“Great,” Jane said. “Then it’s a date.”
Not much of one, considering they’d have two adult chaperones and a handful of kids along with them.
On the other hand, considering that caution of his, he ought to be glad for the reinforcements.
* * *
JANE LOOKED AT her cousin in dismay.
After breakfast, she had wandered up to Andi’s room to tell her about their date for the afternoon, only to discover her cousin had other plans.
She would never have agreed to go out with Pete—and his kids and Tyler, of course—if she had known Andi couldn’t come with them. Pete hadn’t had to spell things out to her about Tyler. She had seen the man with Shay at the wedding and knew exactly why he was along for the ride.
She had a feeling she knew why she’d been invited, too. The thought made her insides turn soft as sun-warmed chocolate. But she couldn’t get so close to Pete again. Not until she told him the truth.
“I’m sorry,” Andi said, looking genuinely distraught at Jane’s dismay. Missy had just finished a bottle, and Andi held her up to her shoulder to burp her. “Dad’s not leaving for a couple more days, but now he’s living in Florida, he may not see the kids again for a while.”
“No, I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking. Although...” She frowned. “You haven’t been talking to Tina, have you?”
Andi looked puzzled. “Not since last night. Why?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Uh-huh. Okay, the chair’s over there.” She pointed. “Sit.”
“What?”
“Sit. And tell me all about what’s bugging you.”
“Who said anything was?” But she pulled the chair over from the small desk, kicked off her shoes and propped her feet on the edge of Andi’s bed.
“Come on, Jane. Remember who you’re talking to here.”
“Yeah.” After their many vacations and holidays together at Garland Ranch, she was probably closer to Andi than any other female she knew.
Though she had already discussed Pete with her, she felt reluctant to bring him into another conversation. And she certainly wouldn’t reveal to anyone what he had said about his ex-wife deserting her children.
Again, she wondered what he had wanted to say to her last night. But after the reception, when they’d met outside, she had gotten too distracted to pursue the question...
Fighting to focus now, she slumped back in her seat and sighed. “Rachel has taken a liking to me.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed she always looks for you. I think it’s cute.”
“Maybe. But I sure don’t know much about kids.”
“You could learn.”
“And isn’t that ironic. I’d have to learn what you and Tina were born knowing.”
Andi laughed. “Of course we weren’t.”
“Well, you’ve got the knack for it, then.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t have time for kids in my life anyway. But I don’t want to do or say the wrong thing with Rachel. And I’m not sure how to handle it.”
“Rachel’s interest...or Rachel’s daddy?”
“Both,” she confessed. Briefly, she explained about Pete’s reaction to Rachel’s makeup for the wedding.
“I can understand that. He’s just trying to protect his little girl, and he’s probably in over his head.”
“You think that’s all it is?”
“Of course. I struggle with it, too. It’s not easy being a single parent. And sometimes it’s not easy being the child of a single parent. I’m probably too overprotective of the kids.”
No, Andi wasn’t overprotective, just trying to fill the gap left by the parent they had lost. In his own way, wasn’t Pete trying to do that, too?
She sighed again.
Andi laughed and shook her head. “Missy,” she said lightly to the baby, “Cousin Jane has got it bad.”
She sat up straight. “I have not. I just... We just...”
“Wow. I’ve never seen you at such a loss for words.” Andi gasped. “Jane. So that’s why you walked off last night. You slept with Pete.”
She groaned. “There’s no point in denying it to you, I guess. It wasn’t planned, believe me. And it never should have happened. But there’s worse.” After a long, deep breath, she added, “I’ve contacted Marina to ask her to be spokesperson for the Hitching Post.”
“Oh,” Andi said dully. “That’s not good.”
“I know it. And now I have to tell Pete.”
Andi took a deep breath of her own. “Listen. We’ve heard what Marina is like. Chances are, she won’t show.”
“I’ve thought of that.” Hoped for that.
“Then don’t worry about something that may never happen,” Andi advised. “Just go. Have fun, eat ice cream. Be someone new for Rachel to talk to while you’re here. She needs that, I think. So does Pete. And it will be good for you, too. You’ll see I’m right.”
* * *
WHAT JANE SAW during their visit to the Big Dipper only reinforced her opinion of Pete Brannigan as both a very good father and a smoking-hot man.
Inside the store, Rachel chose one ice-cream flavor after another, immediately changing her mind after each decision. Pete patiently walked her through the entire selection more than once.
Fortunately, there were no other customers lined up behind them yet. Even if there had been, service would have been slow. Shay, the only clerk working, stood chatting with Tyler at the front counter.
Jane spent her time watching Pete. He’d worn a tight green T-shirt that showed off a number of assets, including his hazel-green eyes. He’d also worn a pair of equally tight jeans that could earn him justifiable bragging rights. She ought to know.
