Just What the Cowboy Needed

by Teresa Southwick

  Logan looked at Grace with a hint of help-me-out-here in his eyes. “My sister, Jamie, says it’s a great place.”

  “I like it.” Suddenly Wendy straightened away from the car. “The hard work really pays off. This is my revenge body.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” No doubt about it. He was squirming big-time now.

  “Revenge body. My husband left me for someone else.” She shrugged as if her meaning should be obvious to him. “Since the divorce I lost twenty pounds and went to Black Mountain Bikram Yoga and Fitness. You’re a man and I’d like your opinion. Do you think this will make my ex have second thoughts about dumping me?”

  Logan looked at Grace for the third time, and there was panic mixed with pleading in his eyes. It would just be mean to ignore that, so pity topped payback and she decided to help put an end to his torment.

  “Drink up, girls. We don’t want to keep Mrs. Anderson any longer.” Grace made sure her voice was loud enough to be heard. “Next time we have a playdate maybe we can go see the baby horse.”

  “I named him Prince Eric, like in The Little Mermaid.” Cassie held up her pink glass. “I’m all finished.”

  “Me, too,” Emily said. “Can we see the baby horse now?”

  Grace met Logan’s gaze, just to remind him who was in control. “I think he might be eating dinner. And a lot of activity might upset him. But we can have another playdate soon. Right, Wendy?”

  “Definitely.” She smiled at Logan. “Girls, time to go.”

  They all went down the porch steps to the car. Emily walked up to her mother and slapped a small five-year-old hand on that rock-hard thigh. “Me and Paige are ready to go.”

  If Wendy’s parade was rained on, she didn’t let it show. “Did you guys thank Grace for everything?”

  “Thank you, Grace,” the two said in singsong voices loud enough to be heard in Buckskin Pass.

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Wendy made sure both girls were secure in car seats, then smiled and waved. “Thanks, Grace. Nice to see you again, Logan.”

  Cassie stood between the two of them as they all watched the SUV turn and drive slowly back down the road.

  “I like her.” Grace found that was actually true. But she couldn’t resist poking the bear. “Logan, don’t you think Mrs. Anderson is nice?”

  “Yes.”

  “Daddy?” Cassie looked up at him. “When can Emily and Paige come back to play?”

  “That’s up to Grace.” He met her gaze. “Because that day I’ll be really busy until very late doing some important ranch work.”

  So he wasn’t all that anxious to see Wendy again anytime soon. Before his daughter could start her pitch to hard sell pinning down a specific date, Grace pointed to the toys still scattered on the grass. “Time to put things away, sweetie.”

  “Do I hafta? I’m so tired.”

  “I’ll help you. Just let me talk to your dad for a minute.” She met Logan’s gaze.

  “Ookay.” With a dramatic and decidedly put-upon air, the little girl picked up two dolls by their floppy arms and took them into the house.

  When Grace was sure Cassie couldn’t hear, she said, “You so owe me for bailing you out.”

  “I wouldn’t have needed it if you hadn’t decided they needed more water.”

  “No one is dehydrating on my watch,” she said, firmly defending her actions. “I could have suggested a bathroom break before they headed out, but I didn’t.”

  A little bit of horror trickled into his expression as it sank in that the suggestion would have produced a much longer exposure to Wendy. “Okay. I owe you. What’s it going to cost me?”

  Grace thought for several moments. What she wanted wasn’t for herself. It was for Cassie. “The price for helping you out is one tea party.”

  He frowned. “You can’t be serious.”

  “And yet I am. Completely serious.”

  “Look, Grace, you know I’m no good at that—”

  “Practice makes perfect. It will get easier if you flex those muscles.” And she suddenly got a mouthwatering memory of the very impressive ones underneath his shirt. Her chest tightened, threatening to cut off her air, but she ordered herself to focus. “One tea party,” she insisted, “or I call Wendy and set up another playdate—”

  “Okay. Where and when?”

