by Rita Herron
“Alcoholism,” she said, raising her face to gauge his reaction. “She pretty much smoked and drank herself to death.”
Ty gritted his teeth. No wonder she hadn’t had a happy life. “And you wound up taking care of her, right?”
She shrugged again. “She loved me, Ty, don’t get me wrong.”
“But she wasn’t much of a mother.” It wasn’t really a question, but a statement. Jessica didn’t bother to reply.
She stared into her cup, stirred and drank another sip, a faraway look in her eyes. Ty wanted to reach out and hold her, take away that lingering sadness. But he couldn’t start something that could never be. “I’m so sorry, Jessica.
She pasted on a smile. “I’m fine, Ty. I love my work, my house, my cat, my life. Now, it’s your turn. Tell me your dark secrets?”
Dex stiffened. Here she’d bared her soul, told him things she rarely shared with anyone, and he looked nervous.
What could Dex Montgomery have to hide?
He’d grown up with money, education, connections. Did he have some sordid affairs he didn’t want revealed? An ex-wife lurking in the past?
“I don’t really have any secrets,” Dex said. “You know about my family?”
“I know you live with your grandparents. What happened to your parents?”
She instantly regretted the question. The anguish in Dex’s eyes was so genuine, she reached out and squeezed his hand this time.
“They died when I was three months old. I don’t even remember them.”
“Have your grandparents told you about them?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Not a lot. There are pictures of my dad, of course, but they didn’t approve of his marriage to my mother, so they’ve never talked about her.”
“Oh, that’s awful. Why didn’t they approve of her?” Jessica asked softly.
He sighed, linked his fingers with hers, stared at their fingers. “She was a country girl, came from Montana. A rancher’s daughter.”
“That is a surprise.” Jessica raised an eyebrow. “Do you know how they met?”
“No, just that they fell in love and married against the family’s wishes.”
“How romantic,” Jessica said, wishing she could find true love like that. “But how tragic that they died and lost you.”
That muscle ticked again. He downed the rest of his coffee. “Yes. Well, that’s enough of that.”
“I’m sorry if I upset you, Dex.”
He shook his head, gathering his iron control. “It was a long time ago. Sometimes we have to put the past behind us, don’t we?”
Jessica nodded. But obviously it came back to haunt Dex occasionally. Just as her past haunted her.
Chapter Eleven
When Ty arrived home, he couldn’t shake the conversation with Jessica. He’d told her they had to let the past go—but how could he do that when he didn’t understand it? When it had affected him and Dex so, when it would affect their futures?
He found his grandfather in his study, sitting in his tall leather chair, holding his pipe, gazing out the floor-length window. He paused in the doorway and studied the older man’s profile, recognizing the angular lines of his father’s face in Grandfather Montgomery’s chin and jaw. Had his dad and grandfather argued over Ty’s mother? Was that the reason the Montgomerys had no pictures of his parents together? Had the Montgomerys signed Ty away the same way they did a business deal?
Had they thought about him at all the past thirty-two years?
“Dex?”
He jerked, realizing he’d been so troubled he hadn’t noticed his grandfather turn in the chair.
“Did you need something, son?”
Yes, some answers. “I just came by to talk.”
His grandfather’s eyebrows rose in question. Ty bit his cheek to keep from revealing his thoughts. Instead, he inched inside the room. Dark paneling molded the walls from floor to ceiling, and the built-in shelves behind his grandfather held medical books and journals as well as books relating to business. But it was the pictures on the right side of his grandfather’s desk that drew Ty’s eye.
“Good God, son, what happened to you?”
Ty rubbed the knot on his head. “I was distracted, and a racquetball nailed me.”
His grandfather stroked the long stem of the pipe. “You’ve seemed distracted since you returned from Chicago. Things didn’t go as you planned?”
That was an understatement. “No, not quite like I’d thought. But I’m still hoping things will work out.”
