by Elle Linder
Digging his wallet out of his pocket, he removed forty dollars and handed it to Kelly.
“This is too much. You’re back before midnight.” She paused for a second, her lips twisting to the side, eyes narrowing. “Wait a minute. Why are you back so early? Thought you were going to dance the night away.”
“It was boring. Just a bunch of old folks talking about the harvest and Farmers’ Almanac predictions for an unusually cold winter,” he told her, tossing his coat on the sofa. And the woman he’d hoped to have in his arms was apparently embarrassed to be seen with him.
“Well, you’re not that far behind them, are you?”
Rex’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me? I’ll have you know I’m a good twenty years younger than… some of them.” He was only around ten years younger than Conway Hart, if he recalled correctly.
Kelly giggled quietly into her hand. “I’m just joshing you, Mr. Knolls. Lighten up. I just hoped you’d meet a nice lady—someone to spend time with. You can’t be cooped up with a preschooler all the time. Don’t get me wrong, Lyla is a sweet kid, but you need adult interaction.”
He needed female adult interaction more than Kelly knew. He’d gotten a taste of what he was missing too. It still burned him up the way Tanner Hart crashed his little makeout session with Tori. God, would he ever forget the way her body felt beneath his hands or the taste of her sweet lips? In less than five minutes, she’d been branded in his memory. His hands and lips begged for more of her, and his dick wanted in on the action too. He winced, feeling like a dog for even thinking about having sex with the younger woman.
But she was irresistible and had cast a spell on him, making him forget how old she was and that she was Conway Hart’s daughter. Or maybe it was the whiskey he’d been drinking all evening in an attempt to forget he could never be with her.
He’d screwed up majorly last weekend when he invited her to go riding with him. In the three hours they’d spent together, he’d fallen for her. Everything about Tori made him desire her more. The sound of her voice, the way her green eyes glittered when she looked at him, the way she handled his horse like a pro, and then there were her full lips.
He exhaled a deep breath, frustrated with himself for kissing her.
“I’m just fine hanging out with my little girl, but I appreciate your concern. Drive safe, Kelly.” Hopefully, she’d get the hint and leave. Kelly would talk his ear off if he let her, and she seemed to think she knew more about relationships than him. She probably did, but all Rex wanted was to wallow in self-pity and drink a little more. Maybe he’d pass out and never remember this night again.
“Okay. Lyla’s been asleep for a little more than an hour now.” She grabbed her backpack and coat.
“Thanks, Kelly.” He walked her to the front door and watched as she got into her little white Toyota and drove off.
Rex blew out a slow breath as he stepped onto his front porch to gaze at his stables. They were his pride and joy. The years had flown by since he built the Knolls Equestrian Center. Rex boarded horses and was a trainer, something he’d dreamed of since he was Lyla’s age.
Before he’d achieved his goals, he and his dad had ridden broncos. All the money Rex had made was saved to buy land and build the stables. Unlike him, his two younger brothers were bull riders and squandered their money. To this day, they were single and lived for the rodeo circuit.
Rex had loved growing up on the circuit. His mama did not feel the same way and left his dad when Rex’s younger brother Justin was just out of diapers. Tricia Knolls had hated the excessive amount of time his father had spent with the horses and on the road. She’d said she was a city girl, complaining that rural life wasn’t for her. Then one day, she’d resolved her situation by leaving her husband and sons. In the last thirty years, Rex had only seen her twice.
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered. He hated how he’d gotten himself into the same shit as his dad, picking the wrong woman.
Raquel was just as selfish as his mother. She’d been fine until Lyla was born, then her true colors started to show. Raquel had nagged him all damn day, every day. She hadn’t supported one thing he’d done. She only griped about him working too much, being gone all the time, and how he loved his horses more than her.
She hadn’t been wrong about the horses.
Rex tilted his head toward the inky sky, inhaling the autumn air. He regretted marrying Raquel two months after promising to love her forever. He’d been an idiot to think she was the one. When he’d turned thirty-five, Rex had felt the time had come to find a good woman and settle down. He’d always wanted children, sons and daughters he could teach to ride.
