They had a past.
They might have a future.
All it would cost him was his pride.
Ten
“Y ou’re as stubborn as he is, I swear.” Mrs. Carey gave her soup pot a stir, then fisted her hands at her hips. “That poor baby is going to have a head like a rock thanks to his parents.”
Maggie sat at the kitchen table, drinking tea she didn’t want and staring through the window at Justice as he carried Jonas around the ranch yard. Spring sunshine fell out of a perfect sky. Angel and Spike were racing in circles, making Jonas laugh with delight, and the wide grin on Justice’s face stole her breath away.
Yet here she sat in the kitchen. It was a bright, cheery room, with dozens of cabinets, miles of countertop and the comforting scent of homemade soup bubbling on the stove. But Maggie didn’t feel comforted. More like…disconnected.
At the end of a very long week, she felt as though she were walking a tightwire fifty feet off the ground with no net beneath her. Days crawled past and she and Justice might as well have been living in separate homes. She hadn’t touched him in days, though she’d dreamed about him every night. Thought about him every waking moment.
And still there didn’t seem to be an answer.
“What am I supposed to do?” Maggie asked with a shake of her head. “He wants us to be friends.”
Mrs. Carey snorted. “Anyone can see you two weren’t destined for friendship.”
Smiling wryly, Maggie said, “I agree, but what if that’s all that’s left to us?”
Mrs. Carey walked to the table, sat down opposite her and folded her hands neatly on top of a brick-red placemat. Staring Maggie in the eyes, she asked bluntly, “If all that’s left is friendship, why does the air sizzle when the two of you are together?”
Maggie laughed. “Excuse me?”
“Do I look like I’m a hundred and fifty years old?” Mrs. Carey snorted again and clucked her tongue. “Because I’m not. And anyone with half an eye could have seen the way you two were around each other the past couple of weeks. I nearly caught fire myself, just watching the two of you look at each other.”
No point in denying the truth, Maggie thought. So she didn’t try. “Not lately, though.”
“No,” Mrs. Carey allowed. “What I’ve got to wonder is why? What changed?”
“What hasn’t?” Reaching for a cookie from the plate in the center of the table, Maggie took a bite, chewed, then swallowed. “He wants Jonas, but he hasn’t said he wants me.”
“Pfft.” The older woman waved away that statement with one dismissive hand. “You know he does.”
“What I know and what I need to hear are two different things,” Maggie said, letting her gaze slide once again to the two most important men in her life. She looked out the window just in time to see Justice plant a kiss on Jonas’s forehead.
Her heart melted. She’d wished for this for so long, that Justice would know and love his son, and now it was happening. The only problem was that she should have been more specific in her wishes. She should have hoped that the three of them would find one another.
“Maggie, you more than anybody know that Justice doesn’t always say what he’s feeling,” Mrs. Carey said softly, drawing her gaze away from the window. “You love him. I can see it in you.”
“Yeah, I love him,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t change anything.”
The other woman laughed. “Oh, honey. It changes everything. With love, anything’s possible. You just can’t give up.”
“I’m not the one giving up,” she retorted, defending herself. “Justice is the one who won’t budge.”
“Hmm…”
“What’s that mean?”
“Nothing at all,” Mrs. Carey said with a sigh. “Just seems to me that people as stubborn as you and Justice have an obligation to the world to stick together. Spare two other people from having to put up with either of you.”
She had to laugh. One thing about Justice’s housekeeper, you never had to wonder what she was thinking.
“Now, why don’t you go outside and join your men?”
She wanted to. She really did. But things were so strained between Justice and her at the moment that she wasn’t at all sure she’d be welcomed. Besides, now that Justice was almost back to full strength, she’d be leaving soon and taking Jonas with her, no matter what the baby’s father thought about it. So why not let the two of them have some time together while they could?
