COWBOY FOR SALE--A Second-Chances Spicy Romance (24 page)

Courtney's eyes studied her intensely. “Oh. Well, I guess I just sort of jumped to conclusions—”

“No harm done.” Lacey stood up, hoping Courtney would take the hint to leave.

Courtney stood and smiled weakly. “Well, thanks for being so nice to me. Maybe you can do my hair some time.”

Lacey turned away without replying.
Was the woman nuts?
She bit down hard on her lower lip to prevent herself from lecturing the woman on how she had thrown away a perfectly good life and a darling little girl for the so-called glamour of her career. Didn't she realize that, these days, many women handled both?

At the door, she watched as Courtney drove off in a bright red two-seater sports car.

“Yes,” Lacey whispered, “Jared is a good father to your little one, and I hope you don't discover, when you're old and gray, how much you missed by not being there for her.”

Even in her dazed anger, Lacey felt a little sorry for Courtney.

***

Jared drove up the mountain in a state of shock.
Denver?
He hadn't expected to be thrown a curve ball like Denver. He swallowed hard, struggling with feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Every fiber in his body felt numb.

How could she be so casual about it? Learning that she was moving halfway across the country had caught him completely off guard and left him feeling paralyzed. This was not something he could control, he admitted, and part of him recognized he should just let it go.

Her career was important, he knew that. And the promotion was an indisputable indication she was achieving her life goals, a concrete example of her desire to succeed, proof of her aspiration for independence.

His conscience argued that he should be proud of her achievements, not angry that her path was unconventional in his eyes.

Like Courtney's had been.

Her name rebounded painfully in his head. Why did there have to be a choice—only one way? A vision of his daughter materialized in his mind, and his heart skipped a beat. Jamie was the best thing that had ever happened to him and he didn't regret any of the pain and suffering he'd gone through to have her…and to keep her. It had all been well worth the time and effort, and all the blood, sweat, and tears. And every penny he’d spent on the best attorney in California.

Jared slapped the steering wheel, his fingers tingling from the impact.

And who the hell was Chad?

Let it go, he argued with himself.

Let her go.

Maybe it was for the best, he thought.

Not so
, his heart whispered.

Chapter Seventeen

“Daaaa-dy, Auntie Jo is here.”

Jamie's lilting voice interrupted Jared's concentration.

“Ask her to fix you something to eat, okay?” he called back.

He needed just a few more minutes to finish trimming Dolly's tough, triangular-shaped toenails. He had saved her for last so he could take his time. Because she was white, her toenails needed checking—and usually trimming—every three months compared to the annual trimming the dark alpacas typically needed. She was so docile and calm she allowed him to do it on his own, not like some of the others that made the trimming a two-person job.

“There, there,” he cooed, “just one more nip.” He carefully clipped her toenails just to the level of her soft pad. Dolly was his oldest and favorite alpaca. His first. She was a superior breeding female and had produced quite a brood of offspring—progeny easy to sell due to their good temperament and lustrous white fiber. It was as though she’d found her niche as a birther and mother. And her temperament made her a perfect pet, and easy to show. Jamie had been able to lead her around by a halter since she could walk.

Returning her foot to the ground, Jared stroked the animal’s neck, murmuring softly. She brought her nose to his neck, sniffing delicately. “Yes, you are my favorite,” he reassured her in a soothing voice, “now, go tend to your little cria.”

Jared watched as the gentle creature crossed the pen to return to her offspring, who was anxiously waiting to nurse. She’d carried her for almost a year to the day, and Jamie had hoped the young alpaca would be born on her birthday so they could be siblings. He’d laughed at that, though a part of him recognized it might be her way of wishing for a little brother or sister.

For now, maybe forever, she would have the crias and the herd as her playmates…her siblings.

Checking his watch, he realized he had just enough time to shower and get to the Rockin' Ranch before the first set. Glenn was back playing bass with the group but had asked him to fill-in tonight. Relatives were in town to visit the baby and he’d wanted to be there to proudly show her off.

Jared understood how precious this time was. He'd loved every stage of his daughter's life, including her infancy. Now she was getting ready to start school. Lately he’d the unmistakable feeling that time was slipping away much too quickly.

At the back porch he unlaced his work boots and left them outside. Jo was in the kitchen stir-frying vegetables and shrimp.

“Smells good,” he said.

“Are you eating with us?” she asked. “Everything will be ready in about ten minutes.”

“I'll shower quick,” he said with a grin, walking down the hall toward the bathroom.

As he passed the doorway to Jamie's room, she called out, “Do you think she's coming?”

“Who?”

“Daaaa-dy. You know…the lady who cut my hair, the nice Lacey-lady.” She sent him a “get serious” look that imitated her Aunt Jo perfectly.

“So sorry.” He bent to ruffle her hair. “She said she would. We'll have to wait and see.”

“But the party's tomorrow,” she said, her eyes wide. “Can't you call her and ask her?”

Jared winced. By the sweetness in her voice it was apparent that Lacey's presence at Jamie's fifth birthday party was vital. “We'll see, Sugar Plum, now Daddy's got to take a shower and go to work. I think Auntie Jo could use some help setting the table, okay?”

“Okay. I hope she comes, that's all.”

“So do I, Jamie.” He was surprised that his answer was really true. He did hope she came to the party. He wanted to say a proper goodbye. Because it would be goodbye, he reminded himself. The fact was that he would mostly likely never see Lacey Murdock again.

In the days since he'd seen Lacey at the salon, Jared had rationalized how her move to Denver would simplify everything. No decisions remained for him to make. She had already done that.

