by Hebby Roman
Each night, he’d had to force her to leave and drive back to San Antonio. They’d even kissed once or twice. Her demeanor had definitely changed. Not to mention what she’d told the doctor, which he had yet to bring up.
He knew why she’d done it—or he thought he did—doctors and hospitals were sticky about having someone around, as next of kin. She’d declared herself his fiancée so he’d have a ‘family member’ close by.
He’d never thought about how alone he was in the world. He had excellent employees and lots of friends, but in reality, he’d been a lone wolf since his divorce. Hell, even before then, really.
Did he still want to be alone, focused on his ranch rehab-center and the troubled boys? Or would he like to try to start again—with Sofia as his “real” fiancée? He didn’t know if he was ready for marriage, but he’d be hard-pressed to let her go.
He stroked his stubbled chin and watched her concentrate on driving. She was so beautiful and such a good person. He’d be lucky if she would have him. At least her son was doing better and had seemed to turn a corner this past week.
Sofia was the one who had filled him in about Brian and her son’s efforts to discover what had tripped him. He knew Lucas was one of his “failures,” but he’d never thought the boy was malicious.
He guessed Lucas didn’t want Aaron showing off his roping skills or he was angry about something else. Wally believed the wickets had been placed to trip him up, not the contestants. Obviously, he’d let Lucas down.
Lucas, when confronted with the evidence, including his fingerprints on the pliers, had refused to admit anything, even why he’d done it. His local probation officer had sent him home, and they’d never know whether he’d wanted to ruin the competition or hurt him, specifically.
He groaned under his breath, realizing how thoroughly Lucas had messed him up.
“Does it hurt?” Sofia swiveled her head from the road for a minute, concern couched in her eyes.
“Yep, throbs like a son of a…” He shook his head.
“I’m sorry. Is it time for another pill?”
“Not your fault, and I want to drag out taking these pills.” He grimaced. “Can’t have an addict running a rehab ranch.”
“Very funny.”
“It’s not something to be taken lightly.”
“I know.”
“Everything okay at the ranch? No arguments or mutinies yet? Everyone who’s pitching in extra time over the holidays doesn’t mind?”
“I think we’re doing good.”
“Yeah, but I’m gonna need some help around the house. Cooking and cleaning. Hmmph.” He half-chortled. “Cleaning up after me, putting me to bed, fetching ice packs and pillows to elevate my foot.” He shook his head again. “Not a pretty picture.”
“Gar.” She hesitated for a moment. “I’ve moved from Liana’s in San Antonio. I’m staying at your house and taking care of you.”
He gasped and his heart galloped, thinking about Sofia in his home. Her taking care of him and them being alone together.
“You did what? Without asking me?” He stiffened his spine and managed to sit up straighter. “I don’t think we should be… should be… We’ve been over this before and you said—”
“I know what I said, but you need the help.”
“Including helping to get me in and out of the shower, while I’m buck naked?”
Her face flamed and she giggled. “Uh, I talked it over with Kiki, and Cole will come over and get you ready in the mornings, shower and all. For the evenings, I’m assuming you have pajamas and a robe. Before he leaves for the day, Cole can get you settled for the night.” She turned and smiled at him. “See, we’ve got it all worked out.”
“Yeah, just like y’all took over running the ranch. You and Kiki, Kyle and Wally and—”
“Feeling sorry for yourself? Like a useless old man?”
“Damned straight,” he almost growled.
He glanced at her. Was she joshing him? He thought he detected the slightest curve of her lips. Her very full lips, which he loved to kiss. No, they couldn’t do this. He’d never be able to keep his hands off her, living together for weeks.
“Well, I’m glad you’ve decided to nurse me back to health.” He couldn’t keep the sarcastic note from his voice. “But what about your job? Don’t you need to leave after the holidays?”
“Nope, I called my business manager and I told him I wouldn’t be back until sometime in February. He’s cancelled my bookings. You should be getting your cast off, about the time Aaron is ready to go home. I think it works out well, gives me more time with my son.”
