Lonestar Homecoming

by Colleen Coble

  She had other senses that weren’t easy to deceive.The warmth of his arm nearly touching hers permeated her skin.The spicy scent of his cologne filled her head. Even the deep timbre of his voice entranced her.

  Michael made a noise, and she blinked to bring the screen into focus. “What is it?”

  “An obituary. Is this the guy?” He turned the computer toward her.

  She stared at the screen, saw the dark curls and even darker eyes. “That’s Jason,” she said.

  He flipped the computer back around. “It says memorials are to go to the National Kidney Foundation. Maybe he had kidney disease. It doesn’t mention a living daughter. Just his dad and a brother.”

  “Tyler?”

  “Yes, that’s the brother mentioned.”

  “I wonder if that’s why Sam called me?”

  “Didn’t he say something about Jason’s estate?”

  She nodded. “He sounded upset. I never called him back.” She leaned closer so she could read the screen. Big mistake, because her skin touched his arm. Read the screen and get away, she told herself.

  “He died two months ago.” She gasped. “It says Sam is the governor now.Wow. He’s moved up in the world.” She quickly moved back to her place.

  “Governor? And you didn’t know?”

  She shook her head. “I haven’t heard from the family in years. I wonder why Sam is just now calling.”

  “Maybe he wants to see Hope because she’s all he has left of Jason.”

  “As far as I know, Sam didn’t know Hope existed. I don’t think Jason ever told his parents he had a child.”

  “He could have confessed it before he died.”

  She sucked in her lower lip. “I guess so. I should call Sam back.” She glanced at the clock above the fireplace. “It’s only nine thirty in Arizona.”

  “No rush, I guess.You can call him tomorrow.” He closed the lid on the MacBook, then leaned forward and set it on the coffee table. When he leaned back, he stretched his arms above his head. “I’m sick and tired of sitting here.Wish we could go for a walk.”When he put his arms down, his right one came down along the back of sofa, right above Gracie’s head.

  She smelled the musky scent of his skin. If she tipped her head back just a bit, it would rest on his arm.Would he slide it down into an embrace? Her pulse jumped in her throat when she turned her head and caught him staring at her. She glanced away before she was sure of his expression. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she saw longing in his eyes. Heat spread through her, and she knew if she didn’t get up and leave, it would be too late. She’d turn and throw herself into his arms.

  She eased her head back the tiniest fraction until her hair brushed his arm. The electricity from the contact enveloped her neck. Her cheeks were hot enough to melt marshmallows.

  He leaned closer, and his breath stirred the air between them. “Gracie?” His voice was husky.

  She was lost. Turning her head, she stared up into his face. The intensity in his eyes made her lean in to him. Her eyelids began to drift shut. His arm came down around her shoulders, and he pulled her closer. She lifted her face a fraction, and she felt herself nearly ooze into his arms, like a jellyfish. His head came down, and his lips brushed hers in a touch so soft it barely registered. His breath quickened, and so did hers. She reached up and touched the stubble on his cheeks in a caress. His lips came down again, firmer this time. Her hand slid to his chest and she entwined her fingers in his shirt.

  She couldn’t think, couldn’t register anything more than the taste of his mouth and the scent of his breath.

  “Daddy?”

  They both jerked. Gracie tore her lips away from Michael’s to see Jordan standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. Gracie leaped to her feet. “I’d better get her back to bed.” She escaped up the stairs to the sound of Michael’s low laughter.

  15

  EVEN THOUGH MICHAEL WAS TRAPPED ON THE SOFA FOR SEVERAL DAYS, Gracie managed to evade any reference to the charged kiss they’d shared. She didn’t know how to deal with it herself, let alone talk about it with him. Several times he tried to bring it up, and she danced away from the subject.

  She mulled over the realization of why she’d climbed on Diablo that night.The truth made her guilt all the more painful. Not only had she killed her mother, but she’d subconsciously wanted to get rid of her child. Hope, the light of her life. How could she ever face her father, even though that reunion was something she longed for?