But, oh, the thought of leaving the ranch again, leaving Justice again, was killing her. And the fear that he might make good on his promise and try to take her son was chilling. Pain was gathering on the near horizon, and she knew that when it finally caught up to her, it was going to be soul crushing.
“No,” Maggie said, standing up slowly. It was time she started getting used to the fact that she wasn’t going to be with Justice. Brace for the coming pain as best she could. “I think I’ll go upstairs, take a long bath and start getting ready for tonight.”
Mrs. Carey nodded. “It’s good that you’re going with him.”
Maybe it was, Maggie thought, but maybe it would turn out to be an exercise in torture for both of them. She’d agreed days ago to attend the Feed the Hungry charity dance with Justice.
Feed the Hungry was a local foundation the King Ranch donated hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to in order to stock local food banks. Maggie had even helped plan the event when she and Justice were still together. So attending with him had seemed like a good idea when he’d first broached the subject.
But now…she wasn’t so sure. Looking down at the woman still seated at the table, she asked, “Are you certain you don’t mind babysitting while we go? Because if you do, I can stay home and—”
“It’s a joy to watch that baby, and you well know it,” Mrs. Carey told her with a smile. “So if you’re thinking of chickening out at the last minute, you can’t use me as an excuse.”
Maggie’s lips twitched. “Some friend you are.”
“Honey, I am your friend. And as your friend, I’m telling you to go upstairs. Take a bath. Do your hair and makeup and wear that gorgeous dress you bought yesterday.” She stood up, came around the table and gave Maggie a brief, hard hug. “Then you go out with your husband. Dance. Talk. And maybe remember just what it is you two have together before it’s too late.”
Justice hated getting dressed up.
He felt uncomfortable in the tailored tux and wished to hell he was wearing jeans and his boots. He even had a headache from gathering up his hair and tying it into a neat ponytail at the back of his neck. He didn’t get why it mattered what he wore to this damn thing. Why couldn’t he just write a check and be done with it?
Scowling, he glanced around the hallway and noted that the cobalt blue vase held a huge bouquet of roses, their scent spilling through the entryway. Now that Maggie was back on the ranch, the vases were filled again; he knew that when she was gone, it would be just one more thing he would miss. She’d made her mark on this place as well as on him. And nothing would be the same after she left.
His leg was better now, so he knew that she’d be planning to go soon. He couldn’t let that happen. Not this time. He had to find a way to make her stay. Not just because of Jonas but also because without Maggie, Justice didn’t feel complete.
He shot his cuffs, checked his watch and frowned. Maggie always had kept him waiting. Back in the day, he’d stood at the bottom of these steps, hollering up for her to get a move on, and she’d always insisted that she would be worth the wait.
“Damned if that isn’t still true,” he murmured when he spotted her at the top of the stairs.
Her long, red-gold hair fell loosely around her shoulders, the way he liked it best. Long, dangling gold earrings glittered and shone in the light tossed from a wall sconce. She wore a strapless, floor-length dark green dress that clung to her curves until practically nothing was left to the imagination. The bodice was low-cut, exposing
the tops of her breasts, and the skirt fell in graceful folds around her legs. She carried a black cashmere wrap folded neatly across her arm.
She stood there, smiling at him, and his breath caught in his lungs. Her cheeks were pink and her blue eyes sparkled as she enjoyed his reaction to her. If she only knew just how strong his response was. Suddenly, his tux felt even more uncomfortable than it had before as his body tightened and pushed at the elegant fabric.
“Well?” she asked, making a slow turn at the top of the stairs.
Justice hissed in a breath. The back was cut so low she was practically naked. The line of her spine drew his gaze, and he followed it down to the curve of her behind, just barely hidden by the green silk. His hands itched to touch her. It took everything he had to keep from vaulting up the stairs—bad leg or not—crushing her to him and carrying her off to the closest bed.
She’d been right, he told himself. They weren’t friends. They’d never be friends. He wanted her desperately and doubted that feeling would ever fade.
