by Cat Schield
The domestic life suited him, he decided, entering the kitchen to see what Candace had made for dinner. The large room smelled amazing, and his mouth began to water as soon as he crossed the threshold. He sneaked up behind Candace and gave her a quick hug.
“What’s on the menu tonight?”
“I made a roast. There’s garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and apple pie for dessert.”
“And your wonderful gravy.”
“Of course.”
“Is Jacob joining us?”
“Actually, we’re going to have dinner in town. It’s the seventh anniversary of our first date.”
Candace and Jacob had been married for the last six years. They’d met when Candace had come to work at Wade Ranch and fell in love almost at first sight. They had the sort of solid relationship that Liam had never had the chance to see as he was growing up.
“You keep track of that sort of thing?” Liam teased, watching as Candace began fixing Maggie’s bottle.
“It’s keeping track of that sort of thing that keeps our relationship healthy.”
Liam accepted the bottle Candace handed him, his thoughts wrapped around what she’d said. “What else keeps your relationship healthy?”
If the seriousness of his tone surprised her, the housekeeper didn’t let on. “Trust and honesty. Jacob and I agreed not to let things fester. It’s not always easy to talk about what bugs us, especially big issues like his sister’s negative attitude toward me and the fact that I hate holding hands in public. Thank goodness we’re both morning people and like the same television shows, or we’d never have made it this far.”
As Liam watched Maggie suck down the formula, he let Candace’s words wash over him. He’d never actually been in a relationship, healthy or otherwise. Oh, he dated a lot of women, some of them for long periods of time, but as he’d realized a year ago, not one of them wanted more than to have a good time.
At first he’d been shocked to discover that he’d let his personal life remain so shallow. Surely a thirty-year-old man should have had at least one serious relationship he could look back on. Liam hadn’t been able to point to a single woman who’d impacted his life in any way.
He didn’t even have mommy issues, because he’d never gotten to know her. She was a distracted, preoccupied guest at Christmas or when she showed up for his birthday. When she couldn’t make it, expensive presents arrived and were dutifully opened. The most up-to-date electronics, gift cards, eventually big checks. For Liam, their mother had been the beautiful young woman in the photo framed by silver that sat on Grandfather’s desk. According to him, she’d loved her career more than anything else and wasn’t cut out to live on a ranch.
“...and of course, great sex.”
The last word caught his attention. Liam grinned. “Of course.”
Candace laughed. “I wondered if you were listening to me. Turns out you weren’t.”
“I was thinking about my past relationships or lack thereof.”
“You just haven’t found the right girl.” Candace patted him on the arm, adopting the persona of wise old aunt. “Once she shows up, you’ll have all the relationship you can handle. Just remember to think about her happiness before your own and you’ll be all right.”
Liam thought about his past girlfriends and knew that advice would have bankrupted him. His former lovers wanted the best things money could buy. Expensive clothes, exotic trips, to be pampered and spoiled. Living such an affluent lifestyle had been fine for short periods of time, but at heart, Liam loved the ranch and his horses. None of his lady friends wanted to live in Royal permanently. It was too far from the rapid pace of city life.
“I’m out of here,” Candace said, slipping her coat off the hook near the kitchen door. “You and Hadley should be able to handle things from here. See you tomorrow.” She winked. “Probably for lunch. You’ll have your choice of cereal or Pop-Tarts for breakfast.”
Grimacing, Liam wished her a good night and returned his attention to Maggie. The greedy child had consumed almost the entire bottle while he’d been talking to Candace. Knowing he should have burped her halfway through, he slung a towel over his shoulder and settled her atop it. Hadley’s simple ways of handling Maggie’s reflux issues had made a huge difference in the baby’s manner. She was much less fussy.
Liam walked around the kitchen, swaying with each stride to soothe the infant. He’d been at this for ten minutes when Hadley entered the room. She’d left her hair down tonight, and the pale gold waves cascaded over the shoulders of her earth-tone blanket coat. The weather had turned chilly and wet in the early evening, and Hadley had dressed accordingly in jeans and a dark brown turtleneck sweater.
“Have you already fed her?” Hadley approached and held her hands out for the baby. She avoided meeting his gaze as she said, “I can take her while you eat.”
“Maggie and I are doing fine.” The baby gave a little burp as if in agreement. “Why don’t you fix yourself a plate while I give her the rest of her bottle? I can eat after you’re done.”
Hadley looked as if she wanted to argue with him, but at last gave a little nod. “Sure.”
While he pretended to be absorbed in feeding Maggie, Liam watched Hadley, thinking about their early-morning encounter and wondering if that accounted for her skittishness. Had he done more while asleep than she’d let on? The thought brought with it a rush of heat. He bit back a smile. Obviously his subconscious had been working overtime.
“Look, about this morning—” he began, compelled to clear the air.
“You were sleeping.” Hadley’s shoulders drooped. “I intruded. I swear I won’t let Waldo get out again.”
“Maybe it’s not good for him to be cooped up all the time.”
“My apartment is pretty small. Besides, you don’t like cats.”
