Out of the Blue Read online

  “Wait, you fixed it that fast?” Tanya cried. She sounded both surprised and relieved, and Dave felt his heart drop. Once her car was ready, she’d be leaving.

  Wilbur was right. Tanya was the one that had gotten away. The woman he’d dreamed about. The one he’d put on a pedestal all these years—and with good reason. Just look at her. Now she was here, sitting at his bar in Buckhorn. He didn’t want to let her go. Not again.

  “Fixed it?” Gertrude scoffed. “Even if I had the parts, I’m not sure I could fix everything that car needs. I’d be better off to take it out in the woods and shoot it.” The woman turned to leave again, the way she’d come in.

  “What? You aren’t going to repair my vehicle?” Tanya slid off her bar stool to go after her. “You have to.”

  Gertrude stopped to look back at her, clearly about to disagree.

  “If anyone can fix your car, it’s Gertrude,” Dave interceded quickly. “She can fix anything.”

  Gertrude snorted, giving him a look that said she knew what he was about. “If—and I’m not saying I am—if I were to order the parts for that expensive foreign piece of junk out there, I would have to have the money up front.”

  “How much money are we talking?” Tanya asked.

  “Parts and labor? I’d say about three grand.”

  “What...?” She turned to look at him. “I never dreamed... I’m so embarrassed. My purse was stolen at the last gas station where I stopped. Almost all of my cash and my credit cards were taken. I’ve called the credit card companies and they’re sending me new cards, but I’m having them posted to the resort where I’m staying in Vegas. Same with my bank.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Gertrude said and started for the door again.

  “Wait,” Dave said. “Go ahead and order the parts. I’ll pay so you can order the parts until Tanya can have money wired here instead of Vegas. Same with the credit cards.”

  Tanya gave him a smile so bright it half blinded him. “Oh, Davey, are you serious? You are such a lifesaver, but I hate to ask you to do that.”

  “You didn’t ask. I offered. It’s really no big deal, right, Gertrude?” he said.

  The older woman grunted and shook her head at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Fine. It’s your funeral.” With that she left, slamming the door on her way out.

  “Is she always so...dramatic?” Tanya asked as she took her place again on the stool.

  Dave chuckled. “No, usually she’s much ruder. You caught her on a good day. Are you hungry? A friend of mine just dropped off some lunch. I’d be happy to share.”

  Tanya smiled and covered his hand again, her blue eyes locking with his. “I’ve missed you, Davey.”

  “I’ve missed you too,” he said around the lump in his throat. Was this really happening? Maybe in a movie or a book, but not in real life.

  Ralph called down the bar to say that they could use a couple more beers—if he wasn’t too busy. “I’ll be right back,” he said to Tanya and headed toward the two men.

  “Are you an idiot?” Ralph asked too loudly the moment Dave reached him.

  “I’m hoping that’s a rhetorical question,” he said.

  “The parts alone could cost you a small fortune.”

  “It’s fine,” Dave said, trying hard not to tell him that it was none of his business. “Tanya’s good for it.” She was born into a wealthy family. He wasn’t surprised that she drove an expensive, foreign-made car. Look at the way she dressed. He poured them two beers and then reached for the sack that Melissa had brought.

  Ralph grabbed it and held it out of his reach. “You’re going to share the lunch that Melissa brought you with...that woman?”

  Dave sighed and snatched the bag from the man’s hand. “Mel wouldn’t mind. I know her.”

  “You are a bigger fool than even I thought,” Ralph said, shaking his head.

  Dave ignored him as he went back down the bar and opened the bag to see what Melissa had made for him today. He was just sorry he hadn’t seen her so he could have thanked her.

  * * *

  TANYA COULD NOT believe her luck. It was about time that it changed for the better, she told herself as she looked at Dave. He really did look good, and apparently, he owned a bar. Which wasn’t much as far as appearances went.

  “You really own this place,” she said, glancing around as he returned with something in a greasy brown paper sack.

  He nodded. He would, that is—once he finally got the place paid off.

  “Is it usually busier?” she asked.

  “It’s early in the season,” Dave told her. “You should see it in the summer. I have about five months when it is packed almost every night. I have a band play on Saturday nights, a disc jockey on Fridays and karaoke, which is really popular with tourists. They love putting on cowboy hats and singing the old Western songs.”

  “Sounds like fun,” she said. “You must make a lot of money.”

  “I do okay,” he said, and she swore that he flushed.

  Which meant he did better than okay. It was so like Davey to play it down.

  “What about you?” he asked.

  She flipped her hair back. “What about me?”

  “Do you have a career, a job?”

  Tanya laughed. “A job?” She shook her head. “I’m too much of a free spirit to let myself get tied down to a job. I’m kind of a—” she gave it some thought “—consultant.” She laughed. “I advise people on what to do with their money.”

  “Really?”

  Before he could ask for more details, she said, “What’s in the bag?”

  Later, after being forced to split a tuna salad sandwich—apparently, his favorite since meeting someone named Melissa—she regretted saying she was hungry.

  “Where are you staying?” Dave asked.

