by Cat Schield
Nolan found a blank page on his yellow legal pad and met Liam’s gaze. “What can I help you with?”
“I have a situation with my twin brother’s baby.” Liam explained how Maggie had come to Wade Ranch and showed Nolan the DNA results. “Maggie is definitely Kyle’s daughter. As soon as I received the test back, I left messages for him on his cell and with the navy.”
“How long ago was this?”
“About two weeks.”
“And you haven’t heard back?”
“Only that the message was delivered. He’s a SEAL, which probably means he’s on a mission overseas.” Liam leaned forward. “And that’s where my concerns lie. I don’t know a lot about Kyle’s domestic situation, but based on his past track record, I’m guessing he’s not in a long-term relationship and certainly isn’t in a position to take care of a baby.”
“You’re not in regular contact?”
“Not since he left Royal and joined the navy.” Liam wasn’t proud of the way he and Kyle had drifted apart, but growing up they’d been uniquely dissimilar in temperament and interests for identical twins.
“And it sounds like the child’s grandmother, Diane Garner, is reluctant to be responsible for Maggie.”
“She has serious medical issues that prevent her from taking care of Maggie. Which leaves Kyle.” Liam paused to give his next words weight. “Or me.”
“You want custody?”
While Liam’s first instinct was to say yes, he intended to do what was best for Maggie. “I’d like to evaluate all the options.”
One corner of Nolan’s lips twitched. “You don’t have to be diplomatic with me, Liam. I’m here to help you out. Now, what do you want?”
“I’d like custody, but what is most important is to do right by Maggie.” Liam gathered his thoughts for a long moment. “I have concerns that while Kyle is off on missions, he’ll have to rely on others to take care of her for extended periods of time. And what happens if he’s hurt...” Or killed. But Liam couldn’t go there. Most days he didn’t give Kyle a thought, but sometimes a news report would catch his attention and Liam would wonder what his brother was up to.
“Do you know if Kyle and Margaret were in touch before she drove to Wade Ranch?” Nolan continued to jot down items on his legal pad. “I’m trying to get a sense of their relationship.”
“I don’t know, but I have to think if Kyle had any idea he was going to be a father that he would have let me know.” Liam wanted to believe his brother would step up and do the right thing by his daughter. Yet the fact that Kyle hadn’t been in contact disturbed Liam. “That leads me to believe that he didn’t know. Either because she hadn’t told him or she had the same trouble getting a hold of him I’m having.”
Liam didn’t add that it was possible Margaret had been nothing more than a weeklong fling for Kyle and he’d had no intention of keeping in touch.
“Because Margaret died in childbirth and she and Kyle weren’t married, only her name appears on Maggie’s birth certificate. Normally what would happen in this sort of case is that both parties would fill out an AOP. That’s an Acknowledgment of Paternity. This form would normally be filled out and signed at the hospital. Or through a certified entity that would then file it with the Vital Statistics Unit. Unfortunately, without Margaret alive to concede that your brother is the child’s father, this case will have to go to court. Of course, DNA evidence will prove Kyle’s the father. But with you two being identical twins and no way of proving which one of you is the father...” After a long silence, broken only by the scratch of his pen across the legal pad, Nolan glanced up. His eyes gleamed. “I can see why you came to me. This situation is by no means clear-cut.”
“No, it’s not.” But at least Liam had a clearer picture of what he wanted. Tension he didn’t realize he’d been holding unwound from his shoulder muscles. “How do you suggest we proceed?”
“Let’s find out what we can about Margaret and her time with Kyle in San Antonio. I have an investigator I’ve worked with there. If you give me the go-ahead, I’ll contact him.”
“Do you think I have a case for retaining custody of Maggie?” Before he let Kyle take Maggie away, Liam intended to make sure his brother was willing to fight for her. And fight hard.
“A lot will depend on how determined your brother is to be a father. You and your brother aren’t in contact. We should probably check on Kyle’s current financial status and personal life as well and see what sort of environment Maggie would be going into. I think you’re right that between the two situations, Wade Ranch promises the most stability for a baby. But a judge might reason that you’re both single men and that Maggie should be with her father.”
Her single father who might be activated at a moment’s notice and be out of the country who knew how long.
“What if I were engaged?” Liam suggested, voicing what had been running through his head since his trip to Colorado. “Or married?”
Nolan nodded. “Might sway a judge. Are you?”
“Not yet.” For a year Liam had pondered the benefits of settling down. All he’d been waiting for was the right woman. Hadley fit the bill in every way. She was smart, beautiful and great with Maggie. After Colorado he’d decided he’d be a complete idiot not to lock her down as soon as possible before she finished school and headed off to pursue a career elsewhere. “But I plan to pop the question to a special lady in the very near future.”
* * *
Hadley rocked a sleepy Maggie as she checked out the photos of Liam’s family on the walls of the ranch office.
“Thanks for bringing lunch,” Liam said. “The day has been crazy.”
With calving time a couple weeks away and a whole host of unexpected issues popping up, Liam and Ivy had decided to work through lunch. The weather had turned warmer and Hadley was feeling restless, so she’d offered to bring their meal to the barn.
