The Valentine Quest (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 5) Read online

  Later, at the dance, she’d been having so much fun. She thought that he was, too. And then came the big announcement complete with a drumroll. She’d been chosen out of all the other women there to receive the Cupid Crown. She’d felt like the belle of the ball and believed her life would change that night.

  Her pride, however, had quickly turned to humiliation when she discovered that winning the Cupid Crown meant she’d been voted the worst date at the party and only cupid’s arrow could make a guy want to have sex with her. Because of her win, her date—the antithesis of Mr. Right—had received a heart-shaped box full of cash that more than covered dinner and his tux rental.

  None of the women there had known the entire evening had been nothing more than a set-up. A cruel joke with each guy paying a fee to enter his Valentine’s date into the competition.

  The mocking laughter still burned.

  Wearing high heels and her party dress, Nevada had run back to her dorm during a thunderstorm at midnight. Her date hadn’t cared. He was too busy counting his prize money.

  No one else had followed her to make sure she was okay. The teasing about her winning the crown had continued until her brother York had shown up a few days later. He’d taken emergency leave after she’d called him crying and, between sobs, explaining what happened. Her brother had saved her in more ways than one with that visit. She’d been considering transferring to a different school.

  Dakota’s eyes darkened. “You shut down those guys and their ridiculous antics.”

  “Yes.” Instead of transferring, Nevada had made putting an end to the annual Cupid Crown event her goal. During her junior year, she’d succeeded. “It had to be done.”

  “So why do you still dislike the holiday?”

  “Valentine’s Day only reinforces an outdated mode of courtship. Couples are forced to pretend they’re happy by spending money and doing lovey-dovey things for each other.”

  With a dreamy expression on her face, Dakota sighed. “Some are happy.”

  Nevada could see that. Perhaps romantic love could transform into something more, something lasting. Their parents would celebrate their thirty-fourth anniversary next month. Something had kept them together all these years.

  Love, friendship, companionship, or familiarity?

  She wanted to believe in love for her sister’s sake, but who knew why one couple stayed together and another didn’t?

  “Emphasis on some,” Nevada said. “Mom and Dad. You and Bryce. But you’re not the norm. To many people, Valentine’s Day is a slap-to-the-face reminder of being single. Especially those who would rather be in a relationship than alone.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’m happy with how things are right now. No need to make any changes.” She didn’t want to go over her views on relationships with her sister after their mom had been on Nevada about finding a guy to date for the past two months. Best not to set herself up for more rejection. “I’ve survived February fourteenth on my own. This year will be no different.”

  Dakota tsked. “Just wait until a hot guy catches your eye. You’ll be singing the words to “My Funny Valentine” and running out to buy a sappy card before you know it.”

  “There’s no room in my life for romance. I need to finish my dissertation, complete this teaching position, and then—”

  “I was the same way until I met Bryce.”

  Sort of, but not really. Nevada loved her sister, but Dakota’s life had been all about working at the chocolate shop and volunteering at an animal rescue on her days off until she met Bryce. Nothing wrong with that. Still, she didn’t have any professional goals she was working for, not like Nevada did.

  She raised her chin. “I have a plan.”

  Amusement filled her sister’s gaze. “Plans change.”

  “Not mine.” Nevada had known what she wanted to do since her sophomore year of college. Merging her two interests—foreign languages and literature—had given her a direction… a goal.

  “When the right person comes along, plans don’t seem as important.” Dakota’s tone was logical, but she looked more like a bubbly and smiling theme-park princess than a salesclerk at a small shop.

  Nevada didn’t want to argue over this. She took another sip of her hot cocoa.

  The bell on the door rang.

  Relief washed over Nevada. They wouldn’t have to keep talking about this.

  “Welcome to Copper Mountain Chocolates,” Dakota said on cue.

  The door closed.

  “Nothing like being greeted with a smiling face and a chocolate sample.”

