Denim and Diamond

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“I can do it!” April reached for the bottle.

Kyle gave his daughter the ketchup bottle and was about to resume his seat when the phone rang.

He spun on his heel and picked up the receiver from the counter nearby.

“Kincade Veterinary Clinic, Kyle Masters speaking,” he said. He listened for a moment. “Yes. No problem, I’ll leave right away. Walk him around till I get there.” Frowning, he replaced the receiver.

“Something wrong?” Piper asked.

“When it rains, it pours,” he commented. “A sick horse, possibly colic.”

“Not at the ranch…?” Piper began, knowing how dangerous colic could be.

Kyle shook his head. “No, that was Shannon out at Nelson’s Riding Stables. She boards a few horses now and then, and one of her newest additions is showing typical signs of abdominal stress.”

“I see.” Nelson’s Riding Stables was located fifteen miles east of town.

“Listen, I know it’s a lot to ask,” Kyle began. “But could I impose on you to—”

“Stay with April?” Piper finished for him.

“Is that a problem? Did you have other plans?”

“Uh…no, I don’t have other plans,” she spoke hesitatingly. “When will you be back?” she asked trying not to sound anxious.

“An hour, maybe two.” He responded. “I realize your offer to help out at the clinic didn’t include baby-sitting, but with Vera over at the hospital, I’m really in a bind,” he concluded, urgency in his tone.

“I understand,” she said. “And yes, I’ll stay,” she added and was instantly rewarded by a smile that sent her pulse racing.

“Thanks!” He sounded relieved. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Piper glanced at the little girl, oblivious to their conversation, immersed in the task of smearing ketchup on every inch of the half-eaten wiener.

Kyle was already on the move. Gathering his keys and cellular phone from the counter, he reached for his jean jacket.

“I’ll pick up what I need downstairs,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.” He turned to April. “Sweetheart, Daddy has to go out and see a sick horse. Piper is going to stay here with you till I get back. All right?”

“Okay,” April replied, unperturbed by the news, no doubt accustomed to her father being called out at short notice. “The number for my cell phone is on the fridge if you need me,” he said. “I’ll call if I think I’m going to be longer than two hours.”

“Fine,” Piper said.

“April sometimes needs a nap in the afternoon, but only if she gets cranky.”

“Right. A nap if she’s cranky,” Piper parroted and felt her heart pick up speed. What constituted cranky she wondered? She hoped she wouldn’t have to find out.

“What do you and your Nana do when your daddy isn’t here?” Piper asked a few minutes later as she began to clear away the dishes.

“Sometimes we walk to the park, and sometimes she reads me a story,” April replied. “Could you read me a story?”

“Sure,” Piper said, liking the idea immensely.

April grinned. “My storybooks are in my room. I’ll get one,” she said as she started to climb down from the table.

“Oh…hang on a minute,” Piper said, realizing April’s hands and face were smeared with ketchup. “I think we should clean you up a little first.”

April grimaced and wriggled like an eel while Piper attempted to wipe away all traces of ketchup from the child’s face. “You’re very lucky to have someone to read to you and help take care of you,” Piper said as she washed first one sticky hand then the other.

“Nana is nice, but I wish I had a mommy of my very own.” April’s tone was wistful.

Piper’s heart went out to the child. “Maybe one day you will have a new mommy,” she said after a moment’s pause.

“Nana thinks Daddy could easily find another Mommy if he’d just look for one,” April told her.

Piper had to fight not to smile. “I don’t think it’s quite that easy,” she said, silently wondering if Kyle knew about his daughter’s secret wish.

Chapter Three

Kyle slowly climbed the stairs to the apartment. For the past two hours he’d been out at Nelson’s Stables treating a horse with a propensity to eat its own bedding.

After diagnosing colic, he’d administered a water-and-oil concoction as well as a pain reliever. He’d stayed long enough to see the results he’d been hoping for, but now after a stressful day he was feeling bone weary.

He listened for the sound of voices from inside but all was quiet. Maybe April had persuaded Piper to take her for a walk to the park around the corner to play on the swings.

Opening the door, he came to an abrupt halt when he spotted Piper and April fast asleep on the sofa. Piper had an arm around his daughter while her head rested on Piper’s swollen tummy.

One of April’s favorite picture books about a rooster named Brewster lay on the floor nearby. Kyle quietly closed the door behind him and smiled when he noticed the pile of picture books scattered atop the coffee table.

His gaze returned to the sleeping figures, and for a brief moment he indulged in the foolish fantasy that this was his family, his daughter and his pregnant wife.

It was a dream he’d always harbored, to come home to a loving wife and a house filled with children. After his marriage to Elise, he’d had hopes theirs would be the perfect marriage, and the perfect family.

Their first year together had been rocky to say the least, but when she became pregnant, things had grown progressively worse. She’d been less than thrilled at the idea of starting a family, and it was then that he learned she still yearned for a career in acting.

A few days after April’s premature arrival, Elise had discharged herself from the hospital. She’d hopped on the first bus out of town.

