by A. J. Pine
She kissed the top of his head and held him tight.
I’m going to fix everything. And for once, she truly believed she could.
They drove in a comfortable, fulfilled silence to bring Nolan home, Sam’s hand linked with hers on the center console. She’d tried to give Nolan the front seat, but he’d insisted he preferred the back of the cab with Scout—who was now curled up with her muzzle in his lap.
It was almost midnight, and Delaney’s eyes were heavy. She let them fall shut, the rhythm of the vehicle lulling her to sleep.
When they rolled to a stop in front of the facility door, she woke with a start, then laughed.
“I wasn’t drooling, was I?” she asked, recalling Sam’s short nap in the passenger seat the day before.
Sam smiled and winked at her. “Don’t worry, Vegas. Your secret’s safe with me.”
She wiped the corners of her mouth only to find them dry and then swatted him on the shoulder. “You’re terrible.”
“Get a room already,” Nolan called from the back seat.
Sam rolled his eyes. “Nice, Dad.” But Delaney could tell he was suppressing a grin. “I’ll walk him in, if that’s okay. You can stay here with Scout.”
She nodded, and Sam hopped out of the car as Nolan exited too.
A second later, the older man knocked on her window, and she lowered it.
“You’re good for him,” he said softly, then leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t let him make the same mistakes I made.”
“Come on, Dad,” Sam said from behind Nolan. “It’s late, and you need a good night’s sleep after such a long day.”
“He’s good for me too,” she admitted with a grin.
Nolan straightened and smiled a smile so full of love and pride that it made her heart ache. Then he turned toward his son and followed him inside.
Delaney closed the window, pulled out her phone, and opened her recent call list to the number she knew was Wade’s. The land issue didn’t have to be Sam’s problem. The land didn’t have to be an issue at all if Wade for once did the right thing, and if anyone could talk him into it, she wanted to think that she maybe still could.
She drew in a steadying breath and initiated the call. It rang five times, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited, before finally going to voicemail.
“It’s me,” she said. “I don’t want to play games anymore. Let’s talk. For real. About the land. I know about the sale, Wade, and I just want my half of the money.” She couldn’t do anything about the money they’d raised for the shelter because it was in a joint account. In the eyes of the law, he didn’t exactly steal that time. But this was different, and she wasn’t going to be afraid anymore of how he could hurt her next. “I can contest the deed you know I didn’t sign, or you can do what’s right. For me. For both of us. Call me, okay?”
She hung up and exhaled. She was light-headed. It was possible she’d said all of that in one breath.
When Sam opened the driver’s side door, she startled.
“Whoa there, Vegas. You okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Sorry. Didn’t see you walk out is all.”
He sat down, and she leaned over the center console and kissed him.
“What was that for?” he asked. “Not that I’m complaining.”
She bounced in her seat, giddy and nervous and everything all at once.
“I’m better than okay,” she said. “I’m perfect. Tonight was perfect.” It was the truth. Everything tonight felt right. More than right. She’d watched Sam be brave and do with his father what he might not have felt was possible yesterday. Now it was her turn to be brave.
“I called Wade,” she said.
Sam pulled the door shut. “Okay,” he said, drawing out the second syllable as if he was worried about what would come next. He stuck the key in the ignition, and the truck roared back to life.
Delaney placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze. “I don’t want to contest the deed,” she said. “It’s your land now. I don’t want to mess with that. I just want my share of the profit, and that has nothing to do with you, your brother, Colt, or the ranch. This is between me and Wade.”
He stared at her, eyes wide. “Why?” he asked. “The whole reason you came here was for your land.”
She shrugged. “There’s plenty of land in Meadow Valley. I’m still going to get a copy of the deed as insurance, but if I can convince Wade to do right by me, then we both win. I thought running here was the way to face my problems head-on. But it’s Wade I need to face to get what I want—what I deserve.” Her stomach tied itself in knots and she held her breath.
She’d said it. She wanted to stay and build the life she’d dreamed of two years ago. But what did Sam want? What did that mean for him and her?
“I’m going to get tested,” he finally said. “I wanted to wait until we got home to tell you, but I guess after the day we’ve had—the amazing, perfect day I didn’t think was possible—this seems like the right place. I want to know what my future holds so I know if there’s a possible future…” He cleared his throat. “A possible future for us.”
Her breath caught, and she smiled so hard she thought her face might freeze in that expression.
Sam smiled, too, a smile like the younger version of him in the photo back at his apartment.
“I dare you to kiss me, Sam Callahan,” she finally said. “Right here in front of no one.”
He leaned over the center console and cradled her head in his hands.
“I do love a good dare,” he said. Then he did exactly as she’d asked.
They stayed that way for several minutes—his lips on hers and the taste of him on her tongue—until the windows started to fog.
Scout howled from the back seat.
He chuckled when they both came up for air and realized what they had done.
“I guess we do have a tiny audience,” he said, and she laughed too. “Why don’t we continue this back at my place?”
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” she said.
He put the car in gear, and they rode slowly out of the parking lot and onto the street.
She rested her hand on his thigh and gave him a gentle squeeze. “Drive safely, cowboy, but drive quick. I can think of all kinds of ways to celebrate.”
