by Brenda Mott
She should’ve been more careful to guard her heart.
“I’m sorry, Darci. I never meant to hurt you.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “You didn’t.” Liar. “I’m glad you were honest with me.”
“I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
“Jordan, it’s all right.” She wanted to leave, but she didn’t want him to know that he had hurt her.
“But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see you at all,” he went on. “I enjoy your company, and if you can deal with dinner and a movie once in a while, then so can I.”
Dinner and a movie. “Sure, Jordan, that sounds great.”
“Good.” He reached out and took her hand. “Want to start with tonight? I think we both could use the distraction.”
“That would be fine. Officer Gibson is coming over later this afternoon to talk to Christopher. I’m sure he’ll be stopping to see Mac, as well.”
Jordan nodded. “He called, but I’d already taken her to Jenny’s. He’s going to go out to the McAllister ranch at four, and I’m meeting him there. So, you want me to pick you up about six? We can grab a bite to eat and go see whatever you’d like.”
“Sounds good. Six it is.” Darci rose from her chair. “I guess I’d better get back so I don’t miss Chris’s appointment with Officer Gibson. I’ll see you later, Jordan.”
“Okay.” He brushed a light kiss across her lips. “See you then.”
Darci’s mind whirled. Was she crazy to agree to see Jordan on a what? A friendship basis? She didn’t know if she could do it. She’d begun to feel a lot more for him than friendship, but if that’s all he was willing to offer, well, she’d just have to deal with it.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
JORDAN PICKED DARCI UP promptly at six o’clock. He felt good driving the short distance to her house, knowing he’d cleared the air with her. Now they could go enjoy each other’s company without any unrealistic expectations standing between them.
He took her to a Western-themed steak house on the outskirts of town. One famous for its buffalo steaks. They enjoyed their meal, but Darci was quiet as they ate. Jordan figured she was still feeling upset over what had happened to Michaela and Chris.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Fine.” She smiled. “You know, Jordan, I don’t really feel like going to a movie.”
“We can watch a DVD at my house instead, if you’d like,” he said. “Louise is sitting with Mac, so she might join us.”
“That would be perfect. Chris is staying at Aunt Stella’s, since there’s no school tomorrow.” It was a teacher work day. “I swear, he practically lives out at the Shadow S. He loves it there so much.” She looked wistful. “I wish I could provide him with a ranch and a horse of his own.”
“Yeah, Michaela’s still working on me.” He chuckled. “I’m actually thinking about giving in on the horse. Mac’s been enjoying her riding lessons so much.”
At first, Michaela had been put off by the kiss she’d witnessed between him and Darci. But she’d come around once she realized nothing was really happening. Jordan had sat her down and explained he and Darci were only friends.
“If you want some help picking one out,” Darci said, “just let me know. They usually have some pretty good horses at the auction.”
He grinned. “Thanks. I’ll likely take you up on that offer.”
Opting to skip dessert, the two of them headed back to Jordan’s place. “Sundays are two-for-one night at the local video store,” Jordan said. “How can you beat that for a cheap date?” He winked and Darci laughed.
“Hey, a good deal’s a good deal.”
Jordan turned onto the street, headed for the video store, just as an oncoming car ran the stop sign and plowed straight into the Explorer.
“I’M FINE.” Jordan waved off the nurse trying to get him to go to one of the exam rooms. He had a cut on the side of his head from the broken glass that had flown through the SUV’s interior upon impact. But other than that, he was sure he was okay. At the moment he was concerned about Darci.
He pushed back the curtain to the exam room and walked over to the gurney where she lay. “How is she?” he asked Dr. Samuels.
The older man finished checking Darci’s eyes with a pen light. “I think she has a slight concussion, but other than that, she seems to be okay. We’ll get some X-rays to be sure.”
“I told you I was fine,” Darci said. “Can I go home now?”
“Not just yet. I’d like you to spend the night for observation, just to be on the safe side.”
