Her Small-Town Cowboy (20 page)

That excitement bubbled across the airy connection, and he knew what she wanted to tell him. But he played dumb to give her the satisfaction of saying it herself. “Yeah? What’s up?”

“I got a job offer to team teach kindergarten with Mrs. Howard in the fall. She wants more time at home but doesn’t want to stop teaching altogether, so she suggested the two of us could work with the class together. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Not a bit. Good teachers are hard to find, and you did a great job for them. They’re smart to come up with a way to keep you there. Congratulations, Lily.”

“Thanks. I’m pretty psyched.”

“I can tell,” he replied with a chuckle. “I’d say fantastic news like this calls for a nice dinner. Whattya say?”

“I say I’d love to have dinner with you. It’s sweet of you to think of it.”

“Yeah, I’m like that now.”

“So I’ve noticed,” she said in a ribbing tone. “How’s your day going so far?”

“It’s been kinda up and down. We got that last round of hay into the barn, but the tractor died partway through, so we had to haul the rest in our pickups. Now I’m at the café with Dana.”

“Is that an up or a down?”

He chuckled. “Little of both, as usual. After we finish eating, she’s heading to her hotel and then coming out to the farm.”

“Mike, I’m so glad to hear that. Abby must be anxious about meeting her, and it’s good not to make her wait any longer than you have to.”

Lily’s endless concern for his daughter still amazed him. That she could have so much love for someone else’s child only highlighted what he valued most about her.

She cared. Deeply and honestly, without reservation or wondering what was in it for her. She was the kind of woman even a jaded guy like him could fall in love with if he wasn’t careful.

Shoving the romantic notion aside, he asked, “So, when should I pick you up for dinner?”

“Actually, I’d like to see Dana again, if you don’t mind.”

Having her there would probably make the whole deal go much easier for him, and he appreciated her suggesting it. “It’s fine with me. Thanks for thinking of it.”

“I have to go home and change, then I’ll meet you at the farm.”

“Cool. See you later.”

After she’d said goodbye and hung up, he thumbed his phone off and stared at the picture on his home screen for a few seconds. It was of Lily with her arms wrapped around Abby from behind while they were riding double on Gideon. Framed by a clear blue sky and acres of bluegrass, they were laughing at something he’d said just before he snapped the shutter on his camera.

His rodeo girls,
he thought, smiling as the background faded to black. They sure were a sweet pair.

Chapter Eleven

L
ater that afternoon, Abby and Lily were in the kitchen, dishing up kibble for the dogs. With Charlie around, Sarge had taken more of an interest in the family, and he seemed to enjoy having his meals in the house now. It was satisfying to see the old terrier warming up to the people who’d taken him in, and Charlie seemed to enjoy having an older buddy to look up to.

When a snazzy red convertible pulled into the turnaround, one glance out the window showed Lily their visitor was Dana. Stepping from the car, she shook out her blond hair and looked around with a curious expression on her face. Mike had told her his ex-wife had never seen the farm where he’d grown up, and Lily couldn’t help wondering what Dana thought of the place.

True to his word, Mike strolled down from the porch and greeted her politely, hands stuck in the front pockets of his jeans. It was a seemingly casual pose Lily had come to understand meant he wasn’t thrilled with what he was facing but would clench his fists and tough it out because that’s what he had to do.

Apparently, Abby picked up on the gesture, too, because she cast a worried look up at Lily. “Daddy doesn’t want to do this, does he?”

“He wants what’s best for you,” Lily said as diplomatically as she could manage. Reaching out, she flipped the girl’s sun-streaked French braid back over her shoulder. “Since you want to meet your mom, he’ll go along to make you happy.”

“That’s what he said, too,” she whispered in a miserable tone. But she was staring at their guest, clearly fascinated by the stranger who was her long-absent mother. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Very. You look just like her.”

Swiveling to Lily, those china-blue eyes rounded with astonishment. “Do you really think so?”

“Yes, I do.” Sensing a little levity would help defuse the girl’s conflicting feelings, she forced a lighthearted giggle. “In about ten years, your daddy’s going to have his hands full keeping the boys in line.”

