The Cowboy's Rebel Heart: An Enemies to Lovers Second Chance Romance (Wild Texas Hearts Book 4)

by Deborah Garland

  Why was it up to me to decide what would work best for him?

  I planned to just ask him...

  What do you want, Logan?

  My stomach tickled from the inside hoping he’d say: You, Delsey.

  I laughed for several minutes at that one.

  Not happening.

  Logan

  I KNEW BRINGING MADS to my meeting with Delsey was playing dirty, but I was desperate. Even if getting kicked out was inevitable, I needed time.

  The bosses over at Renner Ranch, Cord and his son Cameron, were decent men. Cam was also my friend and they knew my situation, but I didn’t like skidding on people’s good graces. Not to mention feeling indebted to them.

  I could make arrangements with Cord to use the apartment over his office, temporarily and for a price, while I pay Delsey for the months I’d missed. Then move into town. Ugh, that meant moving poor Maddie twice. Then there was the issue of the stairs to get to the apartment.

  Plus, if I asked Cord and Cam for anything, they’d just shove money at me. For the first time in forever, those two sumbitches were on the same page.

  That made my gut ache the most, seeing how Cam’s relationship with his father got repaired. How close they were now. Cam gave Cord a grandson. That’s power right there. In all the devastation, I pushed aside how I missed my father. I loved my mother, but I wasn’t a mama’s boy. Her angel was Janey, and I was fine with that. My daddy and me... I gripped the steering wheel till my knuckles were white, pushing the gut-wrenching emotion storming through as I made the turn down the lane to reach Nickel Song. I wouldn’t let Delsey see me break down.

  Holy mother, I’d forgotten what that place looked like. All the wealth. Sure, Renner Ranch and even Sutherland Farms were sprawling, but they were working ranches, gritty and coarse around the edges.

  “There it is!” Maddie said, excitement brimming in her voice.

  Nickel Song was a palace. Listening to Walker, I knew Delsey’s parents were away on a cruise with his folks. That meant she was alone. Alone with her millions.

  Would stumbling over one million dollars make up for my bloodline getting wiped out? Never. Getting Maddie in the process had been damn close. No... Better.

  And the moment my truth got laid on Delsey yesterday, shit, the look on her face. She’d turned pale and I’d bet she felt terrible. She was a decent person, that much I knew from following her on Instagram and reading about her charity work. I’d put her in a terrible position. Everything she’d said was true. I’d made no attempt to discuss my inability to pay the rent. I just didn’t send the checks and I knew all along, she’d never work with me on reaching a compromise. She didn’t need to, especially how I’d treated her in high school. If she only knew the burning attraction I’d been hiding all those years. Not to mention the mad desire for her right now. I’d kept it all to myself and stuffed my feelings down deep.

  Except, she made it seem like she would have given me a chance without that nugget of info.

  Damn. I played that one wrong.

  “The bell to call the house is on the left. I can’t believe I’m going to meet my hero,” Maddie said, gleaming from the backseat. Holy shit. Delsey made an impression on Maddie without me even realizing it.

  Nickel Song was a home. Not a ranch. While I was sure it was wired up to the hilt with security cameras and alarms, it was only surrounded by a short retaining wall with chest-high columns and cemented-in lamps. The driveway had a gate, but only about eight-feet high, versus the twelve-foot-high gate to the entrance of Renner Ranch.

  Before I could hit a button to announce myself, the gate opened. I spotted the cameras on both sides of the fence.

  “Look at all the lights, Uncle Logan.” Maddie tugged on my shoulder. “No matter what, every night, in every window there are all those candelbras.”

  “You mean candelabras.” I needed to check my masculinity card wondering how the hell I knew that. Maybe from spending so much time with the rich-as-fuck Renners.

  The driveway curved around, so I couldn’t see from the road how many cars were there. Grace’s red Camry sat near an overhang on the side of the house. No one entered a house like this from the front. It was the same with the Renner’s family house.

  Grace stood at the side-door entrance smiling. There were plenty of people to be mad at in this situation. But I didn’t blame others. At the end of the day, I didn’t have money to pay my rent.