  She thought about her lack of money. Fortunately, Davey had been supplying her with drinks and that awful lunch. She really hadn’t thought about what she was going to do. Once she got to Vegas... “Where do people stay in Buckhorn?”

  “There’s the Sleepy Pine Motel.”

  “You’re joking,” she said with a laugh. She’d had just enough to drink that she couldn’t help herself. “Anywhere else?”

  “It’s the only motel in town. Most of the bed-and-breakfasts haven’t opened yet, since tourist season doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but I could probably make some calls.” He finally picked up on her expression. “Oh, that’s right. You lost your purse. I’m sorry. How foolish of me.” She saw him glance at the shoulder bag sitting on the stool next to her and felt her pulse jump.

  “They took my phone and my wallet out of my purse,” she said quickly and mugged what she hoped was a sad face as she picked up her bag from the stool and held it to her. “I don’t know where I’m going to stay or what I’m going to do until the parts come in and I get my car fixed.” She looked up at him. “How long will that be?”

  He shrugged. “Gertrude’s good, but she isn’t fast. I’ll tell you what. If you don’t mind staying in my place upstairs... It isn’t fancy by any means, but it’s comfortable. At least I think so.”

  “Oh, Davey, that is so sweet.” She couldn’t wait to see what he thought was comfortable. He looked good, but he lived over his bar. “With the place doing so well I would have thought you’d have built yourself a house somewhere around here. Didn’t you used to work for your father? He built homes, right?”

  He nodded. “I can definitely do the work, but truthfully, living upstairs is so handy, and I really haven’t needed anything more.”

  Tanya was beginning to remember why it had been so easy to break up with Davey after his accident cost him his football career. She put a smile on her face. “I’d love to stay with you if you’re sure it isn’t an imposition.”

  “Not at all,” he said and smiled. “I’ll run across the highway and get your suitcase.” From down the bar, he heard Ralph groan.

  * * *

  DAVE ASKED RALPH to watch the bar for a minute while he went over to the gas station to collect Tanya’s bags. She insisted on coming along. “Beautiful afternoon,” he said as they crossed the highway. He never got tired of the view of snowcapped mountains against the huge blue sky this time of year.

  He’d started to point out one of the mountain ranges when she said, “It’s seventy-eight degrees in Las Vegas right now.” She shivered. “How can you live in such a cold, isolated place?”

  He quickly took off his jean jacket and put it around her shoulders. “Better?”

  She nodded and smiled. “Much.” At the sound of a semi horn, they quickly hurried out of the middle of the highway as the truck roared past. Traffic was supposed to slow down to thirty-five miles per hour once in Buckhorn proper, but often didn’t. It wasn’t like there was anyone in town to arrest the drivers. The nearest law was a good hour away in either direction.

  From the trunk of her car, Dave pulled out two large suitcases. He didn’t know much about luggage, since he’d never really had the need for any. But he could tell that these were expensive valises. Also well used, he noticed as he lifted them out and saw how worn they were. Knowing Tanya, these cases had probably already been around the world a couple of times. He couldn’t imagine the life she’d lived and tried not to compare it to his own.

  “I’ve been meaning to get new suitcases,” she said as she ran her hand over one of the worn spots on the larger of the two.

  “They look fine to me,” Dave said and felt her slide a glance at him before smiling.

  “You’ve always asked for so little in life,” she said.


  Her words made him bristle. “I don’t think that’s true.” It surprised him that, from her, judgment could still hurt. Seeing her again had made it slip his mind how she’d dumped him after his accident so many years ago.

  “No, that came out wrong,” she quickly corrected. “You appreciate what you have. Some of us are always wanting more, when if we could just stop and enjoy what we have, we’d be much happier. You’re content and that’s a good thing, Davey.”

  “It’s Dave now,” he said as they crossed the highway again. He’d always felt a sense of pride when he saw his place from a distance. He was surprised that it looked shabbier than he’d realized.

  “Tell me, what brought you to Buckhorn?” she asked, clearly trying to smooth over things with him.

  He wasn’t one to hold a grudge or stay upset long. Anyway, he got the feeling that Tanya wasn’t as happy as she pretended to be. He doubted she could ever be content, but it made him wonder where life had taken her in the years since high school.

  “A friend of mine owned the bar here,” he said as he carried the suitcases up the stairs to his apartment. “I stopped by to see him and ended up staying and buying the place.” He opened the unlocked door and pushed it open for her to enter.

  Dave had never been a slob, so he wasn’t worried about the place being a mess. But as he pushed open the door, he saw it through her eyes.

  “It isn’t much,” he said apologetically.

  “It’s adorable.” He looked at her to be sure she was serious. “Did you decorate it yourself?”

  “My friend Melissa.” He chuckled. “She’s good at making something ordinary beautiful.”

  * * *

  MELISSA, TANYA THOUGHT with a silent groan. The friend who brings lunch, who can make something ordinary beautiful. It was enough to make her grind her teeth.

  “You’ll have to tell me more about her,” Tanya said.

