She crossed her arms over her chest, but the anger in her eyes dimmed. “Yeah, well, you seemed to find someone who likes you. I’m pretty sure half the checkout people hate me.”
“I’m sure they don’t. You just started.” Though Steph didn’t always make a great impression. At a glance, she was beautiful. But get to know her . . . A couple of his friends outright warned him away from her. Others gave him a raised eyebrow that said clearly, “Really? Her?”
Still, he understood that she was maybe overwhelmed with the move and all the changes in her life.
“They resent that they weren’t promoted to manager and I got the job.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, you got it for me.”
“And you’ll be brilliant at it if you give it a chance,” he said encouragingly.
She relaxed even more at his praise. She swept her long straight hair behind her ears and sighed. “I forgot the groceries.”
“Okay. Why don’t you two go out and grab something?” It seemed the simplest answer.
Steph rolled her eyes. “Because I’m done. I just want to sit and watch TV.” She downed the rest of her beer.
“Yeah, maybe driving right now isn’t a good idea.”
Steph’s gaze narrowed. “It’s one beer.”
He changed the subject. “Don’t forget you need to turn in the rental car on Saturday afternoon.”
“What am I supposed to drive then?” Steph sold her old car in California before they moved because she’d need something more reliable here when the cold weather hit.
“You’ll buy a new car this weekend.”
“I guess I’m supposed to do that on my own, too.”
Yes. Buying a car wasn’t that hard. But he gave her the benefit of the doubt and tried to understand she felt alone and adrift here without her friends and family to lean on. “If you want me to go with you, I will, but you’re buying the car.” He wanted that to be clear.
“Sure. Because you don’t care if your daughter is riding around in some junker.” She rolled her eyes again.
He wanted to do the same. “You agreed to move here and be Miss Independent,” he reminded her. “With the money you got from your other car and your new job, you can afford a decent car.” Especially since he graciously paid her rent. “Now, why am I here?” Burnt dinner didn’t seem like a good enough reason to throw her hands up and send Emmy home with him.
“Because she’s out of control. She hates everything I say and do and throws a tantrum over the littlest thing.”
“I didn’t want to eat the yucky food.”
He didn’t blame Emmy.
“And you ate my brownies!” Emmy only ever screamed like that at her mother. And a few times to her teacher and other students at school, which prompted the notes home.
“Emmy, watch your tone,” he warned, picking her up to console her.
She buried her face in his neck and he got a good whiff of her dirty, tangled hair.
Steph looked done. But she shouldn’t get away with not taking proper care of Emmy.
“When’s the last time she had a bath?” As far as he knew, four-year-olds didn’t stink. Emmy’s hair would take two shampoos to get the oil out and at least an hour to untangle. He had a feeling the only reason her clothes were clean was because everything had been washed and packed before the move.
Steph gave him a dirty look. “Seriously? I’ve had a shit week, and you want to pick a fight?”
He really couldn’t win. And he didn’t want to do this bitter back-and-forth in front of Emmy. So he gave Steph what she wanted, and hoped giving her a break and some time to herself would allow her to settle down, unpack, and get herself together.
He set Emmy on her feet. “Go to your room. Pick out five pants, shirts, sleep clothes, underwear, and socks. Grab your jacket and school backpack, too.”
Steph stood at her full height, surprise in her eyes that he was going to give her what she wanted. “I thought you had a date?”
“I have a daughter who always comes first. I wish she did with you, too.”
“That’s not fair. You have no idea what it’s been like for me this week, learning a whole new job, the school schedule, dealing with Emmy’s tantrums, and stuff.”
He didn’t know what “stuff” she’d been doing aside from ignoring their daughter’s needs, not putting away her belongings, and leaving the apartment a mess.
“Well, for my daughter’s sake, let me help you with some stuff.” He walked past her into the kitchen, turned on the tap, opened the dishwasher, and rinsed and put the dishes in it. He ran the disposal when he was done. He noted that it took him not more than five minutes to do that chore, but he refrained from chastising Steph about it.
Steph stood there sipping a second beer with triumph in her eye because she got her way and someone else did for her what she should have done herself.
He didn’t care. His daughter deserved a nice, clean home. So he wadded up all the paper wrappings Steph left all over the dining-room area when she unpacked the moving boxes. Dishes, glasses, mugs, utensils, and other miscellaneous kitchen stuff was stacked on the table instead of put in the cupboard where they belonged. He jammed the papers into one empty box, broke down the three others, then went back and forth organizing the kitchen.
Since Steph watched and didn’t help one damn bit, he didn’t even ask where she’d like things to go.
Next, he sorted the pile of laundry, shoved the colored clothes in the washer, added soap from the bottle next to the machine, turned it on, then headed down the hall to Emmy’s room.
She’d done as she was told and stacked her clothes on the bed. He found her overnight bag in the closet and put all the clothes inside, making sure she didn’t forget anything. Since they had double sets of toothbrushes and hairbrushes and such because she lived in two places, he already had a lot of what she’d need for the long weekend at his place.
With Emmy packed and the house in better condition, he scooped her up and held her at his side, then grabbed her bag. They walked down the hallway and met Steph by the door. “You’ve got all weekend to yourself to get this place in order before you pick her up after school on Monday.”