“Don’t argue with the doctor,” Jordan ordered.
Darci groaned in protest. “Oh, all right. If you insist. But someone needs to get me a phone so I can call Aunt Stella.”
“That we can do,” Samuels said. “Tell the orderly who wheels you down to radiology you need to stop and use one of the phones.”
“I’ll do that,” Darci said. She turned to Jordan. “What exactly happened? The last thing I remember is talking about renting a movie.”
“A guy on a cell phone ran a stop sign and hit us,” Jordan said. “He ran into your side of the Explorer. Darci, I’m so sorry. There was nothing I could do to avoid it.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “You’re not the one who ran the stop sign.”
“I’ll make up any medical expenses that your insurance doesn’t cover.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m not your responsibility.”
But he felt like she was, and he suddenly wished that she was. If anything had happened to her…if he’d lost her…
Jordan could hardly bear the thought.
One more reason not to get close to her. He’d made the right decision. And he planned to stick by it.
DARCI WAS RELIEVED to go home the next day. Aunt Stella arrived to pick her up at the hospital, and Jordan, who was on shift in the E.R., came up to the second floor to see her before she checked out.
“I owe you a movie,” he teased. “I’ll come by later tonight and see how you’re doing, if that’s okay.”
“It is, but how are you getting around if your SUV was wrecked?”
“It’s in the shop, but I—uh—I’ve still got Sandra’s car.”
“Oh.” She looked taken aback. “Okay, well, come on by if you want to, though I don’t make any promises about what kind of company I’ll be. I’ve got a pounding headache.”
“Some Tylenol ought to help relieve that,” he said.
“So, take two and call you?” she quipped.
“Exactly. See you later, Darci.”
After she checked out Darci climbed into Stella’s pickup truck. “I fed Sampson,” Stella said. Then her gaze raked Darci. “Lord a mercy, girl, I think I’m gonna have a heart attack between you and Christopher! First him getting shot at, and now this.” She shook her head. “You sure you feel up to going home?”
“Aunt Stella, I’m fine. Stop fussing.”
“Well, if you’re not fine now, you should be later.”
“What do you mean?”
Stella raised an eyebrow. “Having a good-looking doctor make a house call to check your noggin?” She rolled her eyes. “Are you sure that’s all he’s checking?”
“Aunt Stella!”
“Just asking.” She chuckled. “Seriously, that’s awfully nice of Jordan to come over like that.”
“I think he feels responsible, even though the accident wasn’t his fault. There really wasn’t anything he could’ve done to stop that guy from hitting us.”
Stella pulled up in Darci’s driveway and helped her inside. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you?”
“I just need to lie down,” Darci said.
“Okay. Well, Leon will bring Christopher home after a while.”
“I feel like you’ve done more than your share of watching him lately,” Darci said.
“Don’t be silly.” Stella waved the thought away. “We love having him.” She bussed Darci’s cheek and headed for the door. �
�See you later, hon.”
IT WAS AFTER SUPPER WHEN Darci heard a knock at her door. She left Christopher loading the dishwasher and went to answer. Jordan stood on the stoop with Michaela.
“Hi. Are you up for some company?”
“Sure.” Darci held the door open. “Hi, Mac.”
“Hello.”
“How are you feeling?” Jordan asked.
“Better. The Tylenol helped.”
“Good. We brought movies.” He held up some DVDs. “Something for everyone.”
Darci spotted an animated film and at least one comedy.
“Chris,” Darci called. “We’ve got company.”
Christopher came into the living room not looking extremely thrilled. But he politely greeted Jordan and Michaela, then invited Mac to watch one of the sci-fi robot films in his room.
“So, comedy or action?” Jordan asked.
“I could use a good laugh,” Darci replied. “I’m surprised Michaela and Christopher are getting along.”
“I had a talk with Mac, and she’s really sorry for what she did to him. I think she wants to make amends.”
