Asking for Trouble (7 page)

His smile let loose a kaleidoscope of butterflies in her stomach. At the rate this conversation was going, she’d be lucky to choke down any lunch at all.

“Fine, you win,” he conceded. “We’ll stick to the mundane. Seen any good movies lately?”

“No, but I’ve read a couple of books I could recommend.”

“I read a book—once. Of course, it was because a teacher made me…”

Miranda laughed as she reached over to grab Jackson by the seat of his jeans and haul him back onto the blanket. He squealed in protest, but accepted the bowl of cut up fruit she handed him. Holding a grape half, he squished it between his fingers before popping it into his mouth.

“Don’t pretend you’re illiterate. You probably read more books in a month than I do.”

“Maybe. It was a long, lonely winter.”

“Cole, I’m warning you—”

His hands shot up in a show of penance. “I’m sorry. Well, maybe not that sorry. You’re pretty when you’re all riled up.”

A slow smile tugged at her lips. “And you’re irrepressible. But just to show I’m above squabbling like a couple of four year olds, I’ll ignore that comment.”

After finishing their lunch and packing up the remains, they leaned back on their elbows and talked about the vegetables she intended to plant alongside the flowers in her garden and the trio of bears he’d been commissioned to carve. When the sunlight dimmed, she turned to face the West where big, fat, billowing clouds took on a gray underbelly like marshmallows held too close to a flame.

“Looks like rain.” Cole nodded at Jackson, who’d fallen asleep between them on the quilt. “Maybe we should wake him.”

Miranda stroked the silky curls peeking out from beneath the square white bandage. Long, auburn lashes fanned his smooth cheek, and his mouth worked in a sucking motion.

“I hate to when he looks so utterly peaceful, but I don’t want to get drenched, either.”

Rising to his feet in one smooth movement, Cole gave her a hand up. His palm was warm and a little rough as it curled around her fingers. With an extra tug, he brought her close against his chest.

“Oops, I guess I don’t know my own strength.”

For a moment, she leaned into him. The afternoon had been relaxing, but stimulating at the same time, like the man standing before her. With Cole, there was always the question of what he’d say next, what he’d do next…

His free hand rose to touch her hair before his thumb stroked along her jaw in a whisper soft caress that sent a quiver sliding through her.

Drawing in a breath, she forced herself to step back. “Why don’t you get the horses while I wake Jackson?”

A pained look flashed through his eyes and was gone. “Sure.”

When he released her and turned away, she pressed shaking hands against her thighs to steady herself. After a long moment, she bent and picked up the rose, then lifted Jackson into her arms and hugged him close, breathing in his clean, baby scent.

No more innocent outings with a man who had the power to trample her heart beneath his boots. She’d been a fool to think she could spend time with Cole without falling in love with him all over again. Truth was, it would be a short drop into heartache. She touched the rose to her lips. Because she’d never stopped loving him the first time around.

Chapter Six

Nap time. Amazingly, every one of the dozen children at Sugar ’n‘ Spice was fast asleep. Pulling the door to the room full of cribs partially closed, Miranda tiptoed through the occupied sleeping mats in the main room to the kitchen corner where Jenna was heating her lunch in the microwave. With a practiced hand, she stopped the timer two seconds before it beeped and pulled out the bowl of steaming soup.

After retrieving her tuna sandwich from the refrigerator, Miranda dropped onto a chair and spoke in a low voice, “Smells yummy.”

“Homemade minestrone. I had an attack of domesticity yesterday afternoon.”

“I didn’t have time to cook, but I did get my petunias planted once the thundershower passed.”

Jenna set the soup bowl on the table and lowered her bulk onto a chair before eyeing her with a steady blue gaze. “Are you going to explain that bandage on Jackson’s head? Your
long story
remark along with the mention of your ex promises high entertainment value, and I could use a smile. I swear this baby is kicking me on purpose today.”

Miranda crunched a bite of pickle then swallowed. “Jackson took a header down the porch steps while Cole was distracted. He called me on the way to the ER, begging for help, and I couldn’t turn him down. Luckily, the poor baby just had a nasty gash and nothing more serious, like a concussion.”

“That’s not a long story. Get to the good part.”

