wanted to excel. She was proud of the name he’d made for himself. She also knew his busy, visible career was why they’d never work, even if he finally did see her as something other than a friend. She’d never leave Mystical Lake, and as a naturally shy person, she had no desire to be in the public eye. Cruz ate up attention, and she doubted he’d ever settle back down in a quiet Montana valley, no matter how picture perfect and magical she thought her valley was.
He shrugged, and those beautiful muscles flexed. Meredith heard a few dreamy sighs and prayed she hadn’t been one of them. “It’s a rough job, but somebody’s got to do it.”
He started to turn as Meredith said, “Do you need another water?”
He turned back. “That’d be great, thanks.”
She pulled out another water bottle and held it over the counter. He took it, and their fingers brushed. A warm pleasure filled her at his simple touch. He stared from their hands to her face as if he’d felt it also.
He saluted her with the bottle. “I owe you, Mer. Thanks again. I’ll see you tonight?”
“For sure. Have fun out there.”
“Always.” He winked and turned away.
Meredith tried to focus on the next customer in line, but she couldn’t peel her gaze from his broad, retreating back. When the bikinis edged in to his sides and one of them asked, “What’s happening tonight, Cruz?” Meredith’s spine stiffened.
“Private party. Sorry girls.” He gave them a cheeky grin and pushed out the door, seeming oblivious to their drooping smiles and sad noises of disappointment.
Meredith shouldn’t have been smiling so big, but anticipation for tonight rushed through her. Private party. Would she get time alone with Cruz? She shouldn’t be so gone over him when she knew they had almost no chance of ending up together. Too bad she had no clue how to tell her heart to shut off feelings for him that had started many years ago and only grown since then.
Chapter Two
Cruz sauntered around the yard, saying hello to old friends. Grams stood up next to one of the picnic tables and hollered, “Get on over here and hug your favorite woman.”
Laughing, he hurried across the grass and enfolded his small grandmother in his arms. His mom had never had a kind word for him but his grams had tried to make up the difference. She stared up at him. “If you aren’t the most handsome and perfect man on the planet I don’t know who is.”
He bent low and kissed her soft cheek. “Only to you, Grams, only to you.”
“Well, just shows I’m smarter than everybody else.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She released him from the hug, winked, and gave him a look that was almost unnerving. She had insight other people didn’t. “I’ve got some things to discuss with you, my boy.”
“Right now?” His eyebrows arched up. He loved to talk to Grams anytime but he needed to try to give each person here a minute of his time.
She waved a hand. “No, I won’t interrupt the star of the party with an old woman’s musings. But you’ll come for a chat before you ditch town again?”
“For sure.”
“Go on with you then.” She waved a hand an sank into the chair, turning to none other than Meredith’s Granny.
Cruz took the hand Granny Francis offered. “Nice to see you.”
“You too,” she said. Her dark skin weathered and still beautiful. Her dark eyes had him thinking of Meredith. “Your grams is so proud. All of us are.”
“Thank you.”
She released him and he waved his goodbyes. He kept making the rounds and walked past the barbecue grill, stopping to inhale the rich scent of steak cooking and clap his dad on the back. “Smells good, Pops, but where’s the fish?” His dad fished almost every day, mostly catch and release, but they ate a lot of trout, bass, and sometimes bluegill.
“Cat chose steak for her famous brother tonight. Apparently, you’ve gotten hoity-toity on us.”
Cruz laughed. His dad looked good, happier than Cruz had seen him in years. Cruz’s harpy of a mother had shown up back in the valley last week after cheating on and deserting their dad six years ago. She’d pulled a gun on Cat to try to steal money and was now in the hospital recovering from a rib puncturing her lung. Luckily, Cat’s new boyfriend, Stetson, had taken her down, and she’d go to prison soon. Good riddance in Cruz’s mind. His mom had been meaner to