by Sara Orwig
She would get over him, she told herself, but the words were hollow. She suspected the love she had for Matt was deep and lasting and was a forever deal.
Maybe he didn’t feel that strongly. If he didn’t, she was wasting her time thinking about settling somewhere close so she could see him. Was she going to be like some of those women she had met in Atwater and Dakani? They wanted to know all about his house and the relationship Vivian had with him. When he was present, they hung on his every word. Was she just going to be another trophy to him? One of those women he spent time with and promptly forgot, and it was meaningless to him?
Vivian didn’t know the answer to her questions. Maybe she was misreading him as much as they had. She remembered Kitty’s words when she had slid out of the booth and leaned over to whisper, “Don’t let him break your heart, hon. He can do it.”
Was it already too late for that bit of advice?
Matt sat alone on the porch, sipping a cold beer, and thinking about Vivian. He heard an owl’s lonesome hoot somewhere off in the distance and there was a hollow echo of emptiness in his heart.
I need to know what you feel for me.
Vivian’s words rang in his ears. She was like life and breath to him. But how could he say that to her? He couldn’t hold her here. He wasn’t a marrying man; he had never seen a strong, loving family function together. He couldn’t take her out of her world of success and money and big cities and hold her on an isolated farm. From the first he had known that he wouldn’t have her here long. He would have to let her go and it amazed him that she had stayed this long.
Last night what they had found together had been extraordinary. He was lucky to have that night and the hours with her tonight. From the moment he started dreaming and fantasizing about making love to her, he had known that he would have to let her go afterward.
Glancing at his watch, he wondered if she would come back to join him or if she would just go on to bed with the girls. Even though it was late, he hoped she would come back out. He looked at the pile of her clothes he had gathered up for her. They had been scattered around his chair where he had dropped them after peeling them off her. Just thinking about that made him want to get up and go to her room and get her out of bed.
When an hour passed and she hadn’t returned, he decided she wasn’t coming and disappointment filled him. He sat lost in memories of the night before, wanting her.
He thought about Baker’s offer and once again wondered what wealth she had left behind and what size business she had. Living on the farm must be so insignificant next to what her life was like. Sometimes around her, he thought she was as unattainable as a star. Yet in some ways, she was part of his heart and she would be forever.
He was beginning to feel that last night and tonight he had been an incredibly lucky man. Last night particularly had been a once-in-a-lifetime night, and it wasn’t going to happen again. She was getting ready to go and letting him know every time they talked.
He should tell his brothers—hell, he had tried to tell them that the lady wasn’t a permanent fixture in his life. It would be good to see them again, anyway, and they might be looking for an excuse for all of them to get together.
He stood and stretched and moved around restlessly, feeling caged, wanting to charge down the hall and pick her up and stop all her protests with kisses.
He stepped off the porch, knowing he had to get away from the house, jog, do something to get her out of his thoughts for a few minutes.
Monday morning they ate breakfast together and Matt kissed her goodbye before he went to work. Vivian watched him stride to his pickup and drive off, and she decided she better drive to Oklahoma City one day soon and look for a place to live. When she told Matt, was he going to be glad she wasn’t going as far as Houston? Or had she really been taken in, thinking his lovemaking meant more to him than it really did?
The man had spent most of his life on his own, making his own decisions, doing what he wanted to do. Why did she think he would even want to change? Because of a night of love? It seemed foolish, and she was beginning to wonder again about just going on to Houston.
This week was her six-week checkup. The time had come to pack and go.
At noon Matt called. “Pete just called me. Lita has a baby girl.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Yeah, it is. Mama and baby are doing fine and Pete is like a new dad. I understand how he feels, though. We can go see her and the baby tonight if you want.”
“I’d like that.”
“I miss you. I gotta run.”
Vivian was happy for Lita and then thought about tonight and going out with Matt again. Both girls would be along and the hospital wasn’t an evening out on the town, but still, she was going out with him. She thought about what she could wear and hurried to look at her clothes.
That night Vivian dressed in jeans and a blue shirt and braided her hair. As she walked into the den, Matt was sprawled on the floor with Mary Catherine, building blocks. Vivian’s pulse jumped when she looked at him. He wore a fresh white shirt that made his skin look darker than ever. His shirt was tucked into his tight jeans and he wore his black boots. He looked sexy, handsome, too appealing.
“I’m ready,” she said, knowing her voice had changed and was lower and breathless.
He turned to look up at her and his eyes narrowed. His gaze drifted down over her as he came to his feet.
“You look pretty,” he said, touching her collar, unable to resist reaching out to her.
“Thank you.”
“I’m glad I took you out last Saturday because now we’ve lost a sitter.”
“I’m glad you did, too, for other reasons,” she said in a sultry voice, and saw the change in his expression as desire flared in his eyes.
She waved her hand. “See, you bring that out in me.”
“I’ll show you later tonight what you bring out in me,” he drawled and her pulse skittered. “I’ll lock up,” he said.
Vivian took Mary Catherine’s hand while Matt picked up the carrier. He followed them through the kitchen and reached around Vivian to open the door when the phone rang.
