The Cowboy's Secret

by Jill Kemerer

  Guilt, regret, worry and a shimmer of hope flitted across his face, and it was the last one—the hope—that set her tongue in motion.

  “Who was that woman?” She barely recognized her voice it was so calm.

  “Amanda and I were in the same friend group in college.”

  “Texas A&M. I didn’t even know you’d gone to college.”

  A white line rimmed his lips, and his eyes had lost all of their sparkle. “I did. I joined a fraternity, and that was how I met her and her friends—they were in a sorority.”

  “I see.” Her heart started to split open then. “And your dad?”

  “Is—was—Kenneth Kingsley, founder and previous owner of King Energy.”

  “You worked for him.”

  “I did. I was upper management.”

  Before her eyes Dylan morphed from traveling cowboy to rich, aimless liar. Rage flickered to life, flaming through her chest.

  “The small inheritance wasn’t so small.” Her words held a bite to them.

  “I’m a multimillionaire.”

  Multimillionaire. A vacuum hollowed out her stomach. She looked back and remembered all his vague replies when they’d met. “So when you said you’d been doing this and that for the past year, you really meant you were bored and traveled because you could.”

  “I told you I went overseas.”

  “And you let me believe you were poor.”

  “You decided that, not me.”

  “Obviously, you don’t need money... Why did you work for Stu? You didn’t need a job. You don’t need a job.” Every word she spoke came out harder, sharper, like flint on steel.

  “You thought I was a deadbeat.”

  “You could have explained.” Her voice had a strangled quality, kind of like her heart.

  “I didn’t want to.” His jaw tightened.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I did need the job.”

  She squinted, trying to figure out what he was talking about. “I thought you just said you’re a multimillionaire.” An out-of-breath sensation had her head spinning.

  “It wasn’t about the money.” He seemed to grow an inch. “You made it clear I couldn’t be around Phoebe unless I had a job.”

  “Don’t give me that.” Was he really trying to blame her for his dishonesty? “I didn’t want her around a deadbeat. You obviously aren’t one.”

  “I felt like one.” His eyes flashed. “Maybe I needed a break from being the son of a mogul.”

  “And maybe I need a break from my entire life. Do you think I love having to carry on every day as if Allison didn’t die? I’ve supported my sister, my grandma and now my baby—yes, I consider her my baby—and I never felt the need to lie to get out of any of it. You lied to me. Even after I told you...” She almost choked on the words. “I told you about my father and Carl. You knew how important honesty is to me, and you stood there and lied to my face.”

  His face crumpled. “I didn’t mean to—”

  “Yes, you did.” She straightened to her tallest height. “You lied to me on purpose.”

  His lips drew together in a tight line.

  “Why? Why would you do that?” The words flew out. “Why would you look me in the eye and let me believe you were an aimless, traveling cowboy? Was it funny to you? Did you have a good laugh?”

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  “Then what was it like? You came into town to meet your niece. Then, for whatever reason, you decide one night isn’t enough. You’re going to stay. So I told you to get a job.” She grimaced as she tried to remember everything. What was she missing? Could anything explain this turn of events? “You could have told me right then, ‘Actually, Gabby, I am not a deadbeat and don’t need a job,’ but you didn’t. You went to the ranch.” Her voice had risen. “Does Stu know? Does anyone else in town know?” His mouth had dropped open, and she jabbed her finger into his chest. “Am I the last person to know?”

  “Know what?” He shook his head, his expression full of pain. “I’m the same guy who showed up a month ago.”

  “No, you’re not.” She had to get away from him. “You are not the same guy. Don’t kid yourself that you are. You’re Dylan Kingsley—spoiled rich kid who can do whatever he wants because of his daddy’s money.”

  And with that, she pivoted to get away.

  * * *

  “Gabby, wait!” He blocked her path, and she shoved his arm to move past him, but he stood his ground. “You’re right. I am a spoiled rich kid who can do whatever I want because of my dad’s money. I won’t argue with you about that.”