But he’d been sorely wrong about Raquel being the right woman for him. When she’d lashed out at him late one night in a jealous rage for doting on Lyla, Rex had told her to get the hell out. No woman would ever tell him how to love his child.
Raquel had left the very next day. Seemingly, she never looked back the way she hardly ever called or visited Lyla.
He gritted his teeth and went back inside the house, heading for the liquor cabinet. His drink of choice was right in the front, Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey. He took a swig straight from the bottle, not bothering to getting a glass. What did he care? It was only him. He went into the den with his bottle and dropped down onto his favorite leather chair.
He scanned the room, absorbing its peaceful warmth. He hated just about every room in his home, except this one. Raquel had decorated the house to look like it was a model home. He’d spent a shit ton of money trying to please her. All he’d gotten in return was whining and yelling and a house he never felt comfortable in.
He took a large gulp, relishing the burn as it worked its way down to his belly.
How could he be such a fool thinking he might be able to start something with Tori Hart? He had a history with her father. And nothing about it was good. Hell, if it were Lyla in a similar situation, he’d have his shotgun out and wouldn’t hesitate using it.
But Tori was damn near perfect, from what he could tell. His baby girl gushed over Miss Hart. Lyla’s little face shined brighter than the sun when she talked about Tori. It damned near melted his heart every time.
His chest ached after getting a taste of what he’d never have. The memory of her in his arms would surely torment him all the days of his life.
There was a soft knock at the door. Rex looked around the room to see if Kelly had forgotten something. Nothing stood out to him as he stalked to the door and opened it.
He narrowed his eyes, then slowly blinked. The whiskey wasn’t screwing with his eyes; Tori Hart was standing in front of him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t appreciate you running out on me.” She stood there like a goddess, her dark hair shimmering under the porch light. Her emerald eyes gave nothing away, and her damn perfect lips pursed together. It was easy to see Tori was furious, but Rex wouldn’t do this with her.
“Excuse me? I didn’t go with you to the dance.”
“Real nice, Mr. Knolls. You kiss a woman, get her all hot and bothered, then ditch her. Well, that is just fine. At least I know now, because that’s not the kind of man I need.” She stared into his eyes, turning his brain to mush with her hypnotizing emerald depths. “Sorry to bother you.” She turned on her heel, and the sound of her boots clomping on the cement walkway mirrored his thudding heart.
Rex’s pulse whooshed in his ears as he watched Tori speed-walking away. He couldn’t let her leave. He chased after her and caught her by the elbow before she reached for the door handle. He spun her around, captured her face in his hands, and held her against her car.
“What kind of man do you need?” The question left his lips unbidden. Not much he could do about it now. Just having Tori in his presence lowered his resistance to her… lowered his fight to keep away from her.
Her eyes were wide with surprise. “One that finishes what he started.”
He shook his head. It wo
uld be a mistake but one that would feel so damn good. Rex wanted to feel good again.
Her hands went over his, holding them in place. She lifted up on her toes and narrowed the gap between their lips. “Finish what you started.” The warmth of her breath on his lips taunted him. Tori weakened him at every turn. He should let her leave, but he couldn’t.
“What about your brother? He said your dad would have my head. I have Lyla to think about.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Her lips brushed across his once… twice.
“You’re too young, Tori, I know you are.” Along with being Conway Hart’s daughter.
She slowly guided his hands off her face and put them on her body. “I’m an adult, Rex. Twenty-seven. Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do. Either you want me or you don’t. If it’s the latter, I’ll leave.”
“I don’t want you to leave.” God help him, he was doing this. Clearly, he’d lost his mind.
“I hoped you’d say that. It’s a little cold out, don’t you think?” It indeed was, being the middle of October, though he liked how adorable she looked with a red nose.
Without saying a word, he wrapped his arm around her and led her to the house. Rex had no idea what he was doing or if he’d live to see tomorrow. But tonight, he’d have a little happiness and female companionship in his life.
