“That’s not true. I would never expect to live someplace free of charge. I pay my way, Henry.” She wrapped her hands around her coffee mug. It was one thing to be independent, but it was another to make the boys suffer from her independence.
“There are two things I’d ask of you,” she said after a moment of hesitation.
“What’s that?”
She realized this close that his eyes were really more gray than blue. Almost silver, they were the kind of eyes a woman could fall into, eyes a woman could lose herself in.
“I haven’t been able to afford to get them health insurance,” she said. “Maybe it would be nice if you could put them on your policy.”
“Done,” he answered without hesitation.
“The other thing is that maybe you could help me with a college fund for them. I didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, but I’d like my sons to.”
“You didn’t have to ask for that. I’d want to make sure they go to college,” he replied. “Why didn’t you go?”
“There were several reasons. Financially it was impossible, but even with a full scholarship I couldn’t have gone.” She paused to take a sip of her coffee and then continued. “When I was a junior in high school my mother developed health complications due to diabetes. She lost most of her eyesight and they had to take one of her legs. There was no way I could leave her to go to college. She had nobody but me to take care of her.”
“Quite a sacrifice on your part,” he observed.
Melissa smiled. “I never considered it a sacrifice. I considered it a privilege to take care of the woman who had always taken care of me.”
“One of the reasons I broke up with the woman I’d been dating for a while was because she thought it was time to put my mother into a nursing home.”
Melissa looked at him in stunned surprise. “What was she thinking? Your mother certainly doesn’t belong in a nursing home.”
“My sentiments, exactly,” he replied. “And you don’t even need me to tell you what Mom thought of the idea. Needless to say Mom wasn’t upset when I broke it off with Hilary. Now, tell me how you got involved with interior decorating.”
As Melissa told him about working in a furniture store and finding her calling in arranging rooms and décor, she once again remembered the thrill of his mouth on hers, the way his arms had felt holding her tight.
“Shouldn’t we be getting home?” she asked when she’d finished telling him about her struggling business. “It’s been a couple of hours and I don’t want to take advantage of your mother.”
“We’ll head back,” he agreed. “But I can promise you my mother wouldn’t feel taken advantage of if we were gone all day. She’s absolutely crazy over those boys.”
Melissa smiled. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is that the boys not only have a father like you, but also a grandmother like Mary. I’m well aware of the fact that James the cowboy could have been a man who wanted nothing to do with them.”
He looked at her sheepishly. “I want you to know that night was the first and only time I’ve lied about my name.” He motioned for the waitress to bring their tab. “To be honest, that night I just wanted to be James the cowboy, not Henry Randolf III.”
The café had grown busy with the approach of the noon hour and Melissa was aware of several people looking at her with curiosity as she and Henry left their table and headed for the door.
They were just about to reach the door when a tall, willowy brunette walked in. “Henry!” she cried in obvious delight, then her gaze swept to Melissa and her smile faltered slightly.
“Hilary, this is Melissa Monroe, a friend visiting from Amarillo. Melissa, this is Hilary Grant,” Henry said.
“Nice to meet you,” Hilary said to Melissa, then turned her attention back to Henry. “I was going to stop by your place this evening. I made a batch of that fudge you love and was going to bring it to you.”
“That’s not necessary,” Henry protested.
“Well, of course it isn’t necessary, but it’s something I want to do. Will you be home this evening?”
“We’ll be home, but it’s Christmas Eve. It’s really not a good time,” he replied.
Her lush red lips pursed with a hint of irritation. “Then I’ll give the fudge to Charlie to give to you tomorrow,” she said. “I made it especially for you, Henry.”
He smiled at the beautiful Hilary. “That was very nice, Hilary, and now we’d better get out of here. We’re blocking the entrance.”
“Nice to meet you, Hilary,” Melissa said.
She nodded and returned Melissa’s smile but there was nothing warm or inviting in the dark centers of her eyes. She swept past them toward a table where another woman sat as Melissa and Henry stepped out into the cold late morning air.
“Hilary knows Charlie?” Melissa asked.
“They’re brother and sister,” Henry replied.
She glanced up at him. “That must have been a bit awkward when you broke up with her.”
“Actually, it was fine. Charlie doesn’t seem to get involved with his sister’s life. I get the feeling that they aren’t real close.”
They had gone only a few steps down the sidewalk when they came face-to-face with a short, squat man. Melissa felt Henry’s instant tension. “Tom,” he said and gave the man a curt nod.
“Henry. Heard you had some excitement out at your place the other night.”
“And you wouldn’t know anything about that,” Henry replied. His eyes were cool, steely in a way Melissa hadn’t seen before.
“Just what I hear through the grapevine. Sounds like there are some folks who aren’t too happy about your decision to run for mayor.”
“Just a handful, mostly the people who have something to lose if I get into office. You wouldn’t be one of those people, would you, Tom?”
“Taking potshots at a man with a rifle isn’t my style. You’ll see me coming if I come after you.” Tom gave Melissa a curt nod, then stepped around them and walked by.
“Who was that?” Melissa asked as they arrived at Henry’s truck.