As if Liam’s words had the power to summon trouble, one of the hands appeared in the doorway. “Dean told me to stop by and see if you had an hour or so free. Sam is out sick,” the hand said. “Barry is off visiting his kid in Tulsa. We could use some help cutting the cows who aren’t pregnant.”
“Sure.” Liam shifted his weight in the direction of the door, but glanced at Hadley before taking a step. “Ever cut cattle?”
She shook her head, sensing what was coming and wondering why Liam, knowing what he did, would ask her to ride with him.
“Like to try?”
Hadley was surprised by her strong desire to say yes. “What about Maggie?”
“I’d be happy to watch her until you get back,” Ivy offered, cooing at the infant. “You’d like to hang out with Cousin Ivy until they get back, wouldn’t you?” Maggie waved her arms as if in agreement. “Or I can drive her back to the house if it gets too late.”
“See?” Liam’s eyes held a hard glint of challenge. “All settled. Let’s go find you a mount.”
While her gut clenched in happy anticipation of getting on a horse again, Hadley rationalized her agreement by telling herself it was work, not pleasure. She was doing something her employer requested. Never mind that he’d been trying to figure out a way to get her back in the saddle since she’d stepped into his home two and a half weeks ago.
Excitement built as he led her outside to the paddocks where they turned out the horses during the day. Twelve horses occupied four enclosures.
Liam nodded toward a palomino mare in the farthest right paddock. The only horse in the fenced-in area, she stood in the middle, tearing at the winter grass with strong white teeth. “Daisy could use some exercise. I don’t think she’s been ridden much in the last year. I’ll get one of the guys to saddle her for you.”
“I can saddle my own horse,” Hadley retorted, insulted. “Besides, I’d like to get to know her a little before I get o
n.”
“Okay. She’s a nice mare. You shouldn’t have any trouble with her on the ground.”
As Liam’s last three words registered, she glanced over at him, but discovered nothing in his expression to arouse her suspicions. Surely he wouldn’t put her on a green horse after such a long absence from the saddle. Once upon a time her skills might have been first-rate, but a decade had passed since she’d used those particular muscles. Riding a horse wasn’t the same as riding a bike.
“You said she hasn’t been ridden much in the last year?” Hadley decided a little clarification might be in order. “But she has been ridden, right?”
“Oh, sure.” Liam walked over to the fence and picked up the halter and lead rope hung on the gate. “We were going to breed her last year, but that didn’t work out. So she’s just been hanging around, waiting to become a mother.” He opened the gate and handed Hadley the halter. “She’s easy to catch. I’ll meet you in that barn over there.” He indicated the building that housed the horses in training. “You might want to do a couple circles in the indoor ring before we head out.”
Sensing something was up despite Liam’s neutral expression and bland tone, Hadley slipped the halter onto the mare and led her to the building Liam had indicated. He hadn’t yet arrived, so Hadley got busy with currycomb and brush. She smiled as the mare leaned into the grooming. Obviously Daisy appreciated Hadley’s efforts.
She would have preferred to take more time with the mare, but Liam showed up, leading a gorgeous bay stallion that was already saddled and ready to go. Hadley returned his nod before tossing the saddle onto Daisy’s back, settling it in just the right spot and tightening the cinch as if she’d done it last week instead of ten years earlier. Working just as efficiently, she slipped the bit into the mare’s mouth and fitted the headstall into place.
“Ready?”
All at once she became aware of Liam’s attention and grew self-conscious. “I think so.”
“Come on. I’ll work the kinks out of Buzzard while you try out Daisy.”
Leading Daisy, Hadley followed Liam and the bay into the arena. What if she made a complete hash of it and ended up getting dumped? While Hadley fussed with Daisy’s girth and grappled with her nerves, Liam swung up onto the stallion’s back. Buzzard took several steps sideways as Liam settled his weight, but quickly relaxed beneath the pressure of his rider’s legs and the steadiness of Liam’s hands on the reins.
The guy was an amazing rider, and Hadley felt a fangirl moment coming on. Embarrassed at her gawking, she set her foot in the stirrup. Daisy was a little shorter than Lolita, but she felt her muscles protest as she threw her leg up and over the mare’s back. Before she’d completely found her balance, Daisy’s muscles bunched beneath her and the mare crow-hopped a half dozen times while Hadley clung to the saddle horn, laughter puffing out of her with each jolt of Daisy’s four hoofs hitting the ground.
At last the mare got her silliness out of her system and stood still while Hadley retrieved her breath.
“You okay?”
“Fine.” Hadley could feel the broad smile on her face. “Is she going to be like this the whole time?”
“No. She just wanted to make sure you were going to stay on. You passed.”
“She was testing me?” The notion struck Hadley as ludicrous. What sort of horse had Liam put her on?
“She’s a smart horse.” His lips kicked up. “Needs a smart rider.”
Apparently Daisy wasn’t the only one doing the testing. Hadley keyed the mare into a walk and then took five minutes to work through all her gaits. Whoever had trained the palomino had done a fabulous job. She was a dream to ride.
“Let’s go cut some cattle,” Hadley said, all too aware how closely Liam had been observing her.
