by Myla Jackson
“Wait. You have a cookie stash?” Colin asked as they entered the house.
Gwen edged toward the house. “Maybe we should go along with your mother. This is a new environment for Dalton.”
“He’ll be fine.” Angus stepped in front of Gwen. “Go on with your story. I’m curious to know how I fit in this picture.”
“Well…” She wet her lips and fought for the right words, when she knew what she had to say didn’t sound as good as it had the night before when she’d been three shots of tequila deep into fixing all her problems. “I bid on you as a jump start for Dalton. From what I remember of you, you’ll make a fine role model for my son. Four dates with you will give him a good idea of what it takes to be a man and will tide him over until I can get him enrolled in the mentoring program and find him a suitable mentor.” She cringed and waited for the tirade.
Angus seemed to chew on her revelation for a while before talking. “Let me get this straight. You paid five thousand dollars for me to be a role model to your little boy for four dates?”
When he put it like that, it sounded a little crazy.
Gwen nodded. “Yes.”
“That’s a lot of money for playdates with your son.”
“It was for a good cause. I probably would have donated that much for the women’s shelter anyway.”
Angus was already shaking his head. “No deal.”
Gwen’s eyes narrowed and her belly clenched. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you bid on four dates with me. Not with me and your son.”
“What’s it matter if it’s just you and me, or you, me and Dalton?”
“The definition of a date is two people spending time together. Nowhere in there is a child part of that equation.”
Anger pushed steel into Gwen’s spine. Dalton was as much a part of her as the lungs she used to breathe. She lifted her chin. “That’s the way I want to collect on my bid.”
Angus crossed his arms and stood with his legs slightly apart. “Look, I get your reasoning, but it changes everything in the terms of this agreement. If you want me to play role model for four dates, that’s a whole different ball of wax than four dates one-on-one. I propose this—”
Gwen held up a hand. “You can’t just change the rules.”
“Sweetheart, you did when you brought your son into the picture.”
She didn’t have a comeback. He was right. Her next step would be to free him of his obligation.
But, damn it, she didn’t want to! “You still owe me four dates,” she said stubbornly.
“Here’s the proposal I was going to suggest before I was interrupted.” He raised four fingers. “I’ll give you four role-model playdates with you and your son, if…” he paused, drawing out her last nerve to the breaking point.
“If what?” she demanded.
“If we follow through with the dates as originally agreed upon at the auction.”
“Huh?” Gwen’s eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that what I suggested in the first place?”
“No.” His mouth curved upward. “I’ll spend four days with you and your son. And you’ll spend four nights with me on dates—without Dalton.”
“What?” The air rushed from Gwen’s lungs and refused to return for several long seconds. “You want to date me? I have a hazy memory of you trying to buy back my bid last night. Why the turnaround?”
“Ah, so your memory is returning.” He flashed a wicked smile.
That smile cost her another round of hyperventilation. Seven years ago, he’d smiled his way right into her panties. And she’d been glad to let him in. The man was so damned sexy and his casual modesty had been as endearing as his looks.
“You want the equivalent of eight dates with me?”
With a nod, he repeated, “Four with you and Dalton to teach him man things and four just you and me.”
“What would we do on those dates?” Her eyes narrowed. “And you can leave kissing and sex out of the mix.”
Angus spread his arms wide, his hands palms up. “Did I say anything about sex and kissing? I won’t ask anything of you that you don’t want to give willingly.”
“Good, because I have no intention of getting involved with you again.”
A brief shadow crossed his face. “Good,” he echoed. “I don’t have time for such nonsense.”
“Then why extend the obligation out to eight?”
“Let’s just say I need a break. If I’m committed to going out with someone, I can’t work through and skip it.”
She stared at him long and hard, noting the fine lines around his eyes and the dark smudges beneath them. If anything, they made him look even more rugged and handsome than he did seven years ago. He’d aged well. But eight dates? Gwen wasn’t sure she could stand up to that many and not make herself insane with longing.
She was beginning to think this entire ordeal was a bad idea. As a single mother, she didn’t want to drag her son into a relationship that would leave him heartbroken. Would four visits with Angus break Dalton’s heart?
Gwen chewed her lip. Parenting was hard enough, without having to guess what would hurt her son. This man had hurt her once. She wasn’t so sure she could handle it again. Could Dalton?
“We can start today with the first of the playdates with Dalton and tonight we can get one of the real dates over with.”
“Over with.” Gwen snorted. “You make it sound like torture.”
He shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“This is new for you.”
“What?”
“Being vague.” Gwen ran her gaze over him. “The Angus I knew was always direct. He didn’t waste words.”
“Because that Angus wanted to get right down to making love.”
His smoldering gaze made Gwen’s blood heat and a slow burn build at her core.
Angus’s face smoothed into indifference. “Since sex is out of the picture, no need to be direct.” He stuck out his hand. “So, is it a deal?”
Again Gwen’s eyes narrowed. “I still don’t buy why you want eight dates instead of four, but sure. It’s a deal.” She gripped his hand and regretted it immediately.
Electricity shot up her arm and spread through her body like a wildfire in a Texas wind. She jerked her hand back as if it had been singed. “And I meant it. No sex or kissing.”