Great! They’d live together like husband and wife, her taking care of everything except his most basic needs and then she’d leave with Aaron. Just what he wanted to look forward to. Having her around, only to let her go.
He groaned again.
She glanced at him. “I think you should take another pain pill.”
“And I think you should move back to Liana’s. I’ll see if my housekeeper, Olivia, and some of her friends can pitch in and look after me. I can always eat with the boys, too. No need for cooking at my place. And—”
“I thought once upon a time, you invited me to stay over.” She arched one eyebrow. “I distinctly remember you begging me to bring my jammies.”
“Well, that was then,” he huffed. “This is now, and as you said, our getting cozy isn’t good for a number of reasons. One of which is your son, who’s finally showing some sense.” He crossed his arms. “This isn’t a good idea, Sofia. I don’t know if I can be a perfect gentleman for weeks on end—”
“But you’ve got a huge plaster cast on your foot and you’re in pain.”
Hah! Like those minor details would stop him. Just thinking about Sofia in his home and sleeping in the bedroom next to his, was enough to give him an erection the size of Texas.
“You’d be surprised what I’m capable of, sweetheart, cast or no cast.”
“Really?”
They’d turned into the Shady Oaks’ driveway and were speeding past the barn and outbuildings. In the distance, waiting on his front lawn, he could make out the figures of three boys: Aaron, Brian, and Jimmy.
“Look at that, Gar. They volunteered to help me get you settled.” She turned to him, and there were tears trekking down her cheeks.
“That’s kind of them.” He knew his voice sounded gruff, but he couldn’t help himself. He hadn’t expected this.
He searched his pockets for a handkerchief. But he didn’t have one. “Slow the car down, Sofia.” He popped the middle console open and pulled out a tissue. “Turn your face to me. Quickly. We don’t want the boys to see you crying.”
He dabbed at her face gently, wiping away the tears and sliding his thumb down the soft line of her cheek.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “Isn’t it wonderful, the boys waiting for us?”
“Yes, it is.” He shook his head and bit back a grin. “I appreciate it. But, first thing, I want you to speak with Tidwell and get his take on Aaron’s progress and what your living with me might do to y’all’s relationship. Okay?”
“Sure, Gar, anything you say. But I know, in my heart, it will be fine.” Her voice was so soft, so filled with hope, he wished he could take her into his arms and kiss her until they both needed resuscitating.
Sofia stopped the car and the boys welcomed him, swarming around. It was a bit of a struggle, even with their help, to get out of the car. The front walk was easy, but he had to grit his teeth while the teenaged boys helped him up the front steps.
It was trickier than he’d thought it would be, even with crutches, balancing on one foot. Dr. Drummond had been adamant—he mustn’t put any weight on his injured ankle.
He could hobble around on crutches and learn to use the knee scooter when he was more confident. But he wouldn’t be able to get up and down the steps, either at home or at the main building.
When he’d converted the dude ranch into a rehab center, he’d wanted to make it handicapped-accessible. It would have cost around half-a-million bucks, and his banker had talked him out of it, saying it was doubtful handicapped boys would benefit from a ranch rehab-center focused on strenuous outdoor activities.
He’d accepted his banker’s advice, and to be honest, they’d only had a couple of inquiries about handicapped boys. Now, he wished he’d done what he’d wanted to do in the first place. It would have been a blessing, given his present condition.
Almost as if Aaron had read his thoughts, he said, “Kyle has put us to building some ramps for your house and one to your office through the rec hall. We should be finished when you’re ready to try the scooter.”
He gulped, swallowing the lump in his throat. Double damn, he was proud of these kids.
“Thank you,” he said. “That’s planning ahead and I appreciate it.”
“Olivia cleaned the house,” Brian added.
“Yeah, and Miss Rossi bought a bunch of pillows, ice packs, and groceries,” Jimmy offered.
He nodded. “That’s what I like to hear, everyone working together.”
