Out of the Storm (Buckhorn, Montana #1) - B.J. Daniels Page 0,34

was true.

If Jon Harper was Danny, he wanted nothing to do with her. Which meant he’d recognized her the first time she’d stepped into his workshop. He didn’t have amnesia. He’d never had amnesia. He’d simply walked away the day of the explosion and never looked back. He’d left her and the girls. Just as he’d left her again today. He didn’t want her. Worse, he didn’t want her coming after him anymore.

And if she was wrong and Jon Harper wasn’t Danny? Then what she’d done was even worse because she’d run a complete stranger out of town. Worse yet, she’d wanted a complete stranger over Collin.

“Could we walk to the café?” she asked him. “I need the fresh air.” She wasn’t ready to get into the rented SUV. She needed to clear her head. She thought she might be sick to her stomach.

Collin stepped outside to turn off the car engine. Together they walked down to the café through the falling snow, since driving a block made no sense anyway—except for the fact that he was anxious to get going.

She breathed in the frigid air, feeling the snowflakes like feathers on her face. The deep snow pulled at her boots, making her drag through it, making her feel as if this place was trying to pull her down. She’d thought she’d been ready to move on with Collin. Now she knew that once this trip was over, so were they. A deep sadness filled her. She just wanted this trip to be over. She wanted to go home and lick her wounds. Even as she thought it, she wondered if she would ever be the same.

As she watched the snow falling silently over her, she yearned to see blue sky and sunshine, wishing they’d never come to Montana. If they hadn’t, she would never have seen Danny again, her heart told her. Because no matter what a mess she’d made of their lives in this small Montana town, her heart knew that Jon Harper was Danny. Hadn’t her deepest desire been to see him one more time?

Collin held the door into the café for her. He looked cross when all the patrons turned to look at them. He muttered something under his breath and practically shoved her in. She hated that she’d embarrassed him. But at the same time, she’d saved them both from making a terrible mistake. Her behavior here proved that she wasn’t ready to move on. Right now, she doubted she ever would be.

They took a booth. Bessie seemed surprised to see them still in town. “I thought the part came in,” she said as she brought over two glasses of water and two menus. “Is the highway closed again?”

Collin shook his head. “Thought we’d better have something to eat before we leave.” Kate felt his gaze on her. She knew she must look the way she felt, miserable. This trip had been about celebrating their engagement. She’d ruined it. She’d always dreamed that when she found Danny, he would know her in just one look. He’d remember what they had had and would come back to her. She’d been such a fool.

“Can we get it to go?” Collin asked.

“Smart,” Bessie said, her gaze lighting on Kate. “You look a little peaked.”

Kate picked up her menu. The words blurred before her eyes.

“How about a couple of deluxe cheeseburgers, fries and two chocolate milkshakes to go,” Collin said, no doubt seeing her distress. Either that or he was just anxious to leave.

Bessie took their menus and went to place their orders.

“I’m sorry,” Kate whispered as she wiped at scalding tears.

“Me, too.” He pulled out his phone and began to answer a text and swore under his breath.

“Bad news?” she asked.

He shook his head as he pocketed his phone. “Just another delay. Nothing to worry about. My associates won’t be able to meet us until day after tomorrow. Not a problem. It will just give us more time to see more of Montana.”

She nodded, having had enough, but saying nothing. She’d put him through so much and yet all she wanted to do was ask him to take her to the nearest airport so she could fly home. What was the point now of going to Canada to meet his associates? Maybe once they were on the road, she’d ask. He probably wanted to see the last of her as it was.

Bessie brought out their burgers and fries in a brown paper bag, the grease already soaking through