The Cowboy's Family Plan

by Duarte, Judy

  Then he stepped onto the porch, joining Selena and starting toward the barn, where he’d stabled the two horses he’d planned for them to ride.

  “Thanks again for inviting me out to the ranch,” she said.

  “I’m glad you came. To be honest, you’re doing me a favor. I haven’t taken the time to ride just for the fun of it in a long time. And it looks like today will be the perfect day for it.” He wasn’t just talking about the mild temperature or the warmth of the sun either.

  As they crossed the yard toward the barn, Gus Barrows, one of the ranch hands, came ambling toward them. He was leading a bay gelding with one hand and had a red bandana tied around the other.

  “What did you do to yourself?” Alex asked.

  The gruff fifty-something cowboy let out a huff, then slowly shook his head. “I cut my dad-burn hand on a piece of twisted metal on one of the corral gates. I thought I’d better come in and put a real bandage on it before going back to work.”

  “Do you mind if I take a look at that?” Selena asked.

  “It ain’t nothing.” Still, Gus lifted his hand and unwrapped the cloth from his palm, where a cut ran jagged and deep.

  As Selena looked at his injury, her pretty face scrunched in concern. “That cut is severe. You might have damaged a tendon. And even if you didn’t, it’s not going to heal without stitches.”

  “Aw, it ain’t so bad.” Gus slowly drew his hand back.

  “When was your last tetanus shot?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. When I was a kid, I suppose.”

  Selena glanced at Alex, her expression filled with unspoken words, each one coaxing him to put his foot down and insist that Gus seek medical attention.

  “I’ll ask Lydia to drive you to the urgent care,” Alex said.

  “That ain’t necessary, boss. If you want me to have it checked out, I can drive my...” Gus glanced at the house, and his expression softened. “Well, maybe it would be best if Lydia took me. That is, if you don’t think she’d mind.”

  Alex had noticed a starry-eyed look in Gus’s eyes once or twice when the housekeeper had been in sight. Maybe Gus would appreciate a little feminine TLC for a change.

  “I’m sure you can drive yourself into town,” Alex said, “but I’d feel better if someone took you. And the only one available today, since it’s Sunday, is Lydia.”

  “If you think she wouldn’t mind...”

  “I’m sure she’d be happy to.” Besides, it would give her someone else to fuss over for a change.

  “Okay, then,” Gus said. “Maybe I ought to go and...you know, wash up.”

  A grin tugged at Alex’s lips. “Sure. You do that. And I’ll tell Lydia you’ll be waiting by her car.”

  As the rough and tough old cowboy headed for the bunkhouse, leaving Alex and Selena standing in the middle of the yard, Alex nodded toward the house. “If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll let Lydia know what’s going on.”

  “No problem.”

  Moments later, while Lydia went hunting for her purse and the keys to her car, Alex returned to Selena. While he’d been in the house, she’d wandered over to the corral nearest the barn, where Lady Gwen grazed with her foal.

  “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

  Selena turned to him, her eyes wide and sparkling. “I didn’t mind.”

  He didn’t suppose she did. She might have grown up and gone to medical school, but she still loved horses. And the sparkle in her eye was doing something to him, especially because her visit to his ranch had put it there. Or was something else happening?

  They stood like that for a moment, gazes locked, attraction flaring—at least on his part. And while he was tempted to ease forward, to cross some platonic line that remained between them in spite of two kisses that had been a little more than friendly, he couldn’t let things get out of hand yet. So he shook it off and said, “Come on, let’s go saddle our horses.”

  Once inside the barn, he led her to the stall of his favorite broodmare, a roan filly that was gentle enough for an inexperienced rider. “This little gal is Sugar Foot.”

  Selena reached out and stroked the horse’s nose. “Hi, there, Sugar. It’s nice to meet you.”

  The mare gave a little whinny, and Selena broke into a beautiful smile that stirred up something warm in Alex’s heart.

  He watched the woman and the mare for a moment, then leaned against the rails of the stall. “So what do you think? She’s a good horse—and gentle. I can find one with more spunk, if you’d rather.”

  “Oh, no. I like Sugar Foot. I think we’ll get along just fine.” As she smiled, her eyes lit up, making her look younger than she probably was—early to mid-thirties.

  He could imagine her as a teenager again, eagerly preparing to mount her friend’s horse, dreaming it was her own. And he was glad he’d been able to offer her something special, an afternoon she was sure to enjoy.

  He was glad for himself, too. This was the first time he’d met a woman who’d taken his mind off his loss. He actually enjoyed the time he’d spent with Selena. Maybe that meant his heart was on the mend.

  And that the shadow of guilt that had dogged him these past two years would finally lift.

  “Okay,” he said, “let’s get her saddled for you.”

  Ten minutes later, he’d saddled both Sugar Foot and a roan gelding he’d just acquired, along with several others, at auction last week. Because he’d wanted to try him out, he figured today was as good a day as any.

  “What’s his name?” Selena asked, as she stroked the roan’s neck.

