by Elle Linder
“Miss Hart.” He nodded.
Lyla bounced over to Tori and wrapped her arms around her leg. It melted her heart how she did this every day.
“Mr. Knolls—”
“Call me Rex.” The warmth of his tone was like his hands caressing her this morning in bed. It turned her to jelly.
She swallowed thickly. “Sure, Rex.” She turned her attention to Lyla. “You have a good weekend, Lyla. Do you have any plans?”
“Um, only riding Applesauce.” She shrugged, looking toward Rex. “Do we have plans?”
His demeanor changed as he considered Lyla’s question. Tori couldn’t read him, but she could tell something was wrong.
“Oh! I forgot my book in the library nook,” Lyla announced. “I’ll get it!” She ran off to the corner of the room where Tori read to the class before rest time.
She stepped closer to Rex. No one else was in the classroom, so she touched his hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s the same thing every weekend since she started school. She doesn’t have playdates like other kids. I don’t know what else to do with her other than go out for a ride. I suck at being a single dad.”
“Hey, you don’t suck.” She held his hand discreetly. “And what do I look like, chopped liver? You’re not single anymore.”
“But it feels like I am because I can’t wrap you in my arms and kiss you. I want you to have dinner with Lyla and me.” His jaw ticked and he squeezed her hand.
“Rex.”
“No, Tori. I want to be with you every day. Not just at night, hidden away from the world.”
When he put it like that, she realized how ridiculous she’d been. How was she to live her own life if the choices she made revolved around her parents? While they were gone for the roundup, she’d had plenty of time to figure stuff out. Telling them the truth was the mature thing to do, yet it terrified her. She was an adult and Rex was the man she wanted. Except the thought of hurting her father made her sick to her stomach.
“I’ll talk to them… soon.”
He leaned closer, his thumb brushing lightly over the top of her hand. “Will I see you tonight?”
Her chest felt like it would cave in on her heart, knowing she was about to disappoint him. “I should stay home tonight. Spend some time with the family.”
“I figured as much,” he told her, appearing deflated.
There was a soft gasp and a third, smaller hand joined theirs. Tori and Rex both looked down at Lyla. Her little face was beaming brighter than the sun.
“Are you in love?” she chirped, bouncing on her toes.
“Oh gosh,” Tori whispered. She cut her eyes to Rex’s, which appeared delighted. “This isn’t good.”
“I think it is.” Before she could say anything, he kissed her. “Call me later.”
“Wait, are you and Miss Hart in love?” Lyla asked again.
Rex lifted her into his arms, putting her at eye-level with Tori. “We’re in like. Love comes after like.”
Lyla squealed and clapped. “Will she come to our house?”
“Yes, she will. This weekend. Right, Tori?”
She stared at him, shocked, with her jaw on the floor. Her mouth didn’t work; not a single word floated to her lips.
“I’ll take your silence as a yes.” He kissed her cheek as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Tell Miss Hart goodbye, sweetpea.”
“Bye, Miss Hart, see you soon!” Lyla enthusiastically waved as Rex carried her out, with a devilish smirk on his handsome face.
What just happened?
By the time Tori got home, there were hoards of people on the ranch. Several trucks and horse trailers were parked near the barn and along the dirt road leading to the main house.
Her parents were back. Fortunately, her dad would be much too busy to bother with her until after dinner. That gave her several more hours to work up the nerve to come clean about Rex.
She parked her car in her spot and went inside the house.
“Well, hello,” her mama said the second she entered the kitchen. “Think you can give me a hand with dinner? I’m making a massive pot of spaghetti and salad.”
“Sure. Gimme a sec to put my stuff away.” Tori ran upstairs to her room and removed her coat and purse, leaving them on her bed.
She inhaled a deep breath and went back to the kitchen.
“So, how’d it go?”