Matt set the carrier on the kitchen table and answered the phone. A deep voice spoke.
“I want to speak to Matt Whitewolf.”
“This is he,” Matt said.
“This is Baker Ashland. I’m sure you know who I am.”
Chapter 15
Surprised that Baker would call him, Matt wanted to slam down the receiver, wanted even more to be able to reach through the receiver, get the guy and punch him.
“Can I make an appointment to meet with you in town tomorrow?”
Shocked to learn that Baker was somewhere in the vicinity, Matt watched Vivian. “Yes, I think so,” he answered. Matt wanted to say no, but he knew it would be wiser to hear what Baker wanted.
“There’s a restraining order against coming to your place since Vivian is there.”
“Okay. Addie’s Grill at eight o’clock.”
“Fine. I’ll be there.”
Matt heard the click and was tempted not to tell Vivian anything. Why worry her? Yet on the other hand, he knew she would want to know. He replaced the receiver. “Shall we go?” he asked, catching a curious look from her. He wasn’t going to tell her in front of Mary Catherine.
In town, when they entered the hospital room, Pete was holding the new baby and he beamed at them. “Here she is. Another beautiful little girl.”
Matt could understand how he felt.
Lita was sitting up in bed, looking serene and pretty. “Her name is Patricia,” Lita said. “I won’t be at work for the next week, Matt.”
“That’s fine. With Vivian cooking, the freezer is still stockpiled with casseroles.”
The black-haired baby was asleep, but they all got to hold her, including Mary Catherine.
They left, eating supper in town and driving home to arrive after dark. Matt helped Vivian put the girls down for the nigh
t and then he took her hand to lead her out to the porch.
They got cold drinks and sat in the dark. “What is it?” she asked. “You’ve been preoccupied all evening.”
Since Baker’s phone call he had debated whether to tell her and how to tell her. He took her hand. “You know the phone call I got earlier tonight?”
Vivian heard the solemn tone of his voice as he hitched his chair closer to hers. A chill ran down her spine Because he was studying her in an earnest manner and she knew bad news was coming. Only one thing could be bad news that he would wait until now to tell her.
“It was Baker calling you, wasn’t it?” she asked. “Why would he do that? What did he want with you? He shouldn’t even know you.”
“He doesn’t know me, but he knows who I am, and if the P.I. has done his work, Baker will have a sheet of facts on me that will include everything pertinent, my credit rating and all.”
Agitated, she stood and moved to the porch rail to stare into the night. “Even here, he can reach out and touch me.”
Matt went to stand behind her with his hands on her shoulders. “He’s contacted me. That’s all. I can handle whatever he wants with me.”
“It’ll be some devious thing. He probably wants to know what you mean to me and how involved we are.”
“Forget him. I knew you’d want to know he’s here, but just put him out of your mind tonight. He isn’t worth worrying over, Vivian, and he’s not coming out here.” Matt turned her to face him, framing her face with his hands. “I know one way to drive him out of your mind.” He leaned down to kiss her.
He could tell when she finally let go of her thoughts of Baker. Matt wanted to drive them out of her mind just as he had the night they had come back from El Reno.
He pulled her down on his lap, but when he began to peel away her clothes, she held his hands and looked at him soberly.
“Matt, I talked to you about this. We’re rushing like a charging locomotive into the night Or I am. I need to think things through because I’ll be leaving here soon.”
Fighting the urge to overcome her protests, he stared at her and knew he had to do what she asked. He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “All right, Vivian. I’ll try to do what you want. I may forget or be overcome with desire, but I’ll try. Don’t go. At least sit here in my arms.”
She did as he asked and it was torment for him, and he suspected it was for her. He had to do what she wanted, but they were throwing away what little time they had left together.
When Julia’s cries summoned her, Matt kissed her good-night and then sat down alone, his thoughts jumping straight to Baker. What did the man want with him?
The next morning under a clear, blue sky Matt drove into Dakani, arriving at seven. After a stop at the jail to let Sheriff Gonzales know Baker was in town, he drove to the café.
As he sipped hot coffee, he watched a man drive up in front and step out of a black car and he knew it had to be Baker Ashland. Dressed in chinos, a button-down monogrammed sport shirt, tasseled loafers and wearing a gold watch on his wrist, Baker was tall, blond and probably by women’s standards, very handsome.
He strode inside, glanced around and headed toward Matt at once with enough certainty that Matt realized Baker knew what he looked like. Matt stood and waited.
“Matt Whitewolf?”
“You’re Baker.” Matt didn’t offer his hand, nor did Baker. An instant antagonism filled him as he thought about Mary Catherine and how terrified she had been of him at first.
“Shall we sit?” Baker said, sliding into the booth.
Matt sat down, facing him. He motioned to Addie, but she was already on her way with another mug and a pot of coffee.
She set the mag in front of Baker and poured coffee. “What can I get you?”
“Nothing, thanks. The coffee is fine.”
His hands were manicured and he wore a wedding ring that had diamonds in the band, a pinky ring with diamonds on the other hand. Matt wanted to tell him to take off the wedding ring. The lady had been divorced from him over a year now. Instead, Matt waited in silence.
