“Nonresponsive. Define wow.”
“It means I hope I never have to face you on the other side of the aisle in a court of law.”
“Is that a yes?”
“When you put it like that, I haven’t got an argument left.” He nodded. “Welcome aboard, Counselor.”
“You won’t be sorry, Grady,” she said, then launched herself into his arms.
That instant, automatic, powerful and involuntary response to his yes made Jen hope she wouldn’t be sorry.
Chapter Seven
A week after giving Jensen the go-ahead to work on his legal problem, Grady paced in front of the picture window in his living room. He watched the long driveway for a flash of BMW red. Jensen had called from her cell phone to say she was on her way home to the Circle S. She had to drive right by his ranch. Could she stop by and talk to him? But her voice had sounded funny.
It was a cell phone, for crying out loud. This was Destiny. Reception was a challenge. So what made him think he could read anything into her tone? His lawman’s sixth sense. More than once it had made the hairs on his neck stand up. He’d bet his badge something was wrong. Reception be damned, he’d swear her tone had spooked rabbit written all over it.
Since he had the day off, the girls were home with him. At the moment they were out riding with his foreman, Katherine Lasater. She might be young, but she’d proven her ability and loyalty over and over. He was glad Katie was with them, because his lawman’s instincts were screaming that Billy Bob Adams was up to no good today.
Considering her “hands off” ultimatum after he’d kissed her, there was no way Jen would stop by voluntarily. At the time he’d had every intention of playing by her rules. It would be stupid not to.
But now, the sound of her voice on the phone and the memory of having her in his arms combined to skyrocket his pulse. Then her words echoed through his mind as they had countless times since—not a good idea to get involved with a client. She didn’t want a relationship. Because of her bad track record.
Okay. Maybe she was right. He could play well with others. And maybe her rules made sense. And what with her warning, he could see a kick in the teeth on his horizon. That wouldn’t do him much good.
So what had Billy done to send her running in his direction? Just because her rules made sense didn’t mean he couldn’t be as happy as a pig in a peach orchard that she was on her way to see him. Grady could almost thank the creep. When he knew Jen was okay, he just might. So he was back to square one and the uneasy tone in her voice. Where the hell was she?
He stopped pacing and glanced out the window. The sight of a cloud of dust, with a sporty red car in front of it, made him breathe a sigh of relief. He walked outside and waited on the covered front porch as she parked in the half-circle drive about fifty feet away. The car door opened and she swung her legs out. This wasn’t why he’d stepped outside for a meet and greet. Yeah. And a jury of his peers—men who appreciated the sight of a fantastic pair of female legs—wouldn’t convict him for the lie.
He watched her and knew in a hot second when she spotted him. The tension in her body, clued him. And he could see quite a lot of her body thanks to her sundress. It was probably the first time in his life he’d ever been grateful for Texas heat. The hem hit her just above the knee and thin straps curved over her tanned shoulders. The geometric pattern of green and yellow in the dress’s fabric made him think of lime sherbet and lemon chiffon pie. Bright, light and fluffy. Jensen was walking, talking sweetness and sunshine. At least, it made him feel that way to look at her.
She waved and smiled, then moved toward him with easy grace. Each step caused her hips to sway and his lust quotient to hike up. A fact he would do his damnedest to keep her from knowing.
He didn’t need the message jackhammered into his head. A relationship shouldn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t and wasn’t going to happen.
“Hi, Grady.” She walked the three steps up to meet him and slid her sunglasses to the top of her dark hair.
“Hey. C’mon in.”
“Thanks. It’s a hot one today.”
For the sake of his ego, he chose to believe he had something to do with her feeling the heat.
They walked inside and she stopped on the tile foyer to look around. He watched her take in the high, wood-beam ceilings, the living room to the right, formal dining to the left. The entryway formed a T at the high wall straight ahead.
“Grady, this is lovely.”
“You’ve been here before.”
She shook her head. “No. You must be thinking of someone else. Maybe one of those women you liked and the girls didn’t.”
“Possible.”
She fit into his life so easily, it was hard to believe she’d never been to the ranch before.
“Actually it might have been your sister. I remember Taylor trying to talk me into selling her the dining room set.”
Jen lowered the strap of her purse from her shoulder and wrapped it around the small bag, clutching it in her hand. “Obviously she was unsuccessful. Although if I’d been on the negotiating team, it would be on the Circle S. And I wish it was. It’s lovely.”
He stood beside her, close enough for his long sleeve to lightly brush against her bare arm. Sparks flew, and it might as well have been flesh to flesh. He folded his arms over his chest, forcing his gaze away from her. The ornate mahogany buffet with lighter ingrained wood was a beautiful piece of furniture. The large matching table could accommodate all twelve chairs, two of them armchairs, around it.
“This belonged to Lacey’s great-grandparents. It’s probably a hundred years old.”
She walked over and ran a delicate hand reverently over the glossy top and the back of one of the chairs. “It’s in excellent shape,” she commented.
