Loving Laney

by Evans, Harmony

The sun poked out from around the clouds, warming her cheeks with the kind of low heat that made one yearn for summer. “I don’t know about this, Mom,” Laney said, using one hand to shield her eyes. “Do you really think it’s a good idea for me to be out in public?”

  “Nonsense. You can’t hide forever.”

  Laney frowned and stopped walking. “But the family has had enough publicity lately and—”

  Gwen reached for her daughter’s hand. “What have I always taught you?”

  Laney grasped it and held on tight. “To hold my head high and keep my back straight, no matter what I was facing.”

  “That’s right,” Gwen responded, giving her hand a firm squeeze. “We Browards never back down from a challenge—or a fight.”

  Before Laney could say another word, Gwen gave her an encouraging smile, opened the door and steered her inside.

  The restaurant was elbow-to-elbow crowded. Strange for a Monday morning, Laney thought.

  As the waiter led them to a table in the back of the room, a few people looked up as she passed by. But to her relief, nobody laughed and nobody pointed.

  Still when they were seated, Laney immediately opened up her menu and nearly buried her face in it.

  “You see? That wasn’t so bad!” Gwen said brightly.

  Laney lowered the menu slightly and peered over it. “Who are all these people?” she asked in a half whisper. The table next to them was empty, but she still didn’t want anyone to hear her.

  Gwen took a pair of reading glasses from her purse. “Tourists, mostly,” she replied in a normal tone. “Most of them just passing through to get a look at the place that Samara Lionne wants to call home.” She squinted at her daughter. “You really haven’t been in town that much, have you?”

  Laney shook her head. “I’ve been trying to keep a low profile. If I’m not at the home, most days I’m down in Bozeman in school. We only have a few more weeks until the spring session ends,” she added.

  Gwen slipped her glasses on. “What do you plan to do when that happens?”

  Laney stared so hard at the menu that the words began to blur. “I’m not sure. I want to finish my master’s degree, but I don’t know how I can, now that—”

  She bit the words back, but they still seared her insides.

  I’m going to be a single mom.

  Her mother set her own menu aside and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “I’ll help you in any way I can.” She reached over and pushed the menu down and away from Laney’s face, so she could see her eyes. “You know that, don’t you?”

  Laney put the menu on the table and nodded, feeling safe in the warmth of her mother’s love. “Thank you, Mom. It really means the world to me to know that I have your support.”

  The waiter drifted by with two glasses of water and a carafe of coffee.

  While her mother perused the menu, his eyes drifted down to her belly and Laney’s face got hot. Obviously, he had heard the news. It was written all over his smug grin.

  Laney glared at the waiter until he looked away, but the warm feelings she was trying desperately to hold on to quickly evaporated into a deep sense of shame.

  For the sake of her child, Laney made a conscious effort to quickly rid her mind of any bad feelings about her pregnancy. It was hard, but she was getting better at it day by day.

  She wasn’t perfect and even though the child wasn’t created under what society viewed as the ideal circumstance, her baby deserved nothing less than unconditional love.

  After Gwen told the waiter her selections, Laney curtly placed her own order. He promptly scooped up their menus, leaving nothing for Laney to hide behind.

  She placed her napkin on her lap and bit her lip. “Is Dad still mad at me?”

  Gwendolyn shook her head. “I don’t think ‘mad’ is the way to put it. You’re his only daughter and he loves you. He only wants the best for you.”

  Laney’s heart sank. “I realize that this is an uncomfortable situation for everyone, but I’m going to do my best to raise this child so you and Dad will be proud of me.”

  “Honey, we already are,” Gwen replied with a reassuring smile. “And we’ll be there every step of the way.”

  Laney poured some coffee, trying to buy time and figure out a way to ask her mom about Austin without seeming interested in him.

  Gwen gently dropped two sugar cubes into her cup and stirred. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. How’s your new equine manager working out?”

  “Trey? He’s very capable. I’m so glad you recommended him to me.”

  “Me, too. If Austin hadn’t come into the picture, Trey would have been perfect for you. He’s cute and he loves horses!”

  Laney raised her cup to hide a smile. “When did you become a matchmaker?”

  Gwen sat back in her chair. “When I noticed you were moping around the BWB like a cow too lazy to even graze,” she replied matter-of-factly.

  “Mom, I wasn’t moping,” Laney insisted. “I was fighting bouts of morning sickness and I didn’t want you to know.”

  Gwen took a sip of coffee. “I’m still amazed that I didn’t have the slightest inkling that you were sick. You could give Samara a lesson or two in acting.”

  At the sound of Samara’s name, Laney made a face.

  “No, thanks. I think I’ll stick to breeding horses.”

  “Me, too,” Gwen replied and the two women laughed.

  “Mom, I just want to make it clear that Austin is not in the picture.”

  Gwen tapped her teaspoon lightly against the cup, as if she were calling a meeting of her book club to order. “I disagree. He’s the father of your child. What more would you want?”

  Laney took a deep breath. It was a good question. What did she want from Austin?

