Had he really been wrong about his father all these years? His father had said he was protecting Wayne. But at the expense of his relationship with his son? It didn’t make sense, not to Clay.
“Why are you asking?”
He considered telling Sierra the specifics of his conversation with his father, then decided against it. His dad could be lying. Clay needed to talk to his mother first. Even then, Wayne should be the person to tell his children the truth.
“My father mentioned something I hadn’t heard before.”
“What something?”
“It’s probably nothing.” He gazed down at his son who was soundly sleeping in his arms. When had that happened?
Longing squeezed his heart. This, a child of his own, was what he’d wanted, what he’d almost had and lost.
Only he’d always imagined having a wife along with his child. A wife he loved to distraction.
His gaze shifted to Sierra, slightly rumpled and yet incredibly appealing. She might have been his wife if things had worked out differently.
“Want me to take him?” she whispered.
“I’ll carry him to the house if that’s okay.”
“Sure.” She gazed adoringly at Jamie.
Clay almost felt like a heel insisting on taking Jamie half the time.
Not enough to alter his stand, however. Then again, he might be more inclined if Sierra ever looked at him the way she did their son.
They walked in silence to the house, entering through the kitchen door. Expecting Sierra to take Jamie from him, he was surprised when she said, “Do you want to put him to bed?”
They tiptoed down the hall and to the guest bedroom. The entire household appeared to be retired for the evening. In the room, Sierra switched on the nightlight. A ceramic teddy bear in pajamas sitting astride a calico pony provided enough illumination for Clay to see the portable crib on the floor beside the bed.
Together, he and Sierra gently removed Jamie’s outerwear. Clay lowered Jamie into the crib, laying him on his back. His limp arms fell to his sides, and his mouth moved noiselessly.
“Is he talking in his sleep?”
Sierra smiled fondly. “Babies do that.” She laid his jacket on the chair beside the dresser. “Once he’s down for the night, he usually doesn’t wake up till morning.”
“Is it always so hard to get him to sleep?”
“Not usually.”
“You tired?” Clay only now observed the shadows beneath her eyes and the lack of color in her cheeks.
“Some. You, too?”
“It’s been a tough week.”
“Yeah, it has.”
They stood for a moment, Clay thinking what it would be like to hold her in his arms and have her rest her cheek on his jacket as Jamie had done.
Talk about making a complicated situation more complicated.
“I should get going.”
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
He knew every inch of the Powells’ home, having spent endless hours there growing up. He could have found his way to the kitchen door with a triple blindfold.
Even so, he accepted Sierra’s offer.
On the patio, he turned to bid her good-night.
She stood, nervously rubbing her palms on her pants.
“Something the matter?”
“I, um, was going to have my attorney contact you tomorrow.”
“About the custody agreement?”
“Yes. And the living arrangements.” She exhaled, clearly struggling with what to say.
She was turning him down.
Disappointment arrowed through him. Up until this moment, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted her and Jamie to live with him. Granted, in the beginning, it had been a ploy to be close to his son. But that had changed.
“Take another day or two before you say no. It would be good for Jamie to have—”
“I’m accepting your offer.”
His jaw went slack. “You are?”
“And the job, too.”
“Wow.”
“If you still want me to work for you.”
“I do.” He grinned. Stupidly, he was certain. “That’s great.”
“There are going to be some conditions.”
“Naturally.” His grin widened. “I figured as much.”
“I’ll move in and start work once we’ve ironed out the agreement.”
He grabbed her by the waist and hugged her fiercely. Sierra and Jamie were coming to live with him! “Thank you.”
She let out a startled gasp but didn’t withdraw.
“I’m really glad you said yes.” He breathed her in. She smelled as good as he remembered.
“Me, too.” She raised her arms, hesitated, then slid them around his neck, returning his hug.
Yes, nice. Really nice.
Wait, no. He reminded himself this was a friendly hug between two people whose only concern was the well-being of their son.
His body had other ideas, as did his hands, which skimmed her back over the material of her too-bulky, too-thick sweater.
He couldn’t stop himself. Her curves were too perfect, her scent too intoxicating, her skin like satin.
Her skin?
When had his hand moved to caress her cheek?
“Tell me no.” He bent his head, his lips seeking hers.
She didn’t. She couldn’t, not with him kissing her.
* * *
BIG, BIG MISTAKE. Huge, like the size of an entire mountain range.
Exactly the kind of mistake that had gotten Sierra into trouble before.
She knew she should hightail it out of there as fast as her legs could carry her.
But she didn’t move.
It wasn’t Clay’s arms circling her that prevented her escape. No, no. Or the sensation of his mouth, firm and warm and with just enough pressure to send a delicious thrill winding through her. A small part of her had wanted this kiss since she’d glimpsed him standing outside of her brother’s apartment. Possibly since the first day she came home.
His lips moved her over hers, nibbling, teasing, coaxing a response from her. He got it, all right.
She sighed and leaned into him, anticipating the moment when he’d deepen the kiss. Soothe the needy ache inside her.
