TEXAS ROADS (A Miller's Creek Novel Book 1) (18 page)

“Maybe so. I promised J. C. I’d help him and the old geezers clean out a couple of buildings.”

He took notice of the news. It wouldn’t hurt to be on hand while she was downtown. Just to keep an eye on things. “I’ll try to drop by and help. What time will you be there?”

She glanced at the clock, the same expression on her face as when he’d invited himself to stay for a cup of coffee. “Hmmm, I don’t really know. I’ve got a couple of other errands to run first.”

He wasn’t letting her off the hook that easy. “Like what? We could meet for lunch and then get to work on that cleaning project.”

“I already have lunch plans, but thanks anyway. I’m eating at the ranch.”

Suspicions surged to the surface like bits of ocean debris after a hurricane. Why did she spend more time at the ranch than he did?

Chapter Nineteen

D
ani peeked furtively between the mini-blinds of the daycare office window. Good. No one should walk in on her unannounced like Steve and Mama Beth always did. The kids and workers congregated on the playground and would remain there until the heat forced them inside. Cell phone to her ear, she faced the door. Andy answered on the second ring.

“It’s me, Andy. Sorry I hung up on you earlier, but this time it was Mama Beth who walked in on our conversation.” She hated keeping secrets from her aunt—hated the sneaking around—but it was the only way. Dani nibbled her thumbnail. Father and Mother had utilized their wealth to purchase people’s admiration and friendship. In a word, to manipulate, and she refused to follow their example. From her front-row perspective, she’d seen enough of their grand-standing to leave a permanent sour taste in her mouth.

Muffled voices sounded over the phone before Andy spoke. “No problem. Listen, we have a couple of law students clerking for us this summer, and they can handle a lot of my work load here. That will allow me to spend a few days a week in Miller’s Creek to keep up with this paperwork.”

“Okay.”

“Just okay? I was hoping you missed me more than that.” His words took on a mock tone of hurt.

Her spine stiffened. Was he serious? She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

Andy’s voice flattened. “Never mind, I’ll see you on Friday.”

Friday? She eyed the applications she’d just approved. They needed to be processed now. “Okay, but I’m going to fax some approved applications for you to forward to Steve.”

After goodbyes were said, she flipped her phone shut and powered up the fax machine. While it hummed and zipped, her thoughts returned to the conversation with Andy. Surely he wasn’t interested in her as more than just a good friend. Anything else would be awkward.

Laying the next application on the machine, she closed the lid and punched the button. Steve made life awkward enough. His latest behavior had her bamboozled. At first he seemed overly eager to be around her, but not in a good way, almost as if he didn’t trust her. Here lately he’d been distant and aloof, and his visits to the house timed for when she was gone.

Dani released a heavy sigh. The renovation would be through in a few months. Then hopefully she and Steve could resume their original camaraderie. She missed their friendly banter. She missed him. The realization rattled her. Maybe it was a good thing that the renovation project kept them both busy.

Once she finished the paperwork, she stuffed the requests for funding into her bag, peered out the window, and smiled. Now she could do what she’d been itching to do all day—spend time with the kids.

The shaded canopy of pecan trees behind her aunt’s daycare provided the perfect location for children to play during the heat of summer. She breathed deep of the morning air. This place was an anchor of sanity in her chaotic life.

Her gaze traveled the playground, pain coursing through her. She squeezed her eyes shut. Having a child of her own would never happen, just an old dream that wasn’t meant to be.

Moisture gathered in her eyes, but seeing Little Bo brought a frown. He straddled the sand box wall in front of her, tears streaming down his round cheeks. She hurried to him, intentionally slowing her pace as she approached. “Hi. Can I sit here?”

He hoisted one shoulder, then sniffled and wiped his face against his shirt.

Dani perched on the big timbers surrounding the sand pit, dug one hand in the sand, and allowed it to sift between her fingers. Little Bo’s light brown eyes focused on the movement, and he joined her. “You want to tell me what’s wrong?” She took care to keep her tone non-confrontational.

He didn’t answer.

Maybe a back door approach would work better. “Seen any movies lately?”

