had been one of the first kids Liam had met when he came to Crimson in high school. Back then, Jase was tall and lanky, a little on the nerdy side, a straight-A student and president of almost every club at the school.

Liam had liked him a lot, but at that point in his life, he was more interested in getting in trouble to hack off his parents than getting good grades, so he and Jase had gone in different directions.

Jase stood as Liam approached and reached out his hand for a hearty shake. He was still tall, at least a couple of inches over Liam’s own six-two, but he’d filled out and looked every inch the perfect representative for a town like Crimson.

Almost immediately, an older waitress came over with a coffeepot. “Drive over from Aspen, hon?” she asked, pouring steaming liquid into Liam’s mug then freshening Jase’s cup.

Liam glanced between the waitress and Jase, who shrugged. “I’m staying in Crimson,” he answered.

“Is that right? I didn’t mean any offense. But we’re a beer and burgers town. You look more the steak and fancy wine type.”

“I like beer,” Liam muttered, wondering why the woman’s assessment of him grated on his nerves. He’d put on a button-down shirt, black trousers and a dark leather jacket for this meeting, and as far as he could tell he didn’t look much different from Jase.

“Ruth Keller was Liam’s nanny for years,” Jase told the waitress.

Her eyes lit up. “The one bringing all the jobs to Crimson?” She gave him a maternal pat on the shoulder. “Breakfast is on the house for you.”

“That isn’t necessary,” Liam answered quickly. “I haven’t made a final decision. There’s a lot that goes into—”

“So you’re not starting your company here?”

Jase shook his head but smiled. “Let’s not jump the gun, Mary. We’re meeting this morning to discuss the possibility. It’s great they’re even considering Crimson.” He tapped his menu. “I’ll have the breakfast burrito with green chili, hash browns on the side.”

The waitress nodded and turned to Liam.

“I’ll have the same.”

She leaned toward Jase. “Do I buy him breakfast now or later?” she asked in a whisper that Liam could clearly hear.

“I’ll take care of the bill this morning,” Jase answered.

Satisfied with that answer, she turned from their table.

“Is there some kind of news alert in this town that everyone subscribes to?” Liam asked when she was out of earshot. “I’ve never seen something spread so quickly.”

“That’s Crimson for you.” Jase dumped a packet of sugar into his coffee. “Even if you don’t know your own business, chances are someone else can fill you in on the details.”

“How do you stand it?” As much as he was in the public eye for his job, Liam liked to keep his private dealings close to the vest. That seemed impossible in a town like Crimson.

Jase shrugged. “Keep my nose clean for one. I also know that people have good intentions for the most part. You get used to it.”

“You’ve done well here.” Liam stirred creamer into his coffee. “Of course, I think you would have done well anywhere from what I remember about your track record in high school.”

“Crimson is home for me. Always has been.” Jase watched Liam over the rim of his coffee mug. “I have to say I’m surprised to hear you’re in town for an extended stay.”

“I want to make sure Ruth gets the care she needs. She doesn’t have any family of her own.”

“Makes sense,” Jase said with a nod. “She talks about you like you’re her own flesh and blood. Are you really considering Crimson as a company headquarters?”

Liam looked around the restaurant before answering. There was a mix of customers, from families with young children, to a couple of tables of older folks, to men clearly dressed for a day on the slopes. The mood was friendly and open, much like he’d found throughout the town. His feelings about Crimson from years ago were jumbled, but he couldn’t deny that the present-day atmosphere was appealing.

“If we can make it work, I’d give it a go. But you should know this new company has nothing to do with Donovan Enterprises. My father and his money won’t be involved. I don’t know if that impacts your interest in us.” He watched Jase closely, waited for the disappointment that his father wasn’t backing LifeMap to flicker across the other man’s face. When it didn’t, Liam felt the tension ease out of his shoulders. “I’m courting investors now and hope to have financing secured by the end of the month. That’s another reason I’m in Crimson. The guys who own the venture capital company we’ve been working with are coming to Aspen to ski in a couple of weeks. I hope to meet with them in a more relaxed setting and close the deal.”