“See anything you like?” he asked.
Startled, she looked up. Rachel had wandered back to the first of the ice-cream tubs again. Jane looked across the shop at Eric, happy in his high chair beside a table for four. She rested her hands on the cold metal of the display case and leaned forward.
“They’re out of black walnut,” she said.
“I could offer you something better,” he murmured into her ear.
She laughed. “You do have a good opinion of yourself, don’t you, cowboy?”
“I didn’t hear you complaining. Or was that what all the moaning meant?”
“Pete!” Despite her chilled palms, he’d gotten her hot all over. And that was what had resulted in her pleasurable moans last night.
His laugh stirred the hair near her cheek. He placed his hand at the small of her back, setting off an inferno.
“Daddy,” Rachel called, “can I have strawberry and chocolate?”
“You know what happened last time you tried to eat so much. How about I have the strawberry and you eat some of it, and you have the chocolate—with sprinkles.”
“Yes, I have to have sprinkles.”
“All right.” He leaned closer again. “And you, Jane? What do you have to have?”
“I’ll think about it.” She smiled. “Meanwhile, I’ll settle for pistachio.”
When they could finally get Shay’s attention, they ordered their ice cream, which Tyler insisted was his treat.
“Thank you,” Rachel said. “When I get big, I’ll have money and then I’ll take my turn.”
“I’ll remember that,” Tyler said with a smile.
Jane led the way to the table. When she took a seat, she discovered Tyler had remained at the counter and Rachel had opted for a table for two near the front window.
“I have to look for my friends,” she called.
Which left Jane alone with Pete, who sat across from her, put a small cup of ice cream in front of Eric and then looked up at her with a half smile.
�
�What?” she asked.
“Just thinking about what Rachel said to Tyler. ‘Thank you’ and a promise to pay him back. Last night at the reception, it was ‘sorry’ and concern that Sharon and Eric wouldn’t get a good seat.”
At the tender look on his face, her heart gave a tiny lurch. “Your little girl’s growing up.”
He leaned over the table and whispered, “And she’s finally learning her manners.”
She had to struggle to keep her laugh low. Pete shifted in his chair, accidentally kicking her beneath the table. “Ow. What size boots are you wearing, cowboy?”
“Twelve.”
“No wonder you almost broke my toe.”
“Sorry.”
“So polite,” she teased. “Like father, like daughter. You’ve got manners, too?”
“I try.”
“Such as?”
“I held the door when we got here, didn’t I? And I opened the door in the truck for you.”
“That’s true,” she admitted. “What else?”
“I always tip my hat to a lady.”
“And?”
“And I don’t take the last piece of pie on a plate.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “Because I’d miss out on dessert for the whole next week.”
“That’s how your dad punished you?”
“We didn’t do punishment. That’s how he showed he ruled the house. How about yours?”
“Oh, it usually involved a few push-ups or cleaning the latrine.” She grinned. “I’d rather do that any day than give up sweets.”
“I can believe it. I saw you at the dessert table at the reception.” He lowered his voice. “I saw you with those chocolates last night. You’re not planning to fit into that dress much longer, are you?”
“Pete Brannigan! I’ll have you know I’m a perfect—” She clamped her mouth shut for a moment. “Oh, no, you don’t.”
“What?”
“You’re not getting my dress size.”
“Why not? You’re into that game of Twenty Questions I didn’t want to play last night, aren’t you? Starting with my boot size. You ought to give me your dress size, unless you want me checking the next time I take one off you.”
She gasped.
His deep laugh thrummed through her. “You’re only up to seven, by the way.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Don’t be. Under the table, I’m counting on my fingers. I learned that from Rachel.”
She laughed. “Is she good in math?”
“As long as she doesn’t have to go above ten. She’s better at reading. I’ve been reading books to her since she was Eric’s age.”
She could see him with a storybook in his large hands and a little blond-haired girl on his knee. The image brought a lump to her throat. “And what about Eric?”
“No, he hasn’t read anything to Rachel yet.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“So far, I’ve read only the sports stats.”
“And only if the numbers are under ten?”
“Yes. That’s ten questions. You’ve just hit the halfway point.”
“I can’t have.”
He pulled his hands out from under the table and held them up, all fingers splayed. Instantly, she recalled him touching her back just that way while they’d danced...and later, touching her in other ways and other places.
Pete rested his hands on the table and locked his gaze with hers.
The door of the shop opened. She heard Rachel squeal. Grateful for being saved from embarrassing herself in public, Jane turned to look.
Carrying her ice-cream dish and spoon in one hand and tugging a woman across the room with the other, Rachel walked up to the table. “Daddy! Jane! This is Miss Loring.”
“I know that, sweetheart,” Pete said. “Miss Loring, nice to see you again.”
