“Do I need to give you the lecture about her being like a sister to me and what she went through raising Cooper on her own and the toll her mom’s illness has taken and if you hurt her I’ll—”
“Back ’er down,” Owen interrupted, lifting a hand. “If you remember, Jenny was riding the horse that left the barn and trampled me to the ground on its way out.”
Ty lifted a brow. “You’re different now.”
Not really, Owen thought. He was still a sucker for a certain brash, beautiful redhead. But he didn’t admit it out loud.
As much as he still wanted Jenny, he told himself his heart wasn’t in danger any longer because he’d locked it up tight. He had no plans to ever expose his soft underbelly to a woman again, because love and need were nothing more than an outward display of his inner weakness. If he’d learned one thing from his father, it was that weakness meant pain.
“Jenny can take care of herself,” he answered.
A muscle ticked in Ty’s jaw. “That’s what she wants everyone to think.”
Owen put his beer on the table and turned fully to Ty. “I’m not going to hurt her.” Even if he wanted to, he didn’t think he had it in him to purposely hurt Jenny. Too bad she had no such qualms when it came to him.
Ty studied him a moment longer, then nodded. “That wasn’t actually the reason I asked you to meet me here.”
Owen sighed. “I figured as much.”
“There are rumblings around the foundation office,” Ty told him, “about the financial state of Dalton Enterprises.”
“Did you show them our first-quarter earnings?” Owen asked, picking up his beer bottle and wishing it was a shot glass.
“So things are good with the company?”
A simple yes would have sufficed, but Ty was a friend. Owen wouldn’t lie to a friend. “They’re stable. We’ve got a couple of new projects that aren’t getting off the ground as quickly as I’d hoped.”
“Is one of them the Labyrinth Web technology you’re developing for the military?”
Owen bit off a harsh laugh. “I thought the foundation was supposed to concern itself with spending my money, not worrying about how I make it.”
“You built the company on networks that can be used in communities. Owen Dalton brings people together.”
“Are you saying the men and women who fight for our country aren’t worthy of my time?”
“Hell, no,” Ty clarified, tipping back his beer. “But from the little I understand, military technology is a whole different beast than bringing another device to market or improving the way mesh networks function. There are plenty of companies that do it well. I’m wondering why you’re risking so much to make yours one of them.”
Shit. A sinking feeling gripped Owen’s chest. If enough details had leaked to the foundation about the risks he was taking, then the whole company must know. He’d already fielded calls from two members of his board of directors about the funds he was funneling toward the Labyrinth Web project.
On the surface it made sense. The Internet was based on a few centralized access points or Internet service providers, which left it weak and ripe for disruptions. Sometimes those came in the form of natural disasters or deliberate attempts to shut it down.
Mesh networks, which Dalton Enterprises had championed and refined for individuals and communities, wirelessly connected devices without the need to pass through a centralized organization. This gave the mesh infrastructure far more flexibility and strength than a regular Internet connection. However, the mesh network initiatives were difficult to translate effectively during a combat situation. They were simply too limited, and the security challenges presented a huge obstacle.
Owen had conceived his Labyrinth Web after Jack’s marine fire team lost communications during an attack. Jack had made it out, but his fire team lost two marines. The Labyrinth Web would be unbreakable while still retaining the speed and flexibility of mesh networking.
But it was easier said than done. Owen needed a breakthrough on the technology so that he could quiet his critics. “My family has a long history of military service,” he said as an explanation. “The Labyrinth Web is a way that I can give back to my country. I understand it isn’t the same as fighting on the front lines but—”
“I’m not doubting your patriotism,” Ty told him. “You give back plenty. I should know since it’s my job to spend your money. Between the wing at the hospital, the acres of forest you’re preserving through the land trust, and all the other community projects you support with foundation funds, you don’t have anything to prove.”