  “Absolutely nothing,” Laney replied in a tone that sounded more confident than she really felt. “And I told him that yesterday. I suspect he’s already high-tailed it back to Dallas where he belongs.”

  “Really?” Her mother raised a brow, which usually meant that she knew a juicy bit of gossip. “I heard he’s still in Granger.”

  Laney’s eyes widened, and it wasn’t at the food that the waiter had just set before them.

  “Mom, it’s not even noon. How could you have learned that so quickly?”

  Gwen laughed. “Honey, you know how it is around Granger. News travels fast—especially when it involves a gorgeous single man.”

  Laney picked up a fork and stared down at her French omelet. It sounded delicious on the menu, but the growing knot in her stomach made it look like something had died on her plate.

  “My friend Betty,” Gwen continued in a conspiratorial tone. “You know the one who sells real estate? She got a call from someone she knows who told her that Austin was seen around town last night looking at rental properties.”

  “You mean one of those hotels that are pseudo-apartments where you can get a weekly rate?” she asked.

  “No, I’m talking about actual houses, Laney. It looks like he’s going to be staying for more than a week. How do you feel about that?”

  She carefully set her fork down. “I’m not sure.”

  The truth was that she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  She twisted her napkin in her lap and wished she could confess to her mother that she hated the idea. That she was afraid Austin would take her baby away. But she didn’t want Gwen to think that she couldn’t handle the situation. That she couldn’t handle being around Austin.

  “Doesn’t he have better things to do than hang around Granger?”

  “I’m sure he does. But at least he’s making an effort.”

  She eyed Laney’s plate and frowned. “Eat your omelet. The protein is good for the baby.”

  Laney picked up her for
k and stabbed at her eggs. “Do you have any idea where in Granger he is looking?”

  “I’m not sure exactly, but Betty says he’s looking at homes that have stables. I wouldn’t be surprised if he brought some of his horses up here.”

  Laney set her fork down again, her appetite now totally gone. It sounded like Austin was making some big changes very quickly and that could only spell trouble for her.

  “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “When is the last time you met with Austin?” she blurted.

  Gwen chewed and swallowed. “Late last spring. Just before you left to travel to London. Why?”

  “I ran into him there,” Laney recalled. “He never said anything about moving to Granger.”

  “Probably because he had no reason to move here. Now he does.”

  “I bet his family won’t approve. Do you know them?”

  “Actually, I don’t. I know they’re well-off, like we are, but they deal in oil. We deal in cattle,” Gwen said proudly. “Do you think he’s told them?”

  Laney paused. “I don’t know.”

  “Perhaps because he wants you two to be together when he does.” Gwen clapped her hands. “I’ll bet they’ll be as tickled pink as we are about their new grandbaby!”

  But Laney barely heard her mom’s enthusiasm. She was still stuck on the words be together. That was something that would never happen with her and Austin.

  She felt her phone vibrating in her purse. Earlier that morning, she’d hopped on the internet and done some initial research on child custody laws in Montana. Just before her mother picked her up, she’d placed a call to an attorney in Bozeman.

  She’d deliberately avoided getting the Browards’ family lawyer involved to avoid causing alarm. One call to him would have resulted in an immediate call to her father, something she absolutely did not want. Their relationship was already strained enough.

  When Laney finally managed to dig her phone out, her breath caught in her throat. There was a text and a voice mail from Austin.

  For a moment, she was touched by the fact that he’d kept her number all these months, as she had kept his. Like a lovesick teenager, she’d dreamed of hearing his voice and talking for hours.

  But now, despite her feelings for him, she had no reason to trust him. At least her dreams couldn’t disappoint her.

  She couldn’t listen to the voice mail in front of her mom, so she read the text.

  Still in town. Need to discuss next steps. See you at your place @ 2.

  How dare he tell her when they were going to meet, as if she were just waiting around for his instructions?

  Laney started to text:

  I’m not available. Go back to Dallas.

  She was about to hit the send button when Gwen tapped her fork against her cup.

  “Put your phone down and eat, Laney,” Gwen admonished. “Maybe the reason why you’re not showing is because you don’t eat.”

  Laney dropped her phone back into her purse. She cut some of the omelet, brought it to her lips, took one whiff and set it down.

  “I can’t, Mom. I’m just not feeling well. Can we go shopping tomorrow?”

  Gwen frowned and motioned for the waiter. “Of course. I thought you were over your morning sickness.”

  “I am. But it must be stress from everything that’s happened.”

  “Does the source of that stress start with the letter A?” she asked, handing the money for their meal to the waiter.

  Laney didn’t have to say a word, because her mother already knew the answer.

  Gwen linked her arm through her daughter’s as they walked out the door. “Just talk to him, honey.”

  But what her mother didn’t understand was that she couldn’t talk to, let alone be with, a man she didn’t trust.

  * * *

  Austin wiped his boots on the porch mat, raised his right hand and paused, his knuckles mere inches from the door of Laney’s home.