“They found all the cattle. No injuries this time, thank goodness, and we didn’t get rained on. I’d say it couldn’t have gone any better.” Her mama turned toward her. “Except for one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Your daddy wasn’t in the best of moods. He snapped a lot at the men.”
“Oh.” Tori gnawed on her bottom lip.
“Are you ready to tell me who the man in your life is?” her mama calmly asked.
“I want to tell you. I do.”
“You can trust me, Tor. I’ll keep your secret if I must, but honestly, we just want you to be happy.”
“Rex does make me happy.” Tori snapped her mouth shut as she realized she’d said that out loud.
“Rex? I know that name.” She made her thinking face, and Tori’s heart felt like it would burst from her chest. “Where have I heard it?” She tapped her finger to her lips. “Rex is not a common name.”
“Please, Mama. Let it go.”
Suddenly her mama’s expression changed from thoughtful to aghast. “Rex as in Rexford Knolls?”
Leave it to her mother to figure it out in five seconds flat.
Tori nodded.
“Well, he’s much too old for you. Rexford?” Her mama shook her head. “Your father is going to lose it. Oh, is he going to lose it big.”
“Don’t tell him! I mean not yet. Please, we’re still new. Maybe we won’t last.”
“Oh, honey.” She took Tori’s hand between both of hers and gazed into her eyes. “I wasn’t born yesterday. Sneaking around, refusing to name him… You’ve fallen in love with him, haven’t you?”
Love? She wasn’t in love with Rex. It was too soon. Wasn’t it?
“No, no I haven’t.”
Her mama snorted. “Deny it all you want. I can sense these things, ya know. Is he good to you?”
“Yes.”
“What about his daughter? And he has an ex-wife. Are you ready for all that?”
“I adore his daughter and she likes me too. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting his ex. Not really looking forward to it, if I’m honest.”
“That’s understandable. From what I’ve heard, they were all wrong for each other.”
“What else have you heard?”
“Not much. This was several years back when his little girl was born. Pete’s wife, Sara, had said Rex’s Aunt Mindy didn’t like the woman at all. Called her a whiner and gold digger.”
“Rex said he’d made a mistake marrying Raquel but he didn’t regret it because he got Lyla out of it. She is his world.”
Her mom smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“What really happened with Dad and Rex?”
“Didn’t he tell you?”
Tori dropped her gaze. “No.”
“Hmm, well, that doesn’t sit well with me.”
Her eyes flashed to her mother’s. “Why? It’s not like Dad was open about what happened either.”
“I supposed you’re right. Still, if you and Rex are together, he shouldn’t hide the truth from you.”
The back door closed and Tori shut her mouth. Every muscle in her body turned to iron.
“Hey, Tor, miss me?” Dylan threw his arm over her shoulders and pinched her nose. He was such a pain. He hip-bumped her and went to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. “What’d you do while we were gone? The house looks intact, so I take it you didn’t throw a house party.”
She laughed. “You’re such a brat. No, I didn’t have a party.”
Dylan leaned on the counter, eyeing her. He loo
ked like he had something to say but kept quiet. Mama stepped out of the kitchen, ignoring their antics. A fog of tension rolled in once she was gone.
Her younger brother scooted closer. It was plain to see he had something on his mind.
“I just saw Rudy.”
Tori’s heart stopped, having an idea of where this was going. She did her best to act unaffected. “Oh? How’s Natalie and the baby?” Rudy was a ranch hand. His wife had given birth to their first child last month, a boy named Robby.
“They’re doing great. Rudy was glad to stay behind this year for the roundup. He said your car wasn’t here when he’d get to work in the morning… at four thirty.” Dylan hiked a suspicious brow.
Tori shrugged a shoulder nonchalantly. “Maybe I parked it in the garage.”
Dylan snorted. “Right. So where were you? Better yet, who were you with?”
“Dylan, go tell your dad dinner will be ready by five. I know a lot of the guys have a bit of a drive home,” Mama said, interrupting Dylan’s nosy questioning.
