Carly and Lila hugged and chatted about a new purse, and Duke still couldn’t take his eyes off her. His mind rambled to their earlier conversation and how she’d accused him of self-pity. Damn, she was right. He was a horse’s ass. He’d gotten good at keeping people at arm’s length. He’d had years of practice.
“Let’s go take a run on the ranch.” Chance interrupted Duke’s thoughts. “I’ll grab the cart. No walking required.” Duke hesitated. He hadn’t been out on the land yet. He guessed this was as a good a time as any to explore his new home. “We’ll be back ladies,” Chance said.
“Take your time. We have lots of girl chat to catch up on.” Carly blew Chance a kiss.
Ten minutes later, with Chance driving, they cruised along the edge of the peach orchard. “Looks like Carly’s peach grove is doing well,” Duke said as he glanced over the waves of trees.
“We’ve hired staff to take care of the daily ins and outs. Carly’s busy with Chancy and with the new baby on the way we’ll both be busier. I try to take as much time away from the Swift Wind as possible.”
Duke scrubbed his jaw. “Chance, I can’t thank you and Carly enough for all you’ve done for me.”
Chance shrugged. “We haven’t done much. Nothing more than you’d do for us.”
“To save the homestead for someone who may never come back from a coma is a lot, whether you realize it or not. You could have sold this place for three times what I bought it for.” Duke knew Chance was a proud man and had only a sliver of sentiment, but to Duke it was obvious his friend had softened some. Apparently, fatherhood took its toll in a good way. “I just wanted to say how grateful I am.”
Chance cleared his throat and stared into the distance. “That day you weren’t supposed to be at Swift Wind. I should have been the one in the barn when that bastard Kincaid took his revenge.” Duke heard Chance catch his breath, as if the words were hard to form. “I’d still like a chance to meet that son-of-a-bitch again.”
“It is what it is, Chance. No one’s fault but that demented asshole. If I thought tearing him from limb to limb could get back my life, I’d have already paid the loser a visit. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.” Duke needed to move forward, just as Lila had said. To do that, he had to let go of the anger.
“Your life is far from over, pal. You lost eighteen months, not forever. Here is your life, waiting for you.” Chance swung the cart toward an outer barn.
“Wish it were that simple, partner. I feel like a whole lot of people are bound to me by a whole lot of guilt. I don’t like to be at the end of pity’s stick.”
Chance shook his head. “Don’t be a fool like I was. My arrogance almost stole the best thing in my life. I can only say, some things are worth fighting for. Lila was your biggest supporter through the coma. Hell, you two have a daughter and that’s enough to change any bastard’s running fever. Damn pride will screw you out of a fortune if you’re not careful.”
Chance’s words stayed with Duke as they explored the McAllister. He felt a new eagerness to get out on the ranch and start doing business. He still couldn’t believe the place was his. His life wasn’t perfect, but he did have a purpose, he had to set his priorities. As he grew stronger, he knew it was time to take his spot at the helm of his land. He had friends counting on him. And a child.
His heart swelled with pride. For his little girl he’d do anything, and that meant getting to know her.
****
Lila stopped stirring the sauce on the stove to watch her friend take down the expensive bone china from the glass hutch.
“By the way, I’m so glad I gave you this dinnerware,” Carly said as she ran her finger along one plate.” I refuse to touch any of Chance’s mother’s old kitchenware. I’ll break every last piece. He tells me it’s a waste for her crystal and antique glass to sit in a hutch, but he’d change his tune when dish after dish disappeared because of my clumsiness, especially during pregnancy. I’d love to hand her collection down to our children one day.” She palmed her rounded stomach. Lila smiled at the tenderness.
“You left a lot of items here when you moved,” Lila said as she went back to the pan and stirred. “Are you sure you don’t want anything back? For instance, you didn’t take any of your father’s furniture from his office.”
