by Robyn Grady
Elizabeth considered it but then shook her head. The smells of the ocean, the sea breeze tugging through her hair, a gorgeous man who’d opened this world to her at her side…she didn’t want to waste any opportunity.
“Let’s see where he goes.”
With a grin, Daniel surrendered and they followed the bird, the soles of their shoes sticking and smacking at the ground. When they rounded that corner, Elizabeth’s heart fell.
“He’s gone.”
Daniel’s arm came around her and rubbed her shoulder. “Guess we were lucky to have spotted him at all.”
Like she’d been lucky to happen upon Daniel, a splash of color in her life when she hadn’t let herself acknowledge she’d needed it.
Elizabeth squeezed shut her eyes. After their time here, she didn’t know how she’d keep her decorum when the time came to say goodbye. Her two months would be renewed come January, but would Daniel want to spend any of that time with her? He was a busy man with his own busy life. He probably had an army of women with exactly the same wish as hers.
His hold on her arm tightened. His voice was an urgent whisper at her ear.
“Quick, look.”
She opened her eyes at the same time he angled her a little to her right. A flash of orange-pink appeared amid the foliage, and another flash. Her heart beating fast again, she moved closer, Daniel at her side. She held her hands over her sigh at the sight greeting them.
“It’s a whole flock,” he said.
“Young ones, too.” She sniffed at the emotion tickling behind her nose. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Suddenly she felt alive. Raised up. Different from galloping down a plain. Better than dining at the best Parisian cafés. And she had to wonder…
The sight was an amazing one, but did it feel so surreal, so special, because Daniel was here beside her?
Was she the only one falling in love?
Twelve
The jet returned to the island to collect him and Elizabeth midmorning the next day. Daniel could have stayed another week. Two. Looking at Elizabeth’s sun-kissed stoic face now as she boarded the aircraft, he knew she felt the same way.
He’d like to think there’d be a next time. But, given her present circumstance with regard to two months’ vacation only per year, he hadn’t wanted to dangle another invitation. There were still several more weeks until the new year. A lot could happen in that time. If he were perfectly honest, he liked Elizabeth way too much to risk hurting her. No matter how good she made him feel—and she made him feel amazing— they had no future. He didn’t want long-term, a wife. Didn’t want children of his own. He would not put himself in a situation where he could risk losing a family again. If that made him pessimistic, so be it.
Even if he was the marrying kind, he couldn’t see himself living out his days cowpoke-ing around down South. The wild side of Elizabeth might feel trapped by her parents’ will, but she’d made clear she intended to stick it out and stand by her decision to hold on to her ranch. His hat went off to her. But his life—business and personal—revolved around New York City.
While Elizabeth was relatively young, soon enough she’d be thinking about finding a husband. He wasn’t that man. No use pretending he was. Hell, it might even be better for his design to get the thumbs-down from the Cattleman’s Club pronto and speed up the inevitable. He could fly out and be back up North for good in a matter of days.
The flight from the island back to Texas was a quiet one. Elizabeth seemed as deeply entrenched in reflection as he was. When they touched down in Royal, the mood was vastly different from when they’d left.
“I’ll drop you off at the ranch,” he said in a manufactured, breezy tone as Elizabeth slid into the back passenger seat of the chauffeur-driven Benz he’d organized to meet them. “I need to catch up on things back at the hotel.”
She looked up at him with hope-filled eyes. “Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?”
Yes, he did. A little too much. Which meant he needed to back right off and take some time out for them both to catch their breath and get reacclimatized to reality.
“Can I take a rain check?” he asked, sliding into the leather-and wood-trimmed cabin beside her. “I don’t know how long I’ll be on conference with Rand. I might even get him to fly down again. Or I might fly up to see what he’s done.”
As he buckled up, she blinked over a wry smile. “Fly back to New York? Now?”
“That’s where my office is,” he said, using his matter-of-fact tone.
“I know. It’s just…” She swallowed the rest and peered out her window. “Never mind.”
