by King, Lori
Determined not to let the snowstorm or the liaison with Drannon ruin her vacation, she smiled at Marilyn. “So, are you going to tell me what that sinful cinnamon smell is, or keep me in suspense?”
“It’s French toast, and I promise you’ve never had better. This was my mama’s recipe for it. Of course, back in her day they called it ‘nun’s toast’, but it’s the same rich, sweet treat. Have a seat. The other boys and I have already eaten, so dig on in.” Marilyn disappeared into the kitchen to get something leaving Lacy to take a seat at the table full of food with only Drannon for company.
Silence reigned as the two began filling their plates. Lacy’s first taste of Marilyn’s french toast melted on her tongue. She closed her eyes as a moan of pleasure slipped out. When she opened them, Drannon was watching her with amusement lifting his lips.
“Good, huh?” At her nod, he began eating, too. “No one cooks better than Marilyn. The woman is a saint. We’ve had many guests try to steal her away, but thankfully, she says Crawley Creek is where she wants to be.”
“I wish I had her talent. I can make a mean egg sandwich and heat soup from a can, but I’m no chef. It might’ve helped if I’d had a mom to teach me like Marilyn did.” She regretted the words the moment they fell off her tongue, and she nearly choked on her next bite of food when Drannon froze in place.
“Why didn’t you have a mom?”
It was the question Lacy avoided at all costs. The guilt rose up to overwhelm her, and she fought back tears as she took a quick swallow of milk to get the food down her throat. Drannon couldn’t have known that her mother was the one subject she hated talking about, especially since she was the one who’d brought it up.
“My mom died giving birth to me.”
Drannon’s fork clattered when it dropped to his plate and he inhaled sharply, all of his attention on her. “I’m so sorry sweetheart, I shouldn’t have asked.”
Lacy took a deep breath before she looked at him. To her surprise there was no pity on his face, only concern for her. “Thank you, but it’s been thirty years tomorrow, and I never knew her, so I can’t dwell on it. She had a weak heart, but she wanted children desperately. The doctor told her she should terminate the pregnancy because she might die having me, but she wouldn’t do it. She never even told my dad there was a risk. She died just a few moments after holding me for the first time.”
“I can’t imagine the kind of hell your father must have gone through. Gaining a daughter and losing a wife in the same day. He must be a strong man.”
“I think he was at one time, but losing my mother must have changed him. When I was young he was a good dad in the sense that I had everything I needed, but he shut himself off from a lot of things because he didn’t want to risk getting hurt again. He always seemed a bit too cold, and standoffish. By the time I was in high school we didn’t have much of a relationship.” She turned back to her food now that she had won the battle over her own emotions, and to her relief, Drannon followed suit.
“Does your dad live in Chicago, too, then?”
“No, he moved to Des Moines a few years ago because of his job. I see him every now and then, but we lead separate lives. I’m sure I’ll hear from him tomorrow for my birthday, but then, it’s unlikely I’ll hear from him again until Father’s Day unless I seek him out. We’re just not close.” Shrugging, she tried to play off the hurt that saying those words out loud caused her.
For years, she had wished for a different kind of relationship with her Dad, but he couldn’t forgive himself—or her—for her mother’s death. She could remember wanting to scream at the top of her lungs, “Why can’t you just love me, too?” but she never did, because she was afraid of the answer she might get from him.
“Tomorrow is your birthday?” Drannon looked surprised, “On Valentine’s Day?”
Lacy blushed again, and took a sip of milk before nodding. “It’s not a big deal. I’ve never really celebrated it. Between it being the anniversary of Mom’s death and a stupid holiday created by the gift card industry to empty our wallets, it just never felt like a good day to me.”
Drannon reached out and covered her hand on the table. “Everyone should celebrate the day of their birth. If your mom wanted you to live so badly that she was willing to sacrifice her own life, well then, I would guess she would want you to enjoy every passing year and celebrate it.”
Lacy returned his smile, but shook her head, “Thank you, but really, it’s not a big deal. I prefer to just get it over with.”
Drannon took a few more bites quietly watching her, before he spoke again. “You’re lucky to have either parent. Sometimes I wonder if my mom overdosed on purpose. I mean, it wasn’t like she had a great life…” He paused and Lacy felt tears burn her eyes at the sad look on his face. “If it weren’t for Abe and Sera who knows where I would’ve ended up. They gave me a home and a life, and when I needed it ten years ago, they gave me a second chance.”
Lacy heard the underlying pain in his words when he spoke about his adoption. He might love the Crawley family, but clearly, he also had a few unresolved feelings about being an orphan. She turned her hand in his and linked her fingers with his, enjoying the heat of his palm at it pressed against hers.
“What do you mean, they gave you a second chance?” she asked, knowing instinctively that this had something to do with the time he spent in jail.
A wrinkle appeared on Drannon’s forehead, and a haunted look filled his eyes. “In another lifetime, I went to college and got my degree in finance. I moved to Dallas and worked for a Fortune 500 company for almost five years before everything went to hell. I was accused of embezzling millions of dollars, and I was arrested. My dumb ass chose to sit in jail rather than call Abe and Sera and tell them I’d been arrested. So, I stayed in jail and got a public defender.”