Ty indicated the photo of his father. “Dad’s graduation day?”
Grandfather Montgomery’s stern expression transformed into the first smile he’d seen on the man. “Yes, it was a proud day for all of us.”
“He practiced here in Atlanta?” Ty asked, hungry for details about his father.
His grandfather nodded. “For a while. Your dad needed the medical background to run the company. I tried to get him to quit and return to his rightful position as chairman of the board. He refused.” His grandfather’s fingers worked the pipe. “Such a waste. Your father was a born leader. Intelligent, well-spoken, a real charmer, too, especially with the ladies.” He leveled a look at Ty that spoke of sadness and love. “You’re a lot like him, Dex.”
Ty’s throat closed. Maybe Dex was, but what about him—Ty Cooper, the other son?
God, how he wanted to ask.
“He was happy in practice?”
His grandfather nodded curtly, crossing one suit-clad leg over the other. “He claimed he was, but he lost sight of the Montgomery dream for a while.”
“Because he had dreams of his own,” Ty supplied.
“Because he was young and foolish, and he let a woman lead him astray.”
Ty clenched his jaw. “You mean my mother?”
A hardness settled in his grandfather’s eyes. “You have to understand, son. Your father was the namesake of the Montgomerys. He should have been loyal to his family
“Maybe he needed something other than money and a big house.”
Anger tightened his grandfather’s jaw. “I only wanted what was best for him and the Montgomery family. And there were so many people, so many vultures ready to take whatever we had. They’re still out there and you damn well know it.” His grandfather stood and paced to the window. Ty saw him looking at a magnolia tree and wondered if it had any significance. “My father lost everything his father had built to a woman. I had to rebuild it all. And I swore my family would never do without the way we did when I was a child.” He pounded his fist into his other hand for emphasis. “I built the Montgomery empire from scratch and it was your father’s turn to step in and take over.”
“Only he married my mother, and he wanted to practice medicine instead of running the business.”
The fading afternoon sunlight dappled soft rays over his grandfather’s age-spotted skin, highlighting the tightness of his jaw. “I loved Charles, Jr. more than anything. I couldn’t stand to lose him, but he chose to leave us behind instead of making sure that our family legacy continued.”
Ty understood about family legacies. Could he give up his family, the ranch, for a woman the way his father had given up what he had?
He didn’t think so. He’d die without his land.
“But he loved my mother,” Ty said, for the first time realizing the depth of that love. And he wanted his legacy with his own sons. So did Ty. Back at the Circle C.
“That marriage was a mistake. The Coopers wanted money from us the minute we met them.” A vein bulged in his pale forehead. “We had to move here to Atlanta just to escape from them. I swear they probably convinced your mother to trick your father into marriage to get revenge on us.”
Ty clenched his hands by his side, ready to defend his mother. “What makes you say that?”
“I never wanted to tell you all this,” his grandfather said, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “I know you want to think better of your own mother.”
Ty knew better of her.
She had to have loved his father. He and Dex had not been a product of some scheme of revenge born of the Coopers. He wouldn’t allow himself to even think that. But neither could he argue their case right now. “I want to know the truth,” he said instead.
“All right,” his grandfather said reluctantly. “We lived in Rolling Bend, Montana, years ago. Your father and mother knew each other as kids.”
“They did?”
“Yes, they were childhood friends.” Charles Montgomery paused, inhaling the bowl of the pipe and settling the stem against his cheek. Ty realized he was smelling the remnants of tobacco and, for the first time in ages, longed for a cigarette himself. “You see, we ran the bank there in Rolling Bend, but the Coopers fell on hard times. We extended their loans as long as possible, but they wanted more and more. You know how people are.”
Ty listened, thinking how proud the Coopers were, how difficult it must have been for them to beg for loan after loan.
“Finally I had to turn them down.”
Ty guessed the rest. “They almost lost the ranch?”