  “You can have the bedroom,” he said, carrying her bags in. “I just changed the sheets this morning. It’s almost like I knew you’d be dropping by.” He turned to smile at her, everything forgiven. He reminded himself that Tanya had always been out of his league. He couldn’t hold it against her that they were so different.

  “I don’t want to toss you out of your bedroom.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  “You were going to tell me more about your friend. How long have you known Melanie?”

  “Melissa?”

  “Sorry. Melissa.”

  “She arrived in town about six months ago, looking for some property to invest in.”

  Tanya raised an eyebrow. “She has money?”

  He laughed. “Not like your family. Her grandmother left her what she calls her stake. She wanted to invest it wisely.”

  Wisely? “In Buckhorn?” Her tone must have given away her disbelief.

  “You’d be surprised. For some reason, the place is starting to grow. I think more people are anxious to get out of the big cities and are looking for open spaces and a more laid-back lifestyle.”

  Couldn’t get more laid-back than this town, she thought. “You’ve never married?”

  He shook his head. “Didn’t I hear that you got married not long after high school to some tycoon?”

  She laughed. Tycoon? What he meant was some older man with money. “I can’t imagine where you could have heard that.” She turned away and quickly changed the subject. “Well, can I at least buy you dinner for letting me stay with you?” He started to say something, no doubt remind her that she had no money. “Silly me. I keep forgetting that I don’t have my credit cards or any cash. It’s such a nuisance.”

  “I thought we’d get dinner from the café,” he said. “I’ll just call and get tonight’s special delivered for the two of us. We can eat it in the bar.”

  She couldn’t hide her disappointment. “I thought for sure you’d have a steakhouse in town. I’m really craving a nice, thick juicy steak.”

  “Funny you should mention steakhouses. I’ve been thinking about opening one. Mel—Melissa—thinks I should add on a kitchen for the busy season.” He shrugged. “I’m thinking about it.”

  She noticed how his face lit up when he talked about Melissa. If this was going to work, Melissa was going to have to go. She looped her arm through his and squeezed his biceps. “Nice muscles.”

  “It’s all the construction work I’ve been doing for Mel. You’ll have to see the project we’re working on. In fact, I need to be there first thing in the morning. The bar is closed tomorrow until two, so I can get more done on the remodel. I have to get it completed before the tourist season starts. She wants it available for lease by May.”

  “I could tend bar so you don’t have to be closed,” she said with a burst of inspiration. “I’d love to do that for you.”

  He hesitated. “Have you tended bar before?”

  “At my father’s parties, silly. I can handle it with one hand tied behind me, trust me.”

  “Well, then, thanks, but I still want you to see the old carriage house I’m remodeling. The bar doesn’t open until ten, normally, so we’ll have plenty of time in the morning.”

  “I can’t wait,” she said as they headed back downstairs. She felt her stomach growl. The half a tuna fish sandwich was all she’d had to eat all day. “What is the daily special at the café tonight?”

  Dave shrugged. “I have no idea. But I promise that it will be good.” She pretended to pout. “Come on, you used to like surprises,” he added with a laugh.

  Did she used to like surprises? She tried to remember the girl she’d been in high school. She had only vague recollections of those days. They were a blur of clothes shopping, parties and boys. She’d had it all. That was probably why she’d never given any thought to the future.

  She cut a look at Dave as he stepped behind the bar and she took a stool. Was he the answer to at least some of her problems?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE AFTERNOON AND evening passed quickly as the bar got busy. Tanya seemed to enjoy herself, playing pool with the locals, even dancing with a few of them. He kept her in fresh drinks, a little surprised how much liquor she could put away.

  He liked watching her. It was as if she could sense his eyes on her, because she would look in his direction and smile or wink. He still couldn’t believe that she’d walked back into his life. Not that she would be here long. He was no fool. She was on her way to Vegas. Buckhorn wasn’t her kind of place. He wasn’t her kind of man.

  But a few times when she’d looked at him, he wondered if things would have turned out differently if he hadn’t gotten hurt and lost his football scholarship. She didn’t seem happy now, as if she were looking for something. He remembered that, for a while in high school, he’d made her happy.

  “Davey,” Tanya said as she collapsed on the countertop, laughing. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun. Dance with me.”

  He looked around the bar. Things were slowing down as patrons wandered home—usually after getting calls from their mothers, girlfriends or wives, reminding them of the time.

  Reaching into the till, he took out some money and handed it to her. “Play us some music.”

  Her blue eyes lit up as she took the money and twirled away. A few minutes later, a slow song came on and she reached for him. He could tell she was feeling the booze she’d been drinking all afternoon as she snuggled into him and stepped on his boot. He realized, in the few months that they had gone steady in high school, they’d never danced together. It surprised him how awkward it felt. He told himself it was due to the alcohol Tanya had consumed and all the years since he’d danced with a beautiful woman.

  “I’m so glad my car broke down here,” she whispered as she nuzzled his neck. She’d been flirting with him all afternoon and into the night. “What time do you close the bar?”

  By the time Dave closed, he had to help a staggering Tanya up the stairs to the apartment. He got her into the bedroom where she sprawled on his bed. The moment her head touched the pillow, she was out. He took off her shoes and closed the door.