by Linda Warren
Chance and Kid walked into the room. One of the nurses was checking his IV, then straightened the sheet over Cadde. “He should wake up soon,” she said.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Kid replied, eyeing her from head to toe.
Chance poked him in the ribs. “Focus,” he whispered under his breath.
With a slight smile the nurse walked out of the room.
“Give it a rest, Kid,” Chance said, making his way to the bed.
Kid stood on the other side. “When do you think he’ll wake up?”
“When he’s ready, I guess.”
Almost on cue, Cadde’s eyelashes fluttered and his eyes opened slowly. “Where am I?” he groaned.
“In a hospital,” Kid answered.
“What…what happened?”
“You don’t remember?” Chance asked.
“Brad was hurt and I—”
“Yeah. You slipped off the derrick,” Kid interrupted. “There were ten or more roughnecks ready to climb up there to rescue Brad, but oh no, you had to do it. You had to show them you’re the big boss and still have what it takes.” It seemed as if someone had waved a green flag in front of Kid and he couldn’t stop. “You’re facing forty, and sit all day and half the night at a desk. What were you thinking? I’ve traipsed all over Texas chasing your damn dream and you pull something like this. I…” Suddenly Kid ran out of fuel.
“Did you get it off your chest?” Cadde asked.
“Hell, no,” he shouted. “When you get out of here I’m going to kill you.” He flopped into a chair and rested his dirty boots on the bed. “You know that song that says ‘He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother’? Well, let me tell you, brother, you’re heavy as hell. Take a look at Chance’s arm.”
Cadde turned his head and stared. “What happened?”
Before Chance could answer, Kid grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV. “You want to know what happened? Take a look. They’re running it about every fifteen minutes. Must be a slow news day.”
“Kid.” Chance tried to stop him, but it was too late. The rescue blasted onto the screen.
Cadde watched in silence for a few minutes and then said, “Turn it off.”
Chance yanked the control from Kid and did so.
“Has Jessie seen it?” he asked.
“She’d have to live in a cave not to,” Kid muttered.
Cadde turned to Chance. “Make sure the hospital doesn’t call her.”
“They already have.”
“What?”
“She’s your wife, remember?” Kid reminded him. “Next of kin sort of thing.”
“Shit.” Cadde moved restlessly in the bed, then winced.
Kid got to his feet. “On that note I’m going to my apartment to crash. Hopefully I can persuade that pretty nurse to go with me. I bet she could ease my aches and pains.”
Chance just shook his head.
“I’m glad you’re gonna make it, big brother,” Kid told him, “but the next time I have to risk my life to save yours I’m—”
“Have you forgotten all the times I’ve risked mine to save yours? Remember that woman in Laredo? She forgot to tell you she was married, or you chose to ignore it. But you were very aware of it when her husband held a shotgun to your head. Who kept him from spreading your brains across that barroom? And what about those two girls in Lubbock who found out you were dating them at the same time? Who took the knife away and kept those she-devils from spreading your balls across Texas?”
Kid shuffled his feet. “So I guess we’re even.”
“Until the next crisis,” Chance interjected.
“Until the next crisis.” Kid stretched out his hand to Cadde and he took it. They held on longer than necessary. Chance knew Kid wasn’t really angry about what he’d had to do. He was angry he could have lost his sidekick, his brother, today.
Cadde turned to Chance. “How’s Brad?”
“He’s still in surgery. I’ll check on him a little later.”
“Good.” Cadde nodded and winced again. Chance knew he probably had a gigantic headache. “Have you got the rig started again?”
“No.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
“I’m easing my weary bones out the door,” Kid said. “I don’t have any fight left, so Chance, he’s all yours.”
“Why not?” Cadde demanded again as soon as Kid had left.
“Because those guys went through a harrowing experience today and they need a break. We’ll start again in the morning.”
“Like hell. You’ll start now.”
