by C. J. Miller
Declan tried not to think of his mother. That hurt was too sharp even after so many years. He did not know where she was or what she was doing. In many ways, he didn’t care.
The best thing about having a ravaged childhood was that, having lived through the ordeal of his parents’ marriage falling apart and being tossed out onto the street, Declan feared nothing in business. Whatever his company threw at him, it would be easier than what he had faced as a child. He had thick skin and he rarely let anyone or anything get to him.
A former employee stealing from him had been another obstacle. It hadn’t rattled him. He had handled the financial fallout, contacted his lawyers and went after the thief to the fullest extent of the law.
His business was where he put all his time and effort when his personal life was a mess. Turning his attention to work, Declan relaxed. Work was in his control.
Edith had found a lead for an interesting property in Odessa. She couldn’t come with him today, though when she returned from her honeymoon with River, she would start looking for a new place for them to live. Declan would have liked to help her find a great place at a good price, but he knew Edith had superb house-hunting skills and it seemed like an activity better suited for the couple. It was another way Declan felt nudged out.
The property Edith had found in Odessa was in an up-and-coming neighborhood; house prices were on the rise and local shopping centers were beginning to fill in with high-end retailers and restaurants. Declan sought those signs of progress when moving into an area.
Declan was fifteen minutes early for the meeting. He checked his paperwork and the address and then entered the building. The area was in need of renovation, but that was what Declan liked. The more opportunity for upgrading properties, the higher the income potential.
He opened the metal door to the office marked Sky Realty.
Tim DeVega, the employee who had stolen from him, was waiting inside. Shock struck him, rendering him momentarily speechless. The police had been looking for DeVega and he was here. Before Declan could say anything or understand how DeVega came to be in this office, DeVega lifted his right arm, aiming a gun at Declan. He had no time to react, and the sound of the explosion echoed around him and pain pierced him. Everything went dark.
* * *
Something was wrong with Declan’s eyes. The left one was twitching and wouldn’t focus. His eyelids felt weighted down with concrete. Something was wrong with his right side too. His entire arm was asleep. His hand was heavy, too heavy, like it was being crushed by a car.
“It’s okay. You’re okay.”
Pressure on his left side and Jade’s voice. Steady beeping from a machine.
Forcing his eyes open wider, he stared into the open, warm, beautiful face of Jade Colton.
Opening his mouth, he tried to speak, but his throat was dry.
Jade handed him a cup with a straw and he took a long sip.
“You were shot. You're at the hospital now.”
He took a minute to process that. “Shot.”
Her eyes were filled with concern. “Someone in the neighborhood called the police. They got a description of the man who shot you. The police are looking for a man named Tim DeVega. The police found my number in the call log on your phone and contacted me.”
Declan closed his eyes and the memory of DeVega shooting him, at least part of it, popped to mind. His body felt numb, but anger and fear made his chest tight. How easily DeVega had gotten to him. Looking at Jade, another sensation washed over him: warmth and happiness. She had come from Shadow Creek, disrupting her busy schedule to be with him. He had been a priority to her.
“Edith is looking for a flight to come home from her honeymoon. She feels terrible.”
Edith had no reason to feel bad. “Why?” Declan asked.
“She set up the meeting and she didn’t realize it was a trap,” Jade said.
Declan should have seen it. It was rare for him to travel alone and he was glad Edith hadn’t accompanied him, or she might have been shot too. “Tell her to stay on her honeymoon. I’m fine,” Declan said.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. You’re slurring. Can you speak slower?” Jade asked.
He repeated himself, feeling like his head was being held underwater. Drugs from the surgery? What had happened when he’d arrived at the hospital? “What about my arm?”
“You were hit in the shoulder.” Emotion choked her and Jade took a few seconds to compose herself. “The surgeon saved your arm. But you need to rest.”
He was exhausted, but it was daylight. The drugs in his system and the numbness of his arm were indications he was not himself. “Will you stay?” The unexpected surge of neediness surprised him. He wasn’t used to needing anyone. He liked having Edith around, but he made it a point to never make anyone in his life essential. But he hated the thought of Jade leaving and him waking alone in this stark cold hospital room.
“Yes, I’ll stay.”
Unable to hold open his eyelids, he closed them and quiet surrounded him.
* * *
Jade hadn’t taken a day off of work in over a year. Finding the right farm, buying the land, building the right structures and then getting her business off the ground was a struggle. But Declan needed someone to help him while he recovered at home in Louisiana. Edith was making arrangements for a nurse and his regular housekeeper and chef to be on duty, but leaving him to the care of strangers felt cold and impersonal.
Declan was a strong man, a force to be reckoned with, and seeing him pale and still in a hospital bed had been knives to her stomach. She was staying with him until he was better, until she could see for herself that he was going to be fine.