He was grateful she’d put some distance between them. “Yeah. Some of that good condition is because there haven’t been a lot of kids in this house over the years. The women in her family were delicate.”
She studied him with an expression of sympathy in her eyes. “I can’t even imagine what you went through losing her. Then caring for two baby girls by yourself.”
He shrugged. “Her dad and I pulled together. It gave us an opportunity to bury the hatchet. He was pretty ticked off at me for a while.”
“Did he know who the girls’ father was?”
He shook his head. “Lacey never wanted him or anyone else to know about that. Until he passed away, her dad and I did pretty well with the twins.”
“Now I guess it’s tough being mother and father to two girls on the brink of being teenagers.”
“Yeah. I don’t know a whole lot about being a mother, and that makes being a father to two growing girls harder every day.”
“I bet you still miss Lacey a lot.”
Grady met Jen’s gaze and wondered what she was thinking. There was a spark in her eyes, making him wonder if she hoped she was wrong about it. Then he remembered her asking him the same question the last night of the championships, and he hadn’t exactly answered her. He still didn’t quite know how to respond. Or did he just not want her to know the truth?
“I wish she’d lived to see the girls grow up,” he finally said.
She put her hand on his arm. “You’re not worried that the girls may be too delicate, are you?”
“I worry about them in every way possible.”
The corners of her mouth curved up. “Let me rephrase the question. Medicine is advancing constantly. When they have children—”
“And we hope it’s not premature—you’ll pardon the pun.” His heart slammed against the wall of his chest when she smiled.
“That goes without saying. But when all the factors are in place and the time is right for them to be moms, I’m sure your girls will do fine.”
“What about you? Are you fine?”
“I don’t expect I’ll ever have children.”
The statement made him damn curious, but he wasn’t going to ask. She’d made
it clear her personal life was none of his concern. “That’s not what I meant. When you called, it sounded like something was wrong.”
Surprise widened her green eyes. “All I said was I’ve got some things to discuss with you. Do you mind if I come over?”
“You said right over. Big difference.”
“Since I was close, it was the appropriate thing to say. But next time I’ll be careful how I phrase it when I invite myself over.”
“So there’s nothing wrong.”
“Actually there is something. Not exactly wrong. And I was trying not to alarm you.”
“What is it?” He studied her, even more closely, if possible. “Billy?”
She nodded. “He came to my office.”
“Did he hurt you? If he did, I swear I’ll…” Instantaneous fury coursed through him at the idea of Jen being hurt. The power of the feeling rocked him.
“I’m fine, Grady,” she said, putting her hand on his arm again as if to hold him back. “Although the proximity of my office to yours didn’t do me a whole lot of good with you not in town.”
He let out a relieved breath. “I took the day off. But there are deputies on duty. You could have hollered.” He covered her hand and found it cold. Wrapping her fingers in his warm ones, he was pleased when she didn’t pull away.
“There was no need to holler. I handled it. But I’ll admit that guy gives me the willies.”
“What did he say?”
Her gaze clouded. “Let’s just say you were right about him wanting something. Besides the girls, I mean.”
“Is it just you, or do all lawyers take a hundred words to say what they could spit out in two?”
“Is there somewhere we can sit down and talk about this?”
He smiled, and tension drained out of him. Obviously she was fine. “Sure. Sorry. I guess the idea of him threatening you put me off my manners.”
“He didn’t actually threaten me.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Don’t get your white hat in a twist, hero. I’m fine, and heaven forbid you should forget your manners.”
A reluctant grin turned up the corners of his mouth. “Okay. Let’s go in the kitchen. Have you had lunch yet?”
“Lunch?” She pulled her hand from his to look at her watch, making him miss the contact. “It’s way past lunchtime. Besides, I don’t want to impose. What I need to talk to you about won’t take long. I just meant to—”
“I haven’t had lunch yet. And I’m talking sandwich, nothing more.” Although the look on her face said she was worried about the “more” part.
“I never intended to take up much of your time.”
He’d known her visit was all about business. Until she shut him down just now, he hadn’t realized he was hoping to change her mind about it. The disappointment took him by surprise. Or maybe it was the wanting her visit to be a little bit about him. Either way, nothing changed. She wasn’t here on his account.
“Well, I haven’t eaten yet, and I’m starved,” he said, unable to prevent a quick glance at her lush lips. “Let’s go in the kitchen. The least I can do is pour you a glass of something cold while you give me the bad news about Billy.”
“If you offer me a beer, I swear I’m outta here,” she warned.
He knew she was remembering Billy’s offer on the steps of the courthouse. “Nothing more dangerous than sweet tea is what I had in mind. Follow me.”
Instinctively he took her hand and led her to the foyer’s dead end, then turned right. They passed through the family room to the kitchen at the back of the house. He couldn’t help wondering if a sophisticated attorney like herself would like the country decor. Not fancy, but then comfort was the goal.
A leather sofa and matching love seat sat at a right angle to each other in front of a large-screen TV and stereo system. A stone fireplace with raised hearth took up the better part of one wall. Kasey and Stacey had left softball mitts and bats on the floor along with books, comics, dolls, stuffed animals and various pens, pencils, crayons and paper. Through the long row of windows the Texas prairie stretched as far as the eye could see.