He eyed Tori a second. “Sure. I’ll talk to you later, sis.”
Mama narrowed her eyes at him as he strutted out of the kitchen with his bottle of water. “What was that all about?”
Tori crossed her arms on the kitchen island and laid her head on them. This was bad. “Rudy told Dylan my car was gone when he’d get to work.”
“You stayed with Rex both nights we were gone?”
Tori winced, keeping her head down. “Yes.”
“You must really like him then.”
“Yes.” She lifted her head and met her mother’s gaze. “I feel safe with him. Adored. Desired.”
“Mercy, child. I understand how you feel. But you gotta prepare yourself. This is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better. When your Daddy finds out, all of PR will hear his primal growl.”
“I hope I’m not around when that happens.”
“Oh, you’ll be here, standing up for yourself and your man.”
My man. A flicker of something amazing tickled her heart.
“Your daddy has carried around this chip on his shoulder for far too long. He needs to let it go. Now, I don’t know if Rex is who I’d have chosen for you; I don’t really know the man. But I trust your judgment. If he’s who you pick, I’ll support you so long as he’s good to you.”
How had Tori thought any less of her mama? She threw her arms around her mother’s neck and hugged her. “Thank you, thank you so much.”
“Aww, you’re welcome, baby girl. I’m not saying anything your Grandma Peggy wouldn’t have said. I learned all I know from her.”
It made Tori sad when her mama talked this way about Daddy’s parents. Her own weren’t active in their lives. After they got married and moved to Idaho, Mama’s parents didn’t keep in touch much. Tori had only seen them a handful of times throughout her life. She surely didn’t want a relationship like that with her own parents.
“I love you, Mama.”
“Love you more, baby. Now let’s get started on cooking for these men.”
Fourteen
AFTER EIGHT O’CLOCK in the evening, the house was still and quiet. Lyla was fast asleep. The kitchen was clean, and the den had been put in order after Lyla had a tea party with several pumpkins. Rex dropped into his favorite chair and exhaled a heavy breath.
A month ago, he would have turned on the TV to watch sports highlights or the news. He might have even watched a Marvel movie while sipping his favorite whiskey.
Not tonight though. Tonight he was missing Tori somethin’ awful. Just knowing he wouldn’t see her this evening depressed the hell out of him.
All it took was two nights of having her in his bed for Rex not to be able to breathe without her. It was crazy. Insane.
His phone vibrated on the end table and he flinched.
Yes! My girl is calling.
One look at the screen and he scowled, answering the call. “Raquel.”
“Rex, how are you?”
“Fine. And you?” What was with the pleasantries? They weren’t friends. They were only two people who were once married and had created a child. He had more of a relationship with Molly out at Molly’s Creamery.
“I’m terrific! Just got back from Europe yesterday. Oh, Rex, it’s amazing. More my cup of tea than the US. I wish we could’ve gone there together. I wanted to, remember? For our honeymoon, and—”
“Raquel!” he barked at her. “What did you call for?” As if he wanted to take a stroll down memory lane. His ex was the very last person he wanted to talk to.
“Well, you have apparently changed.”
“And you haven’t,” he said. She was still the most selfish, self-serving person he knew.
She sighed. “How is Lyla?”
“She’s perfect.”
“Can I speak to her?”
“She’s in bed.”
“It’s only eight-fifteen.”
“She’s four, Raquel. How late do you think a preschooler should stay up for?”
“But it’s Friday night. The weekend.”
“Christ. As if that should make a difference. She’s four.” Did she really not have a clue about raising a kid? He felt like such a fool for choosing her. Raquel was a beautiful woman, no question, but looks weren’t everything. He should have thought more with his head instead of his—
“Well, I want to talk to her. It’s been a while. I don’t want her to forget me.”
She should have thought about that before she abandoned her. “Can’t help you on either count.”
“You’re awfully bristly tonight.”
