The Bull Rider's Fresh Start

by Heidi McCahan

  Maybe he’d underestimated her. Maybe she liked being on her own. While he sympathized with all she had going on, he still wasn’t about to let her leave town and take Adeline. He couldn’t stand the thought of not seeing his baby girl every day. They’d have to come to some sort of agreement. Maybe tonight could be the first step in forging a plan they could all live with.

  He slowed down, turned into the parking lot and claimed the last remaining space in front of Pizza Etc. “Here we are.”

  She stared through the windshield without saying a word.

  Lord, give me patience. He turned off the ignition. A hot, dry breeze greeted him as he climbed out of the truck, circled the front and opened the passenger door for her.

  Kelsey didn’t move.

  “Looks busy.” She frowned. “Is this where everyone hangs out?”

  “Define everyone.”

  Her gaze swung to meet his. “Are all your friends here?”

  “Probably.” He shrugged, then offered her his hand. “Don’t let that discourage you, though. I promise I’ll behave.”

  She ignored his hand and slid to the ground, then slipped her purse over her shoulder.

  He slammed the truck door, nearly pinching his finger as he caught a look at her.

  While he’d most definitely be a gentleman tonight—and every night—he couldn’t deny she looked amazing in her white sleeveless blouse, denim skirt and cowboy boots.

  Gravel crunched under their boots as he led the way to the restaurant’s entrance. Inside, a nineties country tune played on the jukebox in the corner. A few couples two-stepped around the dance floor.

  She faced him with a look of panic in her eyes. “You said nothing about dancing.”

  He held up his hands. “No one’s going to force you to dance. Relax. Let’s grab dinner, all right?”

  Doubt lingered in her expression, but he refused to let one harmless song on the jukebox derail their evening. “Would you like to choose where we sit? Looks like there’s only two empty tables left.”

  She tipped her chin up then wove through the crowded dining room until she arrived at a small table for two on the far side—the farthest distance from the jukebox and the dancing couples.

  Landon felt curious stares trailing them. He smiled and waved to as many familiar faces as possible, although he nearly tripped over the toes of his own cowboy boots when he passed Drew Tomlinson sitting with a woman Landon didn’t recognize. An intensely private person, Drew went to great lengths to keep his personal life away from the prying eyes of locals. Bringing a date into Pizza Etc. was a bold move on his part. Landon wanted to clap him on the shoulder or offer him a high five. Instead, Landon kept moving without making eye contact and joined Kelsey at the high top for two.

  “Good choice,” he said, sliding onto the tall, hard-backed chair across from her.

  The vinyl cushions squeaked as he settled in and leaned forward, his elbows resting on the glossy, worn surface of the dark wood table. Kelsey hooked her purse strap over the back of her chair, then surveyed the crowded restaurant. “True or false. You can name every person in here right now.”

  Here we go again. Why did she care who saw them together? He swiveled in his seat and looked around the room. “Not quite. I’d say eighty percent.”

  Landon tried not to stare when the woman with Drew laughed and clasped her hand over his. Would you look at that, Landon silently mused. Good for Drew. He shifted his attention back to Kelsey. “Why do you ask?”

  Before she could answer, Sienna, one of the regular waitresses, stopped at their table. “Hey, stranger.” She grinned, her wide green eyes sweeping over Landon and making him uncomfortable. “Haven’t seen you in a while. How’ve you been?”

  “Good, thanks.” Landon accepted the menu and studied it carefully. As if he didn’t already have it memorized. Maybe if he kept his eyes on the laminated flyer, he could ignore Kelsey shooting him a pointed I-told-you-so stare.

  “So what can I get you guys to drink?” Sienna pulled two paper coasters from the front of her black apron and set them on the table. “You know you’re the hot topic around here, Mr. World Champion Bull Rider.”