“I took what I wanted—pictures and his cigar box. The memory of my father doesn’t live in material things. I hold everything I need right here.” Carly lifted her hand against her heart. “Besides, we have all we need at the Swift Wind. In fact, I still have plans for remodeling and since Chance has given me free reign of the house, I’m taking advantage. Unfortunately, I had to hire a decorator to finish painting and decorating the baby’s room. I’m afraid it became overwhelming and I didn’t need the added stress.”
“You push yourself too hard,” Lila said with a click of her tongue.
Carly took a seat on one of the cushioned chairs at the bar. “Sometimes I feel I don’t do enough. Chance works so hard on the ranch. I think he misses how smooth things ran when Duke was the supervisor.”
Lila sighed. “I wish Duke would get a fire lit under his ass and get out on the ranch again. You know how he is. If he doesn’t keep busy he feels useless.”
“I’m sure he will in time. Are things any better today between the two of you?” Carly asked. “I did notice that he couldn’t keep his eyes off of you.”
“Hm.” Lila looked across the kitchen at Carly and shook her head. “There is no peaceful ground with a bullheaded man like Duke. He’s stuck on lost time and scars.” The timer beeped. Lila laid the spoon down and grabbed a mitt. She took out the berry pie from the oven. The sweet aroma made her stomach growl and she realized she hadn’t eaten a good meal in a while. Since Duke had come home, her nerves were raw and her hunger was lost.
“You learned long ago, Duke has enough attitude for a dozen men. Somehow, you managed to break through his wall and find the man you fell in love with, twice. Is it so different now? After all, you’ve had eighteen months to deal with the tragedy of the fire. He’s just finding his way through.”
Lila set the pie on the rack and tossed the mitt down onto the counter. “Carly, don’t you
think I understand how hard this must be for him? He looks in the mirror and sees wounds. I look at him and see survival. There is nothing worse than a man who has too much pride, but add self-pity and it’s complete hell.”
“Not too long ago I said the same thing about Chance. Remember?” Carly slid off the bar stool and checked on Chancelor who played on the floor with a toy truck. “I had to fall down a flight of stairs and get amnesia before I realized what’s important. I could have missed the greatest life possible. Isn’t it funny how fate seems to work itself out, to lead us where we need to be? Duke lived for a reason and I believe your faith pulled him back.”
“I’m not sure if there will be any more opportunities with Duke,” Lila said.
Carly’s mouth crooked. “You don’t mean that.”
“I don’t know if I have what it takes to break through his wall again.” Lila rubbed her tired eyes. “I don’t have the power.”
Carly came and placed her hand on Lila’s shoulder. “It’s not the wall you have to break down, Lila. The wall is already gone. You have to prove to him time has passed but emotions are the same. He’s full of uncertainty and doubt. He is scarred and it’s a reminder of what he feels he has lost. Sometimes pain distorts our thoughts and we need someone to help salve the wound.”
“I’m not that strong.” Lila swiped a tear from her cheek. “I love Duke and always will, but loving him comes with a risk of him running, like he has in the past. Maybe I need proof too, that he wants to stay, no matter what surfaces.”
“You were strong enough to sit at Duke’s bedside every day, hoping and praying. Now he’s here. Wouldn’t you say that’s a miracle? The hard part is over. And I do understand your worries about his flight risk, but only you can decide if it’s all worth it. ”
“Yes. I’m starving. Junior here is kicking me.” Carly patted her stomach.
Later, during dinner, Lila sat at one end of the large mahogany table and every chance she got she stole a glance at Duke who sat on the other side with Ava. He was smiling.
This is a change.
She guessed he was happy to have Carly and Chance visiting. Lila couldn’t help but feel a sliver of jealousy. Duke had barely said two words to her since he’d come back in from his visit on the ranch, yet he’d been Mr. Talkative to everyone else.
Ava seemed quite interested in the bits of carrots and green beans on her highchair tray, and Duke seemed just as interested in the child. Lila could see he was still a bit hesitant when it came to his daughter, but he’d come a long way in such a short period of time. He’d literally become an overnight father.
Was Carly right? It appeared his wall was gone, or at least crumbling.