  “Four o’clock tomorrow. Wear your formal jeans and boots. It’s royal day. I’ll be the one in a tiara.”

  * * *

  The next afternoon Grace was nervous as four o’clock got closer. She didn’t know whether or not to tell Cassie her father had agreed to show up for a tea party. That agreement did fall somewhere on the blackmail scale, but the end justified the means, right? Only if he followed through. If he didn’t, his daughter would really be disappointed, but only if she knew it was a possibility in the first place.

  Right now Grace was sitting with Cassie on the top front porch step and the little girl had her face resting in her hands, the personification of boredom.

  “You’ve got some coloring books and brand-new crayons,” Grace pointed out.

  “I don’t want to color.”

  “We could play hide-and-seek,” Grace suggested.

  “No.” Cassie’s voice completely lacked enthusiasm. “It’s no fun with just two people. And you always let me win.”

  “I guess I do.” She thought for a moment. “We could go swimming in the pool or take a walk down by the lake and skip stones on the water.”

  “I’m too tired.”

  The screen door behind them opened and a familiar deep voice said, “Then I guess you’re too tired for a tea party.”

  Logan walked over to them and took a seat on the other side of his daughter. The clean, fresh male scent of him drifted to Grace and burrowed inside her, making her feel all tingly and warm. Every nerve ending was fired up and dancing like there was no tomorrow. His jeans weren’t formal and the boots were scuffed, but his hair was still damp from a shower. He’d cleaned up for the occasion, and Grace hadn’t been sure he would show up at all. Until he did.

  “What are you doing here, Daddy?”

  “I was told there would be a tea party at four sharp.” Over his daughter’s head he met Grace’s gaze. “Where’s your tiara?”

  “Darn,” she said. “It’s at the cleaners.”

  “Wouldn’t you know. On royal day, too.” His eyes were teasing.

  “Don’t you have work to do?” Cassie was still skeptical.

  “There’s always something to do on a ranch,” he said, “but it can wait until tomorrow.”

  Cassie glanced from Logan to Grace, and excitement was catching fire in eyes that were the same color as her father’s. “You’re really gonna play tea party with me?”

  “Yes. Is it okay if Grace stays, too?”

  “Yes!” She stood and threw her arms around him, as far as they would go. Which wasn’t far considering how broad his shoulders were.

  Grace’s throat closed with emotion because the picture they made was just about the sweetest thing ever. Only someone with a heart two sizes too small wouldn’t be moved by it.

  But Cassie was too excited about this unexpected development to let the quiet moment last very long. “Do you want the tea party inside or outside?” she asked her father.

  “Where do you want it?”

  “Outside.”

  “Then let’s do it right here. I guess we need your table and chairs.”

  “Yes. Can you get it, Daddy? You’re stronger than Grace.”

  “I think I can manage that.”

  “I’m going to bring out the dishes.” Cassie raced into the house.

  Before Logan followed her, he said to Grace, “She gives orders like a general.”

  “You noticed. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get
right on moving that table,” she told him.

  “Family pack animal,” he muttered, easily rolling to his feet.

  With everyone pitching in, it wasn’t long until everything was set up. Cassie took a seat and Grace folded herself into one of the small chairs. Uncertainly, Logan looked down at the one in front of him.

  “How come you’re not sitting, Daddy?”

  “I’m afraid I’ll break it.”

  “You are kinda big,” she allowed.

  “I know what we can do.” Grace wouldn’t let something like an undersized chair ruin the moment. “He can sit on the step stool you use in the kitchen to reach the sink.”

  The little girl’s face lit up like a fireworks finale on the Fourth of July. She jumped to her feet and headed for the front door. “That’s a great idea. I’ll get it.”

  “I should have gone,” he said. “It might be too heavy for her.”

  “She’s the hostess and takes it very seriously. If she needs help, she’ll ask.”

  “If you say so.” But he didn’t look sure.

  When Cassie appeared with the stool that was almost as big as she was, Logan opened the screen door and said, “Can I help you with that?”