“What makes you say that?” Liam had no real opinion either way.
Hadley crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the sort of stern look he imagined she’d give a disobedient child. “You suggested I put him in the barn.”
“My grandfather never wanted animals in the house, so that’s what I’m used to.”
“The only time Waldo has been outside was after the house where he lived was destroyed by the tornado. He spent a month on his own before someone brought him to Royal Haven, where I adopted him. He gets upset if I leave him alone too long. That’s why I couldn’t stay here without bringing him.”
Talking about her cat had relaxed Hadley. She’d let down her guard as professional caretaker, and Liam found himself charmed by her fond smile and soft eyes. No wonder she had such a magical effect on Maggie. She manifested a serenity that made him long to nestle her body against his and...
Desire flowed through him, brought on by a year of celibacy and Hadley’s beauty. But was that all there was to it? Over the last year, he hadn’t been a hermit. Promoting the ranch meant he’d attended several horse shows, toured numerous farms. Every public appearance provided opportunities to test his resolve, but not one of the women he’d met had tempted him like Hadley.
Liam cleared his throat, but the tightness remained. “Why don’t you bring him down after dinner so he and I can meet properly and then let him have the run of the house?”
“Are you sure?”
He’d made the suggestion impulsively, distracted by the direction his thoughts had taken, but it was too late to change his mind now. “Absolutely.”
The exchange seemed to banish the last of her uneasiness. Unfortunately, his discomfort had only just begun. Maggie had gone still in his arms, and Liam realized she was on the verge of sleep. Knowing her reflux required her to remain upright for half an hour, he shifted her onto his shoulder and followed Hadley to the kitchen table where he ate most of his meals since his grandfather had died.
“Is somet
hing the matter?” Hadley asked. She’d carried both their plates to the table.
“No, why?”
“You’re frowning.” She sat down across from him. “Do you want me to take Maggie?”
“No, she’s fine.” In less than a week he’d mastered the ability to hold the baby and do other things at the same time. He picked up his fork. “I was just thinking that I haven’t used the dining room much since my grandfather died. Every meal he ate in this house was in there. I find it too big and lonely to use by myself.”
“You could eat there with Maggie.”
“We could eat there with Maggie.”
Her eyes widened briefly before she gave a reluctant nod. “Of course, I would be there to take care of Maggie.”
Liam didn’t think they were on the same page. He’d been thinking of her in terms of companionship. She’d obviously assumed he’d want her as Maggie’s caretaker. Or was she deliberately reminding him of their different roles in the household?
“I promised I’d bring Maggie down to the barn tomorrow for a visit. I’d like you to come with us.” Now that the DNA results had come back indicating that Maggie was Kyle’s daughter, he was eager to introduce her to everyone.
“Of course.” Hadley didn’t sound overly enthusiastic. “She’s a Wade, which means she’s going to be spending a lot of time there.”
“Or she may take after...my mother. She left the ranch to pursue a career in real estate and rarely visits.” He had no idea what had prompted him to share this about his mother.
“Not everyone is cut out for this life, I suppose.”
Or for motherhood. She’d left her sons in the care of their grandfather and hadn’t returned more than a handful of times during their childhood. Liam knew it had bothered Grandfather that his only child didn’t want anything to do with her family’s legacy. As for how Kyle felt, Liam and his brother rarely discussed her.
“You mentioned that you’re finishing up your degree. What are your plans for after graduation?”
Hadley smiled. “I’ve submitted my résumé to several school districts in Houston. That’s where my parents live.”
“You’re not planning on staying in Royal then?”
“I like it here. My best friend and her husband run an accounting firm in town. I’m just not sure there are enough job opportunities in the area for someone just starting out in my field. And I’m an only child. My parents hate that I live so far away.”
“What sort of a job are you looking for?” Liam found himself wanting to talk her into remaining in the area.
“School counseling. My undergraduate degree is in teaching, but after a couple years, I decided it wasn’t my cup of tea and went back for my master’s.”
“You’re certainly good with children,” Liam said. “Any school would be lucky to have you.”
While they spoke, Hadley had finished eating. She took charge of Maggie, settling her into the nearby infant seat while Liam finished his dinner. He made short work of Candace’s excellent cooking and set both of their plates in the sink.
“Can I interest you in a piece of caramel apple pie? Candace makes the best around.”
“Sure.” Hadley laughed. “I have a weakness for dessert.”
Liam heated both pieces in the microwave and added a scoop of ice cream to each. With Maggie sound asleep, she no longer provided any sort of distraction, and Liam was able to focus his full attention on Hadley.
“I took some video of Electric Slide being worked today. Thought you might be interested in seeing him in action.” He pulled up the footage he’d taken with his phone and extended it her way. “Even though he’s young, I can already tell he has his mother’s work ethic and athleticism. I’d love your opinion on him.”
“You’re the expert,” she reminded him, cupping the phone in her hands.
“Yes, but as I was discussing with my head trainer today, I have too many horses, and I need to figure out which ones I should let go.”
“You’re thinking of selling him?” She looked up from the phone’s screen, her expression concerned.