  What do you say to a woman whom you’ve slept with, who is now the mother of your child and who wants nothing to do with you?

  It was a question he’d been wrangling with all night, and he still didn’t have the answer.

  The only thing he did know was that he was glad she was back in his life.

  Austin dropped his hand and checked his appearance in a decorative copper sun that hung on the white clapboard, just above the red mailbox.

  He knew he was good-looking, but he wasn’t vain, especially when his face reflected back at him hideously bloated like he was staring into a funhouse mirror. Or when a woman like Laney didn’t fall to her knees when he walked into the room.

  He grinned. He liked that about her, preferring a woman who was a little more of a challenge.

  So stop being such a wimp, he told himself as he lifted his hand and rapped on the door.

  The porch boards creaked as he quickly stepped away. He waited a moment and cocked his ear, listening for her footsteps. But all he heard was the wind and the beating of his heart.

  For a moment, he almost turned away and left. There was so much that he and Laney needed to work out. He knew it was going to be difficult. But even the thought of abandoning his child racked him with guilt.

  He knocked once more. Nothing.

  She’s not going to get rid of me that easily. I have to find a way to get through to her, he thought.

  He’d heard that folks rarely locked their doors in Granger. Although he found that to be a little strange, there was also something intriguing about a town whose residents could be so trusting.

  He reached for the doorknob and twisted. It gave and the door opened slightly, but he decided against going in.

  Austin was just about to knock one last time when he heard a male voice.

  “Can I help you?”

  He turned around slowly. Driving in, he’d seen two pickup trucks near the stables. Sadly, he didn’t know which, if any, was Laney’s, so he assumed they belonged to workers.

  Now, watching the way this man walked up the porch stairs as if he owned each and every nail, it suddenly occurred to Austin that Laney could have a boyfriend, even though she’d claimed yesterday that she hadn’t been with anyone else.

  The thought of someone else touching her made something akin to jealousy spread through his body like spilled ink.

  The man was about his age, but not nearly his height. His looks? Austin would need a woman to judge that, but the guy had the attitude of a city-born rebel. He leaned against the bannister and glared at Austin, as if he were an intruder.

  So much for a warm Granger welcome.

  Austin forced a tight smile. “I’m looking for Laney Broward.”

  When the man didn’t answer immediately, he stuck out his hand. “My name’s Austin. What’s yours?”

  “Trey.”

  His voice had a surly edge and he placed a booted foot on the top step of the porch, as if staking a claim, and didn’t move any farther, making Austin go to him.

  Austin noted Trey’s firm but reluctant grip and he got the sense that he was being evaluated.

  “She’s tending to the horses,” Trey said, pushing himself off the banister so hard that it rattled. “Excuse me.”

  Austin stared at him a second, stepped out of his way and watched in astonishment as Trey walked right into the house and slammed the door.

  “Nice meeting you, too!” he called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

  He took a deep breath and adjusted his Stetson. As he was walking around the corner of the house, he spotted Laney leading a chestnut thoroughbred out of the stable.

  She looked up and although he was still too far away to see the expression on her face, he could tell by her tense stance that she wasn’t happy to see him.

  Austin t
ook his time as he ambled toward her, his boots crunching gravel. There was no need for her to know how anxious he was to see her again.

  His heart drummed with anticipation in his chest, as if he were a soldier arriving home and seeing his woman for the first time in ages.

  However, Austin’s excitement waned when Laney abruptly turned away and continued walking to the paddock. His hope that her unpleasant attitude toward him would soften overnight was wishful thinking.

  Apparently, she needed more time. He had time, but he wouldn’t wait for her forever. This was one challenge she wouldn’t win.

  He was only a few feet away from her when Laney slammed the paddock gate closed. Her long dark hair flowed around her face as she tried to secure it, supposedly to try to keep him out of the arena, but the bolt wouldn’t catch.

  “Let me help you,” he offered, ignoring her stony glare.

  Austin reached over the wide wooden slats and folded his hand over hers. She huffed loudly and immediately snatched her hand away.

  He smiled at her politely and was not offended. Instead, he saw her obvious discomfort as an opportunity. He quickly scooted inside the paddock and secured the rusty latch.

  “Try as you might, Laney, you can’t lock me out of your life.”

  Her face flushed and she stepped back and yelped when she nearly bumped into her horse. He kept his eyes trained on hers, hoping to see something in them that could explain everything he was starting to feel for her.

  Gone was the glazed, soundless wonder in her eyes that had captivated him as he’d pleasured her on New Year’s Eve. Instead, they blazed with the kind of intensity reserved for battle. Right now, she looked like she wanted to smack him.

  All Austin wanted to do was kiss all her anger away.

  His eyes dropped to her full lips, covered only with a light gloss. They drew him in like a beacon, a fleshly symbol of sleepless nights and the agony of unfulfilled need.

  Her bite was so sweet.

  Austin willed away the increased tightening in his groin.

  He looked at his palms, which were studded with tiny bits of rust from the latch, and frowned.