“Then perhaps you should have stopped by to see one of your buckle bunnies,” she grumbled.
“Zoie, I know you’re mad about the way I left, but can we be civil?”
“Civil?” she exclaimed. “You left town without a word to me. Then when I tried to contact you, you blew me off. Several times. To top it off, you stayed gone for four damn years. You’re lucky I don’t shoot you where you stand.”
Duncan frowned. “You know I’ve been busy with—”
“Your rodeo career,” she interrupted. “Yes. I know.”
A cocky grin appeared on his face. “Ah, so you’ve been keeping up with me.”
“Of course not. This is Three Points and you’re considered to be a local hero. I’d have to be dead not to hear the gossip.”
Duncan leaned against the counter. “Perhaps I can take you to dinner so you can hear about it firsthand.”
She gripped the material on her jeans to keep from punching him in his smug face. “Duncan, I wouldn’t go anywhere with you if I had to. So you can save your sweet talk for someone who’ll believe it. I fell for it once. Never again.”
“Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are when you’re mad?” he asked.
His gaze traveled down her body and paused at her midsection. Kaden had done that before, she remembered, before he’d tugged down on her zipper, brushing his fingers across the agonizingly sensitized skin. It’d been the night before he left for the rodeo. They last time they’d been together. The evening when she’d conceived.
Heat raced up her cheeks and she cursed her café-au-lait-colored skin. She didn’t want to recall anything about the level of vulnerability he’d exposed in her—not now, not ever again.
“No,” she finally replied. “And you’d be better off if you didn’t patronize me.”
He frowned. “Woman, I’m trying to apologize and you’re making it hard for me to do.”
“Still selfish I see,” she replied. “It’s always about you. You walked away four years ago and ignored every single call and text from me until I finally stopped trying six months later.”
“Now wait a second,” he protested. “Don’t act like you were just sitting around pining away for me. As you said a second ago, the gossip mill around Three Points is rampant.”
Zoie scoffed. “Not as much as you think—wait. What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I heard that you took up with Andrew shortly after I left,” he said. “From what I understand it got hot and heavy enough for you to have a kid with him.”
Nausea and anger filled her. The rage won out. For his safety, she took a step back. Then another.
“Duncan, I think you need to leave. I’m not the woman you abandoned four years ago. Clearly there was nothing between us then and that definitely hasn’t changed.”
The words burned as she stated them, but they had to be said.
“Now, it’s time for me to close up. Forgive me if I don’t see you out.”
As she moved to step away, he grabbed her hands. She yanked away. “Don’t touch me. You lost that right a long time ago.”
“Zoie, I—”
“I don’t care, Duncan,” she interrupted. “If you only knew just how much you wouldn’t be standing here wasting your breath.”
“Well, I sure would like to know, because honestly I’m puzzled over why you’re so mad,” he stated.
Zoie closed her eyes and squeezed her hands into fist. She couldn’t hit him, because then that meant the sheriff would be called out and she’d have to spend the night away from Karson. At the thought of her son, some of the rage surging within her died down. Slowly she opened her eyes.
“You know, Duncan, that’s the thing about rumors. You don’t know which ones to believe and which to discard,” she began. “Because you chose to believe gossip that simply isn’t true. I didn’t take up with Andrew and I sure as hell didn’t have his child.”
Duncan frowned. “But my brother confirmed that you have a son.”
Zoie crossed her arms over her chest. “I do. Only thing is, he’s yours.”
Chapter Two
He’s yours.
The words reverberated through his head so many times he lost count and he still wasn’t sure he comprehended what he’d just been told. This was the last thing he’d expected to hear when he’d stepped into the store to see if Zoie was working. Yet, judging by the serious expression on her face, there was no need to ask her if she was serious. However, he had to say it out loud.
“My son?”
“Yes, Duncan. Your son. Our son. My son,” she replied.
Before he could say anything else, she made her way behind the counter. “So now that you’ve finally received the news I tried to tell you four years ago, you may leave.”
That made him snap to attention. “What? I’m not going anywhere. Not after you drop a bombshell like that.”
“Sure you can,” she said. “It’s what you do best. Please don’t let us stop you. Go back to your rodeo career. We’ve done fine without you and we’ll continue you do so.”
“I have a son?” he repeated.
She stopped what she was doing and looked up. Her blistering look almost made him back up a step.
“No. I have a son. You were just a donor,” she clarified.
“Zoie, I didn’t—”
She slammed her hand on the counter. “Don’t you even think about saying you didn’t know because I swear I will throw this entire counter at your head.”
The corners of his mouth twitched at the image of her attempting to do that. However, he managed not to laugh. This was a serious situation and she just might manage to make good on the threat if he did.
He said the only thing he could think to say. “I’m sorry.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“I said—”
“I heard you,” she interrupted. “I’m just surprised you think it’s that simple. So, tell me. What are you sorry for? Ignoring my calls? Leaving me alone to go through a rough pregnancy by myself? Not being there through colic, teething, midnight feedings and diarrhea? Missing his first laugh, word and steps? What exactly is it that you’re apologizing for?”
