Capturing Our Lady's Heart [Commando Cowboys and Renegade Texans Unite 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) (3 page)

She tried to not stare at the inside of the ranch house. But that was impossible. As Bliss walked with Clara through the living room, she noted the large leather chairs, a wooden table in front of them, and an enormous fireplace taking up most of one wall. It shouted male. There were no soft touches. Magazines on farming, cattle, and the sort covered the few tables. The walls were tan and the curtains a darker brown. She smelled the scents of leather, and the remnants of a fire.

“Hurry, Auntie Bliss.” Clara pulled on her hand.

“Sorry, honey. I was looking at Mr. Aznar’s house.” They walked into the hallway and found the bathroom, the second door on the left.

When Clara had finished and had washed her hands, they stepped out in the hallway. Bern waited in the living room. “I thought I’d make sure you found the bathroom. Would you like a tour of the downstairs?”

“I couldn’t put you to the trouble and take you away from your guests.”

“They’re doing fine.” He took her arm and led her into the dining room. “We don’t use this room much. I suppose when I marry my wife might want to have fancy dinners.” He led her on into the kitchen.

“Oh, it’s lovely.”

“My favorite spot, too. I have a cook, and she said she wouldn’t work for me unless I redid the kitchen to suit her.”

“Mrs. Stout?”

“Yes, she comes four times a week and cooks meals, then freezes them. She’s good.”

Bliss smiled. “That’s why she can be bossy. But she was right about this kitchen. It’s lovely and gives the person cooking plenty of space to move around.” Bliss nodded at a door. “Is that the pantry?”

“You must see it. Mrs. Stout was very particular about having a big pantry.” He opened the door.

“It’s wonderful.” Bliss walked into the huge pantry. It was arranged neatly with everything in a specific place.

“I’m glad you like the kitchen. I saw you frowning at my living room.”

“You were looking in the door at me.”

“I wanted to be sure you found your way.”

She noted the twinkle in his eye and suspected he and his friend were much alike. “I’d better take Clara out to play.”

“Sure. I’ll show you the rest on your next visit.”

“Unless you have another barbecue for the neighbors, I doubt I’ll be back.” She took Clara’s hand and marched out of the house.

“Oh, I think we’ll meet here again,” Bern said as she hurried off to join Sunn.

“Looks like you rattled our lady, too. She’s so much fun to tease,” Lann said. “I think I’ll walk across the yard and join the group of men that includes her brother.”

“I’ll go with you. This should be interesting.”

The men looked surprised when Lann and Bern stopped beside them. “Do you mind if we join you? I wanted to introduce my friend and new neighbor, Lann Quinlain,” Bern said.

Lann shook each hand as they were individually introduced.

When Bern got to Alan Meades, he said, “He’s Bliss’s brother, Alan. You met her earlier.”

“You have a lovely sister and daughter.”

Alan shrugged. “You don’t have to be polite. She’s a bit plain, but has a good heart.”

“Your sister, or your daughter?” Lann’s jaw tightened.

The men chuckled, and Alan turned red. “My sister, of course,” he snapped.

“She’s the prettiest woman I’ve seen in a long time,” Lann drawled. He kept eye contact with Alan and noted his clenched fists. “I understand she’s helping you with your children, temporarily.”

Alan stepped forward, his chin went up. “My business and my sister’s is none of yours.”

“True.” Lann shrugged. “Unless, I decide to make it mine.”

“What type of friend is this, Bern? I doubt he’ll fit in our community very well.”

“Give him a chance. He sort of grows on you.” Bern grinned.

“Sorry I riled you, Alan. Actually I’d like to have a business discussion with you in the next few days. When would be convenient for you?”

“I can’t think of any business I want to do with you, Mr. Quinlain.”

“All right. I just thought it might be profitable for you and help me out.” Lann started to walk off.

“Wait. I can give you a few minutes tomorrow morning at my ranch.”

“Is nine o’clock all right?”

“Yes.”

“Bern, I think there are a few other guests I haven’t met. Then I’d like to borrow your truck and go see my new house.”

They said good-bye and headed toward the corral where one of Bern’s cowboys was letting the children ride a pony. Lann noted the smiling faces and children’s laughter. Bliss and her friend sat on the rail, urging the kids on. She didn’t see Bern or him coming up behind her.

“I can remember riding my pony. My dad walked the pony and me around the corral. I thought I was so big.”

Startled, Bliss turned too fast and fell backward. Lann caught her in his arms. “Look at what I found,” he grinned at Bern. “Let’s keep her.”

“Sounds good to me.” Bern winked at Bliss.

“Put me down this minute. I’m not usually so clumsy. But when you spoke right behind me, you surprised me.”

“But you fit just right in my arms.”

“Mr. Aznar, make him put me down.” Bliss pushed at Lann’s shoulders and chest.

“Here, Bern. See if she likes you better.” Lann handed Bliss off to his friend.

“Stop this right now. I am not a sack of potatoes to be thrown back and forth.”

“Sorry, Bliss, I’ll set your feet on the ground. But I have to agree with Lann, you feel right in my arms, too.”

* * * *

She shook her skirt out. “Have you both gone crazy?”

“Nope.” Lann touched her skirt. “Where did you get the material for that dress? It looks like a potato sack and hides your pretty body.”

“You won’t get anywhere with compliments. I know I’m not pretty. Go away, both of you.”

“If you insist. But we’ll be around. We won’t let you forget us,” Lann said.

Bliss put her hands on her hips and glared at both men. Smiling, they walked away.

“What I am going to do with those two?” she said to Sunn.

“I’d take them to bed, and then maybe I’d marry them.”

“Sunn!”

“Just saying they’re two very handsome men, and they seem taken with you.”