  “I don’t remember. Bailey something or other.” Alex stole a glance at Selena, saw her brow furrowed as she processed his response. For some reason, even though his spread numbered in the hundreds and he couldn’t remember each horse by name, he didn’t like knowing that she was bothered by it.

  “He’s registered with the American Quarter Horse Association,” he explained, “so he has an official name. But we’ve been calling him Bailey for short.” At least, that would be his nickname now.

  Her expression lifted at that, apparently pleased that the new horse wasn’t merely one of hundreds when that actually was the case.

  After leading the horses out of the barn, they stopped near the service porch, which was at the back of the house, just off the kitchen.

  “Wait here,” Alex said, leaving Selena to hold both sets of reins. Then he went inside, just long enough to pick up the knapsack Lydia had packed with their lunch, as well as a small checkered tablecloth on which they could set out their picnic.

  When he returned, he helped Selena mount, giving her a foot up. She might be dressed like a cowgirl, yet her scent—something soft and floral—whispered “Lady” through and through.

  As she climbed into her saddle, her denim-clad derriere rising to his eye level, he tried to ignore the growing attraction to the lovely doctor to no avail.

  Once she was mounted, he climbed onto his own horse, sitting a bit taller in the saddle than he had in recent months, or maybe even in recent years. And as they headed out, his heart soared at the thought of leaving it all behind—the house, the chores, the daily grind.

  But more than that, he seemed to have finally—or at least, temporarily—shaken that dark shadow of grief and guilt that plagued him more often than not.

  * * *

  As the sun stretched high over the cloud-speckled Texas sky, Alex and Selena continued a leisurely ride, following the creek that ran through his property to a small lake surrounded by cottonwood trees, where they slowed to a stop.

  “This is where I learned to fish and to swim,” Alex told her.

  “I can’t imagine what it would have been like to grow up on a ranch like this. It would have been a dream come true for me.” Having been raised in a small dese
rt town in New Mexico, where trees and streams and swimming holes didn’t even exist, other than in travel magazines or books in the library, Selena relished the sight of the lush green pastures and the horses grazing with their foals, as well as the scent of fertile ground that mingled with the hint of autumn.

  “Then I’m glad I was able to share this with you.”

  She stole a glance at Alex, saw him leaning forward in the saddle, his hands resting on the pommel. The man had an amazing profile and an even more remarkable build—lean, strong and as sexy as they came.

  His black Stetson shielded his eyes from the sun, but not from her. As their gazes met and locked, something sparked between them—something more powerful than she’d expected, more alluring.

  “Come on,” Alex said, breaking eye contact and drawing her from her musing. “I’m sure you’re getting hungry. I certainly am. And I know the perfect place to eat.”

  She’d had a light breakfast this morning because she’d been plagued by nerves. But they’d dissipated the moment she and Alex had struck out on their ride, so she was more than ready for a lunch break. “All right. That sounds like a good idea.”

  They continued on for another twenty minutes or so, following a trail that led up a mountain—or maybe it was more of a hillside.

  “We call this summit Ol’ Piney,” he said.

  We? Had he brought his wife here?

  Well, of course, he had. Why wouldn’t he have done that? It was beautiful.

  “My uncle was the first to bring me out here, and that’s what he called it.”

  Selena studied the pine trees that lined the trail, reminding her of a view one might see on a postcard.

  “Let’s eat here,” he said, as he swung off his horse. “It has a great view of the valley.”

  Again, she thought of his late wife because she couldn’t imagine him and his uncle having picnics together. She wasn’t sure what bothered her about the idea. After all, the poor woman was dead and gone.

  But the fact that Alex had cared so deeply for her, that he planned to utilize the embryos they’d created together and raise them himself, left her uneasy and even a bit sad. The woman who was destined to become Alex’s second wife would have to compete with Mary Connor’s memory, and Selena wasn’t up for the task.

  Besides, she really wasn’t interested in dating Alex. Not really. They’d merely struck up a friendship—at least, so far.

  “Can I help you down?” Alex asked, as he approached her horse.

  She figured she could make it on her own, but for some silly reason, she liked the idea of letting the handsome cowboy help her dismount. “All right.”

  As she held the reins and gripped the pommel, she pulled her foot from the stirrup and swung her leg over the saddle.

  Alex reached for her. As his hands wrapped around her waist, setting off tremors of heat to her core, her breath caught.

  The moment her feet touched the ground, her legs wobbled. She wasn’t sure if her unsteadiness was due to her reaction to his touch and his rugged cowboy scent, both of which sent her senses reeling, or whether it was from being in the saddle so long. Either way, the combination was doing a real number on her.

  He continued to hold her steady, which was a good thing, because she’d hate to collapse on the ground in a heap. As she slowly turned to face him, his hands remained loosely at her waist, setting off a flutter in her heart.

  As their gazes met and held, her pulse spiked, and for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her.

  Yes, she thought. Her heart hammered in anticipation, and her breathing nearly stopped. Yet instead of slipping his arms around her, drawing her close and placing his lips on hers, he slowly eased back.