And with that, Liam knew he’d struck the right chord at last.
* * *
Knowing she shouldn’t care one way or another what Liam did with his horses, Hadley let her gaze be drawn back to the video of the big chestnut colt racing across the arena only to drop his hindquarters and execute a somewhat sloppy sliding stop. His inexperience showed, but she liked his balance and his willingness.
Lolita had been a dream horse. For two years she and Hadley had dominated as barrel racers and scored several championships in the show ring. During that time she’d had several offers to purchase the mare but couldn’t imagine being parted from her.
Until Anna’s accident, when everything changed.
“He’s a nice colt,” she said, making an effort to keep her reply noncommittal. She replayed the video, paying close attention to the horse’s action. He looked so much like his mother. Same three white socks. Same shoulder and hip. Same nose-out gesture when he moved from a lope into a gallop. How many classes had she lost before that little quirk had been addressed?
“Maybe you can give him a try when you come to the barn tomorrow.”
Her stomach tightened as she contemplated how much fun it would be to ride Lolita’s son. But Hadley hadn’t been on a horse in ten years, not since Anna had ended up in a wheelchair. Remorse over her role in what happened to her friend had burdened Hadley for a decade. The only thing that kept her from being overwhelmed by guilt was her vow never to ride again. And that was a small sacrifice compared with what Anna was living with.
“I’m afraid I don’t ride anymore.”
“I’m sure you haven’t lost any of your skills.”
Hadley found dark amusement in his confidence. She was pretty sure any attempt to swing into a saddle would demonstrate just how rusty she was.
“The truth is I don’t want to ride.” She didn’t think Liam would understand her real reason for turning him down.
“But you might enjoy it if only you got back in the saddle.”
The man was as stubborn as he was persuasive, and Hadley wasn’t sure how to discourage him without being rude. “I assure you I wouldn’t. I was pretty crazy about horses when I was young, but it no longer interests me.”
“That’s a shame. You were a really talented rider.”
Her heart gave a little jump. “I really loved it.”
“And it showed. Shannon used to complain about you all the time.” Liam’s intent gaze intensified his allure. “That’s when I started watching you ride, and I figured out why all the other girls lost to you.”
“Lolita.”
“She was a big part of it, but you rode the hell out of her.”
Hadley shook her head. “You said it yourself. Shannon won a lot on Lolita.”
“Yeah, but her times never matched yours.”
The temptation to bask in Liam’s warm regard almost derailed Hadley’s professionalism. The man had such a knack for making a woman feel attractive and desirable. But was he sincere? She’d labeled him a player, but maybe she’d done that to keep from being sucked in by his charm. The way he cared about Maggie made Hadley want to give him the benefit of the doubt. And yet he hadn’t known he’d gotten her mother pregnant. That didn’t exactly illustrate his accountability.
“Does Shannon still own her?” Parting with the mare had been one of the hardest things Hadley had ever done.
“No. She sold her after a couple years.”
“How did you end up with one of her foals?”
“A client of mine in California had him.”
“And Lolita?” For someone who claimed she was no longer interested in anything horse-related, Hadley was asking a lot of questions. But Lolita had b
een special, and she wanted to hear that the mare had ended up in a good home.
“I don’t know.” Her disappointment must have shown because Liam offered, “I can find out.”
Hadley waved off his concern. “Oh, please don’t bother. I was just...curious.”
“It’s no problem. Jack is a good friend.”
“Really, don’t trouble yourself. I’m sure she’s doing great.” A wave of nostalgia swept over Hadley. She wished she could say she hadn’t thought about Lolita for years, but that wasn’t at all the case.
Hadley didn’t realize she was still holding Liam’s phone until it began to ring. The image of a stunning brunette appeared on the screen. The name attached to the beautiful face: Andi. She handed Liam back his phone and rose.
“I’ll take Maggie upstairs.”
Andi looked like the sort of woman he’d want privacy to talk to. Hadley was halfway up the back stairs before she heard him say hello. She didn’t notice the disappointment dampening her mood until she reached the nursery and settled into the rocking chair that overlooked the enormous backyard. What did she have to be down about? Of course Liam had a girlfriend. He’d always had a girlfriend, or probably several girls that he kept on ice for when he found himself with a free night.
And yet he hadn’t gone out once since she’d moved into the house. He spent his evenings watching sports in the large den, laptop open, pedigrees scattered on the sofa beside him. Back when she’d been a teenager, she’d spent a fair amount of time poring over horse magazines and evaluating one stallion over another. Although it was a hobby, she liked to think her hours of study had been instrumental in how well she’d done in selecting Lolita.
Until coming to Wade Ranch, Hadley hadn’t realized how much she missed everything having to do with horses. The familiar scents of the barn that clung to the jacket that Liam hung up in the entry roused emotions she’d suppressed for a long time. She missed riding. Barrel racing was in turns exhilarating and terrifying. Competing in a Western pleasure class might not be an adrenaline rush, but it presented different challenges. And no matter the outcome, a clean ride was its own reward.
