The Cowboys Heart 1 (7 page)

I
put the house key in Richard’s palm and closed
his fingers around it, holding his hand in mine. I smiled at him.

“Are you sure about this, Miss Heather?” he asked, placing
his hand over mine.

“Yes.” I nodded. “You’ve been so wonderful to Jamie and I
since we arrived, and Noreen trusted you, so that alone is good enough for me.”
My grandmother was a smart woman, and she had impeccable instincts when it came
to people. In fact, when I told her Phillip and I were engaged, she’d told me I
was making a mistake that the marriage wouldn’t last. At first I thought she
was just being mean, saying hurtful things because she knew I would be moving
to the city and she wanted me to stay here. If only I had actually listened to
her, I would’ve saved myself so much heartache.

He pulled his hand from mine. “I’ll do you proud.”

“I know you will.” I grabbed my purse and pulled the strap
over my shoulder. “And if you need anything at all, just call me. I’ll be
available night or day.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We won’t be gone for too long…” Although I had no idea how
long that would actually be. A week, maybe two. It certainly wouldn’t be much
longer than that. The reservations I made were only for two weeks. I’m sure I
could always extend them if needed, but I didn’t want to mislead Jamie, make
him think this move was permanent.

“I’m ready!” Jamie said, bounding down the stairs, suitcase
in tow. “I just spoke to Devon. He’s going to get my assignments for me.”

“Great,” I beamed. It warmed me to know he was taking the
initiative with school. Not to mention, gathering assignments meant he accepted
that we’d be coming back here. “All right, let’s go.” I placed a quick kiss to
Richard’s cheek, smiled, and then left.

I popped the trunk on the car and Jamie put our bags inside
while I put my laptop bag in the back seat. Originally, I was going to book a
flight, but decided it was best to just drive. It would give Jamie and I time
to reconnect, for me to think about this while situation with Hudson – who had
called daily for the past four days, apologizing, begging me for a second
chance – and it would prevent me from having to explain to my parents what
happened. My mother would accuse me of running again, and I didn’t want to have
to spend time justifying my decisions to her. It was none of her business.
Plus, this little trip would give Jamie time to see his old friends, which I
knew he wanted to do.

As we drove down the road, past Hudson’s property, I saw him
standing on his front porch. He straightened and stared at me, and I swore I
saw a hint of expectation in his face, like he was hoping I’d pull into his
driveway. But I didn’t. I averted my gaze back to the road and ignored him. It
wasn’t easy though. It was tempting to turn around, go back, forgive him;
pretend none of this ever happened.

The pain in my heart though, the betrayal, it ran too
strong, cut too deep. I couldn’t just forgive him. I couldn’t let him get away
with what he’d done to me, to Jamie. I could handle him hurting me. I could not
handle him betraying Jamie in that way. “How about some music?” I said,
deciding not to let Hudson or my thoughts of him get me down. I cranked up a
country station, put on my sunglasses, and looked forward to our mini-vacation.

***

I’d been in the city for just over
a week now. Jamie had spent every day with his friends, and I was back to
worrying about him every second he wasn’t with me. Now I knew why I would never
move back here. All the noise never used to bother me, but now… I couldn’t
sleep a wink with all the chaos. Every small noise, every siren would wake me;
make me fear that something had happened to Jamie. By the time we left, I was
going to need another vacation just to catch up on my sleep.

“Hey, Mom. I’m going to Vick’s. I’ll be home before dark.”
Jamie kissed my cheek and left.

I sighed. So much for using this trip to reconnect. He spent
less time with me now than he had back at the ranch. That might have bothered
me quite a bit if it wasn’t for the fact that I’d reconnected with some old
friends. In the week I’d been back, I’d been invited to dinner several times,
bowling, a movie, and a yoga class. I went to every single one of them. I had
to, otherwise I’d sit in this hotel suite alone, missing Hudson, tempted to
call him. And I wasn’t ready for that yet, wasn’t sure I could forgive him.

My cell phone rang, and I grabbed it. Part of me kind of
hoped it was Hudson again, but it wasn’t. “Hey, Callie. What’s up?”