The woman was tall and slim with auburn hair and a stubborn chin. Just the type to teach a class of kindergartners. Just the type to make a perfect mommy?
As he made introductions, Jane smiled. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Loring. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Rachel’s told me quite a bit about you, too.”
“I did, Jane. I told Miss Loring about dropping the flowers and about the chocolates we ate in the cabin, and I told Miss Loring I asked to take a piece for Robbie.”
Miss Loring smiled down at the little girl for a moment, nodded even more fleetingly at Jane, then finally turned to Pete.
“Rachel’s deportment has improved considerably in the past couple of weeks, Mr. Brannigan.”
“She’s excited about graduating and moving up to the grade school.”
“It’s more than that. I think she’s had some new good influence in her life.” She glanced toward Jane and smiled again. Then she turned to Rachel. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
Rachel nodded energetically. “Okay, Miss Loring. And I won’t need any time-outs.”
The three adults laughed. Miss Loring left to go to the counter, and Rachel turned to Pete.
“I’m ready for more.” She looked down at his dish. “Daddy! What happened to your ice cream? It’s a puddle.”
He winked at Jane, then looked soberly at his daughter. “Rachel, haven’t you ever heard of strawberry soup?”
Shaking her head, Jane laughed. She’d been right.
Pete was both a very good father and a smoking-hot man.
And now one heck of a fun date.
Chapter Fifteen
After supper at the Hitching Post, Jane went to the cabin again. Partly because she wanted to finish up the photos and partly because she wanted to destroy evidence of what had happened here last night—the candy wrappers, the pile of pillows. The unmade bed. The proof she and Pete had...had been together.
The door opened, and as if her memory of him had brought him to her, Pete walked into the cabin.
“I saw the light and thought it might be you here.” He set a plastic bag on the coffee table and moved toward her.
Her heart skipped a beat. She had almost hoped they wouldn’t find a chance to be together on their own again. “I thought I’d get a few more photos in.” Turning back to her scene, she focused on the camera, trying to be strong, trying to remember just why she needed to keep her distance. “I want to wrap things up in here.”
“Sure about that?”
She jumped. He now spoke from directly behind her. “You move quietly in those size-twelves, cowboy.”
“I’m good when I want to be.”
He’d moved in again, so close his breath stirred her hair. His chest brushed against her back. Whatever was about to happen, she could choose to end it right now. She could walk away. She could ask him to leave.
She turned and murmured, “How good can you be?”
In the flickering light from the candles she had lit, his eyes glowed. Gently, he lifted the strap from around her neck and set the camera on the counter beside the bag. She held her breath, wanting to run...and just wanting.
“Since we ate all the chocolates last night,” he said, “I brought you a surprise.”
“Really? What?”
He opened the bag and, with a flourish, pulled out a quart of black-walnut ice cream.
She laughed, her eyes misting. “You do know how to seduce a girl, don’t you?”
“I can try.”
“But I thought the Big Dipper was out of black walnut.”
“This is imported from the next town over.”
“You really went above and beyond, then. Thank you.” She looked at the carton. “Is it soup yet?”
“Nope. I’ve got it on ice. Which means it can wait.” He set th
e container back in the bag. “We’ll have it for dessert.”
He returned to her side and kissed her.
Long minutes later, when at last they were lying atop the pristine white sheets again, he began to do other things. Things that made her heart pound and her pulse race and her eyes prickle from imminent tears.
She thought of all the truths she could finally admit to herself and the one truth she didn’t want to face.
She loved this loving daddy, this fun date.
She loved this champion and protector.
She loved this thoroughly hot man.
And tomorrow she would have to tell him she had invited his ex-wife back to Cowboy Creek.
She felt sure she knew how he would react to the news. But she refused to let that thought spoil her time with him tonight.
* * *
AS HE WATCHED Jane savor the last of the melted ice cream, Pete stifled a groan.
He’d had a good time—a great time—at the Big Dipper with her and the kids. What had started off as a need to get her out of his system...what had turned them into lovers...had begun to feel like something else. Like they could be friends. Like they could be more than friends.
He deserved to kick himself for those thoughts. His kids had to come first.
By the time he’d gotten Rachel into bed tonight, he knew he’d let her in for even more heartbreak. She could talk of nothing but ice cream—and Jane.
He could think of nothing but Jane.
The ice cream he’d brought now was incidental. A seduction, she had called it, but he hadn’t planned it that way. He hadn’t meant to wind up in bed with her again. Yet when he’d seen her standing in the flickering candlelight with the bed right behind her, he hadn’t been able to keep from giving in.
He’d wanted his mouth on hers again. He’d needed to kiss her. And more.
“You’re quiet,” she said.
“Just resting. You wore me out.” Then she gave him that low, sexy laugh. As always, the sound made him want to move closer. Instead of giving in to his cravings, he ought to be running as fast and as far as he could.
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