The Cowboy's Second-Chance Family

by Jules Bennett

  When Lucy came out of the bathroom, Noah stepped into her bedroom. “Where’s Emma?”

  “I put her in the spare bath to dry off,” he told her. “What happened when I was outside? Was it the rain?”

  Clutching the towels to her chest, Lucy nodded. “She was worried you were still out there, but we talked and I steered the conversation elsewhere.”

  Noah reached for a towel and started drying off his hair, his face, and his neck. “I didn’t think we’d have too much of a problem here. Storms in Texas are so common. That was another reason I moved away from that part of the country.”

  Lucy pulled her hair over her shoulder and squeezed the water into her own hand towel. “Anytime you’re missing your ranch, you can come see the horses.”

  Noah’s lips kicked up. He was so sexy with that stubble along his jawline and those dark eyes. The more time she spent with him, the more she realized she was falling headfirst in love with him.

  Now what was she going to do? He wasn’t looking for a serious relationship, and neither was she. And she’d promised herself never to get involved with a man who had a risky career.

  Why did this have to be the man she fell for? It was almost like she’d ignored every single red flag waving around in her head and pushed right on forward where Noah was concerned.

  But she hadn’t just fallen for him. No, Lucy had gone and tumbled headfirst in love with a blue-eyed little girl with cockeyed pigtails.

  Emma chose that moment to walk into the bedroom. “Can we still have hot chocolate?” she asked Lucy.

  Lucy took the towel from Noah and tossed them both into the hamper just inside the bathroom door. “Of course we can. I say we snuggle up on the couch with hot chocolate, blankets, and whatever movie you want.”

  Emma let out a scream of excitement and gave Lucy a fist bump. Then she turned and ran back down the hall.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind us just bursting in here?”

  Lucy turned her attention to Noah. “I want you both here. I love having you guys around and I’m more than ready for a relaxing evening.”

  Noah took a step forward, reaching up to frame her face with his hands. “How did this happen?”

  “I cracked that wall you had up.”

  Noah nipped at her lips. “I can’t promise you anything.”

  Lucy’s heart ached for the fear he clung to. She’d taken a huge risk and opened her heart to him. Now she only hoped he would take the leap of faith, as well.

  “I’m not asking for promises,” she told him, taking hold of his wrists and looking into his eyes. “I’m asking for possibilities.”

  “I’m doing what I can.”

  Lucy took a step back. “That’s a great start.”

  Leaving him in her room, Lucy headed down the hallway. As much as she wanted to explore this conversation even further, she wanted him to think for himself. She wanted—no, needed—Noah to realize that he could open himself up again. That if she was also taking a risk, maybe they should be taking it together...and perhaps happiness could be waiting for them both.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Over the next two weeks, the fall air turned colder. Noah still wasn’t used to this climate, but he was getting more used to the town. The people of Stonerock still considered him an outsider and a transplant, but they were welcoming and only mentioned his accent a few times a day now.

  There was an opening on the day shift and he was hoping to slide into that if Captain St. John didn’t give someone with seniority the position. Going back on days would be so amazing with Emma, especially when she started school next fall. Hopefully in that year’s time, they’d fall into a more consistent pattern.

  Of course, Lucy was almost done with schooling and in a few months she wouldn’t even be at the station house anymore. As excited as he was for her, he also hated not having her on the other end of his radio.

  Each night since the heavy rains, he’d seen Lucy on a personal basis. They’d fallen into an easy pattern and he’d been at her house every evening. She and Emma worked on dinner and he tended to the horses. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit the horses weren’t the only reason he came by.

  Lucy had gotten to him. She’d shown him how easy it was to let go and open up. He hadn’t realized just how easy it was to let someone else in, all while getting over such a tragic loss. Perhaps because Lucy got him. She didn’t try to tell him she was sorry for his loss; she didn’t try to dance around the topic. She forced him to talk about it, to keep his late wife’s memory alive.

  The fact that she wasn’t jealous of his late wife, that she wasn’t trying to replace her, was quite possibly the greatest part of this whole process. Noah wanted to be happy again; he wanted to move on and not feel like he was making a mistake. And he truly didn’t believe Lucy was a mistake. He was falling for her. Each night when he left her house, he looked forward to coming back tomorrow.

  Tonight, though, Emma’s sitter was having a sleepover at her house. The lady was having all of her “kids” for a slumber party where they would have movies and popcorn and games. Apparently Emma’s sitter did this quite often and the kids absolutely loved it. So did the parents.

  Noah hadn’t told Lucy about this. He wanted to surprise her by coming alone. She’d said she was going to let Emma decide the cuisine for the night once they arrived. But Noah had already stopped at the diner on the edge of town and bought Lucy’s favorite dish. He only knew it was her favorite because he asked Kate. He figured that was crossing some line, but he didn’t care. He wanted to show Lucy how much she’d come to mean to him and he wanted her to know she didn’t always have to do everything for others. She needed to be pampered, too.

  Noah pulled around to the back of her house. He always kept his truck out of sight from anyone passing on the road. Not that he was ashamed or embarrassed, but they had agreed to keep things between them and he wanted to be respectful to her.

