Second Chance Cowboy (11 page)

Yeah, how could he forget?

She came downstairs dressed in the
yellow number asking if he could zip her. He zipped her all right.
He took her on his desk, his chair, and because it was so good the
first time, back on the desk. The yellow dress never made it back
onto her body that evening.

“
Let’s get out of here.” He
wanted to get away with her. He planted warm kisses along her jaw,
keeping his hands from diving underneath the material of the dress
to see if she wore sexy underwear. She’d always been good at
surprising him with amazing silks and laces. Sometimes he’d have to
apologize because in his hurry to get her naked he used his teeth
to tear the pieces off her body. She never seemed to
mind.

“
Leave the room out, or
leave the Swift Wind out?” Her breath spilled across his
cheek.

“
Let’s leave the Swift
Wind.”

Questions marred her expression. She
didn’t seem to believe what she heard. “You do realize it’s nine AM
on a weekday, right?”

“
I also realize I don’t
give a damn.” He stretched his fingers through her hair, loving the
feel against his rough hands. “There’s nothing needing done which
can’t wait until later.”

“
Who am I to
argue?”

“
There’s someplace I’d like
to take you.” He breathed in her vanilla scent. “Make that two
places.” He wiggled his eyebrows to give her a hint what he
thought.

She laughed and it sounded sweet. He
could listen to her all day.

“
Surprise me.”

Chapter Ten

“
WHERE ARE WE going,
Chance?” Carly asked. They entered the highway toward San Antonio
and her curiosity grew. Beads of sweat trickled between her
breasts. The sun’s rays beat through the window. She flipped the
vent on the dashboard sending the crisp air directly on her. The AC
cooled her skin.

“
You said to surprise
you.”

“
I can’t wait any longer.”
Excitement washed over her. She resisted the urge to giggle like a
schoolgirl.

“
I know it’s been a while,
but do you remember where I took you on our first date?”

“
Our first date was at the
McAllister.” She looked at him in accusation. “I know we’re not
going there since we’re heading in the wrong direction. Do I need
to remind you of that Fourth of July picnic? It changed our lives
forever. That evening left a few broken hearts in Shelby because I
stole the cowboy.” She smiled in conceited pleasure.

“
You don’t sound a bit
sorry for those women.” He tapped his fingers against the steering
wheel in rhythm to the Tim McGraw song playing on the
radio.

She couldn’t resist swaying her
shoulders to the tune. “Not even in the slightest. Let them find
their own handsome cowboy.” She dropped her hand to his muscular
thigh and rubbed the pads of her fingers across the soft denim.
“You’re mine.”

His fingers stilled on the vinyl. He
squirmed and adjusted in the leather seat. “Okay, the place I took
you on our second date.”

Turning in the passenger seat, she
slipped off her sunglasses to get a better look at him. His black
Stetson hung low on his forehead, hiding his expression.

“
Are you kidding? How could
I forget?” She laughed at the unintentional joke. “I can’t forget
our second date, the third, the fourth and so on… I walked on cloud
nine being with
the
Chance Taylor. You were bachelor of the
year two times running.”

“
Are you making fun of me?”
He shook his head, rubbing his smooth chin. “Do you have to remind
me?”

“
You should be proud. Think
of the money you raised for the charity event that year.” The
auction was for the San Antonio Elite Club and the proceeds
benefited various local non-profit agencies.

Looking back, she remembered making a
call to a friend chairperson. Carly had asked for Chance Taylor’s
seat, by mere fluke, of course, to be assigned to the McAllister
table. She’d heard through the grapevine that Chance would be
attending the event, alone, and she had every intention of
re-introducing herself to him. She’d had a crush on him since she
was a girl playing with dolls and he was a hunky teen that didn’t
even glance in her direction.

Carly thought back and the heat of
blush shimmied across her body. She’d planned to smoothly snare
Chance’s attention with her expensive, low-cut gown and deftly
applied makeup, but instead she’d spilled red wine down the front
of his nice tuxedo. Embarrassed by her clumsiness, she had wanted
to crawl away, but she’d been shocked when he had started talking
to her.

Now, one corner of his mouth kinked.
“You winning me in the bachelor auction could only be described in
one word—fate.”

She skimmed her fingers along his
inner thigh. “You should have seen the killer looks I received from
the women who’d brought their entire savings in hope to bid and win
the
Chance Taylor, bachelor of the year.”

He rolled a broad shoulder underneath
the chambray shirt. “I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. And the dress
you wore,
wow
.” He swiped his hand low on his chest and
tapped his hand rhythmically over his heart. “Smoking hot. I
couldn’t believe you were the same girl grown up into a lovely
woman.”

“
You know, I put a lot of
planning into that evening. The wine had ruined your white shirt
and I thought I’d screwed my chances. Every time you looked my way
my blood pressure skyrocketed.”

“
Baby, I thought the way
you attempted to wipe the wetness from my clothes was the sweetest
thing, not to mention the sexiest. Each time you moved I got a
glimpse of your cleavage.”

Her mouth fell open in shock. “So, you
did notice.”

“
How could I have
resisted?” He tilted his chin and laughed.

The banter would have continued if
they hadn’t arrived at their destination. Chance parked the truck
along the street of The Riverwalk and helped Carly out.

The Riverwalk held warm memories for
Carly. Chance had proposed to her one balmy evening in July while
they rode in the private gondola. Fireworks had lit the sky above
them yet they couldn’t take their eyes off each other to watch the
spectacular show. Every time she strolled along the brick walkway
encompassing the narrow waterway a rush of emotion enveloped her in
its clutch hold.

