LITMIR.BIZ

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spend some of his cash to help out his family, beginning with Grandpa Buck.

      “I don’t need your dang money. I can get whatever I want on my own.” His voice was stern and somber. Gage didn’t understand his reaction. Everyone wanted free money.

      “I’m only saying, I can help.”

      “Don’t want it.”

      “But Gramps, I’m trying to...”

      “You try too hard, son. Settle down. I saved us two seats,” Buck said. “Make up your mind. Will you be sitting with me or my enemy?”

      “With you, of course.”

      “And no more money talk.”

      Gage wanted to ask him why, but he let it go. “Whatever you want.”

      “I want us to enjoy our first meal together in a very long time.”

      “You got it, Gramps.”

      “Then our relationship is headed in the right direction.”

      Grandpa Buck took off for their saved box seats. Gage trailed after him, still wondering what the heck that last blowup was all about. How could his grandfather not accept his generous offer? He’d never experienced such refusal. Before his drinking had taken over his personality, his parents had accepted his money and even asked for a loan when they bought their last apartment. His friends had accepted all the lavish presents he’d given them, and his ex-wife had tried to break him in the final settlement.

      Everyone wanted his money except Gramps.

      He didn’t know how to digest that fact, but he couldn’t dwell on it or it would sour his stomach, and right now he wanted nothing more than to dig into those ribs.

      As he approached his grandfather’s table, he caught Cori’s gaze from across the room. Inner passions told him to acknowledge her, but circumstances demanded that he keep focused on the task at hand, pleasing his grandfather. At this point in his overly complicated life, no matter how much he craved Doctor Cori Parker, it was probably better for everyone concerned if he honored his grandfather’s wishes and kept his distance...at least for tonight.

Chapter Three

      Once the meal had finished, the opening talks welcomed everyone to the yearly conference. There was a video of last year’s conference, a couple of letters from members who couldn’t make it this year, and a rundown of all the upcoming events, including a train ride up to Silverton, which Hailey was already excited about.

      “Are we going on the train ride, Momma? Can we? I’ve never been on a real train.”

      “We live in New York City. We’re on a train most every day,” Cori told her daughter.

      “That’s a different kind of train. Grammy says this is a real Western train with a real coal-burning engine and everything. I promise not to get a cinder in my eye if we go. Honest.”

      The speaker had warned them about his getting a cinder in his eye several years ago when he sat in the open railcar.

      “I already bought the tickets for us, sweetheart. We’re all going,” Grandma May said.

      “I can’t let you pay for us, Gram. That’s too much,” Cori protested.

      Grandma May shook her head. “Nonsense. It’s my treat.”

      The train ride, which was an all-day affair, had been scheduled for Saturday. That was three days away. The conference ended on Sunday with a business meeting and an excursion to Mesa Verde National Park. Cori and her family would be driving back to Gram’s house by then, and the conference—along with Gage Remington, given his apparent behavior—would be a fading memory.

      All through dinner, Cori had tried to get his attention, but he’d seemed dead-set on avoiding her at all costs. It made Cori believe he took their grandparents’ warnings seriously. Although she admired his discipline in the matter, it didn’t bode well for them maintaining a friendship, even a clandestine one, which could have been fun.

      After all the talks had ended and most of the attendees either went up to their rooms or headed over to the tavern, she walked the somewhat empty sidewalks of downtown Durango in the moonlight, alone. She thought about how nice it would have been to share this with Gage. Whatever was going on between their grandparents certainly shouldn’t impact their budding friendship. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, at least not with her life so unsettled, but a friendship with a man was something that she’d been missing for a very long time. And Gage Remington seemed like the man for the job. She liked that he seemed to really care about rekindling his relationship with his grandfather, and that he’d taken the time to escort him to Durango. Not very many men would want to do that.

      Plus, he had a killer smile.

      “Nice night,” a familiar voice echoed from behind her. She had heard the rustle of feet on pavement, but never assumed it would be Gage. She felt as if he’d been reading her thoughts, and a tinge of heat made her blush.

      His distinctive voice echoed in her ears. “Mind if I join you?”

      Cori spun around to see Gage standing close behind her, grinning. At once she noticed how good he looked, with scruffy facial hair, a gray button-down shirt open at the neck, revealing a dusting of dark chest hair, tight black jeans and those sexy black boots. His mere presence made her reconsider those silly friendship thoughts. This cowboy might have to be elevated to a friend with benefits. She’d never thought of that possibility with any other man she’d met, until now.

      “Your timing is impeccable. I was just thinking about you.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, and quickly wet her lips.

      “In a good way, I hope.” His grin grew wider, and his dark eyes sparkled under the glow of the streetlights. Her knees felt weak, and her pulse quickened.

      “I thought you were ignoring me.”

      “I was, and I’m sorry about that. My grandfather is a powerful force, but he finally went up to his room. The good news is I was able to get my own room, so we’re both much happier men this evening. And your grandmother?”

      “She and Hailey called it a night.”

      “What about you?”

      “I’m in their room. We have a suite.”

      “No, I mean why aren’t you up there with them?”

      “I needed a walk. It’s too lovely to be inside. Don’t you agree?”

      “Way too lovely,” he said, his gaze caressing her face, a shadow of a smile on his lips. She wanted to swoon, but controlled herself. “Much different from Manhattan.”

      Cori didn’t remember telling him she lived in New York City.

      “How’d you know?”

      “Know what?”

      “Where I’m from?”

      “I didn’t. That’s where I’m from. Been living in New York for the past six years. And you?”

      “Wow, it really is a small world... The past five.”

      They continued up Main Avenue, past closed shops and bustling restaurants. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke, and not a single car passed them on the street. The silence of the town wrapped them in its serenity, as if protecting them from the rest of the hurried world, reminding Cori of her visits to her gram’s house when she was a child.

      Gage broke the silence as a horse-drawn wagon filled with several tourists went clacking by. “So this is a vacation?”

      “Not exactly. More like a major change. I was an ER doctor, but I quit. I’d been working too many hours and not spending any time with Hailey. I needed to slow down and rethink my career path...what’s important to me. I don’t

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