The drive to Milton Ranch was another silent affair. He tried to engage Elizabeth in conversation but it seemed that etiquette had taken the day off. The mood inside the car mimicked the landscape outside, Daniel thought, watching stunted trees on near-naked plains whiz by. Compared to the scenery they’d lapped up these past days on the island, Royal was a desert.
When the car pulled up front of the ranch, the chauffeur opened the passenger back door but Daniel insisted on carrying Elizabeth’s luggage and asked the chauffeur to drive around the side to wait.
“You can set them down there,” she said, when they reached the front door. A pair of glittering green eyes tipped up to meet his. “Thank you, Daniel, for taking me away. I really did have a wonderful time.”
“Wish it could’ve been longer.”
“Maybe we can do it again sometime,” she said, taking the lead.
Daniel searched for an answer that would neither insult nor commit. He nodded, smiled and rasped out, “Sure.”
A voice filtered down the hall. “Beth? Is that you?”
At the sound of Nita’s voice, Daniel snapped back from wanting to kiss Elizabeth deeply one last time at the same moment the Milton Ranch housekeeper appeared at the doorway, with her glasses slipping down her nose and a hearty smile ready to greet them. She set a kiss on Elizabeth’s cheek and bounced on tiptoe to make certain he didn’t miss out. Relishing the warm feeling in his chest, Daniel touched his face. If he had a grandmother he kept in touch with, he’d have liked her to be like Nita. What you saw was what you got, and it was all good.
“Just in time for some of my Texas Sheet Cake.” Nita looped an arm through his and drew him inside. “You like crushed pecans and chocolate?”
Daniel hunted for an excuse. He wanted to put some distance between himself, Elizabeth and any expectations she might have developed. But he failed to come up with one, especially when Elizabeth was looking so pleased he’d decided to “come in.” So, surrendering, he was drawn to the scrumptious-smelling kitchen, his favorite room in the house.
While he and Elizabeth got comfortable around the table, Nita expertly cut then slipped cake onto separate plates.
“Fresh out of the oven.” Setting the plates down in front of the pair, she asked, “How was the break?”
“We saw flamingos,” Elizabeth announced, picking off a pecan and slipping it into her mouth. “Real ones. And we explored a pirate’s cave for treasure.”
Nita chuckled. “You sound like a kid at Christmas.” She flicked on the coffeepot. “How about you, Daniel? Have you come back revitalized?”
“It was a great escape,” he admitted, pleased to see Elizabeth animated again.
Nita’s cake was a bonus. He did have to make contact with Rand, but he was certain his assistant would have everything under control. It was nice to be able to push back responsibility a little longer. Pretend he could do this—be with Elizabeth—every week if he wanted.
Remembering something, Nita clapped her hands. “You got some interesting mail this morning, Beth. A lady dropped it off.”
She ducked behind the counter, shuffled in a lower drawer and popped back into view bearing a large pink envelope.
“There’s no return address,” Nita said, crossing over.
Curious, Elizabeth set down her fork and pried open the seal. Sh
e peeked inside then shook the contents onto the table. What emerged had Daniel reeling back in his seat, the visual impact was so strong. At least for him.
It was a photograph of a woman standing in front of a modest house. Her arms were resting around two boys’ shoulders, perhaps eight and ten years of age. All were smiling at the lens. Dark of hair and eyes, the youngest boy looked a whole lot like Jonas.
Elizabeth collected the photograph and nodded, clearly satisfied. “They’re on their way to a new start.”
Nita took the photo. “Fine-looking family.” She offered the photo to Daniel. “Don’t they look happy?”
Daniel’s throat had thickened so much he wasn’t sure he could squeeze any words out. He swallowed as he studied the images smiling up at him and slowly nodded.
“Yeah. They look real happy.”
When the doorbell peeled through the house, Nita immediately rubbed her hands down her apron and set off. “Busier here today than the State Fair.”