They walked down a set of stairs and
Carly stopped on the path to watch a boat float merrily on the
water. The soft sounds of a local band playing handmade stringed
instruments wafted across the slight breeze. She glanced further in
the distance where the group lounged and played on the stone steps
leading to the busy street above.

The tourist attraction was a shopper’s
paradise and restaurant lover’s heaven, sure to please the appetite
of any visitor.

She and Chance walked hand in hand,
stopping along the curved path where a waterfall glided serenely
over a jagged rock wall. Chance pointed in the direction of a
gelato vendor. “Would you like some?”

“
Sounds
delicious.”

Chance went to get their gelato and
Carly sat on a nearby bench. Resting, she watched the gondola pass
down below. Craning her neck over the black wrought iron fence, she
smiled at passengers who intertwined arms and sang
Amazing
Grace
.

In the last bench seat, a young man
and woman sat with heads touching in a gesture of love and
intimacy. A transparent veil covered the woman’s dark flowing hair
and the handsome man next to her held the corner of a poster board,
reading
Just Married.

The scene touched her. Her eyes
brimmed with tears and she fought them down. She should be smiling,
not allowing sad emotion to carry her away in its
whirlwind.

Carly turned her head away from the
water and she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. A woman
stopped next to the bench and leaned into the fence. She palmed her
pregnant stomach, holding it protectively and lovingly. The lovely
mom-to-be smiled and relaxed into the pair of arms that wrapped
around her extended midsection. A contented expression flooded her
face. The woman rested her head back onto the man’s shoulder, in
complete trust and happiness.

A pain shot through Carly. An
indescribable twinge rushed over her, making her heart beat in
ragged tempo. A flash of bright white encased her mind in its tight
grip and pressure clutched her temples. She squinted against the
pain. She dropped her forehead into her palm. Loud beating...
Machines everywhere... White... Everything was snowy.

Nauseated, she bit back a rumble of
bile.

“
Here you are.” Chance’s
voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

With great effort on her part, she
smiled. She took the chocolate cone he offered and licked the
creamy sweetness. She didn’t want Chance knowing she had a wash of
illness. He’d want to leave and she didn’t want to ruin the
beautiful day.

“
Are you okay? You’re
pale.” Concern crinkled the corners of his mouth and
eyes.

“
I’m fine, honestly. It’s
getting warm sitting here in the sun.” She swiped the sweat
droplets from her forehead. It very well could have been the
brightness of the sun and heat causing her to feel unwell. Although
instinct told her it was more.

“
Let’s find a spot in the
shade.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “I’d
rather walk, if it’s okay with you.”

The frozen treat cooled her insides
and the breeze coming off the water was nice against her skin.
Walking did help.

The morning passed and the sun lifted
directly overhead. The crowd lessened. Visitors found refuge from
the sticky heat of the afternoon and disappeared inside to
shop.

“
Are you hungry?” Chance
asked.

She hadn’t thought about eating until
now and her stomach growled in exclamation. The only food of
substance she’d eaten was the piece of bacon that
morning.

They decided on a Mexican restaurant
known for its outstanding fare of soft tacos, spicy burritos and
Spanish rice. The perfect spot for an afternoon meal and break, the
white tables lining the courtyard overlooked the waterway and
nearby the musicians played a soft melody. Bright blue and red
colored umbrellas topped the tables, sheltering patrons from the
sun’s rays. Chance chose a table in the corner, away from the
others.

When the waiter came, they ordered
their meals and Carly initiated the subject which had bothered her
since she came back to the Swift Wind.

“
Chance—”

“
That’s a serious
expression.”

“
It’s a serious subject.”
Carly breathed in deeply. A frown appeared on his face. Had he
expected this topic to come although he couldn’t possibly have
known what her thoughts were? A loud clang sounded from inside the
restaurant and Carly jumped.

“
Hey, are you okay?” The
gentle kindness in his eyes soothed her.

“
When I fell, the accident…
I don’t know. It may be my imagination...”

Chance leaned closer, placing his
elbows on the table. “What is it, Carly?”

“
Have we been trying to get
pregnant?”

He popped back into his seat as if
he’d been splashed with a bucket of cold water. “No, we weren’t.
Why?”

Her gaze connected with his. He seemed
edgy, not like him at all. Emotion bubbled inside her. She uneasily
swept a tendril of hair behind her ear.

“
My mind, my memory, it
plays like a movie. Sometimes it’s on play and running smoothly,
then sometimes it fast forwards or rewinds. I’m overcome with a
vision or a feeling. I can’t seem to place it.” She took a sip of
water and was grateful for the wetness in her dry mouth. “I saw a
woman, earlier, she was pregnant, and well, I associated with the
feelings of a baby inside my stomach.”

“
Do you know the
woman?”

Shaking her head, she sighed. “No, I
didn’t recognize her. It wasn’t concerning her. It was the unborn
child.” She flicked him a glance, trying to decipher his blank
expression.

Chance didn’t speak right away. When
he did, his voice came low and sympathetic. “Carly, you have wanted
a child for a long time.”

“
Is that why I stopped
taking the Pill?”

His tan turned two shades lighter.
“You stopped taking the Pill?”

“
I can’t find my Pill
packet anywhere. I’ve always kept it in the nightstand drawer, yet
when I looked there yesterday morning, it was gone. I searched and
couldn’t find it. So, my question is, was I taking the Pill before
the accident? Wouldn’t I have told you if I stopped?” A tightening
sensation developed in her chest. Was it possible she discontinued
birth control without his knowledge?

She couldn’t remember.

“
I believe you would have
told me, Carly.” He drank thirstily from his glass and set it down
with a clink. “No problem. You can call the doctor and get another
prescription.”