by Debra Kayn
Damned if she didn’t push him too far. He moved fast, captured her face in both his hands, and pulled her to him. Gone was the tender exploration of a moment ago. No, this time he took control and showed her exactly what he thought of her. He put everything he felt into a soul-shattering kiss.
He released her. She stumbled back. There! That’s how I’m feeling.
“I win, darlin’.” He jumped the railing with the ease of someone who had precious control. He even added a lively whistle as he strolled across the yard in the direction of the cabin. It was all a damned lie.
A frustrated scream erupted from the porch, and he chuckled loud enough for her to hear. Not so tough now, was she?
Chapter Fourteen
Music, laughter, and happy conversation filtered from the reception tent. Outside the tent and throughout the picnic area, strung lights twinkled against the clear dusky sky, and a smaller crowd gathered to find seats for the coming Fourth of July celebration. Married or not, it seemed anyone coupled with someone else was holding hands.
Florentine wasn’t the only one feeling love in the air. Gone was the turmoil over Cole’s late night visit. Instead of anger, hope for a repeat performance in the near future made her almost giddy. She fisted the bouquet of bluebonnets and baby’s breath nestled against the front of her pale yellow lace dress. Another ripple of lust rolled through her.
She groaned.
Chantilly hurried across the yard barefoot and pulled Florentine aside. “What in the heck is going on? And, don’t think you can pull a Margot and keep a secret relationship from your sisters. That’s been played out.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t have a love life. I get about as much attention as that oversized pig of Margot’s she lets hang around because he’s unbreedable.” Her gaze swung to Cole.
“If that’s the case, Cole’s been hit with Cupid’s arrows, ’cause he’s got the same stupid look on his face that you have on yours. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you during the wedding. I’d bet you a hundred bucks he’s wanting to get down and dirty.” Chantilly waved Bisette over. “Bisette, tell Florentine what Sarah told you this morning.”
Bisette pursed her lips. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Why?” Florentine glanced between her sisters. “Was there a problem? Did she not have fun last night?”
“Oh no, it was nothing like that.” Bisette smiled tenderly. “I’ll tell you, but don’t read anything into it. Remember, she’s a little girl without a mother.”
“Okay.” Florentine nodded.
“After you fixed her hair this morning, Sarah asked me if you liked to bake cookies.” Bisette stuck her lower lip out. “She said she wanted a mommy like you, who would fix her hair pretty, and she hoped you knew how to make cookies. Apparently, it’s a pre-requisite on her mom list.”
“Oh my God, you didn’t tell her I always burn everything I try to bake, did you?” Florentine peeked around Chantilly. Sarah sat at the picnic table, swinging her feet and enjoying a hunk of cake.
“No. I didn’t have a chance to answer her. Cole came by to pick her up.” Bisette rubbed Florentine’s arm. “I’m concerned, though. If you’re not involved with Cole, Sarah is setting herself up to have her heart crushed. She’s too sweet to go through heartbreak at her age.”
“I would never do anything to hurt Sarah, but some way, somehow, I aim to get her daddy to notice me.” She heaved a sigh. “I swear. He confuses the hell out of me. One second, he’s flipping hot for me. The next, he shuts himself off and starts spouting nonsense about how I’m not his type of woman.”
“Be careful, sis. A man with a child has baggage, too. Go slow. We’re not only worried about Sarah. We worry about you, too. We’ve all been through so much with Daddy, and you’ve got the added stress of qualifying at the end of the season on top of everything.” Bisette fixed the top of Florentine’s hair.
“He just makes me feel…I don’t know, like I have something bigger and better to live for…if only for a little while.” Chantilly fiddled with the bouquet without meeting their gaze.
Chantilly took the flowers from Florentine. “You might as well make your move, strut your McDougal butt, and get your man. We’ve got an hour before we start setting up the fireworks display.”
She glanced over at Cole but quickly turned away when she caught him staring at her. Her stomach fluttered. The whole day she’d been aware of the way he watched her. It was time for one of them to bridge the gap. She might as well be the one to do it.
