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“Man, I wish like hell you would’ve let me take you to my place,” Cooper said for the tenth time. “Lauren is a great nurse.”
“Your new bride is also pregnant. She doesn’t need me underfoot and neither do you. Besides, I’ll be more comfortable here.” The last thing he wanted was to be a burden to the honeymooners.
Jared’s home was on Stone Ridge land, a good half mile from Cooper’s place. They shared the stables and pastures and got along that way just fine. They were brothers and business partners, but they both needed their own space. “You can barely walk. And even if Marie could help you around the house, she’s getting too old to keep up with everything. It’s not fair to her.”
“Don’t argue with me, Coop. It’s hard enough just to breathe with these cracked ribs, much less get in a pissing match with you.”
“Fine, but think about Marie.”
Their housekeeper shared duties between the two houses, splitting her time between both. Jared’s injuries would make it much harder for her to keep up. “Don’t worry. I won’t let Marie tax herself. I’ll think of something.”
They left the foyer and Jared gestured toward the great room, wincing slightly. “Just help me to the chair.”
His favorite leather armchair faced the back window, where he had a view of the vast amount of land he called his backyard. His home was modern in most respects, but this room with throw rugs over hardwood flooring and a massive flat-screen television was more lived in, a place he could unwind and not worry about disrupting the fine order of things.
With Cooper still supporting him, Jared slowly lowered himself into the chair. He felt a sharp jolt in his chest and it took a good few seconds before the ache subsided. “I’m...okay,” he said breathlessly.
Cooper’s lips pulled down in a stern expression.
“You look like Dad when you do that,” Jared whispered.
“And you look like a man who’s...in pain.”
“Good observation. Sit a minute, will you?”
Cooper took a seat on a matching leather sofa facing him.
“Tell me about the woman.” The angel, whose voice calmed him, whose touch gave him solace when he might’ve panicked. The angel who’d risked her life to save his.
Cooper immediately knew what he was asking. “The nurses told me her name is Bella Reid. She was driving on the interstate with her friend and saw the car catch on fire. Her friend called 9-1-1 and Bella rushed over to get you out of the car before...” Cooper let out a noisy breath. “You know.”
Jared gave a tiny nod. He was aware of his limitations right now, what he could and couldn’t do. Mostly, he couldn’t do anything, but a nod he could manage. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“Are you having nightmares?”
Jared blinked. “No. I can’t remember anything about the crash. Or after, really. Except that Bella was there, holding my hand, saying all the right things to keep me calm. I need to thank her properly. See how she’s doing.”
“She slipped out of the hospital after I showed up, Jared. I didn’t get her number. I have no way to find her. Maybe you should let it go.”
“No,” he said forcefully enough for Cooper’s eyes to snap up to meet his. “I need to see her, Coop. My God, that woman saved my life. I need to talk to her. Just once. I can’t let it go.”
“What do you want me to do, ask the sheriff to give me private information. Or how about I hire a detective?”
Jared’s lips quirked up. “Nothing that drastic. You have a wife. And she’s a nurse. And if she happened to see Bella Reid’s medical chart...”
“I can’t ask Lauren to do that.”
“You don’t have to. I will. She owes me a favor.”
* * *
“Paul, what am I going to do?” Bella mumbled under her breath, staring at the phone in her hand. She’d just hung up with the Beaumont Club. They’d needed a chef and she’d been a day late and a dollar short. They’d just called to inform her the job she hadn’t even had a chance to interview for had been filled.
Whenever she needed guidance, she’d talk to her husband. If anyone heard her, they would understand. She was a widow with a beautiful child to raise, a woman whose heart was broken the day that helicopter crashed, and she liked to think that Paul was listening to her. That he would somehow see how hard she was trying.
Her dream of working as a chef in some capacity was slowly fading.
Yesterday she’d seen an ad online for a dental receptionist. Maybe she should apply for that. The salary wouldn’t buy her a house, or rent her an apartment, but it would allow her some financial independence.
Her shoulders sagging, she walked in to check on Sienna. Her baby was napping peacefully, her little olive-skinned cheeks rosy at the moment. Bella was ready to slide in next to her child on the tiny bed and try to catch a nap.
