by Tina Leonard
“About Sunday.” Jet tilted his cowboy hat back on his head. “I understand Lizzie and Carly invited Nicole Bennett to join us.”
“The woman who works for Adele?” Jacob asked.
“Right, the one who took Lizzie to the hospital that time,” Jet said. “Cute, from what I recall.” He said the words matter-of-factly with no personal interest. These days, he had eyes only for Jasmine Marks.
“Cute?” Daniel echoed in disbelief.
“You don’t think she’s attractive?” Jacob asked.
On the contrary. Daniel thought cute was far too girlish and tepid to describe her. “I...”
“Do you realize,” Jet said, suddenly solemn, “that Nicole has spent more time with my own mother than I have? I’m torn between resenting her and wanting to ask her a hundred dumb questions, like what’s Delia—um, Adele’s—favorite movie or country singer.”
“It’s not dumb to want to know more about your mom,” Daniel said. The holiday season intensified how much he missed his own mother, and he couldn’t help empathizing with the ache in Jet’s tone. “But as far as the resentment goes, I hope you won’t take Adele’s mistakes out on Nicole.”
Jacob’s eyebrows shot up, and the questioning look he gave Daniel over his mug of beer made Daniel realize how protective he’d sounded.
Jet frowned. “Of course not. I have three sisters. They’d hog-tie me and have me beaten if I was rude to a woman. Jasmine wouldn’t stand for it either. Speaking of which...” He checked the time and threw a five-dollar bill on the table. “I have someone waiting for me at home who’s a lot prettier than either of you two.”
As their stepbrother blended into the crowd, Jacob returned to the topic of Nicole. “How well do you know Nicole Bennett?”
“She’s practically a stranger.” It was the truth. There was no rational reason for him to have been so concerned about her when he’d found her upset in Lizzie’s kitchen. And there was just as little reason for him to have been so happy to see her yesterday.
“Uh-huh.”
For the slightest second, it was on the tip of Daniel’s tongue to ask what it had been like when Jacob met Mariana, what his first impressions had been, if he’d had any inkling of what she might come to mean to him. Then again, on the day they’d met, Jacob had just been hit with the bombshell that he was a father. So that had probably been uppermost in his thoughts at the time. Plus, Mariana—whose own father had used the rodeo as an excuse to be a deadbeat dad—hadn’t exactly approved of Jacob’s lifestyle.
And yet somehow they worked through all of that.
Maybe the trick was wanting it enough to make it work, but Daniel was still surprised by their optimism. Both Mariana and Jacob were children of divorced parents, both had experienced the various ways people who mattered could be ripped from your life.
Jacob pulled out his wallet. “We should probably head out, too. I’m sure other people would appreciate the table.” He grinned. “And Jet’s not the only one with someone pretty waiting up for him.”
* * *
NICOLE FROWNED AT her reflection. Was it her imagination, or was her cleavage a lot more noticeable than it should have been in the V-necked sweater? She was tempted to pick another outfit—which she’d already done twice. She was going to have an emotional conversation with Adele’s children today, and Nicole felt most self-assured in her suit jackets and skirts. But those seemed like ridiculous attire for a family afternoon at the ranch.
She’d shimmied into her favorite pair of jeans, wondering how much longer they’d still fit, and pulled her hair into a ponytail that gave her a more casual appearance. She didn’t want to look stiff or as if she were trying too hard. Then again, a little makeup couldn’t hurt...
Adele knocked on the bathroom door. “You okay? I can bring you some ginger ale or crackers if your stomach’s bothering you.”
“My stomach’s fine.” Nicole cracked the door open and gestured toward the discarded tops on the bathroom counter. “I’ve been in here so long because I keep changing my mind about which shirt to wear. It’s early enough in the pregnancy that changes to my body are probably mostly in my head, but nothing feels entirely comfortable right now.”
