Delsey crossed her arms and touched her chin. When her eyes lit up, the ground beneath me shifted and I felt knocked out. “Wait here.”
Maddie and I stood there, transfixed until she came back a minute later. “Sparkle tights! And look, they have pink sequins running through them.”
Delsey lowered to her knees and the way Maddie rested her hands on Delsey’s shoulders, killed me. So trusting and secure. Delsey brought the tights up the metal leg with gentleness and care, like a...like a mom. “See how cool it looks over the shiny metal? Don’t hide the leg, Mads, make it shine.”
“I love them,” Maddie said, nodding.
Delsey slid the other side up and when they looked in the mirror it was hard not to cry.
“That looks amazing, you two. You make a good team,” I said.
“We do,” Delsey said with a wink. “What should we do for shoes?”
“I have new pair of silver ballet flats I’ve not worn yet,” Maddie said.
“Perfect!” Delsey clipped.
She was indeed perfect.
And I was a dead man.
Delsey
GRACE PRATTLED ON ABOUT the progress she’d made with Willow’s, Damien’s, and Iona’s requests. I listened from my speakerphone as I drove to Logan’s house Friday night.
Something had blossomed between us, only I wasn’t sure what to do about it. I saw more roadblocks than runways to land this big plane of attraction we were dodging. The obvious one being that I lived in Houston and I had no plans to give up my CEO job. I founded that company. Perhaps it was a mistake to go public and give control to a board of directors. They could vote me out and all I’d have was the stock I received when we did the IPO.
I stopped being the head decision-maker a long time ago when I gave that control to Truitt and made him COO. I wanted to be in my lab. That was my wheelhouse. Losing my job, meant losing what I really loved.
Could I work in another lab?
Sure, but where? Doing what? Starting over? The scandal would follow me. No one would ever trust me again.
“Any progress on what you’re doing about Logan’s house?” Grace asked me with hesitancy in her voice.
“I’m going to offer him a private loan to buy the house.” My accountant had set up the other loans through my property LLC for the tenants who wanted to renovate. Logan’s would just be another one of those loans. “The trick is getting him to take the loan. That’s if he even wants to buy that house.”
“He lived in the bunkhouse on Renner Ranch for a while when he first worked for them,” Grace said. “I remember him being proud to have a house of his own. Even if he didn’t own it.”
I glanced at the homes I passed. Sweet ranches with covered porches. Maddie deserved a beautiful place to live. “Then I’ll give him a loan for another house and just roll the past due rent into the payment. I’m not giving up on him.”
“Good,” Grace said with umph. “Emma said all the guys have tried to get through to him. They should have sent in a short skirt and high heels a long time ago.”
I laughed. “It’s got to do with Maddie, I’m guessing. I’ve...connected to her. He sees that. He’s not oblivious. He’s protective as hell with her, but he gives me room to...”
“To?”
My heart ached to say, love her. “Be there for her. In a female capacity,” I said instead. Why couldn’t I love Maddie? I knew couples didn’t fall in love right away. That love-at-first-sight thing was rare. But didn’t parents instantly fall in love with kids?
“Have a good time tonight.” The mischief in Grace’s voice came through. “Sounds like you might have just as much fun as Maddie.”
God, was I that transparent?
“I want her to have a good time. That’s what’s important.” I checked the time on the dashboard and grunted. “I’m almost there. Have a good night, Grace. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.” I didn’t want to make Maddie late. I still had to do her makeup.
“’Night, Delsey,” she said and my phone went dark, leaving me to look at my front screen. My logo. Red lips on a pink background in a jet-black circle.
I found myself so excited to make up someone, something I hadn’t done in a long time. Reminding me when I used myself as a model to show what my makeup could do. I shivered, so glad those days were over.
Or were they?
LOGAN GRADY CLEANED up damn good.
For one, he shaved. I loved the rugged, reddish-brown beard, but the skin underneath glowed and his square jaw looked so much more lethal. He’d also gotten his hands on a pair of dress slacks and a powder blue button-down shirt. Hell’s bells, with that caramel suede Stetson of his, the man was stunning. Under layers of thick plaid and a heavy corduroy jacket was a body I’d gotten very little glances of. But I’d felt it a few times now. His dress clothes defined his body so deliciously.