If only.
She was still debating that, watching Sienna’s chest rise and fall rhythmically, when someone buzzed from the lobby. She pushed the button before it buzzed twice. “Yes?”
“It’s Cooper Stone. I’d like to speak to Bella Reid.”
“This is Bella.”
“May I come up to see you?”
Bella leaned her shoulder against the door. “What is it? Is everything all right with your brother?”
“That’s what I want to speak to you about. I promise it’ll only take a minute.”
Her curiosity more than anything had her beeping him in. “Come up.”
“Thanks,” he said.
And just a few minutes later she was showing Cooper Stone to the sofa in Amy’s living room.
“Hi,” he said, taking off his black cowboy hat as soon as he sat down. Bella sort of loved that about Texans. They wore hats like other people wore shoes. And only took them off when absolutely necessary.
“Hello, Cooper.” She sat, too. “I have to admit I’m a little bit shocked that you’re here. How did you find me?”
“Don’t be frightened,” Cooper said sincerely. “It’s nothing bad. It’s just that my brother—”
“What about Jared?” She had a vested interest in his well-being and was anxious to hear about his recovery. It was sort of strange how she’d bonded with the person whose life she’d saved. She’d only been with him a few short hours, yet images of that night popped in and out of her mind at all times of the day and night. Thoughts of his health nagged at her.
“He’s doing as well as can be expected,” his brother said. “He’s young and strong and he’ll heal eventually.”
“I see. That’s good news. So then why are you here?”
“It’s just that—” Cooper scrubbed a hand over his jaw “—he can’t seem to get you off his mind. He wasn’t all too coherent that first night and he can barely remember you at the hospital and...well...I think he needs to see you and thank you personally. It’s important to him.”
“I, uh, understand, but that’s not really necessary.”
“It is to him,” Cooper said, his face somber. “Believe me, if it wasn’t I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“You still haven’t told me how you found me.”
Cooper’s mouth twisted and he let out a deep sigh, making it obvious he didn’t want to divulge the information. “My wife...is a nurse.”
He didn’t have to say more. Though she was surprised that her personal contact information had been breached, she wasn’t angry. She should be, but she just plain wasn’t. Cooper wasn’t there for nefarious reasons. He was there on behalf of his brother, who could’ve died a few days ago.
“Lauren, my wife, is a good woman,” he began, “and she loves Jared, too. It took a lot of arm-twisting, if that makes you feel any better. I hope you’ll consider coming to the ranch to see my brother. I can drive you myself or I can send a car for you.”
Suddenly, Sienna ambled into the room, her soft black hair mussed. She clutched her stuffed bunny rabbit in one hand and rubbed her eyes with the other. “Hi, baby girl. Did you have a nice nap?”
Her child eyed the stranger cautiously, making a wide berth around him to get to her mommy. Bella knew the look; her daughter was wary and shy of strangers. She considered that a good thing and picked her up. Immediately, Sienna buried her face in her chest. “Sorry, she’s a bit shy.”
“She’s adorable,” Cooper said, a twinkle in his eye. “My wife, Lauren, is pregnant. Our baby is due in early spring.”
Lauren, the wife who’d rifled through her personal files. “Congratulations. It’s exciting. Is this your first?”
He nodded. “Yep, it’s our first. How about you? Do you have any other children?”
“No, my husband died last year. It’s just the two of us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Must be hard being a single mother.”
“It is. But I have great friends who help out. Amy, the woman who was with me the night of the accident, is letting us stay here until I can find employment. She’s been wonderful.”
“So this isn’t your home?”
“It’s where we live, for the time being.”
His head slanting to the right, he studied her as if puzzling something out. “What kind of work do you do?”
I’m the disowned heiress of Forte Foods. “I’m a cook. Well, a chef really, but right now, I’d sling hash in the local diner if it would pay my bills.” She smiled to wipe away Cooper’s concerned expression and furrowed brow. That’s all she’d say on the subject.
“Mommy, I hungry.” The tiny voice echoed against her chest.
“Okay, sweetie. I’ll make you something to eat.”
Cooper rose from his seat and grabbed his hat.