“And you think that’s because of the pregnancy?” Adele looked upward with feigned innocence. “Not, say, because of a certain rodeo cowboy with a ‘strong sense of justice’?”
Nicole scowled. “You’re mocking me at a time like this? Do you know how nervous I am about facing your family?” The weight of the responsibility, to paint her mentor in a sympathetic light, was crushing. “I really wish you were coming with me.”
“I’m not the one they invited.” There was a hollowness to her words, and Nicole heard the echo of fear, the worry that Adele would never be welcome.
There was a buzz as Nicole’s phone vibrated on the counter, making her stomach pitch and seize. Maybe she should have taken Adele up on those crackers.
“That’s Daniel.” Nicole picked up her phone, scanning his message that he’d parked and was waiting downstairs. “I told him to text me when he got to the building and I’d meet him in the lobby.” It seemed plain wrong for him to meet Adele before her own children were given the chance.
Emotion shone in Adele’s damp eyes. “I shouldn’t be putting you through this. Especially in your condition. I—”
“You didn’t know I was pregnant when you asked me to go to the ranch today. Now, suck it up.” Nicole gave her a tremulous smile. “Only one of us can be a wreck at a time.”
“I suppose it would be pointless to tell you to have fun?”
“Probably.” Nicole tossed her cell phone and lipstick into her purse, checking to make sure she had plenty of peppermints. Sometimes sucking on them helped quell the nausea. Talking to Lizzie and the others would be awkward enough without Nicole having to bolt for the restroom midsentence.
“You have a bit of a drive between here and the ranch,” Adele reminded her. “At least try to enjoy Daniel’s company on the way.”
At the mention of Daniel’s name, Nicole’s stomach somersaulted again. But this time the sensation wasn’t unpleasant at all.
Chapter Four
Since Nicole’s sense of smell was on hyperdrive lately, she avoided the elevator except for when she was simply too fatigued to take the stairs. The convenience of riding down wasn’t always worth being stuck in an enclosed space with the Gardenia Perfume Woman on the fifth floor or Eats a Ton of Garlic on three. Today, the stairs also gave her an excuse to burn off some nervous energy.
She spotted Daniel, leaning against the wall by the elevator banks, before he saw her. Last time they’d encountered each other, he’d been leaving physical therapy and was dressed like someone going to the gym. Today he wore dark jeans, a white button-down shirt and a cowboy hat. She was tempted not to make her presence known and spend a few more minutes appreciating the picture he made.
Get a grip. Adele was counting on her. How could Nicole facilitate reconciliation between mother and children if she was distracted by lust-addled pregnancy hormones and the way Daniel Baron filled out a pair of Wranglers?
Taking a deep breath, she approached him with the same composure and welcoming smile she would have used when greeting a businessman. “Hi.”
He whipped his head around. “Nicole.” One eyebrow lifted. “This is a surprise.”
“Weren’t you expecting me?” she teased.
“I was expecting Nicole Bennett, executive. I’ve never seen you out of your work clothes.”
She did a double take at his phrasing—and at the idea of Daniel seeing her out of her clothes.
“I mean, I’ve only ever seen you in your professional wardrobe,” he backpedaled. “I was thinking the other day that I couldn’t imagine you in jeans.”
“You’ve been thinking about me?” She wished she hadn
’t asked the impulsive question. What if it led to awkwardness on their long drive?
But he held her gaze, not looking the least discomfited. “Yes, ma’am.”
A liquid shiver went through her. He’d joked about not knowing what he wanted to be when he grew up. He should look into narration or recording books on tape. People would pay good money to listen to that low, rich voice.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
Anywhere you want to lead, cowboy. Wow. The pregnancy books really didn’t do these hormone surges justice. Nicole couldn’t remember the last time her libido had been so supercharged.
It occurred to her that maybe she should enjoy the sensation while she could. She rarely dated now, and she didn’t imagine potential suitors would be lining up at her door once her pregnancy became visibly obvious. And after the baby was born? As the single mother of an infant, Nicole suspected she’d be too tired to indulge an active sex drive.
