A long, tension-filled silence followed as the men took each other’s measure. Wes didn’t flinch. He’d faced down adversaries before. He’d been in his share of fistfights growing up, and he’d won them all. He’d looked across boardroom tables at competitors aching to take him down, and he hadn’t folded to anyone. Damned if he’d start now. A part of him admired Belle’s brothers. Loyalty was everything to him, and maybe that’s why Belle’s lies had cut so deeply. But he could understand these men standing up for their sister even as he knew it wouldn’t stop him from doing what he’d come to Swan Hollow to do.
Finally, Chance nodded. “Can’t say that I blame you for coming here. Actually, under other circumstances, I might even like you for it.”
Wes laughed.
“But we’ll be watching,” Chance promised. “You make Isabelle or Caroline unhappy—it won’t be pretty.”
“Seems fair,” Wes agreed. “As long as you three understand I’ll be staying in town as long as I please. I’ll see my daughter and your sister as often as I can manage it, and I don’t want any of you interfering. This is between Belle and I.”
Chance’s gaze locked with Wes’s for a long moment. Then he nodded. “I think we have an understanding.”
“And you’re not going to have an easy time of it,” one of the other brothers quipped, a half smile on his face. “Isabelle’s got a head like a rock when her mind’s made up. And she’s probably not real happy that you’re here.”
Wes frowned, and Chance laughed at his expression.
“Yeah,” the man said a second later. “I’m thinking Tyler’s right and you’ve got bigger problems with Isabelle than you do dealing with us.”
Belle’s brothers silently filed out of the room. Wes stayed where he was and didn’t watch them go.
He’d been alone since his father’s death a few years earlier. No siblings, no extended family, and since he’d never known anything different, he hadn’t really missed it, either. Until just now. But even he could see that the Graystone siblings were tight. Close-knit. And a part of him he hadn’t even been aware of was almost jealous of it.
Then his mind started clicking. Thoughts, ideas, possible plans flashed through his brain so quickly he couldn’t separate them all. But somewhere in the chaos of his thoughts there was a single notion that began to shine brightly. If he could make it work, it might solve everything.
Yes, he wanted Maverick caught. Dealt with. The man—or whoever—had cost him a merger Wes had spent two years setting up. On the other hand, if not for Maverick, he might never have known about his daughter’s existence. Wes didn’t want another relationship with Belle—she’d lied to him for five years. But he did want to be a part of Caroline’s life.
And as his mind worked, he realized there might be a way to salvage that merger after all. As long as he was here, in Colorado, spending time with Caro and Belle anyway, he might be able to use this time to convince the CEO of PlayCo that he, Belle and Caroline were a happy little family. Teddy Bradford wanted family values? Well, Wes might be in a position to offer that. If Bradford wasn’t behind the Maverick mess himself.
It was a thought. Something to look at, maybe plan for. Making the best of a situation was what Wes did. And that damn merger meant too much to just walk away from it.
The key to all of this came down to one word. A word Wes had avoided for years, but now it had caught him, held him and wouldn’t let go.
Family.
Five
An hour later, after leaving Caro in her pre-K classroom, Belle found Wes waiting for her in the parking lot. He was leaning against a huge black SUV, watching her, and he looked...dangerous. Okay, maybe that was just her. The day was bright and freezing, with high clouds studding a deep blue sky. Pine trees were layered with snow, and high barriers of the white stuff lined the parking lot where it had been pushed by the maintenance crew.
She’d like to think Wes looked out of place at the school in his black jeans, forest green sweater and black leather jacket. The truth was, he fit in everywhere. His blond hair ruffled in the wind, and as he pulled his sunglasses off to look at her, she noted his eyes were narrowed against the glint of the sun off the snow.
He looked dark, edgy, and her heart gave a hard thump she couldn’t deny. Having Wes come back into her life was throwing everything off balance. Thoughts of him had kept her awake all night as her brain replayed memories she’d tried to bury for the past five years.
Working with him had been challenging, but fun. As focused as he was on his own vision, Wes had always been the kind of boss to welcome other ideas besides his own. That made for a great working environment, and Isabelle had loved being a part of it—until she fell in love with the boss. Then, everything had changed for her.
She’d let herself believe that the partnership she felt with him at work could extend to the personal, too. But even when they were alone together, at their most intimate, Isabelle had felt Wes pulling back. And the harder she tried to reach him, the more elusive he became. Finally, she’d had to realize that he wouldn’t change. Would never be able to love her as she loved him and that waiting and hoping would slowly wear her heart away like waves against rock, until there was nothing left.
Now, he was back. Pushing himself into her life whether she liked it or not. Refusing to go away. It seemed, she thought, that Wes would always do the opposite of what she wanted him to.
All around her, the sidewalk and parking lot was alive with people. Parents soothing toddlers, folks starting cars, rushing off to the rest of their days. But all she could see was Wes.
She headed toward him. “What are you doing here?”
“Wanted to see her school.” He pushed away from what was probably a rental. “Wanted to see you.”