“No more than usual.” With you. “Honestly, you haven’t called since her birthday. How do you expect to have a relationship with her if you don’t see or talk to her?”
“Well, you could have let me take her to Europe. I would have brought a nanny with me.”
Rex rubbed his beard roughly. A nanny. Lyla would have been with a complete stranger while Raquel traipsed around Europe with her latest boyfriend, Finn. She really was cold-hearted to think leaving her child behind would be okay.
“Never gonna happen.”
“See? You don’t even try to help the situation.”
“Why should I? All you care about is yourself.”
“That’s a horrible thing to say, Rexford.”
He groaned. She never liked calling him Rex because it sounded too country boy. Those were her words. Hell, he was a good ol’ country boy.
“I’m done talking, Raquel. If you want to speak to Lyla, call at a decent hour.”
“Don’t hang up!”
“What?” he gritted out.
“I want to come for a visit.”
“Excuse me?” Surely he hadn’t heard her correctly.
“Finn wants to meet her.”
“Aw, hell! The boyfriend wants to meet your daughter; that’s why you want to come. Jesus, have you no shame, woman?”
“Don’t talk to me like that, Rexford. We may have been all wrong for each other, but I’m still the mother of your child. Show me my due respect.”
“Your due respect? For what exactly, Raquel? Giving birth?”
“I knew calling you would be a mistake. Finn doesn’t understand what a hateful man you are.”
Rex had to chuckle at that. Was he supposed to like how she ignored Lyla when she was a baby or how she whined and complained about him paying too much attention to Lyla and not enough to her? Or how about how she begged him to get a vasectomy because she didn’t want to be pregnant ever again because “kids weren’t her thing.” Sure, he was a hateful man, indeed.
“You’re right. Finn has no clue.”
“Does that mean we can’t come out? It’d only be for a couple of days.”
This woman never gives up. “I’ll talk to Tori and let you know.”
“Tori? Who’s that?”
What the hell did he just do? The words just fell from his lips without any thought. Utterly spontaneously. This was
how much Tori already meant to him. He was considering her feelings before he even realized it.
“Rexford? Are you there? Is Tori your girlfriend?”
“Yes, I’m here and yes, she is.”
“Well, when did this happen?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“If she’s around my daughter, it is.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. I have full custody. You have no say in Lyla’s life.”
“Fine. Talk to your girlfriend. Wait, what’s her last name?”
“Good-bye, Raquel. I’ll shoot you a text… eventually, with an answer.” Rex ended the call and promptly tossed back the remainder of his whiskey. It wasn’t enough, so he dragged his weary body to the kitchen and poured two more fingers’ worth.
He needed Tori.
Rex grabbed his phone and sent her a text.
Rex: I need you beautiful. If you can call me, I’d appreciate it.
He sent the message and gulped his whiskey. The amber liquid burned going down and heated his belly, just the way he liked. He slumped against the kitchen island, hanging his head.
Freaking Raquel.
It surprised him Tori was the first person he thought of when feeling ready to pull his hair out. It shouldn’t though. After all these years of relying on himself and no one else, it was comforting to know someone cared about him. His phone buzzed and he swiped the screen, anxious to read her reply. He wished she would have called instead of messaging him.
Tori: Is everything okay? Is it Lyla?
He smiled at her concern for Lyla.
Rex: She’s excellent and sleeping. I’m just missing you. It’s been a crappy evening.
Tori: Awww. I wish I could come over.
Rex: Can you at least call me?
Tori: Maybe later.
Rex: Sure. I’ll be in bed by ten.
Why was he sounding weak and brooding?
Tori: Are you okay?
Rex: I’m fine. I didn’t mean to bother you. I’ll just talk to you tomorrow.
Now he really was brooding and sounding pathetic.
Tori: Stop it! You aren’t bothering me. I’ll call you in 30 mins.
Rex: Baby, it’s okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Good night.