Baker moved the mug to one side. “I’ll make this short. Vivian’s been at your place for over six weeks. That’s a long time for a healthy woman who had a normal delivery, so there must be strong feelings between you two. I have to ask. Did you know her in Denver?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You were in Denver at a livestock show a year ago.”
“I was, but I didn’t know Vivian.”
Relief was obvious in the man’s pale blue eyes.
“I’ll get to the point. I want my wife back. I did foolish things and lost her and I’m trying to get her back. At least back to Denver where I can have a chance at reconciliation. I’ve made her a generous offer if she’ll come back and give us a chance, but she refuses. I assume she’s refusing because of you. If you didn’t know her before six weeks ago, the feelings between the two of you can’t be strong, so I’m here to make you an offer if you’ll get out of her life.”
Anger boiled in Matt, and beneath the table he doubled his fists in his lap. “Forget it,” he snapped, starting to slide out of the booth.
“Wait a minute,” Baker ordered harshly. “I’ll pay off your mortgage, get you out of debt for the combine and cattle. You can use the money. You didn’t even know her six weeks ago, so you can’t really be in love. Get out of her life and let me have a chance at winning back my wife and children.” He said it all fast and Matt paused, furious that Baker knew so much about his business and angry with the attempt to bribe him.
“Baker, she doesn’t want to come back. I don’t want your damned money. Not a dime.”
Matt stood up and Baker came to his feet swiftly. They were only a few feet apart and Matt shook as he fought the impulse to take a swing at Baker. He saw Baker’s fists were clenched, too.
“Is she in love with you?” Baker snapped.
“You’ll have to ask the lady that question—through your lawyer or detective. You stay the hell off my place and away from her. You know what you can do with your money.”
Blinded by anger, Matt strode out of the café. He climbed into his pickup, slammed the door and backed out of the parking space, turning to head home.
He had to go home and tell Vivian what Baker wanted. It would upset her. Matt clenched his fists on the steering wheel.
Damn, he wanted to flatten the guy! He had to tell Vivian and the sooner he did, the sooner she could begin to adjust to this new intrusion.
He picked up the cellular phone to call the sheriff and report on Baker.
When he arrived home, he drove straight to the house and found Vivian in the yard with the girls. While Mary Catherine played in her new sandbox and Julia sat happily in her baby carrier, Matt put his arm across Vivian’s shoulders and strolled away from Mary Catherine’s hearing.
“I talked to him.”
“And—”
“He offered to pay off my mortgage if I’d get out of your life so you’d go back to him.”
“Oh, Matt.” She rubbed her head. “You didn’t hit him, did you?”
“Wanted to, but I didn’t.”
“Thank goodness for that. He’s the one with the violent temper, but he never vents it at anyone his own size. Was he still wearing his wedding ring?”
“Yes,” Matt answered grimly.
“He isn’t giving up. I wonder what he’ll do now.”
“He can’t come out here. Vivian, stay until he’s gone. How long can he stand to stay in Dakani?”
She gave him a bitter smile and shook her head. “I can’t imagine him staying there one night. He won’t hang around long. For him to come to Oklahoma, he really wants me back in Denver.”
Matt squeezed her shoulder. “You have my pager number, my cell phone number. Want me to leave you a gun?”
“Good heavens, no! Baker isn’t dangerous—not in that way.”
“If he’s the egomaniac you sai
d, he may go to some drastic lengths to get his way.”
“It won’t do him any good. I’m not going back. I’d never take Mary Catherine back where he could be with her often. Not that he wants her, anyway.” She looked up the road and he knew she was thinking about Baker and what he would do next.
“Let me worry about him, okay? I saw Chet Gonzales before I went to the café and called him afterward. He said they would follow Baker as long as he’s in this county.”
“I know you need to get to work. You’ve already lost a lot of the morning.”
“I do need to,” he said. He bent down to kiss her lightly and then looked intently at her. “Okay?”
“I’m fine, just annoyed.”
“Yep. See you at supper. If anything should happen, that he tries to contact you, get in touch with me right away and call Gonzales. You have his number.”
“I will.”
Vivian watched him stride away and ran her fingers over her forehead once again. How complicated life can be! She needed to sort out her feelings for Matt, needed to come to grips with his lack of commitment—she should talk to him about it again, but she didn’t want to push him. Never, ever did she want to do that. Did he love her? Was it their different backgrounds that was holding him back? Was the barrier between them his feeling of inadequacy because of his country ways and dysfunctional family as a child? Or was it his habit of always keeping things bottled up in himself?
Whatever it was, she wanted to know. Yet maybe he just didn’t love her. She had to face that reality because he had broken women’s hearts before.
After seeing him with his brothers, maybe she would understand him better. Could he open himself up with them?
It was Wednesday—Saturday his brothers would be here and then Sunday or Monday she would go. If he wanted to keep her, Matt had to learn to open his heart. If he didn’t, she had to go. But where? Was she going to stay in Oklahoma or go on to Texas? Texas would mean goodbye permanently.