Texas Bride

by Kate Thomas

  Josh showed a flash of white teeth. “Believe me, Dani, I’m glad you jumped in.”

  “Really?”

  She’d never met a man like Josh Walker. Seeing a woman in danger, he’d put himself at risk without hesitation. Now he twinkled those turquoise eyes at her and thanked her for interfering?

  Another cream-smooth chuckle. “Oh, yeah. I prefer survival any day over getting the smithereens beaten out of me just to demonstrate my manhood.”

  Images of the magnificent male form she’d undressed flitted through her head, melted her insides. Roused all her longings....

  “You don’t need to demonstrate it,” she blurted. “Anyone can see—Oh, you know what I mean,” she finished lamely.

  “Thanks for the endorsement,” he replied with a gleam in his azure eyes. When he smiled, that deep coiling heat seared through her. Tempted her to dream again, to try again, to love again.

  Hey—reality check on aisle three! There is, there can be nothing between you and Josh Walker. Except Michael. For five more weeks.

  “Well, anyway, thanks for standing up for me,” Dani said.

  “I’d have done the same for any woman,” Josh insisted. Ha. What a liar he’d become! Under oath, the truth was that nobility had nothing to do with it. He’d simply gone nuts when he’d seen that creep reaching for Dani.

  And now, an hour later, he was still nuts. Still fighting a pulsating desire to possess this Texas angel himself.

  Visions of her lying naked in passion-tangled sheets danced back and forth across his brain like a high-kick chorus line.

  Chill, man, he ordered himself. Douse the fire of these damned, inappropriate feelings with cold facts. “You’re the one who saved my as—er, life,” he said, before adding in silky, leading-the-witness tones, “Where did you learn how to defuse situations like that?”

  She lifted, then lowered one shoulder. “Jimmy started spending too much time in the wrong places with the wrong people.”

  She turned to look out the window and Josh divided his attention between the road and the maple-colored braid bisecting her back.

  “Maybe I should have gone with him more,” she whispered to the glass. “Maybe I could have done something....”

  The pain in her voice was too damned familiar. Josh’s first impulse was to change the subject, but—“Nobody can stop another person if they’re hell-bent on self-destruction.” And wasn’t that what Dani tried to tell you last night? he asked himself. Then frowned. He still didn’t see where nonforgiveness fit in, though.

  Josh realized he’d have to think about it

  Later. She’s chewing on that lip again. “If Michael cooperates,” he said quickly, “we might make it to Fallsboro before his next feeding.”

  Turning to give him a grateful smile, she took the cue. “How long have you lived there?”

  He had to think about that, too. Had he spent the past six years sleepwalking through life?

  “Couple of years,” he said finally. “I’ve been in the D.C. area nearly five.”

  “Why D.C.? I thought you grew up in Montana.”

  Damn, when her eyes glowed like priceless emeralds, free of those shadows of pain and sorrow, and she curved those lush lips in an encouraging smile like that, he’d tell her anything.

  So, as the old station wagon chugged along, he divulged his hope to influence environmental law during the creation process. Heard himself gushing that he’d already provided information during hearings in the House and was currently trying to build rapport with the newly appointed chairman of an important senate committee.

  So far, Elliston Perrodeaux remained elusive, Josh admitted with a lopsided grin, but he continued to call the senator’s office regularly with invitations to meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

  “One of these days, I’ll catch him in a weak moment,” he vowed with a wry chuckle. “Until then...” He shrugged modestly, then twisted around to check on Michael, who uncurled a finger as he slept.

  Josh beamed. Was this kid brilliant or what?

  “Tell me about Fallsboro,” Dani suggested. “What’s it like?”

  “Well, it’s, uh...” The place had a grocery store, a bank, a dry cleaner, but for all Josh knew, it could be populated by three-headed androids.

  He pointed with relief. “Decide for yourself.”

  As he drove past the Welcome To Fallsboro sign, Dani looked around eagerly. So did he—seeing the town for the first time. Hmm. Nice. Clusters of houses. A little farmland. A small central area of thriving shops and offices. Good place to raise a kid.

