“What do I want? I need to get work done, like I told you.”
“You can do it now. I’m back.” He didn’t understand why she was so pissed off. He was here, wasn’t he?
An angry flush climbed up her cheeks. “I needed to have sent it in hours ago!” She pushed her fingers through her hair, which only made her breasts rise. Daniel found he had to look away from the temptation she offered.
“I have work, too. No reason to get upset about it,” he said. He forced himself to stop staring at Willa—and her breasts, if he were being honest—and stared over at the sampler on the wall his grandmother had stitched long before Daniel had been born. Maybe if he thought about his grandma and how she’d always threatened to spank him with a wooden spoon when he was a kid, he’d stop thinking these thoughts about Willa.
“I’m not upset,” she snapped.
He tried not to smile as he looked back to her again. “Sure you aren’t, darlin’.”
Willa growled low in her throat as she grabbed her purse to head into town, to get some work done at the public library, as she’d told him over breakfast. “Bobby is napping, so you’re welcome. I’m leaving. I’m not coming back to babysit today at all, got it?” Apparently realizing how she sounded, she winced a little. “Sorry. I shouldn’t snap at you. I just have to get this done.” She paused and said lower, “I love Bobby, but he’s not my nephew, you know?”
Daniel did know. “Sorry I was so late. It won’t happen again.”
“Thank you.”
She looked up at him under her dark lashes, which made him want to kiss her. Irritated, he said, “I have to work, too. See you later.”
She raised her eyebrows at his gruff tone, but he didn’t care if he’d offended her for the thousandth time. The last thing he needed was to be sweet on a girl who had no intention of sticking around.
Six
What had initially been just a few days turned into a week, and Willa was itching to get the hell out of Dodge.
It wasn’t that anyone was unkind to her—it was the opposite. They were overly attentive to her and to Bobby. Once Daniel had told everyone of her father living in nearby Macon and her Texas roots, it was like she was the prodigal daughter come home. Everyone seemed to want her to stay, as if she’d been waiting for the invitation.
You can’t leave that little boy just yet. I know Daniel would love to have you help out, too.
There ain’t nothing in New York you can’t get here!
Except Willa couldn’t get her favorite Thai dish here, or get any food that wasn’t a variation of steak and potatoes. The produce consisted of corn, tomatoes, and more corn—no kale, no crispy purple cabbage, no coconut aminos or sweet, tart starfruit.
When she’d tried to make Bobby one of his favorite meals—aloo gobi, an Indian dish with curry, potatoes, and cauliflower—Willa hadn’t been able to find one jar of curry powder in the whole damn town. And garam masala? Forget about it. She’d asked one of the clerks if they had any of those spices, and he’d goggled at her like she’d asked if they sold bags of cocaine.
Now Willa was standing in one of the few restaurants in town and wishing she could pack her bags right then. Jack’s Diner was one of the hottest places in the area, in that it had the best burgers and shakes for miles. The owner, Sarah Nevarez, was a middle-aged woman with a long, gray braid down her back. She was also loud and welcoming, making sure everyone was having a good time.
“So, you’re the infamous Willa Markson!” said Sarah, shaking Willa’s hand vigorously. “I’ve heard all about you. You’re prettier than a picture. Ain’t she pretty, Larry?”
Larry, the diner’s cook, grunted and headed back into the kitchen.
“That means he likes you,” said Sarah with a grin. “I can’t believe you’ve been here a week and I haven’t met you until now. Where’ve you been hiding all this time? You have a room down at the bed and breakfast, right?”
Willa smiled awkwardly. “Mr. Gunn’s been letting me use his guest room while Bobby settles in. I’m not staying much longer—”
Sarah shot her an incredulous look. “Oh, you can’t leave! You just got here! Now, Danny boy put together this little shindig for you, and I want you to enjoy yourself this evening. Eat as much as you like.” She eyed the younger woman. “Goodness, but you’re skinny. Don’t they feed you up north?” Sarah shook her head. “Of course they don’t. Nothing but salad and smog, I reckon.”