“This is very homey,” Jen commented.
“Is that a diplomatic way of saying I need a housekeeper?”
She laughed. “No. It was an honest statement of my feelings.”
“Okay. We like it. And as soon as the girls get back from their ride, they’ve got some chores to do.”
He walked into the kitchen with her hand still in his, feeling as right as could be. “Here we are.”
“This is nice,” she said, looking around as if she might be impressed.
“It was remodeled before Lacey’s dad died.” Reluctantly he let her hand go.
The large room had an island in the center with a nook at the far end holding a big pine table and six matching chairs. A cooktop was set in the countertop and a combination built-in oven and microwave took up space on one wall. He put his hand on the refrigerator handle just inside the doorway.
“Soda or iced tea?” he asked.
“Just water.”
He nodded and grabbed a glass from the oak cupboard and filled it with ice and water. “Here.”
“Thanks,” she said, taking it from him.
Their fingers brushed, even though she obviously tried to avoid touching him. Her glance darted to his and twin spots of color stained the smooth skin of her cheeks. After putting her purse down, she leaned her elbows on the island.
“So tell me what Billy Bob Adams is up to now.” He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the ceramic-tile countertop beside the refrigerator. Only the island separated them. For all the good it did him, it might as well have been the real thing surrounded by water.
She took a sip of water, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He hinted that he would drop the lawsuit if you made it worth his while.”
“Essentially selling the kids?”
She nodded. “That’s not all. He implied that he might tell the girls the whole ugly story about their biological father if you don’t give him something to change his mind.”
“Damn it. Son of a…” He stopped and let out a long breath. “What did you say?”
“I bluffed. At least, I think I did. Have you explained anything to the girls yet about what’s going on?”
“No.”
“Then I definitely bluffed. I told him to go right ahead.”
“For God’s sake, Jen. What were you thinking?”
“First of all, that I didn’t like being alone with him. Second, that there’s no way you’re going to let that creep near enough to the girls for him to tell them boo. And third, if I could convince him they already knew, he’d have nothing to gain. I also warned him that blackmail and extortion are illegal.”
“Did he have a reaction?”
“Oh, yeah. Apparently I’m not a very good bluffer, because he said he didn’t believe me and indicated he would be willing to keep everything to himself for the right amount of money.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him you don’t have a lot of liquid cash. Everything is tied up in the ranch.”
“Then what happened?”
“He laughed. So I gave him a pen and paper and told him to write down a number.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. I’m serious. Then I gave him a drink of water in a glass in case my pen wasn’t big enough to get a good set of fingerprints.” She opened her purse and pulled out a pen and a glass in a plastic bag. “I thought you and Jack might be able to use these.”
Grady grinned. “Way to go, Counselor. Then what did you do?”
“I threw him out of my office.”
“Literally?”
“I asked him politely to get his backside out before I called the sheriff. That part was a bluff because, of course, we both know you weren’t there.”
He couldn’t help smiling at the idea of her throwing any guy out. Lit
tle thing like her? Not happening in this lifetime. Then the reality of the situation sank in yet again. “Shouldn’t that information be enough to take to the judge to get this whole thing thrown out of court?”
“In a perfect world it would be.” She sighed.
“I hear a but.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Easy?” he asked skeptically.
“Okay. None of this is easy. I should have said the legalities aren’t cut-and-dried. His language was vague, the threats couched in generalities. It would be my word against his and it could easily be argued that my word in this case is compromised. Due to the fact that I’m representing his opposition.”
“So we know he doesn’t want the kids, but there’s no way to prove it?”
“That about sums it up.” She met his gaze. “I thought you were going to have a sandwich.”
“I just lost my appetite. Is that all the news you wanted to deliver?”
“No. I’ve got an appointment for you and the girls tomorrow with Hannah Morgan. She’s going to take buccal swabs on all of you.”
“What’s that?”
“She’s going to dab the inside of your mouths and send the swabs to an independent lab for DNA testing.”
He sighed. “Is that everything?”
“Yeah. What can I say? The wheels of justice are square.”
“Meaning?”
“We have to take this one step at a time. Leave nothing to chance.” She took another sip of water. “You need to prepare the girls for what’s going to happen.”
“I thought I’d tell them it’s part of their yearly physical. Since Hannah’s filling in for Doc Holloway, I was hoping they’d figure the whole thing is just a difference in doctors.”
“Oh, Grady, they’re way too smart for that. You have to explain what’s going on, what’s going to happen. You know, they really do need to know the truth. There could be medical issues, if nothing else.”
“I know.”
“You don’t want them to find out and be shocked. What if they hear something in town? You know nothing stays a secret long in Destiny.”
“Yeah.”
Except the ten-year-old secret that her husband was the father of his girls. Grady studied her, the genuine concern on her face. The look tugged at his heart. What if they fell in love? Grady and Jensen. The two of them head over heels?
What If We Fall in Love? Page 8