by Diana Palmer
“Why, he … he wouldn’t know what to do without me,” Maxine stammered, seemingly appalled that Molly would even think such a thing.
“I’m sure Eva and Ted would help him out.”
Maxine narrowed her eyes. “My, but you sound bitter. What have they ever done to you?”
“Mom, look, I don’t know how this discussion got started, but let’s can it, shall we?”
Maxine looked taken aback and Molly sensed she’d probably hurt her mother’s feelings, but she couldn’t help it. At this point, she was doing well just to survive remaining on the ranch, especially after what had happened yesterday between her and Worth.
Because of that kiss, her heart remained sore to the touch. And to think she’d convinced herself that Worth couldn’t cause her any more pain.
Apparently, she still had a lot to learn about herself.
“I didn’t mean anything by that, Molly. Since you’ve been here, you’ve seemed different. Uptight might be the word I’m searching for.”
“Mother—”
Maxine went on as if Molly hadn’t spoken. “I know things didn’t work out between you and Worth, and I hate that because I thought you two were crazy about each other.”
She paused and took a breath. “And maybe things didn’t turn out the way you wanted, getting married, then divorced, but that shouldn’t have a bearing on your attitude toward Worth and his family. Frankly that puzzles me, because you don’t have a mean-spirited bone in your body.”
Before she found herself getting further tangled in that bed of thorns, Molly forced a laugh. “My, but you must be feeling better, Mother dear. I’ve never heard you deliver such a long speech.”
“If you weren’t grown, girl, I’d turn you over my lap and give you a good spanking.”
Molly laughed for real this time and gave her mother a big kiss on the cheek. “I love you, even though you nose around where you don’t belong.”
“Huh! There you go, insulting me again.”
“Oh, Mom, I’m okay. But you and this place have been a bit of a strain on me, I’ll admit.”
Maxine’s features became whimsical for a moment. “I just wish I knew more about what makes you tick. You’re my only child, but sometimes I feel like I don’t know you at all.”
“Mother, enough.”
“Please, just let me get this off my chest, okay?”
Molly held her council.
“You were married and divorced, and I never even met the man.”
“That’s all water under the bridge.”
“To you, maybe, but not to me. He was Trent’s father, for Pete’s sake. And I don’t even know him.” Maxine’s words ended on a wail.
Oh, but you do, Molly wanted to shout.
Instead, she grabbed her mother’s hands, squeezed them, then peered closely in her eyes. “You and Trent mean more to me than anything or anyone else. I know I’ve brought you pain by not explaining everything to you. But one day, I promise I will. I just can’t say when.”
Maxine’s eyes filled with tears as she squeezed Molly’s hands even harder. “Until that day, I promise I’ll try to keep my mouth shut and not bug you.”
Molly grinned. “Bug me. Mmm, that sounds like you’ve been around your grandson.”
“Speaking of my grandson,” Maxine injected on a lighter note, “you’ve done a splendid job raising him.”
“The raising’s just getting started, actually.”
“Well, so far, so good, my child.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Molly said in a slightly choked voice. “Now that you’ve mentioned that boy, I’d best go see about him. First though, there’s a matter I need to discuss with you.”
“Okay.”
“Tell me how I go about planning a barbecue without any help from the host.”
Maxine threw her head back and laughed. “First off, you don’t ask him. He doesn’t have a clue.”
“I suspected that.”
“Nor does he want one.”
“I suspected that, too.”
Maxine chuckled again, then sobered. “If only this old back would straighten up, I could have everything done in no time at all.”
“Sorry, you’re stuck working through me.”
“Not to worry. We’ll make a great team. It’ll be a rally people will talk about for a long time.”
“The gossip flavor of the month, huh?” Molly said with a twinge of bitter humor.
“That’s right, honey.”
Molly got off the bed, leaned over and kissed her mother’s still cool forehead. I’ll check on you later.”
“Send Trent to see me.”
“Will do.”
Trent and Tammy were walking toward the house when Molly walked out the door. Trent ran to her. “Mommy, can we go to the barn?”
“Oh, Trent,” she said with exasperation.
“You promised.”
“I did no such thing.”
“I saw Worth go in there, but Tammy wouldn’t let me go.”
“Tammy did the right thing.”
The young girl smiled her sweet smile, showing off dimples that made a plain face almost pretty.
“Thank you for today, Tammy,” Molly said. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She turned to Trent who was pouting. “See you, buddy.”
“I’m not your buddy.”
“Trent! Your manners.”
“Sorry,” he muttered.
Tammy merely smiled again, then strode off.
When Molly turned toward Trent again, he was making a beeline for the barn. Her anger flared. Since coming here, he’d turned into a wild child.
“Trent!” she called. “Stop right where you are.”
He did, but ever so reluctantly. When he stared up at her, he had a belligerent look on his face. They were really going to have to sit down and have a talk. She couldn’t allow his insubordination to continue unchallenged.
“Mommy, are you mad at me?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I’m sorry.
“You should be,” she said, catching up with him.