Another shrug.

“I heard about a good kid’s movie showing in Morganville. Maybe we can go sometime.”

Again no response. Okay, she was running out of ideas here. She brightened at the next thought. This would work. “Your mom told me you got a new horse.”

Bingo! A big grin that reminded her of Steve spread across his face. “Yeah, I named him Domino, ’cause he has spots all over him!”

She laughed out loud at his enthusiasm, but the ache in her heart for a child of her own returned with a stabbing intensity. What would it be like to cradle a child of her own in her arms, to watch him take his first steps, to hear him call her Mama?

* * *

Steve eyed the encroaching pile of paper stacked on his desk. At first he’d been able to keep up with the requests for funding and had thrown himself into the work, mainly as a distraction to keep his mind off Dani. But over the past three days the workload had tripled, with more and more people adding their applications to the pile. Would the mysterious donor be put off by all these requests? He shook the thought off like a dog after a swim. As if he didn’t already have enough to worry about. Why add more?

He circled his head to relieve the tension in his shoulders and neck, every creak and pop a reminder of age. In addition to the paperwork, his personal responsibilities mounted. Mom’s health declined more everyday. Part of him wanted to pray for her suffering to end, but that kind of prayer seemed almost impossible. How could you pray for something when it meant loss for you and those you loved?

Dani had been so good to visit his parents, and though he didn’t understand her motives, he was grateful. He clasped his hands behind his neck and stretched out straight in the chair. The image of her happy face at church yesterday floated to his mind. Country life certainly agreed with her. She’d changed somehow, as if her sorrow had been gently erased and replaced with joy. Was it because of God or Andy? The thought of losing her thrust ice through his veins, and he immediately chastised himself. You couldn’t lose something that wasn’t yours.

His office phone buzzed. He punched the speaker button and leaned forward to hear Wanda’s nasally voice. “Trish on line one.”

He smiled, clicked to the other line, and brought the phone to his ear. “Hey, Sis.”

“How much do you love your little sister?”

A chuckle erupted. “Okay, what do you want?”

“I’m doing some shopping in Morganville and running a wee bit behind.” From her pleading tone he could visualize her puppy-dog eyes. “I called Doc, but he’s snowed under. And I think Dani must already be at the daycare. Can you pick up Little Bo for me? I promised him I’d be there before lunch.”

Steve viewed his own snowy mountain of paperwork and raised his eyebrows. “Sure, why not?” Besides, if Dani was at the daycare...

“I owe you, big brother.”

“Yep, but I can be bought for the right price.”

Her throaty laughter made him grin. “Okay, I’ll bake you a batch of caramel brownies. How’s that?”

“Perfect.”

He hung up, gathered the papers, and stood, suddenly overjoyed at the prospect of spending time with his nephew. Or could it be the chance to see Dani? The walk into the open sunshine planted a sense of freedom within him, like a kid on the first day of summer vacation. A ton of work screamed for his attention, but he shut it out and continued to walk away. He needed this. He’d swing by the daycare to get Bo, treat him to an ice cream, then dash to the lake for a picnic, boat ride, and afternoon swim.

A short two blocks’ drive placed him at the country blue bungalow now converted into Just for Kids daycare. Mama Beth kept the place looking like a storybook cottage, with white shutters and planter boxes loaded with flowers. The carefree laughter of children at play brought a grin to his face and sent him in the direction of the playground. A little girl pointed him to the sandbox, where Bo sat deep in conversation with Dani as they built a sandcastle.

His heart skipped a beat, and he puzzled over why the scene evoked such a strong reaction. Steve pressed his lips together. Probably best if he didn’t think too long on that question. He sauntered toward them, neither one noticing him until he spoke. “Is this a private conversation or can anyone join?”

“Uncle Steve!” Bo yelled out his words, then jumped up and engulfed him in a hug that knocked the air from his lungs.

“Hmph.” Steve brought a hand to his abdomen with a soft chuckle. “Hey, Tiger, how are you?” He tousled his nephew’s hair.

Bo’s eyes twinkled. “Good. I was telling Dani about Domino.”