  By Saturday, Michael was hobbling around a bit, and by Sunday when he came into the kitchen while she was making breakfast, he had barely any limp. Dressed in jeans and a blue western shirt that deepened the color of his eyes, his presence filled the small room.

  He raked his damp hair off his forehead. “I thought we might all go to church this morning as a family.”

  Her pulse stuttered. “You go ahead without me.” She kept her back to him as she pulled fresh blueberry muffins from the oven. He stepped up behind her, so close she could smell the scent of his Dial soap. She nearly dropped the muffin tray on the floor but managed to save it, burning her hand in the process.

  “Ouch.” The tray clattered onto the top of the stove, and she thrust her burning fingers in her mouth.

  He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the sink, where he put her hand under running cold water. “Better?”

  “Yes, thanks.” Or she would be if he’d let go of her arm.

  As if he’d read her mind, he removed his hand and stepped away. “You don’t have to dress up for church here, if that’s what’s worrying you. No one will look at you funny if you show up in those cute jeans.”

  “I’m not worried about my clothes.” She shut off the water and dried her hand with a paper towel, then went to the cupboard for milk glasses. “Since my mother died, it’s hard to face God.”

  “You have to stop running from God sometime, Gracie.” His words were low.“Besides, it’s important for the kids to learn about God, to see the importance of church. United front, remember?”

  She whirled and shook a finger at him. “Don’t preach at me, Michael Wayne. I can manage my life by myself. I don’t need you to tell me how to live.”

  “Yeah? You’ve got it all worked out, right? That’s why you jumped on a train and ran. Because you know just what to do.”

  She winced at the sarcasm in his voice and decided not to answer it.

  His big hands came down on her shoulders, nearly engulfing her. “Just put it all behind you for one day. I want to introduce you to the community.”

  “I need to think about dinner.”

  “After church we can stop for lunch at the café in town and give you a break from all the cooking.We can take the kids to Big Bend to see the exhibits. Have a family day.”

  A family day. She searched his expression for some hidden meaning. He might mean it, but in her own eyes, she was still just the hired help.The ring on her finger didn’t mean she was a real wife.

  Though she’d like to be.

  She caught her breath and tore out of his grasp. “Fine, I’ll go. Just don’t preach at me.” She glanced down at her jeans and blue fitted blouse. It wasn’t church attire.

  “Your clothes are fine,” he said again.

  Her mom and dad had brought her up differently. “I need to change. Can you feed the kids? I’ll be down in a few minutes.” She fled for her room without waiting for his response. When she passed the kids’ rooms, she called for them to go down to breakfast.

  After she shut the door behind her, she went to the closet.Allie and Shannon had both given her clothing, and a certain blue dress made her wonder what Michael would think if he saw her in it. She tore off her jeans and blouse, then slipped the silky dress over her head. It fit over her slim figure and flared at the knee. She gave an experimental twirl. The silk swished deliciously around her. It had been a long time since she’d worn anything so pretty. It had been Shannon’s, and it cost the earth. The tags were still on it when
Shannon brought it over, and Gracie wondered then if it had been purchased just for her.

  She found the strappy sandals Shannon had brought to go with the dress, then grabbed a brush. Releasing her dark-blond hair from its ponytail, she brushed it until it lay in smooth waves on her shoulders. Cheek color wouldn’t be necessary, not as prone as she was to blushing in Michael’s presence.A touch of lipstick, and she was ready.

  The shoes gave her the confidence she’d been lacking in the jeans and flip-flops, but they felt alien on her feet after not wearing heels for so long. Clinging to the banister, she made her way down the steps. Michael must have heard her approach, because he stepped through the kitchen doorway in the hall below her and stood watching her sashay down the steps. Or at least she hoped it was a decent sashay. As she got near to him, she could see his eyes were wide.

  “Wow,” he said. “Look at you.”