The single-story ranch-style home appeared to be understated in all white lap siding and a solid wood door stained in gray. Cozy came to Tori’s mind, as well as unpretentious. It put the simple country girl at ease… until she entered the house.
The inside was vastly different from the outside. Never judge a book or house by its cover. Tori sucked in a breath. Her eyes swept over the rich wooden floors, wide white baseboards, light gray walls, and up to the modern, brushed-nickel light fixtures. None of it matched her expectations from the exterior of the home—with the exception of the wooden floors, which she liked.
“Can I take your coat?” The intensity in Rex’s gaze made her swallow. She couldn’t decipher whether the strength was good or bad.
“Yes. Please.” She unbuttoned her black wool car coat. Rex helped her slip it off and hung it in a closet near the front door.
Tori didn’t move, too afraid to overstep any unspoken boundaries. The way Rex had left her at the dance, without glancing back, had upset her more than she would ever admit. She’d genuinely felt ditched, which had made her angry.
After Bailey had told Tori to go after him, she’d felt empowered and her feelings validated, thanks to her future sister-in-law.
Now that she was in Rex’s home, she was nervous and worried she’d make a wrong move or say something stupid. She didn’t want him to see her as a younger woman, though she was compared to him. But she also had many great qualities, or so her brothers told her. Tori was mature, responsible, and pretty—again, so her brothers told her.
She exhaled a quiet breath, moving toward a painting on the wall. It was of a gold palomino horse with a light cream mane and tail, running through a field of wildflowers. Sunbeams created a halo effect around the magnificent creature. She stared in awe with her hand over her heart, forgetting Rex was behind her as a deep emotion swept through her. Tears pricked her eyes, and her chest squeezed tight. Why did this painting nearly have her in tears?
She flinched as his hands snaked around her waist and clasped together at her stomach. The warmth of his body enveloped her. If she weren’t so unsure of how to behave, she would melt right into him. Rex was at least six inches taller than her five-foot-four frame, maybe more. Her dad and brothers were all over six feet and towered over Tori and her mama. Rex was probably closer to Dylan’s height, six foot one, and had broad shoulders and muscular arms.
“Didn’t mean to spook you,” he whispered as his lips dotted soft kisses down her neck, leaving gooseflesh in its wake.
“Guess I was lost in this painting. It’s breathtaking. The palomino has an angelic appearance the way the sunrays surround it.”
“You know the breed?”
“Yes…” Tori breathed the word, still marveling over the painting.
“Her name is Angel. She died a few years ago.” The instant emotion in his voice caused Tori’s throat to constrict. She didn’t move a muscle or even breathe, hoping he’d continue. “I commissioned an artist in Seattle to paint her so she could live on in my life forever.”
If her heart could crack open, it would have. She could tell this horse was special to him and appreciated his vulnerability. Her father and brothers would never show their emotions like Rex.
“What a lovely thing to do. I’m sure she’s watching over you.”
“She was the first horse I bought when I opened the equestrian center fifteen years ago. I miss her…” His voice broke at the end.
Tori turned to face him, cradled his face in her hands, and ran her thumbs over his dark beard speckled here and there with silver. The sadness in his eyes nearly made her cry, but she held back, being strong for him. She studied his handsome face as she caressed his cheeks, and she fell a little harder for him.
Rex pressed his forehead to hers and tightened his arms around her. The tension in his body lessened as he inhaled and exhaled a couple of deep breaths. She didn’t know what to say or do. Nothing would make him feel better. She knew for herself. The day her mare Daisy died, a piece of her would die right along with her beloved horse. No words would ease her grieved heart, ever.
Rex cleared his throat, lifting his head. “Would you like something to drink? A glass of wine? Whiskey?”
“Wine would be nice. Whiskey isn’t my thing. It makes me a little wild.”
His dark eyebrows raised, and his blue eyes twinkled. “Wild? Well, then another time.”
At the promise in his words, she replied, “Maybe.”
