Second Ride Cowboy (Second Chance Series) (10 page)

Ava seemed quite interested in the bits of carrots and green beans on her highchair tray, and Duke seemed just as interested in the child. Lila could see he was still a bit hesitant when it came to his daughter, but he’d come a long way in such a short period of time. He’d literally become an overnight father.

Was Carly right? It appeared his wall was gone, or at least crumbling.

Lila sat quietly through dinner, listening to the casual conversation. When everyone finished, the Taylors were packing up to leave and Lila pulled Chance to the side, away from Carly’s earshot.

“What’s wrong?” Chance asked.

“Nothing, at least not yet,” Lila kept her voice low. “I’m worried about Carly.”

Chance’s eyes widened. “Has she told you something that I don’t know?”

Lila shook her head. “With all of the trouble she’s had I’m afraid if she doesn’t get enough rest she’s going to get preeclampsia.”

“Preeclampsia?” One brow curved.

“It’s caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy and can be very dangerous because some women don’t even realize they’re sick.”

Chance’s face paled. “Do you think she has it? She goes to the doctor regularly,” he said.

“I don’t think she has it yet, but she needs to relax. The only person who has any control over her is you. You’re going to have to encourage her to stay sedentary until this baby is born.” Lila looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. She could hear Carly and Duke talking in the other room.

“And how the hell do I get her to do that? She’s as stubborn as a mule.” He pushed his Stetson further back on his forehead.

“I don’t know. You’ll think of something I’m sure. But I do have one suggestion.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Hire another housekeeper, at least until Thelma returns. I’m sure that’d take a lot of pressure off Carly.”

Chance hesitated and finally said, “I’d do anything to help Carly. I think you’re right.”

Lila smiled. Never in a million years would she have believed Chance would tell her she was right.

“Are you ready?”

Lila turned around at the sound of Carly’s voice. She had Chancelor in one arm and diaper bag in the other.

Chance moved past Lila and grabbed the baby and the bag. “You shouldn’t be lifting anything, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the lips. “I’ll meet you in the car.”

He was gone and Carly looked at Lila with a questioning gaze. “What did you say to him?” she asked.

“Nothing.” Lila pulled Carly in for a hug. “Get some rest, okay?”

After Carly left, Lila went in search of Duke. He was clearing the table and Ava was sitting patiently in her highchair watching him. Her heart pained with love. When he saw her, she said, “I’m going to take Ava to bed. Why don’t you rest and let me take care of the dishes?”

Duke shook his head. “I’m capable of helping. In fact, why don’t you let me take Ava to bed? That is, if you think she’ll be okay with me taking her.” Did he sense her hesitation?

Lila couldn’t think of any reason why he shouldn’t. It was hard to allow someone to step in after she’d been the only parent for this long, but Duke just wasn’t
someone
. He was Ava’s father. “You can try.”

“And I’ll take care of the dishes when I’m done with Ava. You go and kick back. You deserve it.” Duke set down the plates and wiped his hands on a napkin. As he looked at Ava, a crooked smile lit his features. “Will you come with me?” He held out his arms for her.

Ava paused, looked up at Lila then back at Duke. “Go with daddy.” Lila said. Blue eyes peered up at her. Lila knew this was the beginning of change. She needed to encourage it. “It’s okay, little one. Daddy will read you a story.”

Lila watched as Duke took Ava. She giggled and her eyes twinkled. She looked so small in his arms and against his broad chest. Lila was fully aware how protective and strong Duke could be. He still emanated power and masculinity.

He walked away, Ava with him. He had a noticeable limp but his strength was coming back. Lila could see the difference. Going out onto the ranch with Chance was exactly what Duke needed—a morale booster.

Duke and Ava disappeared and Lila wiped her tears on a napkin. This was a miracle. But would Duke see it as such?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A WEEK HAD passed since dinner with the Taylors and a lot had changed on the McAllister. Duke had been out working every day.  He’d gotten into a routine—out at the break of dawn and in at dark. He’d read Ava a story, take her to bed, then he’d disappear into his bedroom. Dillon had told her yesterday, in jest, that Duke was a slave driver, but she didn’t doubt it was true. Duke had always driven his workers to give one-hundred percent at all times. This was the man she remembered before the accident. Strong, capable and commanding.

She’d walked into the field hoping to speak to Duke, but she stood mesmerized at the view.  The afternoon sun beat down on Lila’s bare shoulders but she didn’t care. She watched Duke hammer the broken fence post a few feet away. He’d taken his shirt off and his torso was slick with sweat, tanned and toned. He was breathtakingly handsome.  

“You plan to stand there all day staring at me, or you got something to say?”