The words ricocheted through Owen’s brain, and he only wished he could believe they were true. He still had plenty to prove. Whether or not he admitted it out loud, the goal behind everything he did was an attempt to demonstrate that he deserved his father’s approval. He would have liked to think he’d outgrown his foolish need for validation. Hell, he could practically afford to buy his hometown in its entirety. But it wasn’t enough.
The technology he was working on could change the way military forces stayed connected during heated battles. It had the potential to revolutionize military communication. No one could deny his success then. Not his former-marine father or his active-duty brother.
“I’ll get the Labyrinth Web working, and then the board and shareholders will understand the risks I took were worth it.”
Ty set down his beer. “Are you working so hard to prove something to the shareholders, or to your dad? I’ve been down that road, Owen. It leads to nowhere.”
“My situation and yours aren’t the same.” Owen ran a hand through his hair. In the Dalton family, the fault was squarely on Owen’s shoulders for simply being born outside the mold of what his father valued. “Can we boil this conversation down to ‘don’t screw up Jenny’s life and don’t screw up your own life’?”
Ty inclined his head. “That about sums it up.”
“Then we can move on to the ‘drink a beer and enjoy the game’ portion of the evening?”
“I believe it’s past time for that,” Ty agreed with a grin.
They stayed at the bar for one more drink, then Ty headed home to Kendall, and Owen started toward his loft in the LoDo district downtown. It was a perfect early summer night in Colorado, the air beginning to cool and the sun starting to make its way behind the mountain range to the west of the city.
Owen loved the mix of the urban vibe and Wild West sensibility that made Denver unique. His neighborhood would be alive with hip millennials and city dwellers catching dinner or a drink after work. As if on cue, his cell phone chirped, and he read a text from a woman he’d gone on a few casual dates with in the past month, asking if he wanted to meet at the bar around the corner from his building.
Since his disastrous attempt at a relationship with Jenny, he’d had a series of short-term girlfriends. One of them had been a personal stylist at a high-end department store in nearby Cherry Creek, and he had her to thank for the revamping of his wardrobe. He didn’t want to be the nice, goofy tech genius any longer. That guy was a pushover.
The fact was he cared little about what he wore or how someone cut his hair, so it was easy to change his style and become the type of man to crack the list of Forbes’s most-eligible bachelors.
But none of it truly mattered to him, and without allowing himself time to second-guess the decision, he returned the text, saying he had plans, and turned his Toyota 4Runner onto the northbound ramp of the interstate.
Fifteen minutes later he pulled down the gravel driveway that led to Jenny’s property. Last Saturday night, he’d been unable to concentrate on anything but the ring in his pocket. Now he took a moment to study the land she’d purchased to create her dream nursery and garden center.
He knew she had five acres, which was fairly unheard of so close to the city. He guessed the reason she’d been able to afford it was because the house needed some work. A lot of work, now that he saw it in the waning daylight.
The yard in front was tidy, and there were big clay pots on each of the porch steps filled with bright flowers, trailing vines, and a host of other plants he couldn’t identify. From working with her on the landscape design for his office, Owen knew Jenny had an encyclopedia-like knowledge of plant and flower varieties and a great eye for how to place them.
Gray wood siding, which at one point had probably been bright white, covered the house, and the roof had been patched in several places. He tipped his head as he gazed through the SUV’s windshield, trying to figure out if the front porch sloped slightly, or if he’d parked the truck on a hill that messed with his perception.
Looking past the outward appearance, he could almost see Jenny’s vision without her even having to share it. Maybe it should disturb him that he so completely understood the way her mind worked, but he smiled as he thought of how perfectly the space would fit her when it was done.
A figure came around the side of the house and headed straight for his car. It had been close to two years since Owen had seen Jenny’s son, and it looked like Cooper had grown at least four inches in that time. He was all elbows and gangly legs, his hair overlong and hanging in his eyes. It made Owen’s chest tighten to realize that the boy was quickly growing into a young man and Owen wouldn’t have the opportunity to watch it happen.
