Back straight, chin held high, she headed toward sexy cowboy.
He was sitting in one of the wicker chairs. His legs stretched for miles and he seemed relaxed. His hat was pulled low on his forehead, hooding his eyes, but she knew he watched her. Placing her bags by the door, she came back to sit beside him. “Are you lost, cowboy?”
“Now that’s a loaded question.” He sat up and pushed his hat back, exposing sparkling gaze. Her stomach did a triple loop. How could he look better with age and she just kept getting old?
“You here to talk or did you bring more eggs?”
“I did bring more eggs, but I believe it’s time we had a heart-to-heart.” His raspy voice did naughty things to her dessert-filled body. Chocolate and hot cowboy was almost too much pleasure in one day.
“We’ll talk, but just so we’re clear, I’m keeping the baby. That doesn’t mean I’m expecting anything from you, because what you decide is your choice. I plan to give this baby a wonderful life, full of love. In my heart I know this baby wasn’t a mistake.”
“Good.”
She popped her chin up, staring at him, drinking him in. “What?”
“Just because the pregnancy wasn’t planned, doesn’t make it a mistake.” A hopeful expression slipped over his features. “I can’t imagine a child of mine being out in the world with me not there to protect him or her.”
Her heart sped up. April had never doubted that Dante had a protective side the size of Texas. Once he set his mind to something, he wouldn’t stop until it was accomplished. A stubborn attitude did have benefits. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I want to be a part of my child’s life. The child can grow up here.”
Her smile fizzled. “I think you’re jumping the gun,” she snapped. “This is something we should discuss further, when we are closer to the due date.”
His jaw hardened slightly. “April, on the road is nowhere to raise a child.”
“I agree, but if you think I’m going to hand over my baby and walk away, you don’t know me at all.”
Creases formed around his eyes. “Then we will have to compromise.”
“Agreed.”
“That’s why we should get married.”
“I think we—what?” Her brain took a nosedive into confusion. It wasn’t possible that he’d just offered marriage as a solution. She stuck her finger in one ear and rubbed. “I’m hearing things.”
He got up, buried his hands into his front pockets and scuffed the toe of a boot across the wooden planks. “We should get married.”
Her baffled thoughts made her temples ache. “Have you thought about this?”
“Every second since…” There was a curious pause.
Bringing her gaze upward along jean-clad legs, shiny belt buckle, broad chest, and stopped at a contemplative gaze. “How long, Dante?”
“A while.”
Her stomach flipped. At nineteen, she’d dreamed of him asking her to marry him. As the years had passed, so had the fantasy. Who could fall in love as teenager and believe in a future?
Now, he asked her to marry him out of obligation—not exactly a fairytale proposal.
“I—I don’t know,” she answered honestly.
His jaw twitched. “At least it’s not a no.”
****
Dante slept like shit. He crawled out of bed, scrubbed the remaining sleep from his eyes and dressed.
He’d asked April to marry him and she’d basically said “maybe.” He didn’t like it, but he’d accept it for now.
In the meantime, he’d work on being the man she needed.
He glanced across the room where the black box sat on his shelf. In all these years, he hadn’t moved it. It’d sat there as a reminder of the past.
He’d often wondered how life would have turned out if he’d chased her to Nashville. What would he have done in her world? He never could have made it as a trophy husband.
Guilt clutched his memory. She’d had an opportunity to follow her dreams and he’d stepped aside.
He buried his forehead in his palm. Deep in his heart and years later, he knew this was the correct thing to do—marrying her. They had created life between them and they needed to make everything right. He needed to make everything right.
Getting up, he marched across the floor, snatched up the box and shoved it into his front pocket. The ring belonged to her, always had. He’d put it on her finger soon.
Downstairs, he poured himself a large cup of coffee, added a good amount of sugar and creamer and brought the mug to his lips when he heard the scraping of the legs of a chair. Turning, he met Deckland’s cool glare. “What the hell, bro. You should have let me know you were here.”