  Sienna’s megawatt smile and the way she leaned in close enough to let her bottle-blond hair brush his forearm made him want to drop his menu and leap out of his chair. Or clamp his hand over her mouth. Because he knew exactly where this line of questioning led.

  “What’s this I hear about a baby?”

  Oh. No. Kelsey’s sharp intake of breath and the toe of her boot colliding with his shin sent pain shooting through his leg.

  “Why don’t you give us a minute?” Landon forced a smile. “Kelsey’s never been here before.”

  “No problem.” Sienna winked and flounced away to her next table.

  “I’m sorry.” He countered Kelsey’s simmering anger with a sincere apology. “We can go if you want.”

  He should’ve known better than to bring her here. One thoughtless comment from Sienna had unraveled all his progress. A quiet restaurant in the Denver suburbs where no one knew them would’ve been a far better choice. Once again, his thoughtless, impulsive behavior had forced Kelsey into an uncomfortable situation. Worse, it emphasized all the reasons why she didn’t want to be part of a close-knit community.

  Something told him intimacy scared her, and scared people were always the first to run. He would know. He’d been the first to flee whenever someone tried to get close.

  * * *

  She didn’t mean to sound so uptight. Really, she didn’t. But coming to this crowded restaurant where it felt like everyone was looking at her, and the waitress flirting shamelessly with Landon and getting all up in her business...well, it made her nervous. Annoyed. Worse, it reminded her of all the times people had gossiped about her father’s scandalous behavior.

  “No, it’s fine.” She pulled in a deep, calming breath. “We can stay.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded, then flipped the menu over and perused the rest of the limited options.

  Another waitress came to their table to take their order—an older woman with salt-and-pepper hair twisted into a neat bun. Her kind eyes crinkled at the corners as she offered Kelsey a polite smile. “Sienna’s on break. I’ll be taking your order. What can I get for you, honey?”

  The knot between Kelsey’s shoulder blades loosened a smidge. “I’ll have the Cobb salad, please. Honey mustard dressing on the side and a glass of iced tea.”

  “Excellent. And for you?” The woman turned toward Landon, her pen poised above her notepad. No obnoxious comments. No lingering stares. No flirtatious smiles. Maybe this place wasn’t so bad.

  “I’ll have a cheeseburger, medium well, with cheddar cheese, fries and a Sprite, please.”

  “Of course.” She took their menus. “We’ll have that out shortly.”

  “See?” Landon said. “Not everyone who works here is collecting every detail of your life story.”

  “Good to know.” Kelsey twisted her coaster in a circle and tried to pretend the teasing lilt in his voice and the mischievous gleam in his hazel eyes wasn’t getting under her skin.

  “It’s probably none of my business, but—”

  “But you’re going to ask anyway,” she finished his sentence. “Because you can’t help yourself.”

  Landon’s chuckle was easy and smooth—and reminiscent of the night they met.

  Do. Not. Go. There, she silently warned herself, bracing for his question.

  “What is it about small-town life that bothers you so much? If I recall, you’re from Oklahoma. That’s not Manhattan or LA or someplace super glamorous.”

  She tipped her head to one side. “Did you just insult Oklahoma?”

  “My apologies to the fine, hardworking citizens of Oklahoma.” His grin stretched wide across his tan face. “Now answer
the question.”

  Kelsey studied him. He’d shaved and wore a short-sleeved pale blue button-down with dark-wash jeans and boots. She tried not to think about how it might feel to tunnel her fingers through his tousled blond hair. The current song playing through the speakers ended, replaced by the hum of conversation, laughter and silverware clinking against plates. Where to begin? And how to accurately convey her feelings to someone who clearly loved his hometown?

  “I know you have a lot of respect for Wade and my family. They think highly of you, but my mom is a master at spinning things. Making situations seem better than they are. She conveniently leaves out key details and has never once acknowledged her role in my chaotic childhood.”