Considering that Willa was hardly a size zero, she almost laughed at Sarah’s pronouncement that she was too skinny. Her jeans and her bra size would beg to differ.
When Daniel had told her he’d asked Sarah to throw a welcome party for Bobby and Willa, Willa had tried to get out of it. But Daniel had had that implacable gleam in his eye that she’d realized nobody could say no to. Besides, what harm would it be to meet some people? Hadn’t she met most of them already at Daniel’s house?
People streamed into the diner in what seemed like droves. Willa found herself the center of attention, people asking her all sorts of questions while giving her unsolicited advice. They shoved plates of food into her hand, admonishing her tiny appetite.
Willa didn’t mind talking to strangers: growing up in Texas, you got used to talking to everybody and anybody. But it was a weird sensation, having all these people acting like she was some kind of hometown celebrity. She wished she could sneak away to be alone for a moment. This kind of thing was hell on earth for an introvert like her.
Over at one of the tables, Daniel and Uncle James were looking after Bobby. Willa stood on tiptoe to see what they were up to, and she sighed in relief to see that Bobby seemed occupied.
Daniel looked up in that moment and caught her staring. He grinned. She looked away, blushing. She’d promised she’d take the night off from looking after Bobby, but good habits die hard.
Or maybe it was because Daniel, despite his annoying love of strict schedules, his insistence on her staying longer than she’d wanted, and his overall stubborn cowboy personality, made her heart flutter every time he caught her looking. Everyone around her seemed to be engaged in conversations with each other, and she was alone for a blessed moment. Her heart beat faster when she saw Daniel smile down at Bobby. Tonight, Daniel had even changed into black jeans instead of his usual blue denim, his cotton button-up shirt hugging his muscular arms and chest.
What right did such an annoying man have to be so handsome?
“How does that song go?” said Sarah as she stood next to Willa again, eating a piece of pie. “‘It’s my party and I can cry if I want to’?”
Willa’s brow crinkled. “Who’s crying?”
“Nobody, but you look like you might. Or you might kick somebody. I’ve seen that look too many times to count on people’s faces when they come in here with some burden or other.” Sarah dug her fork into the peach pie on her plate. “So, what’s up with you, sugar?”
“Nothing’s up with me,” she said rather unconvincingly.
“Oh, come on. No reason to lie. You have a face that makes everything obvious.”
Willa blushed and then blushed harder at the implication. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I hope those two Gunn men aren’t making your life hell. I’ve known both of them for years.” Sarah dropped her voice to a confidential tone that still carried over the noise in the crowded restaurant. “James Gunn was born crotchety. When we were in high school together, he got mad when our class played a prank on the freshmen and put frogs in their lockers.” Sarah grinned and her eyes lit with mischief. “He acted like we’d tried to murder somebody when he found out about it. Then again, he was class president and had an image to maintain.”
Willa was completely lost, so she just nodded and decided that Sarah was the type of person who could talk for hours without anyone else having to say much in reply.
“And Danny? Cut from the same cloth! He’s a hard worker, of course, but stubborn as a mule.” Sarah snorted at whatever memory came
to her mind. “Why, when he was a baby no bigger than that little nephew of his is now, he came into my diner and told me that he didn’t need his momma’s help at all cutting up his meat during dinner. ‘I’ll do it myself’ was his motto.”
Sarah cut Willa a sly glance. “What I’m sayin’ is, those two men have a way about them that tends to make others do what they want you to do. But I can see that you’re stubborn, too.” She gave Willa’s ribs a nudge with her elbow. “Give ‘em hell, and they’ll back off.”
Willa knew all about stubborn cowboys, considering her daddy was one. She was about to tell Sarah as much when Bobby threw one of his toys onto the floor from his high chair. It was only a second later that he started bawling. Daniel picked him up out of the high chair, but he kicked his fat little legs in protest. Daniel had to set him down, probably so he wouldn’t lose his hold on him.
Bobby ran straight for Willa, launching himself at her and gripping her leg as he cried. “Don’t wanna go back! Don’t wanna!” he kept repeating.