“And blamed us.” His grandfather frowned. “But I couldn’t continue giving them money or we would have had to shut down.” He paused, rubbing his pipe more vigorously. “We never saw eye to eye after that. Finally, we moved here to Atlanta and founded the medical conglomerate.”
Ty’s throat felt thick. “Did my mother and father remain friends?”
“No, they lost touch for a while.” He cradled the pipe in his palm. “But somehow they met up again. I think your mother came after Charles with the sole intent of convincing him to marry her so she could take him away from us.”
Ty flinched. He couldn’t believe that about his own mother or any of the Coopers. But his grandfather obviously did. And he’d done what he had to to protect his family.
“Maybe Dad decided that some things were more important than money,” Ty finally said.
“You wouldn’t say that if you’d grown up like I had,” Grandfather Montgomery’s voice rang strong. “And you don’t seem to mind the pleasures it’s given you over the years.” His grandfather leaned back into his chair again, his face drawn. “You’ve done well for us, son. I’m proud of you. I know your father would be, too.”
Ty stared at the tears in his grandfather’s eyes and his chest constricted. Maybe his father would be proud of what Ty was doing with the family money. But he wouldn’t be proud of the fact that his grandfather still blamed Ty’s mother for taking him away. And he wouldn’t like the fact that the boys had been separated. He knew that in his gut.
Ty had to figure out how to prove the Coopers’ innocence to Grandfather Montgomery though. And he also had a promise to keep to Jessica.
“Grandfather, I spoke with Jessica Stovall today. We’re going ahead with the plans for the children’s wing.”
A long tense silence followed. “Bridget approved a budget?”
“No, not yet.” Ty told him about the two accounts he’d found that they might be able to tap into.
“They’re for emergencies, I imagine. But check with Bridget.”
“I intend to.” Exhausted, Ty rose, determined to study some more paperwork before dinner. Somehow, he would prove things to his grandfather.
“We are limited,” his grandfather said. “You know that, Dex. We already have our projected figures for charities for the year. Don’t lose your edge and screw up our profits.”
Anger swelled inside Ty. His grandfather was resorting back to his tyrannical attitude—money first.
Ty paused. “I promised Jessica this thing would fly and I intend to make it work. I’m also organizing a backyard barbecue as a fund-raiser. We’ll have food and pony rides—”
“Jesus, Dex, what’s gotten into you? The next I know you’ll be having a barn dance.”
Ty grinned. “That’s a good idea, Grandfather. We’ll add a barn dance as the grand finale for the evening.”
“I—”
Ty held up a hand to stop his grandfather. “Like you said, Grandfather, I’m a lot like my father. And I think he would be proud of this idea.”
Ignoring his grandfather’s scathing look, Ty strode from the room, leaving his grandfather alone with his announcement and his memories of days gone by. Memories of the Coopers as vengeful people who’d stolen his son.
Now, he understood his grandfather’s reasoning when he’d divided the boys. He’d probably decided having one boy was better than none. But why had they kept the boys from knowing about each other? From seeing each other?
Ty had to find some way to prove his grandfather had been wrong about the Coopers. And that Ty and Dex’s mother had not been the sneaky villain Grandfather Montgomery believed her to be.
And when he accomplished that impossible feat, he still had to figure out a way to bring the two families together.
Chapter Twelve
Once the idea of adopting Ashley took up residence in Jessica’s mind, she couldn’t evict it. Besides, occupying her thoughts and time with research into the proceedings had kept her too busy to dwell on the change in Dex Montgomery this past week and a half.
And the fact that she’d fantasized about making love to him last night.
Not only had Dex metamorphosed into a different person, but so had she—she’d lost her mind to her raging hormones. And if she didn’t fight back, she would lose her heart as well.
She settled beneath a tree on the edge of the hospital property to sip some lemonade, and watched Dex lead the crew in finishing the playground. She’d never imagined Dex had even held a hammer, let alone was able to use one deftly and orchestrate the work crew.
