“If it’s the one you want. Sure.”
“Okay, when do I get to stay here?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer that. They hadn’t sat down and talked about the arrangements. “Your dad and I haven’t had a chance to talk about that. And since he doesn’t have much furniture.”
“Then let’s go downstairs and talk about it?” Chase suggested.
Downstairs, they went through the dining room that had a large mahogany table and six chairs with a matching sideboard. “This is yours?”
“My mother’s. I had a lot of things in storage. There’s some other things, too. I put them in the garage for now.”
They ended up in the kitchen where there was a large pine table and four chairs. The maple cabinets were in good shape, the butcher block countertops were scarred from years of use, but Chase had moved in completely, bringing in his coffeemaker, toaster and can opener.
She glanced through the curtainless window, noticing the wind had picked up as dark clouds blocked the afternoon sun. “Looks like a storm is heading our way. Maybe we should leave, Ryan.”
“And get caught in the middle of the storm,” Chase said. “No way. You and Ryan are staying here.”
As she started to argue, lightning flashed in the dark sky. “Why don’t I fix us some supper and we can discuss the arrangements for Ryan to come visit,” Chase suggested.
“Yeah, Mom. I want to stay here with Dad.”
Chase looked at Mallory. “Do you need to be anywhere today?”
She shook her head. “No, but you aren’t exactly ready for company.”
He grinned at her. “Why do you say that?” He went to the big cupboard and opened it to show her his supply of canned goods, cereal and bread. “I went shopping this morning.”
“So you don’t have to work?”
He shook his head. “I’m off until Monday.”
“Oh, boy,” Ryan chimed in. “We can stay overnight.”
Mallory tried not to panic. “We can’t, honey. We can make it back to Grandpa’s house. Besides, your father doesn’t have any beds.”
“I’ve got two sleeping bags,” Chase argued. “And you can take my bed.”
“Cool,” Ryan said. “It’s almost as good as sleeping in the tree house.”
Mallory was ready to argue again, but a loud crash of thunder drowned her out. She glared at a smiling Chase. She was going to get him for this.
She turned her attention to her son. “How about we eat supper, then see if the storm moves on before we decide to stay tonight?”
“But I want to stay, Mom. It will be fun. I never stayed at my dad’s house before.”
“But I’m not prepared to stay. We don’t have any clean clothes.”
“I have a washer and dryer and new toothbrushes,” Chase volunteered. “You could sleep in one of my T-shirts.”
“Yeah, Mom. Please…”
The rain was now sheeting against the windows and they couldn’t even see outside. This was definitely unusual weather for this time of year. A freak storm. She looked at father and son, both giving her the same charming grin. She couldn’t resist.
“Okay, we’ll stay the night, but we need to leave first thing in the morning. I’ll call Grandpa to let him know our plans.”
The two exchanged a high five, then took off to the garage to find the sleeping bags.
Okay, Chase Landon, you might have won this round, but you’re not going to win again. No matter how much she wished she could, she just couldn’t trust her feelings for the man.
The storm had cleared out by ten o’clock, but Chase knew Mallory wouldn’t make Ryan leave. But lying on the hard floor in his son’s bedroom, he wondered if this had been such a good idea.
“Maybe you should ask Mom out on a date,” Ryan said into the darkness, then turned on his side and put his head in his hand. “You want to go out with her, don’t you?”
The boy never quit. “I think your mother and I are old enough to handle that on our own.”
“But you’re not doing anything. I know you like her, and she likes you. She got really sad when you were away.”
Chase was thrilled with that news. He also knew Mallory’s first marriage had been the worst. Hell, the bastard had abused her. He tensed, hating the fact that he hadn’t been around to help her. Well, he was now, and he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Maybe you should tell her how you feel,” the boy said, breaking the silence.
This wasn’t something he wanted to discuss with an eight-year-old. “You ever think that your mom isn’t ready?”
The moonlight shone through the curtainless window. “Then why does she look at you all the time? She kisses you, too.”
And she made sweet-sweet love to him, Chase remembered silently.
“Dad? If I ask you something will you promise not to get mad?”
“You can ask me anything, son.”
“Do you love my mom?”
Chase closed his eyes, feeling something grip his heart. He’d never stopped. “Yes, I love your mother. I love her a lot.”
“Oh, wow! This is going to be so cool.”
Chase raised a hand. “Just hold on, son. How I feel about your mother, and how she feels about me is between us. You have to promise to stay out of it.”
“But, I want to help,” he said.
He reached out and touched Ryan’s shoulder. “Son, when you get older you’ll learn that there are some things a man has to do on his own. And this is one of them.”
“You mean when I like girls.”
“Yes, when you like girls. Now, go to sleep.”
“Okay…” The boy flopped back on the pillow and closed his eyes. Chase did the same, praying that he wasn’t going to disappoint his son…or himself.
After a few minutes, he heard his son’s even breathing and got up. In his boxer shorts, he walked out of the room and down the hall to his bedroom.
He gave a soft knock and waited until the door opened and Mallory appeared. She was wearing his white T-shirt and nothing else. Oh, boy.