Just when things started to really heat up, he abruptly withdrew. She almost lost her balance, and a startled sound escaped her.
A low groan escaped him. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Yeah, and she shouldn’t have turned into mush the instant their lips touched. What was wrong with her?
He studied her with a piercing stare that split her apart and, she was convinced, revealed every one of her secrets.
“Don’t look at me like that. It was just a kiss.”
“Right.”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. Clay wasn’t going to learn how much the kiss had affected her.
His satisfied grin infuriated her. She was half inclined to tell him she’d changed her mind about everything, the casita, the job, the custody agreement, then she instantly reconsidered.
The better course of action would be not to lose her head again. She could do that. Keep their relationship strictly professional and avoid him as much as possible.
“See you tomorrow night.” His voice was low and slightly husky and reminded her of other kisses shared beneath shimmering moonlight.
“What time are you coming by?” she asked with a not-that-I-care demeanor.
“I figured we’d meet up at the rehearsal dinner.”
Shoot, she’d forgotten about the dinner. Well, it couldn’t be helped. She’d agreed to attend even though she wasn’t officially a part of the ceremony. Both Sage and Caitlin had offered to make her a bridesmaid, but Sierra had declined, preferring to watch Jamie and assist with the reception.
“See you there.”
His gaze glided over her, slow and hungry. “You don’t have to walk me to my truck.”
“I wasn’t g
oing to.” Of all the nerve.
He lowered his head.
For one wild second, she thought he was going to kiss her again. Her body ignored the directives her brain screamed at her and slowly drifted toward him.
“Jamie’s crying.”
She was so distracted by Clay’s breath caressing her neck, what he said made no sense. “Excuse me?”
“Jamie. He’s awake.”
She listened and heard faint crying coming from inside the house. It galvanized her. “I’d better go.”
With a final glance at Clay, she scurried inside and to the bedroom, hoping the noise hadn’t woken up the rest of the house.
Jamie stood in the portable crib, clinging to the side, tears spilling from his eyes and red splotches on his cheeks.
“Sorry, baby.” She lifted him into her arms and pressed him to her, alternately bouncing him in her arms and swaying back and forth. The wailing continued. Worsened.
How long had he been carrying on before Clay heard him? Sierra couldn’t believe she’d been so wrapped up in their kiss she’d ignored her child’s cries.
Then again…
She shivered at the memory of Clay’s lips parting hers.
This absolutely had to stop! Jamie was her first and only concern.
“Definitely, positively, that is never going to happen again,” she vowed aloud.
Aware of the sudden quiet, she peered down at Jamie. He’d stopped his fussing, and his hazel eyes stared fixedly at her as if he didn’t buy a single word she said.
* * *
“WHO WAS HERE?” Sierra’s father stood in the bedroom doorway.
“Clay.” At the mention of his name, a warm flush crept up her neck to her face. “Did Jamie wake you with his crying?”
Or, had her father been up already and seen her and Clay kissing?
Please, no!
“I was reading.”
Whew!
Her father came into the room and smiled fondly at Jamie, who was fighting sleep tooth and nail. “Kind of late for a visit. What did Clay want?”
“He was looking for Ethan.”
“Like I said, kind of late.”
“He was upset. I guess he saw Bud and told him about Jamie. They got into some kind of argument.”
“About Jamie? Of all the—”
“It had more to do with Bud selling our land and his parents’ divorce.”
“For the love of God! Why are they still rehashing that?”
Sierra thought her father’s outburst a bit much but dismissed it. Between the wedding and her return, everyone’s emotions were running a little high.
“Clay asked me if Bud ever gave you an opportunity to buy back the land before he sold it.”
“What did you tell him?” There was no mistaking the apprehension in her father’s voice.
“That Bud didn’t give you any opportunities.”
“Good. Because he didn’t.”
“Well, whatever Bud told Clay must have been pretty upsetting for him to drive out here at this time of night.”
“He’ll say anything to get out of taking responsibility for what he did to us. I hope Clay’s smart enough not to be suckered in.”
“I’m sure he is. Why else would the two of them have been at odds all these years?”
“If he wants to be part of this family, he’d better stay clear of Bud. I mean it.”
Would her father really cut out his grandson’s father from their lives?
“I think he’s trying to mend broken bridges.”
“No point in that.”
“Really, Dad? Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“It’s different.”
Sierra didn’t agree. Bud Duvall had done a terrible thing to her family, but he’d also done one very kind and generous thing. He’d given them another fifteen months with her mother they wouldn’t have had without the loan of his money for her heart-transplant surgery.
“I don’t want Duvall coming to the wedding.”
“He wouldn’t dare. And Clay wouldn’t dare invite him.”
Her father grumbled to himself.
“Don’t you think it’s time to put the past to rest? For Jamie, and all your grandchildren.”
Not that Sierra was ready to forgive Bud Duvall, but her own actions these last two years, her neglect of her family and their willingness to welcome her back with open arms, had given her a new perspective.