“Hey, Coop,” he said, climbing out and shutting the door.
“Hi, Owen.” The boy held out his hands to reveal a jumble of plastic. “Do you know anything about remote control planes? Mine slammed into a tree and the wing broke.”
“A little,” Owen answered, marveling at the fact that Cooper could pick up their relationship right where it had left off during the time Owen and Jenny dated. “We’ll need packing tape, popsicle sticks, pliers, and an X-Acto knife.”
The boy definitely had an interest in engineering and figuring out how things worked, much like Owen had as a kid. In addition to missing Jenny, not seeing Cooper had left an empty place in Owen’s life. He could act the part of the eligible tech bachelor, but in his heart he would have preferred to remain a boring homebody.
“I’ve got all that in the workshop at the back of Mom’s barn,” Cooper said, and led him across the gravel driveway toward the faded red barn that sat on the edge of a fenced field.
“Are you sure it’s okay for us to be in there?” Owen asked doubtfully.
Cooper laughed. “It’s fine. Mom got a barn cat to take care of the mice.”
Owen didn’t have a problem with mice, but he wasn’t real interested in Jenny biting his head off for inserting himself back into her life. Still, he followed the boy, thinking about what it would take to mend the broken wing as they walked. “What’s new with you?”
Cooper shrugged. “Mom’s making me do one of those stupid summer workbooks to make sure I’m ready for seventh grade.”
“Bummer, but I bet you’ll thank her later.”
The boy rolled his eyes. “I’ve been doing chores to save up for the expansion pack for my Magik of Myth game.”
“It released last week, right? I heard it has the latest virtual reality and cloud gaming technologies.”
Cooper glanced up at him, a small smile playing around the corner of his mouth. “It’s kind of weird that you’re an adult and you like video games.”
“Do you mind weird?”
“Nah.” The barn’s wide-plank wood door creaked as Cooper pulled it open. A rich, loamy scent greeted him and he could almost feel how much plant life was growing inside the barn’s walls. “Did you come over to take back Mom’s ginormous diamond?” Cooper asked.
“Um . . .” How much had Jenny told her son? “Not quite yet.”
Cooper paused in the act of laying out the pieces of the broken airplane on the counter above the built-in cabinets along one side of the barn. “I bet a ring like that could pay for a better barn,” he said casually.
Owen hid his smile. He’d forgotten about Cooper’s mercenary streak. Maybe it was a result of growing up with a single mom, but the boy had an almost unnatural fixation with figuring out ways he could make a windfall to benefit his mother.
When Owen and Jenny had dated, Cooper had shared his list of potential inventions with Owen and how much he thought he could get in investment dollars on a show like Shark Tank. At that point, Cooper had seemed certain that Mark Cuban was the financial answer to his prayers.
Apparently, he’d gotten more realistic in his goals.
“My friend Aidan’s sister got engaged at Christmas,” Cooper continued, handing Owen the items he’d asked for.
Owen began to repair the plane. “When’s the wedding?” he asked.
“She decided not to get married,” Cooper answered, “but her fiancé let her keep the ring. She said that’s what’s supposed to happen. I guess this was her second engagement, so now she has two rings.”
“Maybe she wants a diamond bracelet,” Owen suggested, trying not to laugh.
“Maybe she should just buy one for herself,” a voice called from the barn door.
He turned to see Jenny stalking toward them, and judging by the look on her face, she wasn’t happy to see him.
“You’re in trouble,” Cooper whispered.
“What did I do?”
“I don’t know,” the boy said, “but it would probably help if you let her keep the ring.”
Jenny tried to keep the lid on her temper as she pointed a finger at her son. “We talked about the ring,” she said, making her voice level. “Owen did me a favor, but the engagement wasn’t real.”
Cooper’s chin tipped up, and she hated to admit how much of herself she saw in the stubborn set of his jaw. “He said he didn’t come here for the ring.”