“Dillon told me.” His chilly tone made Dante blink.
He didn’t need to ask what his brother meant. “Figures. Can’t anyone keep a secret in this family.”
“Not when it involves all of us,” Decklnad growled. “We’re talking about a baby.”
Shrugging, Dante took his coffee and went out onto the porch, inhaling the sharp scent of freshly mowed grass and a hint of horse manure. Deckland’s stomping followed him and the slamming of the screen door set Dante’s nerves on edge. He loved and cared for his brother, but the last thing he needed was a lecture.
“Did you hear me?” Deckland came around to look Dante in the face.
“Loud and clear. Hate to burst your bubble, but this doesn’t involve everyone. This is between April and me.” He turned, meeting his brother’s death stare.
“It’s time you grow up. First Cassie and now this.”
“Now this what, Deck? I’m a grown man.” He took a long drink of his coffee, not caring that it burned all the way into the pit of his stomach.
“If you’re planning on not being—”
“Stop right there.” Dante placed his cup on the wooden railing and dug the box out of his pocket. “I’ve asked her to marry me. I’m going to ask her again soon.”
Deckland’s jaw dropped. “You did what?”
“Close your mouth before you catch a fly. I asked April to marry me.”
Eyes narrowing and mouth slamming shut, Deckland shook his head. “Why would you do something like that?”
Dante gave his head a quick shake. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“A marriage out of obligation?” Deckland huffed. “That’s you. Always jumping in before you stop and think.”
Dante tore his hand through his hair. “Jesus! Can I do anything to make you happy?” Frustration bubbled up into his chest.
Deckland sighed and his jaw loosened. “I love you and I only want the best for you.” It’d been a long time since Deckland had touched upon his sentimental side. “That was April’s ring you’ve kept, wasn’t it?” Understanding surfaced in him.
Nodding, Dante returned the box to his pocket. “I planned to ask her to marry me during that summer when we were kids, but it didn’t work out. The ring has haunted me all of these years, and now I guess I’ve come to a fork in the path. I don’t plan to screw things up. I want to be a father. Hell, I can even be a husband.”
Deckland nodded. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re stepping up. I didn’t want to ruin a damn good morning with kicking your ass.” Dante chuckled as his brother pulled him in for a quick hug. “There’s nothing like a second chance. Makes us appreciate what we have.” Deckland patted Dante on the back then headed off the porch, whistling.
Dante emptied his cup as he watched his brother disappear toward the barn. For the first time in years, tears filled Dante’s eyes. He knew Deckland had a moist eye also. Dante wanted nothing more than to see his brother find happiness too. He deserved love.
Chapter Fourteen
DANTE FOUND APRIL sitting under the shade of an oak tree strumming her guitar. He stayed back, waiting and listening. She hummed along and it touched his soul. As she lifted her chin, her gaze connected with his. Surprise darted across her features. “Dante? How long have you been standing ther
e?”
“Not long.” He crossed the tall grass and joined her on the ground. “Am I disturbing you?”
“No, not at all. I’m just working on a new song.”
“Play it for me.”
“When it’s done, I will.” She glowed and it competed with the rays of the sun. Propping her guitar against the tree, she shifted her body toward him. “You’re just the man I wanted to see.”
His heart skipped a beat. “I sensed that so I came immediately.”
“You always knew when I needed you, even if instinct erupted at three A.M.” A cherub’s bow smile curved her lips. He wanted to kiss her but cooled the urge.
“So you remember when I serenaded you in the middle of the night. I’m surprised your grandpa didn’t come after me with his shotgun.” He laughed.
“I’m afraid he felt too sorry for you to complain. He just worried that you’d shatter the windows.” Her eyes twinkled.
“Come on, you know you think I’m sexy when I sing.”
She nodded and stared at him through the veil of her lashes. “Speaking of singing, I’ve been thinking…”
“Is that right?” He picked up a twig and rolled it around his fingers.
