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

“
I haven’t returned your calls, and I’m sorry. Things are a bit hectic at the moment.”

He pushed his hands deep into his pockets. “I understand. You have a lot on your plate. I wanted to catch you before you left to make sure you’re okay, about
Frances and all. I could see that you were torn up over putting her down. You know it is the right thing. She was a damn good horse and didn’t deserve to suffer, not for one second.”

She nodded. “Will you be at Lila and Duke’s wedding?”

He shrugged and scuffed the toe of his boot against the rocks. “I dunno. Maybe. Lila and Duke sure have been good to me. I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful, but I’m not into weddings much.”

“Why is that?” Even though the prior attraction between them had fizzled, she still had a level of friendship with him that she didn’t want to lose.

“You probably didn’t know but I was almost married once, a long time ago.” He shifted his gaze.

“You were? It couldn’t have been th
at long ago. You’re still young.” She’d never asked how old he was, but as they spoke, she gathered he was a lot more mature than she’d realized.

He chuckled. “I guess
. You better go.” Dillon gave his head a quick nod.

Leslie followed his gaze. “
Oh, there they are.” Stryker and Lilly were heading to the truck. “Yes, I should go, but I do hope I’ll see you at the wedding. I’m sure it’s going to be a lovely day of celebration.”

“I’ll think about it. You take care of yourself.” He
smiled and she left him standing at the edge of the driveway.

“Is he disappointed?” Stryker asked as she joined him and Lilly in the cab of the truck.

“Disappointed? About what?” Leslie patted Lilly’s hand in greeting.”

“That your heart isn’t with him.” Stryker backed out and gave Dillon
a curt nod as they drove around him.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” She did have a clue though.

“Sure you don’t.”

“He’s a big boy and he understands.” Leslie rolled down her window and breathed in the fresh air. “Anyway, he only wanted to ask how I was doing after…well, with Frances.” She didn’t want to mention the horse’s demise in front of Lilly.

“That was nice of him.”

“And you should lose the underlying tone. It’s unnecessary.” She gazed at his profile.

“I don’t have an underlying tone. I’m worried about you, though.” He gave her a quick glance.

“Worried? Why?”

“You took the situation hard, Lesi. You can physically hold yourself together, but I can see straight through the windows into your soul.” His husky voice, and the concern he showed, made her want to go
fragile and cry like a baby.

Instead, she turned her cheek and stared out of the window at the passing scenery
, but saw nothing through the turmoil in her mind and heart.

Why was she suddenly emotional?

A lot had happened in the last week and she guessed she deserved a little chaos of feelings. One could only be strong for so long before they toppled over a heap of weakness.

She was toppling…hard.

Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, and as always, thoughts of Stryker’s touch invaded her mind. It was a hot day, but it was a different heat that made sweat bead between her breasts. After what she’d shared with Stryker last night, she doubted her body would come to a normal temperature ever again. He was an amazing lover. She’d lost count of the number of times he’d brought her to orgasm. She was as satisfied as a cat slurping warm milk.

Giggling, she quickly stifled the sound, not even looking to see if Stryker was watching her.

He had a talent, always had.

She was caught, and she didn’t care to fight the hook that held her.

And what if he left? He would eventually because he had a ranch to run and other responsibilities that involved Lilly. Her throat tightened.

How does one step back into a life of loneliness?

What could life have been like for her if she’d stayed in Hollyville and married Stryker? She had a feeling they’d have faced adversity but would have been happy.

There were moments in
everyone’s life when uncertainty got the best of them. She’d been unsure of herself, unclear of her ability to be a good wife and a mother. There’d never been a question regarding her love for Stryker.

Their lost child would have been only a few months younger than Lilly. Leslie thought about the pregnancy often, haunted by
“what ifs.”

The future offered ple
asure and all she needed to do was reach out and touch the possibilities. She couldn’t dwell on the past any longer.

****

STRYKER PULLED IN front of Leslie’s house and turned the engine off. She didn’t move. He wondered if she’d fallen asleep. Lilly had drifted also. “Leslie?”

She stirred and mumbled, “I love you.”

His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
Damn!
“Leslie?”

She jerked awake,
confused as she glanced around the surroundings. “I must have fallen asleep.” She rubbed her eyes with her fingers.

“It appears so,” he said.

“I had the wildest dream.”

“I believe you.” He chuckled.

“Why? Did I say something?”

He could tell her, but he didn’t. “No. You needed your rest. And apparently Lilly did also.”

Leslie glanced behind her. “She played hard today.”

“Lilly and I will be heading home,” he said.

“I…I’m sure you have to get back to the ranch.”

“
I do and Lilly needs to get back to her day-to-day activities. She has an appointment with Tessa in the morning. You could come with us.” A crack of thunder sounded in the distance and he looked through the window at the sky. The black clouds were rolling in. “Looks like a bad one coming.”

“Yes it does.”

“Any thoughts?”

“I can’t today,” she said.

“Can’t or won’t?” They’d come too far to mince words. “I’m getting the idea you won’t.”

She turned in the seat. “I said I’d come when the child worker will be there.”

He nodded. “You’ll sweep in only to sweep back out?”
Hell, where am I headed with this?

“That’s unfair.” One corner of her mouth lowered.

“Come when you can.” What more could he say?