* * *
Liam didn’t think a woman’s pleasure had ever been as important to him as Hadley’s. Between their lovemaking in Vail and the joy she’d demonstrated cutting cattle today, especially when Daisy had kept a heifer from returning to the herd, he was convinced he would know true happiness only if he continued delighting Hadley.
Would he have felt the same a year ago? Remaining celibate for twelve months had given him a greater appreciation of companionship. Being with Hadley had enabled him to understand the difference between what he’d had with his former girlfriends and true intimacy. Granted, he’d only barely scratched the surface with her. Instinct told him she was rich with complex layers she didn’t yet trust him to see. Moving past her defenses wasn’t anything he wanted to rush. Or force.
He had a good thing going. Why make a mistake and risk losing her?
“That was amazing,” Hadley crowed. Cheeks flushed, eyes dancing with excitement, she was as vibrant as he’d ever seen her. “You knew I’d love this when you suggested I ride her.”
“She’s a natural, boss,” one of the ranch hands commented, his gaze lingering on Hadley longer than Liam liked.
“I figured she would be.”
The urge to growl at the cowboy was nearly impossible to repress. Obviously, Liam wasn’t the only one dazzled by the attractive Ms. Hadley Stratton. And since he hadn’t yet staked a public claim, the rest of the male population assumed she was fair game. That situation was not to his liking. Time he did something to change it.
Liam nudged his stallion forward and cut Hadley off from the admiring cowboys with the ease of someone accustomed to working cattle. “It’s late. We should be getting back to Maggie.”
Her eyes lost none of their sparkle as she nodded. “I’ve probably strained enough muscles for one day.” She laughed. “I can tell I’m going to be in pain tomorrow, but it was worth it.”
“I’m glad you like Daisy.” Liam decided to push his luck. “She could probably stand a little work if you felt inclined.”
Hadley hesitated but shook her head. He was making progress since the last time he’d tried to persuade her to ride. He wanted her to talk to him, to share how she was feeling. They’d discussed her friend’s accident, and Hadley had mulled his suggestion that she move past the guilt that she’d carried for years. Had something about that changed?
“I’m due to go back to school in a week. I don’t know how I’d make time.”
He’d found a permanent nanny for Maggie. Liam and Hadley had agreed that being together would not work if she was still his employee. But he was realizing that she would no longer be an everyday fixture in his life, and that was a situation he needed to fix.
“I don’t mind sharing you with the horses,” he said, keeping his voice casual. He’d never had to work so hard to keep from spooking a woman.
“Oh, you don’t?” She gave him a wry smile. “What if I don’t have enough time for either of you?”
Liam’s grip on the reins tightened and Buzzard began trotting in place. If he thought she was flirting, he’d have shot back a provocative retort, but Liam had gotten to know Hadley well enough in the last few weeks to know she had serious concerns.
“Move in with me.”
The offer was sudden, but he didn’t surprise himself when he made it.
“You already have a full-time nanny moving in.”
“Not as a nanny.”
Her eyes widened. “Then as what?”
“The woman I’m crazy about.” He’d never been in love and had no idea if that’s what he felt for Hadley. But he’d been doing a lot of soul-searching these last few days.
“You’re crazy about me?” The doubt in her voice wasn’t unexpected.
He’d known she wouldn’t accept his declaration without some vigorous convincing. Hadley wasn’t one to forgive herself easily for past mistakes. She’d fallen for her first employer, only to have her heart torn up when the jerk got back together with his ex-wife. That wasn’t a judgment error she would make a second time. And she was already
skeptical of Liam’s past romantic history.
“If we weren’t on these damned horses I’d demonstrate just how crazy.”
Liam ground his teeth at her surprise. What kept her from accepting how strong his feelings had become? The mildest of her saucy smiles provoked a befuddling rush of lust. He pondered what her opinion would be on a dozen decisions before lunch. Waking up alone in his big bed had become the most painful part of his day.
“This is happening too fast.”
“I’m not going to bail on you.”
“I know.”
“You don’t sound convinced.” He was determined to change her mind. “What can I say to reassure you?”
“You don’t need to say anything.”
After regarding her for a long moment, he shook his head. “I’ve dated a lot of women.”
“This is your way of convincing me to take a chance on you?”
He ignored her interruption. “Enough to recognize that how I feel about you is completely foreign to me.” He saw he’d hit the wrong note with the word foreign. “And terrific. Scary. Fascinating. I’ve never been so twisted up by a woman before.”
“And somehow you think this is a good thing?”
“You make me better. I feel more alive when I’m with you. Like anything is possible.”
She blinked several times. “I think that’s the most amazing thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I don’t believe that. I do, however, believe that it might be one of the first times you’ve let yourself hear and trust one of my compliments.” He was making progress if she’d stopped perceiving everything he said as a ploy.
“You might be right.”
They’d drawn within sight of the ranch buildings, and Liam regretted how fast the ride had gone. He hadn’t received an answer from Hadley, and the time to pursue the matter was fast coming to an end.
“I hope that means you’re beginning to believe me when I tell you how important you’ve become to me.”
“It’s starting to sink in.” She watched him from beneath her eyelashes. “But are you ready to have me move in?”