“I’ll take care of them myself,” Abby insisted with a confidence Lily wished she’d had at that age. It had taken her a long time to figure out what kind of life she wanted, much less come up with a way to make it happen.

“I don’t doubt that a bit. Are you ready to go meet your mom?”

To her surprise, Abby slipped her small hand into Lily’s, casting a pleading look up at her. “Will you come with me?”

She was touched by the girl’s faith in her, but Lily hesitated. “This is family business. Maybe I should wait in here.”

“You’re family,” Abby informed her matter-of-factly. “Besides, if you’re there, Daddy will feel better. He’s always happier when you’re around.”

The unexpected revelation made what had been a fabulous day even better, and Lily relented with a smile. “Whatever you want, sweetie.”

Hand in hand, they walked onto the front porch, where Dana was sitting on the swing, sipping lemonade from a tall glass. Mike stood with his back to the railing, arms crossed and jaw set with determination to somehow make it through what must be a terribly awkward situation for both of them. Lily couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their voices were calm enough, and to her it seemed that they were trading small talk like civilized people. Apparently, breaking the ice with lunch had been a good idea.

When she and Abby appeared at the end of the porch, Dana’s eyes flicked to her daughter and settled there with a wistfulness that tugged at Lily’s soft heart. Standing, the slender woman glanced at Mike, who answered her unspoken question with a single nod. He kept his cool, though, staying where he was and allowing her to meet Abby on her own.

“Hello, Abby.” Clearly terrified that she might be rejected, Dana offered a faint smile. “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other, so you probably don’t remember me. I’m your mother.”

Abby gave the woman a thoughtful once-over and met her gaze as directly as any adult could have managed under the same circumstances. “I know. Lily says I look like you.”

That comment hung in the air like a bomb waiting to go off, and Lily debated whether or not to step in and smooth the road a little. Finally, she offered her hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Dana. Did you have any trouble getting here?”

“My rental car has a GPS system, so I was fine. I have something for you, Abby,” she added as if she’d just recalled that. She took a festively wrapped box from the wicker table and handed it to her daughter. “It’s something I would’ve liked when I was a young lady like you. I hope you like it.”

Abby flashed Mike a questioning look, and his jaw relaxed just enough for him to give her an encouraging smile. “It’s okay, Abs. It’s from your mom, so you can open it.”

While the girl tore into her present, Dana caught Mike’s eye and mouthed, “Thank you.” His expression softened ever so slightly, and he nodded again. Seeing his bitterness ebb even that tiny amount was like watching an iceberg begin to thaw, and Lily fought down the impulse to reward him with a hug. She knew it wasn’t easy for him to trust his ex-wife this way, and Lily recognized it was a huge step forward for this stubborn, protective man who’d captivated her from the first time she laid eyes on him.

Putting that thought aside, she dragged her mind back to the front porch and Abby’s gift. Inside the wrapping was a white jewelry box with running horses painted around the sides and a lovely horse head on the lid.

“Open it,” Dana urged. When Abby obliged, the music box began playing a gentle, soothing tune. “It’s a Native American lullaby a friend of ours in New Mexico wrote for you when you were born. I used to sing it to you when you were a baby.”

After listening for a few moments, Abby closed the lid but kept the box cradled in her hands. Glancing over at Mike, she asked, “Did your friend really write that song for me?”

“Yes, he did. He was older than me, so he kind of thought of you like the granddaughter he never had.”

Reassured, she met Dana’s anxious gaze with a direct one of her own. It wasn’t exactly a trusting look, Lily noticed, but it was much less skeptical than it had been a few minutes ago. “It’s very pretty. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Your dad said you’ve got a new puppy. Do you think I could meet him?”

“His name is Charlie. He just ate, so he’s in the barn with Sarge.”

“That’s okay,” Dana replied eagerly. “I like barns.”

The poor woman was so on edge, Lily suspected she’d do absolutely anything Abby wanted her to do. That she’d had a gift specially made for her daughter said something about the lengths Dana was willing to go to reconcile with Abby, and Lily silently urged the girl to give her mother a chance.

Setting the jewelry box on the table, Abby gazed up at Dana as if she was trying to make up her mind. Finally, she said, “He still jumps on people sometimes.”