  The male voice was as warm and rich as the chocolate Nevada was drinking… and familiar.

  She glanced his way.

  Her heart thudded.

  Strands of blond hair stuck out randomly from his blue beanie. A stunning blue-eyed gaze sharpened and then met hers. A bright smile followed, and his lips parted. “Well, hello there.”

  Chapter Two

  As she stood in the chocolate shop, tingles shot from Nevada’s chest to her toes. She swallowed. “Hi.”

  She had no idea who the man was, but he was gorgeous. Not in the classical pretty-boy sense, but his ruggedly handsome face could easily grace the pages of a magazine or the big screen. The cut of his coat accentuated wide shoulders. The rest of him tapered to denim-covered legs and cowboy boots.

  Sexy.

  Maybe the appeal of the cowboy in popular culture had some merit after all.

  His grin widened. “Doesn’t look like falling affected you.”

  Her lips parted. No wonder his voice sounded familiar. He’d been the one to help her up. A good thing she hadn’t been able to see him or she might have fallen back on her bottom after she stood.

  “No. I’m fine.” She removed his bandanna from her pocket and held it out to him. “Thanks for your help.”

  He hesitated, but then took the red cloth.

  “When did you fall?” Concern filled Dakota’s voice.

  “On my way here. Nothing to worry about.” Nevada patted the side of her hip where she knew it wasn’t sore. “I have enough padding to keep from hurting myself.”

  Her bottom still stung, but no one needed to know that. Especially him.

  The man took a step back. “I’d say you have just the right amount.”

  Heat crept up her neck.

  Not only sexy, but he was also charming.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but her tongue felt like it had gained twenty pounds. A good thing she wasn’t interested in dating or she might be tempted to give this cowboy a second look.

  Okay, not really, and not only because he’d never be attracted to a woman like her. Dating was on her “Don’t Do” list. But something about him made her feel gooey inside. A way she wasn’t used to feeling.

  Grinning, Dakota shook her head. “This is my sister, Nevada. She’s in town for a few months.”

  His gaze traveled from her sister to Nevada. “You’re both named after states?”

  She nodded. “Our brother York was named after New York.”

  “That’s an interesting way to name kids.” The man, whose name she didn’t know, oozed charm and sex appeal. “Were the three of you named after the places you were born or conceived?”

  “None of us were born in our respective states,” Dakota answered much to Nevada’s relief. “We don’t know about the other part, but our brother thinks so.”

  Heat pooled in Nevada’s cheeks. This was not the conversation she wanted to have with a handsome stranger. Especially one who made her want to fan herself and order frozen hot chocolate to cool off. “I never got your name.”

  “Excuse my manners,” he said politely. “I’m Dustin Decker.”

  Nevada silently repeated his name. “Nice alliteration.”

  Lines creased his forehead. “Huh?”

  Oh, no. Her throat closed. She shouldn’t have said that.

  This wasn’t a university setting. Most people didn’t talk about lite
rary devices in their everyday conversations. She wanted to blame it on the class she was teaching, but this was how her brain worked and why people thought she was weird.

  Bookworm. Grammar geek. English nerd. Word freak.

  She’d been called them all and, truth was, each one fit.

  She wasn’t like everyone else. Never had been.

  But she didn’t want to call attention to her not fitting in any more than she had to.

  Time for a change of subject. “Are you from Marietta?”

  “I grew up around Miles City, Montana, which is northeast of Billings. Now I work and live at the Bar V5 Dude Ranch just outside of town,” he said. “How about you?”

  “Nevada’s getting her PhD at Columbia University,” Dakota said before Nevada could answer.

  “Columbia,” Dustin repeated. “You live in New York City.”

  It wasn’t a question. Still, Nevada hesitated.

  She hadn’t been in New York since June. She’d spent over five months doing research in Europe, and then enjoyed Christmas with her brother before heading west to Montana to stay with Dakota. Nevada’s possessions, other than the clothes and books she had with her, were stored at a friend’s parents’ house in New Jersey.