She might feel differently if her family was still on the brink of financial ruin instead of owning two thriving businesses, her brothers getting married and expanding their families.
“He took advantage of me at the lowest point in my life.”
Sierra sighed softly. Continuing the discussion was useless. Her father harbored too much anger.
She lowered Jamie into the portable crib, and he went instantly to sleep. “This teething ordeal is awful.”
“Ethan was the worst of you three.”
“Seriously? He’s always been so easygoing.”
“Not when it came to teething or the terrible twos.”
She followed her father to the door, glad to see him back to his old self. “I have something to tell you. I’ve decided to move into Clay’s casita.”
“Makes sense.”
His underwhelming reaction wasn’t what she’d expected, considering how adamantly he’d supported the idea over dinner earlier.
“I’m moving as soon as the joint-custody agreement is finalized.”
“Why the wait?”
“There are still some details we have to agree on first. And, besides, I don’t want to be moving in the middle of the wedding.”
“It probably sounds strange, a father encouraging his unmarried daughter to live with a man.”
“Not with him, Dad. In the casita.” The difference was important to her.
“In the casita,” he repeated and smiled. “Much as I’m going to miss you, you’re making the right decision.”
Was she? If not, it was going to be one very long year.
“Good night.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed her father’s cheek.
“Sleep tight, honey.” He started to leave, then stopped in midstep. “Promise me something.”
“What’s that?”
“If Clay does reconcile with Bud, and he starts hanging around Clay’s place, don’t talk to him.”
“You know I wouldn’t.”
“Okay. See you in the morning.”
She shut the door behind him, concern stealing over her.
Why had her father felt the need to extract a promise from her?
More worryingly, why had he refused to meet her gaze while doing it?
Chapter Eight
Sierra sat in the front row, Jamie perched on her lap, the fingers of one hand dangling a newly purchased plush toy in front of him. The fingers of her other hand were tightly crossed and had been for the last thirty minutes.
Please, please, don’t cry.
All through the ceremony, Jamie had behaved beautifully. That could change in an instant. She’d hate for his wails to disrupt what had turned out to be a simple yet charmingly perfect country wedding.
The brides and grooms were exchanging their vows in the front courtyard of the Powell family home. Boughs from the paloverde and desert willow trees stretched out like reaching arms, providing a natural arch beneath which the wedding party stood. A golden afternoon sun glowed warmly, prompting several of the men to shed their suit jackets.
Two hundred white metal chairs had been rented and arranged to face a stunning view of Mustang Valley, at the heart of which lay Mustang Village. It was a fitting backdrop for the wedding ceremony. Mustang Valley had once belonged to the Powells, and even though civilization had encroached in recent years, the land would always belong to them in spirit.
More accurately, to her father and brothers. Sierra was still searching for where she truly belonged. She’d lived two-thirds of her life in Mustang Valley, and yet San Francisco felt m
ore like home to her. She missed it. Her friends, too, and her job and even her tiny apartment.
On Monday, two days from now, she and her son would be moving into Clay’s casita. She had yet to ship her personal belongings and furniture from San Francisco, preferring to “wait and see.” In fact, she, her father and Gavin had gotten into a disagreement about it yesterday morning. They wanted her to have everything shipped now, make her return to Arizona permanent. Sierra had resisted, causing the argument to end in a stalemate.
On Tuesday, she’d start working for Clay at the rodeo arena. Mostly, she was terrified. She was also excited. About the job, not the move.
Living in close proximity to Clay worried her. She hadn’t been able to fully suppress the fluttering in her middle that had started with their kiss the other night. How much worse would it get when she was sharing meals with him and passing him in the hall on the way to the laundry room?
Shifting Jamie to her other knee, she observed Clay from her place next to her father.
The two best men, Clay and Conner, another childhood friend of her brothers’, wore black jeans, black Stetsons and bright turquoise Western shirts. Despite the casualness of his clothes, Clay looked handsome and mouthwateringly sexy. So much so, Sierra had to force herself to gaze at the brides and grooms.
Both women had chosen traditional white gowns, minus long trains. Sage’s was high-waisted in order to draw attention away from her pregnancy. Gavin and Ethan, gorgeous in their black Western-style suits, couldn’t take their eyes off their respective brides.
Isa stood by her mother and Cassie stood by her father. The girls wore matching turquoise dresses. Isa clutched the basket that had contained rose petals. She’d taken her job as flower girl very seriously and remained absolutely still, as she’d been instructed to do all last week. Cassie was the one fidgeting. When asked if she’d wanted to be a second bridesmaid for Sage, she had refused, opting instead to be the ring bearer. Her father had agreed but only if Cassie wore a dress. It was a compromise. She definitely preferred denim to taffeta.
Sierra’s emotions, already riding close to the surface on this special day, overflowed, and she dabbed at her tears. She had always dreamed of a wedding like this. Not the country theme as much as having family and friends gathered in one place to witness the joining of two hearts, together forever.
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