He sat beside her, unsure what to say next. He wanted to let her know he was sorry about last night, but he didn’t want to spoil the moment by bringing up something she wanted to forget. Fortunately, she spoke first.
“The Wests are really nice people.”
“They sure are. They’re the biggest land-owners in the county and damned decent people. They make a sizeable donation to the Team every year and support the fire department, too. Their family has been ranching this land for four generations.”
“That’s what Lexi said.” Victoria smiled, but the sadness hadn’t left her eyes. “The way she and Britta described everything here, I thought they must have been exaggerating. Now I think they didn’t do it justice.”
“You were awfully quiet during lunch. Are you okay? Headache?”
“Oh, no, I feel fine. It’s just …” She seemed to hesitate. “I kept thinking how amazing it is that all of you live here together in this beautiful place. In less than a week, I’ll be back in Chicago, sitting at a desk, going to meetings, working on a new campaign. This whole incredible experience will just feel like a dream.”
“We haven’t closed the borders, you know. I’m sure there are PR firms in Denver and Boulder if you want to move here.”
What the hell had he just said?
She gaped at him. “I can’t move to Colorado. Because … well …”
The list of reasons she’d been about to give him seemed to die on her tongue.
“I’m listening.”
She looked into his eyes. “Eric, I …”
When she didn’t go on, he stepped up. It was time to own his shit.“I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to push—”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “No! No, that was my fault. It wasn’t anything you did. I’m the one who’s sorry. You didn’t push me. You were amazing.”
Her pupils went wide when she realized what she’d said, a blush stealing into her cheeks. “I mean … I wanted … I didn’t mean to flip out like that. I just …”
He could see the struggle on her face, in the furrow on her brow and the doubt in those eyes. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.
“Saddle up!” Austin called to them through the trees. “Whoever falls behind gets left behind.”
And for the second time today, Eric wanted to punch his best friend.
* * *
Vic tappedher foot in time to the music, describing what she’d seen to Winona, her dinner salad long since eaten. “Its antlers must have been five feet wide. It looked like it was probably as tall as my horse. I had no idea they were so big. We saw a couple of golden eagles, too, and some deer, and … what was the name of that cute squirrel?”
“Abert’s squirrel,” Eric answered. “And, yes, I got a photo.”
“It was adorable. It had little tufts of fur on its ears. It chattered at us like it was furious with us for trespassing.”
“Squirrels are very territorial,” Winona said. “It probablywasfurious.”
It was then Vic noticed the little smiles on everyone’s faces. “You think I’m funny, but this is all new to me.”
“I’m glad you had such a good time,” Lexi said. “Jack refused to let us pay for it. He said it was part of their wedding gift to us. Can you believe that?”
“He’s a generous man,” Austin’s words were upbeat, but his expression wasn’t.
Something had happened with the Team today. She’d overheard Austin and Eric talking about it in low tones when they’d gotten back to the ranch house—something about a drowning. She’d only caught a few words before they’d seen her and changed the subject. Whatever had happened, it had left them both shaken, and they were trying to protect everyone else by not talking about it.
A man with a beard and long hair pulled back in a bun walked up to their table, his gaze fixed on Vic. He held out his hand. “You’re Victoria Woodley? I’m Joe Moffat, the owner of Knockers. I hear you don’t like my pizza.”
Vic stared up at him, mortified to think that someone had passed on to him what she’d said. “Well, I ... um... The pizza is fine. It’s just not what I’m used to.”