His foot fell heavy on the gas—but kept them well within the speed limit.
Delaney closed her eyes, letting her head fall back against the seat as her smile took permanent hold of her features.
Everything was falling into place, even more so than she could have imagined. She might very well fall in love with Sam Callahan by week’s end, and the thought didn’t scare her anymore. Not one little bit.
She saw the future she’d imagined taking shape, and nothing would throw her off track this time.
Chapter Seventeen
Sam was on stable and arena duty for the bulk of Monday’s daylight hours, so Delaney had spent the day with Ivy at the festival, helping staff her booth on First Street. He’d just finished his last lesson and was taking Ace for a leisurely couple of laps around the circle while he unwound from a busy day.
He was a sweaty, dusty mess when she showed up outside the arena gate, yet he’d never felt better in his life.
“Hey there, cowboy!” She waved. “What time are you off the clock?”
He rounded the corner and brought Ace to a stop on the other side of where she stood. He checked the nonexistent watch on his wrist.
“After Nolan’s great day yesterday, he decided he wanted to participate in the facility’s movie outing tonight, which means I’ve got the whole night to myself. Looks like it’s quitting time,” he said. He laughed when he saw she wore a Midtown Sluggers T-shirt along with her jeans. “Did Ivy recruit you for the Midtown Tavern softball team?”
He couldn’t help but smile at how seamlessly Delaney was fitting into not only his world but also the town itself.
Delaney crossed her arms
. “Not exactly. I sort of spilled my apple cider on the top I was wearing, and Ivy let me borrow it.”
Sam hopped down from Ace’s saddle and strode toward his side of the fence, reins in hand.
“Meadow Valley looks good on you, Vegas.” He took his hat off and perched it on the fence post. Then he stepped onto the bottom slat and leaned over for a quick kiss.
“Looks like we’ve both been working hard today,” she said. She brushed a finger lightly under his eye. She winced. “So the bruise is still there. Does it still hurt?”
“Not when you kiss me,” he said with a wink. “So you’re just gonna have to keep doing that.”
He dropped back onto the ground, the dusty dirt kicking up around his boots.
“Guess I could use some cleaning up. Then I want to show you something. You got some time before dinner?” he asked.
She checked the invisible watch on her own wrist and glanced back up at him with a grin. “I’m all yours whenever you’re good and ready. How about I walk Scout while you clean up?”
“You got yourself a deal,” he said. “Meet you on the other side as soon as I get Ace situated.”
He might have been tied up on the ranch today, but that didn’t stop him from making a call to Mrs. Davis—bookshop owner and kitten foster mother—to set up a visit.
Delaney was waiting when he exited the stable. His chest tightened when he saw her this time, when he realized that after not having seen her for several hours, he’d missed her.
He strode toward her, then stopped himself, brushing his hands off on his dirty T-shirt.
“You have no idea how much I want to scoop you into my arms right now, but I am one heck of a mess,” he said.
She looked him up and down, then took the final few steps to close the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Scoop away, cowboy. Because there’s nothing sexier than a man after a hard day’s work.”
She kissed him without hesitation, and he wrapped his arms around her thighs and hoisted her effortlessly onto his waist.
“I think we’re giving Luis and Anna a run for their money,” she said when they both paused for a breath.
He set her back on her feet, his hands sliding into the back pockets of her jeans.
“I guess we are,” he agreed. “I am under your spell, Delaney Harper. Not much I can do but simply accept my fate.”
She smiled, and he grabbed her hand, threading his fingers through hers.
“Heard anything back from Wade?” he asked as they headed toward his place.
Delaney shook her head. “Not yet. And you know what? I’m not going to let it bother me. In fact, we have six more days to not let it bother me. If I haven’t heard back from him, then I grab the deed, give it to my aunt—who’s my lawyer—and take it from there. Either way, he has to answer for what he did. He can take the easy way out and give me my share of the profit, or it becomes a legal matter. My goal hasn’t changed. I want my land. I just want it somewhere that isn’t your ranch.”
Sam squeezed her hand. “You’re sexy when you stick to your goals. Do you know that?”
She laughed and swatted him on the shoulder, then pushed him toward the registration entrance. “Let’s go get that beautiful pit of yours, and you can make your goal cleaning up.”
Her cheeks were flushed pink. The small reaction filled him with warmth, and he smiled the whole way inside.
Scout bounded out from Sam’s bedroom when he opened the apartment door. He dropped down to a squat to receive his pooch’s welcome, but she scampered right past him and stopped at Delaney’s feet, pacing back and forth with her tail wagging.
“Hey, girl,” Delaney said, bending down to scratch the canine behind her ears. “I’m excited to see you too.”
Scout panted excitedly as Delaney kissed her square on the nose.
“And here I thought I was her favorite,” Sam grumbled as he stood and crossed his arms. “Funny how quickly that changed.”
Delaney laughed but continued showering Scout with affection.
“I think your human’s a little jealous,” she said. “Maybe I should tell him that he’s my favorite.” Scout whimpered, and Delaney laughed again. “Okay fine. You’re number one and the humans both come in second place. I see how things work around here.”
