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“No way. Not today.” Dani wouldn’t tell Cole anything unless she was completely certain that he wouldn’t reject the boys the way he’d rejected her.
“What are you going to say to him when you run into him later and he sees the boys?”
Dani patted Elena on the shoulder. “That’s the least of my worries. Cole is so self-absorbed, I doubt he’ll bat an eye.”
Elena smiled, even though she appeared unconvinced. “I’m sure you know what you’re doing.” She returned to her spot on the floor to resume story time.
“You boys be good for Elena, okay?” Dani reminded them.
“Where are you going, Mommy?” Cameron asked, ever the chatty and curious one. He looked most like Dani, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Colin, her quiet observer, more closely resembled Cole. Lighter hair. Soulful blue eyes.
“I have an old friend I need to go see.”
“Why can’t we go with you?”
“Because this is going to be boring grown-up talk and I know you’ll have much more fun with Elena. Plus, it’s nearly your bedtime. Growing boys need their sleep.” She knelt down onto the carpet and collected her hugs and kisses. “I love you both very much. See you in the morning.”
“Good luck,” Elena mouthed.
Dani marched down the hall, snapped up her car keys and slipped through the kitchen to her three-car garage. She’d had nearly six years to stress and worry about the first time she would see Cole again. If she stopped to think about it for too long, she’d put it off, and she didn’t want to do that. She knew the exact message she wanted to send tonight, which meant leaving the minivan parked right where it was and choosing to climb into her latest purchase, a treat for herself, a silver Porsche convertible.
Dani had always loved cars. She got it from her dad, who had been a police officer. Ten years gone and Dani still missed him like crazy, but zipping around in this little sports car made her feel closer to his memory. He’d taught her to drive stick. He’d taught her to be a great driver. All those years in New York had meant too many taxis and subway rides. Dani liked to think that her new car was a perfect metaphor for her new life. She was in control now. Completely.
She pulled out of the circular flagstone driveway, the engine purring. The Texas ash and bur oak trees dotting the perimeter of her two-acre property were lit up by the landscape lighting below. The night air was warm, but she could tell that fall was on the way. The days were getting shorter and the mornings a tiny bit cooler. As she drove away from her house, Dani still couldn’t believe it was hers—six bedrooms and a nanny suite, tall leaded-glass windows and yellow jessamine vines climbing the trellises next to the arched front door. There was a big pool for the boys out back, and she was having a play structure put in next week. It was perfect, and she’d earned it all on her own.
As she pulled past the guard gate at the entrance to her neighborhood, she couldn’t quite believe that, either. Pine Valley was an ultra-upscale gated golf community, the exact opposite of the neighborhood she’d grown up in. Having had a dad in law enforcement and a mother who struggled to keep a job, Dani grew up modestly. They weren’t poor, but they weren’t well-off by any stretch. Dani still naturally gravitated toward the clearance section in a department store if that was any indication. Even now, when she had money.
The drive out to Cole’s ranch gave Dani the perfect opportunity to rehearse her speech, but every time she started it, she tripped over her words. The trouble was imagining what it was going to be like to finally face him. If he cracked his heartbreaker smile, or looked too closely at her with his piercing blue eyes, she could easily be a goner. If he touched her with his strong hands, she’d melt into a puddle. The love and passion she shared with Cole had once run so deep. Ignoring that would not be easy. Which meant she needed to give him the news in as direct a fashion as possible. “Cole, I’m here to tell you I’m back. And I don’t care if you don’t like it. If you leave me alone, I’ll promise to do the same for you.” That could work. Now she hoped that she could deliver it as smoothly as that.
Dani flipped on her blinker and turned on to the road out to the Sullivan family ranch. Just being on the outer edges of their massive property, miles and miles of some of the most gorgeous ranch land in this part of Texas, made her nervous. It was a big reminder of the deepest divide between her and Cole before he’d dumped her—his family was royalty here, with enough money to never think about it twice.
She came from next to nothing, and Cole’s parents quite frankly had never seen the appeal of Dani. His mother had even once told her that she didn’t think she was good enough for her son. Dani had kept that tidbit to herself, deciding at the time that love would conquer all and she would eventually win them over. That day never came. Cole broke up with her a mere six months later, and the memory of that interlude with his mom became fuel for Dani’s quick exodus from Royal. She knew when she wasn’t wanted and always acted accordingly.
Dani passed the opulent main gates to the Sullivan Cattle Co. property and instead drove around to the smaller access point used by the ranch hands and delivery people. She would’ve preferred to make a grander entrance, but she remembered the code for the side gate, not for the others. That was how far she’d been pulled into Cole’s life, and just how far she’d been flung out. Still, her heart was pounding when she pulled up to the keypad and pressed the square silver buttons. Knowing her luck, Cole had changed the code.