She definitely had some challenging months ahead of her. But for right now, a hot guy with a smile that stole her breath was opening the door for her. The sunshine outside only added to her upbeat mood.
“What a gorgeous day.” She fished in her purse for a pair of sunglasses as they crossed the parking lot. “I’m supposed to pick out a Christmas tree this week, but weather like this makes it feel more like spring than December.”
“Definitely a lot warmer than it was last weekend,” he agreed, unlocking his truck door. “Christmas tree shopping, huh? So you aren’t headed back to San Antonio soon?”
She shook her head. “The plan is for me to spend most of December here.” After Chris Miller had turned down the chance to run their Dallas office, choosing instead to resign, she’d been running double duty. “We’re working on an exciting project out of our Dallas location, making the final plans for a sizable wind farm that will create new jobs.”
Her enthusiasm for the project helped her get through the afternoons when pregnancy fatigue tried to sabotage her. “Squaring away the details and handling press coverage will keep me busy for the next week or so. After that, I’m theoretically free to return to San Antonio, but the office is dead the week of Christmas. It makes just as much sense to stay here and spend my holiday with Adele.” Assuming the grown Baron children agreed to meet with their mother. If not, Adele would probably retreat to San Antonio for a bleak yuletide.
Daniel tilted his head, regarding her with curiosity as she fastened her seat belt. “You’re going to spend Christmas with your boss?”
“She’s more than an employer,” Nicole said. “She’s like family.” Was it an insensitive claim, given how much time Adele had missed with her own family? She sighed, hoping that before the day was over she found the words that would help make up for the lost years, the pain Adele had caused her loved ones. “On a scale from one to I-should-just-throw-myself-from-the-truck, how bad do you think this is gonna be?”
His lips quirked in a half smile, but rather than make a glib reassurance, he took the time to think it over. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I’ll do what I can to make it as painless as possible.”
“You are a really nice guy.”
His laugh was short and self-deprecating. “Actually, I’m a cranky loner and recovering troublemaker.” He gave her an appraising look. “Maybe you bring out my better qualities.”
* * *
AS DANIEL MADE the last turn before they reached Roughneck property, Nicole was surprising him with the revelation that not only did she own boots and jeans, she’d once mucked stalls.
“One of the foster homes I lived on was a tiny farm—some vegetable crops, two horses and a chicken coop. All of us kids had chores. I can’t say I much cared for cleaning out the stalls, but I did enjoy riding Grey. Of the two mares, she was the one deemed more suitable for beginners. She didn’t go very fast, but she was sweet.”
“Do you still ride?” he asked, wondering if a visit to the stables was in order this afternoon.
She gave a quick shake of her head, her ponytail swinging lightly behind her. He liked it better when she wore her hair down. With nothing to detract from her face, it was too easy to get distracted by her eyes. Or her lips. “Not for years.”
“I’d be happy to give you a refresher,” he volunteered. “We’ve got a range of horses at the ranch, including some with gentle temperaments.”
Interest flared in her expression, and he thought for sure she was going to take him up on his offer. “Thanks, but...I’d better pass.”
He experienced a stab of selfish disappointment. He would have loved the opportunity to help her into the saddle, but he didn’t push the issue. She had enough on her mind today.
“So which place did you like more,” he asked, “the farm or the house with the solar panels?”
She’d explained earlier on the drive that her interest in alternative energy had stemmed from another foster home. Listening to her talk about being bounced around, he’d felt a sense of connection. Like him, she’d spent a lot of time feeling as if she didn’t quite belong. It was clear, though, that her different stops along the way had helped shape the multifaceted woman she’d become.
“It’s hard to say. I always figured my favorite place would be the one where someone wanted to keep me forever. For a long time, I assumed that someone would eventually be my mom. But...” She shrugged, fighting to keep her smile in place. “Life doesn’t always work out the way you expect, right?”