  “Okay, ground rules, Mads.” I cleared my throat. “I brought you because I know you want to meet Delsey. When we get there. Have at it. Gush all you want. Talk to her all you want. Ask her whatever you want. But then she and I need to talk about the house. At that point, I’d like you to be in another room. We cool?”

  “We cool.” She sat forward and met my fist bump.

  “No matter what, you and me are gonna be fine.”

  “I know. I trust you, Uncle Logan.” She patted my shoulder.

  That damn near tore my heart apart. The faith. I only figured I’d be fine because I didn’t see adult men with children homeless in Wild Heart. And if I had to swallow my pride one day and take money from Cam, I’d do it, but I’d have to be on my deathbed before that would happen.

  For months, moving with Maddie’s leg still healing wasn’t an option. While she walked better and easier, I still couldn’t afford another house now that I was taking care of her full time. Accepting that gut-wrenching reality, I’d recently gone online and checked out apartment costs in town. Not bad. And some had just been renovated. I could give Maddie a nice place to live. I’d make good on the cupcakes, too.

  “Let’s do this, peanut.”

  “Hi, Grace,” Maddie said, getting out of my truck.

  “Hi, Maddie.” Grace held the door for her. “Did you get off to school okay this morning?”

  “Sure.” Maddie shrugged.

  “Hey, Grace,” I said, shoving my hands in my front jean pockets. “I hope Delsey doesn’t mind, I brought Maddie. She wanted to see the house.”

  “Not a problem, Logan. You could have said something sooner. I would have brought her over. Delsey wouldn’t have objected. She’s not a monster, Logan. And I... I kind of take responsibility for this, uh, lack of communication that led to the misunderstanding this morning. Perhaps I should have tried to mediate this better.”

  “You sent your nice delinquent letters. You did your job.”

  Delsey

  “SO, GRACE HAD SENT delinquent letters,” I whispered to myself, listening from inside the mudroom, which doubled as the side entrance to Nickel Song.

  And he brought the little girl. Sneaky bastard. What did he think I was going to get saucy and start cussing him out?

  I studied Maddie. She had hopped out of the truck and then held on to Logan’s jacket to steady herself. That prosthetic leg of hers didn’t seem to fit her very well. How awful. She’d be in high school soon. Kids were cruel. My throat tightened, remembering what that was like.

  I couldn’t watch another little girl go through that. I was gonna help the kid out. I knew what it was like to not be perfect in high school. I wouldn’t let that happen to her if I had the power to fix it. Which I did. No amount of adult pride would get in the way of a child having everything she needed. But Logan would be wary of my help since he, well, hated me.

  After all these years, I still didn’t know why he hated me so much.

  But really, what was Logan going to say in front of her? No, baby girl, you can’t have a better leg? Ha, I could play dirty, too.

  When I saw them walk toward the side door, I scrambled back to the kitchen which had an entrance from the mudroom. My office was on the second floor in the far-off wing. I wasn’t making Logan Grady and a girl who could barely walk, tromp all the way up there. My father’s office was locked and I didn’t bother looking for a key. So, my mama’s ostentatiously decorated kitchen was where we’d have our little talk.

  Shit. I wished I knew the little girl was coming, I could have ma
de cookies. I stopped and nearly gasped at myself.

  Cookies? You make cookies? Who the hell are you? A voice that sounded like Truitt whispered in the wind.

  Wait, I was rich. I could make cookies appear. How about that Grubhub thing? As I fumbled for my phone, the mudroom door opened. Logan stepped in first, his arm steadying Maddie who would probably fall on her sweet face because she was too busy staring at all the pendant lights across the rectangular kitchen island.

  “Wow,” she said, her blue eyes, the same color as Logan’s, went wide.

  “Hi there, Maddie.” I swooped in and ignored Logan. “We haven’t met. I’m Delsey Mackenzie. I knew your mama. She was a wonderful person.”

  The little girl blushed and held out her hand. “Thank you. I watch you on television and read about you in magazines. I can’t believe you’re...real. Really standing there.”

  “It’s me.” I spun around, my wool skirt floating up from my little twirl. I topped the skirt with a tight off-the-shoulder pink sweater and black suede ankle boots. “And I’m very real. Can I get you something to drink? I was thinking about ordering some fresh-baked cookies.”

