by Liz Isaacson
He got out of the truck and Felicity watched him take an extra moment to squeeze his right fingers into a ball. He closed his eyes for a long second, and then put a smile on his face as he walked toward the porch a little less enthusiastically than she had.
“So he’s not your boyfriend?” Gordon asked, his grin stuck in place and his lips barely moving.
“He…is, I guess.”
“So how are you gonna introduce him?”
Felicity gave her brother a glare and joined Dwayne as he reached the top of the steps. “Dwayne, this is my little brother, Gordon. He’s older than Parker.” She glanced at Parker as he came through the front door too.
“You made it.” He grinned and gave her a quick hug. “And you must be Dwayne.”
“She was just introducing him.” Gordon flashed her a wicked smile.
“And Parker,” Felicity said with a heavy dose of stop-it-right-now-Gordon. No wonder she hadn’t dated much while she worked on this ranch. “He’s the youngest. Guys, this is Dwayne Carver, my boss at Grape Seed Ranch, and my boyfriend.”
She lifted her gaze to watch him, and he was as flawless as ever. He smiled and said hello, shook each brother’s hand, and returned to her side, where he slipped his shaking hand along her back before it settled on her hip.
“Where’s Mom?” she asked.
“Napping,” Gordon said, his dark features turning somber.
“I just woke her up,” Parker said quickly, shooting a glance at his brother. “She’s comin’.”
Felicity looked between them. “Mom is taking a nap?” She’d never known her mother to nap, ever. Even when she’d been up all night with Felicity when she’d had the stomach flu, her mother did not lie down during the day.
“Too much to be done,” she’d say, and she’d look perfect getting the laundry done, the dishes clean, and dinner on the table. Felicity had hated being in the house with her mother. Not enough fresh air and too many expectations.
“She hasn’t been feeling well,” Gordon said.
“Gordon,” Parker admonished. He looked at Felicity with their mother’s lighter eyes, her fairer hair poking out the bottom of his cowboy hat. “She’s fine.”
“Felicity isn’t stupid,” Gordon argued. “She’ll take one look at Mom and know she’s not well.”
Fear doused Felicity’s lungs in icy water. “What’s wrong with her?”
“They’re not sure,” Parker said, switching his gaze back to Gordon. “Could be a cold.”
Gordon rolled his eyes, and Felicity realized they’d been having this argument a lot. “Well, let’s go in. I suppose she’s why you made such a big deal out of me makin’ brisket for my own birthday.” He opened the door and entered the house, Parker trailing him.
“She loves brisket.”
“It’s my birthday.” Gordon’s voice carried back to them.
“I made you your favorite ice cream cake, so stop complaining,” Parker said.
Felicity giggled and glanced up at Dwayne. “My brothers.”
“They’re nice.” He followed her into the house, which hadn’t changed at all, except for the air held a hint of stuffiness along with the scent of smoking meat. Her stomach growled, but she needed to find her mother first.
“Momma?” She laced her fingers through Dwayne’s and held on tight. He seemed to know she needed additional anchoring, because he squeezed and stayed only inches behind her.
“She’s in here,” Gordon called from the kitchen.
Felicity drew in a deep breath and went around the wall that separated the formal living room in the front of the house from the kitchen and great room in the back.
Her mother sat in her favorite armchair, her normally curled and quaffed, sandy brown hair matted on one side and poking out weirdly on the other. “Hey, Mom.”
“Felicity.” She got to her feet quickly and started forward. Her step seemed unsure, and Parker abandoned his task of setting the table and lunged for her, latching onto her arm to steady her. Her eyes seemed as sharp as ever, and though it took precious seconds for her to find her footing, she didn’t miss Dwayne’s hand in Felicity’s.
Felicity embraced her mom and drew back, her hands still on her mother’s shoulders. “How are you?”
“Fine, fine.” She patted her hair. “These boys pamper me too much.”
“It’s Gordon’s birthday,” Parker said. “We normally just eat grilled cheese sandwiches after church.”