She stood and gestured to Sienna. “So now you see why I can’t just pick up and come to your ranch today?”
“I do see. But please consider driving out. Soon. And bring the little one. I bet she’d love to see the horses. We’re at Stone Ridge Ranch. Here’s my brother’s card. It has his address and phone number on it.” Cooper walked over to place the card in her hand. “And thanks for not freaking out about how I found you. It went against every shred of Lauren’s sense of propriety, but at the same time she agreed that the only way Jared can heal mentally from the accident is to speak to you.”
“That’s putting a bit of pressure on me.”
Cooper’s brows lifted, his face the picture of innocence. “Is it working?”
She tilted her head and admitted, “Maybe.”
* * *
You’ve got to go. I know you’re dying to. Just go and satisfy your curiosity, Bella. See the man whose life you saved.
Amy’s words burned in her ears as she stood on the doorstep of Jared Stone’s home. There was a chill in the air and she cradled her bundled-up daughter even tighter. Mesquite trees surrounding the property were strung with big colorful ornaments. The door she’d just knocked on a moment ago was bedecked with twin pinecone wreaths reminding her that Christmas was just weeks away.
Funny, it didn’t seem like Christmas. When Paul was alive it used to be such a fun time of year. Those four Christmases she’d shared with him had been the best. Now it was something she’d have to get through. But for Sienna’s sake, she was going to make it special.
Her little girl was taking in the decorations in wide-eyed wonder. She pointed at an old-fashioned red buckboard wagon decorating the grassy portion of the front yard. The bed of the wagon was filled with buckets of thriving poinsettias. “Want ride, Mommy.”
“Oh, sweetie, I don’t think that wagon works.”
“Why?” Everything lately required an explanation. Her little one was a curious soul.
“It’s kind of old.”
“O-kay. Is pretty,” she said, still fascinated by the wagon.
“Yes, the flowers are pretty.”
So was Jared’s house, which was accented with thick beams of light wood and beautiful stone siding. It was modern with rustic flair. As she’d come upon it, passing stables and barns, horses and cattle along the way, somehow she could picture Jared living here. It fit. Which was a weird thing to think, since she didn’t know the man. At all.
The door opened and a sixtysomething woman greeted them. “Why, you must be Bella Reid. Come in. We’ve been expecting you. I’m Marie, Mr. Stone’s housekeeper.”
Last night, after she’d made the decision to come by, she’d called Jared but the phone call had gone straight to voice mail. At least, she’d given him fair warning she was coming and was glad the message had been received. “Hello, Marie. Nice to meet you.”
“And who is this little darlin’?”
“This is my daughter, Sienna.”
“She’s a beautiful child.” Marie didn’t waste time. “Please come inside. Jared’s in the other room, waiting for you. He’s very glad you came by.” The affection in Marie’s voice was unmistakable. “And I’m tickled to meet you. You saved his life. The entire family is in your debt.”
Marie stopped outside a closed door and suddenly wrapped her arms around her and Sienna and gave them a hug. “Thank you.” She pulled away quickly. “Don’t mind me, I’m a silly woman,” she said, wiping an unshed tear from her eye. “But I just had to do that.”
“No, it’s fine,” Bella said. “It’s obvious you care about Jared.”
“Since he was a boy.”
“Marie?” an impatient male voice called out.
“They’re here, Jared.” Marie swept an arm toward the door. “You’d best go inside. I left a pitcher of lemonade and a plate of cookies on the table. I sure hope you like chocolate chip,” she said to Sienna. The toddler grinned at the mention of cookies. “If you need anything else, please let me know.”
“Thank you.”
Marie walked off slowly and Bella caught her grimacing, placing a hand to her back as she exited.
With a bit of trepidation, she entered the room to find the tall man slowly, carefully, unbending his body and rising from his chair, his expression etched with sheer determination. But there was no masking the pain he was in. “Bella Reid?”
“Hello, Jared. Please sit down,” she said softly.
His face seemed to mellow, some of the strain melting away as soon as the words were out of her mouth. He wore comfortable clothes, black sweats and a T-shirt with Stone Corp printed over a graphic of a rugged mountain peak. Their company logo, she assumed.