“What about getting the car?”
“I’ll pick you up on Saturday at nine.”
“So early?”
“If you want my help, yes. I don’t have time to wait around for you to sleep half the day away.”
“Maybe we could get lunch afterward and do something together.” The hopeful look in her eyes was the complete opposite of the incredulous look she gave him when he arrived.
“If we have time,” he agreed, because he believed Emmy would benefit from seeing her parents together and getting along. He hoped he and Steph could pull it off. “I have plans for the afternoon.”
“But you’ll have Emmy.”
“We’re going to visit my dad.”
She brushed her hand over Emmy’s tangled hair. “You love seeing your grandpa. Have fun. I’ll see you after school on Monday.” She looked up at him, remorse in her eyes. “Thanks for coming and helping out. I just need a little time to settle in.”
“Don’t fall back into bad habits, Steph. You promised me and your dad you wanted to do this on your own.”
“I do. It’s just a lot all at once.”
He nodded, understanding she couldn’t change overnight. He’d have to give her some leeway to figure it all out. “I get that. But I also want you to prove you can stand on your own feet and take care of our girl.”
“I can.”
“You better, or we’re going to have another talk about what’s best for Emmy.” With that warning, he stepped past her, opened the door, and walked out.
Emmy stared up at him from her car seat after he got her settled inside and stowed her bag. “Do I get to see the ranch now?”
“Later. First, I need to make a stop.” If he had to cancel on Trinity, he planned to do it in person so she could see he wished he didn’t have to, and so he
could at the very least get a look at her in the dress she’d put on just for him.
Chapter Seven
Trinity sat on her sofa watching yet another episode of The Zoo on Animal Planet. She loved animals and missed living on the ranch. Maybe she’d head over early on Saturday so she could get in a ride before the big family dinner.
Her thoughts turned back to Jon. She hadn’t heard from him in an hour. She hoped everything was okay with Emmy, but feared their date wasn’t going to happen. She should probably change and find something to eat. Maybe she had a bottle of wine in the fridge.
Someone knocked on her door. She seriously hoped no one needed her in the store. This was supposed to be her day off. While most of the time her employees respected that, sometimes they really needed to ask her something or cover for someone.
She stood and walked across the small apartment in her bare feet to the door and unlocked the two dead bolts.
In her wildest dreams, she didn’t expect to see Jon and Emmy standing on the small landing.
“Wow.” The awe in his voice made her smile and her heart beat faster.
She waved off the employee who led Jon up to her place. He went back to work and she focused on Jon.
He stared at her, his gaze sweeping up and down her body. “You’re gorgeous.”
Surprise gave way to appreciation. “Thank you.” She hadn’t thought through the whole going-on-a-date thing until Adria asked what she planned to wear. Most days, she wore black pants and an Almost Homemade shirt. At her nonresponse, Adria had dragged her upstairs and rifled through her closet until she found the turquoise A-line dress with the tiny white pearls that circled the collar. Simple, yet elegant. And the color looked great on her with her blond hair and blue eyes.
Jon’s eyes filled with regret. “You look amazing, and I’m sorry to say, I have to cancel.”
That took her aback. “You came all the way here to tell me you can’t make it?”
“Yeah. Sorry. I have Emmy. She’s going to stay with me for the weekend.”
Emmy gave her a shy wave, then turned her face into Jon’s. “I’m hungry.” Her belly grumbled. And it should. They were standing at the top of the stairs at the back of the kitchen. The smell of garlic, chicken, melted cheese, and sweet desserts filled the room.
The shop didn’t close for a couple more hours.
Jon rubbed Emmy’s back. “I’ll make you something when we get home.”
Emmy shook her head. “No. Hungry now.”
Trinity went with the change in plans. “Do you still want that date?”
“Desperately, but . . .” He tilted his head at Emmy.
“Then it’s a party of three. Come in.” She held the door open wide and stepped back.
Jon stared at her dumbfounded and didn’t move. “Are you sure about this?”
She tilted her head and studied him. “Are you turning down a home-cooked meal and me?” The uncharacteristic boldness when it came to men surprised her, but she went with it because she really liked Jon.
Eager, he didn’t hesitate to walk right past her into her tiny apartment.
Emmy swiped the frizzy hair out of her eyes for the third time since they arrived. It appeared she had two ponytails on either side of her head at one time, but the rubber bands were tangled around part of her hair and the rest had fallen out of the band and been mussed up into a tangled mess. She scratched at her head and made a bad face.
“What is going on with your hair, Emmy?”
“Mama didn’t do it. She pulls too hard and I said no.”
Jon looked beside himself. “It’s part of why I have her. Steph is . . . Steph.” That didn’t really explain anything, but Jon thought it somehow did by the exasperated tone he used.
“Well, I need to make dinner for us. There’s a bathroom right down there. You can get her cleaned up. I have some great hair products you can use.” She pointed to her long hair. “With this much hair, you need a moisturizing conditioner and a detangler. Right, Emmy?”
Emmy scratched at her oily head and gave her a confused look. “Huh?”