  For six weeks.

  Dani fiddled with the end of her braid, then tossed it aside. “About us—me and Michael—staying at your house,” she began, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. “Are you sure it will be big enough?”

  Josh swallowed a groan. The state of Montana wasn’t big enough. But he was...again.

  “Plenty of room,” he proclaimed finally. “Three bedrooms, two baths. Kitchen. Garage.” He couldn’t remember any other details, like what color the carpet was or whether he owned any wallpaper.

  “It sounds wonderful.”

  “Judge for yourself,” Josh said, his jaw suddenly rocklike.

  Dani peered eagerly through the windshield. They’d been driving past small, lovingly maintained older homes, their front yards edged with flowerbeds and sprinkled with toys and bikes. At the end of the street was a park, complete with swings and sandboxes, paths and playing fields. She blinked back sudden tears; this was one of the dreams she’d lost. “Wh-where? Which one’s yours?”

  “It’s over there.” Josh pointed past the park.

  To a prison. Actually, it was a starkly new, gated “community” of identical brick buildings flanked by an army of light poles and a security fence. Upscale professionals would probably consider the place desirable, but to Dani it looked more like a correctional facility than a home.

  There was even a guardhouse at the entrance.

  As they paused there to fill out a guest form. Dani decided it was a fitting residence for Josh. He was, after all, still a prisoner of his own guilt and grief, doing hard time—alone.

  Dani clasped her hands together in her lap and mechanically nodded to the security guard as Josh pulled the car through the entrance. Oh, how she wanted to heal his wounded heart. So he could have what he deserved and obviously desired: a wife to cherish, children to raise. A family to love.

  But how? And why? For his sake, or to fulfill her own failed savior complex?

  “Aa-wa-aa.” The soft baby fuss came from the back seat

  Dani smiled. Thank heaven for easily solved problems. “Josh—”

  “We’re here.” Two streets past the gate, they turned, then pulled into a short driveway. After running a hand over his jaw, Josh cut the engine, climbed out of the car, came around to Dani’s side and helped her out before extracting Michael and his carrier from the back seat.

  “Why don’t you two go in and get started while I unpack the car? Just...let me find the house key,” he said, handing the baby carrier to Dani and fishing in his pocket. With difficulty, of course, because, as usual, there wasn’t much room right now....

  No key, either.

  Where was the stupid thing? Leaning into the car, Josh dug through the ashtray. Aha. Locating the ring of keys among the coins, gum wrappers and gas receipts, he handed it to her. “Here. The nursery’s...” Hell, he’d forgotten to ask Marletta which room she’d set it up in. He tried to get away with a vague wave. “Upstairs.”

  Dani stared at him for a second, then lifted her chin and turned toward the town house. She’d been dismissed—and subtly notified that the closeness they’d enjoyed on their journey was over. Obviously, now that they were in Josh’s home territory, he wanted to return to their original agreement.

  Fine. We’ll just be two strangers who happen to share a roof for a few weeks, she told herself as she carried the quietly fussing baby up the narrow sidewalk. Cool cordiality from Jos
h Walker would satisfy her completely.

  Except for her silly heart, that couldn’t seem to stop wanting something more—something she’d tasted in his sizzling, sweet kisses.

  “Come on, Michael,” Dani whispered as she turned the key in the lock. “Let’s take a quick tour of our temporary residence and get you fed.”

  Slowly she opened the door and stepped inside a small, bare entry with a staircase hugging the wall on the right and a short hallway leading to a bright kitchen at the rear of the town home. On the left, an archway led to—

  Crossing the black-and-white marble of the foyer, Dani gasped as she viewed Josh’s living room.

  A basketball rested atop a lampshade. Three—three?—athletic shoes draped with socks resided on various shelves of built-in bookcases that covered one wall. Stacks of video cassettes and CDs balanced on soda cans stood next to a computer in the far corner. At least a week’s worth of newspapers drifted over an armchair, and the sofa held mounds of books, several shirts and a pair of sweatpants. An umbrella and a tennis racket sprouted from the crevasse between the seat cushion and the sofa back.

