by Tina Leonard
“No.” Nina brushed her hair—pretty late to recover her beauty ritual since Navarro had already seen her plain and unready for visitors. But now they’d seen each other without false pretenses and there was no recovering that intimacy, either. “Do you ever wonder what our lives might have been like if that car accident hadn’t killed Mom and Dad?”
“No,” Valentine said passionately. “I never let myself think about it. I only want to remember the good times.”
“Me, too.” Nina set the brush down. “Do you really think you can be happy here with the Jeffersons? They have a slightly half-baked streak to them.”
“I know.” Valentine shrugged. “They’re going to help me find a job. They’re going to help me raise my baby, and frankly, I like the idea of a bunch of men being father figures to my child. I didn’t plan on a pregnancy, but I’m glad for it, and I’m happy that my life is starting over. In some strange way, this baby birthed me.”
Nina nodded. “All right. I accept that, and I’m thrilled you’re happy.”
“And so what about you?”
Nina looked toward the tree outside the window. “I’d never fit in here. I’m afraid of horses. I don’t particularly like the ranch. I’m not keen on all the brothers. It’s not for me, I suppose, but you and I were always opposite sides of the same coin. In a good way.”
“You like Navarro.”
“I don’t.” Nina shook her head. “I feel alarmed around him, excited, upset, nervous, angry—”
“Nina, you may be falling in love,” Valentine said. “I know the signs aren’t logical to a brain that thrives on order, but it might be worth redefining your concept of love.”
“It’s sexual. I’m positive. On both our parts. And that’s not love,” Nina said with a sigh.
“Have you slept with Navarro?”
“No!”
Valentine giggled. “Then how is it sexual?”
“I don’t know! I just think it is. He’s obsessed with my underwear and I…I’m obsessed with keeping it on around him.” Nina glanced toward the window, wanting reassurance that Navarro wasn’t lurking in the tree. “I think that if he didn’t make me feel so many emotions at once, I could pick one, settle on it and disrobe.”
“Nina! What are you talking about?” Valentine’s face was lit with merriment. “Disrobe?”
“I’m just saying that if I knew whether it was love or not, I might be able to undress for him.” Nina felt guilty even saying such a thing to her little sister. “If I knew I was in love with him, I could enjoy making love with him. If I could tell I wasn’t in love with him, I could indulge in a little affair I’d never forget. But since I feel so many things when I’m around him, I just get confused and give up.”
Valentine laughed. “Sister, what a dilemma.”
“Tell me about it,” Nina said crossly. “My hormones are moving at light-speed, and it’s making me cranky.”
“‘Nina and Navarro’ has a cute ring to it.”
Nina winced. “Baby sister, run along to your room. It’s lights out for me. I’ve got to pack some things and plot.”
“Why are you leaving?” Valentine said. “I need you here.”
“I’ve got a job. And you have more than enough people around you, ready to make your life easy.”
“But I want you. I want the time we never got to spend together,” Valentine said. “Does Navarro know you’re leaving?”
“Yes, but he mainly offered to chain himself to the heirloom bed with me, and I don’t know that there was much of a Casablanca goodbye in that.” Nina shook her head, examining a scratch on her arm left from when the horse had tossed her. “He’s just not a man that can be understood or predicted. And that’s not good for my stability.”
Valentine got up, swishing to the door in her long gown and robe. “You’ve been searching for stability all your life. Maybe it’s time to give something else a try.”
“Chaos and disorder make for anarchy,” Nina said. “I’m a safety player at heart.”
“Maybe I should have been,” Valentine said. “But I’m glad I’m not. Kinda weird that I’m so happy about my circumstances, isn’t it?”
“No,” Nina said, thinking, I’d love a baby. That’s why I was willing to let a bull rush at me to win back my bed. And Navarro is definitely the survival-of-the-fittest kind of male any woman would choose to father her offspring.