Walking through the crowd of neighbors and friends here to celebrate the wedding, she smiled and greeted dozens of people but never took her eye off the picnic tables. Sarah looked up and smiled when Florentine approached. The girl’s cheeks were smeared with caramel. Florentine melted. She had to be the cutest little girl ever.
“Did you make that yourself?” She leaned over the sticky wad of candy apple Sarah clutched and whistled. “I think yours is the best decorated apple I’ve seen in a long time.”
“Uh huh. I put lots of red hearts on it, but they burn my mouth.” She picked one off with her gooey fingers and held it up. “Try it. It’s so hot, smoke’ll come out of your ears.”
“Sarah.” Cole stood up. “Florentine doesn’t want to eat—”
“My favorite, thank you.” She plucked the cinnamon candy out of Sarah’s hand and stuck it in her mouth. She stroked Sarah’s head. “Are you having fun?”
Sarah nodded. “Yep. Lots.”
“Good.” She smiled before lifting her gaze to Cole. “Can I talk with you for a minute? In private?”
He nodded and stepped a few feet away from the table. “What’s going on?”
Before she could answer, Chantilly approached. “Cole? Would you like me to help Sarah put on some play clothes? It won’t be long until the fireworks start.”
“Fireworks!” Sarah jumped off the table. Her caramel apple slipped from her hands and landed in the grass. Her chin wobbled. “Oh no…”
Florentine knelt in front of her and took her hands. “It’s okay. We have more caramel apples in the house, and later, you can pick another one out. And, yes, we’re going to shoot off fireworks. It’s McDougal tradition to set off the biggest display in all of Pike.”
“Will you watch them with me?” Sarah grabbed her hand.
She ignored the way Sarah’s sticky little fingers stuck to her hand. Instead, she gazed up at Cole for an answer. He nodded his permission. She smiled at Sarah. “I would love to sit with you.”
“Yay!” Sarah ran around the picnic table to Chantilly. “Hurry, let’s go get dressed.”
Cole picked up the wet paper towel on the surface of the table and handed it to Florentine. She laughed and rubbed it against her hand.
“Thanks. I bet you’ll have to hose her down before bed.” Florentine picked the sticky apple off the ground with the towel and stood. “I wish I had all her energy.”
“Yeah, me too. Most days, she runs in circles, crashing wherever she landed, and I have to carry her to bed.” Cole reached out and used the pad of his thumb to rub a spot at the corner of her mouth.
Without thinking, she licked the edge of her lip. It caught Cole by surprise, and he growled low. She caught the tip of his finger between her teeth and giggled.
He jerked away and cleared his throat. “You’re not making this any easier.”
She laughed and moved in closer, tapping him on his chest. “Good luck with that. It’s too late. My mind’s made up.”
“What are you talkin’ about?” He stepped back, but she wouldn’t let him escape this time.
She crooked her finger, beckoning him down to her level, and waited for him to lean forward. When his face was within inches of her mouth, she whispered, “I aim to blow those dusty boots off your feet, tough guy.”
He straightened with a chuckle. “You almost sound serious.”
“Serious as a third round ride on a bull named Killer.” She leaned up, kissed his cheek, an
d pranced away. “Make sure you save me a seat for the fireworks.”
…
Night settled, and lawn chairs and blankets dotted the front lawn. Cole stood at the corner of the house, taking it all in. He’d never seen a small community come together for one family before, and the magnitude of learning what Stuart McDougal meant to his family and friends impressed him. He hoped someday to have made such an impact on Sarah’s life.
He spotted Florentine beside Sarah on a quilted blanket and sighed. Damn if she wasn’t making it near impossible for him to keep his distance. She spoke her mind and threw him a challenge he found hard to ignore.
He’d been around the block more than once with different women since Sarah’s birth. Scratching his itch wasn’t something new, but he’d purposely avoided anyone searching for more than a few hours of good time horizontally, or vertically. He wasn’t picky, but he sure didn’t need a commitment to feel fulfilled nowadays.