There was also a comprehension of relief. Her decision certainly released him from the onus of confessing his feelings about her—and at least he now knew precisely how diametrically opposed her feelings were.

The days had dragged since he'd seen her, and though Jared had found he'd been able to control his thoughts during the day, the nights had been difficult. Over and over he'd dreamed heart-pounding versions of their passionate night together. In his dreams, they'd made love everywhere in the secluded mountain cabin—in the hot tub, in the four-poster, in the kitchen, even outside on a quilt under the tall pines.

Each morning he'd awakened, still reeling from the memory of her touch, her fragrance, just the thought of her. Each morning he shrugged off the delicious remnants of the unwanted dreams.

As he stepped into the shower, he allowed his thoughts to create a picture of her in his mind. Immediately, his groin ached in response. Shaking his head, he knew it would just take time, time to get over the nagging, painful question about what might have been.

***

“Thanks for being such a good sport,” Kandy said, her voice increasing in volume to compete with the music as she and Lacey walked in the door of the Rockin' Ranch. “Everyone really wanted to get together one last time before you got too busy getting ready to move.”

Lacey nodded. She noticed Hank had been replaced at the door with a rather homely, serious-looking older man. Probably much safer, she thought, her stomach clenching at the memory of Hank. She shuddered.

She'd learned a lot from the experience, lessons she hoped to never repeat. She was in control of her life now. Her plans were materializing, just as she'd visualized—new job, new environment. It was just what she needed. The nagging pang of loneliness would disappear, she knew, as soon as she was on her way.

As soon as she was far enough away.

“Hey, Lacey!” Gloria's voice came out of the crowd ahead of them and she managed to work her way through the mob to meet them.

“Hi, Gloria—how was your sister's wedding?” Lacey asked.

“Thanks to you, I looked better than the bride. I hear you got some big promotion and you're movin', huh?”

Lacey nodded. “Time to try something new.”

“Well, my hair and I will miss you terribly. Kandy, some of the gals are already at the reserved table on the dance floor.” Gloria pointed, then twirled to service a table of customers.

“C'mon, Lacey, follow me and be careful of your foot,” said Kandy as she blazed a trail toward the dance floor.

Lacey avoided looking at the stage, suppressing the part of her that hoped Jared was playing, even though she had heard from Kandy that the band’s regular bass player had returned.

Even though she hadn't seen him since the day he'd shown up at the salon, her nights were still restless because of him, filled with strange dreams—endless walks toward mountains that kept moving further away; running through airports unable to find the right departure gate; even Jamie's sweet little face, tears on her pink cheeks.

Shaking off the unwanted feeling of sadness, Lacey forced a smile, returning her attention to the going-away party. She waved at the table filled with stylists from the salon, with the addition of several other women she knew from the mall.

The chair they'd saved for her placed her back to the band. Before she sat down, though, she sneaked a peek at the stage, quickly locating a man she assumed was the bass player. She shrugged off the hint of disappointment and concentrated on trying to hear the conversation at the table.

She felt distracted, nervous. Too many reminders of Jared, she decided. Forcing a smile, she pretended to listen to the girl-talk going on around her. The reality of it was, she was not in the mood to be there.

“What you gals need is some champagne, and it's on the house.” Gloria unloaded her tray of wine glasses in the center of the table, followed by four bottles of champagne.

As Lacey helped pour sparkling liquid into glasses, she realized how much she was going to miss her co-workers and her clients. Surprisingly, she also realized she considered most of them her friends. Her work had become an important aspect of her life.

“To Lacey and her big adventure,” Kandy said, raising her glass for the toast, “whatever that might be.”

Lacey frowned, then quickly replaced it with a smile. Why did she suddenly feel unsure of herself? Probably because I'm here, she admitted, and too close to the origin of her distress. Too close to the memory of Jared.

She looked up to see everyone waiting for her, glasses raised. “To adventure,” she responded, and leaned forward to clink glasses with everyone, laughing at their insistence that each person touch her glass for luck.

A favorite line dance song started and Kandy grabbed two of the women to join her on the dance floor. Though her ankle was almost healed, Lacey gratefully used her injury as an excuse not to join the crowd.

She watched as Kandy worked her way to the front of the crowd, to dance where she and Luke could grin at one another. Lacey sighed. They were so in love. And she really was happy for Kandy. Maybe a little envious. Luke had even brought up the “m” word, Kandy had confided. Lacey had hugged her and given her blessings. From everything Kandy had told her, Luke was a decent, hardworking man. And he doted on Kandy. His face glowed when he looked at her from the stage.

“Lacey?” One of the salon's newest stylists leaned across the table, attempting to get her attention.

Lacey looked at her, trying to read her lips. “I didn't get that—what did you say?”

“I said, can you go with me to the bathroom and fix my braid? I can feel it slipping.” The girl pointed to the back of her head.

Lacey nodded and scooted her chair away from the table, and indicated to her that she'd meet her there.

In the restroom she fixed the loose braid, then stopped to run her fingers through her own hair. The end of the summer humidity had tightened her waves, actually shortening her hair by a few inches. Her fingers caught in the tangled ends as she tried to smooth her dark auburn waves.

She checked the knot on her new halter dress, a recent gift from Kandy. She suspected it was the sister to the peach-colored one she’d borrowed. The faded blue denim material was nice, though it was still a little more daring than she was used to; deep neckline, fitted bodice, full skirt.

Definitely a dancing dress.

She frowned at her reflection.

Loosen up. Have some fun.