Harlequin American Romance May 2014 Bundle: One Night in Texas\The Cowboy's Destiny\A Baby for the Doctor\The Bull Rider's Family (16 page)

Chapter Fifteen

Angie saw the lights turn into her driveway. She ran to the back door. It was dark, but she knew it was Hardy. She’d been waiting and waiting. Where had he been, and why wasn’t he getting out of his truck? After a moment, a dark figure walked toward the door. She quickly opened it.

Hardy’s haggard appearance startled her. His dark hair was tousled as if he’d been running his fingers through it repeatedly. His pristine white shirt was wrinkled and a frown marred his handsome face. He brought the warmth of the night in with him, but her heart felt cold because she knew what he had to tell her wasn’t going to be good.

“May I see Erin?”

“Sure.”

She followed him down the hall into Erin’s room. He sat on the bed and brushed Erin’s hair from her face. Leaning over, he kissed her forehead.

“Daddy,” Erin whispered sleepily.

“Night, sleeping beauty.”

“Night.”

He got up and they went back into the kitchen.

“Do you have any coffee?” he asked.

She looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s almost ten.”

“You’re right. I’m wired enough.”

She opened the refrigerator. “I made lemonade today. How about a glass?”

“Do you have some vodka to put in it?” He pulled out a chair and took a seat.

“No.” She opened the refrigerator and removed the lemonade. Pouring two glasses, she asked, “That bad, huh?”

He ran his hands up his face. “A day I don’t want to relive.”

After placing the glasses on the table, she sat across from him. “What happened? Who filed the complaint?”

“Olivia.”

“What? Why would she do that?”

He told her the whole story.

“You’re positive your father had nothing to do with it?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“I don’t know what to say.
Bitch
comes to mind, but I know you cared about her. I’m sorry it turned out this way.”

He twisted the glass. “It’s over, so don’t worry about losing Erin. No one can take her from you.”

“Thank you.”

He ran his finger over the wetness of the glass. “I’ve been driving around trying to figure out a way to tell you something that I realized tonight for the first time. Or at least I allowed myself to realize it.”

Her breath stalled, and she wanted to say she didn’t need to know anything else, but that was a coward’s way out. She had to hear what he had to say.

“You were right. That summer long ago I fell in love, and I denied it every way I could for a reason.” He took a gulp of the lemonade as if it was pure vodka. “You see, my father had this future planned for me and I didn’t see you as someone to share that future with. You were young and...”

When he didn’t say anything else, she finished the sentence. “I wasn’t the type of woman you saw as your wife.”

“Yeah. I can’t believe I was that shallow. I don’t feel that way now—please, believe me.” Before she could find a response, he went on, “That’s why when you tried to talk to me when I first came back, I avoided you. I didn’t want to reopen that door to old feelings, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I only saw you as an obstacle to the future I had planned. You derailed me once, and I couldn’t let it happen again. Don’t feel bad about not getting in touch with me ten years ago. I probably wouldn’t have taken your call. So it’s all on me, Angie. Don’t ever blame yourself again.”

As he talked, a thread of pain wrapped around her heart. The more he talked, the more the thread tightened. But she would not give in to it. She would not creep away and bawl her eyes out. She’d always known she would never fit into his world.

“I’ve always felt I wasn’t good enough for you, but it was hard to tell my heart that.”

His gaze shot to hers. “Don’t say that. Coming here in the past few weeks, watching you with Erin and with your family and with your friends, I could see everything I couldn’t back then. I saw a loving, caring, compassionate woman who any man would be lucky to have.”

She got up and carried her glass to the sink. She turned to face him, leaning against the counter for support. “I think that now we have to forgive each other and move forward. We could blame each other forever and it would solve nothing. We had a wonderful summer that year and I would like to look back on it with fondness because we created Erin. What happened afterward was two people who had no clue of what they really wanted. At the time, they just wanted each other.”

His tortured eyes looked into hers. “Angie, I’d like to start over.”