“I’d like to do another show to benefit the Cure for Cancer Foundation at the rodeo coming up. The foundation is located in San Antonio and I did some research last night. Being here makes me think of Gramps. His cancer had spread so quickly. I feel like I should do something.”
“Because you feel guilty for not being here when he passed away.” The words tumbled from him before he thought how she would respond. Her eyes turned watery. Would she cry? Shit! He deserved to hang by his toes.
Hesitant, she said, “I guess I do feel guilty. I know what you think of me not being here with him, but I didn’t know he was sick. If I had, I would have dropped everything.”
“And that’s why he didn’t call you, and he asked me not to either.”
“What?” She pushed her fingers through her hair. “Why?”
“I spoke to him every day the last two weeks of his life, April. The last thing he wanted was for you to see him at the end.” His throat constricted as he remembered how much the man had suffered the last month.
“You sure did give me hell in Houston over not being here.”
“Damn, sweetheart, you got to admit that you disappeared. But, hell, I should have called and told you he was sick, even if he’d gotten angry.”
Biting her lower lip, she swiped away a tear from her cheek. “Honestly, I don’t know if I could have handled seeing him in pain. I’m glad you were here for him.” She laid her hand on his as electricity shot up his arm and seeped into his veins. When she pulled away, his skin turned icy cold. “Being here on the farm, I feel so much closer to him.”
“He loved you very much. He understood your demanding career.”
“I went to his grave earlier. Did you plant the flowers?”
He nodded. “It seemed the least I could do.”
Tears started pouring down her cheeks and a scorching heat filled his lungs. “Damn, we can’t have this.” He dragged her into his arms and a gasp fell from her lips. At first, she stiffened, but soon she fell against him and laid her head on his shoulder, sobbing.
“I-I don’t know what’s come over me,” she mumbled into his shirt.
“This is good for you.” But not for me. He didn’t like seeing her sad. “Let it all out, sweetheart. Let the guilt go.” He soothed her with kind words, combing his fingers through her hair while rubbing the small of her back. Just like old times.
She sniffed loudly and dropped her head back, gazing up at him with red-rimmed eyes and moist cheeks. He couldn’t imagine a more innocent expression. His mind traveled back to the marriage proposal. She probably believed he’d asked her out of obligation, but she had no clue what she meant to him…still after all these years. Being here, with her in his arms, was a harsh reminder of how much she’d buried herself into his soul back when life was easy.
Her tears dried.
“All better now?” He swiped his thumb across the remnants of wetness. An impish smile spread her perfectly shaped lips. He wanted his kiss her—more than just a kiss, but he wanted a replay of their lovemaking. And something far more dangerous. He wanted her to fall in love with him, again.
“I’m better,” she whispered. His hand went back to hair, entwining his long fingers in the tresses.
****
April stared up into Dante’s heated gaze. She knew he wanted to kiss her, and she wished he would. Oh, how she yearned to have him slip his hand inside of her shirt and knead her aching breasts. Touch her tender skin and mold her body to his.
Her stomach growled, breaking the mood, and she dropped her hand to her belly.
“Hungry?” Thick brows curved above curious eyes.
“Very.” But not for food.
“I’ll cook you lunch. And because I didn’t think you’d have anything besides eggs, I stopped and picked up a few groceries.” He was already pulling away and she had no choice but to drop her fingers from his shirt.
“You are cooking?”
He grinned. “I can cook a little. I learned quickly when I couldn’t stomach another bowl of cereal.”
“I don’t think about the fridge being empty. I guess I need to start.” He held his hand out and she accepted his help up from the ground. She swiped the grass from her bottom. “But you didn’t have to get my groceries.”
Nodding and giving her a sweet wink, he said, “I need to make sure you’re eating.”
Five minutes later, they were in the kitchen and from her perch on the bar stool, April watched Dante unload the groceries. She spotted a pink box and she sat up straighter. “Did you stop at Elsa’s Fluff?”