Trinity grinned at her.
Jon simply stared at Trinity.
“Seriously. Dinner will take at least twenty minutes.”
“I actually have some clothes in the car I could change her into.”
“Great.” She held her hands out to Emmy, who came to her. Trinity held her close and turned to the TV. “Do you like animals? I’m watching this show about the zoo.”
Emmy nodded and sat right down on the couch where Trinity put her. Trinity turned and found Jon still staring at her.
“Thank you for making this easy.” The earnest words and gratitude in his eyes touched her.
“I don’t see what’s so hard about it. She needs a bath and her hair brushed. You can do that while I make dinner.”
“I’m hungry,” Emmy called out, though she was completely transfixed by the lemurs with their black-and-white-striped tails.
“Don’t you feed her?” She was mostly teasing.
A dark look came into Jon’s eyes. “I don’t want to dump this on you. Are you sure about this?” Uncertainty warred with hope in his eyes. He wanted this date, but he didn’t want to talk about why he had to pick up Emmy unexpectedly or why she was starving and disheveled.
She reached out and wrapped her fingers around his tense forearm. “I’m happy you came.” He could have just texted that it wasn’t a good night; they’d reschedule. Instead, he’d taken the time to speak to her in person.
He hooked his hand at her neck and drew her in slowly for a hug. He was warm and solid against her. He simply held her for a moment, like he needed to be close to ease whatever ordeal he’d been through with . . . Steph.
His ex. Emmy’s mother.
Whatever happened, it was hard on him. He needed some comfort, so she gave it to him because she knew what it was like to try to deal with things on your own, and a hug from someone who cared would go a long way to making things better.
The embrace made her feel safe and a little closer to him. Like he shared something with her that he didn’t often show others.
He stepped back first but kept his hand at the back of her neck, her hair laced between his fingers. “Thank you for doing this.”
“I’m happy to have dinner with you and Emmy tonight.”
“I am happy to be here with you.” He dropped his hand and she missed the feel of it, of him touching her. “I’ll be right back.”
She waited for him to go before she went to her pantry to make sure she had what she needed for dinner. She could go downstairs and get some food, but she wanted to prepare something herself. “Emmy, do you like spaghetti?”
“Yep.” She brushed the stray hairs out of her face again.
Trinity had a feeling she’d have to work out those knots.
Who let their child run around with their hair a mess like that and smelling like they hadn’t had a bath in a week?
Steph.
No wonder Jon had to step in and take his daughter tonight.
She set aside her feelings about poor Emmy and focused on putting some good food in her belly. She took out the tomato sauce, paste, and noodles. She had some garlic cloves in the basket on the counter and fresh basil sitting in a jar of water. She grabbed a pot from the rack on the wall, filled it with water at the sink, then set it on the stove to boil.
She went over and sat next to Emmy on the couch. “I’m going to take the bands out of your hair.” At Emmy’s nod, she started on the one closest to her. It wasn’t easy, and though she tried to be gentle, Emmy let out a few “ows.”
Jon returned with a knock on the door before he let himself in while she worked on the second band. “I’ve got a change of clothes.”
Emmy glanced up at him and put her hand over Trinity’s at her hair. “Ow, Daddy.”
He frowned. “I know it hurts, but Trinity is doing the best she can not to pull on your hair.”
“I’ve almost g
ot it.” Trinity worked fast to free the band and finger-comb out some of Emmy’s tangles. She stood and headed for the bathroom. “You can use my shampoo and conditioner. When you get out and towel off, we can spray the detangler in your hair and comb it out. You’ll see, it will be really pretty and smell good.” She held the bottle out to Emmy to smell.
“Nice.”
Jon checked out the small bathroom with a quick glance.
“It’s not much, but you should be able to get her cleaned up. Dinner will be ready when you’re done.” She pulled a clean towel out of the cubby beside her, then left them to the shower.
Jon brushed his hand against hers as she walked out and headed for the kitchen, and it left a tingle rippling up her arm.
She salted the boiling water, pulled the spaghetti out of the box, and slid it into the pot just as Jon closed the bathroom door, but not before he gave her a look that smoldered and said thank you all at the same time.
She stood for a moment and tried to identify the emotion inside her. She hadn’t expected this tonight, but she liked having them here. She liked seeing Emmy in Jon’s arms and the way he looked at her. He didn’t like that his little girl hadn’t gotten all the love and care she deserved. And despite how much he wanted to be on their date, he’d done the only thing he could and gone to his daughter.
That said a lot about him as a man and a father.
He was a good guy.
And if the way she felt from just that simple hug was any indication, she was falling for him.
The pasta started to boil over. She grabbed a wooden spoon from the jar of utensils and stirred the noodles.
The sauce wouldn’t take any time at all, but she got to work and lost herself in cooking and thoughts of her life living on the ranch with her brothers, the tragedies, traumas, and hurdles they’d all faced and overcome lately, and how she’d hidden herself away these last months after the kidnapping. She didn’t want to do that anymore. She wanted a future like the ones her brothers had found with the women who had come into their lives and made it fuller and happier and just plain better. She wanted to love and be loved.
True Love Cowboy Page 7