  “Then we’re done here.”

  “No, we’re not.” He’d been stupid—so stupid—not to have told her all this when he’d arrived. She had every right to hate him, but he couldn’t let her walk away. “I should have told you. I wanted to tell you.”

  “Oh, you wanted to tell me. That’s great. Let’s give the man a round of applause.” She pretended to clap. He’d never seen her so angry...and hurt.

  “Everything I told you was the truth.” He needed to make her see he wasn’t an ogre.

  “Well, excuse me if I don’t care. So your dad sold the company and didn’t tell you. Boo-hoo. And your ex only wanted you because of your money. Join the club.”

  Her words hit him hard. She was right.

  He raked his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to make sure you weren’t like my mother or my ex. Then, I got to know you, and you were nothing like them. But I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to tell you. And then... I fell in love with you. I love you, Gabby.”

  “Liar!” She gave him a final, deadly glare, then broke into a run. He tried to catch her, but she weaved through the crowd, and after several minutes, he dropped his hands to his knees to catch his breath.

  He’d never hated himself more.

  Letting down Gabby was the worst mistake of his life.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Eden—” Gabby gasped for air “—I have to talk to you.”

  “What’s wrong?” Eden’s face wrinkled in concern.

  “Everything.” She’d sprinted to the park where Eden had told her she was joining Mason, Brittany and Noah for the pet parade. Noah was clapping and pointing to a big dog wearing a red, white and blue handkerchief and star-shaped sunglasses. A chihuahua was right behind him.

  “Come on, let’s go somewhere we can talk.” Eden hooked her arm in Gabby’s and told Mason and Brittany she’d see them later.

  Gabby’s heart raced out of control as she tried to get her breathing back to normal. As they strode out of the park, Eden waved to people they knew until they’d reached her car. Gabby barely registered anything. All she was aware of was the aching pain in her heart.

  “My house or yours?” Eden asked.

  “Can we go to the ranch? I—I can’t be home right now.”

  “Of course.”

  The first few miles Gabby stayed silent. She didn’t know how to start or what to say. The humiliation of her breakup with Carl roared back. Why hadn’t she learned her lesson? She’d tried so hard to steer clear of liars.

  She hadn’t tried hard enough with Dylan.

  She’d reverted to stars-in-her-eyes Gabby—the dumb, gullible girl who knew better than to trust a cowboy. But she’d gone ahead and trusted one anyway.

  Eden glanced her way, her forehead wrinkled in concern.

  Gabby had to tell her. She might as well blurt it all out now. “Dylan is rich.”

  “That’s great!” Eden’s eyes lit up.

  “It’s not great. It’s horrible.” How could she explain? She stared out the window, not fully understanding why her pain cut so deep.

  “Ok-a-ay. Why is it horrible?”

  “It just is. I should never have let down my guard.
I wish Dylan Kingsley had never come to Rendezvous. My life was fine until he showed up.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “He’s a liar. I hate liars. I...I need to think for a minute.” The miles rolled along. Gabby kept replaying the scene near the food truck. Was there something she could have done to have found out the truth sooner? Had she missed clues to Dylan’s real identity—or purposely overlooked them to give him the benefit of the doubt?

  What else had he lied about?

  Eden turned down the gravel drive, and soon she’d parked in front of the house. Gabby got out and followed her to the front door. They made their way in silence to the screened-in porch. Sunshine spilled onto a table containing a ceramic pitcher full of fresh-cut pink roses. The sight unleashed Gabby’s emotions.

  Her life had been like that flower arrangement—simple, pretty, sweet-smelling—until the day Dylan arrived. And now it was shriveled, sour and ugly.

  “He lied to me, Eden.” She leaned back as she sat on her favorite couch. “He made me believe he was a drifter with no job or money. And he’s really the heir to his father’s energy empire. His dad owned King Energy. And Dylan inherited his millions.”