The plans for the barbecue had evolved more quickly than she could have dreamed, too. When Dex Montgomery stepped up to take charge of something, he tossed the ball into play and kept it rolling. No wonder he had such a fine reputation as a businessman. When he made a deal, he followed through.
Unlike Jack, who had promised to love, honor and cherish her for better or worse, then had run when things got bad.
This morning, the kick-off event had begun with group efforts to build the therapeutic playground. Tomorrow the barbecue would end the weekend with a celebration of their accomplishments and the dedication of the funds. She couldn’t believe the Montgomerys had agreed and had pulled it together so quickly.
Of course, money always talked.
That money separated her from Dex.
Her thoughts strayed to Ashley again as Jessica thought about the little girl’s impending surgery, and her hopes for adop
So far, Jessica had spoken to the social worker in charge of Ashley’s case, and she’d tried to push Ashley’s aunt into making some kind of commitment, one way or the other. The woman still hadn’t visited the little girl, and Jessica sympathized. The aunt had been struggling with other family problems for months.
That was the very reason Jessica had offered a sweet deal; the couple could have visitation rights and remain a part of Ashley’s life if they chose. Jessica had no intentions of replacing Ashley’s birth mother and father or blood family, and she promised to keep the memories of Ashley’s parents alive, but she could fill the role of a loving mother and offer Ashley a good, stable life.
Now, all she had to do was wait.
Wait and not get her hopes up too high.
She told herself she wouldn’t, because even if the aunt took the child, Jessica could still visit.
Dex was a different story. They had no future together, so she needed to keep him at a distance. And that had proven harder every day during the past week and a half.
He bent to retrieve a board and her gaze strayed to his backside. A pair of well-worn denim jeans hugged his muscular frame—she had had no idea Dex even owned a pair—and a T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, rippling muscles bulging as he lifted and worked with the wood. She fanned her face, burning up in spite of the pleasant spring weather. A drop of perspiration trickled down Dex’s cheek and he brushed it away with t
he back of his muscled arm. Jessica squirmed, a warmth stealing through her. She couldn’t believe she was getting turned on watching the man doing manual work and sweating.
“He sure is a fine hunk of man,” Tina, one of the nurses said with a gleam in her eye. “I don’t know what’s keeping you from jumping his bones, Dr. Jesse.”
Jessica laughed. “I don’t want to be another number in his black book, Tina.”
Tina clucked her teeth, settling chubby arms over her pregnant belly. “Honey, I know Dex Montgomery used to be a lady’s man, but he’s been different lately.”
Jessica couldn’t argue with that.
“Maybe you should give him a chance. Life is too short to shut everyone out forever.” She patted her belly. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Reminds me of the way my Toby looked at me when we first met.”
Jessica bit down on her lip. Of course, he did look at her with lust in his eyes. But something more? No, Dex would only want a fling with her.
Wouldn’t he?
TY WAS SO damn hot he needed a bathtub full of ice cubes to sit in to squelch his fever. The fever that had nothing to do with the temperature, and everything to do with the fact that Jessica was staring at him with a hungry look that made him hard and achy. Of course, he hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her earlier when she’d jumped in to help with the building of the playground. She might be an educated doctor, but she was the least pretentious one he’d ever met.
Why could’t he focus on the differences between the two of them instead of such similarities as the fact that they both liked kids and enjoyed helping others?
God, she looked damn enticing in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He could almost picture her on the Circle C, saddling up one of his geldings….
No. He couldn’t.
Guilt pressed heavily into him. She thought he was Dex. Meaning she liked Dex Montgomery, entrepreneur, not Ty the rancher. For all he knew, she might hate horses.
Her gaze raked over his chest and down to his arms, and he clenched his jaw, slamming the hammer against the nail, forcing himself not to be too obvious. After all, the woman had avoided him for the last week and a half. It was probably for the best.