  Why hadn’t he taken the opportunity while he’d had it?

  And why did she find his reluctance so disheartening?

  “Come here,” he said, dropping the reins and heading toward a large rock. “I want to show you something.”

  What could he possibly think she’d find more interesting than a kiss? And why had he released the gelding’s reins? Wasn’t he worried it would run off?

  “What about the horses?” she asked.

  “Let them graze.”

  As Selena released the reins, allowing Sugar Foot to lower her head and nibble on the grass, she followed Alex to the rock where he stood.

  He pointed to the valley below, where a small town lay nestled against the trees. Thanks to the arrival of autumn, the leaves were a kaleidoscope of fall shades—rust, red, yellow and the occasional green.

  “It’s Brighton Valley,” she said, scanning the small buildings and houses and noting the steeple of the community church. “It looks different from up here, doesn’t it?”

  He pointed to the east. “That’s Main Street and the old part of town.”

  She nodded, spotting the cars parked along the storefronts.

  “Now look to the west, just beyond the medical center. On a clear day, you can even see Wexler.”

  “It’s an amazing view from up here. It looks like something you’d find on a postcard.”

  “I thought you’d like it.”

  She studied the quaint and colorful scene a moment longer, then turned to him and smiled. “Thank you.”

  “For what? Bringing you to Ol’ Piney?”

  “For everything—the ride, the tour of your ranch, the lovely view...”

  “I’m glad you’re having fun.”

  It was more than fun. She’d been waiting for this day since the moment he’d invited her to come out to the ranch, yet it was more than the outdoors and horseback riding she’d been dreaming about. But she didn’t dare let on about that.

  “Are you ready to eat?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  Yet he didn’t make a move to get their lunch out of the knapsack. Instead, he remained in front of her, face-to-face. An arm’s distance apart.

  His gaze held an intensity that set her heart on edge again. And she sensed another kiss coming her way. But this time, she didn’t want to risk the chance of him drawing away, like he did just moments ago. So she did something she might regret later.

  She reached up, slipped her arms around his neck and drew his mouth to hers.

  Chapter Six

  Alex hadn’t expected Selena to make the first move, but he was glad that she had. He’d been dying to wrap his arms around her all day, and it was nice to know that he wasn’t the only one caught up in a growing sexual attraction and succumbing to temptation.

  As their mouths met, her lips parted, inviting him to be an active participant. And that’s just what he did. He kissed her as if there were no tomorrow, as if there were every reason in the world for them to be lovers—and nothing waiting in the wings to hold them back.

  And maybe there wasn’t. She’d known what he planned to do. And she’d still instigated the kiss.

  Didn’t that mean she’d be on the same page with him when it came to hiring a woman to carry the embryos to term?

  Of course the answer to that question, as well as his baby plan, quickly dissipated in the heat of the moment.

  As Selena leaned into him, pressing her breasts against his chest, their bodies melded together as if they were meant for each other. And right now, Alex didn’t have any reason to doubt that they hadn’t been.

  While they continued to kiss, he ran his hands along her back, exploring the slope of her hips, caressing each feminine curve. As he relished the feel of her in his arms, he savored her taste and her soft floral scent until his hormones spun out of control.

  What he wouldn’t give to have her back at the ranch house with him at this very minute, with music playing in the background, a fire in the hearth, candles lit, the coverlet pulled back on the bed in readiness.

  B
ut he wasn’t at home. They were several miles away, in an outdoor world of their own making.

  So what was he supposed to do here and now? Stretch that tablecloth across the ground for them to use in lieu of a king-size bed?

  While tempted to do just that, he slowly drew back, breaking the kiss and allowing them both to come up for air. Still, his heart was pounding like a son of a gun, and his blood continued to rush through his veins.

  She looked up at him with an expression that asked, Where do we go from here?

  He’d be damned if he knew, especially when he had no idea how she’d feel about raising another woman’s babies. And that’s something Selena would have to consider doing if they took the whole idea of a relationship any further than this.

  But it was too soon to discuss a complex future between them like that, especially because he would begin to earnestly search for a gestational carrier soon.

  Or would Selena be willing to carry the babies for him?

  It was a lot to ask a woman, especially one who hadn’t had any children of her own yet.

  For a moment, he envisioned having a baby the old-fashioned way—by making love with Selena and then watching her belly grow with a child they’d created. The thought, while warm and tender, wasn’t one he could consider. Not when he still had those embryos waiting to be born.

  Besides, it was far too early at this stage of their budding relationship to even broach a subject like that, so he decided to focus on something else, something other than a burning sexual desire that could very easily lead to broken promises and shattered dreams.

  “Are you ready for lunch?” he asked, deciding to make light of it for now.

  She blinked, then blinked a second time as if she was having trouble distancing her physical hunger from a sexual one. And he couldn’t blame her one bit for that. Hell, that’s exactly what was going on with him. He was drowning in a flood of testosterone, grasping for straws that made sense, desperate with longing...

  And hungry for a hell of a lot more than the sandwiches Lydia had made them.