“You were?”

“Yep. Why are you here?” Bo squinted up at him and pooched out his lips.

“Well, your mom’s shopping—”

His nephew rolled his eyes. “Girls!”

Dani’s laughter pealed like ringing bells. “Hey watch it, bud. I’m a girl.” She reached over and tickled his belly.

Bo giggled and ducked behind him. Steve grabbed him by the arms and swung him around in a semi-circle. “Why don’t you play with your friends for a few more minutes, and then we’ll leave.”

“Roger, over and out.” Off like a streak, he made car sounds with his lips while he sprinted toward his friends.

Dani’s yearning gaze followed Bo until he disappeared in a crowd of kids. She turned a smiling face to him, and he caught his breath. Could she hear his heart jack-hammering against his shirt? “Looks like y’all were having a serious conversation.”

A slight frown creased her forehead. “I think he must’ve had a disagreement with one of his friends. He was sitting here by himself and crying, but once I mentioned his horse all was forgotten.”

Steve shifted his weight and searched for words, but none came. He hated this tongue-tied feeling. The light scent of her perfume drifted past his nose, and beads of sweat broke out under his collar.

Dani squinted toward a group of kids standing nearby. “One of the things I love most about kids is they’re so forgiving. One minute they’re hurt and upset, and the next back to being best buddies.”

The light shining in her eyes sent his heart back into jack-hammer mode. She’d make a great mother. He swallowed, trying to wash away the cotton that formed in his mouth.

Her expression darkened as she faced him, her words hesitant. “Speaking of forgiving, I want you to know I’m sorry if I did something to upset you.”

“Me? Upset?” He sat down beside her.

“A couple of weeks ago when you brought Andy over you seemed upset. And a few times since then I felt it again. I thought maybe I’d offended you in some way.”

A pang jabbed him in the ribs. He’d been a jerk, and she was the one apologizing. “I wasn’t upset at you. I have a lot on my mind right now.”

“Is that why we haven’t seen much of you lately?”

Her scrutiny made him squirm like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He nodded. The renovation, the ranch, his mother, they’d all been his excuse. But if the truth be told, he’d avoided her because of the instant attachment she and Andy had formed. It hurt to admit he was attracted to a woman who didn’t return his feelings.

She chewed her lower lip and surveyed the playground, the morning sun coloring her face a golden hue. “I saw your Mom and Dad earlier.”

“Yeah, Dad mentioned you’d stopped by.”

“He seems so lonely.” The outer corners of her eyes and mouth sank.

The punch to his gut hit its target. Except for five-minute rushed conversations, he’d been too busy to do anything about Dad’s loneliness. He let out a deep breath. “So Little Bo told you about Domino?”

Dani’s lips curved into a smile. “He’s so excited about that horse. Can’t say I blame him.” Her eyes took on a distant look. “I remember wanting a horse when I was his age. Probably wouldn’t have gone over well with the neighborhood’s homeowner association in North Dallas.”

Steve smiled with her, but could think of nothing to say in response. Her childhood seemed somehow lacking. Each moment grew more uncomfortable as he struggled to find words. Nothing. He rose to his feet, hat in hand, and stared at the dusty toes of his boots. “Well, guess I’d better go. See you later.”

A small crinkle appeared between her brows. “Oh, okay. Bye.”

When he left with Bo two minutes later, Dani still crouched in the same spot, her chin propped on one fist, in her eyes a longing. He paused hoping to catch her attention, but she never glanced his way.

Later that evening, with Little Bo safely deposited at home, he wandered to the wooden fence encircling the horse paddock. The horses grazed in the hush of evening, the tips of the trees golden in the ebbing daylight.

His nephew’s pinto pony reminded him of the earlier conversation with Dani, and he emitted a heavy sigh. Good grief, he was thirty-eight years old. Why was it so hard to ask her for a date? Surely she’d agree to at least a movie. His lips pursed. No, he wanted more. He wanted conversation so they could get to know each other. So he could find out where she stood with God. But how? He shook himself and peered at Domino, a smile broadening on his face.

He had his answer.