“Too much to do,” Gordon added from the kitchen. He took the aluminum foil off a large pan, a burst of steam lifting toward the ceiling. The smell of hickory-smoked brisket made another wave of homesickness roll over Felicity.
“Time to eat,” he announced.
“Mom,” Felicity said. “This is Dwayne Carver, my boyfriend. Dwayne, my mother.” No need to mention the boss part this time. Her mom probably wouldn’t like that, and Felicity saw no need to give her mom anything to lecture about.
“My pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Dwayne’s bass voice could turn anyone’s head, but as he extended his hand for her mother to shake, she didn’t even flinch.
Her gaze drank in Dwayne from the top of his cowboy hat to the soles of his boots. Once, then twice.
“Hurry up and shake the man’s hand, Momma,” Gordon said. “I’m starving.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Momma finally said, putting her hand in Dwayne’s. He seemed to know that he needed to treat her like royalty, because he lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the backside of her palm.
“Let’s eat.” Relief ran rampant through her, and Felicity nudged Dwayne toward the table Parker had arranged. “Who’s saying grace?”
“Gordon,” Parker said at the same time Gordon said, “Parker.”
“It’s my birthday,” he said again.
Parker scowled and said the prayer. He ended it with, “And thank you for allowing Felicity and Dwayne to be with us. Bless them to travel safely back to Grape Seed Falls. Amen.”
Her mom didn’t even wait for the final echo of the amen to settle before she said, “Tell us all about this other ranch. Do you work there too, Dwayne?”
Chapter Eighteen
Felicity’s hair blew in the breeze, and she gathered it into her palm and held it against her shoulder. Dwayne wandered a few paces ahead of her, his fingertips brushing the delicate tops of the wild bluebonnets her father had cultivated.
He’d answered all her mother’s questions with smiles and happiness in his voice. When Momma had shown disdain at Felicity dating her boss, Dwayne had reached for Felicity’s hand and squeezed it. Said, “I own the ranch. I’m not really her boss,” and moved on.
Though he most certainly was her boss, because he owned the ranch. It had never been an issue between them, and Felicity wasn’t going to make it one simply because her mother didn’t approve.
Ahead of her, Dwayne lifted his head and gazed into the distance. She approached and slipped her arm through his. “It’s beautiful here,” she said.
He glanced down at her, a quick smile on his lips. He was handsome and magnificent, and Felicity felt her heart swelling with love for him. He bent, plucked a flower, and lovingly threaded it behind her ear.
“You’re beautiful.” His whisper sent shivers across her shoulders, and she received his tender kiss willingly. She couldn’t believe she was standing in her father’s favorite spot, kissing a man for all to see. She felt like she and Dwayne were the only two people on earth, and the only witness to their love was the blue sky and the fluttering breeze.
No matter what, Felicity had never felt as strongly for anyone as she felt for Dwayne. He tucked her into his side and they looked out over the fence at the waving grasses and another field of bluebonnets. He sighed, a happy, contented sound that infused Felicity’s soul with peace.
“Felicity,” he said, his voice choked with emotion.
“Yeah?”
“I think I’m falling in love with you.” He didn’t look at
her, didn’t knead her closer, didn’t say anything else.
A smile drifted across her face and she twisted to look at him. “Let’s go home.”
Felicity thought a lot about what Dwayne had said over the course of the next couple of weeks. She was certain she was falling in love with him too, but she didn’t quite know what to do about it. Training horses and learning how to immunize cattle seemed to be enough for now, but she wondered when Dwayne would want more.
He’d hinted that she was the one who would want more, but she kept searching her soul, and it was content with ranch life. No, not just ranch life. Ranch life with Dwayne.
She couldn’t believe she’d called Grape Seed Falls “home” and had easily left her family’s ranch in Marysville. Sure, the homesickness had hit her once or twice, but she didn’t want to return to Bluebonnet Farm to live, to work the land, to train horses. Not anymore.
“There you are.” Capri stopped on Felicity’s back steps and cocked her hip. “I’ve been knocking for ten minutes.”
