New Year, New Man: A Kiss on Crimson Ranch / The Dance Off / The Right Mr. Wrong

Sara knew there could be a big difference between what the camera showed and reality. “What makes you think she doesn’t care? Tell me what’s real, Claire.”

The girl stared at her for several seconds, mouth pressed tight together. Then her eyes filled with tears. “What’s real is that she’s on some yacht in France with her new rock-star boyfriend. She told me she was getting help. For her drinking and stuff. She’s supposed to be putting her life back together so I can live with her again.” Claire sucked in a ragged breath, her words spilling forth like the tears that ran down her face. “And she’s not. She won’t. She doesn’t care.”

“Maybe she’s—”

“I saw it on a gossip website. Pictures of her in a bikini with a guy’s hand on her butt. I called her cell phone. She tried to tell me she was at the rehab place.” Claire stood and flopped onto the bed. “After I saw the website. She’s a liar. I asked her if I could come to where she was and she said no. She needs a break.” Claire hiccupped and swiped at her cheeks. “A break from me.”

Sara’s heart melted. “Claire, I’m sorry—”

“I hate it here. I don’t know anyone. I don’t have any friends. Dad act likes we’re going to do all this bonding, but he’s always working. He barely says two words to me when he’s around. It’s like he doesn’t know what to talk about.” She shook her head. “How can I be so bad that neither of my parents want to be around me?”

“Oh, honey.” Sara sat down next to the bed and wrapped one arm around the girl’s shaking shoulder. Claire stayed stiff and then, with a sigh, sank against Sara.

“It’s me,” she repeated.

“It’s absolutely not you.” Sara gave Claire’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I know for a fact that your dad loves you very much. He works so hard so he can make the ranch into a home for the two of you.”

“It’s not going to be much of home when you sell it,” Claire said miserably.

Touché, Sara thought with a mental groan. “Whatever happens,” she answered without addressing Claire’s comment, “he wants to be with you. He’s trying to do what’s best because of you.”

“He doesn’t even like to be around me.”

Sara squeezed her eyes shut, thinking of the love, longing and confusion in Josh’s eyes when he looked at his daughter. “How long did your dad ride bulls?”

“I don’t know. Forever,” Claire mumbled. “I think since he was like seventeen or something.”

“That’s only a few years older than you. And how old was he when you were born?”

“Eighteen. My mom was, too.”

“Yeah, well. Take it from someone who knows—young parents don’t always know what they’re doing. Your dad is trying. That has to count for something.”

“Was your mom young when you were born?”

“Nineteen.” Claire sniffed, and Sara dug in her pocket for a tissue. “Here, use this.”

Claire blew hard then said, “She’s really pretty. Your mom. She came to the ranch a few weeks ago. Tried to kick Dad and me out.”

“That sounds like Mom.”

“Are you close with her?”

Sara laughed softly. “Not exactly. You’re changing the subject.”

“I’m good at that.” Claire shifted away from Sara and smiled a little.

“Me, too.” Sara reached out a finger and ran it along Claire’s cheek. “Have you talked to your dad about how hard it’s been here for you?”

Claire shook her head. “I can’t.”

Sara watched her without answering.

“I don’t want to make it a big deal. I guess it’s not that bad,” Claire said with a sigh. “I mean, I like the mountains. And how the air smells. Like it’s...”

“So clean it almost hurts,” Sara finished.

“Exactly.” Claire picked at an invisible spot on her jeans. “And Brandon’s okay.”

“The kid who helps your dad in the barn?”

“He’s fifteen. His family owns the property across the highway. He’s kind of nice.”

“And cute.”

Claire looked up, pink coloring her cheeks as she met Sara’s gaze. “Do you think so?”

“He’s got those great big blue eyes, right?”

Claire sighed. “And that smile. He’ll actually talk to me. But he’s got a girlfriend, I think.”

“You can still hang out when he’s here. Just friends. I bet your dad would love an extra hand in the barn.”

“I don’t know anything about horses.”

“Just like he doesn’t know anything about what teenage girls are into. It’s up to you, but I know your dad does care about you. He wants you around. That counts for something. Maybe if you seemed interested in something he knew about, it could help with that bonding you mentioned.”

“I wouldn’t be in the way?”

Sara smiled. “April and I get in the way. Ryan is always in the way. You’re the one Josh wants around.”

“I think he wants you around, too,” Claire said softly, then asked, “Is Ryan your boyfriend?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Nope.”

“Do you want one?”

Josh’s face came to mind, and Sara tried to ignore the shiver that curled through her belly at the thought of his mouth on hers. “I’ve given up on men.”

Claire studied her, looking suddenly older than her thirteen years. “Aren’t you a little young for that?”

“I’m twenty-eight. That’s like one-foot-in-the-grave time in Hollywood.”

Claire nodded as if she understood. “My mom turned thirty-one last year. That’s when she started to freak out. Party more. She gets Botox and some other wacky stuff.” Claire stood and looked in the mirror above the dresser, pinching two fingers to the bridge of her nose. “She said I could have my nose done as a sweet sixteen gift. That’ll be cool. I might look a little more like her and she’ll...”