Of course, he didn’t want children, but then, he wasn’t The One for her, either. And she didn’t need that handsome cowboy riding to her rescue. She was nothing if not sensible. She could rescue herself.
“I’m going to change my flight reservations and figure out how to dress up like a cowboy,” Nina said. “I’m going to enter that Cowboy Bed Check and be the last one sitting on the bed.” She gave Valentine a determined look. “I’m getting my charmed bed back.”
Valentine gasped. “Navarro’s going to kill you when he finds out! If the bull doesn’t get you first.”
“I don’t care.” Nina looked at her sister’s softly rounded stomach. To him, the bed was just another adventure.
But to Nina, the bed represented family—past, present and future.
“I’m not going to lose it,” she said. “It’s ours.”
Chapter Eight
Nina didn’t see Navarro at all on Friday, which was annoying because he thought her plane was leaving on Saturday. He didn’t know she’d changed her flight plans, so he should have dropped by to say goodbye, at least.
She didn’t want to examine why her feelings were hurt.
But at five o’clock, when he came riding up on Curious George while she and Valentine were sitting on the porch sipping tea, Nina’s soul jumped for joy.
“Howdy, ladies,” he said, tipping his hat.
“Hi, Navarro,” Valentine said with a sweet smile. “How are you?”
His eyes stayed on Nina as he answered. “Good.”
An awkward pause settled over them. Nina wasn’t going to say a word. After all, he was the one who’d gotten miffed and exited her window.
“I owe you an apology,” he finally said to Nina.
“Well, I think I hear the teakettle whistling,” Valentine said brightly. “Why don’t I go see if it is?”
He waited until she’d left. “Nina,” he said, “you’re driving me insane.”
She nodded. “Likewise. Is that the preface or the ending to your apology?”
“It’s the general state of confusion I’m suffering. I’ve never known a woman who could tie me up in knots the way you do, and yet I know the possibility of a relationship with you is nonexistent. I do believe you’d kill me.”
“You could be right. Though it will remain a mystery.”
He sighed. “I had to meet the only librarian who didn’t follow the stereotype.”
“I had to meet a cowboy who didn’t live up to the stereotype,” she said softly.
“I do!” he protested. “I’m handsome, hardworking, handsome—”
“Well, you certainly have yourself convinced.”
His gaze touched her white linen dress and her bare feet. “You look very pretty.”
She wasn’t about to tell him he looked handsome after he’d just told her twice how handsome he was. What a compliment-fisher! “How’s Curious George?”
“Still sorry he threw you the other night.”
She shrugged. “Can’t trust a male.”
“Actually this is a—never mind,” he said with a sigh. “I suppose all Curious George is to you is a giant chocolate-colored horse, not the dark bay Thoroughbred he actually is.”
“No, but, if it helps at all, he really didn’t hurt me. I think I slid over his neck. I don’t think he actually tossed me. And it was more my fault than his, if I were to be honest.”
He patted the horse’s neck. “Still. He is trained to handle just about anything. He should have been able to behave for one untrained rider.”
“He doesn’t know me very well.” She reached u
p to rub the horse’s nose that he’d stuck over the railing.
“I don’t, either,” Navarro said. “But I wouldn’t throw you over.”
Her gaze flew to his. Her blood started tickling right before she felt a rush of wishfulness. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I know there’s some feeling between us. But it’s not what it needs to be. I think we both know that.”
He swallowed. “I know you’re right. I just haven’t completely convinced myself. It’s a brain/heart ratio thing that’s out of whack inside me.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“I cussed Last for not being able to make rational choices. But now I’m the one who’s not feeling too rational.” Gripping the reins tighter in his hand, he glanced at the leather winding over his fingers. “Nina, I knew the first time I laid eyes on you that you were a different kind of woman. I wish I had time to figure you out.”
“What’s the fun in that?” Nina said lightly.
“My mind likes puzzles. And you make me curious.”
She smiled and rubbed the horse’s nose one more time. “You and your horse.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “So I guess I really came to say goodbye.”