  “Ordering cookies,” Logan asked all snarky. “Is that what the Houston folk do?”

  I smirked. “Actually, yes. It’s a big city and people get all kinds of things delivered.”

  “I don’t know who in Wild Heart will deliver cookies.” He folded his arms across his chest.

  “Iona will,” Grace said, taking out her phone.

  “Perfect.” I smiled at Logan. “Can you order us a dozen chocolate chip cookies?”

  “Can I get a cupcake?” Maddie asked.

  “You can get whatever you want.” I brushed her sweet face. Ahhh. Young skin. If only I could package that.

  “No, she can’t have a cupcake.” Logan sounded pissed from already being bested.

  He he.

  “I mean... Sorry.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I just got off work. We haven’t eaten supper yet. If you want to order some cookies, we’ll take ‘em to go,” he said. “Thank you.”

  I nodded to Grace. “Also, when you speak to Iona, tell her I’ll meet with her tomorrow.”

  “Sure.” Grace did the tap tap tap thing on her phone and next, she was talking about cookies and a time for tomorrow.

  “What are you meeting with Iona about?” Logan crowed, sounding defensive. “Please don’t tell me you’re kicking her out, too.”

  My cheeks heated up. I opened my mouth to say something, but Logan invaded my space. Fast and furious.

  “Christ, that was a low blow. I... I’m sorry.” He watched me carefully, gauging my reaction. His voice was so deep and delicious. I questioned my sanity having a lustful reaction to a man throwing anger at me.

  I took in his mouth. That minty scent coming off his full lips was there again. His face had weathered a bit. Only made him more damn handsome. That old thrill came roaring back to me. The exhilaration of when he kissed me in high school. How alive I’d felt.

  “It’s fine. I can take it,” I whispered and watched him lose his breath. His eyes locked on mine and I waited. Waited for them to wander down to my cheek, my scar, and the other hollowed-out indentations. No... He stayed locked on my eyes and then... There... A crinkle in the corner of his.

  Holy hell. What was happening here?

  “So, Maddie is a big fan of yours,” he said, stepping back, rubbing his chest.

  I smiled. “I didn’t realize I had fans. Business admirers? Sure.” Enemies, definitely. “But thank you.”

  “And she loves the house. Which I’m sure you know. Everyone in town does.”

  “Maddie, do you want a tour?” I held out my hand and my heart did a dance when the girl’s eyes lit up.

  “I would love it.”

  “Well come on.” The little grip on my hand, tight and warm, melted my heart.

  “Actually, can Grace take her?” Logan rasped out.

  No! “I can be trusted with a child, Logan.”

  He snorted a laugh. “Of course, you can. But this is really a business meeting between you and me.”

  I exhaled, disappointed to not spend time with Maddie. Whoa... Where did that come from?

  “I can take her,” Grace said.

  Maddie’s face sulked, mirroring the way I felt. She hobbled off, her limp a little more pronounced.

  When they were out of the room, Logan started, “Okay, look—”

  “Why is she limping like that?”

  Logan’s rugged forehead wrinkled. “She lost her leg, Delsey.”

  “I know that, Logan.” I crossed my arms. “Prosthetics have come a long way. Does hers fit her correctly?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Kids are cruel, Logan. You know that better than anyone.”

  “Shit,” he mumbled. “Maddie doesn’t get bothered at school. Trust me, I would take care of it if she did. And yeah, I know the irony you’re trying to throw in my face. I lost my entire family, I’m raising a kid with one leg, I got mine, Delsey. What went around, came around. And walloped me, good. You happy?”

  “No. Because I’m not cruel. You may have had an evil streak during high school, but your sister was nice to me. I want to pay that back.”

  “Pay that back.”

  I straightened. “Yes. And don’t be an asshole and not take my help because of your stupid pride.”

  He jammed his hands in his pockets. “Try not throwing her out of her home.”

  I exhaled. “Of course, I’m not going to throw a child out of her home.”

  “You were ready to throw me out.”