“Is something wrong with Ryan?”
“No, I just wanted to see you to say good-night and give you this.” He drew her into his arms and captured her mouth in an eager kiss. She moaned, and wrapped her arms around him. By the time he released her they both were breathing hard.
“Chase, we shouldn’t…” she protested weakly.
“I know, but I just needed to see you…just to hold you for a little while.” In the dim light he searched her face. “We need to talk about our future, Mallory. I just don’t want to be in Ryan’s life…I want to be a part of yours, too.”
She started to speak, but he silenced her with another kiss. “Later, Mallory,” he whispered. “Good night.” He touched her cheek, then turned and walked away. Hopefully it was the last time he would walk away from her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE SUN WAS BRIGHT the next morning when Mallory got up and found her laundered clothes were neatly folded at the end of the bed. Chase.
She smiled. “I like the service at this hotel,” she whispered. There was no denying her feelings for the man hadn’t changed over the years, and seeing him with their son just enhanced them.
It could be so perfect….
She quickly stopped the train of her fantasy thoughts. She’d given her heart to Chase Landon once before, and it hadn’t been enough…. He had left her anyway.
He was a Texas Ranger, and that would always come first in his life. His dedication had been one of the things she’d loved about him. The other was his love for his son. She just wasn’t so sure there was room in his life for her. She’d learned that a long time ago when he’d so easily left her…and never looked back.
Now, she had to think about their son. Ryan deserved a life with his father, and if that became complicated by her and Chase’s troubled past, it would ruin it.
Worse, she didn’t know if she could survive losing Chase a second time.
Mallory g
rabbed her clothes and headed to the shower. She needed to get out of here. There were no more foolish dreams of her being included in his life. Sooner or later, Chase would come to realize that to have a good relationship with his son didn’t have to include her.
And it broke her heart.
Chase stood at the old stove, spatula in hand. It was after nine and he was more nervous with every tick of the o’clock. He wanted Mallory to come downstairs. Yet, he didn’t. He hadn’t planned to ask her to share his life quite this soon, but he couldn’t wait any longer. He wanted his family with him…always.
“You want another pancake, son?” he asked Ryan, still surprised that he’d discussed his future plans with the eight-year-old earlier that morning.
“Yes, please. They’re really good. But Mom still makes the best. Her blueberry pancakes are the best.” He took the last bite on his plate as Chase poured four more scoops of batter on the hot griddle.
“I sure hope your mother likes pancakes.”
“She does,” Mallory said as she walked in.
Chase smiled. All bright and sunny with her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, she looked cute. Although her face was free of makeup, her cheeks were still rosy.
“But I’ll just have coffee this morning. Then I’ve got to leave for home.”
“Aw, Mom, do we have to?” Ryan asked, looking panicked. “Dad wants us to go with him to look at a horse.”
Something had changed overnight. Chase could see it in her face. “I thought since you’re the expert, you could help me,” he coaxed as he took a mug from the cupboard, filled it and handed it to her. “What do you say, Mallory? Will you help me find a good riding mount?”
She took a sip of coffee, but never met his gaze. “I can, but just not today.” She took another drink, and looked at Ryan. “I need to get home.” She checked her watch. “If you want you can stay here, and I’ll come and pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”
Chase’s stomach dropped. She wasn’t staying at all.
Ryan didn’t hide his confusion. “Sure…I want to stay…but not without you.”
“Sorry, Ryan,” Mallory began. “I can’t today, but don’t let me stop your fun. I’m sure your dad can wash your clothes for one more night.” She set down her cup and kissed Ryan. “Now, I’d better go. Call me if you need anything.”
Chase watched as she grabbed her purse off the counter and started out the door.
Ryan turned to him. “Do something, Dad. Mom is leaving and you haven’t even asked her.”
“How can I stop her?”
“Tell her you want her to stay.” He climbed off his chair and started pushing him toward the back door.
Chase ended up on the porch as Mallory was getting into the car. “Mallory, wait…” He took off in a jog and managed to reach her before she got in.
She held up a hand. “Look, Chase, we spent the night. Now, I have to go. You have Ryan here. That’s what you want.”
He touched her arm. “It’s not all I want, Mal. I want you, too. I’ve always wanted you.”
“Please, Chase, don’t do this. We tried once, it didn’t exactly work out.” She drew a breath. “You deserved this time with Ryan…and a lot more.” She finally looked at him, tears filling her green eyes. “I’m sorry that I never gave you the chance before—”
“Stop, Mallory. That’s in the past. We both made mistakes.” He pulled her against him. “So don’t run off. We can work this out.”
She shook her head, resisting. “And what happens to Ryan if we can’t? He’ll be the one who gets hurt. I’ve made some bad choices in the past. I can’t do it again. Goodbye, Chase. I’ll be back tomorrow to get Ryan.”
Before she could get into the truck, Ryan came running out the door, calling her name.
They both waited as Ryan raced to them. “Mom, I changed my mind, I want to go home with you.” He looked at his dad when she climbed in the truck and waited. “She needs me to go with her.”
Chase was proud his son wanted to be with his mother, he just wished he could find a way to have them both.
