When the song finished Janet laughed, "Thanks for the dance Cowboy"

"I have a name"

"I like Cowboy better" she said sitting down.

He shook his head smiling at her, "Okay"

"So tell me about yourself...Holden" she teased taking a sip out of her drink.

They sat talking for awhile before she looked around, "They're gone" she noted.

"I didn't notice"

"Me either"

"So, what's the protocol…do we go?"

Janet shrugged, "I say we stick it to them one better…and we keep enjoying ourselves"

Later as he walked her to her door he gave her that boyish smile, "So, this didn't seem to turn out exactly how we planned…but I had a lot of fun anyway"

She offered a toothy smile, "I did too…and look at it like this…maybe we didn't achieve our ultimate goal…but if we get a friendship out of this deal, it's more then we had before"

Leaning down he kissed her on the cheek, "You're one of a kind Janet Ciccone"

Carly tossed and turned in the mass of linens, hitting at pillows trying to make herself comfortable…not that she would ever be. All she could think about was Holden's eyes sparkling at Janet…his body pressed against hers. The thought alone was enough to crawl under her skin and fester for days. How do you get someone out of your head when they have already taken residence in your heart?

Jack wished he could go to the gun range…where everything is so loud you can't think…you can't keep replaying in your mind the way her body touched his…the way those brown eyes sparkled at him as she leaned in close to tell some secret joke…just for him. He had no right to be jealous, he had cut her loose…but the thought of her being with someone else was enough to drive him mad.

After a nice hot shower Janet found herself on the balcony of her apartment looking up at the blackened sky, "Damn you Jack Snyder…get out of my heart" she whispered before walking back inside.

Sitting in the farmhouse was stifling…so instead he found himself on the porch staring out at the pond. Their pond…it was silly to call it that…but it was…every time he looked at it he saw those blue eyes shining at him like diamonds…maybe he was right before…another time, another place.

Mornings sucked but when Vienna called her to pick up an extra shift at the diner, she couldn't refuse. So instead she walked in during the breakfast rush…and right to a nice little Carly and Jack gathering. She would never be able to eat pancakes again.

Luckily she got busy with customers until a delivery boy walked in, "Is there a Janet Ciccone here?" he asked loud enough that the whole diner was now looking.

"That's me"

"These are for you" he said handing her a huge bouquet of yellow roses.

Vienna nearly squealed, "Who are those from?" she asked pulling out the card.

In flourish Vienna read it to the entire room.

Janet,

Thank you for helping me remember what it was like to have fun.

Cowboy

She couldn't help the grin that came to her face as she snatched the card from Vienna, "Thanks for announcing it to everyone" she said trying to sound at least a little mad but with a grin tugging at her lips.

Carly put her fork down, "You know, I'm not hungry anymore" she told him.

"Me either" Jack said tossing money on the table and following her out.

As he drove her back towards her house they both blurted, "I can't do this"

Shaking his head Jack looked at her, "I'm not going to say it wasn't right to try…but, I"

"You love her" she finished.

When he didn't object she smiled, "I thought it would bother me more…but it doesn't…I want to see you happy Jack…and Janet makes you happy"

He nodded and squinted his eyes, "And you love him?"

Fresh tears pooled in her eyes as she waved a hand in front of her face, "Something like that" she admitted sadly.

"You think it's too late?" he asked.

"Guess there is no time like the present to find out" she told him getting out of the car.

"Be happy Jack"

"You too"

After her shift she drove the familiar road to the farmhouse. She missed it there…the home, the familiarity, Jack. Knocking on the door Holden answered and she held up his tie.

"I found this on my couch…and thank you for the flowers" she told him.

"Thank you and I'm glad you like them…would you like to come in?"

"No, you look like you are on your way out" she said noting the cowboy boots.

He smiled, "What kind of cowboy would I be without my boots?" he teased.

"Not a very good one"

"I'm actually going for a ride, would you like to join me?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Are you talking about a car…or a very large farm animal?" she asked.

"A horse…come on, it will be fun"

There was a moment she hesitated but like so many times in her life she threw caution to the wind, "What the heck"

Carly wound the bend out to the farm rehearsing what she was going to say...when she pulled in she noticed Janet's car. When she knocked on the door there was no answer so she walked around back when she heard the horses trot up.

"Ahh, stop, neigh, basta!" Janet yelled at the horse.

Holden couldn't keep the laugh that came, "Are you laughing at me Cowboy…I swear horseback riding, what was I thinking?" she said becoming a little more spastic.

He hopped off his horse and tied it up before grabbing her reigns and pulling her stopped. Then he reached up and encircled her waist to help bring her down. She stumbled and fell into the hard planes of his chest. Looking up he smiled at her, "You okay?" he asked.

A simple silent nod and she stayed against him, his lips dipping low and touching hers in the sweetest of kisses.

She watched everything in clear view…watched him touch her with an air of familiarity…watched her look up to him…watched his lips touch hers…and it made me feel like someone had come and stolen her breath…was it too late already…she didn't stay for the aftermath…turned around and let the tears slide down her cheeks.

"Sorry" he apologized pulling away.

There was a nervous laugh, "You don't have anything to apologize about…we are both single, attractive people, we kissed, every thing is fine" she rambled.

The insanity of it all caused him to laugh infectiously causing her to join in, "Maybe in other circumstances" he started.

"Like if we weren't in love with other people?"

"Right"

Sticking out his hand, "So friends Ciccone?" he asked.

"You better watch out Cowboy, you might be stuck with me" she teased waving goodbye.

Carly drove halfway home until she realized she must have dropped her cell phone at the farm. Turning back she bit back tears…she had no right to be upset…Holden wasn't hers…she had thrown that chance away. Coming back to the farm she noted Janet's car wasn't there any more…all she wanted to do was get her phone, go home, crawl into bed and forget this day ever happened.

Walking around back she grabbed her phone, "Carly" she heard from behind her.

"Holden" she said more breathlessly then she had hoped.

"What are you doing here?" he asked curiously.

Her eyes searched his…they were that warm inviting green…the one that reminded her Montana…of safety of love.

"I came here to tell you that…I love you"

Janet drove home humming the song on the radio. She was going to be happy…she had to for herself and Libby…she just wanted to be happy with him. Opening the door to her apartment she let out a screen.

"Jack what the hell are you doing here?" she asked.

He didn't say anything just walked up to her, cupped her cheeks, and then kissed her breathless. Pulling away he placed his forehead against hers.

"I came here to tell you that…I love you"