Harlequin American Romance May 2014 Bundle: One Night in TexasThe Cowboy's DestinyA Baby for the DoctorThe Bull Rider's Family

by Linda Warren

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “This isn’t your town, Cash. You don’t belong here. Quit filling my boss’s ears with baloney.”

  “Who says it’s baloney?” Buck sensed his brothers closing in—they always had each other’s back. Then he caught sight of a redhead moving through the crowd. “Destiny!” Their gazes clashed, and he sent a silent message for her to wait for him, but she turned and walked off.

  “I put my frickin’ life on hold so I could convince this town to sell to Wyndell Resorts. I was this close—” Mitchell pinched his fingers together in front of Buck’s nose “—to getting them to accept Custer’s offer. Then you show up and get all cozy with—”

  “Watch how you talk about Destiny and the others,” Buck said.

  “Oh, so now all these crazy idiots are your friends?” Mitchell sneered. “Or maybe you want them to think you’re their friend, so they’ll go along with your plans?”

  “Now would be a good time to shut up,” Buck said.

  Mitchell curled his hands into fists and stood his ground.

  “What’s Mark talking about, Buck? What plans?”

  Shocked that Destiny had sneaked up on him, Buck was speechless. The distrust in her eyes cut him like a knife. Didn’t she know he’d never do anything to hurt her? “I put the bug in Custer’s ear to consider keeping Lizard Gulch exactly where it is and incorporate the town into his plans for a resort.” He winced at her quiet gasp.

  “We don’t want to be owned by Wyndell Resorts.” Destiny’s chin jutted.

  “I don’t think you will be,” Buck said, having no idea what Custer’s terms would be if he agreed to keep the town as is. “I suggested the town be promoted as part of the overall experience of staying at the resort.”

  Before Destiny had a chance to respond, Hank entered the discussion. “Buck might be onto something. I could make a lot more money if I had more customers eating at Lucille’s.” He nodded to Frank and Enrick who stood nearby. “The same goes for the pastry shop.”

  “The motel pool has a big slide. I could open it up to the kids staying at the resort and charge them a dollar to swim,” Melba said, joining the conversation.

  “And I could give more ghost tours,” Bernie said.

  “We could—”

  “Shut up, all of you!” Mitchell’s face burned red with anger. “I’ve put over a year of my life into making sure this town goes under.” He spat at Buck’s boots. “If you think you’re going to waltz in here and push me aside, you’re dumber than your namesake.”

  Shit. Those were fighting words.

  Mitchell sucked down the rest of his beer, then spoke to the eldest Cash brother. “Heard your name is Johnny Cash.” More chuckling. “How come you aren’t dressed in black?”

  The music stopped and silence reverberated through the air. “You’re treading on thin ice, Mitchell,” Buck warned.

  “You!” Mitchell swung his pointer finger toward the stage.

  “You got something to say to me, big shot?” Mack spoke into the microphone.

  “Yes, I do, Merle Haggard Cash. Why would your mother name you after a no-good lawbreaking loser?”

  “Excuse me, folks,” Mack said. “The band’s taking a short break.” He set his guitar on the stage and joined his brothers.

  “Don’t think I haven’t checked the Cashes out,” Mitchell said. “Your mother was nothing but a whore, sleeping with every Tom, Dick and Harry in Arizona. Hell, you don’t even know who your father is, do you, Buck Owens?”

  Buck had never been close to his mother, and he didn’t condone her lifestyle or understand why she’d burden her sons with the names of country-and-western legends, but a son always defended his mother’s name—whether she deserved it or not.

  “You get one final chance to shut up, Mitchell,” Conway said.

  “And if you don’t,” Will spoke, “we’ll shut your mouth for you.”

  Mitchell had drunk too much or else he would have known the brothers were serious. But his ego had gotten the best of him and he spouted more garbage. “Well if it ain’t Buck Owens’s Buckaroos coming to his rescue.”

  “You were warned,” Porter said. He looked at Buck. “You want to throw the first punch?”

  “Can’t poor little Bucky handle his own fights?” Mitchell taunted.