“If the deal means jobs and revenue for Crimson, I’m all for it. It’s not a sure thing on the town’s end, though. There are a couple of old-school locals on the council. They’d like to see Crimson revert back to how things were in the fifties—one stop sign in the middle of town and all that. But several of us have other ideas for the future of the town.” He leaned closer. “You should also know I’m planning on running for mayor next year.”

“This would be a damn good feather in your campaign cap.”

The waitress brought their plates at that moment. “Hope you like your green chili hot,” she said to Liam as she slid a dish with a football-size burrito smothered in green sauce in front of him. “We do things spicy here in Crimson.”

He couldn’t help but return her grin. “I like it spicy,” he answered with a wink.

She laughed. “You’ll fit in here, hon. Even if you do look like a smooth talker.”

Liam shook his head. “You have an uncanny ability to compliment and criticize in the same breath. That’s quite a skill.”

“Thank you, sweetness. I pride myself on it.”

“I love this town,” Jase said when she’d walked away again. He forked up a big bite of burrito. “It’s my home. Yes, I want to win my bid for mayor, but even more I want what’s best for Crimson.” He pointed the utensil at Liam. “If this deal works out, are you planning on sticking around longer?”

Liam took a bite of his own burrito as a way to buy himself a little time to think about his answer to that question. The idea of headquartering his new company here was just something he’d thrown out to appease his former nanny. Two days ago, he’d had no intention of spending more time in this town than was absolutely necessary. He had to admit the thought of starting LifeMap here held some appeal, even beyond making his father furious. But he couldn’t quite forget the past or how badly things had ended for him in Crimson once before. Although his anger and resentment felt as though they’d gone through a process to dull them, take down the harsh edges. He reached for the pain but couldn’t quite grasp it.

What he could remember with great detail was the way Natalie had felt in his arms last night. “There’s a long way to go before any decisions are made. I hadn’t really planned on considering Crimson as a headquarters, so we have other locations in the running, as well. I’m willing to consider this town if it can offer what we need.”

“What exactly is it you need, Liam?”

The word home popped immediately into Liam’s mind. A place where he was more than just his last name or his bank account. He focused instead on the company. “LifeMap needs to attract talented, smart people. I’m going to need a team of programmers as well as marketing experts. I want to invest good money in my intellectual capital and build a company that will attract those kinds of employees. The location will be important and I’d rather not do a new build. If I can renovate something or find a spot that’s move-in ready I’d be thrilled. That’s where you’re at a disadvantage. Bigger cities have a lot more to offer.”

“I can set you up with a commercial Realtor later today. If this moves forward, we can start talking about incentives from the town. We’re small, but we mean business.” He took another sip of coffee. “If you need a contractor to oversee renovations, they don’t get any better than Logan Travers. He came back to town last year and focuses mainly on residential and historic buildings downtown, but I’m sure he could give you some great advice. Do you remember him?”

Liam felt his breath hitch as his chest constricted. “Of course I remember Logan,” he said, his voice raspy. “His twin sister died in my arms.”

Chapter Four

“If you take the medicine without a fuss, Mr. Manzia, I’ll give you an extra scoop of ice cream.”

“It tastes bad,” the older man said with a shake of his head, turning back to his newspaper.

Natalie wanted to groan. She was six hours into her shift and had a headache to match. Harold Manzia always complained about medicine. Normally she took it in stride, playing little games to see how quickly she could get him to acquiesce. But since her encounter with Liam two nights ago, she’d been sleeping worse than usual and was not on top of her game today.

“Harold, would you walk me down to the community room?” Ruth looked up from her needlework. “I’d like to get a good seat for the children’s concert this afternoon.” She gave Natalie a slow wink as Harold tossed down the paper and came to his feet.

“Be happy to, Ruthie.” It was no secret the elderly widower had quite a crush on Ruth.