Maybe his being hurt would be an object lesson. The horses, dogs and cats were all here to teach the boys to be responsible and to take care of something other than themselves. Right now, he qualified for that position.
He glanced up and noticed an evergreen Christmas wreath, alive with big red bows, gracing his front door. “Hey, what’s this?” He smiled. “A Christmas welcome?”
Sofia grinned and threw open his front door. “There’s more inside. Surprise!”
He glanced around his home to find it swathed in holiday cheer. Cedar boughs, dotted with red-berried holly branches and pine cones, lined the mantle of the fireplace he seldom used. Red and green crepe paper hung from the rafters of the open-beam ceiling, and in a corner of the living room they’d put up a small artificial tree, complete with shiny Christmas balls and covered with enough tinsel to roof a small shed.
He noticed, hanging in his hallway, was a homemade kissing ball. Two hoops, festooned with red ribbons, had been tied together and a bunch of real mistletoe, its white berries gleaming, filled the center of the hoops.
He could guess who’d thought of the kissing ball—Kiki. She loved to make homemade Christmas decorations. And her subtext wasn’t hard to follow. Not that he needed any encouragement in that direction.
“Hey, the place looks great.” He grinned and gazed at the three boys and Sofia, all standing with upturned faces, bright with expectation. “Usually, I don’t bother with my house. The decorations at the center are plenty for me, but this place looks awesome. Gets me into the holiday spirit.”
He glanced at the kissing ball and back to Sofia. He winked.
She blushed and turned her head to one side.
And he almost blushed with her—feeling stupid and adolescent—knowing he needed to control his baser instincts—especially in front of Aaron… and the other boys.
His gaze fell on the artificial tree again, caught and snagged. He sucked in his breath, realizing what was missing at headquarters. The wreaths, lights, and garlands had been put up a couple of weeks ago but not the centerpiece—the Christmas tree for the rec room.
On the back forty acres of his ranch was a nice stand of cedar trees. Every Christmas, he took the boys to pick out the perfect tree. Once they had the tree, the boys retrieved the Christmas ornaments from the storeroom and some of them made their own decorations, too.
Christmas Eve was the time for decorating the tree. Then he’d spend the night, sorting the gifts, affixing name tags, and making certain each boy had at least one gift for Christmas morning.
Of all the Christmas festivities, he liked cutting down and decorating the tree the best. Even the most hardened boy appeared to forget himself and his troubles when they foraged in the cedar breaks for a tree.
Now, who would get the tree? Who would help with decorating it? And who would sort the gifts?
He frowned and lowered himself into one of the chairs, thinking about giving Kyle, Wally, or Cole extra duties.
Sofia, attuned to his moods, sank down on her knees beside his chair and touched his arm. “What’s the matter? I thought you liked the decorations.” She bit her lip. “If not, we can take them—”
“No, no, it’s not that.” He took her hand. “I forgot about getting the tree for the rec hall, and Christmas is only a week away. Usually, I cut down one of my trees, but maybe, this year, I’ll send Kyle to buy one. That has to be quicker than spending half a day, looking for a tree.”
“I don’t see why you can’t ride along and supervise cutting down the tree. It might take longer, but I bet everyone would have fun.” She glanced at the three boys.
“It’s a tradition all us guys know about, especially if we’re spending the holidays here,” Jimmy spoke up.
“See? It’s important, Gar, and I know you can do it. When do you want to get the tree?”
“No later than the day after tomorrow. We usually decorate on Christmas Eve, but I hate to take my employees away from their family celebrations even more than what we’re already doing.”
“There will be enough of us to help out. I’m sure of it.”
“I don’t think Dr. Drummond will take kindly to my riding a horse.”
“I’ll call him and ask. And it’s your right ankle. You can balance on your left foot and throw your right foot over your horse.”
“Not without a mounting block.”
“We’ll work it out.” She turned to the boys. “Won’t we?”
They nodded and smiled.
She turned back to him. “You shouldn’t mess with tradition, Gar.”