  A TV sat on the coffee table, held in place by a set of barbells.

  Either the place had been attacked by vandals or Josh Walker really was a full-time, certified slob, she decided with a grin. Thank heavens! Without a few flaws to make him human, who could resist him?

  And Dani knew: letting herself fall in love with Josh would guarantee a heartache she couldn’t afford. So stay busy. Don’t give your heart time to make that mistake.

  “Hmm. Making this place habitable would get my figure back in shape fast, too,” she mused as she retreated to the foyer and headed for the stairs. “Now there’s a milliondollar idea. Clean Your Way To Fitness.”

  Upstairs, a door on the right revealed a large room carpeted in clothes, more sporting goods and scads of books and folded-open magazines. “Master bedroom,” Dani guessed with a giggle. How could such utter messiness yield such perfectly pristine masculine beauty?

  Michael uttered a cry of definite frustration.

  The nursery was across the hall from Josh’s room, overlooking the front of the town home, and was fully furnished, as advertised. After peeking at the connecting bath and the bedroom beyond, Dani sank into a rocking chair near the room’s window. Josh’s nieces and nephews were lucky kids, she thought, eyeing the cheerful room and bright, lavish furnishings as she guided Michael to lunch.

  Lucky to have uncles like Josh. Dani frowned. Unless she and Jimmy’s parents made peace, her poor baby might never know his relatives.

  Michael’s hand began moving languidly, a signal he was full. Maybe Pete Caldwell’s custody campaign was motivated by genuine concern for his grandson. But she still couldn’t give up her baby.

  Gently, she disengaged Michael and laid him in the crib. She’d just refastened her blouse when a velvety male voice purred across her shoulder, “How’s my darling?”

  Dani closed her eyes against the longing. The foolish longing.

  To spin those dreams again, the ones she’d cherished and lost—of happily ever after in a home filled with laughter and love, of moonlight drifting across a bed and a man who loved her, turning...reaching for her.... And babies. More babies. With blond hair and turquoise eyes....

  Oh, pooh. You’re heading straight for trouble if you don’t get a grip on this rampant romantic streak of yours.

  She reckoned the man broke hearts by the baker’s dozen. Couldn’t even help it, probably. Look at him, thrusting those long fingers through that thick, silky gold hair. Standing so close she could smell his brisk, piney scent. Singeing her with his hot turquoise glance. Cocking his narrow hip as he lifted Michael from the bed and settled him against that broad shoulder.

  Then flashing his patented sexy, lopsided smile.

  “Listen Dani, I—That is, could you...” Josh swayed back and forth, patting Michael’s back rhythmically, not meeting her eye.

  Dani’s heart started pounding. Had he changed his mind about giving them sanctuary? No, not Josh. He’d stayed with her during those long hours at Ravjani’s clinic, stood up to Bubba. “Could I what?” she prompted finally.

  “Well...I’ve been out of town awhile, so the cupboard’s bare. And I hate shopping,” he confessed with a shrug. “So I wondered if... Well—” Finally, he rushed to the point. “I’ll stay with Michael if you’ll go buy us some groceries.” Please, please, please.

  She just blinked those big green eyes at him. “You hate grocery shopping?” she said slowly, as if it was Greek. “But...what do you cook?”

  Her pained expression was absolutely adorable—and he was in pain again.

  Josh shifted his hips, trying to ease his discomfort “I don’t,” he declared through gritted teeth. “Oh, I nuke things in the microwave sometimes, but I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in years.”

  “Oh, you poor thing!” Dani sank back into the rocking chair.

  Now it was his turn to blink. A lack of hand-whipped potatoes and brown gravy earned him sympathy but not a drop of righteous indignation for what Carrie did? He started to fume again.

  Then Michael burped. With dignity, of course. And Josh remembered exactly how much Dani valued children.

  “If you’re sure you want to watch Michael,” she said as she rose from the chair and headed for the door, “I’ll be glad to go shopping.”

  Stifling a triumphant grin, Josh said, “Just get breakfast stuff. I’ve got a list of places that deliver. We can get Chinese, pizza—whatever you want.”