“You have not.” Felicity laughed and watched Whiskers streak out of the house as if Capri would stop him and shut him back in the spare bedroom. “The screen’s open. I haven’t heard a single knock.”
Capri collapsed into the patio chair beside Felicity. “Fine. I just walked in.”
“Busy day?” Felicity noticed Capri’s grease-stained fingernails and wispy ponytail.
“Two tourists broke down on their way through town.” Capri sighed, leaned back, and closed her eyes. “Somehow it’s my fault if I don’t have their specific fan belt in stock.” She tilted her head toward Felicity and cracked one eye. “Good money, though.”
“Hmm.” Felicity sipped her iced tea. “Where’s Jonah tonight?”
“Down at Zack’s. Birthday party.”
Felicity eyed her friend. “So you’re here, hoping I’ll order pizza. Is that right?”
“I’m surprised you haven’t already.” Capri laughed, the sound fading quickly. “So, how are you and Dwayne?”
“Great.” Felicity sighed happily without meaning to.
“Oh, that good, huh?” Capri giggled and opened her eyes to look at Felicity. She searched her face for something, but Felicity didn’t know what.
She finally asked, “What?”
“Do you think I’ll be able to find someone like Dwayne?”
Felicity caught the worry in her friend’s eyes, the desperation and hope in her tone. “What about Levi? Why’d you two stop going out?”
A flash of pain flitted across Capri’s face. “He wasn’t interested.”
“He said that?”
“Right to my face.” Capri gripped the armrests on the chair. “He seemed…I don’t know. Embarrassed about it. Or at least sorry.”
Felicity reached over and patted Capri’s hand. “Maybe you shouldn’t be looking for a cowboy.”
“Then I should probably leave the state of Texas.” Capri let her words settle for two heartbeats and then she burst out laughing. Felicity joined her, because it seemed like every man in Texas either was a cowboy or a football player. Or wanted to be a cowboy or a football player.
“Besides,” Capri said. “I like cowboys. My husband was a cowboy.”
Felicity didn’t know what to say, so she kept her mouth shut.
“You seem happy,” Capri said after several minutes.
“You know what?” Felicity watched the shadows length over her backyard as the sun continued to set. “I am.” She looked at Capri, a bit of her fear coming out in her voice when she said, “I think this is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Capri said, “I’m so happy for you, honey,” leaving Felicity to wonder why she was allowing her worries and fears to dampen her joy.
“Now, what about that pizza….”
Dwayne glanced up from his laptop when Jinx barked. Atlas didn’t move from his position on the couch, so whoever had come to his house wasn’t a threat.
“Who is it, boy?” he asked.
A few moments later, a light knock sounded on his door. Not a cowboy’s fist. He left his browser open to the horses he’d been scouting and answered the door.
“Felicity.” Surprise colored his tone. She hadn’t said she was coming out to the ranch this Saturday morning. He kept one hand on the door and leaned into the frame. “What are you doin’ here?”
“I’m riding Lucy this morning, and she wanted Payday to come with us.”
His eyebrows went up. “You think he’s ready for that?”
“You’ve had a saddle on him for weeks. It’s time to ride ‘em, cowboy.” She gave him the sexiest smile he’d ever seen, and he wanted to kiss it off her mouth.
“All right,” he said instead, turning back to the kitchen table where he’d been working. “Let me finish this up.”
She followed him into the kitchen and took the only other seat at the table. “What are you doing?”
Dwayne suddenly didn’t want to tell her. A squirrel of embarrassment scampered through him. “Um, looking at horses.” He closed the laptop with a definitive clap! “I’m ready to go now. I can finish later.”
Felicity didn’t move. “What kind of horse are you looking at?”
Dwayne considered her, the blaze in her dark eyes, the slightly standoffish way she folded her arms. “Would you be upset if I bought another horse?”
“I think you should break the two wild ones you already have.”
“What if the horse was already broken?” Because the bay he’d been looking at was picture-perfect online. Beautiful markings, saddle-ready, an old ranch hand.