Angus raised his hands. “I’m not even suggesting it. If you want to be kissed, you’ll have to ask me.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll never happen.” She turned and strode toward the house.
“Never say never, sweetheart,” Angus said behind her.
“And I’m not your sweetheart,” Gwen retorted. Not anymore. You had your chance seven years ago.
Angus followed Gwen into the house, enjoying the view from behind. Her hips were a little rounder and she had her hair pulled up in another one of those darned twists that hid the auburn curls he used to love getting lost in.
Why he’d come up with that “deal” he didn’t know. Her adamancy about not getting involved with him again grated. He suspected that was the reason he’d come up with the cockamamie plan. Anything to prolong her torture. Unfortunately it meant he’d have to endure it as well.
What did he know about little kids, other than what he’d learned helping to raise his younger brothers? They were family and his mother and father had done most of the parental guidance. He’d helped Brody and Colin when they were learning to ride horses, although it had all been kind of natural. They’d grown up around the animals and knew no fear of them.
“Does Dalton know anything about what goes on at a ranch?” Angus asked.
“Nothing.”
“What about sports?”
“I enrolled him in tennis lessons, but they haven’t begun. And he’s been playing soccer since he was four.” She smiled. “He’s actually pretty good at it for his age group. Some of the kids stand in the grass and pick flowers. Not Dalton. He goes for the ball and gets it down the field.”
The love and pride were clearly evident in Gwen’s gaze and tone.
Regret tugged at Angus’s gut. If Gwen hadn’t gone back to college after that summer, or if he’d been free to go after her, Dalton might have been his little boy.
“What about riding?” Angus held the front door open for her. “Has he ever been on a horse?”
She shook her head. “No.”
With a nod, he followed her into the house. His picnic idea just got more difficult, but not impossible.
He found his family in the kitchen. Dalton stood on a box by the counter, helping Colin.
“I’m making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” Dalton turned and showed Gwen his hands smeared with peanut butter and grape-colored goo. “We’re going on a picnic and riding horses.”
Gwen smiled at her son. “That’s nice.” Her brows rose as she turned to Angus. “I’d have brought jeans with me had I known.”
“Don’t worry,” Colin said. “I’m sure Mom will have some you can wear.”
Angus’s mother eyed Gwen. “Of course I do, but they’ll probably be too big and too short.”
“They’ll do for riding,” Angus said. “She can cinch them with a belt.” As well-dressed as Gwen was, he figured it would make her nuts to wear someone else’s ill-fitting clothes. All the better. Putting her off her game would make him feel better, more in control of a situation that could get out of control all too quickly.
Gwen raised her hands. “I don’t have to go. You and Dalton might enjoy a picnic without me.”
“Oh no, you should definitely go. Angus will enjoy a day off working so hard. And I know Dalton would prefer to have his mother along with him in a new place,” Angus’s mother said. “I’ll be right back with something that will work just fine.” She hurried out of the room before Gwen could protest further.
Angus didn’t like how his mother had gone from almost spilling the beans about Gwen breaking his heart, to practically welcoming her and her son into the family. And he didn’t like how quickly she’d taken to the little boy. Maybe agreeing to eight dates was a mistake. If his mother got attached to Dalton and Gwen, she’d be disappointed when the dates were over and everything went back to the way it was before the auction.
“Really, I don’t have to go,” Gwen said.
“Colin went to a lot of trouble to whip up sandwiches for us. I would hate to disappoint him,” Angus said.
Colin wiped off Dalton’s hands and helped him down from the box. “You wouldn’t disappoint me at all. In fact, I would gladly stay here and entertain Gwen while you and Dalton go for a ride.” He hooked Gwen’s arm in his. “Why is it Mom and Angus know you, but I don’t?”
Angus’s teeth ground together and he fought the urge to knock Colin’s arm off. “You were backpacking across Europe that summer after you graduated from Texas Tech.” He’d had to come home early when their mother was diagnosed. “Gwen, as you heard, this is my brother Colin.”
“I’d have skipped Europe to have a summer with you, Gwen.” Colin winked across at her and shot a teasing glance at Angus. “Stay here with me.”
“Colin, behave yourself. She’s going with Angus.” Angus’s mother entered the room carrying jeans, a blue chambray shirt, belt, socks and a pair of cowboy boots. “I didn’t have a shirt that would fit you right, so I got one of Angus’s and the boots belonged to Colin when he was a teen. They were too fancy for him so he never wore them and I never got around to donating them to charity. If they fit, you can have them.”
“Thanks.” Gwen took the armful of clothing, and Angus’s mother led her down the hallway to a bathroom.
“I didn’t realize the woman who bought you was an old flame.” Colin chuckled. “That makes this situation even more interesting.”
“She’s not old and she’s not a flame.” Angus stared at the little boy who looked so much like his mother. “I guess what you’re wearing will do for a ride.”
“Do I get to ride a horse all by myself?” Dalton stared up at Angus, his eyes wide and so much like his mother’s Angus found himself automatically liking the kid.
Angus shook his head. “Not this time. For today, we’ll let the horses get used to having a small boy around them, and you can get used to how big they are.”
