The Princess And The Cowboy

by Lois Faye Dyer

  “Mama, Mama!” she chanted, smiling with toothless delight when she caught sight of Lily.

  “Hi, sweetie.” Lily laid the bouquet on the white marble tile of the island counter and returned to lift Ava. Her chubby little feet, bare beneath a pink cotton romper, tangled in the cotton seat and she kicked herself free.

  Justin watched, fascinated, as Lily kissed the little girl, gave her a hug and settled the toddler on her hip before walking toward him.

  “Look, Ava,” she pointed at him. “Mommy’s…friend, Justin is here to play with you. Isn’t that nice?”

  Ava ducked her head, suddenly shy, and clung to her mother while eyeing him from behind the shield of her amazingly long eyelashes.

  Her fingers closed in a tiny fist, clutching a handful of Lily’s white tank top. Her grip tugged the cotton neckline lower, exposing a strip of white lace covering the upper swell of Lily’s breasts, and the shadow of the valley between. With an effort Justin dragged his gaze away from that tantalizing glimpse of bra and soft skin, and focused on the little girl.

  “Hello, Ava,” he said gravely, unsure as to what he was supposed to do. It seemed a little odd to be talking to a baby when he had no idea if she understood what he was saying.

  “Look, Justin brought you a teddy bear.” Lily touched the soft fur of the stuffed bear. “Ooh, he’s so soft. Would you like to touch, Ava?”

  She nodded and Lily stepped nearer, easing Ava close enough to smooth one small, dimpled hand over the thick brown pile.

  He breathed in Lily’s perfume as she stood in front of him, all her attention on Ava and the stuffed bear. The subtle fragrance she wore raised an instant mental image of kissing her bare skin while whey made love, the spicy feminine scent flooding his senses. A swift surge of arousal caught him off guard. Ruthlessly, he slammed the door on memories and thanked God Lily seemed unaware of his reaction.

  “Isn’t that nice?” Lily asked.

  Ava nodded her head and petted the bear’s arm once again, a small, pleased smile curving her mouth.

  “Would you like to play with him?” Lily asked.

  Ava nodded once more.

  “Okay, Justin and the bear can sit with us.” Lily lowered herself to the floor, Ava in her arms, and cradled the toddler on her lap. “Justin, why don’t you join us.”

  “Right.” Feeling as awkward as a whale out of water, Justin sat cross-legged on the carpet, facing the little girl who was holding out her arms expectantly.

  He handed over the bear, grinning as she clutched it. The stuffed animal was taller than her, wider, and much too big for her arms to reach around its body. Nevertheless, she managed to hold on and rock side to side, crowing in approval.

  “I think she likes it,” he said.

  Lily smiled. “I think it’s safe to say she loves it. Oops.” She leaned sideways to avoid getting smacked with one of the plush arms. “Would you like to sit over here with your bear?”

  She lifted Ava and the bear off her lap, sitting the little girl down on her diaper-padded bottom. Ava immediately lost her balance and rolled sideways, taking the bear with her and chortling with delight.

  “Is she always this happy?” Justin asked, glancing at Lily. Her face was soft, a half smile curving her mouth as she watched Ava with the stuffed toy.

  “No, she had a late nap so she’s rested at the moment. If she’s tired or hungry or has a wet diaper or…any number of things, she can get very cranky, very fast. Generally speaking, though, she has a fairly even temperament.”

  “She must get that from you,” Justin said wryly.

  “Were you a difficult baby?” Lily asked.

  “I have no idea.” Justin shrugged. His mother hadn’t said what he’d been like as a baby, but since he was old enough to remember, she’d told him he was in the way. He assumed the two went hand in hand.

  Ava pushed away from the bear and began to crawl across the rug, her attention focused intently on a TV remote control lying on the sofa table.

  “No, Ava.” Lily stood and swept Ava up in her arms. “Would you read to Ava while I get her dinner ready? The books are over there.” She pointed to a basket in the corner near the sofa.

  “Sure.” He rolled to his feet, selected several small, hard-paged books with brightly colored covers, and walked back to Lily.