“She must have got her act together to have found a place to settle down in so fast,” Elizabeth said, referring to that woman again as she opened the note. “It’s from her sister. Says she has her eye on a good and reasonably priced car, and has an interview lined up at the diner in town tomorrow.” Swiping hair behind her ear, Elizabeth read on. “But she wants to finish her education. Seems she never finished high school.”
When Elizabeth lowered the letter, her gaze was distant. Daniel guessed her thoughts.
“You want to help there, too?”
She picked up the photo again and drank in the smiles, so bright and full of promise. Full of thanks and lots of tomorrows. She sighed. “This makes it all worthwhile.”
Daniel sat back, certain in a way he’d never been before. Elizabeth might not have everything she wanted—freedom was a mighty big price to pay; he should know—but she was happy here with her ranch and this work. He looked around the kitchen, the old stone fireplace and, most of all, the framed photos gracing the mantel. Hell, if he’d had a real home like this, memories and such a satisfying job to do, he wouldn’t leave, either.
Nita appeared at the kitchen entry, her shoulders slumped.
“You have a guest, Beth.”
When Chad Tremain sauntered into the room, sporting a bolo tie and steel-tipped cowboy boots, white Stetson in hand, Daniel’s every muscle tensed. Then Tremain caught sight of him, too. Eyes narrowed. Mouth tightened. If he hadn’t been so agitated, Daniel might have laughed. He felt as if he were about to be called out for a gunfight.
He got to his feet.
My pleasure.
“I haven’t been able to reach you these past days,” Chad said to Elizabeth while keeping his eye on Daniel. “Nita said she’d have you return my call. I was getting concerned.”
“No need, Chad.” Elizabeth found her feet, too. “I’m fine.”
Chad’s focus dropped to the plates of cake then his nose went up as if testing the air. Hospitality decreed that cake should be offered and he join them at the table. No one extended the invite.
“I believe it’s my duty to inform you, in case you were unaware,” Chad said, addressing Elizabeth, “that you don’t have any more vacation time up your sleeve.”
Daniel skirted around Elizabeth and faced Tremain square on. The man’s implication was clear. He didn’t want his young client being led astray by the big bad city wolf. To hell with a gunslinging showdown. How about settling this the real old-fashioned way? With fists.
“Elizabeth is well aware of her obligations,” Daniel said.
Tremain looked down his nose. “Forgive me, sir, but I wasn’t addressing you.”
Daniel’s eyebrows shot up along with his temper.
“What’s your problem, Tremain? It’s fine for Elizabeth to have someone speak for her, as long as it’s you?”
Elizabeth stepped between the two and even held out her arms in an attempt to distance them.
“This is a waste of time,” she said. “I make my own decisions.”
Chad’s slit gaze skipped to Elizabeth and his chest expanded on a breath. His tone, when he spoke next, was more charitable. “Of course you do, my dear.”
Standing behind her, Daniel saw Elizabeth’s slim shoulders roll back. “And I’ll thank you not to patronize me, either, Chad.”
The older man’s eyes flashed before some of the red faded from his jowls and he tipped his chin a notch higher.
“Will Mr. Warren be leaving soon?” he asked. “We have important business to discuss.”
When Elizabeth hesitated, unwittingly playing Tremain’s control game, Daniel knew the wise choice was to take his leave. Elizabeth Milton was a gutsy, intelligent woman. She’d escape Tremain’s grasp in her own way. In her own time.
He touched Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I’d better go.”
A mix of emotions raced over her face. Gratitude that he hadn’t played out his macho card and slammed this man in the jaw. Dejection because she wanted him to stay.
“Sit down and finish your cake, Daniel.” She angled back to Tremain. “Chad, from this day forward, if you have any information or thoughts to pass on, I’d appreciate if you communicated by email. I’ll do the same.”
Chad’s face darkened. “Don’t go talking rash, Elizabeth—”
“Rash?” She hacked out a humorless laugh. “I’ve been swallowing this unacceptable behavior for years.”