When I walked in and removed my coat, he said, “That’s a mighty fine color on you, Delsey. Matches your eyes.”
“Thank you, sir.” The jeweled green wrap dress felt the most appropriate to chaperone a dance. I had a silky pink number, but pink belonged to Maddie tonight. Girls know you don’t steal your BFF’s color. I giggled thinking of Maddie as my BFF. “How’s she doing?” I asked.
“Good. I just checked on her.” Logan leaned in and the drift of aftershave, soap, and mouthwash rocked my tummy and my core tightened. Warm wet lips hit my cheek and as if I couldn’t help it, I caught those lips with my own.
Logan responded immediately, pushing me against the back of the door. He kissed me with the force of a jet engine. Hard and punishing. Next, his hand cupped my ass, pushing his erection right into my center. My nipples hardened and thanks to my unlined lace bra, he’d see how he made my body come alive.
“Is it just me? Does this feel really good, Delsey?” he rasped to me, his face flushed scarlet. “Am I alone here?”
“No,” I whispered, keeping our foreheads together.
“Do you want me? I want you. Bad, lady.”
Falling into Logan’s bed had passed forgone conclusion miles back.
“I want that, Logan.” I gasped for air, my arms around his neck, that damn erection throbbing against my stomach made me mindless. I’d say anything to have him. “I’ve always wanted that.” Shit. Not that...
“What?” He pressed his fingers into my cheek a little on the rough side, but only because I’d just floored him with my highly guarded secret. “What are you talking about?”
“That kiss senior year wasn’t an accident. That wasn’t you having a good night. Or being in the right place at the right time. I wanted you. I wanted you since freshman year.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” He staggered back, sounding utterly surprised.
“You were picking on me mercilessly. From the get-go.”
He swore under his breath. “I’m so sorry for that. But I meant that night when we kissed. Why didn’t you tell me then how you felt?”
“I didn’t want the kissing to stop by gushing how much I liked you.”
Logan went pale, and it was the look I tried to avoid fourteen years ago.
“Is Delsey here yet?” Maddie’s voice floated down the steps.
Logan adjusted himself. “Yeah, honey, she’s here. Should I send her up?”
“Hi, Delsey, come on up!”
“Hey, Maddie.” Fixing my skirt, I grabbed the tote bag full of makeup I’d dropped when Logan grabbed me. I bent over to get it and heard a gasp behind me.
God, we were going to have sex soon, weren’t we? Who’d give in first? That was a bet I’d gladly lose if the answer was tonight. Then again...torturing him could be fun.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Let me get her made up. You and I have all night to talk. If you want to.”
“I want to. Talk.”
And more, I’d bet.
Chapter Eleven
Logan
In my truck driving to Wild Heart Middle School, I couldn’t help but stare into my
rearview mirror. At Maddie. That wasn’t the kid who ate her cereal and read a magazine with her prosthetic leg up on the chair next to her. Laughing milk out of her nose and Fruit Loops stuck to her chin. Not the same kid who wore jeans and a questionably clean tee-shirt to school with her golden hair in a tight ponytail popping out of the top of her head. Not the kid who loved to help me on the ranch especially cleaning horses in the washroom.
A different girl climbed into my truck. A glowing young lady with part of her golden waves pulled back, and soft curls framing her face. She sat with her legs crossed, her good coat over a beautiful pink ballerina gown. Her cream and blush sequined tights shined down to the silver flats.
Despite all of that making me speechless, it was her face. All made up. Not overdone like Delsey had promised. Perfect. Just a touch of color on her eyes, a peachy shimmer on her cheeks, and shiny pink lips.
What killed me the most was how much she looked like Janey, who in turn looked like my mom. That should have knocked me sideways because I missed my sister so damn much. She left a piece of herself behind. Maddie was truly all mine now, wasn’t she?