  “Thank you,” she said politely, letting him take it from her. “Put it right there, across from Grace.”

  He followed orders, then sat. Even with the alternative chair, the child’s table in no way accommodated his tall form. His daughter could not have cared less. She was clearly happy as could be.

  “Do you like tea, Prince Adam?” she asked, in full pretend mode, as she picked up the pink toy teapot and looked at her father.

  Grace could see he had no clue what was going on and decided to help him out. “Prince Adam is also known as the beast from Beauty and the Beast. At first he’s selfish and impatient because he was so spoiled. But after living as the beast, he becomes kind and brave. Cass and I were reading about him just last night.”

  “The beast?” His look was wry. “Typecasting?”

  “What does that mean?” Cassie’s confusion made her look so much like Logan.

  “It means,” Grace said, “giving someone a part to play that is a lot like their real-life personality.”

  “Daddy’s kind and brave, so he can be Prince Adam.” She looked at him. “Do you like tea?”

  He hesitated for a moment. “I’m more of a coffee guy, but whatever—”

  “Prince Adam likes tea,” Cassie said confidently as she poured the pretend liquid into the cup in front of him.

  Logan looked clumsy and ill at ease. It was a good bet that he was wishing to be anywhere but here.

  “I’d like tea, Princess Cassandra.” Grace was trying to distract attention from his awkwardness. “It’s a beautiful day for a tea party. And don’t you think Lady Barbie looks thirsty? I know she likes her tea with milk and sugar.”

  “I think you’re right, Princess Jasmine,” Cassie agreed. Then she poured pretend tea all around.

  And the little girl was off and running. She chattered away, offering milk and sugar to everyone. She talked about the upcoming ball at the palace and hoped she didn’t lose her glass slipper and that her coach didn’t turn back into a pumpkin. She was going to live happily-ever-after with the prince.

  Grace interjected things here and there, to move the make-believe narrative along, and she was pretty sure Cassie never noticed that her father perfectly played the strong, silent type. And he continued to look stiff and uncomfortable. Her heart went out to him. He was deeply and sincerely concerned about messing Cassie up and put so much pressure on himself to be perfect, to always do the right thing. But in a situation like this there was no wrong.

  “Lady Barbie is tired. I’m going to find Princess Aurora to take her place.” Cassie made the announcement, then went inside the house.

  Logan blew out a sigh of relief as he looked at Grace. “I can’t do this.”

  “Define this.”

  “Play with her,” he said. “I feel like a bull rider in a crystal shop. I’m a fraud, and she knows it.”

  “Logan, you have to relax. This is not something that will send her into therapy. She won’t remember what you did or didn’t say. Just get in touch with your inner child.”

  “That’s just it. I don’t think I ever was a child. I was the oldest. I took care of the younger ones.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “That didn’t leave a lot of time to just be a kid.”

  She might have cut him some slack if her own upbringing hadn’t been difficult, too. “It’s never too late to learn how to be a kid. The fact is that you’re just a prop. A placeholder. Cassie is doing all the imagining.”

  “I should do something. I feel useless,” he said.

  “You’re so wrong about that. Being here is doing something. You’re bonding with your daughter. You don’t even have to say anything.” She thought for a moment and came up with a few pointers. “Maybe an occasional ‘Oh?’ just to show interest. Or ask how many horses Prince Adam has. She’ll take that and run with it.”

  “I don’t know.” He rested his elbows on his knees. “It doesn’t seem like enough.”

  “It is, Logan. I promise. All you ever have to do is show up. It’s impossible to go wrong doing that.”

  Cassie returned with another doll and propped her in the empty chair. “I couldn’t find Princess Aurora. This is Princess Jane. She was in time-out, but she said she was sorry for not picking up her toys. So I let her come to the tea party.”

  Comprehension dawned in Logan’s eyes. He was getting that his little girl was incorporating her real-life experiences into this make-believe world. He met Grace’s gaze, then took a deep breath.

  “I bet Princess Jane is happy to be here.”