  “As a matter of fact, he can.” Buck caught Destiny’s wide-eyed stare. He hated to start a fight in front of her, but his pride wouldn’t allow Mitchell to walk away after the insults he’d slung. Sorry, Destiny. He cocked his arm and let his fist fly. His knuckles connected with Mitchell’s jaw, snapping the man’s head back. His beer bottle fell to the ground, and he stumbled backward into Bernie’s arms. The sheriff pushed him toward Buck, and the Cash brothers circled the wagons ready to intervene if Buck needed help.

  “Someone call the police!” Jim Docker showed up in the crowd. “You can’t just beat up people.”

  “Mitchell’s a crook, and so are you, Docker,” Bernie said.

  The Philadelphia lawyer punched the air with his fist. “You’re a...a...fake sheriff!”

  Bernie struck Docker in the stomach, and the man’s wife screamed. A brawl broke out and Buck pinned Mitchell to the ground. The suit-and-tie guy probably hadn’t visited a gym in ten years and was no match for Buck’s strength.

  To their credit, Buck’s brothers attempted to break up the arguments and fistfights between those wanting to sell Lizard Gulch and those wanting to save the town. Several of the rodeo cowboys who’d stayed for the concert helped make sure the old people didn’t get hurt.

  “See what you did, Mitchell,” Buck said.

  “This is your fault, Cash. I don’t know what’s in it for you, but you’d better watch your back. No one messes with me and gets away with it.”

  “You gonna behave if I let you go?” Buck asked.

  “Yes,” Mitchell spat.

  Buck stood and held out a hand to Mitchell to show there were no hard feelings, but the man spat at the gesture and got to his feet on his own.

  “You mark my words, Cash. You’ll regret this day.” Jim and Delores Docker hurried through the parking lot with Mitchell. The three troublemakers hopped into their cars and drove off. Mack and the band struck up a lively tune, the buckle bunnies strutted their stuff and the geezers quit arguing and watched the pretty girls.

  A tap on his shoulder caught Buck’s attention. Destiny held out his hat to him.

  “I can explain,” he said.

  “Maybe, but I’m not ready to listen,” she said.

  “When do you think you might be ready?” Buck wished his brothers weren’t witnessing his dressing-down from Destiny.

  “I don’t know, but not tonight.” She marched off.

  Porter whistled. “You’re in the doghouse.”

  “Yep,” Conway said. “Looks like our brother will be sleeping under the stars later.”

  Buck walked off to the beer tent, his brothers’ laughter ringing in his ears.

  * * *

  “C’MON, DESTINY. OPEN UP.”

  Destiny stood inside the apartment listening to Buck’s pounding. For the past half hour he’d camped out on the fire escape, pleading his case. She would have thought he’d have lost his voice by now, but it was as strong and sexy as ever.

  How could he have gone behind her back to negotiate a deal with Custer and not tell her? This was her town—not his. Buck’s betrayal cut deep, especially after they’d slept together. She may have already decided that she and Buck couldn’t be together because of the baby, but that hadn’t prevented her from falling a little in love with him—only a little, because she wouldn’t allow herself to fall all the way in love with a man she could never have.

  She opened the door. “Go away, Buck.” Even as she said the words she didn’t have the heart to enforce them.

  “I can explain. And it’s not what you think.”

  The sooner he had his say, the sooner...what? She could tell him to leave town. Is that
what she wanted? She stepped back and he entered the apartment. The poor guy looked miserable. And hot. “Do want a drink?”

  “Water would be great, thanks.”

  Destiny grabbed a bottled water from the fridge then waited for Buck to sit on the sofa. She took the chair. Neither spoke. She was content to stare at his handsome face and memorize the shape of his lips...the tiny wrinkles fanning from the corners of his eyes...his strong cheekbones.

  She admitted she’d overreacted when she accused Buck of going behind her back to negotiate a deal with Custer on behalf of the town, but she’d been desperately looking for a reason to tell Buck to leave, because each day...hour...minute she was with him, he claimed another piece of her heart.

