by Joanna Wayne
“Does a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound grizzly in attack mode count?”
She shuddered. “You came face-to-face with a grizzly?”
“Yes, ma’am. My friend Jack and I were fly fishing in a glacial stream in Alaska. Jack and I had seen bears before in that area, but when they’d show up, we’d just back away and let them have their fishing spot.
“That time we didn’t see the bear until it came charging at my buddy. Fortunately, I was able to take the grizzly down seconds before he attacked. Admittedly I was shooting a lot more firepower than I have with me today.”
Leave it to Riley to take her mind off her own problems if only for a few seconds. “Truth or lie?” she queried, though it didn’t matter. Either way the story had served its purpose.
“Truth. Alaska is a magnificent state, almost like traveling to another world.”
He passed Dani’s Delights and kept going.
She tensed. “Why didn’t you stop? Is something wrong?”
He reached across the console and pressed his hand against her thigh. “Everything’s fine. I’m just going to unload the new door in the back.”
She’d forgotten all about the extra-strength metal replacement door he’d bought and loaded into the bed of his truck at the lumberyard a half hour ago.
She was so anxious about the stupid stalker she couldn’t keep her thoughts straight. Time to pull herself together the best way she knew how.
It was time to bake.
* * *
WITHIN MINUTES OF getting down to business in her immaculate, commercial-grade kitchen, Dani felt her nerves beginning to settle. It had been that way since she made her first batch of chocolate chip cookies as a little girl. In her mind, there was something magical about measuring, creaming, blending and folding in myriad ingredients to create something as beautiful to look at as it was to taste.
To lose her bakery would be like losing a piece of herself.
Normally she worked to the sounds of Mozart, Wagner, Bublé or Sinatra. Today she was working to the beat of hammers and the whir of drills. The sounds weren’t the only things that were magnified with Riley around.
He added a new spice, a robust flavor that she’d never experienced before.
“Hate to interrupt the genius at work, but do you know if there’s any leftover paint around here to match the door facing?”
She looked up to find Riley at the kitchen door in his worn jeans and sneakers, shirt off, thick, dark hair mussed and falling over his brow.
The carpenter’s belt hung below his waist, the tools dangling past his hips. His bare chest was as bronzed as his face and the rest of his hunky, tanned body.
Her insides quivered. Her legs grew weak. Her mind was muddled. She held on to the edge of the counter as the full effect of his virility left her dizzy.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“I said, ‘Wow, do you look good punching that dough!’ Do you need help?”
“Sorry, sir, but I don’t believe those tools you’re sporting could sufficiently coddle my red velvet cupcakes.”
“You might be surprised what kind of satisfying work my tools are capable of.”
And once again it wasn’t the time or place to find out. “The repair tech will be here any minute. He’s already ten minutes late.”
“Well, okay, if you’d rather wait for him, but I predict he’ll be a big disappointment.”
“Paint,” she said, knowing she’d best cool the flirting before she lost all control. “You were asking about paint.”
“Right. The woodwork and trim around your back door needs a touch-up. Did your painters leave any extra when they finished your bakery remodeling?”
“They left a few partial cans of paint. I’m not sure which colors. They’re on the top shelf of the storage cupboard between the men’s and ladies’ restrooms. The key is in the drawer under the first register.”
“Good. I’ll check it out.”
He turned and was gone. It was uncanny how James Haggard’s threats and calls from a taunting stalker could have her totally on edge and still she was falling this hard for Riley.
Temporary or not as this relationship might be, she no longer could be ruled by caution. When the security alarm was up and running and she and Riley had the house to themselves, she’d let him know she was ready to finish what they’d started last night.
No promises or love or forever expected.
She had just slipped her croissants into the oven and was about to start on chocolate cupcakes for the girls when her front doorbell rang.
She rushed to usher in the alarm tech. The sooner he got started, the sooner he’d be out of here. She swung open the door.
“I realize your shop is closed, but it’s urgent that we talk,” the man standing there said.
“You’re not from the alarm company?”
“No, I’m Elton Sheldon, James Haggard’s attorney, and I think you know why I’m here.”
Chapter Fifteen
He was wrong. Dani had no idea why he was here. The rules seemed to change with James Haggard every day. First she’d had a week to pull a million dollars from a hat. The next night he’d vandalized the bakery, apparently just to let her know he shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Next a hired stalker. Now he’d sent his attorney to add more pressure.
“Your client doesn’t seem to know what he wants, so how could I possibly know what you want?”
“Let me make it clear, then. James is Constance’s father. You could start by acknowledging that his name is listed that way on the original birth certificate. A birth certificate that should have been given to him along with custody of his daughter. He is the legal next of kin and you know it.”
“His name is not on the birth certificate, which explains why he doesn’t have a copy of it.”
“We also know that you delivered a fake sample of James’s DNA to a lab in San Antonio to deliberately infringe on his rights.”