Wouldn’t you know, the iron gate creaked and rolled across the driveway. Dani decided to take this as a final sign. Today was the day she was meant to do this. The sun was still setting as she approached the house, leaving behind gorgeous wisps of red and orange set against that vast black Texas sky. Dani had always loved this house, even if it was a bit over-the-top. There were nearly a dozen peaks in the roofline, too many windows to count, and a wide porch suitable for your fifty closest friends to pull up a rocking chair and sit a spell. It wasn’t even the best view on the property, either. The vista out behind the house was even better—with a sprawling flagstone patio and pool and the perfect sight lines to enjoy the gorgeous pastoral scene.
Dani pulled up in front of the main house and parked. She checked her hair and lipstick, then flipped up the visor. She’d better get going before she chickened out. She marched straight up the porch steps and on to the front door. As nervous as she’d been to punch in the code at the gate, ringing the doorbell felt one hundred times more harrowing. The chime was so loud, she could hear it clearly right through the door. She turned away and stepped to the edge of the porch, surveying the crushed-stone drive that carved its way through the grass for a mile down to the main road. Up here on this hill, tucked away from the rest of the world, she couldn’t deny she was happy to be back in Royal. Even with everything waiting for her on the other side of that front door.
She turned back and took another try at getting someone to answer, this time jabbing the doorbell twice. She stood up on her tiptoes and looked through the glass at the top of the heavy wood door. In that instant, her eyes met Cole’s as he strode through the front hall.
Shoot.
She dropped down to her heels. Her heart was hammering like she’d just run to the house instead of driving. She pressed her hand to her heaving chest and backed up to the middle of the porch to give herself some space. Short and sweet. Keep it simple and get the heck out of Dodge.
She forced a smile as he opened the door but quickly realized just how pointless her preparations in the car had been. She was in no way ready to be in the company of tempting and towering Cole Sullivan. Not his muscular shoulders or broad chest. Not his haywire brown hair, so thick it had no choice but to stand nearly straight. And good God, it was damp. Had he just taken a shower? She was not ready for those ice-blue eyes or his tanned skin or the way his lips were slack and questioning right now. She was not yet ready to handle the way he was blinking at her, in utter shock. How could anyone make confusion so sexy?
“Well, well. If it isn’t Dani Moore. I heard you were back in town.” His voice was all swagger and ego, and that just made her mad. Of course he already knew she was back. How could she have been so stupid to have thought any less of him? Cole stepped over the threshold, leaving him a single stride away.
Instinctively, she took another step back. She could feel exactly how drawn she was to him. Her body wanted nothing more than to press against the hard planes of his body and kiss him. Her brain was well aware of how foolish that idea was, and it was prepared to do anything to protect her. “Yes. I’m back.”
“Six years and you just show up on my front porch?” He shook his head and laughed mockingly.
Dani failed to see what was so damn funny. “Hell, yes, six years and I just show up on your front porch. I was afraid that if I called, you’d lock up the whole ranch so tight no one would ever get in.” She sucked in a deep breath to quiet her thumping heart. She could do this. Even if seeing him had her ready to abandon common sense and fling herself into his arms. No wonder she’d been so hung up on him for years. Seeing Cole Sullivan was like coming home.
“So this is a permanent change?” His thick eyebrows drew together, making it hard to answer in a timely fashion.
“I’m the new executive chef at the Glass House.”
“That’s a pretty fancy gig.” Cole leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Of course it’d have to be to pry you away from the glamour of New York.”
She pursed her lips. How dare he take that tone? “It wasn’t about the glamour. Going to New York was about putting myself on the map in the culinary world. And it was about getting as far away from you as possible.”
He smiled wide, and damn if it didn’t make the desire to kiss him that much stronger. “Gotta love that trademark honesty of yours. It’s refreshing.”
“I’m not here to entertain you. I don’t want things to be awkward or uncomfortable if we run into each other, and you know how this town is. We’ll definitely cross paths. I just don’t want any trouble.”
“If you don’t want things to be awkward, come and have a drink.” He gave a nod inside.
“This isn’t social hour, Cole. This was supposed to be a quick visit.”
He cocked an arrogant eyebrow at her. “If it’s not social, why are you wearing a dress designed for stopping traffic?” He looked her up and down, his determined gaze making it feel as though she was wearing nothing at all. “Not that I’m complaining. I’ve always loved this particular view, and I have to say, it’s improved with time.”
Heat bloomed in her chest and ran the length of her body. Damn the more girlish parts of her. Why did they have to be so thrilled by the revelation that he thought she looked good? Oh, right, because that had been part of her plan. She’d wanted to mow him over with her assets. Well, good. She’d accomplished that much. “This old thing? I’m still unpacking, and it was the first thing hanging in my closet.”