“Yes, but this surprise is after you eat your food.” He stuck the box in the fridge. “By the way, Elsa said hello.”
She could smell the chocolate from across the room and if she had only herself to think about, she’d skipped anything of nutritional substance and go straight for the goodies. “You met Elsa! Isn’t she amazing?”
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know about amazing. I stopped and picked out dessert and that’s all.”
April laughed. “Oh, you didn’t notice how adorable she is? She’d make a perfect girlfriend. In addition to looks, her baking skills are the bomb.”
“Are you trying to hook me up?” He seemed slightly offended.
“Not you, but I did think of Deckland. I think they’d hit it off.”
He gathered items from one of the bags and set them out on the counter. “You really do need to stock your shelves. I’m about useless in the kitchen and I still would know to have basics like salt, sugar and milk. And coffee. What’s a home without it?”
“Are you completely ignoring what I said about Elsa and Deckland?” she huffed.
“I’m trying to.” He busied himself cracking eggs into a bowl.
“So, is this your way of saying Deckland wouldn’t be interested in her?”
“I don’t stick my nose into his dating life.” He glanced up. “He’s a big boy and if he wants a woman he can get one.”
“But he is a great guy. How has a woman not grabbed him up?”
Whipping the eggs, he added a few spices. “There was some chick named Aspen who he seemed interested in, but she took off.”
“Took off? Like how?” April asked.
“I don’t know. Ask Peyton. They were best friends.”
Sliding off the stool, she went to stand next to him. She glanced across the counter top full of canned goods. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?” It was touching that he’d do this for her.
A mischievous grin covered his mouth. “I try.”
“Need some help?” she asked.
“No, you sit right there and look beautiful.”
“Should I have my feelings hurt?”
“I’m not saying that to be mean, but do you cook anything besides cereal?”
He cracked another two eggs. “You said you hate cooking.”
“Cereal doesn’t require cooking.”
“Exactly.” A wide smile broke out over his delectable face. “I tasted the cake you made yourself for your nineteenth birthday. I think it scarred my taste buds.”
She playfully pinched him. “That’s not nice.” Feeling inadequate, she grabbed a head of lettuce. “I can make a salad.” She didn’t want him to think she was entirely hopeless in the kitchen. Throwing a tomato, cucumber and pepper into a bowl, she went to an empty space on the butcher-block island.
As she diced and sliced veggies, he dragged a chair closer to her and straddled the seat, facing her. Suddenly, the knife grew heavier and she became more uncomfortable. Knowing he was watching her brought every hair on her body to attention.
“Have you thought anymore about the proposal?”
Slicing into the pepper, she attempted to concentrate on making the pieces uniform. Licking her lips, she said, “Of course. How would I forget it?”
“And no conclusion yet?”
Popping a slice into her mouth, she chewed slowly. “Not yet.” The warm, savory smells of his cooking started filling the kitchen and her stomach rumbled, finally hungry for something more than his kiss.
“Do you doubt my sincerity?”
She swallowed. “Maybe.”
“That’ll change.”
Putting the knife down, she turned to him, staring into his twinkling gaze. “Is that right? Explain.”
The timer dinged. “Saved by the bell. I better go get the egg and potato bake out of the oven.”
April snorted. “Can’t you talk and use oven mittens at the same time?”
“Are you going to finish that salad before it wilts?” he challenged.
Laughing, she quickly tossed the ingredients. “Done, and I still have all ten of my fingers.”
“Let me see.” He placed the hot plate on the stove then came to her, taking her hands into his, examining each of her fingers. “They look fine, but how do they taste?” He brought her hand to his mouth, licking each finger, as if she were a lollipop. Fire ignited through her veins and capsized logical thought. When the last digit slipped from his mouth, he let go of her hand and disappointment slithered through her. His gaze held hers and she was lost. “Yes, very good.”
Second Song Cowboy (Second Chance) Page 11