  “That can’t be right.” She shook her head. “Why would he take the job at Stu’s then?”

  “Exactly.” She thumped her fist on the throw pillow next to her. “Why would he do that? Was he laughing at me? Pulling a prank on us all?”

  “I don’t know.” Eden bit her lower lip. “He doesn’t seem the type.”

  “What type is he?” She flashed her palms, fingers wide. “I thought I knew him, but I don’t. Not at all.”

  “It doesn’t change the fact he’s Phoebe’s uncle.”

  “It does change the fact I don’t want her around him. I am not putting her through the mind games I went through as a kid. And I told him that from day one. She is too precious for me to let some lying jerk mess with her emotions.”

  “You don’t have to get it all figured out today,” she said quietly. “You’re mad. When you cool down, you’ll know what to do.”

  “I know what to do.” Gabby nodded swiftly. “I’m done with him and so is Phoebe.”

  “Is that fair to her?” Eden sighed. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

  She took a deep breath. Maybe Eden could help her connect the dots. It seemed like there was a giant piece of the puzzle missing, and as much as she tried to convince herself the piece was Dylan as the bad guy, something wasn’t adding up.

  “We were getting in line for ribs, and this perky blonde bounced over...” She told Eden everything—the college tales, the honeymoon summer and the argument by Dylan’s car. “He claimed he got the job because I forced him to so he could be around Phoebe and that he’s the same guy he was. Then he threw out ‘I love you,’ like it was supposed to make everything all right.”

  She still huffed over the last part. How dare he? How dare he pretend to love her to get his way?

  “He told you he loves you?” Eden’s eyes grew round. “What did you say?”

  “I called him a liar and sprinted to the park to find you.”

  “Oh.” She studied her nails. “Have you considered he might actually love you?”

  “No, I haven’t,” she snapped. “Carl told me he loved me, too. And guess what? He was married. Married! To another woman. Using me, taking my money—so, no, I don’t believe a liar who tells me he loves me.”

  “Married? Oh, Gabby. I had no idea. No wonder you hate cowboys.” Eden pressed her hand to her chest. “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, well, so am I.” Her anger ebbed and a knot formed in her throat. She’d never told anyone about Carl being married, and the embarrassment of it hit her fresh. “I never should have trusted Dylan. I knew better.”

  Eden stood. “Why don’t I get us some iced tea?”

  Gabby nodded, trying to will away the tears forming, but one dropped, then another. She swiped them away.

  She’d been such a dummy. Hadn’t she told herself not to trust him? That all cowboys were liars? But no, she’d opened her heart...and the worst part was?

  She was in love with him.

  She loved another lying loser.

  Eden returned and handed her a glass.

  “I have the worst taste in men.”

  “You couldn’t have known Dylan would lie to you.”

  “Yes, I could.” She took a sip, letting the ice-cold tea soothe her aching throat. “I knew. I knew the minute he walked into the inn that he was trouble. I blame myself.”

  Eden thought about it a minute. “You’re assuming he’s like Carl, though. That’s not fair. Being rich and being married are two different things.”

  “Being a scumbag liar is the same thing.”

  “I’ve met Dylan, and he is not a scumbag. He seems genuine.”

  “It’s an act.” But was it?

  “I don’t think so, Gabby. I think he really likes you. You told me yourself he’s wonderful with Phoebe. Reliable. Always shows up when he says he will.”

  She could feel her anger weakening. He had been dependable and reliable. But maybe it was all an act. “It really doesn’t matter. He lied to me, and I’m done.”

  “No one is perfect.” Eden’s lips lifted in a brief, sad smile. “I’m not saying you’re wrong. Maybe he is a terrible person. Maybe he’s not. But given everything you’ve told me—he really might love you. And I know you have feelings for him. Shouldn’t you at least consider giving him some grace?”

  Grace.

  What a loaded word.

  Grace meant forgiving. And forgiving meant lying down and being a doormat—Here, walk all over me!