  He grabbed the sacks from the front seat and as he stepped from the truck, Lucy came out onto the back porch. This evening she wore a simple navy dress with long sleeves and a pair of cowgirl boots. The boots she’d often paired with her jeans when she’d been in the barn, but he hadn’t seen her in a dress before. And he liked it.

  As he headed up the stone path toward the steps, Lucy glanced back to the truck. “Where’s Emma?”

  “It’s just us tonight.” He held up the sacks. “With some beef and noodles, potatoes, and rolls. I decided you needed a break.”

  Her bright eyes widened. “Is that so? Then I guess now is a good time to tell you that I already made dessert.”

  Noah leaned in and slid his mouth over hers. He never tired of her touch, her taste, and he wondered if he ever would.

  “Maybe I already had plans for dessert,” he murmured against her lips.

  She trembled against him then eased back. “Did you come here to seduce me, Officer?”

  Noah’s body stirred at her sultry question. “Darlin’, you’ve been seducing me since I stepped foot into your meeting over a month ago.”

  She took the bags from his hands and headed into the kitchen. The sway of her hips beneath that dress had him fantasizing all sorts of delicious scenarios...none that had anything to do with the takeout he’d just brought.

  Noah followed her inside and the second she set the bags on the counter, he took hold of her shoulders and spun her around. He swallowed her gasp of surprise as his mouth descended onto hers. Her fingers curled over his shoulders. He hadn’t even bothered taking off his jacket. He’d taken one look at her and knew he couldn’t wait to have her. It had been too long since he’d been able to touch her the way he’d wanted, the way he desired. They’d been playing it safe for the sake of Emma, and not to confuse her, but he was done being safe for the night.

  “Dinner can wait,”
he declared as he lifted her against him.

  Wrapping his arms tight around her waist, he headed for the hall.

  “The spare room.”

  Now was not the time to question her reasoning for deterring him to the guest room once again. He wanted her now and from the way she was panting against his ear and kissing his jawline, she was just as eager. Later he would ask his questions. Right now, he had more pressing issues.

  “You’re so damn sexy with this dress and these boots.”

  Lucy’s fingers threaded through his hair. “I wanted to look pretty for you.”

  Easing back so he could look her in the eyes, he said, “You’re always pretty, Lucy. You don’t even have to try.”

  He covered her lips once again as he tugged up the hem of her dress. Noah filled his hands with her backside and lifted her off the floor, aligning their hips.

  Lucy’s boots clattered to the floor as Noah trailed his lips across her jaw and down her neck. Her head tipped back giving him better access. She was all-consuming. The need to touch her everywhere all at once absolutely controlled him.

  Noah lay her down on the bed, never taking his eyes off of her as he stripped his clothes. Her dress, bunched around her waist, gave him a tantalizing view of her simple white panties. Once he was bare, Noah gripped the edge of her underwear and pulled them down her legs, tossing the unwanted garment to the side.

  When she started to sit up to take her dress off, Noah reached for her hands and secured her wrists in his grip. He held her arms up above her head.

  “I need you now,” he told her as he settled between her legs. “I’ll undress you later.”

  Her eyes flared with desire as he joined their bodies. With Lucy wrapped all around him, Noah knew he wasn’t going anywhere tonight. He wanted to stay in her bed; he wanted to be here with her in the morning. He wanted to make love to her again and again.

  “Noah, I—”

  Caught up in the moment, he captured her mouth with his, not ready to hear the words that she was about to say. He wasn’t positive, but he thought he’d seen something more than desire in her eyes. He’d seen so much of her heart when she looked up at him. And he wasn’t prepared for it, not now when his body was surging toward an earth-shattering climax.

  As he surged into her again, he felt her body tighten beneath his as she arched against him. Her lips tore away from his and she cried out a throaty moan as she came. Noah held her tight as his own release hit. He kept his hold on her hips as the trembling consumed him. Lucy whispered something, but he couldn’t make it out.

  Once his body calmed, he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. He wanted some answers from her. If she wanted to move forward, then he deserved some of that honesty. He deserved some of that openness she always wanted from him.

  * * *

  “I’m getting hungry.” Lucy slid her fingertips over Noah’s bare chest and down to his taut abs. “We might have to heat up dinner.”

  “Or we could eat it cold in bed,” Noah said as he pulled her closer to his side.

  “That would be fine, too.” Pressing her palm to his chest, she rose up and looked down at him. “Why don’t I go get it and you wait here?”

  He looked at her as if he wanted to say something, but finally nodded. “Sounds good.”

  Lucy came to her feet and smoothed her dress down. She stepped over her underwear and boots, bypassed his clothes and headed to the kitchen, where the bags had been forgotten for a time. Her entire body still hummed. That thought was so ridiculous, but it was an accurate statement.

  She pulled the boxes from the bag and sat them all out on her kitchen island. Even though everything was no doubt cold, the scents were amazing. She figured she’d just take the boxes and some plastic forks and napkins. No need to waste plates. She had some bottles of water she’d bring in, too. A bed picnic sounded so sexy and it was something she’d never done before.