Chance was tired and his body ached. Any patience he’d possessed had completely flown the coop. He walked to the edge of the bed and stared his brother in the eye. “The rig starts in the morning,” he stated in a firm tone. “A lot of roughnecks worked together to save your hide today. To me that deserves recognition, so I gave them time off with pay. If you override my order, I’m outta here for good. What’s it going to be?”
Cadde moved restlessly and Chance saw him wince again. Clearly he was in pain, but he’d never admit it. Big, stubborn oaf!
“Okay.” Cadde sighed. “But it better start in the morning.”
Chance swung toward the door. “Get some rest—I definitely need some. See you tomorrow.”
“Chance,” Cadde called.
He looked back at his brother.
“Thanks.”
Chance nodded and walked out. Outside the door, he took a long breath. Down the hall he could see Kid talking to the nurse. Dealing with his brothers was like dealing with two petulant children. What had he gotten himself into?
A tap-tapping sound caught his attention. He looked up to see Jessie Murdock Hardin coming toward him. She wore a burgundy print dress with a short black jacket. Her dark brown hair was coiled at her neck. Sunglasses perched on the top of her head. She was beautiful, sophisticated and a woman to be reckoned with. It showed in every line of her slim body. Why she and Cadde couldn’t make the marriage work was beyond him.
“How’s Cadde?” she asked, stopping by his side.
“He’s going to be fine.”
“Good. I didn’t think anything could penetrate that thick skull of his.” She moved to the door. “I got the paperwork on the transfer of shares into your name. Of course, Cadde told me nothing about it. The papers just arrived on my desk. I started not to sign off on them, but that would have been spiteful. You’ll be a great asset to Shilah Oil and I was happy to sign, despite Cadde’s lack of business manners.”
“Thank you, Jessie,” Chance said as she went into the room.
Cadde hadn’t told her. That boggled Chance’s mind. He’d sunk everything he had into Cadde’s oil venture and his brother hadn’t told Jessie, the woman who held all the power at Shilah Oil. Damn! He and Cadde had to have a long talk.
Kid strolled toward him. “Hey, the nurse, Molly, has a friend. Want to go out tonight?”
“Are you out of your mind? I’m going to the apartment to rest—alone.”
“Okay. Don’t blow a gasket.” Kid gestured toward Cadde’s door. “What did Jessie want?”
“To see her husband.”
“Really? I thought she’d phone in her get well wishes.”
“That’s cold, Kid, even for you.”
“She keeps him on tenterhooks all the time.”
“Maybe he keeps her on tenterhooks,” Chance retorted. “I don’t know and I’m not getting involved in their marriage.”
“Whoa.” Kid held up his hands. “I think Chance needs a nap.”
“Go away, Kid.”
“I’m going.” He headed back to the nurse’s station. “Sure you won’t change your mind?” he called over his shoulder.
Chance didn’t answer. He didn’t feel he needed to. He ran his hands over his face. What a horrible day. Once again he stood alone in the hallway, feeling lonelier than ever. His arms ached for Shay and he couldn’t shake that feeling. He wondered how long it took to get over a broken heart.
He glanced down the hallway and blinked. Was that…? The woman looked like Shay, with all that blonde hair cascading down her back. She spoke to a nurse. Was he so tired he was imagining her? The nurse pointed to him, and Shay took off at a run.
Was he dreaming?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
AS SHAY REACHED HIM he did the only thing he could: held out his arms. She barreled into him, almost knocking him off his feet. He held her even though he knew he shouldn’t.
“I’m sorry. I was scared, but I love you. Just know that I love you.” Her arms clasped him tightly around the neck, her breath fanning the side of his face.
He breathed in the lavender scent of her hair and rejoiced in the feel of her against him. But it couldn’t be this easy. He had to have answers.
“How’s your brother?” she asked.
“He’s going to be fine.”
“Good.”
“Shay.” He eased away from her. “Yesterday you didn’t love me. Today you do. To say the least, I’m a little confused.”