She counted to ten in her head. “Dinner is ready. Go wash your hands.”
“Owen is helping me fix the plane.”
“Listen to your mother,” Owen said calmly, placing a hand on Cooper’s shoulder. The gesture was so innately paternal, it made her breath hitch. “We’ll have time for the plane later.”
Cooper turned to look up at him. “Promise?”
She saw Owen’s shoulders stiffen, but he kept his eyes on Cooper. “I promise.”
All the air whooshed out of her lungs, but she managed a smile as Cooper moved past her.
As soon as he was out of the barn, she surged toward Owen, jabbing a finger into his chest. “You can’t do that. Don’t make promises to my son that you can’t keep.”
He wrapped his hand around her finger. “I can help him fix the plane, Jenny. It’s not a big deal.”
“Promises,” she hissed, “are a big deal.” She tugged at her hand, but he didn’t let go.
“I know,” he told her gently. “I know.”
That was why Owen Dalton was so dangerous to her. He understood her better than anyone other than her mother. And probably even more than Mona since Alzheimer’s had taken a hold on her mind.
She couldn’t stop her reaction to Owen any more than the earth could stop turning on its axis. The more she tried to fortify her defenses, the more easily he seemed to maneuver past them.
He lowered their hands and slowly released hers. “I’m surprised he knew about the ring,” he said.
“I was afraid he’d hear about it through the grapevine.”
“It moves especially fast in the age of social media,” he said, turning to place the screwdriver on the workbench again. “My sister called to talk engagements even before we’d gone to the reunion.”
“Is that why you made the joke about me attending your brother’s wedding?”
Owen took a moment to survey the barn’s interior before answering. He wore another fitted collared shirt, and she guessed he’d taken off his tie on the way over. A hint of stubble darkened his jaw, making him look a bit like a pirate. Where had that somewhat awkward geek she’d first dated gone? She could handle that guy. But this Owen . . .
Oh, who was she kidding? She could never handle Owen. The nerdy tech mogul might not have appe
aled to everyone, but she’d loved his innate gentleness and the way he’d made her feel like she was the most important thing in his life.
But believing she was important, much like trusting in promises, was a path that led into the deep, dark forest of heartbreak for Jenny. She’d learned the hard way not to trust anyone, especially herself.
“It wasn’t a joke.” Owen’s voice was so soft in the quiet of the old barn that she almost didn’t register the words.
Almost.
“I’m not going to your brother’s wedding,” she said, and turned away.
Before she’d taken two steps, he spoke again. “You said ‘anything,’ Jenny. One might even call it a promise.”
Damn him for using her words against her. Damn herself for being foolish enough to have said them in the first place.
Instead of answering, she called over her shoulder. “We’re having spaghetti tonight. You can stay or not, but I need a glass of wine before I can have this conversation.”
He was at her side as she reached the barn door, holding it open like the gentleman he was to his core.
“Thanks for the invitation.”
She sniffed. “After dinner I expect you to fix that airplane.”
Without actually touching her, he leaned so close she could feel his breath against her hair. It sent shivers of awareness running down her spine.
“After dinner,” he murmured, “we’ll discuss the wedding and I’ll fix the plane.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Mom, we fixed it.” Cooper burst through the back door an hour later, excitement lighting his sweet face. “Owen helped me smooth the lines to give the plane less drag. It flies so fast now. You’ve got to come and see.”
Jenny dropped her checkbook to the kitchen table and stood. “I can’t wait,” she said, and with a last glance at the pile of bills she didn’t have the money to pay, she followed him into the backyard.
Cooper skipped over the stair with the loose board on the back steps, and she did the same. It hadn’t been her plan to be forced to delay fixing up the house and instead spend every bit of extra time and energy she had to make her dream of opening the garden center a reality. She thought she’d been smart, saving enough over the years to buy a property that would fit her vision for a neighborhood nursery.
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