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He crossed the room to the window, and after struggling for a moment, slid the window closed. He then tipped his hat and headed for the door.
“Welcome back, ladies.”
He headed down the hallway, then stopped when Joey came to the door. “Do you know who’s living in that wreck of a trailer next door?”
J.T. grinned. “That would be me.”
“You? Did your dad kick you off the ranch?”
“No. I’m the good son, remember? The property surrounding yours belongs to the Three Oaks.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
She leaned on the door frame. “And why would you give up your loft over the barn to move into a ratty old trailer?”
“I got it for a really good price.”
She glared at him. “Seriously. Why are you living in that? Surely you can afford something better.”
“Don’t worry. It’s temporary. I’m building a house over the ridge in the valley.”
“You’re going to be moving in next door to me?”
“Apparently. But I was here first. So technically, you’re moving in next door to me.” He gave her a wave and headed down the stairs. “It’s going to be great, Josephina. It’s going to be great.”
Joey waited until she could no longer hear J.T.’s boots on the stairs, then turned to Maddy. “He’s going to be living next door? I bought this place on the other side of the valley so I wouldn’t be living next to the Three Oaks Ranch.”
“The bastard. I bet he did it on purpose.”
“Maddy. He’s cunning and conceited, but he had no way of knowing I was going to buy this place. Besides, if he’s building a house, he’s been there a while.”
“It’ll be fine. He’ll be over the ridge. You won’t even know he’s there.”
Joey leaned on the windowsill. “Why does he have to be so damn cute?”
Maddy shook her head. “Don’t go there. Remember how things turned out between you two? It wasn’t pretty, and it took you years to get over him.” She raised an eyebrow. “You are over him, right?”
Joey took a breath. “Of course. He broke my heart.”
“Good. Just remember that.”
“But that’s not going to make it any easier to live here and do what I need to do.”
“You can still change your mind. You haven’t committed to anything yet.”
“I’m not going to change my mind, Maddy.”
They went downstairs to check out the kitchen. If she was being totally honest, Joey would have to admit she and J.T. had broken each other’s hearts. She was as much to blame as he was. They were young and stupid. Stubborn. Afraid to give in to what they both really wanted. Or too confused to figure it out. It didn’t matter now. It was over six years ago that she left Castle Springs with everything she owned in the back of her father’s old pickup.
She leaned against the counter. “He’s the one.”
“What one?”
“Emily Bradford told me someone had been trying to buy this place for a couple of years. But she didn’t want to sell to them.”
“The Bradfords and the O’Connells haven’t gotten along for a while.”