  “Yes.” That seemed the easiest answer to give rather than a long explanation with more information than a stranger needed to know.

  His gaze ran the length of her. “That explains the black you’re wearing. I hadn’t heard about any funerals taking place today.”

  Heat rushed up her neck. That was the second time he’d made her blush. Two more times than she’d blushed in the past year.

  Forget cowboys being appealing. This one was annoying her.

  “New Yorkers wear a lot of black.” Her wardrobe consisted of many colors. At home or hanging out at the library, she dressed more casually, but she and her friends wore black when they went out.

  “What are you studying?” he asked.

  “Comparative Literature.”

  “Nevada speaks several languages,” Dakota added with a proud smile.

  “Wow.” Dustin sounded more amused than impressed. “Here I thought I was doing good keeping up with the subtitles during the foreign films they show to guests at the dude ranch where I work.”

  Nevada understood. A college degree wasn’t likely a prerequisite for him to do his job. Although she had no idea what a cowboy did at a ranch other than look hot while wearing a hat, boots, and jeans. She assumed horses were involved somehow. Maybe cows.

  That would explain how he smelled when she’d been up against his chest.

  “But whatever pays the bills, right?” he added.

  She didn’t know if he was talking about himself or her, but she nodded anyway. “So far, so good. I’m filling in for an instructor at the university, and getting a regular paycheck will be nice.”

  Teaching would give her money and more experience. She needed to finish her dissertation before applying for another position, but she was making a list of job possibilities—Comparative Literature, English, French, and German departments at colleges and universities across the country. Living near her sister or brother would be a bonus, and this temporary job might give her an in if a position opened, but she needed to be flexible. Working as a visiting teacher or an adjunct instructor would give her the additional experience she needed to land one of the hard-to-get tenure track positions.

  Professor Nevada Parker.

  That was the dream—the goal.

  Once she had tenure, she would be set. No moving around from place to place as she had growing up. She would be able to put down roots and have a home—a place where she belonged. She couldn’t wait for that to happen.

  She was so close to setting the next part of her plan into action that she could taste success as clearly as her hot cocoa. All she had to do was make the most of her time in Marietta by working on her dissertation.

  Dustin reached for a brochure sitting on the top of the glass display case. “Have people been signing up for the Valentine Quest?”

  Dakota nodded. “We’ve received a few registrations, but there’s more interest now that a vacation package has been donated for the grand prize.”

  That got Nevada’s attention.

  Their brother was leaving the air force in the springtime. He wasn’t a pilot, but he worked with computers. What he did was classified. He’d mentioned rarely seeing daylight when he worked. York had been stationed in San Antonio for several years before being assigned to a new position at a base in Maryland. Both she and Dakota teased him about doing secret-squirrel cyber stuff, but York would never confirm nor deny anything. A trip would be the perfect way for him to celebrate his return to civilian life.

  “What kind of vacation package?” she asked.

  “An all-inclusive resort in Fiji,” Dakota answered. “Very luxurious from what I’ve seen. They’re redoing the entry forms to include info about the trip, but these ones still work.”

  Nevada straightened. A vacation with sunny skies and a sandy beach were just what York needed. He could relax before coming to Marietta where he planned to stay before he started working as a computer consultant.

  Dustin whistled. “Sounds nice. Who donated the trip?”

  “An anonymous donor,” Dakota said. “The offer letter came from the same law firm in Bozeman that represented whoever donated to the animal rescue at Thanksgiving time.”

  “Same person?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “Could be.”

  Nevada didn’t care who donated the trip, but she was grateful. Her brother deserved something special like this.

  Dustin scanned the tri-fold brochure. “I’d gladly take a tropical vacation on his or her dime.”

  “Tired of the winter weather?” Dakota asked.

