A Second Chance at Crimson Ranch. Michelle Major

pressed her lips together as indecision filled her. That had been the plan, the easiest way to leave behind this humiliating chapter of her life. The past two months had been awful. Olivia had hardly left her house other than to visit the ranch or Natalie’s small apartment. She drove to a town forty-five minutes away to do her grocery shopping so no one would stop her in the aisles. She knew people meant well, but she couldn’t stand how stupid she felt after being duped and then dumped by her husband.

      Sara’s wedding had been the first time she’d been out in public since Craig’s departure. There she’d ended up sulking at a table before crying on a stranger’s shoulder on the dance floor. Not the most stellar re-entry into the community.

      A vision of Logan’s piercing blue eyes came to mind. She thought about his comment that Craig’s leaving wasn’t her fault. She may not agree. but it was time to stop cowering behind closed doors. She loved the town of Crimson and the friends she’d made here. Why should her lying, cheating, rat husband rob her of this place, too?

      She straightened her shoulders and met Marshall’s gaze across the desk. “I’d like to stay and see the community center open. Like you said, the town needs it.” She paused then added, “I need it.”

      “I don’t know if continuing to keep this project going will help either of us at this point.”

      She leaned forward the tiniest bit. “I’m not the only one whose reputation has suffered from Craig’s leaving. I know the mayor’s office is under a lot of scrutiny. You need some positive press for the town, especially before tourist season starts. The center was set to open by early May. I can still deliver that date. I’ll talk to Jeremy and convince him to keep working on the project. Or I’ll find someone to replace him.”

      His bushy eyebrows rose. “That’s aggressive, Olivia.”

      “It’s time I got aggressive about something, Marshall.”

      He studied her for a few moments, then nodded. “If you want a salary, you’ll have to come up with grant money to cover it. I know you did everything as a volunteer when you were the mayor’s wife, but I can’t start paying you now.”

      “Don’t worry,” she assured him with more confidence than she felt. “I can take care of myself.”

       There’s a first time for everything.

      He looked as if he wanted to argue, but she stood before he could speak. “You won’t regret this. I promise.” She extended her hand and he shook it tentatively.

      “I hope you’re right,” he said.

      Me, too, she added silently.

      She turned to leave.

      “Olivia?”

      Marshall’s voice stopped her as she reached for the door. She turned.

      “You were too good for him from the start,” he told her.

      “Thank you,” she whispered, swallowing down her emotions.

      Without looking back again, she walked out of the town hall and into her new life.

      * * *

      “You’re not being fair,” Olivia argued later that week.

      She stood in the back of Crimson’s local building-and-supply store, where she’d cornered Jeremy Dempsey after he’d repeatedly ignored her calls.

      “The town was weeks behind on our payment schedule.”

      “There was a lot of turmoil after Craig and Melissa left, but we’ve straightened things out. You’ve been paid now.” Olivia had watched the finance manager cut the check herself.

      “Who’s to say it won’t happen again?” Jeremy turned away and grabbed a box from the shelf.

      “I know this isn’t about the money. The community center will help the town in so many different ways. Don’t let your personal feelings cloud your judgment this way.”

      He gave her a once over. “Since when did you become the town champion?”

      “I’m learning to be my own champion. Marshall put me in charge of the project.” That stretched the truth, but Olivia had to prove she could do this.

      “Not good enough,” he told her. “Your husband is a two-timing, lousy—”

      “Ex-husband,” she corrected. “Soon to be, anyway. Trust me, I know every one of Craig’s shortcomings and I’m sorry for what he did. What both he and your wife did. But I shouldn’t be punished for his sins. This town needs the community center. I want to make things right.”

      “You could have made things right by keeping Craig’s wandering eye on you.” His eyes blazed as he spat out the words. “Maybe if he’d been happy at home, none of this would have happened.”

      Olivia took a step back as if he’d slapped her. She knew Jeremy had a son who was now without his mother. Olivia wasn’t the only one who’d been wronged, nor was hers the biggest loss. She’d been trying to convince herself that it wasn’t her fault. Jeremy’s angry words echoed in her head. If Craig had been more interested in her, maybe none of this would have happened.

      She sucked in a breath at the thought.

      This was hopeless. What had made her think she could extricate herself from the shadow of Craig’s deception and make a home in this town? She didn’t belong in Crimson.

      Emotions flooded her and she turned to flee, only to run into someone. Someone tall and extremely solid. She glanced up to find Logan Travers staring down at her. She saw a look of understanding pass through his eyes and nearly groaned. Of course he would have heard the accusation Jeremy had thrown at her. She wondered briefly if it was possible to actually die of embarrassment.

      His hands felt warm on her arms as he set her back a few steps. “You’re not running,” he whispered, then raised his head to greet Jeremy. “It’s been a while, Jeremy. How are things?”

      The other man’s gaze swung between her and Logan, clearly trying to come up with a connection. “I’m getting by,” Jeremy answered. “I’m surprised to see you back in town, Travers. With the way things were going, I figured you’d have ended up in jail by now.”

      Olivia’s breath caught at the blatant rudeness of the words.

      Logan didn’t seem to mind. One corner of his mouth lifted. “I turned things around. It happens.”

      “Construction attracts all types. Lots of guys just hanging on to the edges of the business to stay afloat.” Jeremy gave a jerky nod. “I hear you’re building houses in Telluride.”

      “Things are good down there. I’ve been lucky with the people I’ve gotten to know. Some builders care about doing things right. Others cut corners wherever they can.” His blue eyes met Olivia’s gaze. “I stopped by the community center building the other day. There are some problems with the wiring and insulation you’re going to want fixed before you continue.”

      Jeremy took a step forward. “Are you hinting that those problems are my fault?”

      Logan shrugged. “I’m saying it’s important to get the right people working on the project.”

      “You’ve got some nerve, Travers.” Jeremy Dempsey’s temper was back in full force. “I remember when you were a scrawny kid running wild around this town. You and your sister raising holy hell all over the place.”

      “A lot has changed since then,” Logan answered casually but Olivia saw a muscle tick in his jaw.

      Jeremy must have realized he’d stepped over some invisible line because his attention turned to Olivia. “I don’t want anything to do with your project and I’ll make sure no other contractor in Crimson will, either.”

      “It’s a community center for Crimson,” she said,