  “Have a seat.” Lily pointed at the club chair. “I’m not sure she’ll sit with you, she’s often shy with strangers, but we can try.”

  He put the books on the lamp table by the chair and held out his arms to take Ava. She eyed him for a moment before she launched herself at him, surprising both Justin and Lily.

  “Well,” Lily said. “I guess she’s agreeable.”

  Justin gingerly balanced Ava on his lap and opened the book. The story was about birthday monsters, both clever and surprisingly funny. Each time he turned a page, Ava chattered with excitement and smacked her little hand on the colorful illustrations.

  Ava’s small body was a warm, solid weight in his arms.

  She smelled like soap, baby power and some scent he couldn’t identify. He wondered if all babies smelled this good or if it was unique to his daughter.

  His experience with babies was zero, and the amount of information he didn’t know suddenly seemed gigantic.

  She twisted to look up at him, chattering emphatically before pausing to eye him expectantly.

  “Uh, yeah, sure.” He had no idea what she’d just said, but his response seemed to satisfy her since she turned back to the book and pointed at the drawing of a grinning monster that bore a striking resemblance to a purple hippopotamus in a green fedora. “You like that one?”

  Ava nodded vigorously and gave him an approving smile.

  He grinned back at her, ridiculously pleased that he must have done something right. She chose that moment to lean back against his chest, going boneless in a display of trust that literally stole his breath. He was blindsided by a flood of emotions.

  He glanced up, sure that Lily must have felt the floor shift beneath their feet, too, but she was at the kitchen counter and had her back to them while she stirred something in a small bowl.

  It’s just me, he thought. Maybe this happens with Lily everyday and she’s grown used to it. So this is what it’s like to be a father, he thought. Scared to death at how tiny and vulnerable your daughter is, wanting to protect her from the world, and so damned amazed at what a miracle she is.

  Ava squirmed and sat up, patting the open book and chattering.

  “Oops, sorry, Ava.” Justin started reading again and Ava settled back, content to listen. They read four books and were starting a fifth before Lily interrupted them.

  “Time for Ava’s dinner.”

  Two hours later, Justin drove home after Lily reluctantly agreed he could return the following evening. He had a whole new perspective on parenthood. How did Lily do that every night by herself?

  No wonder she’s in great shape, he thought. Ava’s nonstop whirlwind of activity required constant supervision and he’d watched Lily lift the solid little body dozens of times. I bet she never has to hit the gym. She’s got her own personal weightlifting program with Ava.

  The toddler was amazing—and so was Lily. He’d planned to remain a lifelong bachelor until Harry’s ultimatum. Even when he’d agreed to marry, he’d meant to offer a wife a business arrangement only. All that had changed, he realized, because now that he knew about Ava and had seen Lily again, his original plan wasn’t possible. Lily was the only woman he’d marry, and there was no way any relationship between them would ever be confined to a business contract.

  He hadn’t slept with anyone since he’d broken up with Lily, not that there hadn’t been available women in Idaho. Nevertheless, on the rare Saturday nights he’d gone to town with his crew for drinks at the local bar, he’d never taken a woman home.

  He might have left Lily behind in Seattle, but she’d never been out of his head, he thought. Since that first time he saw her, she’d been the
only woman he’d wanted.

  Cornelia was going to love her, and since Ava was very much a part of the picture, Harry should be delighted since he wouldn’t have to wait a year for a grandchild.

  Harry would have to agree to make Lily an exception to the rules for the Bride Hunt.

  He glanced at his watch. He felt a real urgency to convince Harry to modify the terms of the contract they’d all signed. He wanted to focus all his attention on Lily and Ava.

  He punched his cell phone’s speed dial.

  “Yes, Justin?” His assistant, as always, sounded calm, capable and unflappable.

  “I need you to contact my father and brothers and tell them I have to meet with them tonight. Harry’s place at…” He looked at his watch. “Ten o’clock—that should give them enough time.”

  “Yes, sir. And the subject of the meeting?”