  Dani turned in the doorway and gave him a smile that turned his insides to jelly. With the usual exception remaining rock-hard.

  “Your take-out days are over, mister,” she vowed. “As soon as you hand over the car keys. Oh, and I’ll need directions,” she added, then flushed. “And some money.”

  “No problem. Come on!” Josh loped downstairs, drew her a map, signed some blank checks, tossed her the keys and practically shoved her out the door.

  “I checked my messages while you and Mom were bonding,” he told Michael as they stood in the doorway and watched Dani chug away. “The Endicott case is heating up, which means I’ll have to go into the office tomorrow. So let’s play now—you can nap when Mom gets back.”

  Josh carried his baby back inside and discovered almost immediately that his earlier observation had been prophetically accurate: week-old infants weren’t much fun. In fact, they couldn’t play at all.

  They could, however, cry. They could also squall. Sob. Wail.

  Loudly. Relentlessly. Continuously.

  An hour cried—er, crawled by. The longest hour of his life. At the end of which, Josh knew what the baby didn’t want. Changing. Patting. Music. Rocking. Television. Reading aloud. Darkness. Light. Quiet. Noise. Being left alone for nearly twenty seconds. Being carried.

  How on earth do people stand this day after day? Josh wondered, getting tenser by the teardrop as the baby cried against his shoulder. In his carrier. In the new crib. On a blanket on the living room floor. On Josh’s bed. In the playpen.

  In sheer desperation, he filled the Baby’s First Bath with an inch or so of warm water—and Michael. The crying slowed, but didn’t stop. Grimly, Josh ran water in the regulation tub and floated the baby bath in it. Better.

  Just as he reached the frayed end of his rope, he finally stumbled on something that soothed his poor, frazzled baby.

  Sound effects.

  Arms loaded with grocery sacks, Dani let herself into Josh’s town house. She’d put a sizable dent in his checkbook balance, but honestly—A quick survey before leaving had revealed that Josh’s refrigerator held a bottle of catsup, one beer and an inky jar of salad peppers. The pantry contained only dust.

  I’ll put away the rest later, she decided after depositing the perishables in the refrigerator. Then, brushing wayward curls off her face, she went in search of—Michael.

  And Josh. She even had an excuse. The sacker agreed with her that the
station wagon he’d bought in No Lake was practically a classic that just needed a little TLC.

  Reaching the foot of the staircase, she heard—What the heck? It sounded like a hand-held mixer with hiccups.

  “Josh?” she called, climbing the stairs as fast as she could. “Michael? Where are you?”

  As she took the last step and hurried into the nursery, Josh’s deep voice came from the connecting bathroom, whose door was ajar. “We’re in here.”

  Dani halted on the threshold. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Fine. Peachy.” There was a strange flat tone to his voice. “Come on in.”

  She hesitated, chewing on her lip. What if he was naked? Just getting out of the shower? Images of that taut, tanned, incredibly male body—in all its natural glory—flashed through her mind and sent those coils of heat through her like strokes of lightning.

  Get over it.

  How? snapped the part of her that wanted to be this man’s woman.

  The same way you got through the last six months. One day, one step at a time.

  Taking a deep breath, Dani poked her head around the door.

  And had to grab the door molding as her knees threatened to give way.

  Even bedraggled. Josh was a magnificent specimen of male power and sensuality.

  He knelt beside the tub, his T-shirt soaked and clinging to his hard, muscular form like an illicit second skin, his hair sticking up every which way, his jaw sculpted from granite....

  Towels huddled in various corners of the room. Water spotted the floor, the mirror over the sink, the—

  “Good gravy, Josh!” she exclaimed. “What happened?”

  Before he could answer, the baby in the little blue bathtub whimpered. With a lopsided smile, Josh turned his attention back to her son and started making—Motorboat noises.

  Michael yawned, tucked his fist under his ear and went to sleep.

  “Finally.” Josh sagged against the tub, then reached for one of the towels stacked on the commode lid. Lifting Michael out of his bathtub, he carefully wrapped the baby in the thick terry cloth. “Here.” He handed son to mother.