  “I don’t think so, Eden.” She shook her head.

  Eden nodded in understanding, but the strain around her mouth revealed her disappointment. “Pray about it. And I’ll pray for you, too.”

  The last thing she wanted to do was pray. She wanted to crawl into her bed and never come out again.

  * * *

  He never should have stayed in Rendezvous. That night Dylan paced the length of his porch. Back and forth. Back and forth.

  His heart was wrapped in barbed wire and getting squeezed tighter by the minute. He’d lost Gabby’s trust, and he hadn’t realized how important it was until she’d called him a liar.

  He was a liar. A fraud.

  And tomorrow, when he told Stu the truth—that he’d misled him, had zero ranching experience and didn’t need the job or the money—he’d see the same disappointment and loathing from him that he had from Gabby.

  Maybe he should sneak out of town tonight. Then he wouldn’t have to confess to Stu or worry about bumping into Gabby again.

  He paused, set his hand on the porch rail and gazed unseeing out at the stars. Pops from the fireworks in the distance filled the air. He should have been watching them with Gabby. If Amanda hadn’t arrived and ruined everything, he’d be sitting there with Gabby now. Holding her hand. Planning how to tell her he wasn’t the drifter she’d assumed.

  He smacked the rail. It wouldn’t have mattered. Either way, he’d lied, and Gabby would hate him—did hate him. He didn’t blame her. He hated himself.

  Covering his face with his hands, he wiped his cheeks. How would this affect Phoebe? Would Gabby keep her from him? He couldn’t bear not to see the baby’s smiling face anymore.

  Man, he’d blown it.

  The humid air made his skin sticky, but he stayed outside.

  What was he going to do now?

  He thought of the documents his lawyer had drafted and emailed on Thursday. Dylan had the trust fund ready. He didn’t have the child support documents drawn up, though—he’d foolishly believed they wouldn’t be necessary. But a future with Gabby wasn’t going to happen.

  Still, the purchase agreement for the inn would
ensure she had the freedom she wanted. He could feel good about that, he supposed.

  Maybe the people closest to him were better off without him in their life.

  He thought back to the night Sam died. How the paramedics found his little brother on the floor of some guy’s apartment. He’d been dead for a few hours. He’d died alone in a stranger’s house. His sensitive, caring, brilliant brother—gone. Just like that.

  Dylan squeezed his eyes shut. Gabby was right—there was nothing he could have done to prevent his death.

  The helplessness of it all crushed him.

  He swallowed the lump in his throat. But there was something he could have done to prevent Gabby from hating him. Why hadn’t he told her the truth? From the minute he’d met her, he’d been fascinated by her. She’d challenged him, pushed him and ultimately accepted him. He loved her more than he’d ever loved anyone.

  Why had he been so stupid?

  It had taken him less than two days to figure out Gabby was nothing like his mom or Robin. He should have told her he was rich then.

  But he hadn’t trusted her. Hadn’t really trusted himself.

  Did he now?

  He peered at the outlines of the ranch before him. He hadn’t just fallen in love with Gabby and Phoebe. He’d fallen in love with the cowboy life. This ranch. Helping Stu with the cattle, fishing, being one of the guys.

  In some ways Stu was the dad he’d always wanted.

  And he’d deceived him, too.

  Tomorrow was going to be one of the toughest days of his life, but if he’d learned anything in Rendezvous, he’d learned he was strong enough to handle it.

  Was he strong enough, though, to say goodbye to the first real home he’d had in years? To a job he was passionate about? To the woman he loved?

  He went inside and closed the door.

  It was going to be a long, sleepless night.

  He’d do the right thing tomorrow. And after that? A long, empty future awaited him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  She had a raging headache, a million questions and zero answers. Gabby padded into Phoebe’s room a little after two in the morning. So much of her life had turned upside down in the past month. The only thing she knew for sure was she would do anything to protect and love her precious baby, and not just for Allison’s sake—for her own.