The sharpness in his tone made Lila jump. She swallowed. Could he see the need in her expression? Inside she burned with desire.

He grabbed his shirt from the rail and pulled it on. Did he do it to hide the scars? She missed the sight of him partially nude. “You didn’t have to get dressed on my account. I’ve seen it all before,” she teased. He looked at her and continued to close several buttons. It was normal that he’d feel self-conscious about the scars on his chest. If she’d been the one with the marks, overcoming her new appearance would take time.

“Are you a peeper now? You hiding in the shadow of that tree makes you look quite suspicious.”

She started to deny his accusation when his laughter stopped her. He was mocking her, although, truthfully, she’d been staring at him for quite some time. In a way, it did make her a peeper. “I came down to ask if you want to have dinner tonight.”

“Are you asking me if I want to eat, or are you asking me if I want to eat with you?” He grabbed water from the cooler, uncapped the bottle and gulped down half of it.

Yeah, he was making this hard on her. She got that. “Dinner with
me
.” She moved across the grass toward him as a breeze swept through her hair. It felt heavenly.

“Isn’t that against the rules?” He tossed his empty plastic container into the cooler and shut the lid with his foot. He slid his fingers through his thick hair and it made her heart tumble.  

“Are you making rules now?” She leaned against the top railing of the fence.

“I’m assuming there are boundaries for a man and woman living under one roof and only have a platonic relationship.”

“I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s platonic. After all, what we shared—”

“I haven’t seen Lucas around in a while.” He swung his arms over the fence and relaxed.

“Are you still jealous over him?”

“Jealous? Hell no.” His gaze held hers. “We’ve already established the fact that you two aren’t an item.”

“If that’s the case, how often are you going to use his name?”

“I’ll admit, I was a jerk when it came to Lucas.”

“An apology is better late than never I suppose.” One shoulder strap slipped down her arm and she didn’t bother pushing it back in place. Bringing her leg up, she adjusted her booted foot on the bottom board. Duke’s gaze skimmed the area where the hem of her skirt lifted on her thigh. She wished he’d touch her, like he had many times before. Probably wasn’t going to happen—at least not here in the open field underneath the sky. If she thought she could seduce him, she’d find a barn to hide behind and let passion take its toll.

“Let me ask, sweetheart, do you think about having sex as much as I do?”

The penetration of his stare was comparable to a laser, making her squirm. Her girly muscles twitched. How could one man hold such power over her libido? “Are you flirting?”

“The other day, in my bedroom, can’t say I minded what we’d shared. However, you leaving

with Lucas afterward sure did put a pain in my gut.”

She swallowed. He was opening up. “I had to give his ring back. It seemed a good time.”

“I bet it drove him crazy when he heard I’d come out of my coma. Then you and I moved in here, together. Did he see his opportunity fade?”

“He has no reason for resentment.” Moisture trickled between her breasts. Where was the breeze when needed?

“The hell he doesn’t. If I were in that man’s shoes I’d be sweating bullets thinking about the woman I love being here with another man—the father of her child.” One corner of his mouth curved upward. He liked this, obviously.

“It doesn’t seem like we live together. You and I barely see each other.” And it bothered her. Why hide that fact?

“You missing me are you?” His brow lifted.

“Yeah, what’s not to miss about a horse’s ass?”

“It’s the sex, I bet.” He laughed. “Sweetheart, I know you. I can gamble on it, just like I can tie a knot in a rope blindfolded. There are some things a man can never forget.” His gaze lowered to her chest. She could have been naked and wouldn’t have felt barer. His eyes swept back up to her face. “A woman’s scent, her taste, the feel of her writhing under his hips. Some memories lodge themselves so deep in a man’s mind that no matter how much he digs they only burrow deeper.”

He pushed away from rail and took three short steps toward her. She gripped the wood in anticipation until she thought she’d break her nails. Would he kiss her?
Oh God, she wanted his kiss.
She wanted him to rip her dress from her body and make passionate love to her, knowing what pleasure she could have with him.

He didn’t touch her, at least not yet. He leaned closer and her nostrils filled with his musk scent. She wanted to lick the beads of dampness from his body as he filled her with his sex. Her core moistened and a fire burned like sweet agony.

Closing her eyes, she invited his kiss. No reward came. Opening them, she stared at him in frustration. He reached past her and grabbed his Stetson from the post. He smiled as if he knew he’d sent her close to the edge only to drop her off a cliff.

Lila sighed. Her heightened emotions were that of a shunned woman. She had an idea the ogre taunted her and it sent anger spiraling through every nerve ending. “The invite was nothing more than the two of us needing to discuss Ava. I hope you didn’t think I was planning a romantic dinner with dessert in bed.”