Before he could say a word, Zoie burst into tears. Accompanied by heart wrenching sobs that made his heart ache. He went to step around the counter but she stopped him.
“Don’t you dare,” she said. “I don’t want your damn sympathy. I don’t need it. These are tears of anger and frustration over having to raise my child alone.”
“Zoie, you know I would have come back if I’d known?” he said.
She wiped her face angrily. “Would you? You mean to tell me that you would have given up your rodeo career without a second thought? The laugh she emitted was void of humor. “I doubt it. That would have required responsibility and we both know that’s something you lack.”
“Now wait just a damn minute,” he countered. “That’s not a fair statement and you know it. I’ve sent most of my earning home to my parents to keep the ranch up and running. So it wasn’t all about me.”
“But it was, Duncan,” she said. “You were so intent on getting away from Three Points, from me that you made plans to leave without telling me. You snuck out of my bed in the middle of the night and disappeared. You ignored my pleas to call. I told you had important news to tell you and you blew me off.”
“You could have just said it, Zoie.”
She jerked as if he’d slapped her. “How? Through a text? A voicemail? Which would you have preferred? Which one would you have believed? Would you have come home right away or would have accused me of playing games to trick you like Rachel?”
Duncan stiffened. “Don’t go there, Zoie?”
“Why not?” she asked. “We both know you would have lumped me right into the same category with her. So I sucked it up, put my big girl panties on and provided the best life that I could for my son.”
Duncan rubbed his neck and bit back a curse. Rachel had him d
eep and he could do without hearing her name again for as long as he lived. Truth was, she was a large part of the reason he’d ran as if he was being chased by hellhounds away from Zoie. She’d managed to burrow her way into his heart. After his experience with Rachel, he’d began to panic.
While he hadn’t wanted to leave Zoie, staying hadn’t been an option at that time. Not when he hadn’t been certain. But after four hard years on the road, he was sure that he was in love with her. That the feelings he had wouldn’t fade over time. They’d only grown stronger over time.
He’d forced himself to stay away because he knew a moment a weakness would ruin the plan that he’d come up with. But he hadn’t known what all he’d been leaving behind. If he had, he would have done things a lot differently.
He had a son.
“What’s his name?” he asked.
“Karson,” Zoie replied with a genuine smile.
Duncan exhaled softly. “Will you allow me to see him?
Zoie’s smile faded. “I have to protect him, Duncan. I can’t allow him to be hurt.”
“I know my word probably doesn’t mean much right now, but the last thing I would ever do is intentional harm my child. No matter how angry you are with me, you know that.”
Tears welled up in hers eyes again. “I’ll let you meet him, Duncan, but if you do anything, I swear—”
“I won’t. Trust me.”
Zoie shook her head. “I’ll never have the blind faith that I used to have in you, but I’ll give you a chance. Don’t make me regret it.”
Relief surged through him. Perhaps his plan wasn’t going to fall completely off the rails. It would require a little readjustment but he could do it.
“What time can you be ready?” he asked.
Her brows furrowed together. “What do you mean?”
“I’m sure you need time to get yourself and Karson ready. I just want to make sure you have plenty of time.”
“All I have to do is pick Karson up. You can meet me over at my parents’ home whenever you’re ready. Just don’t make it too late,” she replied.
“I was hoping to be able to take the two of you to dinner,” he clarified. “For you and I, it would be like old times, plus I’ll have the chance to get acquainted with my son.”
Zoie’s eyes widened as she shook her head. “Let’s get something straight, Duncan. You and I are finished. You trampled over my heart once. That’s all you get. I’m only being civil because of our son, but believe me, if you hurt him you will pay. So don’t push your luck. Now, I need to finish up here. As I said, you can come over to my parents’ home whenever you’re ready.”
“Will I be welcome?” he asked.
Zoie paused in the middle of pulling the money out of the register. “My parents are out of town. You don’t have to worry about them for now.”
“I’ll see you shortly,” he said as he picked up his hat and put in on his head.
“Call before you come,” she called out as he reached the door. “My number is still the same if you still have it.”
Duncan ignored the jab as he exited. His thoughts were on revamping his plan. Zoie might thing that things were over between them, but they were just beginning.
Chapter Three
He had a son.
That revelation had bounced around in his mind since he’d left the store earlier. Now that he stood outside of Wallace residence his nerves had ratcheted up to a level he’d never experienced before. Not even the first time he’d climbed on to the back of a bull.
Raising his hand, he knocked on the door before his nerves could get the best of him. He took off his hat out of habit and a mixture of nerves. A heartbeat later, the door swung open. He was left breathless at the sight before him.
Zoie was still breathtakingly beautiful as she’d always been. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her face was rounded perfection. He allowed his gaze to travel over her. He’d noticed earlier that her figure was a little fuller than he remembered. In a way that made his mouth water. But he couldn’t focus on that right now. There was something more important at stake.