“I’m headed to the mall. I have to buy a cocktail dress for
a work thing at the end of the month. Want to tag along?”

“Yes,” I said a little too eagerly. “I’ll be to your house
in ten minutes.”

Callie laughed. “Great. I’ll even buy lunch.”

“And I’ll buy the daiquiris.” I laughed and grabbed my
purse, leaving the suite. It felt good to laugh again, to have a social life,
to interact with friends. Even before I’d moved back to Texas, I hadn’t felt
this alive. I’d been so engrossed in work and caring for Jamie I’d avoided life
outside of the house and office. When I returned to the ranch, I was going to
make it a point to look up some of my old high school friends, start living
life again now that I was over my divorce, and slowly getting over Hudson….. I
think. I frowned. Despite everything, I missed him something terrible. Maybe a
phone call wouldn’t hurt.

***

My cheeks hurt from laughing and
smiling so much, but I felt good, lighthearted and positive. I’d be sad to
leave in five days, but at least I could return home with a renewed sense of
purpose. I’d left the city so abruptly, I hadn’t had time to make peace with
the decision, but now I had, and it was time to look forward, not back.

I dug my key card from my purse and walked into the lobby.
Then I stopped cold. My heart leapt into my throat and raced, and I blinked
rapidly, unable to believe what was right before my eyes. “Hudson?” He stood
there, in the middle of the lobby in dress pants, a button down shirt with a
tie, and a large bouquet of red roses.

“Hi, Heather.” He smiled sheepishly then looked down.

I couldn’t help but smile. He looked so out of place here,
but also so scared and unsure. “What’re you doing here?”

“Looking for you.” He stepped toward me and held out the
flowers. “These are for you.”

I took them and inhaled their sweet scent. “Thank you.”

He nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Before you
say anything, I just want you to know how sorry I am. I didn’t come here with
any expectations, okay? I only want to have a few minutes to talk to you.”

A piece of me melted at his words. “Would you like to come
up to the suite?”

“Yes,” he said, relief swamping his words and face.

Silently, I led him up to the suite and tossed my purse on
the chair. “Would you like something to drink? I believe I have some water, and
the mini-fridge is fully stocked.”

“No, I’m good. Thanks.” He sat in one of the chairs, legs
parted, and elbows on his knees. “Thanks for agreeing to talk to me.”

I nodded and took the chair across from him. “Well, I was
going to call you tonight anyway, and you did travel all this way. It wouldn’t
have been right to turn you away.”

Hudson smiled, and my stomach fluttered. His smile always
had that effect on me. Even after a couple of weeks apart, I still felt the
same way about him I had the day I’d met him. It was intense and if I hadn’t
been sitting, I probably would’ve stumbled backward.

“I know I messed up. I’ve thought about what I did wrong
every single day since you left. It was wrong for me not to tell you about the
Jennings and my involvement with them.” He sighed and hung his head. “I’m not
trying to make excuses, but my history with those men is a long and
complicated. I owed them, and they cashed in with you. I figured,” he stood and
began to pace, “okay, I thought I’d do this one thing for them, wipe the slate
clean, and then I would never have to deal with them again. But then I met you
and everything changed for me.”

I stood and went to him, placing my palms on his chest. I
could feel the heavy beat of his heart, the strain of his breaths. Swallowing,
I looked up into his eyes, and every memory I had of him rushed at me. My head
spun, and I was suddenly dizzy.

“Heather?” He wrapped his arms around me, and I leaned into
him, finding familiar comfort in his embrace. “Can you please forgive me? I’ll
do anything. Just tell me what you want.”

I sighed and nodded slowly. “Yes,” I whispered, “yes, I do
forgive you. But you have to—”

He cut me off by pressing his lips to mine and kissing me
deeply. I threaded my fingers through his hair, holding him to me so he
couldn’t decide to pull away, to leave me again. Or so I wouldn’t talk myself
into kicking him out again. That’s not what I planned to do, but I’d been known
to convince myself of some pretty crazy things before.

“What were you saying?” he asked, smiling against my lips.

“Hmm?” I hummed dreamily, trying to clear my mind of the fog
that had taken up residence there. “Oh, just that you have to promise never to
lie to me again.”