Lila sat quietly through dinner, listening to the casual conversation. When everyone finished, the Taylors were packing up to leave and Lila pulled Chance to the side, away from Carly’s earshot.
“What’s wrong?” Chance asked.
“Nothing, at least not yet,” Lila kept her voice low. “I’m worried about Carly.”
Chance’s eyes widened. “Has she told you something that I don’t know?”
Lila shook her head. “With all of the trouble she’s had I’m afraid if she doesn’t get enough rest she’s going to get preeclampsia.”
“Preeclampsia?” One brow curved.
“It’s caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy and can be very dangerous because some women don’t even realize they’re sick.”
Chance’s face paled. “Do you think she has it? She goes to the doctor regularly,” he said.
“I don’t think she has it yet, but she needs to relax. The only person who has any control over her is you. You’re going to have to encourage her to stay sedentary until this baby is born.” Lila looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. She could hear Carly and Duke talking in the other room.
“And how the hell do I get her to do that? She’s as stubborn as a mule.” He pushed his Stetson further back on his forehead.
“I don’t know. You’ll think of something I’m sure. But I do have one suggestion.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Hire another housekeeper, at least until Thelma returns. I’m sure that’d take a lot of pressure off Carly.”
Chance hesitated and finally said, “I’d do anything to help Carly. I think you’re right.”
Lila smiled. Never in a million years would she have believed Chance would tell her she was right.
“Are you ready?”
Lila turned around at the sound of Carly’s voice. She had Chancelor in one arm and diaper bag in the other.
Chance moved past Lila and grabbed the baby and the bag. “You shouldn’t be lifting anything, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the lips. “I’ll meet you in the car.”
He was gone and Carly looked at Lila with a questioning gaze. “What did you say to him?” she asked.
“Nothing.” Lila pulled Carly in for a hug. “Get some rest, okay?”
After Carly left, Lila went in search of Duke. He was clearing the table and Ava was sitting patiently in her highchair watching him. Her heart pained with love. When he saw her, she said, “I’m going to take Ava to bed. Why don’t you rest and let me take care of the dishes?”
Duke shook his head. “I’m capable of helping. In fact, why don’t you let me take Ava to bed? That is, if you think she’ll be okay with me taking her.” Did he sense her hesitation?
Lila couldn’t think of any reason why he shouldn’t. It was hard to allow someone to step in after she’d been the only parent for this long, but Duke just wasn’t someone. He was Ava’s father. “You can try.”
“And I’ll take care of the dishes when I’m done with Ava. You go and kick back. You deserve it.” Duke set down the plates and wiped his hands on a napkin. As he looked at Ava, a crooked smile lit his features. “Will you come with me?” He held out his arms for her.
Ava paused, looked up at Lila then back at Duke. “Go with daddy.” Lila said. Blue eyes peered up at her. Lila knew this was the beginning of change. She needed to encourage it. “It’s okay, little one. Daddy will read you a story.”
Lila watched as Duke took Ava. She giggled and her eyes twinkled. She looked so small in his arms and against his broad chest. Lila was fully aware how protective and strong Duke could be. He still emanated power and masculinity.
He walked away, Ava with him. He had a noticeable limp but his strength was coming back. Lila could see the difference. Going out onto the ranch with Chance was exactly what Duke needed—a morale booster.
Duke and Ava disappeared and Lila wiped her tears on a napkin. This was a miracle. But would Duke see it as such?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A WEEK HAD passed since dinner with the Taylors and a lot had changed on the McAllister. Duke had been out working every day. He’d gotten into a routine—out at the break of dawn and in at dark. He’d read Ava a story, take her to bed, then he’d disappear into his bedroom. Dillon had told her yesterday, in jest, that Duke was a slave driver, but she didn’t doubt it was true. Duke had always driven his workers to give one-hundred percent at all times. This was the man she remembered before the accident. Strong, capable and commanding.
She’d walked into the field hoping to speak to Duke, but she stood mesmerized at the view. The afternoon sun beat down on Lila’s bare shoulders but she didn’t care. She watched Duke hammer the broken fence post a few feet away. He’d taken his shirt off and his torso was slick with sweat, tanned and toned. He was breathtakingly handsome.
