look good, Eve.”
To his disbelief, she blushed again. “Thanks. So do you. It’s surprising, but you’re easy to talk to.”
He laughed. “Do you always say exactly what you think?”
“No. Not always. I run a beauty shop here in town—Salon Allegra, have you seen it?”
“I don’t get to town much.”
“I see.” She nodded. “After high school, I was going to go to college, but ended up attending beauty school instead. I worked at The Cut ‘N’ Curl for a long time. When Irene died, she left me the place. I fixed it up and renamed it.”
“You never left Honey Creek?” he asked, letting his gaze sweep her face. “Didn’t you ever want to live somewhere else, to get away?”
“Not really. I’ve traveled a bit, but it’s so beautiful here. Where else can you have all this?” She made a sweeping gesture with her hand. “Mountains and valley and endless prairie. Big Sky Country.”
Despite the contentment ringing in her voice, something seemed off. He couldn’t put his finger on it, not exactly, but he’d bet dissatisfaction lurked underneath her complacent exterior. The Eve Kelley he’d known had been a bit of a wild child, not this staid, watered-down version sitting in front of him.
“But didn’t you ever feel like you were missing out?”
She regarded him curiously. “On what? I don’t like cities and crowds and pollution. I love the big open spaces. Honey Creek has all I need.”
“Really?”
She thought for a moment. “Okay, sometimes I have to head into Bozeman or Billings to shop, but most everything I could want I can get here in town.”
He dipped his chin, acknowledging her words but still watching her closely. “You don’t get bored?”
“How could I? I have my family and friends, my business and my family’s business. No other place could give me that. And the people are friendly.”
“Ah, friendly. Maybe to you. Not to me.”
“That both surprises me and doesn’t. Even though everyone in town knows you didn’t kill Mark Walsh, they’re afraid of you.”
She’d succeeded in shocking him. “Afraid of me? Why? I’ve done nothing to them.”
“You’ve been in prison for fifteen years. That’s bound to have changed you, made you…tough.”
She licked her lips and he could tell she was speaking carefully. “Some of the people in town are really scared. They don’t know what kind of person you are after all this time.”
Incredulous, he stared. “Are you serious? I’ve lived here my entire life. They know me.”
“They know who you used to be. Not the man you’ve become.”
“What about you?” Nerves jangling inside him, he leaned forward. “Do I frighten you? Are you afraid of me?”
She swallowed. “Though part of you is dark and dangerous, I’m not frightened. Actually, you intrigue me.”
As soon as she spoke, her face colored, making him grin. “I didn’t mean that like it sounded. It wasn’t a come-on, I swear.”
“Too bad,” he said lightly. Then, while she appeared to be still trying to absorb this, he raised his hand to signal the bartender.
“I’ll have another. And bring the lady another one, too, whatever she’s drinking.”
Appearing relieved, Eve settled back in her seat.
“What was it like?” she asked. “What was it like, being in jail all those years for a crime you didn’t commit?”
“What do you think it was like?” Though he kept his tone light, he could feel the darkness settling over his face. “Being there was no picnic.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He waved away her apology. “I’d wonder, too, if our situations were reversed.”
“And now? What are you going to do now?”
Their drinks arrived, saving him from answering her question right away. He waited until the bartender had moved away, drinking deeply before meeting her gaze.
“I’d like to buy my own spread. Maybe in Nevada or Idaho. I’m not sure. But I can’t stay with my family forever.”
“Why not? We’re going to be family soon, you know, since your brother Duke is engaged to my sister Susan. She said they’re moving to his place on the ranch.”
“She’s there at the main house right now, decorating the Colton family tree.”
“And you’re not.”
Instead of answering, he shrugged.
“You know, I don’t understand why you’d want to leave Honey Creek. Your life is here, your heritage. Why would you want to throw all that away?”
When she looked so passionate, her blue eyes glowing, he wanted to kiss her. Hell, he wanted to do much more than that, but he’d settle for a kiss for now.
“Kind of personal, isn’t it?” he drawled, leaning back in the booth.
“Come on, it’s not that personal. It’s not like we’re complete strangers. I’ve known you forever. I’ve always envied what you have, that connection to the land.”
He studied her. “You’re right about that. I do love the land, my family’s ranch. If I could stay there, out on the land, and never have to deal with my father or with the town, that’d be one thing.”
“You really dislike Honey Creek, don’t you?”
He noticed she let the reference to his father slide. Everyone must know about his father’s deterioration. Everyone but him.
“Honey Creek has nothing to hold me. You know what? You’re the only person in Honey Creek other than my family who ever bothered to try to make contact with me in prison, the only one who wrote me. I never thanked you for that. I’m doing it now. Thank you.”
As though she wasn’t sure how to respond, she simply nodded.
“About that letter…” Dragging his hand through his longish hair, he grimaced. “I appreciate you writing it and I’m sorry I didn’t answer.”
“That was a long time ago. I probably shouldn’t have written that.”
“No.” He laid his hand across the top of hers, unable to keep from noting the difference, his big and calloused while hers was slender, delicate and warm. “You probably shouldn’t. But I was glad you did. You let me know that at least one person in Honey Creek believed in my innocence.”
“If