“I’m sorry.” She stroked his face. “I can explain, but it’s a long story. I can’t do it here. Darcy is with Blanche and I have to run. I’ll be at your apartment about six. Okay?”
“Okay.” He gathered her into his arms once more and felt her heart beating against his. She loved him. He wasn’t going to look that gift horse in the mouth. Besides, he didn’t have the energy to keep resisting something he wanted so badly.
He kissed her with all the longing inside him and then just held her as the loneliness ebbed away. In her arms he felt as if he’d found home, a place of peace and trust that only she could create.
After a brief kiss she pulled away. “See you tonight.” And she disappeared as quickly as she had arrived.
Just know that I love you.
Like a starving man, he could live on that—for a very long time.
SHAY RUSHED THROUGH the back door feeling as if she’d been granted a reprieve—for now. Tonight she had to tell him the truth, and then… She didn’t want to think beyond that.
Placing her purse on the kitchen table, she noted the house was very quiet, except for the movie running on the TV. Where was Darcy? Her heart jumped into her throat.
“Darcy!” she shouted.
“Mom’s home,” she heard her say, and in a second Darcy raced into the room, Tiny, as always, behind her. “Did you see Chance?”
“Yes, sweetie, and he’s fine.”
“Is he coming here?”
“No. He has to rest, but I’m going to check on him later.”
“Can I go, too?”
Shay hated to douse that hope in her daughter’s eyes, but tonight was for her and Chance alone. “No, sweetie.”
“Shoot.” Darcy snapped her fingers.
“Did Nettie come over?”
“Yes, and I told her I had everything under control, so she went home to take a nap.”
Shay knew they depended on her too much, but Nettie was all she had. Shay was there for Nettie, too, so she supposed it worked both ways. And that’s what families did—depended on each other.
She nodded toward the hallway. “What were you doing?”
“Playing checkers with Blanche,” Darcy said, as if it was something she did every day.
“What?”
“Yeah. She beat me, too.”
“What brought that on?” Shay was more than curious. Blanche never made any effort to get to know Darcy. She just wanted her out of the house.
Her daughter shrugged. “She asked for some water and I got it with ice and a napkin, just like you do. Then she wanted to know what I was doing and I said nothing ’cause the TV is broke. I couldn’t get it off the movie, Mom. It’s broken.”
“I’ll take a look at it,” she offered with a sly grin.
“Blanche said it’s not much fun when you have nothing to do. I told her that if Petey was here we could play checkers, and that I always beat him. She asked if I could beat her. I said I didn’t know. She said get the checkers, and I did. We’ve been playing…oh, I gotta go back. We have to finish a game.”
Darcy darted off and Shay leaned against the counter, thinking, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”
Now she just needed to keep the miracles coming.
CHANCE WOKE UP stretched across his bed in Jockey shorts. The ice that was supposed to be on his arm was now against his waist. Damn! He sat up and glanced at his watch. Six o’clock and Shay wasn’t here. He’d give her time. She could be caught in traffic.
Grabbing a robe, he headed for the kitchen and fresh ice. He sat on the sofa and positioned his arm on a pillow so the pack wouldn’t fall off, then he leaned his head back and waited for Shay. At six-thirty he was still waiting.
Had she lied? He had to get off the Shay merry-go-round. It was about to kill him.
He got up and went into the kitchen, and was reaching into the freezer for more ice when his cell buzzed. He looked around. Where was it? He made a mad dash to the bedroom and clicked on.
“Chance, I can’t get in. The door is locked.” Her voice had never sounded more wonderful.
“I’ll be right there.” He tied the belt on his robe and slipped on flip-flops. No one was in the building, so he didn’t have to worry about his wardrobe. It seemed to take forever for the elevator to get to the bottom level. He quickly opened the outer door and yanked Shay inside, pulling her into his arms.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” he muttered against the side of her face, the feel of her skin igniting every emotion in him.
“Darcy wanted to come and it took a while to make her understand that she couldn’t.”