She waited, her heart stuck in a dull rhythm, a clock that needed winding to tick fast again.
“Do you need a ride to the airport?”
“No,” she said, not mentioning her canceled plans. “No, thank you. A cab would be better.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie. She hadn’t said she was actually taking one.
“Okay. By the way, I did enter the rodeo.”
“You did?”
He nodded, his expression serious. “If I can win your bed back for you tomorrow, I will, Nina.”
“I didn’t think you’d enter,” she said, hesitating. It was on the tip of her tongue to say she’d entered under a false name, but maybe he wouldn’t recognize her. They wouldn’t be in there long, not with a bull rushing at them.
She felt guilty, knowing that she was going to beat him. “Navarro, don’t do it,” she said. “It’s not that important.”
“It is important.”
“No, it’s really not,” she said, her words speeding up as she realized just how much he was risking for her. “It’s just a bed.”
“It’s your bed. And your charm. And I see it as your honor,” he told her seriously.
“You could get hurt!”
“I’ve gotten away from many bulls in my lifetime. I’ll be fine.”
He was handsome, Nina acknowledged, wishing he wasn’t so aware of it. And cocky.
Brave. And kind.
And her heart knew it.
She couldn’t tell him that she intended to win her own history and dreams back. He wouldn’t let her do it—but she didn’t want to owe him anything. She thought about Valentine, pregnant by a man who didn’t want her, and knew she had to take charge of her own destiny.
“Don’t do it,” she told Navarro. “You won’t win.”
He grinned. “Our family reputation is that we’re wild winners.”
She stood, brushing the wrinkles out of her white linen dress because she couldn’t meet his gaze. “Goodbye, Navarro,” she said. “Call me if Valentine needs me. She doesn’t always phone home when she’s in trouble.”
“I think she’s on the upswing,” Navarro said easily. “And there isn’t much trouble to get into out here, anyway. But I’ll keep an eye on her for you.”
“Thanks.” Nina turned to go inside.
“Nina.”
She turned her head to look over her shoulder. “Yes?” Her heart was beating madly inside her.
He looked at her for a long moment, then shook his head. “Nothing. Happy trails.”
“You, too.”
She went inside and closed the door, wishing it was as easy to close the door on her heart.
“JUST HEARD FROM MIMI about the sheriff,” Crockett said when Navarro rode up to the house. “She says her dad’s doing better. He’s had a string of good days.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“She’s thinking about running for his office.”
Navarro nodded at Crockett. “She could do it.”
“Yeah. Helga wants to know if you want meat loaf sent over for dinner.”
He wasn’t hungry, but Helga’s meat loaf was actually pretty good. “I imagine the boys would appreciate that.”
“So, where ya been?” Crockett asked. “Your face looks like your heart’s quit pumping.”
“Thanks, bro. I appreciate your diagnosis.” Navarro swung down from the saddle and tied the reins to the porch rail. “Planning to get your medical degree?”
“Hey!” Crockett said. “Don’t eat my head, man, I’m not gonna grow another.”
“Sorry.” Navarro wanted to be alone with his thoughts, mainly the ones about Nina. “I’m all out of parlor conversation, though.”
“Hey,” Crockett said, following after his brother, “I heard from Frisco Joe and Annabelle. They’re fixing to host a large gathering of international wine experts at their vineyard.”
“Really? Nice company they’re keeping.” At least it was good news, he thought.
“And Laredo said he and Katy are studying up a storm. Duke University’s really agreeing with him.”
“Another studious brother happily biting the dust,” Navarro said.
“Yes, intelligent bunch we have here,” Crockett said cheerfully. “Ranger sent a postcard from some place in Alaska. He says they’re hot on the trail of heart-stopping scenery. Me, I think he and Hannah are just having a blast on the endless road trip.”
“Whatever excuse works.”
“And,” Crockett said, “I got a text message from Tex. So I guess that would be a Tex-message.”
He laughed and Navarro gave him an impatient eyeing. “And?”
