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“Not from the rain.” Rita popped a cookie into her mouth and grinned. “Waterbed incident.”
Ava put a hand up to stop Rita from saying anything more. “Got it.”
Rita reached out and took her sister’s hand. “Please don’t leave. I’m sorry about today. I was a horrible sister.”
“Not horrible. Just exasperating, interfering and a devious little pain in the—”
“Okay, okay.” Rita fell back onto the bed. “Look, I love you and I want to see you happy. What Dad did four years ago was so unbelievably wrong and unfair. I just thought maybe if you and Jared talked things over it would help the situation, maybe heal some old wounds.”
Ava smiled halfheartedly. “I appreciate that, little sister, I really do, but you saw how he looked at me today. The damage is done. It’s over.” She eyed her seriously. “And by the way, what Dad did wasn’t your fault.”
A stain of pink brushed Rita’s cheeks and she looked away. “I could’ve helped you.”
“No, you couldn’t have. You were too young.” Ava sighed. “There was no painless way out of that situation. If I had gone to Jared, he and his grandmother would’ve been out on the street. Dad promised me that. And I wasn’t going to let that happen.”
“They have a big house now, you know.” Her tone was leading and hopeful. “And no financial worries.”
“I know,” Ava said quietly, then pointed at the cookies. “Can I have one of those?”
Rita laughed and thrust the package toward her. “Have two.” She sobered momentarily. “Are you going to see Dad while you’re here?”
A flicker of apprehension coursed through Ava. “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe introduce him to his granddaughter?”
“He’s made his feelings about Lily all too clear.”
“He really changed when you left. Well, after his car accident. That bump on the head seemed to knock some sense into him and some understanding into his heart. I think he’d really like to see you, Ava. I think he has some regrets.”
Ava shook her head firmly. “I can’t take that chance. I won’t have Lily hurt. I have enough to deal with in Jared.” She nodded at the phone book. “That’s why I should find another place to stay.”
“Oh, c’mon. He said he wasn’t coming to the wedding, right?”
“Right.”
“So what are you worried about?”
Ava shrugged. Jared had promised not to come to the wedding, which meant he probably wasn’t stopping by for an invitation. “I guess I really shouldn’t be, huh?”
Companionably, they sat together on the bed, eating their cookies and drinking their milk.
Rita broke the silence. “He still has feelings for you.”
“Oh, I know. Hatred, contempt—”
“Whatever it is, you have to tell him the truth.”
“I tried once, remember?”
Rita put her arm around Ava. “You have to try again.”
“I just don’t think he’s ready yet.”
“He’s not ready? Or you’re not?”
Ava grabbed another cookie, stood up and walked over to the window to check on her daughter. She didn’t even want to contemplate Rita’s suggestion. Jared hated her now. And more than likely, after their exchange today, he wouldn’t be coming within a mile of her—
The thought died. Ava’s throat tightened and her hands began to tremble.
Through the thin pane of glass and dusty screen, a scene she’d imagined a thousand times in her head was unfolding. Lily had abandoned the sandbox and her friends and was standing beside the rosebushes talking to a tall, gorgeous Cheyenne.
“You got any horsies?”
Jared smiled down at the cute little girl with her large eyes and long copper ponytail. “Seven of them.”
It was late afternoon, but the sun was so hot it could simmer chili. It was the kind of day that begged for water or shade. Or lemonade, he thought as the little girl sitting in front of him awkwardly handed him a Dixie cup from the kid-size plastic table that sat on the brick patio near the grass.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said and downed the cool, tart liquid.
He wondered who she was. Probably another one of Mrs. Young’s grandkids—although she didn’t look like one of those black-haired tikes. And if she was one of the Young kids, why was she over at Rita’s place? Barbecue? Could be. Paradise was a real family kind of town.
He waved at a tired-looking Mrs. Young, then glanced down at the little girl who was tugging at his jeans. It was no spoiled, frilly-dressed young lady who looked up at him. No. The little girl who had introduced herself as Lily was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, her cheeks and hands smudged with dirt. She was a tomboy, he could tell that the minute he’d walked into the backyard and she’d jumped up from the sandbox and leaped over the side like a circus performer—with no fear, only blind confidence. She had to be around three or four, but he wasn’t sure. She wasn’t totally forthcoming on that front, opting instead to pepper him with questions. Not that her pluck bothered him. He liked kids. Just didn’t know many, that’s all, didn’t have much experience around them.
No brothers or sisters had meant no nieces or nephews.
Lily crooked her finger as though she had a big secret to share, and he bent down to hear her whisper, “My mommy reads me a book about Appaloosas.” The word came out sounding like apple and ooosas. “You got Appaloosas?”
He nodded. “Two. Soon to be three.”
“You might buy some more?”
“Nope.” He sat back on his heels. “My mare’s about ready to foal.”
“What’s that?”
“She’s going to have a baby.”
The little girl clasped her hands to together and let out a sound that resembled a squeal. “A baby?”
He chuckled. “Yep.”
“When?”
“At the end of the week, I expect.”
“Oh, I want to see. Please?” she asked. “I can help. I’m gonna be a good horsie rider when I get big.”
A shadow fell between them on the grass. Jared stood and saw Ava walking toward the little girl, eyes wary and nervous.
“Mommy,” Lily called to her with a wide smile. “This is Jared.”
Mommy. Jared’s gut constricted, making his breathing tight. This little girl was Ava’s…child? The word cut deep, as did the idea that Ava had been touched by anyone but him. Although he knew she’d been married, he’d ripped the knowledge from his mind. Didn’t want to think of her with another man. But here it was right in the face, proof-positive.
“I know who he is, Lil,” Ava said at last, her green eyes fastened on him, questioning him. Why was he here and when was he going to leave? they seemed to ask.
