by Judy Duarte
Chapter Five
Ever since Nate had placed that call to Anna and found her at the Stagecoach Inn, he’d begun to see her in a different light. Instead of a straitlaced professional in business attire, he envisioned her in a pair of fancy boots, tight jeans and a sexy T-shirt.
He’d once felt edgy and on guard around her, but that was no longer the case. Now he could easily imagine the two of them seated in a cozy, darkened booth at the local honky-tonk, toasting the evening by clinking one longneck bottle of beer against the other.
Or maybe she’d prefer a glass of wine.
He supposed her choice of drinks really didn’t matter. Just the thought of them listening to country music and sharing a few laughs was enough to lighten his mood after he’d put in a hard day at work.
His tired, aching muscles no longer bothered him as they walked outside together, their way lit by the amber glow of the porch light. As they neared the barn they triggered the motion detectors, which instantly bathed the entire yard in light.
Unable to resist teasing her about her whereabouts on Friday night, Nate bumped his elbow against her arm. “I was a little surprised when you showed up after dinner this evening. I figured you’d prefer a more exciting place to wind down after work, maybe somewhere offering drinks, music and dancing.”
Anna froze midstep, slapped her hands on her hips and turned to face him, a crease in her brow. “I told you before. I wasn’t hanging out at that bar. I just stopped in to order a hamburger to go.”
His smile deepened. “The Stagecoach Inn makes a mean burger. How’d you like it?”
“It was okay, I guess. But after all the ribbing you’ve been giving me, I wished I’d gone to Joe’s Café and ordered a salad or sandwich instead.”
If she had, some of those lonely truckers who frequented Joe’s would’ve been happy.
Anna started to walk again, and Nate fell in step beside her.
“Besides,” she said, “after the day I’d had at work, I wanted to unwind with a glass of wine. And I figured Joe only served coffee, tea and sodas.”
So that answered his question about her preferred drink.
“And for the record, I only had one glass,” she added. “You may not believe this, but I’ve never been in a place like that before.”
“No kidding?” Nate never had a problem getting information from a pretty lady he was attracted to. Not that he’d let his interest in this particular woman go any further than some flirtatious bantering. “That’s a little surprising—for a Texas girl.”
“I’m not from around here. I was born and raised in Oregon.”
“Then why do I detect a soft Southern twang in your voice?”
She shot a glance his way, her brow scrunched again. “I don’t have an accent.”
“Actually, you do. But just a little one.”
She seemed to think on that for a moment. “Maybe I picked it up from my mom. She was originally from Oklahoma.”
Nate never let conversations drift toward family talk, which could open a can of memories he’d like to remain shut, so he steered the subject toward one that was a lot safer—and more lighthearted.
“So what’d you think of our local honky-tonk?” he asked.
“The Stagecoach Inn? I was only there for about fifteen minutes, but I guess it could make for an entertaining evening—if I hadn’t been there alone.”
He’d begun to think that Anna wasn’t the kind of woman who should ever spend nights alone. “You could’ve had plenty of company, if you’d have wanted it. Especially that guy seated at the bar who was willing to pay for your drinks all night.”
She clicked her tongue. “I’d never accept an offer like that. And I’d hoped you hadn’t heard any of that background noise.”
Nate had actually heard plenty, enough to wish he’d been there in person that night. Would she have accepted his offer to buy her drinks?
“Okay,” she said. “I’d really like to forget about my fifteen minutes at that cowboy bar. Can’t you let it go?”
For now, he supposed. But the subject would undoubtedly come up again. He was having too much fun with it.
“So,” Anna said, apparently deciding to change topics for him. “How are things going with the baby?”
“Okay, I guess.” He was still a little nervous when he had her on his own, but he was getting the hang of changing diapers and giving her bottles. He could actually get a burp out of her now. And just the other day, he could have sworn she’d smiled at him, but one of the oldsters insisted she just had gas.
“Then I assume you’re adjusting to fatherhood.”
Nate sure hoped so. He stole another glance at the attractive social worker. She didn’t seem to be in any rush to return to the house—or to leave the ranch altogether.
Did she spend this much time with all of her clients? Hell, just the drive to and from the Rocking C had to take more than an hour out of her day. Surely he wasn’t her only assignment, the only one she’d taken under her wing—or placed on her radar.
“How many babies and families are you working with?” he asked.
“About seven right now.”
That was a lot more than he’d thought, which was a huge relief. At least he wasn’t her only focus.
Still, if each of those parents got as much of her time and attention as he did, she must really be busy—not to mention dedicated. He admired that about her. And for that very reason, he could see why it bothered her when he teased her about throwing down a couple of drinks and kicking up her heels.
“Do you live near the Stagecoach Inn?” he asked.
“Oh, no. I’m on the other side of town, near the hospital. I rent a studio apartment, but after that pipe broke the other day, there was so much water damage I had to move out temporarily.”
“You mentioned that you had to stay at the Night Owl. Were you able to find another place to stay?”