That was when she realized the barn was in sight. She pulled up short. Would Worth still be there?
“I don’t wanna go back inside,” Trent muttered, sounding down in the mouth.
Molly thought for a long minute instead of just blurting out, too bad, which turned out to be her downfall.
Trent grabbed her by the hand, “Please, don’t make me.”
“All right, you little scoundrel, you win. We’ll go see what Worth’s up to. Maybe he’ll let you rub an animal.”
“Oh, boy!” Trent jumped up and down. “Come on, let’s hurry.”
“Hold on. There’s no need for that.”
Still, it was an effort to keep up with her son. By the time they covered the remaining distance to the barn, Molly was out of breath. She grasped Trent’s hand tighter in hers, stopping him.
He gazed up at her with a question in his eyes. “What?”
“We can’t just go barreling in there like we’ve been invited because we haven’t. That’s not nice.”
“I got invited yesterday,” Trent said in his big-boy voice. “‘Member, Mommy?”
“Ah, right.” Molly paused, then digging for courage, she called out, “Worth, are you in there?”
“Yeah. Come on in.”
The second she saw him, Molly stopped in her tracks, thinking how sexy he looked leaning on the pitchfork with several twigs of hay stuck in his hair. Sheer willpower kept her from walking over to him and pulling them out.
Totally unnerved, her body broke out in a cold sweat. She shouldn’t have come here, especially not with him watching her with eyes that seemed to seduce her on the spot.
“Wow!” Trent said in awe, looking around.
Molly dragged her gaze off Worth and stared at the premises herself. “I second that wow.”
“You like, huh?” Worth asked, clearing his husky voice.
“
It’s great.” She took a chance and looked at him again. The desire had been tempered. Actually, his features were blank. “But what about the old one?”
“It burned.”
Her voice transmitted her shock. “Burned?”
“To the ground.”
“Aw, man,” Trent said.
Her son’s comment was lost as her mind slid back to that summer, to the old barn where they made love for the last time. She could tell from the change in Worth’s features that he, too, was thinking about that day.
The day she’d gotten pregnant.
Feeling dizzy, she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, Trent and Worth had gone ahead.
After a few moments, Worth paused and turned. “You coming?”
“Where are we going?” she asked in a slightly quivering voice.
He stared at her for a long moment. “To show Trent some of my prize horseflesh.”
“Okay.”
She followed, but didn’t really get into the scene like the two of them. After she’d seen several horses, they all started to look alike, with the exception of their color.
“I’m sorry if we’re boring you.”
Molly almost visibly jumped at Worth’s rather harsh and unexpected voice, definitely taking umbrage to what he said. “I’m not bored.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Couldn’t have proved it by me.”
“Mommy, aren’t you having a good time?” Trent chimed in as they made their way back to the main section of the barn, as if sensing the sudden undercurrent that ran between the two adults.
“I’m having a great time, honey. Only it’s time we head back to the house. I have to make dinner and you have to get a bath.”
“Is your mother all right?” Worth asked, changing the subject.
“She’s fine. I guess it was just a twenty-four hour virus.”
“Again, anything she needs, you just let me know,” Worth said almost fiercely. “Anything.”
“Thanks,” Molly said, thinking at least he thought a lot of her mother. Too bad … She slam-dunked that thought before it could take a life of its own.
Worth had rejected her, not the other way around. She had to keep that in mind.
“Hey, buddy, that’s off-limits.”
Worth’s louder-than-usual voice jerked Molly back to the moment at hand to find Trent on the first rung of the ladder leading up to the hayloft.
“Trent!”
He froze.
“Don’t you dare go a step further,” Molly said. “You have no business up there.”
Hanging his head, Trent turned around.
Molly grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
When they made it to the door, she forced herself to look back at Worth who was once again leaning on the pitchfork, staring at her with that smirk of his. Ignoring him, she said, “I’m about to make supper. Will you be joining us?”
“Nope.”
His gaze looked her up and down, which made her body grow hot. “I suppose you’re going out again.” God, what made her say that? Even to herself, her tone sounded waspish. And jealous. Dear Lord, what must he be thinking? Probably that she cared about what he did, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
His eyes burned into hers. “As a matter of fact, I am.”
“Fine,” she said in a prim tone, then walked out, silently cursing herself all the way back to the house.
“Ouch, Mommy!” Trent cried. “You’re pulling my arm off.”
“Be quiet, and keep up,” she demanded, her breath coming in spurts.
Twelve
Molly almost wept with relief.
The shindig was in full swing without any glitches. So far, she reminded herself, tamping her excitement because things could change in the blink of an eye. The day after the debacle in the barn, Molly had finally pinned down Worth as to a date, time and guest list for the barbecue.
She couldn’t have put the trimmings in place, of course, without her mother’s help, especially since they’d had only a week to get ready. But that had been enough time since Maxine was a pro at planning last-minute parties.
As promised, she had directed traffic, so to speak, from her domain, as Molly fondly called her mother’s suite.