“You are the one who was following me yesterday. Is stalking women part of your attorney duties?”
“Only when working with dishonest women who’ll do anything to hold on to an innocent child’s money.”
“Go to hell.” She was practically screaming, but she’d had enough.
“What’s the problem?” Riley asked, appearing with his usual perfect timing.
Sheldon took a step backward, putting him closer to the door. Clearly he’d expected to find her alone so he could bully her into complying with James’s demands before she received the lab report.
“This man claims to be James Haggard’s attorney and he’s basically calling me a liar and a sleaze.”
“Is that a fact?” Riley asked as he took off his tool belt.
“He’s also my stalker and he seems to be quite concerned that we made a visit to a lab.”
“I’ve said what I have to say,” Sheldon said. “Your fake DNA testing will prove nothing. Cooperate or lose Constance. Time is running out.”
“Actually it just ran out,” Riley said. “James Haggard isn’t fit to father a rat. The two of you tried to pull off a million-dollar scam. You picked a victim way out of your league. I hope you enjoy prison life.”
“Why, you...”
The attorney doubled his fists and came at Riley, landing a punch to his jaw. Riley got in the second blow. Blood shot from Sheldon’s nose and splattered his face and the front of his shirt. He staggered back, but managed to keep his balance.
Sheldon lunged for the tool belt Riley had shed, wrapping his fingers around the handle of a hammer and struggling to wrench it free.
Riley grabbed him from behind, ramming his knee into Sheldon’s crotch. The lawyer turned white, looked as if he might faint and then twisted around and came at Riley
again.
This time Riley delivered a solid blow to his right jaw. Sheldon stumbled for a few seconds, spitting out streams of blood, before he finally went down.
Dani opened the door, and Riley literally tossed Elton Sheldon to the street.
“You’ll pay for this,” the lawyer muttered through the blood dripping from his split bottom lip.
“Bring it on.”
A crowd quickly gathered around Sheldon. He muttered a string of vile curses as he got to his feet and staggered away.
A few seconds later, Dani heard the scream of sirens. The police. An ambulance. Or both.
“I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I never expected things to go this far so quickly. I definitely didn’t think an attorney would take things to blows.”
Riley wrapped her in his arms and swayed gently, rocking her to him. She felt his warm breath on her neck as he whispered in her ear, “There you go, apologizing again for something you couldn’t control. I doubt he’s an attorney, but he came here looking for a fight. Only the cowardly skunk was expecting it to be with you—not me.”
“Do you think he was arrested or taken to a hospital?”
“Either way, he won’t stay long. He’s not going to admit he got beat up while working a con.”
“I guess we won’t know for sure it’s a total con until we get the DNA test results back,” she said. “But if Haggard really believes the tests will come back positive, why not wait until I have the proof? Wait. That’s it. Haggard knows the tests will come back negative. He’s desperate because it’s now or never for him.”
Her spirits lifted. “The second I get those negative test results, I’m calling Cavazos. I hope Haggard’s tried and sentenced. Prison life will be exactly what he deserves.
“Now you’re talking.” Riley sniffed. “Do I smell something burning?
“My croissants.” She dashed for the kitchen. Too late. Burned to a smoky black.
Even that couldn’t bring her spirits down now. The alarm repairman would come and go, and then she’d be alone with Riley. The time couldn’t pass quick enough.
* * *
THE SECOND BATCH of croissants came out perfect. As many as Dani had made in her career, they should. She rinsed her pans and skidded them into her oversize specialty dishwasher.
The dishwasher, like her bakeware, had been a real splurge, but well worth it. She’d invested with the thought that she’d be here until Constance graduated from college and perhaps beyond.
Over the past few days, she’d feared that dream might be lost. Now she had more reason than ever to believe James Haggard was just a nightmarish glitch in her life’s plans.
She picked up her phone and called Grace to check on Constance. No answer. In spite of her newfound hope, she felt a shudder of apprehension. She tried Esther’s number. Finally, a cheerful hello.
“Hi, it’s Dani.”
“I thought you might be calling soon. How are the repairs coming along?”
“The back door is hung and looks great and very sturdy. The repairman is putting the alarm system through its final tests.”
“Then I guess I’ll see you and Riley soon.”
“We might be delayed a little while, a few small tasks to finish.”
“You take all the time you need, dear.”
“I tried to call Grace but didn’t get an answer. Do you know where she and the girls are?”
“Sure do. They went to the new movie theater up by the consolidated high school. The one with six theaters, though I can’t see why a living soul would need that many to choose from. I don’t know what they went to see, but they were mighty excited.”
“I’ll owe Grace several free child-care days after this.”
By the time she said good-bye and broke the connection, the alarm tech was tapping on her open kitchen door.
“It’s all set up, including a few advanced tasks you didn’t have before. Have you got a few minutes for me to show you how all the settings work?”