Mine to protect.
From boys. Jerks in school.
Like I’d been.
“How does the leg feel, Maddie?” Delsey asked from the seat next to me, her voice breaking the tension, but started me down another dangerous train of thought.
What in the world was I going to do with that woman? Should I really sleep with her? The kisses were explosions of uncontrollable need. Should I take it further? What was the point, though? I wouldn’t do that to Maddie. Let her see me and Delsey get close and get her hopes up.
There was no future. Delsey lived in Houston and I lived here. With Maddie. Wild Heart was our home.
“It feels great, Delsey,” Maddie answered, sounding so damn grown-up.
Does it happen like that? Like a light switch?
“I’m excited for you to get your new one. Made just for you.” Delsey twisted and gave Mads a smile.
“I’ll be so excited to show you when I get it.”
You’d think they were talking about shoes or purses. No. They were talking about a fake leg. It was the new normal in our life. But Delsey wouldn’t be there to see Maddie’s new leg. Right?
“Just have your uncle call me, or FaceTime me so I can see it,” Delsey said, delivering the blow I was dreading.
Three. Two. One...
“When will you be back in Wild Heart, Delsey?” Maddie asked.
The truck turned whisper quiet. I gave a teeny head shake, knowing Delsey was watching me.
“Actually,” she said, clearing her throat. “I’m probably going to be around a little more.”
What? Why? For who? My heart pounded and my cock began to throb. My head was the only buzzkill at the moment, throwing all kinds of problems in my path.
Please ask why, kid. Please ask the question. Don’t make me ask.
“That’s so cool,” Maddie said.
Ugh. “And the reason is?” I manned up.
“Grace has all these projects lined up for some of my tenants in town. I’ve been too hands-off.”
“Oh...” Maddie had hung on her every word and my heart broke when I realized she waited for Delsey to say she’d come back to visit her.
Delsey stared at me, but I kept my head straight. “So, yeah, I’ll be back.”
“Uncle Logan, you just drove by the school.”
“Right,” I said and swung the truck around.
“You okay?” Delsey asked with a hand on my thigh, her touch burning me through my slacks.
I’d rammed my erection against the deep V between her legs, her touching my damn leg wasn’t something I should complain about. “Yeah. All the talking distracted me.”
We lined up behind several other cars, much like drop-off. The school looked like a Twinkie in the daytime, pale yellow, the white trimmed windows reminded me of the whipped cream filling. At night, the lights looked like something exciting was going on. I guessed it was. For kids, these dances were probably a great night out.
“There’s Marco,” Maddie said with a zing of excitement.
I caught an awkward kid pacing back and forth. But the lanky guy had waited for Maddie which warmed me. He cared enough about Maddie to escort her inside properly. Still, I really hoped this was a just-friends situation. No matter what year it was, eleven was too damn young to be going on real dates.
“He’s a cutie pie, Maddie.” She winked at me.
“Why don’t I drop you and Maddie off and I’ll park,” I said to Delsey.
“Sure.” When she leaned in, her perfume tickled my nose and sent warmth down my neck. “Should we wait for you, or can I let them go in?”
God, what a question. I had no doubt, Maddie could be alone in the school with Marco. Even though it was a dance. It looked like the whole damn school was here. The real question was, did I want to be alone with Delsey?
“They can go in. Wait for me, though. You,” I said, putting my truck into gear.
She smirked and hopped out. Delsey came around and helped Maddie, but with Marco there, Maddie pushed herself, I could tell. She turned to me and gave me a wave and a smile that killed me. I was stupid to be jealous of Delsey. Maddie loved me. But all kids needed balance. Two parents were always better than one. Unless one was an asshole. Which was why Janey had done far better by Maddie, raising her alone, than if that prick Kyle had stuck around.
Delsey was pure gold, though.
Damn it. All the unanswered questions that had been building up were now nagging the crap out of me.
How had she felt about me in high school? If she thought I’d let that go, she was insane. And this business about her coming back to Wild Heart more. That’s where I knew I would come off as some kind of asshole. I didn’t want to be in a damn long-distance relationship. I wasn’t even sure I wanted a relationship at all. What did I have to offer a woman right now being broke as I was, let alone a multi-millionaire?