“That’s good. I know Chris won’t hold a grudge against her. He realizes now what she’s been through.”
“Good. Maybe the two of them can be friends.”
Darci put the movie Jordan passed her into the DVD player. While the previews were playing, he sat beside her on the couch and took her hand in his.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” he said. “I didn’t want to say anything when the kids could hear.”
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“I hope not. That depends on you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t want to bring up anything about the accident in front of them. But I wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you’re all right, Darci. You gave me a real scare.”
“It wasn’t exactly a carnival ride for me, either,” she said flippantly.
He slipped his arm around her. “Darci, I was wrong.”
“About what?”
“About us. Telling you I couldn’t get involved with you. I don’t want to push you away anymore. What happened yesterday made me realize that life is always a risk. That a person can’t walk around scared all the time.”
“I see.” Darci pursed her lips together. “Well, Jordan, I’m sorry to tell you, but I don’t think you were wrong. You see, I can’t get involved with you, either. Chris’s dad burned me. He turned his back on us on a whim and left me for someone else.”
“Darci, I would never—”
She held up a hand. “It doesn’t matter. The bottom line is, Ron broke my trust, and I really don’t have it in me to trust another man at this point in my life.” She gestured with one hand. “Case in point—first you tell me we need to keep our distance, now you’re saying you’ve changed your mind. What’s to keep you from changing it again?”
“I won’t.”
“I don’t know that. Jordan, I really like you. I do. But I think you were right in the first place. We can date without getting serious. Dinner and a movie, right?”
He sighed. “Dinner and a movie.”
“Okay.” She smiled. “Want some popcorn?”
HALLOWEEN ARRIVED COLD and snowy. The first snow of the season. Christopher still hadn’t quite outgrown trick-or-treating, and he insisted on going out in spite of the weather.
“Come on, Mom. It’s gonna be my last year to go out. I’ll be fourteen next year.”
As if she didn’t know. Just then, the door bell rang. Darci answered to find Jordan and Michaela, dressed in costumes. Jordan was an Old West sheriff, complete with cowboy hat, badge and a water pistol. Michaela was dressed as a well-known pop star.
“Hi.” Darci held the door wide. “Come on in out of the cold.”
“Trick or treat,” Jordan said. “We thought we’d stop by. Michaela has something she wants to ask Chris.”
Christopher, made up as one of the ghouls from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, looked skeptical. “What’s that?” he asked.
Michaela shifted uncomfortably. “First I want to say I’m really, really sorry about what I did to you at Shannon’s party. I never meant to hurt you, Chris, and I’ll never forget what you did for me. You saved me from being shot. You saved me from probably getting killed, and I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”
Christopher squirmed, and Darci was pretty sure her son was blushing beneath his Halloween makeup. “You don’t have to make me out to be a hero,” he said. “I just did what anyone else would have.”
“Chris, don’t be modest,” Darci said.
“Mom.”
“Okay.” Darci held up her hands.
“Anyway,” Michaela said, “Kelly Parker is having a party tonight, and she told me to bring whoever I want. I’m bringing Jenny for one, and Jenny feels really, really bad about what Ben did to you. We’d both like you to go to the party with us. Ben won’t be there. He’s grounded, and his mom and dad are making him work off his punishment at his grandpa’s cattle ranch. Ben should be dressed up as a horse’s butt this Halloween, if you want my opinion.”
Jordan and Darci laughed, and Christopher actually smiled. “Well, when you put it that way. Mom?” He turned to Darci.
“You can go,” she said, ignoring the nervous butterflies in her stomach. She knew she couldn’t lock him in his room.
“Okay then,” Jordan said. “You want to ride with us to drop off the kids? I thought you and I could do something fun afterward.”
Darci shrugged. “Sure. I doubt I’ll have many trick-or-treaters in this weather anyway. Chris, take Sampson out before we go.”