She straightened and wrapped her arms around Sam’s waist.
“You are my favorite,” she whispered, then kissed him on the nose too. “I’m just humoring her.”
Sam grabbed Scout’s leash off a hook by the door and clipped it to Scout’s collar, then handed the lead to Delaney.
He kissed her on the cheek. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
“See you in about ten minutes?” she said.
“Perfect.”
And then both his girls were out the door.
His girls.
The thought was at once completely foreign and at the same time the most natural thought in the world.
He showered, grinning like an idiot the whole time and wanting to kick himself for thinking he didn’t deserve something like this—like her—simply because his future was less certain than others.
By the time he toweled off and had thrown on a clean T-shirt and jeans, his girls were both curled up on the couch. Delaney sipped a bottle of beer and had a second one waiting on the coffee table for him.
He grabbed the bottle and took a long, slow sip. Then he dropped down to his knees in front of Delaney and the dog. He gave Scout a quick belly rub and then gave his other girl a soft kiss just as a knock sounded on the door.
Scout’s ears perked up and Delaney’s brows rose. “Expecting company?” she asked.
“I am,” he said. Then he sprang up and strode toward the door.
“Hey!” she called after him. “That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
He laughed but didn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. A surprise wasn’t a surprise if he gave it away.
He threw open the door and was greeted with Mrs. Davis’s warm smile.
“I’d hug you,” she said, “but I don’t have a free arm.”
She wore a T-shirt that read Thyme to Garden, jeans, and her ever-present green Crocs. Her salt-and-pepper hair was piled into a messy bun on top of her head, and both of her hands gripped the handles of large pet carriers, the sound of high-pitched meows emanating from each.
“Kittens?” he heard Delaney exclaim. She and Scout were standing only a few feet behind him.
The dog barked excitedly. She’d interacted with Mrs. Davis’s rescues before, but these were new. He grabbed the pet carriers from Mrs. Davis’s hands and set them on the dining room table. He quickly let Scout out into the backyard, then came back for introductions.
“Sorry about that, ladies,” he said as Delaney peeked into each carrier. “Mrs. Davis, this is Delaney. Delaney, Mrs. Davis.”
The older woman waved Sam off and then shook Delaney’s hand. “Please,” she said. “Call me Trudy. All the young folks around here who grew up in this town called me Mrs. when they were kids and can’t seem to let go of it.” She put her hands on her hips and glanced at Sam. “You’re practically new around here. I need you to set the precedent.”
Sam laughed. “I’ll do my best Mrs.—I mean, Trudy.”
The older woman gave him a satisfied nod.
“Now, Delaney,” she said. “Sam told me you’re thinking of opening up an animal rescue here in town. Thought you might want to meet a few little friends who could use a place like that.” She set the first carrier onto the ground and unlocked its small door.
Delaney clasped her hands under her chin like a birthday girl about to open her most anticipated gift.
The door swung open, and five palm-sized balls of fur tumbled out. There were two orange tabbies, a calico, and two gray-and-white kittens.
Delaney gasped and dropped down to her knees.
“Are these all rescues?” she asked. She waited patiently, letting the kitt
ens sniff around and hopefully—Sam guessed—come to her.
Trudy set the other carrier on the ground.
“Sure are,” she said. “No one knows what happened to the mama or what breed she and her mates were. All we know is this is the litter.”
The second carrier opened, and out sprang three calico-tabby mixes, all black, white, and brown.
“That’s all of them,” Trudy said. “But this case felt a heck of a lot heavier than just three kittens.” She stuck her head down and peered inside. Then she laughed. “Looks like someone else hitched a ride with the litter.”
She reached inside and pulled out what sounded like a reluctant stowaway.
The pile of kittens Delaney had amassed on her scurried when they heard the hissing and agitated meows of the full-grown black cat in Trudy’s hand.
“Hey there, Butch,” Trudy said. “If you come along for the ride, you need to come say hello. Nothing to be scared of here.”
Delaney threw a hand over her mouth, then reached for the skittish feline. Sam crouched down next to her and marveled at how the cat relaxed and went right to her.
“What happened to his leg?” Sam asked.
Trudy shrugged. “Nothing. He was born that way. He and another from his litter were inseparable, so we named them Butch Catsidy and the Sundance Kitten. Sundance got adopted. Butch didn’t. He’s never been the same since.”
Delaney cradled Butch in her arms, and Sam heard the fur ball start to purr.
“I helped deliver a couple litters back when I was in school,” Delaney said. “I know birth abnormalities occur, but I’ve never seen one.” She rubbed Butch’s belly and the spot where his left front paw would have been. “No one wanted him?” she asked Trudy.
Trudy shook her head. “I foster for a humane society over in the next county—closest rescue shelter we’ve got. Usually I just get them through the critical first weeks, take care of their vaccinations and surgeries to fix ’em from making more litters. By the time that’s all said and done, pretty much everyone’s spoken for. Butch came to me a few years ago, and I didn’t have the heart to send him back to the shelter.” She scratched the cat behind his ears. “Never saw him take to anyone like he’s taken to you, though.”