  She’d woken this morning to the gleam in his eyes and the excitement in his voice as he’d talked about the rodeo and concert, and it had hit her like a ton of bricks—Buck was a good guy. And girls like Destiny never won the good guy. They always got saddled with losers like Daryl. She’d decided right then in Buck’s arms that if she couldn’t have him, she didn’t want any man.

  She’d rather go it alone with the baby. At least she’d have her memories of Buck.

  He guzzled the rest of his water then crumpled the plastic bottle between his hands. For a man who was dying to talk, he sure was quiet. “How come you didn’t tell me you’d spoken with Custer and invited him to the rodeo today?”

  “I didn’t want you to get your hopes up in case he hated my idea.”

  “And you assumed I’d go along with incorporating Lizard Gulch into the Wyndell resort plans?”

  “What’s the matter? You don’t think it’s a good idea?”

  “You’re a guest here—I’m the mayor. You don’t have a say in the town’s future, Buck. And even if you did, I had a right to know you were communicating with Custer.”

  “I agree.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry.”

  “You made me look like a fool.”

  “I didn’t mean to.” He leaned forward on the cushion, his gaze beseeching. “You care about everyone, and you’ve worked so hard to save Lizard Gulch. I wanted to be the one to save the day for you.”

  She picked at a rip in the fabric of the chair. “I don’t get why you care about—”

  Buck sprang from the couch and dropped to his knees in front of her chair. “I care.” He grasped her hands but didn’t speak until she made eye contact. It would be so easy to lose herself in his soulful brown gaze.

  “Destiny, I’m falling in love with you and this crazy town.”

  A lump formed in her throat. No man had ever said those words to her. In fact, no one had ever told her that they loved her. Not her mother, not Daryl, not even the Carters when they’d adopted her. Destiny had always believed the words I love you were silly—until now.

  “Say it again,” she whispered. She’d heard him the first time, but she desperately wanted him to repeat the vow.

  His vow feathered across her lips. “I’m falling in love with you.”

  She closed her eyes, soaking in the feel of Buck’s mouth against hers. She loved his kisses, but this one was special—this one came after his declaration of love and she wanted it to last forever. He clasped her face between his hands and tilted her head. The caress grew hotter...their breathing more labored. Finally, he released her.

  “You’re the perfect woman for me.”

  Her heart sighed.

  “You’re gutsy, stubborn, a fearless defender of underdogs—” he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear “—and you can change a tire faster than anyone I know, including myself.”

  Tears burned in her eyes. “You forgot pretty,” she teased.

  “Not pretty...striking...stunning...and that’s only on the outside.” He placed his fingers against her breast. “Inside, you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met.”

  A tear leaked from her eye, but she was too caught up in Buck’s gaze to care if he saw her cry.

  “I’ve watched you treat the old people as if they’re your family.” Using the pad of his thumb he smeared a tear across her cheek. “I wanted to find a way to save Lizard Gulch, because it’s part of you. A part that I love very much.”

  Was it possible for the human heart to physically break? No one had ever given a crap about what was important to her—but Buck did, and she gathered his words close, cherishing them like a warm hug.

  “I want to be a part of your life, Destiny. You’ve got your hands full taking care of everyone else. Let me take of you.”

  “Your home is in Stagecoach.” After meeting his siblings and their families she didn’t believe Buck would be happy living away from them for very long. “What if you get lonely for your brothers and sister?” He’d ask her to move to Stagecoach, and Destiny would be forced to pick between Lizard Gulch and him.

  “My home is wherever you are.” Buck thrust his fingers through Destiny’s hair and pulled her mouth to his. He was losing her—he felt it with each beat of his heart. He nuzzled her lips, relieved when she relaxed her mouth and allowed him to deepen their embrace. Destiny was his soul mate, damn it, and he’d do anything to convince her that his feelings for her were the forever kind.

  He used his tongue and lips to stoke the building heat between them—heat that was the result of more than chemistry. He felt a sense of desperation in her touch, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to calm her fears.