“Your father—”
Her hands went up. “Don’t push me, Chad. Not ever again. If you do, I swear I’ll get the best lawyer in Texas to find a loophole in that will, and by the time we’ve dragged you and your company through the legal mill, I’ll be thirty, you’ll have lost a bucket load and you still won’t control me.”
Daniel snapped shut his dropped jaw. He’d like to think he had something to do with her giving it to Tremain smack between the eyes, but that slam dunk was all Elizabeth. She’d had enough of manipulation, both before and beyond the grave.
His chest pumping in and out, Tremain opened his mouth to protest. But then his wild gaze seemed to quiet. His voice was raw when he spoke.
“I only wanted to look out for you.”
After an uncertain moment, she stepped forward and laid a neutral hand on his jacketed arm. “It’s time to let go.”
Tremain took a couple of breaths then smiled weakly at the woman with whom he was clearly in love.
“If you need anything…”
“I’ll know where you are,” she said not unkindly.
Tremain turned to leave but stopped long enough to pin Daniel with a glare. “If you don’t look after her, you’ll have me to answer to.”
As the older man strode out, Daniel mulled over his parting words. Certainly he’d taken Elizabeth away for a couple of days. They’d made love. Many times. But he had no intention of making an honest woman of her and proposing, if that’s what Tremain had meant.
But the way Elizabeth was looking at him now, from beneath lowered lashes, his skin began to prickle and itch. He thought of life day in and day out on a ranch, thought of that family she’d helped, then he remembered how crap his own upbringing had been.
Years ago he’d made a vow to stay single. Not get involved. Right now he was near drowning in expectation.
He cleared his throat, looked around. Nita had made herself scarce.
“He won’t bother you again,” he said.
Tremain might be a determined type, but he wasn’t a brute, and he wasn’t stupid. Now that he knew there was no chance with Elizabeth, he’d accept reality and move on.
“I think Chad believes there’s more to our relationship than there is,” she said.
“I think you’re right.”
She let slip a short laugh. “Sounded like he actually thought you might decide to give up New York and move down here.”
Her words said she didn’t care but her eyes told him that was a lie. His chest closed around a great ugly knot that he knew wouldn’t go away until he spoke up. They�
��d danced around this for too long. He needed to clear the air. Get everything out in the open, for her sake much more than his.
“If the members like my design, I’ll be down this way a lot these next six months. If that happens I’d like to see you again.”
A big smile lit her eyes. “I’d like that, too.”
He took her hands in his. “But, Elizabeth, I have to tell you…I’m not after anything permanent. Not now. Not ever.”
Her head went back and a sheet of gray seemed to drop over her face. But then she gathered herself enough for a tight smile to curve the corners of her mouth.
“Why, I don’t recall asking for your hand, Mr. Warren.”
He blinked at her tone. Was she teasing?
“I simply thought it was better to be honest up front,” he explained.
“I agree.”
“Then you’re okay with it?”
“Okay with it?” Her attention dropped to the floor as she thought. When their eyes met again, her expression was devoid of emotion, except a glint of derision in her darkened eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I want, does it?”
He slid his hands into his back jeans pockets. “You’re making it sound as if this is some kind of surprise. As if you don’t know me at all.”
“I know you had a bad time growing up, being shunted between parents who put their own agendas before their children’s needs. I know you lost your little brother and the pain’s still as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. And I’m pretty darn sure you’ve never faced any of the hurt. That you’ll keep dodging and running until you drop.”
With every word, his pulse jumped higher and his jaw clenched tighter. She was right, of course. But it was his life, and insight didn’t change the facts.
“I am what I am, Elizabeth.”
“And you sure are something.” Her slim nostrils flared as her shoulders crept up. “But if it’s all the same with you, I’ll decline on your invitation of ‘maybe,’ ‘whenever.’”
“You don’t want to see me if I get the job?”
You want commitment? Maybe a big diamond ring?