A smile tugged at her lips. “How do you know there
is
a good part?”

“Because you’ve been wandering around all morning with an absent look on your face, and I’m guessing Cole’s the reason. Spill the details.”

“I stayed the night at his place.”

Jenna straightened, and her brows shot up beneath wispy blonde bangs. “Now we’re talking!”

“Nothing happened.” She picked at the crust on her bread and bit her lip. “Well, only a couple of kisses, but I might as well have slept with him. One look into those bedroom eyes undid six months of trying to get over him.” She dropped the sandwich, scattering lettuce. “How stupid am I to love the man when there’s no chance of a future together, at least not one that includes a family.”

Leaning forward, Jenna covered her hand where it rested on the table and squeezed. “Are you sure about that?”

She sighed. “Yes. It’s why we broke up, and nothing has changed.”

“And you wouldn’t consider compromising?”

Jerking her hand back, she pressed it to the ache in her chest. “I’ve thought about it, but is making a sacrifice like that fair? I wouldn’t ask him to change his lifestyle for me.” She drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. “Maybe it would work for a while, but I can’t stand the thought that I’d grow to resent him. We’d both end up miserable in the long run.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“He wants to be friends, but I can’t. I just can’t.” When her voice rose on the last word, she cringed, but the room behind them remained quiet. “I have to find some way to get over him.”

Jenna squared her shoulders and pulled her phone out of the pocket of her smock. “What you need is another man to distract you.”

“I tried that with Brett. It didn’t work.”

Scrolling through her contacts, she glanced up and made a face. “Brett was boring. You need a really hot guy to take your mind off of Cole. Sizzling.”

“Redemption isn’t exactly loaded with single men oozing sex appeal, although it’s a lovely thought.” Shrugging, she picked up her sandwich and took another bite. “Eat your soup before it gets cold.”

“In a minute. Ha.” She pushed a button and lifted the phone to her ear, then glanced up at the ceiling as she waited. “Hey, Gabe, it’s Jenna. Can you give me a call when you get this? Thanks.”

“Gabe? Gabe who?”

“Gabe Tyler, my friend Nora’s brother. I’m sure you’ve seen him around town. Really tall with dark hair and the cutest dimple, owns the Rocking T ranch. He’s one of those all-work-and-no-play type of guys, but he definitely meets the hot criteria.”

“Are you kidding—”

“Shh, you’ll wake the kids.”

“I know who Gabe is, but the man never opens his mouth,” she hissed. “Talk about strong and silent…”

“Maybe you’ll be the one to get him to open up.”

Miranda clutched her head with both hands. “If he calls back, tell him you had a brain fart and dialed the wrong number.”

Choking on her soup, her friend gasped for breath. “You’re funny and beautiful. That’s a combo no man, including tall, dark and silent Gabe, can resist.”

“I’m mildly amusing and passably pretty, but I’d die of embarrassment if he told you no thanks.” She shook her head. “How desperate will I look if my friends are hooking me up?”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Give me a little credit for tact. By the time I’m finished with Gabe, he’ll think the whole date was his idea. You just leave it to me.”

A whimpering cry echoed from the room full of babies.

“I don’t want to leave it to you—damn.”

When a second wail sounded, Miranda jumped to her feet and hurried to reach the culprit. In the dimly lit room, Jackson stood in his crib, shaking the rail.

A smile lit his face when he saw her. “Ran, Ran, Ran.”

“Shh.” Bending, she picked him up and carried him out, giving his bottom a little pat.

Jenna heaved herself off the chair to place her empty soup bowl in the sink. “What’s wrong?”

“His diaper is wet. I wonder how much duct tape Cole used this time.”

“Excuse me?”

Laying the baby on a changing pad, she slipped off his pants. “Amazing.”

“What is?”

“The diaper. Looks like it was applied by a competent adult. Imagine that.”

Jenna laughed softly. “Cole is obviously full of surprises. I wonder…”

Glancing up, she gave her friend an enquiring look. “Wonder what?”

“Never mind. The girls in the corner are beginning to stir. I guess nap time is over early today.”

“Most good things end too soon.” She fastened a clean diaper on Jackson and smiled when he giggled and clapped his hands. “Time to get back to work.”