She shook her head. “There’s no going back, Hardy. I’m a homebody. I love being a mother and I love cooking and taking care of my yard and my flowers. I have a lot of customers who depend on me, and I enjoy helping them and anyone who needs my help. That’s who I am. I’m not cut out to be a politician’s wife. I wasn’t then, and I’m not now. I’d hate going to parties, campaigning, asking for votes and generally just being out there. I’d much rather be at home. That makes me sound really old, but...”

He got up and walked to her. He cupped her face with his hands. She tensed. With his thumb, he caressed her cheek. “I’m sorry I hurt you. You’re the sweetest person I know and I wish I could go back and—”

“We can’t. As adults, we have to think of Erin and do what’s best for her. She will live with me and you can see her whenever you want. I hope we can make better choices for her together without arguing and without antagonism. If anything, we’ve grown from this.”

“Why do you have to be so nice? I wish you would yell at me, curse me or something.”

She placed her hands over his and entwined her fingers with his. “Please, just go.” She didn’t know how much more strength she had, and she was getting close to the breaking point.

“Goodbye, Angie.” With those words, he let go of her hands and walked out the door. Any dreams she’d harbored were gone. A tear ran down her cheek for a love that wasn’t meant to be.

* * *

H
ARDY
DIDN
’
T
SLEEP
much that night. His conscience wouldn’t let him. He’d hurt the most loving person on earth, and for that he couldn’t forgive himself. But he would go on. That was what life was about.

By morning he’d made a decision. His father wasn’t at the breakfast table, so he turned to Mavis. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s on the phone upstairs. I heard him when I was gathering laundry. I’m sure it’s some political strategy for your future.”

His father walked into the room, and Mavis handed him a cup coffee. “I called Olivia and she said I needed to talk to you. Did you break up with her?”

“Yes.”

“Hot damn. Now we’re talking.” As soon as the words left Mavis’s mouth, she clamped a hand over it.

Hardison Senior glared at her as he took a seat. “Don’t you have something to do in another part of the house?”

“Yes, sir. I have to clean the stinky cigars out of your study.” Mavis had been with them so long she had no qualms about voicing her opinion.

As soon as she left, his dad asked, “What happened?”

Hardy told his father everything about the day before.

“She used my name?”

“Yes, that’s why CPS looked into the complaint.”

“I never thought she’d go that far, but she saw what everyone else saw.”

“What?”

“That you’re smitten with your daughter...and the daughter’s mother.”

Hardy got up and placed his cup on the counter. “I’m not sure what the next step is, Dad. I want you to know that. Don’t push me. Don’t pressure me. This time I’m making a decision that’s for me—a decision for my future.”

“I kind of figured that. Take your time. You may not believe it, but I really do want you to be happy. But don’t think I’m giving up, either.”

Hardy was stunned for a second. He expected an argument—a big argument. He’d finally gotten through to his dad, and it was a relief. “Thanks. I wish Rachel was here. I really need to talk to her.”

“She’s not answering her phone again. She’s mad at me because I gave her a good talking-to the last time. I don’t know why she can’t come home. It’s as if she hates it here, and I know that’s not true.” He got up to refill his cup. “Kids will drive you crazy.”

“At the moment, mine only brings me joy.”

“You wait until she hits those teen years. You won’t even recognize her. Which reminds me. When are you bringing Erin to the house?”

“I’m not sure, but you can visit her at Angie’s. Just call.”

Hardy headed for his truck and the office. On the way, he called Erin. She was up and eating breakfast and actually answered the phone. Angie was putting clothes in the washer, Erin said. They talked until he reached the courthouse. His daughter was a chatterbox.

Alice was at her desk. He took his messages from her. “Wyatt’s looking for you.”

“Thanks. I’ll call him.” He walked into his office, sorting his messages. Wyatt came in behind him.

“I got word a little while ago that Nelda Cleck’s five-year-old son passed away.”

“Oh, man!” Hardy sank into his chair. Nelda’s boyfriend had beaten the boy into a coma two weeks ago. Hardy had really hoped the kid would pull through.

“The boyfriend’s out on bail,” Wyatt said. “What do you want me to do?”

“I’ll upgrade the charges, and you can pick him up. He’s going to do some hard time now.”

Wyatt shook his head. “I don’t know what makes a man do something like that.”