“You’re teasing me.” His hands rubbed her sides, then he took her hand. “I like it. Come on…”
Tori smiled, feeling her face blush.
As they walked to the kitchen, she was again in awe at the inside of his home. It was elegant and modern and looked professionally decorated. It didn’t fit Rex at all, so she assumed it was his wife’s taste. Tori didn’t recall much about Raquel Knolls. She’d only seen her a few times over the years, not that she paid much attention back then. Rex was much older, ten years Tori’s senior at the very least. Admittedly, she had never given him a second thought before last month when they met for a parent-teacher conference for Lyla. After that day, seeing him when he dropped Lyla off at school and picked her up had been the highlight of her dull, boring life.
The kitchen was larger than she expected. White cabinets lined the walls in an L-shape, and a grand white marble-topped island with tan veins was in the center. Three barstools were tucked underneath the counter. It was the fanciest kitchen Tori had ever seen—in person. It could have easily been on an HGTV show. Although Tori wasn’t much of a cook—Mama preferred to do it herself—she’d seen enough cooking shows to recognize the commercial-grade Viking gas stove. A large double-door stainless steel refrigerator with glass doors was off to the side. Two dishwashers flanked an apron sink her mother would die to have.
Rex removed a bottle of wine from a wine cooler beside the fridge and then another from a winerack overhead. “White or red?” He lifted two bottles in front of him.
The way he studied her made her feel it could be a trick question. “I’m a red wine kind of girl.” She watched for his reaction.
“I like you just a little more now.” He removed a corkscrew from a drawer. There was no smile or amusement in his voice. She didn’t know what to make of his reply. If she’d said white, would he not like her and ask her to leave? “I hate white wine,” he muttered as he put the bottle of chardonnay back in the cooler.
She distinctly felt a shift in the air, a coldness of some sort. Had the bottle been Raquel’s? If so, why hadn’t he gotten rid of it if he hated it so much?
Tori fidgeted with the hem of her blouse. Maybe Rex wa
s still in love with Raquel. She couldn’t blame him; they had a daughter together. Raquel also was so beautiful she could have been a model. Tall with legs for miles, light-blonde hair, flawless skin, and always dressed to the nines.
Tori’s stomach clenched as she glanced down at her tan corduroy pants and well-loved ankle boots. Her nails were unpainted and short, and she didn’t wear perfume or expensive jewelry, only an understated pair of diamond earrings her parents gave her for her college graduation.
She scanned the kitchen again and imagined Raquel flitting around it, wearing a silk blouse and pencil skirt, with stilettos finishing off her ensemble. Her nails would be long and painted, her makeup on point, and her long blonde curls cascading over her ample breasts.
In a padded bra, Tori might be a C cup.
What am I doing here? I’m not his type, nor will I be his rebound girl.
Before she could say anything, a wine glass appeared in front of her. “Will Pinot do?”
Her eyes lifted to his as she gathered the words to tell him she’d made a mistake in coming.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, voice laced with concern. “I have Cab if you’d prefer?”
“No. Pinot is fine. I just…” She looked away at the breakfast nook, and a scene flashed before her of Rex, Raquel, and Lyla eating breakfast together. Her chest squeezed, and she could hardly breathe. “I need to go.” She set the wine glass on the island and made a mad dash for the front door. His rapid steps behind her pushed her to increase her own.
“I don’t understand,” he whisper-shouted.
Tori didn’t respond, opening the closet door. Tears stung behind her eyes. It was stupid, getting so worked up over a man.
“Stop,” he snapped and grabbed her elbow, whirling her around. “What is going on?”
“I shouldn’t be here.”
“Because of your father?”
She shook her head.
“Then what? Did I do something to offend you?”
“Just look at me. I’m not your type. I’m not refined like your wife. Every day I end up with paint in my hair and dirt under my nails after teaching twenty spirited and messy preschoolers. After work, I go home and take care of Daisy. When I’m done, I smell like feed and horse.” She tugged her arm away from him. “You have a magnificent home, but I don’t fit in… And, well, why start anything when it’s obvious we’re very different?”