  She reached the bottom of the steps. “Shannon gave it to me.”

  He took her hand and lifted it so he could twirl her around. She obliged and the skirt swished around her legs. “You’re making me dizzy.”

  He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Not as dizzy as you make me.”

  She went hot again.That man was going to give her a heart attack yet.

  ALL THROUGH CHURCH, MICHAEL WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE SCENT OF Gracie’s hair, the delicate rustle of her silk dress when she shifted, and the soft, daintly curve of her cheek. She listened intently— or so it seemed—to Grady’s message.The kids sat like small chicks to her right. He would have to tell them how proud he was of their behavior.

  Friends gathered around after the service to welcome him home, and he introduced them to Gracie, who hung back with an uncertain smile.The shy mouse had returned.When Shannon and Jack approached to embrace her, she brightened, and he stared at her sudden animation. When would she come into her own as the woman God meant her to be? He’d love to see her throw off her mouse facade for good.

  Shannon released her. “You’re radiant in that dress. I knew the color would be amazing on you.”

  The flush came to Gracie’s cheeks. “I love it.”

  So did Michael. Eyes front and center, soldier. He averted his gaze and tried not to listen to their conversation. It wasn’t difficult, since Rick and Allie came up to talk too. Both couples invited them for dinner, but he begged off and promised to accept another day.With his knee finally stronger, he wanted to have the family day he’d promised Gracie.

  And that promised honeymoon kept drifting through his thoughts.

  When they finally escaped the building, he took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. “Let’s walk.The café is just down the street, and it’s a beautiful day. After lunch, we’ll run by the house to change, then go to the park.”

  She clung to his arm, and as they went down the street, he realized she was struggling in the heels on the brick sidewalk. “Take them off,” he said, gesturing to her shoes.

  “What? No!” She tried to walk faster but tripped over a rise in the sidewalk.

  “I can carry you,” he offered.

  “Absolutely not!”

  “Carry her, Daddy,” Hope said. Dancing around them, she began to chant, “Carry her, carry her.”

  Daddy. He loved to hear Hope call him that. He exchanged an amused glance with Gracie. “I’ve got my marching orders from my newest daughter.”

  A tide of red moved up her face. “You’re still injured.”

  He swept her into his arms. “You’re lighter than a kitten,” he said.

  “Put me down!” she ordered. She squirmed. “You’ll hurt your knee again.”

  “I’m all well. Put your arms around my neck, or I’ll hold you responsible if I get hurt.” He acted as though he were losing his grip, and she shrieked, then threw her arms around his neck.With his nose pressed into her fruity-smelling hair, he could have carried her like this all day.

  Then his children caught his attention. They both stomped along the sidewalk with identical scowls.Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. He’d hoped this would be a bonding time for them to appreciate all Gracie was doing for them.

  The café was just ahead, so he set Gracie’s feet back on the concrete, then scooped up his kids, one in each arm. He swung them around to their delighted shrieks.

  “I want on your shoulders,” Jordan said.

  “No, me!” Evan clawed up his arm.

  “You can’t both be there. Jordan asked first.”

  “It’s my turn!” Evan said, his face crumbling.

  Michael exchanged a helpless glance with Gracie. She smiled, and the adorable dimple in her left cheek flashed.

  “You’re a big, strong guy. Put one on each shoulder,” she said. “But don’t blame me if you have to ice your knee tonight.”

  “You’re killing me.” But he hefted the kids onto his shoulders. They both clung to his hair, and he expected to be bald the next time he looked in the mirror. His arms ached with the effort of keeping them from sliding down.

  Gracie darted ahead and held open the door for him. With a groan, he put the kids down. “Now that you’ve maimed me, we’ll have lunch.Then we’ll go to the park and see the ranger exhibits.”

  “Yay! I want to see the snakes,” Jordan said. “The rattlers!”

  “You would,” Michael said, following the server to a table in the corner. The red and white–checked tablecloth made him remember the last time he was here.With Kate. Evan had barely started walking, and Jordan was hard to corral in her seat. Poor Kate. He was beginning to see she might have been lonely.