Hours later, she tapped her toe and stared out at the empty parking lot before glancing up at the clock on the wall. Five-fifteen and no sign of Cole.

“Are you sure you don’t mind if I leave? Troy invited a new client to dinner, and I’ve a few last minute details to attend to, even though Honey is catering the meal.”

Miranda turned away from the window. “I thought Honey had chicken pox.”

Jenna slipped the strap of her purse over her shoulder and rested her free hand on her belly. “She’s feeling better, though she still looks God awful, and she didn’t want to cancel on me completely. Chase is dropping off the food, and I’ll serve it.”

“For heaven’s sake, go. I’ll wait for Cole.”

“See you tomorrow, then.”

After the door shut behind her, the minutes ticked by. Apparently bored with the big, yellow dump truck, Jackson tossed it on the floor and let out a yell.

“I know exactly how you feel.” Squatting beside him, she lifted the baby in her arms. “Let’s try your uncle. Again.”

Jackson chirped approval.

Grabbing her cell phone off the table, she pressed redial and frowned when it immediately went to voice mail. She didn’t want to spend time alone with Cole, but he was forcing her hand.

With a sigh, she juggled Jackson on her hip. “Good thing I bought a spare car seat for emergencies.”

“Unka, Unka.”

Her lip curled. “Yep, we’re going to go find your uncle. Then I’m going to kill him.”

****

“Easy. Easy. You break the antlers, and there’ll be hell to pay.” Cole grunted and strained as he and the two haulers struggled to carry the moose up the ramp onto the trailer.

First, his usual guys were unavailable, so he’d been forced to go with another company. Then, they’d arrived an hour late, pissing him off to no end. And to top it off, one guy was about the size of a twelve-year-old girl and kept letting the rear feet drag. Fuming and sweating, Cole wrestled the overgrown hunk of art into position. He was fastening the straps to hold the moose in place when a blue bug barreled down the driveway, a cloud of dust spewing out behind it.

Miranda.
His spirits lifted—then dropped like a stone. Hell and damnation, he’d forgotten all about picking up Jackson.

With a long sigh, he tightened the remaining straps and signed the form on the driver’s clipboard. Then, with a final pat for the moose’s butt, he stepped away from the trailer. The engine fired up, and the truck eased around the bug to roll down the drive.

Miranda lifted Jackson from his car seat and stood close to the bumper while the baby waved toward the departing moose and screamed. Based on the fire in her eyes, she’d passed irritated and gone straight to furious some time ago. Cole pasted on his most endearing smile, the one that almost always worked with women when he’d done something stupid, and stepped forward.

“I can explain.”

“Don’t bother.” She wiped tears off Jackson’s cheeks with her thumb and shushed him. “Don’t cry. Your uncle will make you a new moose.”

“Bears. Next up is a trio of bears.”

She held out his nephew, and Cole took him. At least the crying had stopped.

“I really am sorry. Time got away from me. It’s been one of those days.”

“Imagine if all my parents used that excuse.”

A surge of annoyance stiffened his spine. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not a parent.”

Her lips tightened before she turned on her heel. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

All the fight drained out of him. It really had been a miserable day, starting with a carton of milk spilled across the kitchen floor and ending with the incompetent haulers. The only bright spot was the woman pulling open her car door.

“Don’t go yet. I have a couple of steaks I can throw on the grill. My way of apologizing for your time and trouble.”

Slowly, she turned to face him. “That’s probably not such a great idea.”

“Why not? We both have to eat. Unless you have other plans…” His stomach knotted as he waited for her answer.

“I think we’ve reached the saturation point in time spent together these last few days.”

He resettled the hat on his head and raised a brow. “Sick of me?”

“No, but—”

Swiveling on his boot heel, he headed toward the house, hoping against hope she’d follow. “You can make a salad while I start the grill.”

“Cole…”

The scuff of her shoe against gravel produced a satisfied grin. He picked up his pace, drawing her further away from the car and escape. If he could just get her inside…

“You act like we’re dating, and we’re not.” Her voice was breathless as she climbed the steps behind him.

The boy kicked and squirmed to get down, and he lowered Jackson to the porch floor next to Tucker’s bed. The dog gave him a long suffering look, but put up with a big, clumsy hug.