“Medicine first,” Natalie said, holding out the small plastic cup of liquid.

Harold waved her away. “Later.”

Natalie moved in front of Harold. “Now.”

“I’m sure one of the other men would be able to take me if you can’t.” Ruth glanced over her shoulder. “But I was looking forward to spending the afternoon with you.”

With a growl, Harold grabbed the cup from Natalie and downed the white liquid, only shuddering a little as he did. “Nasty stuff.”

“I know,” Natalie conceded as he handed her the empty vial. “But it keeps you regular.”

“Regular is good,” Ruth added. “George Clark gets the worst gas when things aren’t moving. I can barely stand to be around him.” She stood, then reached out to pat Harold’s fingers. “I wouldn’t want that to happen to you, Harold.”

Natalie suppressed a smile as Mr. Manzia considered the possibility. She pressed a quick kiss to Ruth’s temple. “Thanks for the help.”

“My pleasure, dear,” Ruth whispered.

“About what I asked you earlier—your money and my ex-husband...”

Ruth’s sharp gaze went suddenly blank. “Liam handles my money, Natalie. You know he has gobs.”

“Yes, but—”

“It was such a shame the two of you broke up. Now that he’s back in town, maybe there’s another chance. He might ask you to the winter dance at the high school.”

“We’ve been out of high school for over ten years, Ruth. You remember that, right?”

“Oh, well...” Ruth closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and smiled. “He’ll buy you the loveliest corsage.”

Natalie bit back a sigh as Harold stepped forward. “Ready, Ruthie?”

“Harold really is my favorite,” Ruth told Natalie before turning to the older man.

Natalie watched as Harold took Ruth’s arm and headed toward the hall. The music teacher at Austin’s elementary school had arranged for the kids in his class to come to Evergreen and sing Christmas carols to the residents. As soon as Natalie finished a few charts, she’d join them for the performance.

When she turned for the nurses’ office, Liam was standing in the doorway. Heat flooded through her at the sight of him and she had to force herself not to fidget. “You just missed Ruth,” she said, tossing Harold’s empty cup into a nearby trash can, then refolding the newspaper. She wondered how much of the conversation he’d overheard.

“I noticed.” He leaned a shoulder against the door frame, unzipping his insulated jacket. For some reason, the soft colors of the senior center made him look even more rugged in comparison. Not that Natalie was paying attention. “She always had a way with the men.”

“Why do you think she never remarried after her husband died?”

Liam shrugged. “She always said she might have a lot of love in her life but there had only ever been one love of her life.” The way he stared at her as he said the words made a shiver run across the back of her neck. “Does she often come with you to the center during the day?”

“A couple of times a week before her fall.” Natalie fluffed a pillow on the sofa in the now-empty sitting room. Residents loved when kids came to visit, so people who would normally be gathered around the television or playing games in the dining hall had gone down to the community room for the concert. “Her other nurse called in sick today and I didn’t want to leave her at the house alone.”

“You could have called me.”

There was something in his tone, maybe accusation, and her defenses pricked in response. “She’s hired me to be her nurse. If I thought there was an issue with her leaving the house I wouldn’t have brought her. I’m good at what I do, Liam.”

“I’m not arguing that, but she’s like family to me.”

He probably hadn’t meant the comment as an intentional barb, but it still stung. Nothing would have made Natalie happier than to have Ruth as part of her real family. “And I’m the hired help. I get it.”

She went to walk past him but stopped when he grabbed her arm. “I didn’t mean it like that, Nat. I want to take care of her. Hell, I could hire private nurses around the clock to be with her.”

“That’s not what she wants.”

“But is it what she needs?” He squeezed her arm tighter for a moment then released it again. “She’s aged so much since I’ve seen her last. It makes me feel like a jackass for letting things...for not coming back to Crimson sooner.”

“You’re busy. She understands that.”