But she was waiting for him to say something, watching him now with steady eyes. He didn’t disappoint her.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his voice straining to be heard past the knot in his throat. “Every man in the room is going to want you.”
She came down the stairs slowly, one hand on the banister, each step measured and careful. He got peeks of her sandaled feet as she moved and noticed a gold toe ring he’d never paid attention to before. Sexy as hell, he thought, and grimly fought a losing battle to get his own body back under control.
“I’m not interested in every man,” she said when she was just a step or two above him.
“Good thing,” he told her. “I’d hate to have to bring a club to fight them off with.”
She gave him a dazzling smile that sent his heartbeat into overdrive.
“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Justice.”
Then he’d been a damn fool, he thought. He should have always told her how beautiful she was. How important to him she was. But he hadn’t found the words and so he’d lost her. Maybe, though, there was time enough for him to take another shot at it.
He reached out, took one of her hands in his and helped her down the last two steps. When she was standing right in front of him, he inhaled, drawing her scent into his body as if taking all of her in. He lifted one hand, smoothed her hair back from her cheek, touched her cool, soft skin and felt only fire.
“Maggie, I—”
“Well, now, don’t you both look wonderful,” Mrs. Carey said as she walked into the hall, Jonas on her hip.
Justice didn’t know if he was relieved or irritated by the interruption.
The baby kicked his legs, waved his arms and, with drool streaming down his chin, reached for his mother. Maggie moved to take him, but Mrs. Carey stepped back. “Oh, no, you don’t,” she said, laughing. “He’ll have you covered in drool in no time—you don’t want to ruin that dress.”
Maggie sighed and Justice watched her eyes warm as she looked at her son. He felt it, too, he realized, looking at the baby safe in the housekeeper’s arms. A wild, huge love for a tiny child he wasn’t even sure was his yet. But the more time he spent with the baby, the more he saw of him, the more he cared for him. He and Maggie were linked through this child, he knew. But would it be enough to start over? To rebuild what they’d lost?
“She’s right,” he said, keeping a tight grip on Maggie’s hand. “We’re late anyway.”
Maggie lifted one eyebrow at him. “Was that a dig?”
He gave her a half smile. “Just a fact. You always did make us late for everything.”
“I like to make an entrance.”
“You do a hell of a job, I’ll give you that,” he said and was rewarded by a quick grin. Her smile sucker punched him, and he had to steady himself again before looking at Mrs. Carey. When he did, he found the older woman giving him a knowing look. She saw too much for Justice’s comfort. Always had.
“Goodnight, little man,” Maggie whispered as she leaned in to Jonas and kissed his cheek. Then she cupped her hand around the back of his head and just held on to him for a long moment. Pulling back, then she said, “Does he feel a little warm to you?”
“Warm?” Justice repeated, reaching out to place his palm on the baby’s forehead, a sudden, sharp stab of worry slicing through him. “You think he has a fever?”
“Maybe we should check before we go,” Maggie said. “It won’t take long and—”
“He’ll be fine—don’t you worry.” Mrs. Carey shook her head at both of them. “I know how to take care of a baby and if I need you, I’ll call your cell.”
“You’ve got the number, right?” Maggie asked, digging in her small cocktail purse to drag out her cell phone and make sure it was on.
“Of course I do, you’ve given it to me three times just today.”
“My number’s programmed on your phone, too, right?” Justice asked, patting his pants pocket to assure himself he had his phone, as well.
“I have your number, too. And the police,” Mrs. Carey said, herding them toward the front door. “And the hospital and probably the National Guard. Go. Dance. Have fun.”
Frowning a little at the bum’s rush they were receiving, Justice took hold of Maggie’s elbow and steered her onto the porch. “We’re going, but we’re only a few miles away and—”
“I know where Stevenson Hall is, Justice. Haven’t I lived here most of my life?” Mrs. Carey shooed them off with one hand. “Go on, have some fun, for heaven’s sake. The baby’s fine and he’s going to stay fine.”