  Landon’s expression grew serious. Those gold-flecked eyes bored into her, and she had to look away. “She moved us around a lot. My dad was a mess.” Kelsey hesitated, uncertain how much to share. She forced herself to meet Landon’s gaze. “My dad was an addict, and they got divorced but never stopped fighting over me. They passed me back and forth, but sometimes my dad didn’t show up and I figured out quickly he wasn’t trustworthy. I lost track of how many boyfriends she had before she met my stepfather. It seemed like everyone else had it all together, but I was always embarrassed and ashamed of my family.”

  Landon’s brow furrowed. “People talked about you when you went to school. Whispered behind your back in the hallway. Exactly like they’re doing right now.”

  Nailed it.

  She managed a nod.

  “Is that why the navy is so appealing?”

  The same waitress returned with their drinks. Kelsey hesitated, waiting until she’d walked away before she answered.

  “I know exactly what’s expected of me.” She peeled the paper wrapper off the straw then jammed it into her iced tea, poking at the crushed ice floating near the surface. “The assignments are challenging. I work hard, and I don’t quit until the mission’s accomplished.”

  “And then you’re off to your next dive, new orders in a new location. You don’t stick around long enough to be known. To let people in.”

  She froze, her glass halfway to her mouth. “That is not fair.”

  “But I’m not wrong.”

  Landon’s expression reflected empathy. His tone was gentle. But his words prodded at a wound she’d tried to pretend had healed. And she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  She set her glass down, slid to her feet and yanked her purse off the chair. “I can’t do this.”

  “Kelsey, wait.”

  Ignoring Landon’s plea, she wove through the tables, her skin flushed and legs trembling. This was a mistake, letting him talk her into dinner. Letting him convince her she deserved a night out, when all he really wanted to do was criticize how she lived her life. Probably to persuade her to let him keep Adeline. Permanently.

  Pushing past the family coming into the restaurant, Kelsey strode outside and crossed the parking lot. In her rush to get away from Landon, she hadn’t thought about how she’d get home. Stranded, she turned in a circle beside his stupid truck.

  “Great. Now what?” she grumbled and tipped her head back, staring at the evening sky. Rich shades of orange and red spilled across the pale blue canvas. Clouds outlined in wispy pink brushstrokes floated on the horizon. The red lights on the wind turbines blinked in the distance.

  “Kelsey, please.” She turned, her nails biting into her palms as she clenched her fists at her sides.

  Landon jogged toward her. He stopped inches away and shoved his hands on his hips. Confusion flitted across his face. “What happened?”

  Heat blazed through her body. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Pretend like you know what’s best for me.” She fought to keep from raising her voice. “You have a long history of being a major screwup, Landon Chambers, so you have no right to tell me how to live my life.”

  Pain flashed in his eyes. A muscle in his jaw knotted tight. “I’ll drive you home.”

  “Good.”

  He reached past her and opened the truck’s passenger door.

  She scooted by, carefully avoiding letting her arm or any other part of her body brush against him. Even though he’d made her mad enough to spit nails, she couldn’t deny that his smile, his laugh and those gold-and-green eyes affected her. Which was incredibly foolish on her part, because he’d trounced all over their fragile peace with his judgy comments.

  No matter how good he looked or how well he cared for Adeline, she was better off without him in her life. Little girls needed a trustworthy father. Not some cowboy who’d break promises and leave. Just like her father had.

  Chapter Eight

  He’d barely eased his truck to a stop in front of his sister’s house before Kelsey grabbed the door handle and hopped out of the cab.

  Landon jammed the gearshift into Park, cut the engine, then hurried after her. “Kelsey, wait.”

  Man, he was saying that a lot lately. Tonight was not going at all how he’d planned. He wanted to make things right before she rushed inside and closed the door in his face.

  While he expected her to ignore him like she had when she’d stormed out of Pizza Etc. a few minutes before, she surprised him by whirling around before her boots hit the porch.

  “What?”