  He studied the menu, then ordered a hamburger and fries. The kids wanted the same, but Gracie ordered grilled fish. “A health nut,” he said. “You can go wild today and have something special.”

  “Maybe I’ll have a turtle sundae for dessert,” she said. “Be all wild and crazy.”

  “Hey kids, want to pick out some music on the jukebox?” He dug out some quarters for them.

  Squealing, they ran off. “I’ll have to read the list for you,” Jordan said in a self-important voice.

  Gracie steepled her fingers together and rested her chin on them. “You look different today,” she said. “More carefree. It’s been good for you to be off work a few days.”

  He sobered. “It’s all waiting for me tomorrow.”

  “I wish you’d give it up,Michael. Do something else.What’s your dream job?”

  “Doing what I do now. I like being useful,” he said. “Serving my country is all I know.”

  “What’s the favorite part of the job you had in the army? You said you were a pararescueman before you got out.What is that exactly?”

  “The plane would get us as close to an extraction as possible, and we’d go in and free prisoners.”

  “What does the para part of the word mean?”

  “I was trained like a top-notch paramedic, since I would often have to treat the soldiers before the extraction. Sometimes they’d be in rough shape, and it would take all our expertise to save them.”

  She toyed with her napkin. “Important work. I can see why you loved it.”

  He leaned forward and stared into her eyes. “What I did really mattered then. Life-and-death stuff.”

  Her gaze never left his face. “What about doing paramedic work here? There’s a real need in Big Bend for a medical chopper with paramedics.”

  “They probably have one already.”

  She shook her head. “I heard in church that a guy died on the way to the Alpine hospital, an hour and a half away. Guys like him would have a chance with a chopper.”

  He wasn’t about to admit her idea made his pulse kick. “Where am I going to get the money to start an operation like that?”

  “Grant money? There has to be a way if it’s something you want to do.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “What about you? What’s your dream?” Her fingers tightened on his, then she started to pull away, but he hung on. “Come on, turnabout�
�s fair play. Give.”

  Her face shuttered, and she yanked her hand away. “Here come our drinks.”

  He eyed her haunted expression.What dream could cause her to look so bleak?

  16

  THEY’D SPENT THE DAY SPLASHING WITH THE KIDS IN THE HOT SPRINGS, and Gracie was gloriously relaxed. She kicked off her flip-flops and wiggled her toes against the carpet in the truck’s cab. She’d loved spending the day as a family, once she got Michael to stop questioning her.

  The sun slid down the sky in a brilliant display that set the desert on fire.The eroded rocks looked on like sentries guarding the ribbon of road that was empty except for Michael’s big truck.The kids slept in the backseat. Caesar curled on the floor.They were just like any other family on an outing.

  Except they weren’t.

  She stole a glance at Michael’s firm jawline, mentally tracing his strong nose and lips, the solid column of his neck, and the muscles in this arms as he maneuvered the truck along the narrow highway. “Thanks for the fun day,” she said. “The kids enjoyed it too.”

  He smiled, glancing in the rearview mirror. “They’re sacked out.” He didn’t sound displeased at the thought. “What do you want out of life, Gracie? You never said.”

  She looked away quickly. “I haven’t thought about it.” What would he think if she told him her dream was always to be a wife and mother? To have that perfect home with a picket fence and a man who rushed home to her at night? Such an old-fashioned dream to admit to.

  Her cell phone rang, and she exchanged a glance with him. “I wonder if that’s Sam.” She dug it out of her purse. “It is.” She flipped it open. “Hello, Sam, this is Gracie.”

  “Gracie, finally,” his voice boomed. “I wasn’t sure you got the message I left.”

  His voice looked like a red sun surrounded by orange light. For some reason, it made her sit straighter. “Sam?”

  “If he doesn’t already know, don’t tell him about Hope,” Michael whispered.