“Goodness, what’s this about?” Willa crouched down in front of Bobby. “You’re okay, buddy. You don’t have to go anywhere.”
Bobby sniffled and popped his thumb into his mouth. Stroking his hair, Willa saw Daniel say something to Uncle James before sitting back down. Had Daniel wanted to take Bobby home, and the little guy had protested? Willa sighed.
Bobby was still clinging to her, no matter how much time she tried to spend apart from him. Every time she left the farmhouse and came back again, he’d make a beeline for her as soon as she walked in the door. She could tell Daniel was frustrated by it, and a part of her was, too. If Bobby wasn’t adjusting yet, how could she in good conscience leave him? Would that just traumatize him further?
“Well, I don’t see how you can leave any time soon,” said Sarah, as if echoing Willa’s thoughts. “This little boy loves you. Don’t you, son?” She ruffled Bobby’s dark hair with a wide smile.
Daniel got up after Sarah left to go talk to other guests, making his way toward Willa.
“I know I told you you’d get the evening off, but this little guy had other plans,” he said with an apologetic smile.
“Kids tend to do that.”
They gazed at each other, and Willa found herself staring at the notch of brown skin revealed by his unbuttoned collar. What would it be like to kiss him there? Feel his heart beat under her lips? What would he taste like?
She blushed scarlet and bent down to pick up Bobby. “I think he needs changing. Be right back.”
Bobby wasn’t even wet, but she took him into the ladies’ room all the same. Letting Daniel Gunn get under her skin like that? That would be worse than staying in Texas for good.
But looking down at her charge, she knew that she couldn’t leave. Not yet. She’d talk to the art gallery owner about her situation and hope that she could do some parts of the interview process remotely. Or perhaps he’d postpone it entirely.
“What am I gonna do?” she asked Bobby. “You have any advice?”
“Play twucks!” was his answer, which made her laugh so much that she gave him a smacking kiss and told him he was the smartest little boy in the whole wide world.
Seven
Daniel was no stranger to hard work. His parents had died when he was eighteen, leaving him to raise his younger brother all by himself along with taking care of the farm, his parents’ legacy. He’d transformed from an immature kid into an adult the day his parents were hit by a drunk driver on a run into town.
His number-one task at the moment was to keep Willa Markson here—and not New York—to help him with Bobby. Daniel was proud, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew he couldn’t care for his nephew without Willa’s help, not to mention the fact that Bobby was extremely attached to Willa. Separating Bobby from Willa after the toddler had already lost his parents would be a horrible thing, something Daniel wanted to avoid at all costs.
Now Daniel sat with his Uncle James at Jack’s Diner, drinking beer and going over Robert’s estate. Daniel had yet to mention that he’d wanted to see his uncle to discuss a way to keep Willa around for a while longer.
“Everything looks good,” said Uncle James as he pushed another form toward Daniel to sign. “Your brother might not have been great with money, but he left things in good standing. Even had a will, life insurance, everything young people today don’t appear to think about because they think they’ll live forever.” Uncle James snorted, ruffling his mustache.
Daniel signed the form with a heavy heart. He wished he could tell his brother he was sorry for not being the kind of brother Robert had needed. While Daniel had found solace in strict rules, especially when he’d had to raise Robert by his lonesome, what Robert had needed was a brother, someone to lean on, to talk about his problems with. But Daniel had been too preoccupied with keeping the farm running and putting food on the table to notice the inner turmoil haunting Robert after their parents had died.
Daniel had been thankful when Robert had met Stacey. By the time Robert and Stacey had gotten married, Daniel hadn’t seen Robert for over three years. Their only contact had been the occasional phone call, and even those had stopped after what turned out to be their last argument. Daniel had only met Stacey once, and that had been at the wedding. He wished he hadn’t been so focused on himself and had gotten to know his sister-in-law better.
Uncle James drank his beer silently, but Daniel could feel the older man’s gaze on him. Only Uncle James knew how much Daniel regretted not mending his relationship with Robert before the younger brother had died.