Lacy shook her head, “And the attorney proved you were innocent?”
“No. After several days, the PD finally came in and told me about the so-called ‘evidence’ they had against me. It turns out my boss was the one who committed the crime, and he picked me to pin it on. The PD told me there was no way he could prove it, so I should take a plea deal.”
“Are you fucking kidding?” Her outburst took them both by surprise, and it brought a smile to his face.
“Just wait, the good part is coming. At this point, I realized that if I didn’t give up my pride and call the Crawleys for help, I was going to be spending a lot of time in jail for a crime I didn’t commit.” He paused, and squeezed her hand. “That was the toughest call I’ve ever had to make in my life.”
“I bet. So what did Abe do? I can’t imagine he was very happy with you.”
Drannon laughed. “No, he wasn’t, but he was a very proud man, so he understood where I was coming from. He brought in an expensive defense attorney who hired some sort of technical genius to pull the information from the computers at the company. It wasn’t a quick process, but they were able to prove without a doubt that the transfers weren’t made by me, so the case never went to trial, and I was released.”
There was a deep silence as Lacy absorbed all of the new information he’d revealed. He’d survived so much more in his lifetime than she had, and yet here she was pouting about not having a mother. It strengthened her somehow to know that he’d not only come through all of that, but thrived as he reached the other side.
“Thank you for telling me all of that. I’m not sure I could have started my life over the way you have, and I have to tell you, I’m impressed. You’re a strong man, and I’m sure Abe and Sera would be proud of how you’ve turned out.”
The warmth finally returned to his brown eyes, and he nodded, but emotion seemed to choke him up.
“You’re also very right about what you said, from what I know about my mom she wouldn’t be happy with me for not celebrating, and she would be heartbroken at how far my father and I have drifted apart. I don’t see it getting any better if I take the next step in my career and stay in C
hicago. Dad hates the city, and he was relieved to be moving to Des Moines because he could live farther away from the crowds.”
“What’s the next step in your career?” Drannon picked up his fork with his left hand and began to eat awkwardly. It took her a moment to realize he was doing so because she held his right hand and he was right-handed. When she attempted to tug her hand away he held her firmly and even began drawing little circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. “Tell me, what big plans do you have for your future, sweetheart?”
“Well, if I land that marketing campaign I put a bid on, it will mean at least twelve months of steady work, but it will also mean I’m tied to Chicago because the company insists on biweekly meetings for status updates.” She was getting full, so she leaned back in her chair, flipping her long braid over her shoulder. Drannon’s eyes followed its movement, and she was reminded of how his fist felt in her hair. A shiver ran over her skin and she clenched her thighs together.
“When will you know if you got the contract?” he asked, his voice slightly deeper now.
“Any moment. They said they would have an answer by the fourteenth.”
“Wow. Tomorrow is a big day for you all around. Why exactly is a beautiful woman secluding herself on a ranch in the Dakotas for Valentine’s Day? You should at least be going out on a date to a lovely dinner in the city.”
Lacy snorted and then laughed. “I don’t date. Well, I mean I have dated, but every time I find a guy who seems nice on the outside, he turns out to be boring or nasty to the core.”
“I’m not sure if that was a dig at me or not, but I’m going to assume you’re generalizing because it makes me feel better,” Drannon said frowning at her.
Lacy laughed out loud. “No, it wasn’t directed at you, but you did ask.”
“It’s sad to me that you’re so cynical about relationships.” He spoke softly, pushing his plate away as he finished his food.
“How old are you?”
Drannon looked surprised, “Thirty-eight last November, why?”
“At thirty-eight years old, society would say that you should be married with children, but you’re a single man who owns a ranch with his three brothers and relies on a housekeeper. You can’t tell me that you have no angst in your past from women.”
Drannon was still holding her hand in his, but now he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “You’re right. I was married once. I was nineteen and she was my high school sweetheart. I truly had no idea what forever meant back then, but I cared about her. She moved to Texas with me, but as it turns out she met someone else a couple of years into our relationship and divorced me. It took some time, but I finally realized that I never really loved her the way a husband should. I married her because it was what I thought I was supposed to do, and when she found someone who made her happier, she left.”
“See, it proves my point. Relationships and love just aren’t worth the headache. I have my career and some friends, and that’s enough for me.”
“Is it? The woman I took to bed last night was full of passion and so hot she nearly scorched the sheets with me. How can you tell me that a cold bed at night and the lack of companionship is what you really want? I know it’s not what I want.”
Lacy stared back, unable to break their eye lock. What was he trying to say? They had only spent a few hours together, so it was impossible that he was interested in a serious relationship with her.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I want to build my business, have my freedom, and damn it, I want to learn to ride a horse.”
Drannon frowned then a slow smile spread over his face. “It’s going to snow more in a few hours, but I’ll be damned if you’ll leave this ranch without fulfilling one of those goals. Layer up, sweetheart, it’s gonna be cold out there. You have ten minutes.”