* * *
Sofia set down the coffeepot and dished up the scrambled eggs and microwaved turkey bacon, along with some buttered whole wheat toast.
Gar stared at his plate as if it was going to bite him, instead of the other way around. “What in Sam Hill is this—”
“A healthier breakfast. You know I don’t believe in frying bacon and whole wheat bread is better for you.”
He took a bite of the bacon. “Not too bad. Crispy and tasty.”
“See,” she said.
He nodded and bit into the wheat toast. He held the piece of toast and looked at it. “It’s strange, kinda nutty tasting. I’m used to white bread, but this is okay.” Then he took a bite of her scrambled eggs. “What have you put in the eggs?” He held up one hand. “Not that I don’t like them. I do. They have a lot of flavor and I was wondering—”
“A dollop of milk, and chopped red bell peppers with green onions, that’s why they look and taste different.”
He picked up his glass of o.j. and saluted her, “¡Viva la diferencia!” You’ve made me a believer. I’ll have to talk to the cafeteria ladies.”
She laughed and touched his arm. “You do that. But the boys might not be so amenable, as you’ve pointed out before. Cholesterol isn’t exactly—”
“Well, I was wrong. Healthy eating can never start too early.” He smiled at her.
She gaped at him. A man who didn’t have to be beaten over the head to change his mind? Surely, she was dreaming?
But it was a nice dream.
So far, living with Gar for just one day was like a dream. When she’d spent time with Eric, maybe because of their clandestine relationship, she’d always felt on edge. It had been thrilling at first, but after a while, their time together had been trying, especially after she’d gotten pregnant and wanted to keep their baby.
With Gar, everything was easy, as if she’d known him all of her life. Yesterday, she’d fixed him broiled lamb chops with sweet corn empanadas, and fresh green beans flavored with minced garlic, favorite recipes from back home.
He’d loved her dinner and eaten so much, he’d turned down her dessert of alfajores, two shortbread cookies with dulce de leche sandwiched between them. S
he hoped he’d try them today for a snack.
Cole had come and gotten Gar ready for bed. Gar had managed to hobble out to the firepit and have one glass of wine. With his meds, he didn’t want to drink more than a glass. They’d sat and talked about the ranch, and the boys who’d left before the holidays. Now, there were only fourteen boys at the center.
Gar was pleased because it meant he could give his dorm Moms and the other employees more time off for Christmas.
Cole had returned this morning, and he’d gotten Gar showered and shaved, while she cooked breakfast.
For Gar’s sake, she was pleased everything was going smoothly.
He pushed his plate away and thumped the table with his knuckles. “You can clean up later, Sofia. I’ve arranged an interview with Dr. Tidwell this morning at nine. He will fill you in on how Aaron is doing.”
“Oh! Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
“Because I wasn’t certain he’d come out today, the Tuesday before Christmas. He texted me this morning.”
She pushed her plate to one side. “I don’t know whether to be excited or filled with trepidation.”
“What does your gut instinct tell you?”
“That Aaron is doing well. Has changed back to the boy I knew before.”
“There you go.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “No fear, only hope.”
* * *
Sofia exited one of the cubicles off the main room for counseling. Her heart performed a strange series of flip-flops in her chest, she was so excited and happy.
Dr. Tidwell followed and offered his hand, saying, “It’s been a pleasure speaking with you, Miss Rossi. You’ve filled in some of the gaps that were missing. I’m hoping, soon after the New Year that Aaron will have completed his counseling sessions. We’ll see.”
She took his hand and shook it. “You’ve helped so much, Dr. Tidwell. I can’t thank you enough.”
“That’s kind of you, but the groundwork had already been laid.” He smiled.
She wondered what he meant by that—was he complimenting her upbringing of Aaron or what?
“And now, I’ve got another round of appointments to make. But first…” His hazel eyes, magnified by huge-Coke bottle glasses, twinkled. “There’s a young man who would like to speak with you, privately.”