“Tom Burke, city manager and the man who definitely doesn’t want me to become mayor.” Henry opened her car door and she slid in and watched as he walked around the front of his truck to get into the driver side.
She could tell he was irritated. A muscle ticked in his strong jaw and his shoulders looked more rigid than usual.
“You don’t like Tom Burke?” she asked as he got into the car.
“I think he’s a criminal masquerading as an upstanding citizen,” Henry replied as he started the truck. “He knows that if I get into office I’m going to do everything in my power to see that he loses his job.”
“So, you think he’s behind the attacks on you?”
He backed out of the parking space before replying. When he was on the road that led back to the ranch he visibly relaxed. “Yeah, Tom Burke is definitely at the top of my list of suspects. He knows I believe that he’s been taking kickbacks from inferior contractors doing work for the city and he knows that if I succeed in being elected, his days are numbered.”
“Have you told the sheriff this?”
He nodded, his dark hair gleaming in the sunshine that danced into the truck window. “Jimmy knows. Unfortunately Tom isn’t the only councilman who I think is on the take. The corruption in this town runs deep and I’m determined to do some housecleaning.”
“And what do the townspeople think?”
“I think they’re behind me, but nobody has been brave enough to speak up. I’m hoping they’ll speak by voting for me.”
Melissa admired what he wanted to do. Like an old Wild West hero he was riding into town filled with outlaws with the intention of cleaning it up.
“She’s very beautiful,” she said.
He didn’t pretend not to know who she was talking about. “She’s okay.”
She’d been more than okay, Melissa thought. Hilary Grant was stunning. Tall and slende
r, with lush long dark hair and exotic olive eyes, she’d looked like a model in her long, fashionable coat and boots.
“What does she do?” she asked curiously.
“She’s a beautician and she does some local modeling gigs. She and Charlie had a pretty rough life and mostly Hilary is looking for somebody to change all that rather than figuring out how she can change it herself.”
“She’s in love with you, you know,” she said.
“She was never in love with me,” he scoffed. “She was always in love with my money.”
“Were you in love with her?” Melissa was surprised to realize that his answer mattered. It mattered much more than it should to her.
“No, but there was a weak moment when I considered marrying her.”
“You’d marry somebody you weren’t in love with?” Melissa asked with surprise.
“I considered it a business deal,” he replied with an easiness that astounded her. “Hilary would have made a good wife when it came to giving parties and acting as hostess for social affairs. In return she would have been able to live the lifestyle she desperately wants.”
“And you’d do that? You’d marry as a business arrangement instead of for love?” Melissa asked.
“As far as I’m concerned love is overrated.” He cast her a wry look. “I suppose you’re one of those hopeless romantics?”
“Absolutely,” she exclaimed. “I’ll only marry for love. I want to marry somebody who loves me mindlessly, desperately, and I want to love him the same way. I want somebody to laugh with, to love, somebody to grow old with and love through eternity. And I won’t settle for less.”
As if to punctuate her sentence there was a loud pop. The truck careened wildly to the right side of the highway as Henry muttered a curse.
Melissa saw the deep ditch in front of them and knew they were going to hit it—hard. She squeezed her eyes closed and screamed as she felt the truck go airborne.
Chapter 6
Henry fought the steering wheel hard, trying to keep the truck on the road, but he lost the battle as the vehicle flew far right, hit the lip of the ditch and flew with all four tires off the ground. It came down with a crunch and a hiss, jarring the teeth in his head as it finally came to rest.
His heart raced and he quickly looked at Melissa. “Are you all right?”
She opened her eyes and gave a slow nod, but her face was chalky pale. “I’m okay.” She drew in a deep breath and her hand shook as she shoved her hair away from her face. “I hope you have a spare,” she said.
He pulled his gun from his holster with one hand and reached for his cell phone with the other. Melissa’s eyes widened at the sight of his weapon. But he didn’t have time to deal with her fear.
He handed her the cell phone. “Call Jimmy.” He rattled off Jimmy’s cell phone number. “Tell him we’re three miles from my place on the highway and somebody just shot out my tire.”
As she made the phone call, Henry kept his gaze on the wooded area on the right side of the highway. He was ninety-nine percent certain that a mere second before the tire had blown he’d heard the unmistakable faint crack of a rifle.
“Jimmy said he’s on his way,” she said, her voice higher than normal in tone.
He felt her fear radiating across the seat, but he didn’t look at her. Instead he kept focused on the area where he thought danger might come. He didn’t know now if the attack was over or if the blown tire was just the beginning. Was somebody approaching the truck now, knowing it was disabled and that he and Melissa were sitting ducks?
Minutes ticked by—tense minutes of silence. He was grateful that Melissa understood his need for focus, for complete concentration, and didn’t attempt to engage him in any way.
His heart continued to bang unusually fast, but as the fear began to recede, anger took its place. Who was behind these attacks? Dammit, there had to be something he and Jimmy could do to figure out who was responsible and get them behind bars.
Henry didn’t relax until he saw Jimmy’s patrol car pull up on the side of the road. Henry lowered his gun and opened his window as Jimmy got out of his car, gun drawn and headed across the ditch toward them.