He stood and swiftly pressed a hard kiss on her gaping mouth before she could respond, and headed out of the room. A spark of excitement lit in her chest. He was going to let her ride a horse.
Chapter 8
Toto looked much larger with a saddle on his back.
Lacy swallowed hard as she watched Drannon tugging at the straps holding the saddle in place. She really did want to learn how to ride, but now that she was standing here in the moment it seemed like a much bigger challenge.
“Okay, up you go.” Drannon turned and looked at her expectantly, before he laughed loudly. It took her a moment to realize he was laughing at her.
Tightening her jaw and jutting her chin out defiantly, she glared at him. “You aren’t a very good teacher. What am I supposed to do?”
“We haven’t even started the lesson yet. For that, you have to be in the saddle.” He reached his hand out for her and waited until she took it. “You’re going to put your left foot in the stirrup, and then push off the ground with your right leg. Hold the pommel here, and pull yourself up. Once you’re high enough, just throw your right leg over the saddle. Toto is a veteran. We use him to teach all of the kids who come through the ranch.”
“Ha. Ha,” she snapped as she secured her left foot in the stirrup and followed his instructions. Drannon held the reins in one hand, but he still managed to palm her ass as he helped lift her into the saddle. It was awkward at first, made even more so by the fact that she wore yoga pants under her jeans to keep warm, but she felt a burst of exhilaration rush through her as she stared down at the ground from the saddle. “I did it! Oh, my God! I did it!”
Drannon chuckled, and patted her thigh. “Yes you did. Now, I’m going to lead for a few minutes until you get your seat, once you’re comfortable I’ll give you the reins. A horse takes its direction from the rider, so if you’re nervous, he’ll get fidgety, but if you stay calm and in control he will do whatever you ask. Okay?”
Lacy nodded and focused on relaxing as she swayed with the saddle. It was everything she had hoped. The icy cold wind stung her nose and cheeks, but she felt warmer inside than she had in years. The freedom she’d craved while ensconced in her tiny city apartment was finally in her grasp. She loved the gentle sway of the saddle underneath her, and the creak of the leather as Toto fluidly made his way around the fenced ring. He seemed completely indifferent to her presence on his back, but her heart filled with adoration for the massive beast. She reached out with one hand and stroked his mane, the rough hairs scraping across her soft palm. It reminded her of the bristles on Drannon’s jaw, and she shivered as a wave of desire coursed through her.
She didn’t understand why she was so attracted to him. Sure, he was sexy as sin, but he was also a country man—raised in the wilds of North Dakota and determined to spend his life there. She was a city girl with big dreams, and she had absolutely no clue about living on a ranch. Why was she playing with fire?
After several laps around the corral, Drannon passed her the reins and stood back to watch her. She felt more comfortable the longer she sat in the saddle, and she laughed with pure joy.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m riding a horse! I’m really doing it! I have dreamed about doing this since I was a little girl, and I’m finally doing it. Thanks to you.” She gave him a smile and giggled again when two pink spots appeared in his tanned cheeks.
“All I did was saddle him up. You’re the one who has natural talent. You’re a born cowgirl, Lacy.”
“She sure is.” Roman’s voice came from behind her and she twisted around to find that she had an audience watching her from the barn doorway. Embarrassment clawed at her until she realized they were all grinning and giving her the thumbs up or some form of verbal encouragement.
“Looks like she was born in that saddle.” Vin said, spitting something into the snow. “Any chance you want a job cowgirl? We could always use a new hand.”
“I’m not cheap,” she teased back.
“Women never are!” Roman called.
Her laughter was her only answer as she followed Drannon’s directions, and climbed out of the saddle. His ha
nds held her firmly about the hips, and her ass pressed against his chest, then abs, then zipper as he lowered her to the ground. The warmth of his body felt good and she realized she was shivering.
“We’d better get you inside. It’s going to snow again soon.” He tugged her hat down tighter around her ears. “I wouldn’t want you getting sick while you’re on vacation.”
Lacy glanced up and realized that there was a dark grey shelf of clouds moving in from the west. It was rapidly covering up the stark blue sky, and it looked like the weatherman might be right.
“Okay, but I want to help put Toto away first. He deserves that for being a good ride.” She declared.
Drannon laughed and winked, “And do I get a treat for being a good ride?”
With a cocky sway of her hips she spun toward the barn. “Maybe.”
The other guys had gone back to their business or headed for the house by the time Drannon and Lacy had Toto unsaddled and rubbed down. Drannon assured her that the horse was content with his regular feed as a treat, since he hadn’t worked overly hard carrying her around in circles.
“I know he didn’t have to exert himself, but he was my first,” she said, knowing exactly how it sounded. The barn had gone quiet as everyone sought out the warm comforts of home, leaving her and Drannon alone with the animals. She reached out and ran her hand over the back of his canvas coat. Being this close to her dreams made her giddy, and her body was rippling with excitement that needed an outlet.
He caught on quickly to her desire, and he spun her around, capturing her lips for a passionate kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth, and one of his hands held the back of her head in place. When they were both panting, they broke apart and stared at each other. “You sure can kiss, cowboy.”