“Hey Zoie,” he greeted.
“Hi,” she said as she stepped aside. “Come on in.”
Duncan stomped his boots on the porch out of habit before stepping over the threshold. As soon as he did, he paused. A toddler sat in the middle of the living room floor. He was focused on the crayons and coloring book in front of him. His curly brown hair was the perfect mixture of his and Zoie’s. He was so awestruck that the sound of the door closing behind him barely registered.
“Karson, someone is here to see you,” she announced.
At the sound of her voice, their sons head snapped up. His eyes widened in shock before he jumped to his feet.
“Daddy!”
Shock surged through him as his son raced over to him. He glanced over at Zoie.
“He knows?” he asked.
“Yes. I never hid who you are to him,” she replied.
The patter of feet reached his ears and instinct made Duncan reach out to catch him as soon as he was within arm’s reach. He gathered his son close, holding him tightly within his embrace. His heart raced even faster was how his son returned the grip just as enthusiastically.
The emotion that rushed through him was overwhelming. He didn’t know how long he stood there, but finally Zoie spoke.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” she asked.
He looked over at her and nodded. “If you don’t mind.”
“I’ll go heat up the food. You can stay out here with him and get acquainted,” she said.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
She remained quiet, but gave a brief nod. He watched her leave the room before walking over to the couch to sit down.
“Let me look at you buddy.”
His son finally released his neck and pulled back. Duncan was struck by how much Karson looked like his mother. But his eyes. It was as if he were looking into his own.
“Where have you been, Daddy?”
The question made him flinch.
Three years.
He’d missed out on three years but he wouldn’t miss out on another minute if he could help it.
“I was out of town. I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long.”
“It’s okay. Mommy said you would come back,” Karson said.
Duncan shook his head. Even in her anger, Zoie hadn’t spoken ill of him to their son. Made sure that their son knew who his father was. If he hadn’t already been in love with her, Duncan would be now. It also gave him a little hope. If she’d made that promise to their son, perhaps she hadn’t completely given up on the two of them.
“She was right,” he said. “Now show me what you were coloring.”
Karson jumped down out of his lap and ran to get his coloring book. Duncan laughed when he saw it. Somehow Zoie had managed to find a rodeo themed coloring book. It appeared that his son was halfway through it.
His son.
Duncan chuckled. He’d never get tired of saying it. There was so much for him to catch up on. His plans had definitely changed, but in a good way.
Turning his focus back to his son, he listened as he named off all of the items in the book that he knew. Duncan helped him when he stumbled. He lost track of how long he sat there looking through the coloring book.
“Dinner’s ready,” Zoie called out.
He looked up to find her standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
“Do you need me to do anything?” he asked.
“Take him to wash his hands for me. The bathroom is the second door on the left,” she instructed. “Karson, put your stuff away.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
Duncan nodded. “We’ll join you shortly.” He put his down and watched in amazement as he ran over to the crayons and gathered them up. Then he came back and took the coloring book. Karson walked over to a chest that Duncan realized contained all of his toys.
Once he was fin
ished, Duncan stood and held out his hand. Karson took it and they made their way to the bathroom. A short time later they made their way into the kitchen. He spotted the high chair and placed his son into in before making sure he was close enough to the table.
Zoie sat a plate down in front of Karson before taking her own seat. Duncan listened with a smile as his son said grace.
From everything he’d seen so far, she’d done a great job at raising their child. He couldn’t imagine how difficult it’d been. If he had anything to say about it, she wouldn’t have to do it on her own any longer.
“Feel free to help yourself,” she offered.
He glanced at the food, taking in the baked chicken, carrots and broccoli with appreciation. Surprisingly their son had already dug into his food. She saw his expression and smiled.
“He likes carrots and broccoli. However, I have a hard time getting him to eat meat. The one thing we have agreed on is chicken tenders. So I’ve figured out a way to make them from scratch and bake them in the oven so they are a healthier version.”
“You’ve done a really good job with him, Zoie,” he said.
She shook her head. “I haven’t done this alone. My parents and Cristal have been a huge help.”
He did his best not to cringe at the people she’d just mentioned. Between Zoie’s best friend and her parents, he had his work cut out for him. It was one thing to ask a woman for her forgiveness for breaking her heart. However, this had turned out to be a lot more complicated than he’d expected, because while Zoie had threatened to shoot him, there was no doubt in his mind that Cristal or Zoie’s father actually would.
Chapter Four
“Thank you for allowing me to come over tonight,” Duncan whispered as they walked down the hall to the family room.
She’d been generous enough to allow him to take part in Karson’s bedtime routine and even though it was over, it was clear to her that he didn’t want to leave. But he had no choice. She wanted him to be able to get to know his son. As much as she hated him for how he’d left, she’d never deny her son the chance to bond with father. But heaven help him if he messed up.
Covet the Curves: a Romance Collections Anthology Page 44