“You’re becoming a full-time job, Henry,” Jimmy said as he reached the driver side of the truck. “You both okay?” He bent down to look at Melissa. “Ma’am?”
“I’m fine,” she replied, her voice a little stronger than it had been moments before.
“You sure the tire was shot out?”
“I heard a crack right before the tire blew. I think it was a rifle shot.”
Jimmy scanned the area. “You have any idea where the shot came from?”
“Somewhere in those trees, about a quarter of a mile back,” Henry replied. “I’m sure whoever it was is gone now. If the intention was to do more harm, then he would have come after us while we were sitting here waiting for you.”
“Any ideas on who might have taken the shot?” Jimmy asked.
“The usual suspects,” Henry replied dryly. “Oh, and I have a new one to add. I fired Hank Carroll this morning before we left for town. You might want to check him out. Can you get somebody out here to take us home?”
Jimmy nodded. “I’ll radio for Gordon to come out and give you a ride. Meanwhile I’ll check out the woods and see if I find anything. You armed?”
Henry showed his gun. “Nobody is going to sneak up on us. You see what you can find and we’ll wait here for Gordon.”
Jimmy nodded, hitched up his pants, then turned to walk back to his patrol car.
Henry shot Melissa a quick glance, pleased to see some of the color had returned to her cheeks. “I don’t think we’re in any danger,” he said softly. “And I appreciate the fact that you haven’t fallen into hysterics.”
She offered him a faint smile, although her lips trembled slightly. “I’m really not the hysterical kind of woman. You fired Hank?”
He nodded and returned his gaze to the outside. “I’d warned him twice about drinking on the job, but he was half-lit when he carried in the tree yesterday.”
“I noticed,” she replied. “Would he do something like this?”
Henry frowned thoughtfully. “To tell the truth, I don’t know. He hasn’t been working for me very long. I hope this doesn’t change your mind about living in the carriage house.”
“I haven’t made up my mind about living in the carriage house,” she replied. “And I’d say now is definitely not a good time to ask me how I feel about living here.”
At that moment a deputy car pulled up and Gordon Hunter got out. Jimmy returned as Henry and Melissa were getting into the backseat of Gordon’s car.
“I couldn’t find anything. I don’t suppose you’d do me a favor and stay inside that secure castle of yours until I can figure out who’s after you? I mean, tomorrow is Christmas, surely you don’t have to be out anywhere.”
“I won’t be out and about for the next couple of days, but, Jimmy, I’m not going to become a prisoner in my own home,” Henry replied.
Jimmy frowned. “I know, Henry. I’m doing the best I can but these drive-by shootings, so to speak, aren’t giving me much to work with.”
Henry clapped his hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. He knew Jimmy was as frustrated as he was by these sneak attacks. He also knew Jimmy was a good man who took his job seriously.
“I’ll arrange for Willie at the garage to pick up your car,” Jimmy said. “And I’ll be in touch in the next day or two. In the meantime, try to have a merry Christmas.”
Henry nodded and got into the back of Gordon’s car next to Melissa. “Okay?” he asked her.
“Never a dull moment with you, is there?” she said.
There was still a tiny flicker of fear still in the depths of her eyes and he reached over and took one of her hands in his. She immediately curled her cold fingers with his as if she’d desperately needed the contact with him.
He was surprised by the sudden surge of protectiveness that filled him holdi
ng her small, slender hand in his. He wanted to keep her from harm. Surely it was only because she was the mother of his children and nothing more.
Still, he was equally surprised to realize that he had no desire to release her hand until Gordon deposited them at the front door of his house.
Melissa grabbed her shopping bags and Henry ushered her into the house, where Mary met them at the door. “What happened?” she asked, worry thick in her voice.
“Nothing serious, just a blowout,” Henry said quickly before Melissa could reply. “The spare was flat and Gordon just happened to be driving by so we hitched a ride home with him.”
The last thing he wanted to do was worry his mother, but he wasn’t sure if Melissa would play along with his story.
She did, not countering his story to his mother. “How were the boys?” Melissa asked. “Did they behave for you?”
Mary’s face lit up. “They were absolute angels,” Mary said as Henry flashed Melissa a grateful smile.
As Melissa and his mother disappeared into the house Henry headed for his office. He needed to call the garage about his truck and he needed to talk to Charlie to see how things had gone with Hank.
The main thing he needed was some distance from Melissa. Even with the concern that somebody had shot out his tire, he couldn’t stop thinking about how nice her hand had felt in his, how the scent of her had dizzied his senses all morning long.
He wanted her. He wanted her naked in his arms, gasping beneath him as she’d been on the night they’d shared. But she’d made it clear what she was looking for—that happily-ever-after and love forevermore nonsense. That definitely wasn’t what he’d be offering to her.
Would she be interested in a night of passion with him with no strings attached, no promise of love or commitment? It was possible.
He knew she wasn’t immune to the sparks that snapped in the air between them. He’d seen an awareness in her eyes when he got too close to her, noticed the way her gaze lingered on him when she thought he wasn’t looking.
He sank down at his desk and realized it was much easier to speculate on how to get Melissa into bed than trying to figure out who in the hell was trying to kill him.
The Cowboy's Secret Twins Page 6