“Bern has that scar and limp.”

“Does it bother you?”

“No, it makes him more interesting and sexy. But I don’t want to like them.”

“Keep telling yourself that, but I doubt it will work.”

“What about you?” Bliss swung her arm out to encompass the groups of men talking and drinking. “Who are you interested in?”

“I have my eye on a few. We’ll see. First, I want to watch your courtship.”

“There isn’t going to be a courtship. Here comes Alan. I’d better get the boys and Clara from where they’re standing in line to ride the pony again. They’ve already had two turns. Alan doesn’t look like he’s in the mood to wait for them to have another.

Her nephews and niece pleaded, but Alan was emphatic. “I’ve had enough. We’re going home.”

As Alan shuffled his children toward the truck, Bliss said good-bye to Sunn. She noticed Lann and Bern talking with some men she’d not met. It must have been more of the new neighbors.

“I can take you and the kids home later,” Sunn offered.

“I appreciate it, but they’re tired and I have to get them settled for school tomorrow.”

“Remember, you told him a month. Keep to it and open your shop.”

“Bliss, come and get in the truck,” Alan yelled across the yard. Bliss blushed when several of the men’s heads turned, including Lann’s and Alan’s.

She stalked across to Alan. “If you yell at me one more time, I’ll move out that moment.” She swung up and into the seat, then slammed her door.

“You wouldn’t.” Alan frowned at her. He’d gotten into the driver’s seat and took off with the wheels squealing.

“Watch me.”

“You wanted to stay longer to flirt with those two, Quinlain and Bern. They’re playing with you. They can have any beautiful woman they want.”

Bliss stared out the window. A soft hand reached between the seats and touched her arm. “I think you are beautiful, Auntie Bliss.”

She couldn’t look at Clara for the tears running down her face. She cleared her throat and thanked her. But the little girl knew. She climbed over the seat and into Bliss’s arms.

“Don’t cry. I’ll kiss it all better,” Clara said, repeating what Bliss said to them when they were upset. Then she kissed Bliss’s face and hugged her neck.

Bliss buried her face in the curve of Clara’s sweet neck. She still smelled like a baby, although this year she attended a half-day, four-year-old prekindergarten class.

When Alan parked, Bliss got out and sent the children upstairs to take showers. “Clara, I’ll be along to help you bathe. Undress and put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”

She walked in the kitchen and found Alan pulling out another beer. “You’ve had enough.”

He took long strides and got into her space. “You don’t order me around in my own home. My wife didn’t, and you don’t.”

“You have the same stupid opinion of women that Dad had. It’s from the past. No wonder she left you.”

The slap rang loud. Bliss put her hand to her face. “Did you hit Addie, too?” She hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Alan came to the doorway and called up to her. “I’m sorry, sis. Everything is overwhelming me right now, and I’m stressed.”

Bliss ignored him. She went to her room and put powder on the red spot. He’d hit her hard.

I'll have to cover it with makeup when I go to town to see about starting my lingerie shop and finding a place to live. I have to leave as soon as possible, not four weeks from now.

Clara came to her door, naked. “I’m ready, Auntie Bliss.”

“So you are. Let’s go dump you in the tub.” She grabbed Clara around the waist and carried her to her bedroom and through to the bath. Once the water was running, she sat Clara down in it.

Suddenly, Clara’s lip stuck out. “I love you, Auntie Bliss, but I miss my momma.”

“I know, sweetie. You’ll see her soon.”

“Promise?” Clara’s eyes brightened.

“I promise.”
If I have to take you and the boys there against Alan’s will.

Once the children were in bed, they went instantly asleep. They’d worn themselves out. Bliss took her shower, put on her pajamas, and sat at her small desk. She unlocked the drawer that held her plans for her lingerie shop and her checkbook.

The store she’d wanted to rent before had come available again about two weeks ago. There was a small apartment above the shop she hoped to rent and live in. But she’d had to use some of her savings the last two years, and she’d barely had enough when she’d previously planned to open her shop.

Bliss had studied and made a business plan. It would take months to start seeing a profit. She didn’t like the thought, but Sunn was right. Her only alternative was to borrow from the bank. It would take a huge leap of faith to do all of this, leave the children, move, and start fulfilling her dream.

I’m going to do it. I’ll go see the landlord tomorrow and ask for a reduction in the rent on the shop and apartment. Then I’ll go to the bank.

Walking to the window, she looked out at the familiar scene she’d known since childhood. This was an enormous step. If she faltered, Alan would let her fall all the way. Good, she didn’t need his help or want to think she was relying on him to rescue her.

This was her life and she going to take charge of it, at last.

Lann parked the truck in front of the new ranch house and got out. Someone had placed hanging baskets filled with red geraniums around the wide front porch. He’d had the porch painted a slate gray, and the white rockers and colorful flowers added a welcoming touch. It looked just as he’d imagined.

He pulled the key out of his pocket and opened the front door. The smell of fresh paint made him wrinkle his nose. He’d asked Rae and Cassie to come down and see the place, choose the colors, and pick the furniture. He’d seen other homes they did and they had a knack for fitting the owner’s personality to their house.

The living room had a huge, stone fireplace at one end.

To the left were two full-length windows. The walls had been painted a very pale silvery blue. He liked the brightness it created.

As he walked through, he realized they had captured his personality. His study walls were a golden-brown wood and on the floor was a brilliant red-and-gold rug. Apparently some of his furnishings had arrived.

Lann took the stairs two at a time. At the end of the hall was his massive master’s suite. He had a king-sized bedroom set coming and chairs to go in front of the smaller corner fireplace. In here the colors went from light to a darker green.

The master bath had a jetted tub and a shower big enough for three with four jets set around the tiled enclosure.