“He and Cissy are pit-stopped on the banks of the Gulf, eating great seafood and hosting celebrities and other vacationers on their boat. What a life. Nothing to do but float—”
“Bro, I gotta go. Are you done?”
“I guess I am, unless you want to hear about Fannin’s e-mail—”
“No.” Navarro shook his head. “You’re going to say that the tiny red teacup poodle Joy sleeps in his hat, and the flame is never-ending between he and Kelly. And that they sent another e-mail to Helga, saying that life with twins in Ireland is fulfilling.”
“Well, not in so many words, but Joy does sleep in his hat—”
“See ya later, bro,” Navarro said, closing the door to his makeshift sleeping room in Crockett’s face. Too many brothers had bailed from the ranch. Navarro slumped onto the sofa, flipping the TV on while he let his thoughts roam.
Dannon, Delaware, would never be his kind of town. He belonged here, on the ranch. Valentine was happy to move to Union Junction, Texas. Why not her sister?
Valentine was having a Jefferson baby and Nina was not.
Nina wanted babies.
Navarro wanted nothing of the kind.
There was nothing to draw them together for life. “Why am I thinking about forever?” he asked himself. “Life is too complicated to think about long hauls.”
Shoot, the brothers couldn’t make it a day without hitting one of life’s cattle guards. He really had nothing to offer a librarian, unless she simply wanted a cowboy fantasy.
Fantasies he could do.
“Hey!” Crockett pounded on the door. “Forgot to tell you something.”
“Come in,” Navarro said crossly. “It better be good.”
“Last took out his earring and shaved his head. He looks like an egg, but at least the Bowie period is over.”
Navarro grunted. “Has he gone to talk to Valentine?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then he hasn’t come around yet. We need to lock up the liquor cabinet and stow the beer. Replace it with soda and water bottles.”
“He can buy his own liquor if he wants, Navarro. No use padlocking the rest of us.”
<
br /> “Out of sight, out of mind, hopefully.” Unfortunately, he didn’t think that would work for his thoughts about Nina. He just might have a rare case of emotional attachment disturbing his reasoning.
“Have you ever watched these shows?” Crockett asked, flipping to a channel featuring mud wrestling. Two bikini-clad blondes wrestled in the mud, cheered on by a delirious crowd. “They’re twins.”
“Fancy that,” Navarro said, annoyed.
“Ever have a twin fantasy?”
Navarro blinked. “I think I was always more partial to nurse fantasies.”
Crockett guffawed. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Remember how Mimi’s mom used to watch a soap while she ironed? ‘General Hospital’ or something. I guess that’s where she got the itch for Hollywood.”
“Wonder what happened to her?”
Navarro shook his head. “Just know she wasn’t cut out to be a ranch wife.”
“It’s not easy,” Crockett said stoically. “I could go for twins.”
“Not me.” Navarro switched off the TV. “I’m a one-woman man.” He pulled his hat over his face and kicked his boots up on the sofa. “Helluva thing to be.”
“Hey, is there something we should discuss?” Crockett asked. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” After a moment of pondering the inside of his hat brim, he said, “I entered the Cowboy Bed Check contest.”
“Excellent. Shall I bring a shovel to carry you home in?”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Yeah. You will.”
“I’ll be better if I win.”
“That’s true,” Crockett said. “I’ll drive you over and back, okay? That way if you’re piecemeal, you won’t have to bleed out in a taxi.”
“You are so much help. A comfort and a reason for faith.”
“You’re welcome. Get some rest. You’re going to need it for the sheer fight-or-flight adrenaline that’s going to hit you tomorrow.”
“I’m already feeling it.”
“Eh, I think that’s from Nina leaving town, bro,” Crockett said quietly. “Did you ever think about laying all your cards on the table? Instead of getting laid low by the curse of the broken body parts?”
Navarro chose not to answer and closed his eyes. Crockett left the room, his boots sounding on the stairs.