Just five years ago, those words would have turned her heart inside out. Now, she was worried. Why did he want to see her? Before she could find out, someone called her name.
“Isabelle!” She turned and smiled tightly at the woman hurrying toward her.
“Hi, Kim. What’s up?” From the corner of her eye, Isabelle saw Wes approaching. Kim’s reaction was instantaneous and completely predictable. The woman’s eyes widened in appreciation, and a soft, speculative curve lifted her mouth.
Typical.
“What can I do for you?” Isabelle asked, drawing the woman’s attention back to her.
“Oh. Right.” She smiled at Wes again as he walked up to stand beside Isabelle. “Sorry. I just wanted to remind you that you volunteered to provide refreshments for the girls’ dance recital next week.”
“Sure. Thanks for the reminder,” Isabelle said, “I’ve been so...busy, I’d forgotten.”
“I don’t blame you for being...busy,” Kim said, shifting her gaze to Wes again. “Hello. I’m Kim Roberts.”
He took her hand in his. “Wes Jackson.”
She never took her eyes from his as she said, “Isabelle, you’ve been keeping this gorgeous man all to yourself? Selfish.”
Kim was doing everything but drooling, and Isabelle had to squelch a flash of irritation. Just like the old days, she told herself. Even when Isabelle was standing right beside him, women would coo and practically purr at him, completely ignoring Isabelle’s presence.
“Wes is an old...friend of mine from Texas,” she said and scowled when he smiled at her explanation. “He’s here visiting.”
“Well,” Kim said, her smile brightening enough that she looked like an actress in a toothpaste commercial, “maybe we could get together while you’re in town. I’d love to show you around.”
“Thanks,” Wes said, “but I think Isabelle’s got that covered.” He turned his back on Kim and asked Isabelle, “Are you ready to go?”
“What? Oh. Yes.” Surprised that he had turned down Kim’s oh-so-generous offer, Isabelle looked up
at him and wondered, not for the first time, what he was thinking. He tugged at her arm and she’d actually started walking with him until she realized he was escorting her to his car. Then she stopped. “My car’s here.”
“We’ll come back for it later.” He helped her into the oversize Suburban, then closed the door.
Kim was staring after them, a look of shock on her features. It had probably been years since a man had shown such a lack of interest in her. Sadly, Isabelle knew that Kim would only react to his response as a challenge. She liked Kim, but the woman was always on the prowl for her next ex-husband.
“She’s interested in you, you know,” Isabelle said as Wes drove through the parking lot and out onto the street.
He snorted. “That type’s interested in everything male.”
“That was rude,” Isabelle muttered. “True, but rude. Anyway, where are we going?”
“I don’t know,” he said, aiming the car for Main Street. “Why don’t you tell me? What do you usually do after dropping Caroline at school?”
Frowning, she half turned in her seat to look at him. Even his profile looked hard, implacable. Why was it she liked that about him even as it drove her crazy? Okay, fine, he was here to see Caroline. But why was he spending time with her? “What’s this about, Wes? Do you plan to just follow me around town?”
He shrugged. “Would you rather we go back to your place and talk?”
“No.” Being alone with him wasn’t a good idea. Even knowing better, she might be tempted to—nope.
“There you go. So where are we headed?”
She sighed. The man was nothing if not determined. Rather than argue with him, she surrendered. “Business supply store,” she said. “I need a new laser printer and some other supplies.”
One eyebrow winged up. “Still working? What do you do now?”
“What I always did. I design toys, only now I freelance,” she said, turning her face to look out the window at Swan Hollow as it flashed past.
“For who?”
She thought about not telling him, but the minute she considered it, she let it go. The man could find out the truth easily enough if he did a little digging online. So really, it was pointless to try to keep it a secret even though she didn’t love the idea of allowing him even deeper into her life.
“Myself,” she said, keeping her gaze focused out the side window so she didn’t have to look at him.
“Right,” he said wryly, “because rich people can work, too.”
She whipped her head around to glare at him. “Why is it when you have your own company that’s okay, but when I do, I’m a rich dilettante just killing time?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” She took a breath and let it out again. “Besides, my life is not your business.”
“If that life concerns Caro, then you’re wrong. It is.”
“Where is this coming from?” She squirmed in her seat and wished she were on her feet so she could pace off the nervous energy pulsing inside her. “You never wanted kids, so why are you so fixated on involving yourself with Caro?”
“Because she’s mine,” he said and stepped on the brake for a red light. Turning to meet her eyes, he said, “I protect what’s mine.”
“So it’s just a pride thing?” she asked, trying to read his features, his eyes, hoping she’d see something that would reassure her. That would let her know they’d find a way to work all this out. But as usual, Wes hid what he was thinking, feeling, locking it all down behind an impenetrable wall.
“You hid my daughter from me, Belle. That’s not a pride thing, that’s a damn fact.”