“I’m not afraid.” Dalton’s chin lifted just like his mother’s when she faced a challenge.
Angus couldn’t help but smile, and he ruffled the boy’s hair. “I bet you’re not. But the horses might be afraid of a little person wandering around them. You have to promise to do exactly as I say.”
He pressed one hand to his chest and raised the other. “I promise.”
“Then we’ll get started while your mother is dressing.”
Colin handed him a woven Mexican blanket and the canvas bag with the sandwiches. “Enjoy. Mom is over the moon.”
Angus glared at his brother. “She better not get too used to it. This means nothing.”
“Actually, you better hope it does mean something. For the sake of keeping the ranch.”
“You’re on the hook too,” Angus reminded his brother. “When are you going to kiss and make up with Brody?”
“That day will never happen.”
“Then today is a waste of effort.”
Colin sighed. “You have to contact Brody. He hasn’t talked to me in years.”
“What did you two fight about?”
Colin shrugged. “Something that never should have happened.”
His mouth twisting, Angus nodded. “A woman.”
“Not much gets by you, brother. Not much.” Colin clapped him on the back. “Good luck. That one will be really hard to resist. And frankly, I don’t know why you would.”
“Says the man who can’t resist a single woman,” Angus muttered, heading for the back door. “At least I can restrain myself.”
“Yeah. I can see that.” Colin’s laughter followed Angus and Dalton across the kitchen.
With Dalton at his side, Gwen dressing somewhere in the house, Angus hoped he wasn’t setting himself up for a big fall.
Chapter Six
Angus opened the back door and waited while the boy stepped out. As they walked down the steps, Dalton slipped his little hand into Angus’s and smiled up at him, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Angus’s chest tightened. He could get used to having a little guy like this around. The child found joy in just being there, and Angus found that joy to be more than a little infectious.
Five minutes later, Angus had the gentlest mare on the ranch tied to a post inside the barn and a saddle thrown over her back. Dalton stood at the mare’s nose, smoothing his hand over her muzzle, watching every move and asking questions as Angus cinched the girth. He was eager and smart as a whip. Like his mother.
“You two starting without me?” Gwen’s warm voice melted over Angus like hot butter on a roasted potato.
“Mama, this is Fancy. Isn’t she pretty?” Dalton called out, standing perfectly still as he’d been told.
Angus finished cinching the girth and let the stirrup fall into place before he turned to Gwen.
She wore the jeans his mother had loaned her tucked into the borrowed cowboy boots. The waistband was pulled tight with a belt around her narrow waist. But it was the blue chambray shirt tied at the waist, exposing a little skin at her midriff that gave Angus’s heart palpitations.
Gwen had rearranged her hair into a French braid at the back of her head. She looked so much like the college coed Angus had fallen in love with that the years rolled back and he almost pulled her into his arms and kissed her like he would have if it had been seven years ago.
But it wasn’t.
“Watch Dalton while I saddle another horse, will ya?” he said, his voice gruffer than he’d intended. This whole ordeal was going to be harder than he’d thought. How was he going to get through eight dates when he was having trouble with the first one with the kid?
Angus left the barn and walked out into the heat, welcoming the
distance from Gwen. He needed a minute or two to get his shit together before he went back in the barn. For once Joe, the bay gelding he would ride that day, didn’t play Keep-Away. He came right up to Angus and nuzzled his chest as if sensing the human’s unrest.
Angus snapped the lead on his halter. “At least you don’t have girl troubles.”
The horse snorted.
“You’re right. Neither did I until last night. But what can I do?”
Joe gave him a gentle shove toward the barn.
“Okay, okay.” Angus smoothed a hand over the gelding’s nose. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were working with my mother on this matchmaking thing. Well, just get it out of your mind. I’m not interested in long term.”
Joe tossed his head and whickered, the sound more like laughter than Angus cared to admit.
The horse seemed to know more about the future than he did.
Leading Joe, Angus returned to the barn and tied him up to the post next to the mare.
Gwen ran her hand across the sorrel’s neck. “Fancy’s beautiful. Is she one of the horses in your breeding program?”
He nodded. “She was my prime breeding mare until I retired her last year.”
“Will Dalton be riding with me?” Gwen asked. “It’s been years since I got on a horse.”
“You’ll have no problem picking it up again.” He remembered how natural she’d been when he’d taught her to ride. Her body moved with the animal’s rhythm. “But, no, the boy will ride with me.”
Once he had Joe saddled, Angus helped Gwen up on Fancy and then lifted Dalton onto Joe’s saddle. “Hang on to the horn.”
Placing his boot in the stirrup, Angus swung up into the saddle behind Dalton. The boy’s face split into a huge grin and stayed lit up the entire ride out across the pastures to the swimming hole where Angus had planned to have a private picnic, just he and Gwen.
Dalton was full of questions about the ranch, cattle, hay, snakes, coyotes and the clouds above. By the time they pulled the horses to a stop, Angus’s ears were sore from listening and he’d talked more than he normally talked for an entire month.
He swung down from the saddle and held up his arms for Dalton, who leaned out, trusting Angus to see him safely to the ground.