The skepticism was all over his face. “Uh-huh. Well, it seems a shame to put that old thing to waste. Come in and have a glass of scotch”
“No, thank you.”
“I have a bottle of twelve-year Johnnie Walker Black from the ’70s. My dad had it in his cellar. I know you love your scotch.”
Shoot. She did love scotch, and being around Cole had her needing to soothe her ragged nerves. Plus that bottle of water she drank in the car on the way over? It had been a bad idea. She needed to use the ladies’ room, pronto. Even so, it didn’t matter. This was Cole Sullivan. He hadn’t just trampled her heart, he’d driven over it with his big old pickup. She would never forgive him for that.
Anger rose in her like floodwaters. “I told you, no. Don’t think that you can just sweet-talk me and I’ll be nice to you.” She whipped around so fast her skirt twirled. That hadn’t been her aim, but it did make for good drama. “See ya around, Cole.” She waved, not looking at him, thundering down the stairs.
“Dani. Come back. Stop being ridiculous.”
She stopped dead in her tracks. “Ridiculous? What exactly about this is ridiculous? You treated me like crap, Cole. I nursed you back to health after your accident and how did you reward my undying devotion? You broke up with me.” With every word out of her mouth, she was only getting more and more infuriated. She planted a finger dead in the center of his chest. “You are a jerk. And I don’t have drinks with jerks. End of story.”
She reached for her car door handle, but the next thing she knew, Cole had his hand on her arm. His touch was tentative, but it was enough to make her shudder. Her heart fluttered. White hot desire coursed through her veins. He sent a tidal wave of recognition through her, something for which she’d been wholly unprepared.
Two (#u6d5bc439-e6e0-5e93-8a7b-5f4236e6f4dd)
Cole acted out of pure instinct, tearing down his driveway after Dani. Damn, the woman could run in heels. Luckily, his long legs carried him fast enough to give him an edge and he caught her, wrapping his hand around her arm before she could open the car.
The instant he touched her, he knew he’d made a colossal mistake. He knew it all the way down to the soles of his feet. There was too much fire between them. Always had been and probably always would be. Sure, that had been years ago, and a lot had changed since then, but he should have known better. Still, he couldn’t let her run off like this.
“Dani, don’t. Please don’t leave. It’s okay to still be mad.”
She whipped around, sending a trail of her sweet perfume straight to his nose. How could he have forgotten how beautiful she was? Glossy black hair, fiery brown eyes and red lips that could make a man forget what exactly he’d come for. “I do not need your permission to be mad. I’ll be mad for the rest of my life if I feel like it.”
One thing was for sure—Cole was sorely out of practice in the art of taming Dani. “I know. I’m sorry. You’re right.”
She tried to wrestle her arm from his grip, but that bit of friction between them—warm skin against warm skin—sent a flood of memories through his brain. Dani had always done this to him. She’d always brought everything back to life. He’d just forgotten how good it felt to have a taste of it.
“Let me go.”
He did as she requested, but she didn’t move. She didn’t immediately reach for the handle on the car door, and Cole decided to take that as a good sign. She wasn’t running again. Not yet, at least. “Please come in and have one drink. I want to hear about New York. I want to know what’s going on in your life.”
“Maybe I don’t feel like telling you.”
“Good God, you are stubborn.” He shook his head. “Probably why I could never quite get you out of my system.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I’m dead serious. I wasn’t kidding about the scotch, either.”
She looked away, and the moonlight caught her profile—an adorable nose that turned up slightly at the end, dark hair blowing in the breeze across her creamy skin. For what felt like the millionth time, he wished he hadn’t had to push her away nearly six years ago, but he’d had no choice. Life and death had been hanging in the balance. Her whole future opened wide, and his narrowed to a narrow and finite point.
“I do need to use the restroom,” she muttered, seeming embarrassed.
“Perfect. Come on in.”
He tentatively placed his hand at the small of her back to usher her up the driveway, but she was walking a pace faster. “I wasn’t kidding. I drank an entire bottle of water on the way over here.”
Cole laughed and jogged ahead, taking the porch steps in two long strides and opening the door for her. “You know where it is.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “I do.”
He watched her as she walked down the hall, wondering once again if he was seeing things. Dani was in his house. Wearing a dress that hugged every glorious inch of her, especially his favorite parts—her hips, her butt, her breasts. Basically, everything that was lush and round and good for sinking his fingers into. When Sam had told him a half hour ago that she was back in town, he certainly hadn’t thought she’d turn up on his front porch. It was like fate was delivering him a gift he had no idea what to do with.