“Sure.” A few minutes of talk and then time alone with Riley. She could almost taste the salty thrill of his kisses.
Assured she knew how to operate the new and improved security system, she saw the nice young technician to the door and went in search of Riley.
She heard him before she saw him. He was on the back staircase talking to someone on the phone. She stopped and turned around, not wanting to eavesdrop on his conversation.
She didn’t get away fast enough.
“I am so ready to get out of here. I’ll be there as soon as I can make it. Time to start chilling the wine.”
She rushed back to the kitchen, her stomach churning, suffocating fingers clutching her heart. She had been mooning over Riley like a foolish schoolgirl all day. He couldn’t wait to get out of here.
Tears burned at the back of her eyes. She blinked repeatedly, forcing the tears not to fall. Why was she surprised? Grace had tried to warn her.
She couldn’t even blame Riley. He’d been embroiled in her problems from the first minutes he arrived in Winding Creek. He’d had hardly a minute with his brothers or any of his old girlfriends from his high-school days.
He went with his instincts, knew when life got overly complicated it was time to move on. Apparently, where she was concerned, that time was now.
Riley joined her in the kitchen. “I think we’ve taken care of everything, including Elton Sheldon. Are you ready to roll?”
“You go ahead. The girls are at a movie with Grace, so there’s no reason for me to rush. I’ll take my car this time and be out in a while.”
“That’s a terrible idea.”
“Why?”
“Because I promised Esther we’d be back early afternoon and I’m not leaving you here alone.”
“Okay. But I’ll drive my own car. I may need it tomorrow.”
“I doubt it. I fear Esther and Grace are conniving to give you the full ranch experience tomorrow and to make sure you have at least one day of actual vacation.”
“I love your family.”
“They obviously feel the same about you and Constance. Only they think you are family. I’ll load my tools in the truck and leave by the back door. You set the alarm and I’ll follow you to the Double K.”
And then he’d hurry off to see someone who was chilling the wine.
* * *
SETTING UP A seduction scene was new to Riley. He’d never been accused of being a romantic, though he wasn’t a jerk about it. He just tended to go with the flow. When the moment was right and the woman was willing, he let the details work out for themselves.
This time was different. Dani was different. He knew he’d never forget their first time making love, and he wanted it to be just as memorable for her.
He’d already saddled two horses and filled his saddlebag with the necessities. Now he just needed to persuade Dani to go riding with him.
That might not be as easy as he’d expected. She’d been a tad standoffish since they made it back to the ranch—she had shrugged off his attempt to kiss her when he left to go ready their mounts.
He was counting on that having more to do with the visit from Haggard’s dubious attorney than with something Riley had said or done. Not that he’d ever pretended to understand women.
It was a good fifteen minute walk back to the house from the horse barn. Riley made it in ten. Dani was on the front porch with Esther, who was talking a mile a minute. Dani was bent over a potted plant, pinching off dead blooms.
That sight alone was enough to get his juices pumping. It was hard to figure how some guy hadn’t roped and tied her years ago. He figured it wasn’t for lack of trying. Tough on a man’s ego to come in second to a pile of dough or a bowl of batter. He was finding that out for himself.
“Afte
rnoon, ladies.” He tipped his hat as he climbed the steps to the porch and lolled against a support post.
“What are you still doing around here?” Esther asked. “Gorgeous spring day like this, a cowboy should be out on his horse.” Her eyes twinkled. She loved playing conspirator, especially if she sensed a little romance was involved. She’d packed the snacks and chilled the wine.
“I’m looking for a riding partner,” he said. “How about you, Dani?”
She looked surprised and maybe a tad suspicious. “I think I’ll pass this time and stay here with Esther.”
“Lordy mercy, don’t let me hold you back,” Esther urged. “I’ve been up since before sunup and I feel a nap calling me.”
“The horses need to be ridden,” Riley said. “Have two saddled and waiting. Be a help to me if you come along.” If subtlety didn’t work, he’d raise the stakes. She wasn’t getting out of this one.
“I’m not an experienced rider.”
“The horse is experienced enough for both of you. Besides, I saw you ride this morning. You were in full control.”
“That was a short, easy ride.”
“We’re not exactly going to be galloping down a mountain this afternoon. You’ll be fine.”
“If you’re sure.”
“Wouldn’t be standing here cajoling if I wasn’t.”
“Then give me a minute to kick out of these sandals and change into my boots.”
“Don’t forget your hat and you might want sunglasses, as well. We’ll be short on shade.”
“Isn’t our Dani something special?” Esther said once Dani was out of earshot.
“She is that.”
“You don’t think she’s in any real danger of losing custody of Constance, do you?”
“How did you hear about that?”
“I’m not as deaf as you guys think.”
“Ah. Selective hearing. How much do you know?”
“That some lying creep is pretending to be Constance’s biological father and is trying to blackmail Dani into giving him half of Constance’s trust fund.”