Surprisingly, Maxine’s back had improved much quicker than first expected. The brace and physical therapy combined seemed to be doing the trick. Molly was a bit disappointed, however, that Maxine couldn’t join the festivities even for a little while. But the doctor had been afraid it might be too exerting, and Molly had agreed.
Now, as she looked around the premises, Molly was astounded at the number of people who had attended, just about everyone who had been invited. Yet Molly had been prepared. Her mother had warned her and she’d listened.
Most of the guests were now gathered on the multilevel porch, laughing and talking. At various points, tables were set up and decorated, awaiting the arrival of plates filled with all kinds of barbecued meat.
A band set up by the pool was doing its thing. The singer, belting out a country western song, had drawn a crowd. Other attendees were eating, drinking and being merry, which was exactly what the Cavanaughs wanted.
The hired help aimed to please.
Then kicking herself for that sarcastic thought, Molly forced her mind onto more pleasant things, such as the beauty that surrounded her. Yes, God had definitely smiled on the day. She looked up and didn’t see one cloud in the sky.
Talk about great temperature. One couldn’t have asked for better. Cool, but not cold—light jacket weather—perfect for an outside event.
Tammy was watching Trent, freeing Molly to take care of anything that might arise and might keep things from running smoothly. But she didn’t mind the hard work. It kept her from thinking about Worth, looking at Worth and wondering about Worth.
Forbidden.
All the above fit into that category for her. Suddenly Molly felt a pang near her heart that she couldn’t ignore. Stopping and closing her eyes, she took a deep, shuddering breath. When she opened them Worth was looking straight at her.
For an instant, she stood transfixed. He was leaning against a tree, seemingly totally relaxed, surrounded by several men who were talking non-stop—probably trying to convince him what a great politician he’d make.
She agreed.
As usual, he had on a starched white shirt, black jeans, dress boots and a George Strait Resistol. He was total eye candy, of which she couldn’t seem to get enough.
Although she was sure he’d shaved that morning, his chiseled features no longer bore that out. He had the beginnings of a five o’clock shadow, which merely enhanced his sexy good looks.
Her heart began pounding like she’d been hiking a mile straight uphill. He broke loose from the posse and strode toward her, his gaze never wavering.
She wished she had the nerve, no, the willpower, to turn her back and pretend she hadn’t seen him. Even though that wasn’t going to happen, she nevertheless stiffened her spine, preparing herself for the worst.
The last few times their paths had crossed the exchanges between them hadn’t been pleasant—anything but, actually.
It seemed as though every time he saw her, he was in an angry mood. Yet he looked at her with anything but anger. Desire and fire often lit his eyes, which kept her on edge. Despite the fact that he despised her, he wanted her. He didn’t try to hide that. She suspected that was what kept his anger boiling.
She was sure today was no exception. By the time Worth reached her, his features looked like they were carved out of stone, though his tone was surprisingly soft. “Have you sat down at all?”
“No, but then, I’m not supposed to.”
“Hogwash.”
Her eyes widened.
He leaned in closer, which called attention to his cologne. God, he smelled so good. For a moment, Molly’s head spun, and she wanted to rest her head against his chest and say to hell with everything and everybody. Then reality hit her in the face,
and she literally jumped back.
A dark frown covered Worth’s features. “For heaven’s sake, I’m not going to touch you.”
“I know that,” she snapped, crossing her hands over her short pink jacket that barely topped the waist of her low cut jeweled jeans. In doing that, she knew she’d slightly bared her waist as her white camisole underneath was also short. Even when Worth’s eyes dropped there, and she saw desire heat his dark eyes, she made no effort to lower her arms.
“Then why did you jump?” His muttered question was spoken in a guttural tone.
“Does it matter?” she asked, thinking she should be ashamed of herself for purposely allowing him to see her naked flesh, knowing what it would do to him. What was happening to her? Once aroused, Worth was like a lighted stick of dynamite; he could go off at any moment.
Instead of that frightening her, it excited her.
As if he could read her thoughts, he stepped closer and whispered, “You’d best be careful how you look at me.”
Color flooded Molly’s face and she turned away, but not before saying, “Ah, I’d best get back to work.”
“I want to talk to you.”
She whipped back around, careful her facade was back in place and asked, “What about?”
“To tell you what a great job you’ve done on such short notice.”
“Is that a thank-you?”
“You betcha.”
His praise took her so by surprise that her mouth flew open.
Her reaction brought an unexpected smile to his lips, which made her heart beat that much harder. It had been a long time since he’d smiled—or at least at her. It seemed as if the sun had broken through a dark cloud.
She smiled back.
He rolled his eyes, though his smile widened. “You’re a piece of work, Molly Whoever.”
She almost giggled at his unwillingness to say her last name, then caught herself, especially when their gazes tangled and held, while sexual tension danced all around them. For a breathless moment, he looked as if he might actually grab her and kiss her again.
She’d like nothing better.
Appalled anew at her thoughts, Molly shook her head at the same time he shook his, putting everything back on an even keel. “I’m glad everything’s going well.”
“That’s because of you.”