“I swear it on my life,” he said.

“Good.” I rested my head on his chest. “What happened when
you told Buck you weren’t going to help him?”

Hudson pulled away and stared at me. I couldn’t tell if his
expression was genuine concern or confusion. “Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.” I nodded firmly. “I need to know.” I took a deep
breath. It was time to come clean. If I didn’t want him lying to me, I couldn’t
lie to him. “Buck has threatened me, told me I’d regret not selling to him, he
even left me some ominous letters. Now that you’ve bailed on him, I need to
know what he said. I’m afraid of what he might do.”

“Heather,” concern laced his voice, “why didn’t you tell me
this before?”

I shrugged. “I really didn’t think it was that big of a
deal, but now that I know what lengths he’s willing to go to, I need to be able
to prepare for him. I have to think of Jamie.”

He kissed my forehead. “I know, and I’ll tell you
everything, I promise, but can it wait until tomorrow? It’s not like he’s going
to do anything tonight or track you down all the way out here. I would really
like to just spend the evening with you.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “Speaking of, how did you find me?”

“I bribed Richard into telling me.” Hudson laughed. “But
don’t be mad at him. It took me a week to get him to tell me anything.”

“No, I’m not mad at him. How about we go get some dinner?
Catch up a little.”

“I’d love that.”

“Great. I just want to freshen up a bit, and I have to let
Jamie know where I’ll be, let him know he can stay with his friend longer if he
wants.”

“Take your time.” Hudson returned to the chair, and I went
to the bathroom.

After washing my face and reapplying a touch of makeup, I
fixed my hair a little, taking it out of the ponytail I’d had it in and putting
it in a loose braid that hung over my right shoulder. I dabbed on a bit more
perfume, and then sent Jamie a quick text.
Going to dinner with Hudson. Be
back later. Please let me know where you are and what you’re doing.

Almost instantly, my phone rang. It was Jamie. “Hey,
sweetie. Having fun at your friend’s house?”

“You’re going to dinner with Hudson?” There was so much
animosity in his voice, it made me cringe. “What the hell is he even doing
here?”

“Jamie!” I scolded. “Watch your language.”

“No, Mom. I can’t believe he’s here or that you’re going out
with him. He lied to you, remember? He used you.”

“That’s enough,” I said sternly. Even though he was right, I
would not allow him to speak to me this way. Nor would I allow him to speak of
Hudson so poorly. And I certainly wasn’t going to stand here and justify my
actions to him. “My reasons for going out with Hudson are none of your
concern.”

“They are when he’s going to be part of our lives.”

I sighed with defeat. “I’m disappointed in you, Jamie. I
really thought you’d changed, learned to give people the benefit of the doubt.”

“I don’t like him. He’s no good for you.”

I knew the only reason he was saying that was because he
still held onto the hope that his father and I would reconcile, that he’d get
his old life back. I hated to keep disappointing him, but the sooner he
accepted our new life, the better. “Are you staying at Vick’s longer? Or are
you heading back here? If you want, I can leave some money for you or you can
order room service for dinner.”

“I’m staying here.” Then he hung up.

I wanted to throw my phone across the room in anger, but
that wouldn’t solve anything. He was having a hard time adjusting, and I would
just have to be patient, to give him more time. Eventually he’d accept life in
Texas, and Hudson. Double checking to ensure I still looked presentable; I left
the bathroom and returned to Hudson on the couch.

He stood. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah,” I forced a smile, “just… Jamie.” I sighed. “I guess
I should’ve known better than to bring him back to the city. We’d finally
gotten to a good place together, and now he’s right back to his old ways.”

Hudson put his arm around me, kissed my temple. “I’m sure
once you get back to Texas, things will go back to how they were.”

“I sure hope—” My phone rang again, and I rolled my eyes. If
this was Jamie again, calling to give me grief… But it wasn’t. It was my dad.
Weird he’d be calling. “Hi, Dad,” I answered.

“Oh, good. I thought you might still be in that God forsaken
city.”

“I am in the city, Dad. Hudson’s here with me.” Man, what
was it with all the men in my life wanting explanations about my decisions in
life?

“Well, you need to get back here ASAP.”