“If you’re sure…” Maggie didn’t sound at all pleased about leaving now and her gaze was fixed on the smiling baby.
“Go.”
Justice took Maggie’s wrap from her, draped it over her bare shoulders, then took her arm and threaded it through his. Giving his housekeeper one more look, he said, “She’s right. Jonas will be fine, and if we have to, we can be back home in ten minutes.”
“All right, then,” Maggie said unenthusiastically. She looked at Mrs. Carey. “You promise to call me if he needs me?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “Drive safe.”
Then she closed the door and Maggie and Justice were standing on the dimly lit porch all alone. Her scent drifted to him and the heat of her body called to him—and Justice could only think he’d never been less interested in going anywhere. It wasn’t worry over the baby making him want to stay home. It was the idea of having this elegantly dressed, absolutely beautiful Maggie King all to himself.
But he had an obligation to the charity the King Ranch funded, so he would go. “We don’t have to stay long,” he said, leading her down the porch and across the drive to where one of the ranch hands had parked the SUV.
“I know.” Maggie threw one last glance at the house behind her, then turned to look at Justice. “Jonas is probably fine, and besides, I want a dance with a handsome man in a tux tonight.”
His mouth quirked slightly. “Anyone I know?”
She laughed as he’d meant her to, then said, “Maybe Mrs. Carey is right. Maybe we should try to relax and enjoy the night.”
“Maybe,” he said, sliding one hand down her arm. “But for God’s sake don’t tell her that.”
Maggie laughed again as she swung herself inside the car after he opened the door for her, and Justice told himself to enjoy what he had while he had it. He knew all too well just how quickly things could change.
The charity ball was a huge success.
The banquet hall at the local art center was packed with the county’s movers and shakers. A band was playing dance music on the stage, and formally dressed waiters moved through the crowd carrying trays of appetizers. Helium-filled balloons in an array of colors filled the ceiling and occasionally fell limply to the floor below. Women dressed in jewel-toned gowns swirled in the arms of tuxedo-clad men, and Maggie was left to visit with friends instead of dancing with
her husband as she wanted to.
She spotted Justice across the room, standing in a knot of people. Even from a distance, her breath caught in her chest just watching him. He was magnificent in a tuxedo. She knew he hated formal wear, but even in a tux, his raw strength and sensuality bled through until most women would have had to fan themselves after a peek at him.
Maggie frowned when she saw him rub idly at his thigh. She probably should have put her foot down about attending this dance, but he was so damn proud. So reluctant to be treated as if he needed help. And the truth was, he was well on the way to being one hundred percent again, so a small ache or pain wasn’t going to stop him anyway.
The men clustered around Justice were no doubt asking his advice on any number of things, she thought, while absentmindedly keeping track of the conversations around her. But that was how it had always been. People turned instinctively to Justice. He was a man who somehow gave off the air of being in complete control, and to most people that was simply irresistible.
She was no different. She looked at Justice and knew she wanted him with every breath in her body. He was the one. The only one for her. Sighing, she turned her head and smiled at the still-speaking woman beside her.
So when Justice came up behind her a moment or two later, she was so startled she jumped as he laid one hand on her back. Heat spilled through her as his fingers caressed her spine with a delicate touch. She closed her eyes, sighed a little and took a breath, hoping to regain her balance. Then, looking up at him, she asked, “Having a good time?”
He dipped his head to hers and murmured, “Hell, no, but it might get better if you dance with me.”
Maggie smiled, then asked, “You sure you’re up to it? Your leg, I mean.”
“The leg’s fine. A little achy.” He held out a hand. “So? A dance with the guy who brought you?”
“Oh, honey, if he was asking me to dance, I wouldn’t hesitate.” A few chuckles resulted from that statement by a woman old enough to be Justice’s grandmother.
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