“Actually, I’m still there.”
He blew out a long, slow whistle. “Something tells me that’s a far cry from what you’re used to.”
Anna laughed, and as she let down her guard, her shoulder brushed his arm in a casual, we’re-becoming-friends way. “You’re right about that. I’d much rather be at the Four Seasons or the Ritz, but that wasn’t an option in Brighton Valley—or even in Wexler.”
He’d pretty much pegged her as a five-star hotel gal, so it appeared that he’d gotten that part right.
“I hate living out of a suitcase,” she said. “And unfortunately, the construction work is going to take a lot longer than anyone expected. So, as much as I like my cozy little apartment, especially since it’s walking distance to the hospital, I’m going to take a couple of days off work so I can find another place to live.”
“While you’re looking, there’s a new condominium complex near my house. It’s located fairly close to the hospital, too. You might want to check it out.”
“The condos on the corner of Oakdale and Peachtree Lane? I’ve seen them. They look nice, but I can’t afford to buy anything right now. And to make matters worse, my place is completely furnished. So I’d have to invest in...” She paused then gave a slight shrug. “Well, furniture and pretty much everything else. So needless to say, some of my time off will be spent shopping for home furnishings.”
She had no furniture of her own, no household stuff? He hadn’t seen that coming.
Nate glanced out at the darkened ranch, unsure of which direction to go next. But for the time being, as long as Anna was walking by his side, he didn’t really care where they went.
Anna Reynolds was proving to be a surprising woman. And one who could easily intrigue him to distraction.
* * *
Anna had no idea why she and Nate had wandered nearly a hundred yards from the ranch house
. The excuse she’d given him, as well as herself, was to talk privately so she could check on how the new daddy was doing with his daughter. But it seemed that their conversation had been more about her and her living situation. As a result, this evening’s home visit was beginning to turn into something she hadn’t meant it to be.
What had she been thinking?
That was the problem. She hadn’t been thinking. She’d been too caught up in the moment, in the intimacy of walking with a handsome man in the moonlight. And she was supposed to be working.
She stole a peek at Nate, who sauntered beside her as if their nighttime stroll wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. But it was.
Did he assume she only wanted to get him alone so she could get to know him better on a personal level?
Okay, so maybe there was some of that going on. She was more than a little curious about Nate. She wanted to know more about him—and as a man and not just a daddy. And for that reason it was time to contain her wayward thoughts.
She slowed to a stop. “I almost forgot. The main reason I drove out here was to tell you I’d gotten the information you’d wanted. I have the name of the woman who manages that company that provides trained and bonded nannies.”
“Oh, good.”
“Yes, but I left it in my briefcase. We’d better head back to the house so I can get it for you.”
“Okay.” Nate continued to walk along a path that seemed to lead to nowhere in particular.
“I also need to get home before it gets much later,” she added. And before she completely lost her head about why she was really here.
Nate stopped and turned to face her. As his gaze snagged hers, his smile went from boyish and teasing to one that was almost flirtatious. “That’s a bad sign, Anna.”
“What is?” She tilted her head slightly, trying to read his expression. She had no idea what he thought was a “bad” sign.
“You referred to the Night Owl as home.”
Oh, gosh. She had, but she hadn’t meant it that way. She’d only wanted to get away from here, from him, before she said or implied too much.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I haven’t begun to nest there. I’m just ready to turn in for the night, and that motel is the closest thing I have to a home these days.”
He studied her with an intensity she hadn’t expected or been ready for. Her heart spun in her chest, and her breathing slowed to a near standstill. She was so mesmerized by it all—the way he was looking at her, the effect he had on her—that she couldn’t seem to move at all.
She both wanted and needed to escape whatever was going on between them, but she was drawn to it, ensnared by it.
This was so not good. She had to shake it off, to gather her thoughts and rely on her common sense.
“That’s why I need to start looking for a new place,” she said. “And why I want to get home... I mean back to the motel before it gets much later.”
“Then I’ll walk you to your car.”
An audible response stalled in her throat, so all she could do was nod and turn toward the front yard, avoiding the longer graveled path and taking a short cut across the lawn instead.
Nate didn’t say anything, either, and she was glad about that. Yet they’d seemed to be communicating silently, although she’d be darned if she knew what that was all about.
Okay, so she suspected she knew what it might be, what it could be, but she refused to put any more weight on the pounding of her heart, the flutter in her belly.
As they neared the barn, the motion detector picked up their movements, and the outdoor lights came on. But before she could head toward the house to get her purse and briefcase, an engine sounded. She glanced at the driveway and spotted the oncoming headlights of a vehicle heading to the ranch.
A pickup, she suspected. A black one that appeared to be shiny and new.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Nate said.
“Who is it?”
“Drew Madison.”
The name sounded familiar, but Anna couldn’t put her finger on why it would.
As the man—a rather tall one in his mid-to late-thirties—climbed from his truck, Anna took a good look at him, trying to recognize him to no avail.