“I don’t have a job that I can drop at a
whim to run off at some spur of the moment fancy.” Her face paled. “I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t explain. I understand. I wouldn’t want you to drop anything for an impulsive act. I think Lilly and I will head out now. I’d like to try and beat this storm coming.”

She opened her mouth as if to say something but snapped it shut. Her fingers were on the handle and he had a feeling she wanted to run, maybe he did too. Words could be weapons and he’d been wounded.

“I’ll call you this evening,” she said.

“Okay.”

Once she was out of the truck and the door closed behind her, he took a long inhale of breath. He started the engine, caught one last glance of her walking up the sidewalk then squealed out onto the street.

Why did it feel like he was leaving his better half behind?

CHAPTER NINE

THE SILENCE GREW
louder as Leslie ambled through her small house, not sure what to do. She’d paid bills, washed dishes, started a load of laundry and now the quiet seemed to remind of her of everything she didn’t have.

Stryker and Lilly had
left two hours ago, and Leslie had held her tears until she was alone. She’d grown to care for the little girl who had nestled her way into her heart. Lilly had looked at peace sleeping in the back seat, hugging her teddy against her body.

There was more to her sadness though.

She’d allowed Stryker in as well.

The
teakettle burst into a wet whistle and she quickly grabbed it then turned off the heat. Maybe a hot cup of tea would settle her nerves. A long soak in a bubble bath would ease her tense muscles. An early night to bed would erase the dark circle under her eyes…

Who
am I kidding?

She grabbed the
bottle of Merlot from the cabinet and poured herself a glass. She’d cry in her wineglass if she must.

Starting down the hall, with the bath idea in mind, she believed she’d soak the rest of the night.

“Mama!”

Leslie jumped and wine sloshed over the rim of the glass. She’d stepped on something soft lying by the door. She turned on the light and saw that Lilly had left her doll
that Leslie had given her.

Leslie picked up the
toy. “Lilly will miss you.” She gave it a squeeze.

“Mama!”

Tears welled in her eyes as she placed the doll against her chest.

Downing the liquid from her glass in two gulps, she pitter-pattered into the bathroom
and laid the toy on the sink. She started for the tub then stopped. Stryker’s white T-shirt was hanging on the hook. She took it down and held it against her nose, inhaling —rewarded with a lingering scent of his cologne. She missed him.

Tossing the shirt into the wicker basket, she forced her mind to concent
rate on running water, but it was no use. She grabbed the T-shirt from the hamper, shut the water off and went into her bedroom.

What had come over her?

She couldn’t let guilt needle its way into her independence. She was happy in Shelby. It wasn’t possible for her to pack up and leave whenever she felt the itch for one sexy, brawny cowboy who melted her with a flash of his wide smile and a blink of clear blue eyes.

It didn’t matter that he’d
awakened her—made her feel more alive than she had since, well, the second she’d left Hollyville.

Her gaze fell on the unmade bed. He’d
made love to her here, discovered her, explored her. Heat spread through her body.

No, she wouldn’t go to him. She wouldn’t fall into the web of madness.

****

Stryker pulled off
his shirt and tossed it on the floor then unbuckled his belt. He started to turn on the water in the shower when he heard the doorbell. It was late and he wasn’t expecting anyone. Unless…

His heart pounded as he made his way down the stairs and
through the darkness. He flipped on the light, opened the front door and pleasure boiled over in him. Leslie stood on the porch, her overnight bag at her sandaled feet.

He
’d hoped she would change her mind.

Dressed in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt with more holes than
Swiss cheese and sweats, she looked like she’d made a rash decision to come. He liked impulsiveness, especially when it landed in his favor. “What took you so long?” His palms itched to touch her and his lips ached to kiss her pouty shell-pink lips that he knew tasted like cherry pie.

Fuck!
He’d have to let her catch her breath.

“I didn’t want to appear too anxious.” Her sweet
chuckle glazed through him like warm honey.

“Playing hard to get?”

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have come at all.”

He grabbed the small bag
she’d brought. “By all means, come in.” He stepped back for her to pass. Seeing her walk through his door, flesh and blood, after so many dreams, felt surreal. He kicked the door closed with his foot and moved into what he hoped was a good night.

“Is Lilly already in bed?” she asked.

“You missed her by fifteen minutes. She was beat.” The dark circles lining Leslie’s eyes told him she was exhausted too.

“She forgot her doll at my house. I have it in my case.”

He hoped that wasn’t the only reason why she’d come. “I’m sure she’ll be glad to see it. Are you okay?”

She shrugged
. “It’s been a day, that’s for sure.” 

“I understand,
but as good as you are, you can’t save them all.”

Her chin tilted. “But I can certainly try.”

And knowing her, she would do just that. He’d always respected that ambition in her. She always was confident when it came to animals, but she’d lacked the sureness in relationships. His chest tightened. He’d known her childhood wasn’t easy. Her dad had left when she was young and her mother had lacked nurturing, although she’d loved Leslie.

No excuses, though.

He set her bag by the hall. “I was going to take a shower.” Her eyes smoothed downward across his bare torso and his cock twitched. He needed a
cold
shower.

“Go ahead. I can wait on you.”

He hated to leave her, but he’d worked in the barn when he’d gotten home to relieve some stress. “I think you’ll thank me in the long run.” He swallowed. “I didn’t mean to assume that you and I…well, that you’d sleep with me. You can sleep in the guest room, I mean, only if you want to.” He darted his hand through his hair. He just ripped his intention all to hell.