“How’s the little britches doing?” said Uncle James. “And the little lady, too?”
Daniel’s mouth twisted into a semblance of a smile. “Bobby is doing as well as he can, I think.” He sighed deeply. “But God Almighty, I don’t know anything about babies!”
Uncle James snorted. “I could’a’ told you that.”
“I want to do right by Bobby, but I know I can’t just shove him into my life and hope for the best.”
Uncle James’s gaze could’ve burned holes in Daniel’s shirt. “So what are you saying?”
Daniel let out a breath. “I’m saying that I need to figure out how to keep Willa here, that’s what. She’s the person Bobby knows and loves best. She can’t leave him in the dust.” She can’t leave me in the dust.
Uncle James nodded slowly. “I ain’t disagreeing, but Miss Markson has her own life, son. She seemed mighty set on getting back to New York as soon as she could. I bet she’s just itching to get out of here.”
For whatever reason, the words stung Daniel. Maybe it was because he was so attached to Texas and the way of life here that he’d never understood why first Robert, and now Willa, had run away like bats out of hell. What was so bad about small-town Texas? It seemed like a nicer place than any big city could possibly be.
“I think if we aren’t careful, Miss Markson will sneak out in the middle of the night and never come back,” he answered dryly.
“Then you have to give her a reason to stay.” Uncle James smiled as he added, “She’s single, ain’t she?”
Daniel clenched his fists, feeling the hairs rise on the back of his neck. “What’s that got to do with Bobby?”
“Nothin’. Everythin’. A pretty woman like her should have a man at her side. Why not you?” Uncle James’ look turned sly. “I saw the way you look at her when you think nobody notices.”
Daniel managed to keep himself from pulling at his collar. Barely. He felt all of ten years old again. “She wouldn’t be interested.”
“Did you ask her?”
“No, and I’m not going to. Come up with another reason. One that won’t get me slapped.”
Uncle James didn’t look convinced, but Daniel let out a relieved breath when his uncle turned away and didn’t say anything more about the subject.
The corners of Daniel’s mouth lifted, thinking of being close enough to Willa to get slapped. While he couldn’t help thinking about
how Willa’s smile made him want to kiss her, even an angry Willa was something else, her eyes snapping and color rushing to her cheeks. It would almost be worth getting slapped to kiss her, he thought wryly. She was just his type of woman: curvy, stubborn, and Texas-born.
Although Daniel hadn’t had a serious relationship in years, there was something about Willa that made him want to rethink that decision.
“Whatcha you two talking about all hush-hush like?” asked Sarah as she came to take their empty beer glasses.
Uncle James leaned back in his chair. “We ain’t talking anything hush-hush. You’re always hearing or seeing things that aren’t there,” he said. He was irritated, his usual reaction to Sarah Nevarez.
Daniel knew there was a history between his uncle and the diner owner and that they’d almost gotten married. Beyond that, over the years, he’d watched these two circle each other like feral cats, hissing and spitting.
“Now you’re talking a lot of balderdash.” Sarah turned to Daniel, replacing her frown with a smile. “I thought the party went good last night. That Miss Markson sure is getting lots of attention. Then again, it’s not like we get a lot of pretty single ladies coming into town, do we?” She winked at Daniel, and he barely restrained a groan.
But at Sarah’s mention of Willa, Daniel wondered if the woman would have a better idea than he’d been able to come up with about getting Willa to stay. Women knew things like this, about feelings and such.
“Miss Markson is wanting to get back to New York straightaway,” said Daniel, the thought hitting him in the gut, “but I really need her to stay. For Bobby, that is. I don’t know a damn thing about taking care of babies.”
Sarah laughed. “’Course you don’t. I’m surprised, though,” she went on, her forehead wrinkling as she considered. “Miss Markson seemed so attached to little Bobby. When is she going back?”
Daniel’s lips pulled back in a wry expression. “She was supposed to leave this weekend, but I managed to get her to stay a few more days.”
Home with the Cowboy Page 4