  That terse, one-syllable response hinted at her barely contained anger. Her ramrod-straight spine and fierce glare warned him that he didn’t have much time to plead his case. And here he thought they’d made progress. Somehow he’d managed to mess that all up before they’d even started their meal.

  He stopped in the middle of the driveway, keeping a safe distance, and cupped the back of his neck with his hand.

  “Can we talk about this, please?”

  “We just did. You ruined it by insulting me.”

  “What? I didn’t insult you. I was trying to empathize.”

  An exasperated look that silently screamed oh, please flashed across her features. The breeze picked up, rippling her hair against her shoulders. Despite the tension arcing between them, his arms ached to hold her. Draw her close. Leave a trail of kisses along the curve of her jaw.

  He banished the thoughts as quickly as they skidded through his mind, though, because she looked angry enough to spit fire.

  “Huh,” she said. “Which part was the empathy? When you judged me? Or maybe it was the part where you insulted my career? Wait, no. I bet it was the part where you criticized the way I live my life.” She moved toward him slowly. Deliberately. Each click of her boot on Laramie’s driveway landed like a punctuation mark.

  Whoa. He opened his mouth to protest, but she wasn’t finished.

  “You have no idea how hard it is to be a single mother.” She stopped in front of him, her eyes glittering, and jabbed her finger into his chest. “In fact, you know very little about me.”

  “That’s where you’re mistaken.” He captured her hand, then pressed it over his heart, pinning her palm with his while he stepped closer. “I know that you love our baby girl with your whole heart. Otherwise you wouldn’t have come here. I know that your parents hurt you. Deeply. I know that you’re scared and that’s why you run. Now you want to keep running because that’s what’s worked in the past.”

  Her chest heaved and her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away. “You can’t charm your way out of this.”

  He caressed the back of her hand with the pad of his thumb. “Really?”

  They were so close he could smell the tantalizing fragrance of her perfume.

  “Yes, really.”

  “I don’t believe you,” he whispered, boldly stepping closer, leaving only a sliver of daylight between them. “You secretly find me incredibly charming. Maybe even irresistible.”

  His gaze slid to her lips—pink and slightly parted. Inviting him to kiss her. He let his eyes linger the
re, sensed her sharp intake of breath and relished the warmth of her hand still pressed over his heart.

  “Wrong again, cowboy.” She tugged her hand free. “You’re only pretending to want me so you can have Adeline.”

  Ouch. “That is not true.”

  She turned and strode toward the porch. “Prove it.”

  Firing one more skeptical glare his direction, she climbed the steps and went inside.

  Landon stared at the closed door. His mother deserved a proper thank-you for watching Adeline. He’d have to text her, because following Kelsey inside and continuing this conversation wasn’t a smart move.

  “All right, I will.” He voiced his commitment into the empty yard. The lack of audience didn’t dampen his resolve. He’d prove to Kelsey that he wanted her around because he cared about her, not because he was using her. He’d prove that even though people made mistakes, not all families treated each other like her parents had. Their relationship might not have started the right way, but he wasn’t giving up. He’d show her they had something worth fighting for.

  * * *

  The next morning, Kelsey settled Adeline on the kitchen floor with a rainbow-colored shape sorter while she cleaned up the breakfast dishes.

  “Da, da, da,” Adeline jabbered while she banged a yellow plastic star against the edge of the cube-shaped sorter.

  “Oh, let’s not talk about him right now, okay?”

  Adeline held up the star, then grinned and said, “Da, da, da, da, da.”

  Only louder.

  Kelsey forced a weak smile then turned toward the sink, determined to forget last night’s encounter with Landon. What a disaster.

  He’d made her so mad. She should’ve known he wouldn’t keep the focus of their evening centered on Adeline. When he’d shared those observations about her life, she’d felt exposed. Like she was standing on the side of the interstate holding a big sign that said B-R-O-K-E-N.

  She wasn’t broken, thank you very much.