  Feeling as if he were fighting an invisible demon, he ended the kiss and stood. “I don’t know any other way to show you how good we are together but to make love to you.” He swooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom then placed her on the mattress. She looked more beautiful than ever with her red hair spread across the pillow and her big blue eyes glowing with warmth.

  This time, no matter how badly his body ached for her, he wasn’t rushing their lovemaking. He stood next to the bed, ready to disrobe, but Destiny got to her knees in front of him and loosened the buttons on his dress shirt then shoved the cotton material off his shoulders. She ran her hands over his chest, her short nails scratching his skin, leaving thin red lines in their wake. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his chest. He shivered.

  She fumbled with his belt buckle, and he waited patiently for her to unclasp it. When she succeeded, he trapped her fingers against the jean zipper and waited for her to make eye contact. He needed to hear her say the words...needed to know she felt the same way about him that he felt about her. He understood that she might need more time to come to terms with her feelings, but he was certain that if he could look into her eyes and see her love for him, the words wouldn’t matter.

  She lifted her head and he swore the emotion swirling in her shimmering gaze was love, but there was something else.... Fear?

  He cupped her face between his hands. “Don’t be afraid. We’re meant to be together.” He sealed the pledge with a kiss then lost himself in Destiny’s embrace.

  * * *

  DESTINY STOOD IN front of the bedroom window, watching Buck’s reflection in the glass. He looked peaceful sprawled on her bed, and the image caused a searing pain in her side. For an instant she feared for the baby, but the hurt was too high in her chest—too close to her heart.

  Damn it. This should never have happened. Buck had been a temporary fling. A few weeks of cowboy fun. A diversion from the stress of fighting to save the town. How had the situation spun so far out of control in such a short time? And how in the world had Buck fallen in love with her?

  He deserved better than a girl who would lie to steal a little happiness for herself without giving a thought to the consequences. He shifted on the mattress, the sheet catching on his hips. With the taste of his kiss lingering on her lips, she approached the bed. Careful not to wake him, she caressed his bare shoulder, the length of his arm and then gently grasped his fingers. The ache in her chest expanded, eating her from the inside out. She closed her eyes and imagined Buck holding her baby, the three of them a happy family
. As much as she wanted that dream, she refused to burden Buck with a child he hadn’t fathered.

  “Destiny! You in there? We gotta talk!”

  Daryl? What was he doing here at... She turned her head toward the nightstand and squinted at the clock. Three in the morning? This couldn’t be good.

  She padded across the room to her closet and flung on her bathrobe then fled the room, closing the door only partway because of the squeak. “Get lost, Daryl!” she whispered after she opened the door. He swayed on the stoop. “You’re drunk.”

  “No kidding.” He hiccuped.

  “I thought you’d left for California,” she said.

  “I did, but my mom—”

  “You spoke to your mother?” As long as she’d known Daryl—granted it hadn’t been long—he’d never picked up the phone and called his mom.

  “I told her about the baby.”

  Destiny wasn’t opposed to Daryl’s mother learning about their child, but the timing of tonight’s visit couldn’t be worse.

  “She wants me to do right by you.”

  Who was Daryl kidding? He’d never comply with his mother’s wishes and marry her.

  He peered behind Destiny. “Tell her, Buck.”

  Destiny swallowed a gasp.

  “Tell Destiny what?” Buck’s sleepy voice smacked her in the back of the head, and she bit her lip to keep from crying. She hadn’t wanted Buck to find out about the baby.

  “Tell Destiny that she has to marry me.”

  “You stood her up at the chapel,” Buck said.

  “I know.” Hiccup. “But I gotta do right by the baby.”

  “What baby?” Buck’s voice dropped to a whisper.

  It took all of Destiny’s strength to face Buck. “I’m carrying Daryl’s child.”

  The color drained from Buck’s face. His mouth parted but no words came out, then he spun and went back into the bedroom and slammed the door.

  “I gotta go to California, Destiny.”

  “I know, Daryl.”

  “We should get married tomorrow.”

  “We’ll talk about it in the morning.” There was no way she’d marry Daryl no matter how good his intentions were. “Go sleep off your drunk in the cemetery.”