Why then did the entire crowd disappear and his attention zone in on Florentine? His heart hammered faster than the idle on his tractor. He had always pictured himself a strong man, but around Florentine, it wasn’t only his body that caved under the weight of desire. Logic couldn’t handle the strain, either. Not when he dreamed about the possibilities of taking a chance. His ability to imagine Florentine in his life scared him half to death. Risk-taking women might rev his engine, but he couldn’t put Sarah—or himself—through a life with such a woman again.
“Daddy, sit by me.” Sarah scooted closer to Florentine and patted the other side of her leg. “I’m cold.”
The last thing he wanted to do was spend the night aroused and frustrated, but to stay away from Florentine, he’d have to deny his daughter. That wasn’t something he’d even consider.
He smiled down at Sarah. “You got it.” He over exaggerated a groan and sat beside her.
“You’re not old, Daddy.” Sarah giggled.
Sarah lay down and put her head on his thigh. He brushed the flyaway hair that’d come loose from the fancy braid Florentine had given her. He realized Florentine had already given his daughter the time of her life in two short days. Sarah experienced her first slumber party, received one-on-one attention from a woman, makeup lessons, and a special hairdo. Everything a mother would do for her daughter. None of which he could imagine Theresa doing. She’d been loving and kind toward Sarah, but she always preferred to nurture her adrenaline rush rather than her daughter.
Florentine grabbed the corner of the blanket and flipped it over her legs, covering Sarah’s lower body in the process. He lifted his gaze. Florentine wasn’t even paying attention to him, but concentrating on getting Sarah into a comfortable position. The tenderness she showed toward Sarah wasn’t what he expected from a bull rider. But then, Florentine had shocked the hell out of him once she’d come home, relaxed, and shown her true colors.
“Daddy, look.” Sarah pointed.
The yard light came on and lit Bisette, who stood on the table at the edge of the crowd ringing a cowbell. “Happy Fourth of July, everyone. On behalf of the McDougal Ranch, we want to thank you for coming. The wedding and the holiday wouldn’t be the same without each one of you here to celebrate with us. I’m going to make this short, cause Roy Lee’s gettin’ a little impatient to leave on his honeymoon.”
The crowd laughed. Roy Lee stood near Bisette, Margot held tight in his arms, grinning and nodding. He envied the way they had the freedom to love and share in a life together. He glanced at Florentine.
“Sit back, enjoy the show, and remember to drive safe on the way home. We want to see you all back here next year.” Bisette jumped down to the ground. “Shut the light off, Craig.”
“Is it starting, Daddy?” Sarah raised her head off his lap.
“Yes.”
A loud, shrill whistle sounded and lights sparked to life in the night sky. Sarah gasped and flipped onto her back without leaving her spot on his leg. Cole leaned back and braced himself on his hands. It’d been years, more time than he could count, since he’d watched the sky come alive with lights and sounds.
The memories flooded his thoughts as one after another bang went off, followed by a shower of fireworks. He sighed. He remembered him and Pete sandwiched between their parents, staring up into the sky. Back when life was simple.
Next year, he’d have to buy some sparklers for Sarah and start their own family tradition. It might only be him and Sarah, Dad, Pete and his wife, but they were happy. Between the ranch work, his growing business, and his current infatuation with Florentine’s career, he’d fallen down on his job as a dad. Sarah was getting older and becoming aware of how other people’s lives compared to their own. He did his best, but he should do better.
When this was all over, he’d have to give some serious thought to finding a wife. A woman who’d help raise Sarah. He glanced at Florentine, and a part of him died inside.
It didn’t matter that a tear slid down her cheek when the preacher pronounced Margot and Roy Lee married. It didn’t matter the way she stroked Sarah’s hair with a wistful expression when she thought nobody would notice. It didn’t matter how much he knew she’d please him in and out of the bed. Her hidden sentimentality and all the layers she kept carefully hidden might intrigue him, might appeal to him. None of it mattered because she was too risky.