His eyes flashed, a muscle in his jaw flexed and his hands fisted on the steering wheel. Staring into those intense eyes of his, Isabelle knew that he would be a formidable enemy. But was that really what they’d come to? Were they so obviously on opposite sides of this one issue that there would be no way to reach some kind of accord?
He couldn’t use his money against her, because she had plenty of her own. But she couldn’t use hers against him for the same reason—there, at least, they were on equal ground.
But what would a court say, she suddenly wondered. If he got a lawyer and sued for custody, would the judge punish her for keeping Caroline from him for years? Would he order her daughter turned over to her father? A way to make up to him for all the time he’d lost with Caro? God, that thought opened up a hole inside her.
“I did what I thought was the best thing for me,” she said softly. “For Caroline.”
“Well,” he snapped as the light turned green and he stepped on the gas again, “you were wrong.”
But she hadn’t been wrong at all, Belle thought. The only thing she’d done wrong was get caught.
“Your brothers came to see me this morning.”
“They what?” The change in subject was so startling, it completely threw her off. But a second later, Isabelle gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes. This was her own fault. She had planned to tell her brothers today about Wes being in town. She should have known that they would hear the town grapevine buzzing long before that. Rubbing her fingers against her forehead, trying to fight a headache that seemed to have settled in permanently, Isabelle reminded herself that Chance, Eli and Tyler loved her. They were just being protective. They were looking out for Caroline.
Nope, trying to calm herself down wasn’t working, she thought. She was still furious. “What did they do?”
One corner of his mouth quirked in response to the tone of her voice.
“You think this is amusing?” she asked, stunned at the sudden shift in his attitude.
“I didn’t this morning,” he admitted. “When they pushed their way into my hotel room, my first instinct was to go a few rounds with them. But now, seeing how them interfering really frosts you, yeah. It’s amusing.”
“That’s great,” she said, nodding as her world tipped even farther off balance. “You’re bonding with my brothers. I should have expected that. You’re all so much alike.”
“Excuse me?”
She glanced at him. “Now you’re offended. That’s what I find funny.” Shaking her head, she said, “You don’t even see it. You, Chance, Eli and Tyler are all pushy, domineering, know-it-alls. You think you know what’s best for everyone and none of you are willing to listen to reason.”
“Reason?” he repeated. “I think I’ve been pretty damn reasonable so far.”
“Ah,” she said, lifting one hand. “So far being the key words in that sentence. How do I know you’re not going to suddenly decide to sue me for custody of Caro?” she asked, blurting out her deepest fear. “How do I know you’re not already planning to take her away from me?”
“Because I just found out about her two days ago?” he asked. “I’m good, but even I need more time than that.”
He parked the car in the lot and shut off the engine, and Isabelle shifted in her seat to look at him. “How much time, Wes? How long do I have before you come after me with all of your lawyers?”
Wes shifted in his seat, too, until they faced each other in the closed-off silence of the big car. Outside, people wandered in and out of the store and a few more clouds filled the sky, threatening more of the snow that still covered the parking lot. “Who said anything about lawyers?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to say it,” she admitted. “But just know, if you bring lawyers into it, so will I.”
“Yeah, I know.” He nodded grimly. “So no lawyers. We do this between us.”
Isabelle released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. For now, at least, she didn’t have to worry about Wes taking her to court. He might change his mind later, but she’d be grateful for today. “Okay, good. So how do we settle this?”
“To start? You get
used to me being here. Being with Caroline. I’ll jet back and forth to Texas as needed for business, but I plan on being here. A lot. Don’t fight me on it, Belle,” he warned. “We’ll figure the rest out as we go.”
She didn’t like it. But why would she? Still, she liked this better than the idea of a protracted courtroom drama where they ended up at each other’s throats. That wouldn’t be good for Caro—or for any of them. It went against every instinct she had to let him into her and her daughter’s lives. But the way she saw it, she just didn’t have a choice.
Staring into those beautiful eyes of his, she felt that near magnetic pull that she’d always experienced around him. That was dangerous, but only to her. Isabelle knew she would have to be on guard—and never let him know what he could do to her with just a look. Her reawakened feelings aside, it would be easier all the way around if she could just get through this situation with Wes without slipping back into dangerous feelings.
Wes hadn’t wanted a family—kids. Finding out that she had kept Caroline from him had hit him in his pride, so naturally he’d had to come here. Had to get answers. But it wouldn’t last, she told herself. He’d spend some time here and then he’d go back to his real life and she could return to normal. All she had to do was hang on until Wes remembered that he liked being unencumbered by a family.
“So are we good?” he demanded.
He was watching her, waiting.
“Yes,” she said. “We’re good. For now.” And that was the best she could give him.
“That’s a start,” he said and opened the car door.
* * *
Much later, bedtime was a little crazier than usual. Caroline was fascinated with Wes, and Isabelle couldn’t blame her. When Wes smiled, the female heart melted. Didn’t matter if you were four or eighty-four, the man had a power. For the last five years, Isabelle had assured herself that she was immune to Wes’s charms.
It was a hard thing to discover that she’d been lying to herself, too.
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