screaming for another course.
“Regardless of the business end of things, he still cares for you,” Tate said.
“You can’t know that. You’ve seen him for what? Two minutes?”
“So?”
“So, neither of us is the same person we were ten years ago.” Eden glanced at her framed college diploma, then at the high school one hanging beside it. “We can’t go back.”
“But you don’t want to go forward either. For years you’ve used your experience with Billy as an excuse not to get involved with any man.” Tate held up her hand, stopping Eden’s protest. “And no, banging Jon White Feather like a drum whenever the mood strikes you does not count, because both you and Jon use your pasts as an excuse not to move on—either together or separately.”
Stupid insightful pregnancy hormones.
“Now that Billy has returned, apparently willing to make amends to you or to change your opinion of him, you’re unwilling to do either.”
Eden barely held on to her temper. “What do you expect me to do? Blindly give him my heart and my trust again?”
“Sweetie. Why won’t you admit he’s always had your heart?”
Dammit. She refused to respond.
“Lord, you are stubborn as a mule. Seems no matter what Billy does or doesn’t do, he can’t win.”
“You’re defending him?”
“No, I’m pointing out the facts. If Billy doesn’t close the community center, you won’t believe he didn’t do it to get in your good graces. If Billy does recommend closing it, you have a legitimate reason not to pursue a relationship with him.”
“What relationship? He lives in Chicago. I live in Spearfish. This ‘relationship’ is nothing but another loose end he’s tying up while he’s here.”
Tate studied her face until Eden squirmed under the intensity. “Think about what you really want and don’t be such a chickenshit about going after it.” Then Tate was gone.
Eden slumped in her office chair. She was no closer to knowing what her future held than she was three days ago.
She did know one thing for certain—ten years of life experience only added to Billy’s appeal. Yet, she suspected when it was all said and done he’d walk away. Unscathed. Just like he had before.
Despite Tate’s observation Billy carried a torch for her, she didn’t believe he wanted more than a mutual slaking of lust. Her feelings for him were her problem. But she’d be damned if she’d spend time brooding about it. Life went on.
Eden flipped on her computer and lost herself in work while she still had a job.
***
A lush male voice sang, “Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door…”
Eden looked up and smiled at the longhaired, leather-clad Indian casually leaning against the doorjamb.
Simply put, Jon White Feather was a beautiful man. His angular face, courtesy of his Swedish mother, was as striking as his pale blue eyes. His broad forehead sloped into high, wide cheekbones. A regal nose gave way to lush lips and a pointed chin. Copper-colored skin bespoke his Lakota heritage. Tall, muscularly lean, his meaty biceps and the insides of his forearms were decorated with tribal tattoos. His black hair flowed past his shoulders, giving him the look of a bad boy rocker mixed with an Indian warrior. He was built, he was hot and his intense gaze still made her belly quiver after years of friendship. “ Hoka-hey , kola .”
“Jon. I was wondering when you’d get into town.”
He quirked a dark eyebrow at her. “You haven’t seen me in six months and that’s my welcome? How about some sugar from my best girl, eh?” He spread his arms wide.
She skirted the desk and launched herself at him. Jon spun her in a circle amidst her laughter.
“Didja miss me, my wicked little garden sprite?”
“No.”
He whispered, “Liar.”
“Fine. I missed you. Put me down.”
“Only if you promise to go out with me tomorrow night.”
“Where?” The last time she’d forgotten to ask specifics she’d ended up in a strip club
“Regardless of the business end of things, he still cares for you,” Tate said.
“You can’t know that. You’ve seen him for what? Two minutes?”
“So?”
“So, neither of us is the same person we were ten years ago.” Eden glanced at her framed college diploma, then at the high school one hanging beside it. “We can’t go back.”
“But you don’t want to go forward either. For years you’ve used your experience with Billy as an excuse not to get involved with any man.” Tate held up her hand, stopping Eden’s protest. “And no, banging Jon White Feather like a drum whenever the mood strikes you does not count, because both you and Jon use your pasts as an excuse not to move on—either together or separately.”
Stupid insightful pregnancy hormones.
“Now that Billy has returned, apparently willing to make amends to you or to change your opinion of him, you’re unwilling to do either.”
Eden barely held on to her temper. “What do you expect me to do? Blindly give him my heart and my trust again?”
“Sweetie. Why won’t you admit he’s always had your heart?”
Dammit. She refused to respond.
“Lord, you are stubborn as a mule. Seems no matter what Billy does or doesn’t do, he can’t win.”
“You’re defending him?”
“No, I’m pointing out the facts. If Billy doesn’t close the community center, you won’t believe he didn’t do it to get in your good graces. If Billy does recommend closing it, you have a legitimate reason not to pursue a relationship with him.”
“What relationship? He lives in Chicago. I live in Spearfish. This ‘relationship’ is nothing but another loose end he’s tying up while he’s here.”
Tate studied her face until Eden squirmed under the intensity. “Think about what you really want and don’t be such a chickenshit about going after it.” Then Tate was gone.
Eden slumped in her office chair. She was no closer to knowing what her future held than she was three days ago.
She did know one thing for certain—ten years of life experience only added to Billy’s appeal. Yet, she suspected when it was all said and done he’d walk away. Unscathed. Just like he had before.
Despite Tate’s observation Billy carried a torch for her, she didn’t believe he wanted more than a mutual slaking of lust. Her feelings for him were her problem. But she’d be damned if she’d spend time brooding about it. Life went on.
Eden flipped on her computer and lost herself in work while she still had a job.
***
A lush male voice sang, “Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door…”
Eden looked up and smiled at the longhaired, leather-clad Indian casually leaning against the doorjamb.
Simply put, Jon White Feather was a beautiful man. His angular face, courtesy of his Swedish mother, was as striking as his pale blue eyes. His broad forehead sloped into high, wide cheekbones. A regal nose gave way to lush lips and a pointed chin. Copper-colored skin bespoke his Lakota heritage. Tall, muscularly lean, his meaty biceps and the insides of his forearms were decorated with tribal tattoos. His black hair flowed past his shoulders, giving him the look of a bad boy rocker mixed with an Indian warrior. He was built, he was hot and his intense gaze still made her belly quiver after years of friendship. “ Hoka-hey , kola .”
“Jon. I was wondering when you’d get into town.”
He quirked a dark eyebrow at her. “You haven’t seen me in six months and that’s my welcome? How about some sugar from my best girl, eh?” He spread his arms wide.
She skirted the desk and launched herself at him. Jon spun her in a circle amidst her laughter.
“Didja miss me, my wicked little garden sprite?”
“No.”
He whispered, “Liar.”
“Fine. I missed you. Put me down.”
“Only if you promise to go out with me tomorrow night.”
“Where?” The last time she’d forgotten to ask specifics she’d ended up in a strip club
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