He wore a dark cowboy hat, but under it, his longish hair appeared to be light brown—maybe even blond. He had broad shoulders and was ruggedly built.
Still, Anna didn’t recognize him. Should she?
The man—Drew—strode toward Nate with his arm outstretched in greeting. “Hey, how’s it going, buddy?”
Nate shook his hand. “I’m doin’ all right.”
The handsome, well-dressed cowboy glanced at Anna and smiled. Then he doffed his hat. “How’d you do, ma’am? I’m Andrew Madison, but you can call me Drew.”
He was nearly as handsome as Nate, and his manners were certainly admirable. There was something likable about the guy, but she still had no idea why his name sounded familiar.
She reached out and took his hand. “Anna Reynolds. It’s nice to meet you.”
His grip was warm and firm as he flashed a dimpled grin.
Anna glanced at Nate, only to see that he wasn’t returning the man’s smile.
So who was Drew Madison? And why didn’t Nate seem to be as happy to see him as he was to see Nate?
* * *
When Nate had spotted Drew climbing out of a new truck, his steps had slowed to a stop. It wasn’t unusual for Drew to drop by the Rocking C, but whenever he did, it made Nate a little uneasy.
Not that Nate had anything against the guy. In fact, he liked him. They’d been good friends in high school, and for a while they’d been competitors. Actually, they still were. Friends, that is. But they no longer had the rodeo in common.
And that was the problem. Seeing Drew only served to remind Nate of the life he no longer had—and the man he no longer was.
Of course, that wasn’t Drew’s fault. It really wasn’t anyone’s. Out of the blue, life struck a mean blow, and a man learned to roll with the punches. Unfortunately, it seemed that Nate had been rolling with the unexpected for as long as he could remember, and he was getting tired of it. The punches, that is.
“I stopped by to see Rex,” Drew said.
Nate motioned toward the house. “He’s inside.”
“I didn’t mean to—” Drew didn’t exactly wink at Nate, but he may as well have “—interrupt anything.”
“You didn’t.”
Drew’s lips quirked into a crooked grin, suggesting he had his doubts. But whether he believed it or not, there wasn’t anything romantic going on between Nate and Anna.
Or was there?
Nate stole a peek at the pretty social worker and, noting the quizzical expression on her face, figured an explanation was in order.
“When we were younger, Drew and I once competed in the rodeo,” Nate said. “But then he went off to college.”
Anna smiled warmly at the cowboy. A little too warmly, if you asked Nate, since Drew, with his sandy blond hair, blue eyes and dimpled grin, was what you’d call a real ladies’ man. The guy had a way of charming a good girl to be naughty.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Anna said. “But I was just leaving, so you’ll have to excuse me.” She turned back to Nate and nodded toward the house. “I need to get my purse and briefcase. I also have that referral I told you about.”
“Thanks,” Nate said. “I appreciate that.”
As Anna headed toward the front porch steps, Drew eased closer to Nate and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Looks like you’re moving up these days.”
From what? The women who’d thrown themselves at his feet until his career ended?
“Anna’s a social worker from the hospital,” Nate said. “She comes to check on Beth’s baby.”
>
“You mean your baby?”
One night, after having a couple of beers, Nate had told Drew about his brief relationship with Beth.
“You’re right. She’s mine. Being a father takes a little getting used to.”
“I can only imagine.” Drew glanced at the house, where the screen door had just clicked shut. “I’ll bet it also puts a cramp in your social life.”
Nate wondered if Drew’s social life had also slowed down, after he’d given up the rodeo himself. But Drew hadn’t suffered a career-ending injury. He’d inherited his family’s ranch after his uncle J.P. passed away and was taking his new responsibilities seriously.
After J. P. Madison died last winter, Drew had remained in contact with J.P.’s friend, Rex Mayberry, who lived on the Rocking Chair Ranch. Rex had asked Drew to find a sponsor for the retired cowboys’ home, and Drew had agreed to help by using his rodeo connections.
Nate had those same connections once upon a time, but he’d more or less broken away from them so he wouldn’t have the constant reminder of the life he’d once had.
“I was sorry to hear about Beth,” Drew said. “She was a real sweetheart and didn’t deserve what that brute did to her.”
“Yeah, I know. But Kenny told her he was sorry for hitting her in the past and swore he’d never do it again. And unfortunately, Beth believed him.”
Drew tilted up the brim of his Stetson. “Guys like Kenny Huddleston don’t change.”
“I tried to tell her that, but she... Well, Beth was convinced that he’d turned over a new leaf. At least he’s in jail for what he did.”
“To tell you the truth, I was surprised to hear that you stepped up and took custody of the baby. I assume you had a DNA test.”
Nate had told Drew about Beth’s claim, about the possibility that he might have fathered her baby. But he hadn’t shared his doubts. “I don’t need a blood test,” he said.
“You’re that sure?”
Sure enough to know that he hadn’t wanted the baby to go to foster care—or to any of Kenny’s relatives. “Yep. There’s no question that Jessie’s my daughter.”