  “Tell them it’s about the hunt.”

  “The hunt?”

  “They’ll know what I mean—and call me back to confirm.”

  He parked the Escalade and went upstairs to his apartment. He spent the next ninety minutes making calls, the first to his attorney to discuss changing his will to provide for Lily and Ava. When his assistant phoned to confirm he’d reached all of the Hunts and they would be at the Shack by 10:00 p.m., Justin had just finished making arrangements with his foreman to take over for him at the ranch for a few weeks. His plans to return to Idaho had been postponed indefinitely.

  For the second time in a week, Justin joined his brothers in Harry’s library to wait for their father.

  “What are we doing here, Justin?” Gray asked. “We were all at the office yesterday, couldn’t we have had this meeting then?”

  “No.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to give us?” J.T. eyed him. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ll tell you as soon as Harry gets here.”

  “Why—” Alex began, but was interrupted when Harry entered the room.

  “’Evening, boys.” He joined them. “Nice to see you all again so soon. Since you said this was important, Justin, I canceled a meeting at the Redmond campus to be here.” He took a seat in one of the leather armchairs and looked expectantly at his youngest son.

  “I can’t meet your terms for the Bride Hunt,” Justin said.

  The blunt words clearly surprised Harry. His brows lowered, his eyes shrewd behind his dark framed glasses as he examined him. “Why not?”

  “Because last night I learned I have a daughter.”

  Harry sucked in an audible, startled breath. Then he beamed. “How old is she? Where is she? Who’s the mother?”

  “She must be about a year old, give or take a month or two.” Justin ignored Harry’s last two questions and addressed the issue he considered paramount. “She’s mine and I mean to claim her.”

  “Of course,” Harry said promptly. “Just as soon as you get the blood-test results.”

  Justin went silent. He hadn’t thought about asking Lily to cooperate in paternity blood tests because it hadn’t occurred to him to question whether she’d been faithful while they were dating. Is it possible I trust her that much? The thought stunned him.

  “Well?” Harry prompted. “You did call our attorney to schedule the blood tests, didn’t you? The sooner you get it done, the better.”

  “No.” Justin shook his head. “And I won’t.”

  Harry looked dumbfounded. “Why not? Surely you’re not going to take the mother’s word as proof the child is yours?”

  “That—plus she looks just like me. She’s got my hair and dimples. In fact…” He narrowed his eyes at Harry. “I’d say there’s a definite Hunt-family resemblance.”

  “That’s all very well and good, but I’d venture to say a certain percentage of babies born each week have black hair and dimples. And I doubt every one of them belongs to you.”

  “You may be right, Harry.” Justin shrugged. “But none of them have Lily for a mother.”

  “You’re telling me you know for a fact this woman wouldn’t lie to you?” Harry was clearly incredulous.

  “Not about this. And before you tell me I’m crazy, Harry,” Justin went on, stopping the protest he knew his father was about to make, “think about whether you’d believe Cornelia if she were the woman involved.”

  “Of course I would,” Harry said promptly. “But she’s a woman in a million.”

  “So is Lily. I’m not asking her for blood tests.”

  Harry opened his mouth, then apparently thought better of whatever he was about to say, pausing before speaking. “What about the mother?”

  “What about her?”

  “Are you two getting married?”

  “I don’t know.” Justin had no intention of telling Harry he meant to marry Lily, at least not until he’d actually convinced her to do so.

  “Why not?” Harry glared, clearly displeased with the news.

  “She might not want to marry me.”

  “Of course she does. You’re a Hunt.”

  “You know, Harry,” Justin drawled, “that’s not necessarily a guarantee she’ll say yes.”

  “Why the hell not?” Harry’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.

  “It’s…complicated.” Justin didn’t want to admit that if it weren’t for Ava, he doubted Lily would have agreed to spend time with him. Especially since she might have good reason not to want him in her life, given the way their prior association had ended.

  “Well, make it simple,” Harry said bluntly. “You’ve got a child. You and her mother should be married.”

  “Yeah, like that worked so well for you?” Justin said heatedly.