“Too much liquor, for one thing.” Hardy leaned forward. “Nelda lives in a two-bedroom trailer and has five more kids. I don’t know where they all sleep. At least we can get the boyfriend out of there.”

“We’re getting a bad environment in that trailer park. Don’t forget the meeting tonight with the mayor and the city council. They want us to keep crime down, but they’re gonna have to set some restrictions. Like how many people in a trailer and how many trailers on a lot. We patrol that area all the time, but we need some help from the city to stop the influx of hoods moving in.”

“What time is the meeting?”

“Seven.”

Wyatt moved for the door. “Call me when you have the paperwork ready.”

Crimes like the Cleck case got to Hardy. He stood and went to the window. He had a corner office and could see most of Horseshoe. Angie drove up and parked in front of her office. She must not be staying long because she usually parked around back. He watched as if mesmerized as she got the crutches out of the car and carried them around to Erin in the passenger side. Angie waited until Erin hopped up onto the curb and then retrieved a box out of the backseat. It looked like folders and her laptop. Before she could unlock her door, Mr. Zapota and Mrs. Whitfield stopped to chat. His daughter was doing most of the chatting. He could almost hear her voice.

Mrs. Watkins from the antiques store walked up. Angie was having a hard time getting into her office. Finally, AnaMarie opened the door from the inside and Angie and Erin were able to escape from the people who wanted to talk to them. He didn’t know why Angie thought she wasn’t a social person. Everyone liked her and enjoyed her company.

In that moment as he watched, something happened inside him. He wanted to run from his office down the steps of the courthouse and to Angie and Erin. They were everything he wanted. Nothing else mattered. They were his future. His present and his past. He took a deep breath, knowing that this time he had to take it slow so Angie would know that he really wanted her. Loved her. How did he do that?

* * *

A
NGIE
TRIED
NOT
to think of the conversation with Hardy, but most of the time it was right there at the edge of her consciousness. But she tried not to let it get to her. They would see each other often, so she had to be able to talk to him without any hurt feelings. Sometimes it was hard to let go of the dream. That was why she wouldn’t have a relationship with Hardy. She wanted him to have
his
dream. Soon he would realize it was for the best. He would make a great judge, and she had a feeling he would pursue politics at an even higher level.

The day was busy. Erin was doing fine, entertaining everyone who came into the bakery or Angie’s office. Angie went to the grocery store on the way home and wondered if Hardy would come by tonight. She had to stop thinking about him.

“It’s not fair!” Erin complained from the living room.

Angie put milk and orange juice into the refrigerator. “Erin, I’m getting tired of this.”

Someone tapped at the back door.

“Come in.”

Hardy stepped into her kitchen and her heart beat a little faster just at the sight of him. Was it always going to be that way?

“Where’s Erin?” he asked.

“In the living room pouting.”

“I’m not pouting,” Erin shouted. “I’m mad.”

“What’s going on?” Hardy wanted to know.

“The Fourth of July picnic and parade is a few days away and she’s just realized she won’t be able to ride her bicycle in the parade with Jody like she always does. They decorate the bikes in red, white and blue. They’ve done it every year since they were about five.”

Hardy walked into the living room. Angie continued to put up the groceries, but she had one ear tuned to everything that was being said in the other room.

“It’s not fair, Daddy,” Erin said. “I have to sit and watch.”

“You know, I have a red convertible Camaro I used to drive in college. It’s in the garage at the ranch. I’ll see if I can get it running, and then you can ride in the parade. You can sit in the back and wave like a beauty queen.”

“Can Jody ride, too?”

“If her parents say it’s okay.”

“Ah, Mama, did you hear?” Erin’s voice was now filled with excitement.

“Yes, I heard,” Angie said from the doorway. She remembered the car. Hardy had looked like a movie star driving it. Well, to her innocent eyes, he had.

Hardy got to his feet. “I’ll go home and see if it still runs.”

“I’ll call Uncle Bubba.” Erin reached for her crutches. “He fixes a lot of old cars.”

“Now, you know your uncle and I don’t get along that well.”

“Don’t worry,” was Erin’s response. “I’ll talk to him, and he’ll do anything for me.”