“I can’t make tonight. I have dinner plans,” he said as he slid on his hat.

“Plans?”

“I’m meeting Leslie Bakerfield.” He turned and started toward the barn. Lila quickly followed, rushing to keep up with his fast stride.

“Leslie Bakerfield? The vet? The one who tried to break up Chance and Carly?”

“She didn’t try to break anyone up. There’s more to that story.” He didn’t stop. He just kept walking.

“Dinner? Why dinner?” This may be crossing a line she knew, but Lila didn’t care. She remembered how much trouble that woman had caused Carly.

He reached the barn door and turned to her. “Did I ask you why Lucas took you to dinner the other night?”

She couldn’t find a good retaliation. “It’s different, and certainly not what you thought it was.”

“And maybe having dinner with Leslie isn’t what you think.” He entered the building and started moving bales of hay.

Lila wasn’t giving up yet. “Carly will have your head for this.”

Duke kept working. “Carly’s not my boss.”

“Unbelievable. I’d say that’s betraying your friend.”

He threw one last bale and stomped across the straw covered floor until he reached her. Lila felt the rage of his penetrating stare. “Don’t toss betrayal around in front of me. You’re standing here talking to me as if you own me. You’re jealous. You keep putting me down for my feelings, yet it doesn’t feel so grand when the shoe is on the other foot, does it?”

“Get real, Duke. How often are you going to lust after Chance’s women?” The air snapped. She wasn’t sure what was wrong but it seemed her tongue was possessed. Guilt coursed through her. He’d never crossed a line with Carly, and the crush had turned to friendship long before Lila was in the picture. She’d never been jealous, but her insecurities and doubts were getting ugly. How had it gotten this far?

“I’d like to take you over my knee and swat your bottom.” His voice was low and dangerous.

“Don’t you dare!” she said through tight lips.

“I know what you need.” Before Lila could gather the meaning, he had his hands on her shoulders and he was pulling her hard against his chest. His lips descended on hers with a fury of a starving man as he pushed his tongue inside her mouth. She brought her hands up with the intention to push him away, but found herself reflexively wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

The deep kiss continued as he searched her with his lips and tongue. His hands rubbed her back and the curve of her waist. Lila moved closer, standing on her tiptoes, wanting all that he had to give. He grew behind his zipper, proving to her that he was virile and full of desire.

Lowering her palm to his chest, she smoothed it downward until she reached the waist of his belt. With trembling fingers, she undid the leather, but his hand came down and gently grasped her wrist. He pulled his head away and his breathing was ragged. “You know where this is leading.”

She looked up into his piercing gaze. “You…don’t…want…this?” she said between gasps of air.

“I’m a lot of things, Lila, but I won’t take advantage of a situation.” He kept his steely stare on her. “Do you want me?”

Her pulse slowed. “Take advantage? How can that be possible? I’m willing and ready. I’m practically throwing myself at you.” She sucked in a needed calming breath. “I want you, Duke.” She touched his cheek with the tips of her fingers.

“Not here.” He looked around the space, lifted her into his arms and carried her to a back stall. Placing her on her feet, he entwined his fingers in her hair. “You make me lose my mind.”

“Stop talking,” she whispered and stood on tiptoes, kissing his jaw, along his neck and gently sucking his skin, followed by licking. She dropped to her knees and quickly undid his belt buckle, button and zipper. His cock was iron hard as she brought him to her mouth, rolling her tongue across the pearl of pre-cum. Surrounding her lips around his girth, she suckled him and played with his balls until his moans grew deeper and needier. Standing, she took slow careful steps back until her she met the wall. Lifting her skirt high on her hips, she smiled when his eyes slanted.

“No panties?”

“Are you complaining?”

“Fuck no!”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

He moved the three steps toward her and quickly lifted her legs around his hips, pressing her against the wood as he entered her in one stroke. His cock stretched her and she clutched his shoulders. His thrusts became faster as his breathing became heavier. He was deep and his tip rubbed her sensitive insides, massaging her G-spot until the tingling grew into throbs. She cried out as release coursed through her in wicked heat.

“Baby, I’m going!” Impelling her one last time, his muscles tensed as he buried his forehead into her shoulder. Spasm after spasm moved his body.

Lila didn’t know how long he’d held her steady against the wall, but when someone entered the barn, Duke pulled away and zipped his pants. Lila pushed down her skirt and ran her fingers through her hair.

“You okay?” he whispered.

She nodded and followed him as they made their way out of the hidden stall and into the outer room. “Who is it?”

“Brooks,” Duke answered.