“You can do whatever you want with your money,” she said. “It’s your ranch.” She took a few steps toward the front door before turning back to him. “Is this mystery horse at the auction you’re attending in a couple of weeks? The one I’m not invited to?” The venom wasn’t hard to find in her voice. She hadn’t even tried to mask it.
“Ah, so that’s why you’re mad.”
“I’m not mad, Dwayne.”
He followed her to the front door and pushed against it so she couldn’t escape. “Why didn’t you say you wanted to go to the auction?”
She gave him a great view of her new hatband—this one made of purple glass beads and white chunks of rock. She’d told him once that she made all her hatbands, and he liked that each was unique but also seemed to fit her.
“You seemed excited to go with Levi,” she said.
“I like going with Levi,” Dwayne admitted. “We’ve gone together for a few years now. He knows horses, and I trust his opinion.” He ran his fingers down her bare arm, satisfied when she received his fingers between hers. “You’re welcome to come with us.”
She lifted her chin and looked him dead in the eye. “Right. Me in between the two of you. I don’t think so.”
“You know horses, and I trust your opinion.” Dwayne hoped she didn’t think that was the reason he hadn’t invited her. He honestly hadn’t even thought about taking her with him. Why hadn’t he?
Because the trip was already planned, he told himself. Before Felicity even showed up on the ranch.
“Felicity, would you like to come to the horse auction with me?” He lowered his head and brushed his lips along her cheek. “There’s plenty of room. Levi has a horse trailer that holds four.” He held her against him and kissed her neck. “Maybe you’ll find a horse you want.”
“I can’t afford a horse,” she whispered, her hands moving to his shoulders and holding on.
“I’ll buy you one,” he promised.
“You’re not buying me a horse.” She giggled and pushed away from him. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It’s not ridiculous. Your birthday is coming up.”
“In December.” She cocked her head and shook it. “No, you go to your horse auction with Levi. Maybe you can find out why he told Capri he wasn’t interested in her.”
Dwayne’s curiosity shot toward the heavens. “He did?”
“That’
s what she said.”
His brain started working overtime. If Levi wasn’t dating Capri anymore, maybe Heather had a chance….
Of course, his sister probably already knew all about Levi and Capri and anything that was said. She didn’t need Dwayne to play matchmaker. Still, Felicity’s suggestion to ask Levi about the women in his life seemed like a very good one.
Twenty minutes later, he put his foot in the stirrup. His pulse thumped a little roughly, but Payday held completely still. “Good boy,” Dwayne said as he pushed himself up and pulled himself into the saddle. Felicity was already sitting atop Lucy, and she aimed the horses east and north, past the Cowboy Commons, where Dwayne caught sight of three cowboys sitting at the picnic table. Looked like Shane, Austin, and Chadwell—the newest member of the Grape Seed Ranch family.
Dwayne lifted his hand in hello as they passed, and Shane whistled like he’d seen a pretty woman. “You’re ridin’ that Rocky Mountain horse!” he yelled, as if Dwayne didn’t know.
“Don’t show off,” Felicity muttered and Dwayne glanced at her.
“I’m not showin’ off.” Though he did feel a bit of pride snaking through him at being able to ride this horse. He’d thought Payday would give him a biggest run for his money, but the horse had succumbed to Dwayne’s will pretty readily.
“Mm hm.” Felicity gave him a playful smile and urged Lucy into a lope. “Come on. I want to show you something.”
“On my own ranch?” He wasn’t sure he could get Payday to do much more than walk, and even if he could, it wouldn’t be an easy canter that would be comfortable.
“I was riding Linus last week and we found a peach orchard. I wasn’t sure if you knew about it.”
“Yeah, it’s why there’s peaches carved into the ranch sign.”
“They were wild.”
“They’re too far away to take care of properly. My mother claimed that she tried, once, when she and my dad first bought the ranch.”
“There’s a cabin in the midst of them.” She looked at him for confirmation, one eyebrow cocked as if to say Did you know about that?
“Yeah, sometimes we sleep there when we’re out working on those far fences.”