  “She is, Daddy—I mean Prince Adam. And she promised she’ll always pick up after herself from now on.” Cassie poured pretend tea for the newcomer.

  “May I have some more tea?” he asked.

  “Yes, you may.” The little girl smiled at him.

  He picked up his cup and acted as if drinking from it. “This is very good. But it’s a little hot.”

  “Be careful,” Cassie warned. “Don’t burn yourself. Just blow on it first.”

  Grace watched him make an effort. It wasn’t elegant, natural or effortless, but he was trying. He was there. She realized that’s the kind of man he was. If he gave his word, he would keep it—even if he looked silly with his big hand dwarfing a tiny pink teacup as he sipped imaginary tea.

  Grace felt her heart squeeze tight. If only that was her imagination, but she knew it was all too real. Her feelings were tipping into dangerous territory, and she wasn’t quite sure how to make them stop.

  Chapter Ten

  “And the handsome prince and beautiful princess lived happily-ever-after.” Grace closed the bedtime book she’d read to Cassie then leaned over to give her a hug and kiss on the forehead. “And now it’s time to go to sleep, Princess Cassandra.”

  Logan never got tired of watching this nighttime ritual. He was glad his daughter had a bed, a roof over her head and enough to eat. She was safe. Unlike him before his family had come to the ranch. There was no having friends over to the house because there wasn’t one. He’d slept with one eye open in a car on the street, thanks to dear old dad.

  “I need a good-night kiss, Daddy.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” He straightened away from the doorway and traded places with Grace. “Isn’t it lucky that I have a good-night kiss to spare?”

  She held out her little arms to him, and he sat on the edge of the bed to lean over and hug her. “I love you, baby girl.”

  “I love you, too, Daddy. It was so much fun playing tea party with you today.”

  He’d felt like a fish out of water. Nothing about his childhood had prepared him to play make-believe. H
e’d been too busy living in the real world, where survival meant knowing what was really going on around you.

  “I’m sure Paige and Emily are better at playing than me.”

  “No.” Cassie shook her head. “Because they’re not boys. There’s no one to play the prince.”

  “Glad to help.”

  “You are a really good Prince Adam,” she told him.

  At five, her standards weren’t very high, but he liked being her hero. Still, that would last only until the next time he screwed up. It was inevitable, no matter what Grace had said about showing up being enough.

  “Can you play with me again tomorrow?”

  “I can’t, honey.” Who knew the screwup opportunity would present itself so soon? She was too little to understand that there were things that needed to get done on a ranch as big as his. “I had to put off some chores so that I could play today. That means I have to work a little longer tomorrow. I have to take care of the horses.”

  “I know you’re busy, Daddy. But since you have to do stuff with the horses tomorrow, maybe you could teach me to ride.”

  Logan heard a sound from Grace, who was still standing in the doorway, and knew she was trying not to laugh. It was obvious even to him that he’d walked right into that one.

  “It’s getting late, Cassie.” Grace’s voice was firm but gentle. “Time to turn out the light.”

  “But what about riding?” the little girl protested.

  Logan sighed. “We’ll talk about it.”

  “That’s what you always say,” she grumbled. “But we never do.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Sleep tight, you.”

  “Night, Daddy. Night, Grace.”

  “Good night, sweetie. See you in the morning.”

  Logan turned off the bedside lamp. “Sweet dreams, Princess.”

  He backed out of the room and pulled the door halfway closed, then followed Grace downstairs. Watching the feminine sway of her hips made him wonder if that might just be the finest-looking rear view he’d ever seen. Nice butt. And those snug, worn jeans hugged her hips and legs, outlining them to perfection.

  It had been a week since the wedding, and therefore a week since making love to her. He’d thought staying away as much as possible would make him want her less, but he’d been wrong. It seemed to get worse whether he saw her or not. Maybe the not-having-her wouldn’t be so bad if he hadn’t slipped up that one time. Her taking responsibility didn’t really alleviate his guilt. She was still his employee and he should have stopped. That was his bad.