He swept Shay onto the elevator and into his arms again, kissing her long and deep. He didn’t have any plans of letting her go anytime soon. They sidestepped from the elevator, across the hall and into the apartment without their lips losing contact. Chance kicked the door shut.
“Chance, wait…” Shay pulled away.
“I don’t want to wait,” he murmured, trying to capture her lips again. But she held her head back.
“Where’s your phone?”
He pointed to an end table. She picked up his cell, poked in a number and handed the device to him. “Tell Darcy you’re okay and you’ll see her whenever.”
“Hey, hotshot,” he said when Darcy answered.
“Chance, are you okay?”
“I’m fine now that your mom is here.” He kissed Shay lightly.
“I said a prayer for you.”
“I appreciate that, hotshot. Thank you. It must have worked ’cause I feel much better.”
“I’ll say another.”
“Thank you, and be good for Nettie.”
“I will. Bye.”
He laid the phone down and reached for Shay, molding her body against his. She moaned.
“Chance… We need to talk.”
He shook his head. “No waiting. No talking. Just you and me, right here, right now.”
“But…” His tongue licked the corner of her mouth in a provocative gesture. What was left of her control snapped.
“No buts, either.” He groaned. “I want you to ease every ache in me, every ache. And so we’re clear, it’s not just sex.”
“No.” She bit his earlobe. “It’s not just sex. It’s a lot more.”
“Yes.” He took her hand and led her to the bedroom. Sitting on the bed, he pulled her between his legs and started undoing the buttons on her blouse.
As he unfastened her bra, she pushed the robe from his shoulders and gasped.
“What?”
“You’re hurt,” she said, gazing at his black-and-blue arm. “Oh, Chance, you’re so bruised.”
“It’ll heal.”
“You should put some ice on it or something.”
“It can wait. Everything can wait.” He teased one nipple. “But this.”
“Oh, Chance.”
He lay back on the bed and pulled her on top of him. Nothing was said for s
ome time, but their moans and sighs filled the room.
WHEN CHANCE WOKE UP it was six o’clock in the morning. He reached for Shay, but knew she wasn’t there. He sat up and noticed the note on the nightstand.
Sorry I had to leave. You were sleeping so peacefully I couldn’t wake you. Talk to you tonight.
Love you, Shay.
“Love you” stayed with him while he dressed, and he had a feeling it was going to stay with him the rest of the day. He called Sam from his office to see if the rig was running, pulling pipe to get to the broken one. It was. He said he was on his way, to make sure the rig was drilling by nightfall.
As he headed out, he paused by the elevator for a moment, his thoughts on his older brother. On impulse he walked to Cadde’s office. He was shocked to see Barbara at her desk. She usually didn’t come in this early.
“Good morning, Mr. Hardin. Can I help you?”
“Nah. I’m fine.”
He moved toward Cadde’s door and Barbara jumped to her feet. “Mr. Hardin…”
“You don’t want me to go in there, do you?”
“I’d rather that you didn’t,” she replied.
“And I’d rather that I did.” Without another word, he stepped inside. And there was Cadde, sitting in his big chair, staring out at the view of Houston with a bandage on his head.
“Have you lost your mind?” he berated Cadde, for what it was worth.
“I couldn’t take one more minute in that hospital.”
“Did you call Jessie?”
“No.”
“How can you be so inconsiderate?” Chance reached for his phone. Jessie informed him that she already knew because the hospital had notified her.
As Chance shoved his phone into its leather cover, he heard loud voices in Barbara’s office. Obviously, Kid was trying to get past the watchdog. In a moment he burst through the door.
“Ah, Chance, I was over at the hospital and…” His eyes swung to Cadde. “Son of a bitch!”
“You two can go to work now,” Cadde said in a flat tone.
“How did you get here?” Kid demanded.
“I called Barbara and she brought my clothes this morning. I always keep some here in the office.”
“There’s a lot in the apartment, too,” Chance added. “Do you even know where home is?”