There was no telling how long Dani or her lovely dress were going to stick around. His gut told him he’d better make this good. He hustled into his grand but comfortable living room, with high wood-beamed ceilings and seating for at least twenty people for the rare times when he decided to entertain. He turned off the flat-screen TV above the stacked stone fireplace and switched on an antique bronze craftsman lamp to cast a warm glow, making the room feel cozier. More intimate. He put on some soft music and lit a candle. Hopefully Dani wouldn’t use that open flame to set his house on fire. He was straightening the throw pillows on one of the leather sofas when she appeared.
“Company coming over?”
“What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t make the place presentable?”
“I don’t know. What kind of gentleman would you be?”
The question was so heavy with innuendo it could’ve broken a bone if dropped on his foot. “On the rocks, right?”
“Good memory.” She breezed past him and took a seat.
“I only poured you one of these at least a hundred times.”
“Probably more like twice that.”
“Sometimes we drank beer. Or wine. There was a lot of wine.” The undercurrent was that there had been an awful lot of good times between them. Fun times. Celebratory, joyous times. Birthdays. A few anniversaries, even.
There was a lot of history between them, and he knew he had no business dredging it up. Not tonight. Possibly not ever. Especially not about the reasons he’d had to break up with her. Still, she’d always been his biggest weakness. A drink for old times’ sake wouldn’t hurt.
He walked over and handed her the drink. She took it from him, their fingertips brushing just enough to send a jolt of electricity zipping up along his arm. She was as sexy as ever, even when she was mad. Maybe especially when she was mad.
“Tell me about New York.” He took the seat right next to her on the couch. Some habits were impossible to break. Sitting with her like this made him want to put his arm around her, pull her close and kiss her. He needed to feel her soft lips against his and taste everything he’d missed over their years apart. The realization made it nearly impossible to sit still, let alone seem relaxed.
She sat a little straighter. “It was great. I did well for myself. Well enough to buy a house out in Pine Valley.”
“Did you take up golf? That’s a neighborhood for hitting the links or raising a family. That doesn’t really seem like your speed.” Maybe she’d changed more than he’d bargained on.
“It’s beautiful out there, and it’s a gated community. I like feeling safe. Is there anything wrong with that?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Nothing at all.” He took a long sip of his drink. “I guess your success explains the zippy little death trap you pulled up in.”
“A woman is entitled to buy a sports car.”
“Absolutely. Just be careful. One run-in with a semi and you’ll end up in traction. Or worse.”
“You’re one to be giving lectures on driving. I seem to remember you wrapping your squad car around a tree and nearly killing yourself.” A dark shadow fell across her face as she turned to look at him. “That’s what started the trouble between us, remember?”
He’d walked right into that one. He needed to avoid subjects that could eventually lead to the stupid things he’d done. “I’m not talking about me. And you don’t see me driving around in a roller skate.”
“It’s a Porsche. And it’s fun to drive. You should try it some time.” She shot him an all-knowing look that made his pants feel a little too tight. “So, she probably shouldn’t have said anything, but Megan told me that you’re working on the investigation into her brother’s murder.”
He nodded. “You know, Megan’s been through the wringer. It’s hard for me to blame your best friend for wanting to tell you everything. But yes, we are keeping a very tight lid on things until we can catch Rich.”
“So you think he’s still here in Royal? Hiding out? Lurking in the shadows?”
“I do. There’s a lot of money that’s gone unaccounted for and we know he’s not about to walk away from that. The man has no fear. He’s proven that he will do anything.”
“I still can’t believe he stole Will’s identity, embezzled all of that money, and then went and married Megan.” She shuddered. “It’s so scary. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. I just wish there was something I could do to make it better.”
“That’s my job. But don’t worry. We will catch him.”
“Good.” She knocked back the rest of her drink and gently set the glass on the table.
“One more?”
“I shouldn’t.” She looked right at him, her tempting lips within striking distance. He couldn’t think of a time he’d wanted to kiss her more, not even the very first time he’d done it, when he was a young Texas Ranger and she was a brand-new chef. Back when their whole lives were stretching out before them and the future seemed ripe with possibilities. “But it’s just too delicious to say no.”
“That’s my girl.” He berated himself as soon as the words came out of his mouth. That’s what the old Cole would’ve said. The Cole who’d broken her heart to save her. He got up from the couch and poured them both another drink before sitting back down. Hopefully she hadn’t noticed what he’d said.
“It’s been a long time since you called me that.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it.”
She took the glass when he offered it to her. “It’s okay. It was actually sort of nice to hear.” She laughed quietly. “I don’t know exactly how pathetic that sounded, but I’m guessing pretty darn pathetic. That’s what happens when you go for years being single. You end up a total sucker for sweet things guys say.”
His ears perked up at that. Not only was she still single, she’d been that way for a while. He knew he shouldn’t take any encouragement, but now that he had a drink under his belt and she was softening her hard exterior, it was impossible not to want her and feel as though he had a chance. “Apparently the men of New York don’t know a good thing when they see it.”