About twenty minutes ago, he’d been tearing down Route 15, all fired up, ready to ask some questions, ready to do battle with the woman who held all the answers. But this little girl had stopped him, quelled his ire and charmed the socks off him as her mother had done so many times in the past.
Like Ava was doing right now, just standing there on the grass, watching him, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. He cursed silently as all thoughts in his head disintegrated while his gaze traveled over every inch of her. The pink satin potato sack she’d been wearing earlier was gone and in its place was the reminder of how luscious her body had been and still was. His groin tightened. White shorts, white T-shirt and chunky sandals. Long, tanned legs, high, full breasts and toes painted the color of his saddle.
Jared wanted only to be angry, feel the rage he’d been holding inside for so long, but this woman had a power over him. The sun pierced through the slats in the overhang like torrents of golden rain, backlighting Ava. Complete with a halo of blond locks, she looked like an angel. Too beautiful to behold. Well, too beautiful for him to hold.
Jared turned to Lily. “Your mom and I used to know each other.”
Lily looked wide-eyed at her mother.
Ava smiled, then she glanced back at Jared. “Did you change your mind about coming to the wedding—”
“Not exactly.” He eased off his Stetson and wiped his brow. This was not going as planned. One thing was certain, he thought as he looked at the two of them. He sure as hell wasn’t going to interrogate Ava with her daughter around. It would have to be another time, another day.
Mother and daughter, he thought as he watched them sit down on the grass side by side, then start methodically picking blades of grass, discarding them. Why in the world hadn’t he thought about the possibility of a child? What a fool he was. She’d left Paradise to get married. And children were a natural progression in a marriage.
“When can I come see the horsies?” Lily asked, forcing Jared back into the present.
Jared smiled. “You’re welcome at my place anytime.”
“Now?”
“No, Lil,” Ava said quickly. “We’re about to have dinner.”
Undaunted, Lily said, “Tomorrow?”
Ava shook her head. “No. We…have plans.”
She sounded utterly panicked, Jared noticed. Hell, she looked panicked. Obviously she didn’t want him around her child. What did she think he was going to do?
His jaw tightened.
They’d talked about children once. The first night they’d made love. Late into the night in the small tack shed he’d fixed up to look romantic. They’d talked about everything: their future, being together, kids. Then he’d pulled her close, kissed her hungrily and made love to her again. Jared shook the images of wet skin and heated mouths out of his head. He wasn’t here to reminisce. She owed him an explanation and tomorrow would be the perfect time to get it. Muna could take Lily to see the horses and he and Ava could talk.
“What are we doing, Mommy?” Lily asked.
Ava startled. “When?”
“Tomorrow.” Jared supplied dryly.
“Oh. Well, I thought I’d take you to the movies. That cartoon you wanted to see is playing.”
“No,” Lily said, her brows drawing together. “I wanna see Jared’s horsies. One’s gonna have a baby.”
Ava tucked a stray hair behind Lily’s ear. “Jared’s a very busy man, sweetie.”
In other words, Jared thought, she thought he should be leaving, getting back to that busy life and getting out of here. Fine, he’d give her what she wanted and be on his way. But not without a promise for tomorrow.
“I wanna help him with the baby horsie, Mommy.”
“Oh, Lil. He doesn’t do that himself. He hires a vet to—”
“Actually I do help in the birth,” Jared interrupted.
Ava’s brows rose considerably. “You do?”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” he said tightly. “I am good for more than asset allocation and stock portfolios. I was pretty handy on a ranch once upon a time.”
Ava felt like crawling beneath the blades of grass that fluttered in the breeze under her hand. She hadn’t said one sane word since she’d seen him and Lily together. She amended, “I know you are. I didn’t mean that. I just never knew that you helped with foaling, that’s all.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Ava.” He jammed his hat back on his head. “And there’s a lot I don’t know about you.”
The thin shelter of grass was far too open a place to hide, she thought. She scanned the ground, ashamed of those kinds of thoughts. She knew better than anyone that running away never solved a thing. Was she going to run forever? Was she ever going to stop, take a deep breath and face life?
Admittedly, facing life, past and future was partly why she’d come back to Paradise. She looked up into Jared’s severe but magnetic gaze and found no shelter, no safe place to fall, only a deep yearning and seething anger.
At that moment, Lily jumped to her feet in a fit of spirit. “You can help us, too, Mommy.”
“Listen, Lil, I never said—”
The little girl put her hands on her hips. “C’mon, peas?”
Saying no to the word “peas” was near to impossible.
“First things first,” Jared said to Lily. “Why don’t you two just come by tomorrow, then we’ll see about helping with the foaling.” He nodded at Ava. “My house at noon? Can’t miss the place. Out the highway, then a right at Wes Lamb’s place and down a few miles.”
Ava opened her mouth to speak, then closed it as she shook her head. “I know you’re really busy with your work. We can—”
“There’s a lot to catch up on.” He arched a brow at her. “I’ll make the time.”
“See, Mommy. He said he makes time.”
Yes, he did, Ava thought, frustration setting in for the second time that day. She knew now that he wasn’t here to get an invitation to Rita’s wedding. He’d come here for answers. But Lily’s presence, her existence, had thrown him, so he was pushing for tomorrow when he could get her alone. The thought unnerved Ava in ways she didn’t want to explore.
“Can I pet the horsies, Jared?” Lily asked, her eyes dancing.
“I don’t see why not.” He gave her an easy smile. “It’ll be good for them to see a pretty face after looking at the ranch hands’ ugly mugs day in and day out.”
Lily looked at her mother. “Mommy? Peas…”
Jared tipped his Stetson back. “Ava?”
It was a challenge—and one she knew she shouldn’t back down from.