When Edith had offered to stay with Declan in Louisiana, Jade had heard the hesitation in her voice. Edith didn’t want to cut short her honeymoon. Jade had not thought through the details when she had volunteered to stay with Declan. She had just known she had to be with him.
Then Mac, Thorne, Evelyn, Knox, Allison and Cody had offered to step in and run Hill Country for a few days. Jade had composed lists of to-dos and who to call for various problems, and hoped she hadn’t missed anything. Being available by phone, she knew her family could call with questions. It wasn’t her intention to be a burden, but she appreciated everyone taking on some of her responsibilities so she could stay with Declan. Being with him was something she needed to do, more than caring for her horses or worrying about the problems with her mother. Declan came first and that spoke volumes about how she felt about him.
Mac had made some calls and a local 4-H club was willing to pitch in too. Though being away made Jade nervous, she planned to stay with Declan for four days.
Jade picked up Declan from the hospital. She listened as the doctor carefully described the medications, what symptoms necessitated an emergency call for an ambulance. Declan couldn’t fly on an airplane, so he and Jade were making the long drive to Louisiana from the hospital in Odessa.
The five-hour drive took closer to nine and Jade was exhausted. They had stopped several times to eat, take the needed medications and to check Declan’s bandages. Pulling up to his home, Jade sucked in her breath. His house put La Bonne Vie to shame. Even at its most beautiful, Livia’s home lacked the style and architecture of Declan’s.
The two-story house had wraparound porches on both the main and upper levels. The pristine white of the house glinted in the afternoon sun. White pillars jutted from the front of the house and a dual, grand curving staircase extended from the top floor to a long walkway constructed of paving stones. The landscaping was green and lush and trimmed neatly.
Following the long driveway, Jade pulled around the back of the house and parked in a garage that was tucked under it. A valet took her keys as she stepped out.
“It’s a rental. See that it gets returned, p
lease,” Declan said.
“Yes, sir,” the valet said, nodding and bowing slightly.
“You have your own chauffeur?”
“Nick isn’t a chauffeur. He takes care of my cars, making sure they get maintenance and are detailed on a strict schedule. Edith called to let him know I was coming home.” He started to get out of the car without waiting for her.
Jade rushed to his side. “You promised you would wait for me to help you. You might get dizzy and if you fall and hit your head, we have to go back to the hospital.”
She ducked under his good arm and tried to support him.
“I’m all right. I’ve managed this far,” Declan said.
Taking his key from his pocket, Declan opened the door from the garage. The house was elegant and detailed, the crown molding, wainscoting and ceiling beams a gleaming cherry wood. The far wall was lined with glass French doors leading to a courtyard.
“Welcome home, sir,” a man in a suit with perfect posture said.
“Thanks, Albert,” Declan said.
“Will you and your lady be needing anything?”
“No, we’re fine, thanks.”
Albert bowed and hurried away.
“You have a manservant?” Jade asked.
Declan scoffed. “Albert is not a servant. He’s a butler and a historian and a friend. He worked for the family who previously owned this house and when they sold it to me, he asked to be kept on to help maintain it.”
“That was nice of you.”
“It was a sound business decision. Albert does a good job. Lets me know when something needs repairs and then oversees the repair to maintain the house’s historic value.”
Exploring the house interested her, but Declan needed rest. “We need to change your bandage. Edith said a nurse is coming at 6:00 p.m. That’s in an hour. I want to have all the medication laid out so she can check them and we can go over what needs to be done.”
Declan squeezed her hand lightly. “Relax. I’m okay.”
Jade leaned into him, wanting his strength, but feeling guilty because she was supposed to be supporting him. She had known being with him was the most important thing in her life, but it was surprising to realize he had come to mean this much to her. Tears threatened and she held them back. Declan would recover from this. She needed him to be okay. “It was the most terrifying call I have ever received, hearing from the police that you had been shot and were headed to the hospital. They wouldn’t even tell me if you were alive.”
“I’m sorry you went through that. Thank you for coming and staying and taking care of me,” Declan said, kissing her temple.
“Lead the way to your bedroom,” Jade said.
Declan pointed and they headed toward stairs tucked away in the corner of the house. “I’ll give you a tour later. But my bedroom is on the top floor and takes up most of the south-facing part of the house.”
They took the stairs slowly. Though Declan didn’t lean on her, she noticed he gripped the bannister with white knuckles. He wouldn’t tell her if he was in pain, but from the set of his mouth and narrowed eyes, he was. She would not break down. He needed her to be strong, and weeping over every bump in his recovery would slow him down. But wow, it was hard to see him this way. In every other instance, he was composed and larger than life. This was a side of him she had not seen and his vulnerability made her feel closer to him and protective of him. She would do what was needed to make this right.
His bedroom suited him. It was what she would have selected for him if she’d been asked to design a room for Declan. It was tidy and orderly and the hardwood floors were made of three distinct shades of dark brown. The four-poster king bed had pineapples carved into it and the bedding was navy and gold. On the walls were pictures of sailboats.