  Lucy pulled a tray off the top of her fridge and stacked up all the things on there. She’d get the dessert later...probably much later.

  Humming, she headed down the hall, but when she turned the corner to the spare room, Noah wasn’t in there. Perhaps he went to the bathroom. She set the tray on the rumpled bed, smiling at the memories they’d created there.

  She’d been so afraid at first. Afraid of her feelings, afraid of moving ahead with those emotions she didn’t want. But now that she was with Noah, she’d fallen for him. She’d fallen for Emma, too, and she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that she wanted that family. She wanted it here on her little ranch. She wanted more than she ever thought she’d dream of again.

  For the first time in two years she had hope and she was ready to take this risk and admit her feelings to Noah. She’d started to when they were in bed together, which wasn’t the best timing, but the moment had overwhelmed her and the words were on her lips before she could stop them.

  Noah had stopped them. He’d kissed her as if he’d known what was going through her mind. Still, he deserved to know where she stood. He didn’t need to reciprocate her feelings, but she had to tell him.

  “Lucy.”

  Noah called her name and Lucy stepped into the hall. She went to the end where her room was and found him sitting on the edge of the bed. He’d put on his jeans, leaving them unfastened, and wore nothing else.

  “What are you doing in here?” she asked, standing in the doorway.

  He met her gaze from across the room. “You never bring me in here.”

  Lucy gripped the door frame and swallowed. What could she say? She’d never had another man in her bedroom other than her husband. After he’d passed, she’d sold their bedroom furniture and replaced it. She simply hadn’t been able to sleep in the same bed they’d shared, not when she was alone.

  “Lucy.” Noah came to his feet. “I get loss. Believe me, it’s hell at times. But you show me all these ways you’re ready to move on, and yet we’ve never made love on your bed.”

  Noah kept his distance, but the pain in his eyes staring back at her might as well be a knife twisting in her heart.

  Made love.

  The fact he used that term had Lucy wanting to step forward, but...she couldn’t.

  “As long as you keep me from this room, can you keep your past and your present in separate compartments in your heart?” he went on, hurt lacing his voice. “You wanted me to take a chance. I did take a chance, but if you’re keeping me at a distance, we can’t move forward.”

  Lucy let go of the door and stepped inside. “I’m not keeping you at a distance,” she defended. “I’ve slept with you, Noah. I haven’t let another man get that close to me in two years.”

  Noah ran a hand down his face and glanced up to the ceiling as he blew out a breath. “You trust me with your body,” he told her as he brought his dark eyes back to hers. “You look at me like you want more and I can’t deny that I’m starting to want more. That scares the hell out of me, because if you can’t trust me in here,” he said, holding his arms wide to encompass the bedroom, “then you can’t trust me to form a relationship.”

  Tears pricked her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her midsection. The hurt seeping inside her had her shaking her head in denial.

  “I do trust you,” she cried. “You know I’ve never been this open with anyone.”

  Noah nodded. “I do know that,” he agreed, his tone soft, heartbreaking. “I also know as long as that picture stays by your bed, nobody else will be allowed in this room, much less in your heart.”

  Lucy wanted to say something, to defend herself, but he was right. She honestly hadn’t pushed too far into her feelings before now to see that she was indeed clinging to just a fraction of what her life was in an attempt to stay afloat emotionally.

  “You’ve been too busy working on other people,” he added
. “Maybe you need to start taking care of yourself.”

  “I take care of myself.”

  Even to her own ears, the argument sounded feeble.

  Noah stepped toward her, gripped her shoulders and forced her to tip her head back to look at him. “No, you haven’t. I care for you, Lucy. I care more than I wanted to. You made me want things I never thought I would want again.”

  Lucy’s heart clenched. “Why does this sound like the end?”

  “We can’t move forward,” he stated, framing her face with his hands. “You may want to, but are you ready for me to sleep in here? Are you ready to take this public and try a real relationship?”

  She was...wasn’t she?

  “Wait, you were the one who wanted to keep this discreet,” she countered. “Why are you asking me?”

  “Because you haven’t dated in two years. Because you won’t get in that bed with me.” He kissed her softly, quickly. “And because I’m more ready than you are and I didn’t think that was possible.”

  He let her go and took a step back. “When you’re ready, let me know.”

  Noah maneuvered around her, leaving her to stare at the perfectly made bed and the photo on her nightstand. She was so happy in that picture. She’d had it all once—so had Noah. She’d had hopes and dreams, until they were all taken away from her.

  Lucy crossed the room and sank down on the edge of the bed. She gripped the post and rested her head against it as she heard Noah in the other room. Moments later she heard her back door open and close. That final click resounded through the house. Lucy closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip, trying to keep the tears at bay.

  One teardrop trailed down her cheek and she didn’t even bother to swipe it away. She’d been ready for Noah to come into her life; she’d been pulling him in from day one. And all this time that she’d been trying to heal him, she hadn’t recognized that she wasn’t fully complete herself.