Jeez, that was easy.
Not a goddamn thing.
Delsey
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND High School were separated by a football field. I stared off at the scoreboard and the spot Logan kissed me. Although, it was no longer a memorial or a shrine.
He also kissed me at Renner Ranch.
The VA hospital.
His house. My house. Our...house?
Good grief, this was complicated.
Logan’s caramel Stetson caught a glint off the lights in the parking lot. He strutted my way, his hips shifting with powerful steps. While I’d been checking out the bod, I hadn’t noticed his eyes had been glued to mine.
A beep to my phone took my eyes away for a second, Ugh, Truitt. All that got lost because Logan swooped me into his arms.
“Hey,” I said, smiling. “Well, aren’t you friendly tonight?”
“I can be a lot more friendly.” He buried his head in my shoulder and swung me around. “But we have some serious talking to do.”
“As far as the topic back at your house, what I felt for you in high school, it doesn’t matter now. That was then. This is now.”
The blank expression on his gorgeous face was priceless. He probably had a concern, I shared wholeheartedly: Maddie.
What if...
My heart pounded, just thinking what if. What if Logan and I maintained some kind of relationship. Long-distance. Casual.
Friends...with benefits.
The chemistry between us was smoking. Was Maddie old enough to understand two people could just see each other casually? As much as I didn’t want Maddie getting attached to me and getting hurt, I felt that went two ways. In spades. That little girl was amazing. I saw myself in her in so many ways. I had the world at my feet. All kinds of opportunities. Maddie deserved that, too. I wanted to give it to her. And I hoped Logan would let me.
Would that be enough for Maddie?
For me to be her benefactor? Her sponsor? Her mentor?
Would
a relationship with Logan complicate that?
Out! Get out of your head right now.
“Can we just have a nice time tonight and whatever happens...” I stepped back and looked down. “I don’t want to force anything or jeopardize it. I’m okay with some go-with-the-flow action.”
“I can’t go with the flow with a kid, darlin’.”
I nodded. “If you want me to leave—”
I was startled by Logan’s breath on my face. “Don’t you dare. That would kill Maddie.”
“So, then what do you want from me? Are we just friends? Are we friends at all? What is this?”
“I don’t know. But even if we take Maddie out of it, what in the world do you want with a guy who can’t pay his rent?”
I cocked my head to the side. “You can pay your rent. You’d been paying it for years. You’re unable to pay your rent to me now because you’ve been saddled with all these other obligations.”
“That’s life.” He shrugged. “Some people get kicked in the shins and come back harder. Other people squeal like a pig and fall down in the mud.”
“That’s a pleasant metaphor.”
Talking wouldn’t change anything. My feet started to feel chilly and I was sure they didn’t have any alcohol at the dance, but I needed to warm up. Maybe grab a hot chocolate or something. Plus, I wanted to see Maddie with the boy. He was so polite. He’d said hello and asked for Logan. Even offered to wait, but Maddie was cold so I’d told them to go on in.
“Come on. This is about Maddie’s first dance.” I held out my hand, wanting to feel his skin.
He kept still, his eyes drilling me. Finally, after an exhale, he took my hand and squeezed it.
How bizarre. Walking into Wild Heart Middle School, holding Logan Grady’s hand.
My Fairy Godmother wish had come true.
Only fourteen years too late.
Better late than never.
Logan
I KNEW I’D GET JAW-dropping looks as I waltzed into the school with Delsey Mackenzie. Delsey just waved and acted like she wanted to break free of my vise-grip hold to chat with all the people who’d ignored her, but were now chomping at the bit to get a piece of her. Meanwhile, I wanted to see Maddie. Get her twenty, meet this Marco fella. Then find my spot on the side of the dance floor where I could stare at them all night.
The Cowboy's Rebel Heart: An Enemies to Lovers Second Chance Romance (Wild Texas Hearts Book 4) Page 11