“I didn’t realize you liked being on the water,” Jade said. She removed the pile of pillows from the bed one by one, setting them on the settee in the corner of the room.
“Everyone likes the water. I sold my boat recently, but I have my eye on another one,” Declan said.
“Where will you keep it?” Jade asked.
“A boat slip at a nearby marina,” Declan said.
His words accented a harsh truth. His life was based in Louisiana. Hers was rooted in Texas. Operating under the assumption they had a future was a huge leap.
Declan flopped on the bed. “This feels good. I know I’m tired when I’m falling asleep in the evening.”
“It’s good for you. The doctor said you needed rest, hydration and good nutrition.”
Declan’s eyes were closed and Jade watched the steady rise and fall of his chest. She kicked off her shoes and crawled into bed next to him, wanting to be close if he needed anything. He had been through terrible times in his life, sometimes alone, sometimes with Edith, but now, he had Jade and she would be there for him. In every way that he needed her, she would be strong and at his side.
* * *
The pain was bad, close to the time he was supposed to take his pills, but Declan was substituting what the doctor had prescribed for over-the-counter meds five days after his discharge. He didn’t want to risk getting hooked on prescription painkillers.
Having Jade with him those first days was healing in its own right. Attentive and sweet, Jade had pushed him to eat when his appetite flagged, kept track of his medications and changed his bandages. That quick, he was used to having her around and while his staff kept the house running and another associate was keeping the business running, Jade kept him going. But he couldn’t start thinking he had to have her in his life. Wanted her; that was obvious. But need crossed the line.
Her horses needed her and he understood when she’d had to leave. He had insisted on it and hidden the pain, telling her that he was healed. The physical pain was tolerable, but he missed her. She’d come to mean a lot to him and without her in his house, it felt empty and he was decidedly lonely. The house was too big and empty without her in it.
Now two women he cared about were living in Texas. It was tempting to move close to them, but Declan couldn’t live with those ghosts.
Livia Colton was haunting that town. Even if she was caught and returned to prison, her victims would continue to share what she had done to them. The reminders would be daily and ever present. Declan didn’t want to think about Livia for the rest of his life. Once he sold La Bonne Vie, he was finished with her and his dark, painful past.
Chapter 9
Jade felt as if her brain was fogged.
She missed Declan. Texting and calling constantly would interrupt his rest, so she checked in with his nurse and Albert. It had been four days without him and she was planning a return trip soon. Her family had done wonderfully, taking care of her farm, but it had been difficult for them to make time in their busy lives and she hated to burden them again.
But Declan needed her. Or maybe it was she who needed him.
Focusing on her horses was a problem when her thoughts veered to Louisiana often.
“Jade!” Knox’s voice. Jade spun.
Knox was wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt with a band logo on the front. His hair was poking up at the top; his son was with him.
She had been standing in the stable with a rake in her hand, planning to clean the stalls, lost in thought. “Hey, Knox.”
“I called your name like five times,” Knox said. “You okay?” He glanced over at Cody.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. Hi, Cody, so glad to see you. I heard you were a big help while I was in Louisiana.”
Cody was speaking to Tots. At the age of nine, Cody knew not to stick his hand in the stall or open the door without Jade. His sneakers were muddy and his red shirt spattered with paint. “Yeah, I helped.”
Jade turned her attention to her oldest brother. “I’m fine. Just tired.
” Not sleeping as well at night because she wasn’t with Declan and was worried about him and his health.
“I wanted to come by and make sure you understood the notes we left.” Her family had kept careful track of what they had fed her animals, how often they watered her vegetable garden and any behavior that was out of sorts for the horses. Which, for her horses at this stage, could run the gamut.
“Thank you. Those were great. You were all so generous with your time. I was so touched that you added my work to your overcrowded schedules,” Jade said.
“Allison and I were talking last night. We had no idea how much work you put into this place and with so little help.”
“I’m a new business. Things will get easier.” Eventually, she hoped. Being on the farm fifteen hours a day, it was hard to find the time to fund-raise. Without more money, she couldn’t hire help and it continued in a vicious cycle. When she had some free time, lately, she had been spending it with Declan.
“Don’t be a hero. Ask for help if you need it more.”
Jade wasn’t used to relying on people. Her mother had taught her a vicious lesson. Few could be trusted. “There are times when I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. But I think about the horses that I’ve helped and I want to stand by this mission.”
“What about Declan? What does he think about all this?”
Jade looked around her stable. “He’s not involved in the farm and I wouldn’t expect him to be. He’s busy with his real estate company.”
“Which is based in Louisiana,” Knox said.
Jade knew the complications of the distance and their demanding work schedules. “Edith works for Declan. She’s planning to live with River.”
“Edith’s work can be done from anywhere. Harder to say the same about a relationship.”