  “No, it didn’t work for me. Not at all. That’s why Cornelia has to meet the women you pick for wives. She can spot a gold digger a mile away. In fact, she warned me not to marry every single one of your mothers.”

  “Great,” J.D. muttered.

  “If I’d listened to her,” Harry went on, ignoring all of their skeptical expressions, “I wouldn’t have been divorced four times.”

  “And none of us would be here,” Gray put in, his voice dry.

  “That’s not my point.” Harry glowered at him. “The point is that having children is a good thing, but raising children with a partner is better.” He looked at Justin. “When can Cornelia and I meet your young woman?”

  “You can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because she doesn’t want anything to do with me at the moment and I don’t want her feeling pressured by you.”

  “I wouldn’t pressure her.” Harry looked offended at the thought.

  “Harry, you don’t know how not to pressure someone. You’re like a bulldozer. I don’t want you going near her. When we work things out and if she wants to meet you, I’ll let you know.”

  “Humph.” Harry was clearly not satisfied with Justin’s response but appeared resigned, for the moment.

  “Where are the cigars, Justin?” Gray asked.

  “What cigars?”

  “Don’t new fathers pass out cigars?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He grinned at his brothers. “I guess they do. I’ll have to get some.”

  “At least we can lift a glass to the new addition to the family.” Harry poured whiskey into five glasses from the decanter on the nearby table and handed one to each of his sons. “To the newest addition to our family,” he said, then paused. “What’s her name, Justin?”

  “Ava.”

  “To Ava—the first little girl in our all-male family.”

  They saluted Justin with their glasses, tossing back the shots of aged whiskey.

  Much later, Justin lay in bed, thinking about the evening’s events. Harry had been surprisingly cooperative in changing the rules of the Bride Hunt for him. But then, he thought, Lily and Ava provided an instant answer to his original demands. Except for the requirement that the bride not know I’m rich, he amended. Or for Cornelia to approve my choice. He suspected Ava had a lot to do with Harry’s capit
ulation. The old man was clearly delighted and fascinated by the existence of the girl.

  Justin left his office early the next afternoon and arrived at Lily’s town house at four-thirty. They repeated the previous night’s routine, except this time, Ava wasn’t as cooperative. She was fractious and cranky, swinging from laughter to tears within moments and refusing to eat strained carrots, usually her favorite vegetable.

  “She didn’t nap long enough this afternoon,” Lily told Justin when the toddler refused to let him tuck her into her crib.

  “You’re sure that’s all it is? She’s not sick or something?” he asked dubiously, eyeing the sobbing little girl. Ava clung to Lily, her tears dampening the neckline of her scoop-necked T-shirt.

  “I’m sure.” Lily patted Ava’s back, her voice soothing. “We’ll rock for a few minutes and I’m guessing she’ll fall asleep before I tuck her in.”

  “I’ll wait for you downstairs.” Justin didn’t give Lily a chance to disagree or suggest he go on home. He switched off the lamp, leaving the room softly lit by a Winnie-the-Pooh night-light, and stepped into the hall.

  He waited, listening to Lily’s voice as it lifted into the first bars of a lullaby before he jogged silently down the flight of stairs. By the time Lily joined him some fifteen minutes later, he’d straightened the room, putting away scattered toys and books. He’d also tidied the kitchen, rinsing Ava’s bowl and spoon and scrubbing the remains of her evening meal from her high chair’s tray and seat.

  “Thanks, Justin, but you don’t have to do the dishes,” Lily protested, her eyes widening as she glanced around the clean kitchen and neat living room.

  “No problem, it’s done.”

  “Well, thank you again. To be honest, I was dreading cleaning up. After coping with a cranky Ava today, all I really feel like doing is collapsing in front of the TV. It’s very nice of you to help out, especially since I’m sure you don’t do this at home,” she said, hanging the damp dish towel over a drying bar.

  “Sure I do,” he replied. “Well, not baby dishes or high chairs,” he conceded, “but I wash my dishes and pick up my clothes and boots.”