“You plan to stand there all day staring at me, or you got something to say?”
The sharpness in his tone made Lila jump. She swallowed. Could he see the need in her expression? Inside she burned with desire.
He grabbed his shirt from the rail and pulled it on. Did he do it to hide the scars? She missed the sight of him partially nude. “You didn’t have to get dressed on my account. I’ve seen it all before,” she teased. He looked at her and continued to close several buttons. It was normal that he’d feel self-conscious about the scars on his chest. If she’d been the one with the marks, overcoming her new appearance would take time.
“Are you a peeper now? You hiding in the shadow of that tree makes you look quite suspicious.”
She started to deny his accusation when his laughter stopped her. He was mocking her, although, truthfully, she’d been staring at him for quite some time. In a way, it did make her a peeper. “I came down to ask if you want to have dinner tonight.”
“Are you asking me if I want to eat, or are you asking me if I want to eat with you?” He grabbed water from the cooler, uncapped the bottle and gulped down half of it.
Yeah, he was making this hard on her. She got that. “Dinner with me.” She moved across the grass toward him as a breeze swept through her hair. It felt heavenly.
“Isn’t that against the rules?” He tossed his empty plastic container into the cooler and shut the lid with his foot. He slid his fingers through his thick hair and it made her heart tumble.
“Are you making rules now?” She leaned against the top railing of the fence.
“I’m assuming there are boundaries for a man and woman living under one roof and only have a platonic relationship.”
“I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s platonic. After all, what we shared—”
“I haven’t seen Lucas around in a while.” He swung his arms over the fence and relaxed.
“Are you still jealous over him?”
“Jealous? Hell no.” His gaze h
eld hers. “We’ve already established the fact that you two aren’t an item.”
“If that’s the case, how often are you going to use his name?”
“I’ll admit, I was a jerk when it came to Lucas.”
“An apology is better late than never I suppose.” One shoulder strap slipped down her arm and she didn’t bother pushing it back in place. Bringing her leg up, she adjusted her booted foot on the bottom board. Duke’s gaze skimmed the area where the hem of her skirt lifted on her thigh. She wished he’d touch her, like he had many times before. Probably wasn’t going to happen—at least not here in the open field underneath the sky. If she thought she could seduce him, she’d find a barn to hide behind and let passion take its toll.
“Let me ask, sweetheart, do you think about having sex as much as I do?”
The penetration of his stare was comparable to a laser, making her squirm. Her girly muscles twitched. How could one man hold such power over her libido? “Are you flirting?”
“The other day, in my bedroom, can’t say I minded what we’d shared. However, you leaving
with Lucas afterward sure did put a pain in my gut.”
She swallowed. He was opening up. “I had to give his ring back. It seemed a good time.”
“I bet it drove him crazy when he heard I’d come out of my coma. Then you and I moved in here, together. Did he see his opportunity fade?”
“He has no reason for resentment.” Moisture trickled between her breasts. Where was the breeze when needed?
“The hell he doesn’t. If I were in that man’s shoes I’d be sweating bullets thinking about the woman I love being here with another man—the father of her child.” One corner of his mouth curved upward. He liked this, obviously.
“It doesn’t seem like we live together. You and I barely see each other.” And it bothered her. Why hide that fact?
“You missing me are you?” His brow lifted.
“Yeah, what’s not to miss about a horse’s ass?”
“It’s the sex, I bet.” He laughed. “Sweetheart, I know you. I can gamble on it, just like I can tie a knot in a rope blindfolded. There are some things a man can never forget.” His gaze lowered to her chest. She could have been naked and wouldn’t have felt barer. His eyes swept back up to her face. “A woman’s scent, her taste, the feel of her writhing under his hips. Some memories lodge themselves so deep in a man’s mind that no matter how much he digs they only burrow deeper.”
Second Ride Cowboy (Second Chance Series) Page 8