  “Among other things. A change of scenery would be good, and winter is the slow season at the ranch. Might have to give this some thought.”

  Dakota handed him a bag. “Here are the Bar V5’s chocolates.”

  “Thanks.” He looked at Dakota. “Are you entering the race?”

  Dakota shook her head. “My weekends are reserved for Bryce.”

  “How about you?” he asked Nevada.

  “I just heard about it.”

  He handed her his brochure before taking another one for himself.

  A horn honked.

  Dustin glanced out the front window where a large pickup idled. “That’s Ty and Rachel. Thanks for having the chocolates ready, Dakota, and nice meeting you, Nevada.”

  The way her name rolled off Dustin’s tongue sent another rush of tingles shooting through her. Not trusting her voice, she nodded.

  His gaze lingered, and then he looked away. “Make sure you ladies don’t hang around town too long. You don’t want to be heading home in a whiteout, and that’s exactly what this is going to turn into no matter what Dylan Morgan forecasted.”

  With that, Dustin left the shop with the bag of chocolates.

  Nevada watched him go. He didn’t walk with a swagger. He was limping. Not bad, but he favored his left leg.

  “Dustin’s a real looker, isn’t he?” Dakota asked.

  Nevada focused on her sister. “If you like Western-type guys.”

  “You seemed interested.”

  “No.

  “You were staring at him.”

  Was she? Nevada shrugged. “I’m not used to seeing cowboys up close and personal.”

  “He’s a good guy. He helped when the rescue flooded. The ranch where he works takes in barn cats, and he’s one of the wranglers who spoils them rotten.”

  “He rides horses and herds cats?”

  “Among other things.”

  Dakota seemed to know him well. Curiosity got the best of Nevada. “Why does he limp?”

  “Dustin’s a former rodeo champion. Injuries forced him to retire. That’s why he’s working at the Bar V5 Dude Ranch. Rumor has it he needs a knee replacement.”

  Huh? The guy didn’t look like
he was thirty. “He can’t be that old.”

  Dakota’s brow shot up. “Ever seen someone ride a bull?”

  “In that movie starring Scott Eastwood.”

  “It’s only eight seconds, but talk about a wild and unpredictable ride.”

  “Doesn’t sound like my kind of thing.”

  “Or mine. But I enjoy watching. There’s some nice eye candy to see.”

  “You have a boyfriend. A serious one.”

  “I can still look and appreciate.” Dakota motioned to the brochure Nevada held. “You interested in signing up?”

  “No, but…” Nevada wasn’t ready to put the flyer back on the display case. “It would be nice if York could take a vacation after he leaves the air force.”

  “That would be great, but you’d have to win him a trip. Remodeling the house has eaten up my extra cash.”

  “I’m a bit strapped, too.” A grant had supported Nevada’s research trip to France and Germany. She’d be earning money by teaching, but not enough to cover an expensive vacation. “I’d still like to do something for him.”

  Dakota stirred the mixture in the copper pot on the stove top. “He doesn’t expect anything.”

  True.

  York never expected anything from his family, especially his two younger sisters, but he’d been surprising Nevada with cash and gift cards for the past nine years, ever since she set off for college at seventeen. After their parents retired and took off in a sailboat to see the world, he bought her plane tickets to spend time with him or Dakota during school breaks. And he was only a phone call away when she needed brotherly advice.

  “I know,” Nevada said. “But he deserves something.”

  Like an all-expenses paid vacation to Fiji.

  But could she do the race?

  Nevada scanned the flyer. The only qualification she met was being smart. A local like Dustin, who was not only familiar with the town but also more physically in shape, would have a huge advantage over her.

  “Too bad a race like this is beyond me,” she admitted.

  “It’s not. You’re brilliant. You can do anything you set your mind to do.”

  Her sister had always cheered on Nevada, whether for her schoolwork or being a bench warmer on the soccer team. Dakota was doing the same now. That was what big sisters did.