Her departure hadn’t really surprised him. What he hadn’t been able to fathom or forgive was the fact that she’d never asked if the baby was all right, or bothered to look at the child she’d brought into the world.

A year later his lawyer tracked her down in New York where she was working in an Off Broadway production. She’d signed the divorce papers and the papers granting him full custody of their daughter. His only regret was that April would grow up without brothers or sisters.

He’d been an only child, a lonely child. His parents died in a train wreck on their way to a wedding when he was six years old. A few months later, he was shipped to Kincade to live with his widowed aunt.

At the time, Vera Masters had worked in the administration office of Kincade Mercy Hospital. At first she hadn’t been at all pleased to be saddled with an orphaned child. But her attitude changed, and their relationship deepened and strengthened.

His aunt’s house was across the street from Henry Bishop, the local veterinarian. Henry became a friend and father figure. His kindness and encouragement had helped Kyle through some difficult times. Henry had shown him the rewards of working with animals, and that’s where his dream to become a vet was born.

After Elise walked out he’d been determined to manage on his own, but he acknowledged that he’d never have gotten through it without Vera’s support.

The fact that she lived across the street had made things easier. But during the past year Vera had started spending more and more time with Frank Yardly, a widowed lawyer, who’d moved to Kincade with thoughts of retiring.

Kyle had a feeling Frank also had marriage in mind, but Vera never brought up the subject and Kyle was guiltily content to avoid it, knowing he relied on her too much.

He’d stopped by the hospital to see Frank on his way home, and was relieved when Vera had tearfully told him Frank would recover, but that the process would take time.

Kyle had an idea Vera wanted to spend more time with Frank and help with his recovery, and he couldn’t blame her. But if he couldn’t depend on Vera to look after April he’d have to hire a nanny, an option he couldn’t justify in terms of cost.

Besides, what April really needed was a mother, someone to spend time with her, play with her, a caring, loving woman who would discipline with a firm yet loving hand and be encouraging and supportive and…fun!

His gaze lingered for a moment on Piper and her rounded abdomen. There was something incredibly sexy about a pregnant woman, about this pregnant woman.

Not for the first time he wondered what would have happened eight years ago if he’d taken what she’d been so eager to offer.

Breathtakingly beautiful and decidedly desirable, it had taken every ounce of willpower to send her packing. She would probably laugh if she knew that for quite a while afterward he’d been plagued with a recurring fantasy of making passionate love to her.

But he’d known then just as he knew now, Piper Diamond was a woman like no other he’d ever known, a woman with strength, determination and a free spirit, a woman he doubted would ever regard him as a suitable life partner.

Kyle sighed, and tossed his jacket on the chair. It slid to the floor knocking a book off the table.

At the soft thud Piper’s eyes flew open. For a moment she couldn’t remember where she was. Glancing up she saw Kyle gazing down at her and suddenly it all came rushing back.

“Oh…hello!” she said, her voice threaded with sleep. “I’m sorry. I guess we both fell asleep.”

Kyle smiled. “It looks that way.”

“Daddy!” April sat up slowly rubbing her eyes.

“Hi, sleepyhead.”

“I have to pee,” April abruptly announced and hopping down off the sofa, she hurried off in the direction of the bathroom.

Piper tucked her hair behind her ears and eased into a more comfortable position. “I’m afraid afternoon naps seem to go hand-in-hand with being pregnant. What time is it?”

“Almost three o’clock,” he replied.

“I’d better be heading home,” she said as she attempted to get to her feet.

“Here, let me help.”

Piper hesitated, but only for a moment. “Thank you.” She took the hand he offered. His grip was strong and firm, and as he helped her up she caught the familiar scent of horses as well as another decidedly male scent that was his alone.

Suddenly the urge to lean into him, to feel the strength of his arms around her, assailed her. She swayed, and her stomach brushed against him sending a ripple of sensation through her.

“Are we going to get Nana at the hospital now?” April asked as she ran back into the room.

Piper felt the blood rush to her face. She released Kyle’s hand but as she moved away the baby, undoubtedly unhappy about being disturbed, kicked her.

“Oh…ouch,” she murmured softly, putting her hand on her abdomen in an action that was purely reflex.

“What’s the matter?” April asked. “Does your tummy hurt?”

Piper smiled. “No, the baby kicked me, that’s all,” she explained.

April’s eyes widened. “You can feel it?”

“Yes.”

“Can I feel it, too?” April asked, her blue eyes wide with interest.

Piper’s gaze darted to Kyle, standing only a few feet away. He nodded in anticipation of her question.

Turning back to April, she smiled. “Sure. Come and put your hand here,” she instructed, charmed by the child’s curiosity.

April moved closer, and tentatively put her hand on Piper’s tummy. Seconds later the baby kicked several times.

“Wow!” Startled, April jerked her hand back and glanced at her father. “Daddy, the baby kicked me,” she said excitedly. She grinned at Piper. “Can my daddy feel the baby, too?”