  “You betcha.” I swooped in closer to him and with my heart pounding, I gripped his belt buckle, my fingers unintentionally sliding under his waistband. “Something tells me you wouldn’t have trouble finding a warm bed to sleep in.” My knuckles brushed against a hard wall of grooved abs and I felt frozen, transfixed to feel such an amazing body.

  “You’re right.” Logan hissed at my touch, his eyes narrowing on me, but he didn’t pull away. I’d stunned him for sure. “I see you want to make this interesting between us.”

  “Um.” I let go and backed up until I hit a wall, my heart pounding as Logan strode up to me, licking his lips.

  Chapter Five

  Logan

  I hadn’t wanted a woman like that in a really long time. And holy crap, the floor felt wobbly when I realized how much I wanted Delsey. Sure, I’d wanted her in high school and then been pining for her from far away, safely here in Wild Heart, knowing I’d never get near her again.

  Here she was, her cheeks flushed like she wanted me, too. That damn outfit she had on had been so unexpected. So casual and soft. She looked comfortable, but her sexy body called out to me.

  Her voice had hit me in the chest, the soft giggle talking to Maddie about cookies. I only wished I could have seen her face because she’d had her back to me. On purpose, I’m sure. I wanted to see what those full lips would look like as she smiled. Holy hell, she wasn’t that awkward nerd anymore and in person, the change was more glaring. The princess. The nerd. I wanted every version of her. Now. Only that was the most colossal mistake I could make with this money situation between us.

  I hadn’t missed the way her heated gaze collided with mine. Like she’d been on fire as much as me. And we were arguing about damn cookies.

  Raw lust overtook me, her mouth looked so inviting and I bet she was soft and warm and tasted so damn good. The last fourteen years had been good to her, she was more goddamn beautiful close up. Her striking blonde hair against her golden skin gave her depth and made her red lips rosier.

  My eyes skittered across her body and I shamefully took in her sweater and skirt. She had full breasts I wanted pressed up again my chest and curvy hips I could wrap my hands around while she rode my cock. When I got my hands on her and that perfectly squeezable ass, I’d feel her everywhere as I unleashed fourteen years of pent-up lust. She looked thinner in person, but also fu
ll and round in all the right places. Nothing a dozen chocolate chip cookies wouldn’t fix. Damn. I’d love to feed them to her and then some milk that might dribble down her chin, which I could lick right off her. Then maybe she’d need a bath where I could dip my hand in the water and rub her clit to a fever.

  “Logan?” she whispered while I’d gone to stone. Her voice snapped me out of the dangerous line of thinking that I could have something physical with this woman.

  So many thoughts had been mixed up. Hate. Lust. Desire. Craving. I was all over the map when it came to Delsey Mackenzie.

  “Jesus, woman...” I gripped her chin, unable to help myself, my entire body trembling.

  Her mouth tipped open and her breathing turned ragged.

  “What in the hell is happening here?” My head spun for a moment. No. Delsey Mackenzie was so out of my league.

  Grace’s throat clearing across the kitchen made my heart stop.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  Oddly, I didn’t jump away completely. I kept my hands on Delsey’s face, drilling her with a glare that said, stay away from me, devil woman, or marry me, ‘cuz no other man can see that look you’re giving me.

  I said neither out loud, of course. “Um...” Rubbing my eyes, I turned to find Grace smirking. “That was um...” I panicked, thinking I looked ready to mount my niece’s hero.

  A lost look crossed between Delsey and me until she jumped at a beeping sound from a monitor. “Oh, the gate. It must be the...cookies.”

  “I’ll get them,” Grace said, heading toward the mudroom.

  “No! Let me go.” She squirmed away from me and passing Maddie, she swept her hand across her little shoulder.

  Grace blinked and said, “I’ll give Delsey a hand.”

  Like she didn’t know how to pay for cookies.

  Great, leave me with the kid who’s gonna have questions I couldn’t answer. Maddie hadn’t grown up with a dad. And as far as I knew, Janey didn’t date much. Thanks to the nosedive my life had taken, I hadn’t dated anyone since the accident. I had nothing to offer. I was a fucking empty well with nothing to give. Everyone in Wild Heart knew that.