“That’s for damn sure.” His throat tightened as he pictured his own mother. It was ridiculous that she hadn’t lived long enough to meet her first grandchild, to hug Cody and help Jacob pick out Christmas presents. For years after she’d died, sometimes Daniel would wake up on Christmas morning and get halfway to the tree with his siblings before he remembered that she wouldn’t be there.
“Daniel?”
“Sorry. Mind wandered.” He wasn’t in the habit of confiding what he was thinking, especially when it involved painful emotions. But it seemed cowardly not to tell her the truth when Nicole had been so honest about her own past, sharing both the good and the bad. “Actually, I was thinking about my mother. Her death was such a shock that sometimes I still can’t adjust to her being gone.”
“How’d she die?” Nicole asked quietly.
“Infection. She checked into the hospital for what should have been a totally routine appendectomy, then...” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. One day, she’d been a firm but compassionate mom, someone he’d known he could count on; the next, she’d been gone.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. It was a long time ago.”
“The past is always closer than we think,” Nicole said. “Sneaks up on us when we don’t expect it.”
“Is that why Adele sent you with that merger proposition last spring? Was her past creeping up on her, making her curious about her children?” Having watched Carly and Lizzie and the others search for their mom, he couldn’t help wondering about the situation. But far greater than his interest in Adele was his interest in Nicole and her part in all this.
She hesitated. Maybe he shouldn’t have put her on the spot. Then again, it might be a good idea for her to figure out what she wanted to say before she was faced with four Barons who all had questions about their missing mother.
“Adele has regretted leaving her kids for years—decades. But she convinced herself that staying away was better for them in the long run than the upheaval she’d cause by coming back.” Nicole’s voice broke a little. “My personal experience is that a mom can justify defection if she believes it’s in her kid’s best interest. Adele’s been guilt-stricken over what she did but figured that staying out of their lives was part of her penance. Brock made it clear she wasn’t to come anywhere near them.”
Daniel grunted, unsurprised by his stepfather’s hi
gh-handedness. He’d seen Brock intimidate millionaires and hardened cowboys.
“This time last year, Adele was extremely sick. Cancer. Her prognosis wasn’t very good. If Baron Energies had accepted our merger offer, I think it could have been beneficial for both companies. It wasn’t a joke—I put a lot of time into that proposal. But, yes, I came to Dallas in part to meet with Lizzie, to get information on how Adele’s kids were doing and hopefully give Adele some peace of mind in case... Well. You get the idea.”
He did. And he could see how much the memory of Adele’s illness still upset her. She’d obviously meant it when she said the woman was like family. “But she’s all better now?” He hoped so for both Nicole’s sake and for his stepsiblings’. To have their mother back in their lives only to lose her to a recurrence of cancer? That would be too cruel. Having watched his own mother buried, Daniel thought his stepsiblings would be better off spared that experience.
“All of her recent tests have shown her to be cancer-free,” Nicole confirmed with a smile. “She has a second chance at life. And, if they’re open to the idea, a second chance with her kids.”
“I can’t really speak for them, but they did want to find her. That must mean something.” Carly had even spoken wistfully about what it would be like if her mother could see her married, but it wasn’t his place to volunteer that information.
They were on Roughneck property now. Daniel drove over a cattle guard and slowed down as dirt and dust flew up from the unpaved road.
“Wow.” Nicole watched with awe as the house and outlying buildings came into view.
He’d seen pictures of the original house that had stood here—it had been renovated considerably after the oil strike. He’d heard others call the stone manor house Brock’s castle, but when Daniel had first seen the home, it had struck him as something more foreboding. A fortress, maybe. To the left of the house, cars and trucks were parked. It seemed like every month, the number of vehicles increased.
Had any family ever grown as quickly and dramatically as the Barons? It was still difficult to believe that, by the end of this month, Carly would be stepmom to a cute little cowgirl and that even reformed serial dater Jet was settling down.