Chapter Fifteen
Bisette sat next to Florentine on the porch swing, enjoying the quiet with a blanket tucked over their laps. The arid scent of the fireworks from earlier permeated the air around the main house. Funny how the smell conjured up parties of the past with her daddy leading the celebration for the community.
Bisette yawned loudly. “I’m beat. I think I’ll go fall into bed. Are you comin’?”
“No. I’m gonna stay out here a bit longer.” Florentine leaned her head on the backrest.
“Boy, I remember when we used to party through the night with our friends after the grownups had pooped out after the fireworks. What happened to us?”
Florentine snorted. “Speak for yourself. I’m wired. I’ve been off for too long. I think it’s time to get back to riding.”
“I’m so happy we were all able to get together. All the laces together again.” Bisette sighed. “Do you remember what Momma always said about us?”
Florentine smiled, recalling her mother’s telling of how she named all of them. I named my girls after different types of lace…Margot, Bisette, Florentine, Chantilly, and Valenciennes. You all carry the middle name of Lace for a reason. For how dainty and fragile lace appears, when it is all intricately woven together, lace is a hardy strong fabric that will last a lifetime. Just like you girls.
“Yeah, I remember.” She smiled. “Now go to bed before we’re both in a funk.”
“Don’t stay out late. You’ll be covered in skeeter bites before long.” Bisette leaned over and kissed Florentine’s cheek. “Love you, Florentine Lace.”
“Sweet dreams, Bisette Lace.”
Florentine held herself together until the front door closed. She sniffled and closed her eyes. Every one of her sisters had moved on after Daddy’s death. It left her unsettled to realize all she had left were memories. While her sisters went on with their lives, building new families, she felt stuck in ruts her adolescent dreams and expectations had formed along her path.
It was Florentine’s time to find her place, to find her happiness, to find what made her stand out, and for the first time since she was a teenager, she wondered if she’d find that happiness on the back of a bull. She loved the excitement, but after ten years, she could still lose her dream with one bad ride. She reached up and rubbed her shoulder. The tenderness was almost gone, despite the discoloration. Four days from now, she’d land in Wyoming and things could get back to normal.
Everything she wanted would make sense once she let the adrenaline from winning heal her doubts. The bulls were still the only thing that left her feeling empowered. She knew what to expect when she got on their backs. It all ca
me down to beating the bull, winning, walking off unhurt and ready for more. Every ride she completed showed her she would survive anything life threw at her. And that included Cole.
Sitting around, feeling sorry for herself never did her any good. Best thing for her was to get back on the bull. She stood up and moved to the edge of the porch.
The foreman’s cabin lay out there in the shadows, dark and forbidden, where she wasn’t welcome. That seemed to be her life story. The cowboys wanted her gone from the rodeo, and even Cole wanted to run away from her.
She’d been raised by a single father, and instead of holding any of her sisters and her back, Daddy forced them to spread their wings in a safe environment in Pike. Now that she was an adult, she wanted to take that gift he’d given her and give back to others. Everyone deserved a mentor who encouraged, believed, and helped pick you up when you got thrown off the bull.
She could provide the safe place, away from the boys, where girls could blossom over their own achievements. Whether they became pro bull riders, teachers, or scientists, they needed the confidence to go after what they wanted, without others telling them differently. She wanted them to learn you couldn’t find happiness unless you got off your butt and captured it yourself.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Florentine peered behind her, and then quickly turned around. The footsteps grew louder.
Cole leaned against the porch railing and crossed his arms. She waited for him to leave but he stayed, staring at her. What was his deal? Did the true Cole only come out at night?
“Where’s Sarah?”
“She woke up when I put her in bed and told me she had other plans.” He shrugged. “She asked me if she could sleep over here with you again. She’s with Chantilly.”
She smiled on the inside, hiding the warm thrill the news gave her. It wouldn’t do to let Cole see how much she’d love to spend time with his daughter, not when he was so determined to protect his daughter from her. “I imagine that went over well.”
“What do you mean?”