“I shouldn’t be too busy for her. She’s the only person who ever really cared about me. She didn’t have to take me in when I got kicked out of boarding school. My parents would have been happy to ship me off to a military academy for the last part of high school if she hadn’t intervened. Living with her in Crimson was one of the best times in my life.” A shadow crossed his face and suddenly he looked less like the powerful CEO he was now and more like the vulnerable boy she remembered. The boy she’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

She leaned closer, drawn as always to him. Close enough that she could see the dusting of stubble across his jaw and the faint shadows under his eyes. Maybe she wasn’t the only one having trouble sleeping. The thought of Liam stretched across his bed made another rush of heat climb her face. She took a quick step back to break the spell, the connection between them that renewed itself so quickly.

“Do you have time for a concert?” she asked, pulling at the hem of her scrub shirt, needing something to do with her fingers to stop herself from reaching for him.

“Concert?” he repeated, blinking several times.

“My son’s class is performing here this afternoon. Holiday songs mostly.” She realized how lame her invitation sounded. Liam Donovan ran a multinational corporation. He didn’t have time for grade-school musicals.

“I’d love to,” he answered.

She gave a sharp nod in response. Why had she made the offer? The less time she spent in Liam’s company, the better for her sanity. “Let me just check on a couple of the other residents and I’ll walk down with you.”

“I’ll be here.” Liam smiled and her mind went blank. She remembered that same feeling from high school. The weeks after he’d first arrived, before she’d known him, she’d spent stealing glances, hoping to catch his gaze, then too embarrassed to hold it when she had. It was like that even now. After several moments, his eyebrow lifted. “The residents?”

“Right.” Mortified, she turned and fled into one of the rooms off the hall. She took more time than she needed, especially since the few residents left on the hall were resting. Part of her hoped Liam would get tired of waiting for her and she’d have a few extra minutes to get her emotions in check. Even after ten years, he had the ability to unnerve her, and Natalie craved control. She made sure the other nurse on duty knew she was heading down to the community room, then peeked back into the common area. Liam stood facing the far wall, examining the resident artwork hanging there.

“We have a local artist come in to teach a painting class.”

“Some of them are quite good,” he said, turning to her.

“More importantly, they all enjoy it. Evergreen offers a variety of enrichment activities. Even if she doesn’t stay here, we make sure Ruth has access to everything.”

He slid her a look. “She’s in good hands. I’m sorry if I insinuated anything else.”

She led the way down the hall. “This is my job, but I feel a personal connection to every one of my patients.” Her voice lowered. “Especially your nanny. She’s been good to Austin and me. I owe her a lot.”

His step faltered and Natalie found herself blushing again. Was he thinking of how he’d accused her of stealing money from Ruth? She’d tried to talk to Ruth while Austin was brushing his teeth this morning, but the older woman had an uncanny ability to turn forgetful when she didn’t want to discuss a certain subject. Natalie didn’t know whether Ruth did it on purpose, or her memory truly failed when she became agitated. Natalie wanted to be sure Brad wasn’t involved so she could reassure Liam that the missing money had nothing to do with her.

“She’s happy you’re here,” she went on quickly, realizing he was staring at her. “I know she’s missed you.”

“What about you, Nat? Do you ever miss me?”

* * *

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Liam regretted them. He wanted to know that she’d missed him—that she’d spent as many moments remembering their time together as he had. He was scared to death she hadn’t.

She opened her mouth to answer just as a small voice cried out, “Mom, over here.”

Natalie whirled to where a row of kids lined the hallway wall. Her son was waving furiously, almost jumping up and down with excitement. She glanced back at Liam, her gaze unreadable.

“Pretend I never asked the question,” he said quickly.

Her mouth quirked. “As if.”

“Mom!”

She walked over to Austin, then bent at the knee to look him in the eye. Liam couldn’t hear what she said but the boy’s face lit up, his smile wide. As Austin threw his arms around his mom, Liam’s chest tightened. Of course Natalie was an amazing mother. For all her tough exterior, she was one of the most nurturing people he’d ever met. She had that in common with his former nanny.

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