“No problem. I’m sturdier than I look.”

Now that she’d made something akin to progress, some of the tension left Dana’s face. The rest of it fell away when Abby took her hand and led her down the steps toward the barn. Watching them go, Lily realized she’d been holding her breath. She let it out in a relieved rush and turned to Mike. “I think that went well.”

“Yeah.” Sinking into a wicker chair, he crossed a boot over the knee of his threadbare jeans and sighed. “I guess Dana showing up here was for the best.”

“Best for Abby, or for you?” Sitting in the chair beside his, Lily poured them each a glass of lemonade. After handing Mike his drink, she curled up in the generous seat and took a sip.

He gave her a long look that told her nothing about what was going on behind those impossibly blue eyes. If he hadn’t looked so much like a windblown surfer, she’d have described him as dark and mysterious. It wasn’t the only contradiction she’d noticed in this strong, stubborn man, but it was definitely one of the most intriguing.

“I’m not following you,” he finally said.

“Carrying a grudge takes a lot out of a person. It’s energy they could use for more productive things.”

“Such as?”

“Love,” she blurted without thinking. The corners of his eyes crinkled just a tad, but he didn’t tease her for having her head in the clouds, as she’d expected. Taking that as a prompt to continue, she went on. “Letting go of bitter memories leaves us open for new things that are much more important.”

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Totally stunned to hear this formerly lost sheep quoting the Bible, Lily stammered, “Yes, I suppose so.”

“One of Dad’s favorite sayings,” Mike confided with a smile. “I guess I was so angry over what’s gone on these past few years, I forgot how important that is.” Reaching over, he took Lily’s hand and wrapped it in his much larger one. “But now I remember, thanks to you.”

“I— Well— Um—” Realizing she sounded like a complete idiot, Lily swallowed some lemonade to buy time for her to regain her composure. The warmth of Mike’s fingers on hers made it almost impossible for her to think, but the last thing she wanted was for him to let her go. Ever.

Flashing her one of those cocky grins, he chuckled. “Y’know, for a college girl you’re pretty easy to rattle.”

“I had a sheltered upbringing,” she confessed shyly.

“Yeah, I figured. It’s kinda nice to find a woman who’s not obsessed with her job or jaded from being kicked around by her ex.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, since I can’t change it.”

“That’s good to hear, ’cause you’re perfect just the way you are.”

Leaning in to bridge the gap between them, he brushed a gentle kiss over her lips. She got the impression that he was asking her a question, and she sighed in response. She felt him smile, then he reached out a calloused hand to cradle her cheek and draw her in for another, much longer kiss.

When he pulled away, she summoned a smile for him. He deserved to know the truth about her, but the selfish part of her wanted to keep this perfect moment just as it was, unspoiled by reality. She understood that loyalty meant everything to Mike, a trait reinforced by his long-term bitterness over Dana’s betrayal. When Mike found out who Lily really was, she feared the memory of this very special afternoon would be all she’d have left of what might have been.

But as wrong as it had been to deceive him, it was worse to continue the charade. Judging by her reaction to his touch, their relationship was rapidly sliding past the friendship stage and into something that was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. He had a right to know the truth about her before things between them went any further.

Then, out of nowhere, a long black limousine appeared at the end of the driveway and slowly made its way toward the parking area near the house. The license plate read LSG1, and she barely held back a gasp when her terrified heart launched itself into her throat.

“He must be lost,” Mike said with a chuckle, pushing up from the arms of his chair. “I’ll see if I can get him straightened out.”

Reaching out, Lily stopped him with a hand on his arm. He gave her a questioning look, then seemed to pick up on her reaction to their visitor and frowned. “What is it?”

“He isn’t lost,” she explained simply. “He’s here for me.”

Mike’s eyes flicked to the car, then settled back on her like a lead weight. In them she saw a swirling mix of emotions, none of them good. He didn’t say anything, and as the silence stretched between them, she felt the distance growing with each nervous heartbeat.

“This isn’t how I wanted to tell you.” Hearing the tremor in her voice, she paused to steady her nerves as she stood up. “The car belongs to my grandfather Leland St. George. He owns—”