“Okay. Come on, Mac.” Chris waved her forward. “You can see how big he’s grown.”
The kids left the room, and Jordan frowned at Darci. “Where’s your costume?”
“Sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”
“Well, you could always play Kitty to my Sheriff Dillon.”
“You know, I think I can do that. Think the kids will mind waiting a few minutes?”
“They have no choice,” he said. “I’ll go see how they’re faring with Sampson while you get ready.”
In her room, Darci found a forest-green bridesmaid dress she’d worn in a friend’s wedding a few years ago. At the back of her closet, she found the crinkly slip that went with it. It would serve as a passable petticoat. She took a curling iron to her hair and fluffed it into corkscrew curls, using plenty of hairspray. Then she applied an exaggerated amount of makeup, complete with an eyebrow pencil beauty mark. From her jewelry box, she chose a vintage choker along with some dangly earrings and a couple of rings.
Surveying herself in the mirror, Darci decided she made a decent Miss Kitty. She flounced back down the hallway. “Okay, Matt Dillon. I’m ready.”
“Mom.” Chris grinned. “You look awesome.”
“Beautiful,” Michaela added.
Darci curtsied. “Why, thank you, young ’uns.”
They walked outside and piled into Jordan’s Honda. The Parker family ranch lay four miles outside of town. Snow fell in soft flakes for most of the drive there. Jordan and Darci walked the kids up to the door and sudden apprehension seized Darci. Even though Ben and his buddies weren’t going to be there, she couldn’t help but wonder about the other kids. Again, she told herself she couldn’t lock Christopher in a rubber room.
She and Jordan spent a few minutes visiting with Kelly’s parents, and Darci felt more comfortable.
“The kids are in good hands,” Susan Parker reassured Darci. “I promise, we’ll keep a close eye on them.”
Darci took Christopher aside for a moment. From her purse, she took out something she’d been thinking of giving him for Christmas. But after what had happened to him at Shannon’s party… She handed him the cell phone, already charged and activated.
“This is an early gift from Santa,” she said.
Chris gave her a crooked smile, and his eyes lit up. “Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it.”
“You call me if anything goes wrong,” she told him. “I mean it, Chris. Anything.”
“I will, don’t worry.” He slipped the phone into the pocket of his ripped jeans.
Darci thanked Susan, then left with Jordan. “So,” he said. “What do you want to do, Miss Kitty?”
“Why, I’d say you could take me to the saloon for a sarsaparilla.” She gave him a wink. “No beer or wine for designated drivers or their sidekicks.”
“Sounds like a winner,” he said. “And it just so happens I know of a place with the coldest, sweetest sarsaparilla in town.” Then he sobered. “It’s called the Drake house. Would you mind, Darci? I want to be by the phone in case—I mean, I have a cell phone, but the bars are loud, and…”
“Say no more,” Darci said. “The Drake house sounds good to me.”
And then she realized her mistake.
She was going to be alone with Jordan in a cozy house in the middle of a snowfall.
Trick or treat.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“I’M AFRAID I’M FRESH OUT of sarsaparilla,” Jordan said, smiling at Darci. “Is Coke close enough?”
“It’ll do, Mr. Dillon,” she said in her best imitation of Kitty’s voice.
Jordan poured them each a Coke, then sat down with Darci on the couch, taking off his hat and setting it brim up on the coffee table. “I’m glad we’ve got some time alone,” he said. “Darci, I’ve been thinking about what you said the other day. About not trusting men. Not trusting me, basically. Don’t you know I would never hurt you?”
She lowered her gaze. “I sure hope not.”
“Come here.” He took her in his arms and kissed her, long and deep. “Darci, you mean the world to me. I want you to trust me.”
“I’m trying,” she said. “Just hold me, Jordan. That’s all I ask.” For now, it was all she could ask. What she really wanted was to make love to him. To get lost in the warmth of his arms and forget about everything that had happened with Christopher and Michaela.