“It’s okay, son.” He hugged him, knowing nothing was going to be okay at all.
“Chase asked you to stay, and you just walked away?” Liz asked.
Mallory sat at the kitchen table. “It’s okay, Liz. I know what I’m doing.”
“Oh, really. The man—who you love to distraction—asked you to stay and work out a future, and you left? Are you crazy?”
Mallory finally looked at her friend. “No, I’m practical. Chase wants Ryan. He wants me as part of the package. But in the end, we’ll get hurt.”
“You didn’t even stay to find out.” Liz pulled out the chair and sat down next to her. “Look, Mallory, not all men are jerks like Alan. You got the possibility of a future with one of the good guys, but you’ve got to give the man a chance.” She sighed. “You love him…just admit it.”
She couldn’t. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes…it does matter, Mom.”
They both turned toward the back door to see Ryan standing there. “Hi, son,” she said, wiping her eyes and stood. “I bet you’re hungry.”
“No, I’m not.”
Mallory knew he’d been upset since they left Chase this morning. He hadn’t said a word all the way home.
“You need to eat.”
“And you need to tell the truth.” His fists clenched. “You know Dad loves you, but you wouldn’t even listen to him.” He ran out of the kitchen upstairs, then they heard the slam of the bedroom door.
Mallory wanted to cry; instead she went to her son. She’d made so many mistakes by not telling Ryan the truth a long time ago. Somehow, she had to convince him that what she was doing now was for the best.
With an encouraging look from Liz, she made her way upstairs, then knocked on his door. Without waiting, she walked in to find her son on the bed.
It broke her heart to see him looking so sad. “Hey, honey. We need to talk about this.”
He nodded, then went into her arms. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“I know, son.” She shut her eyes. “Oh, Ryan, I know these last few weeks have been tough on you.”
“For you, too. You’ve been so sad for a long time.” He wiped his eyes. “Then Dad came here.”
“It was because of you, Ryan. He loves you. That doesn’t mean that your father and I have to be together.”
“Why not? You love him and he loves you. Why is that so hard?”
Out of the mouths of babes. “Sometimes life is complicated.”
“But Dad is trying to make it better. He bought the ranch so he can be close to us. And he wants to marry you so we can all live together.”
Mallory’s breath caught. Marry her? Her son climbed off the bed and went to his backpack. He reached inside and took out a black box. He brought it to her. “Dad got you this. He showed it to me this morning before you got up. He said he wanted to ask you to marry him.”
Mallory’s hands shook as he held the box. “What are you doing with it?”
“He asked me to keep it safe for him. It’s really pretty.” The child opened the lid to reveal a pear-shaped diamond ring in an antique setting. It was beautiful.
“I bet if you don’t like this ring, Dad will buy you another one. He just had this one for a long time. Even before I was born. He said he was going to ask you to marry him when he got out of training.”
Mallory swallowed the dryness in her throat. Oh, God. “What did you say?”
“I said that Dad was going to ask you to marry him before I was born. That’s why he bought this ring for you. He said it was your favorite kind.”
Tears clouded her vision as she reached for the ring. Then it dawned on her she had told him that she liked antique jewelry. “He remembered…”
“Please don’t be sad, Mom. And don’t be mad at Dad.”
Chase had come back for her. He’d wanted to marry her all those years ago. She hugged her
son. “I’m not mad, Ryan. But I did manage to make a big mess of things.” She pulled back and wiped her eyes. “I think it’s time I tell your father how I feel.”
The boy finally smiled. “Just ask him, I did. He told me last night that he loved you.”
Her chest tightened. “And I love him.”
“Then go and tell him.”
“I think I will, son. I think it’s past time I tell him the truth.”
Chase wanted to stay in bed, but the pounding in his head wouldn’t let him. He sat up, feeling every beer he’d drunk last night. He needed some aspirin. Pulling back the covers, he went into the bathroom and took a bottle from the medicine cabinet. He turned on the shower and got in to soak away his misery.
But that wasn’t going to happen any time soon. When the water turned cold, he shut it off and climbed out to dry off. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt.
He needed coffee, then a busy day of physical work to help him forget his troubles. He’d already started on the barn yesterday, hoping to have a horse to board. Didn’t look like that was going to happen any time soon.
In the kitchen, he managed to make coffee, then by the time he drank his first cup he heard a vehicle pull up.
Great. He didn’t want any visitors today. He got up and saw it was a truck attached to a horse trailer. “What the hell…” He pulled opened the back door and walked outside in time to see Mallory climb out of the truck.
Dressed in faded jeans and a pink blouse, her cowboy hat was cocked back off her smiling face. “Good morning,” she tossed at him as she continued to the back of the trailer and started to unhitch the gate. There were two horses inside.
He came down the steps. “What are you doing here?”
Her gaze met his. “I promised to show you some horses, but never got around to it.”
What was going on? He took her by the arm to stop her. Mistake. He felt her warmth, even through her blouse. He released her.
“You just decided to bring two horses over here this morning…. Out with it, Mallory, because I can’t take any more of these games.”
Texas Ranger Takes a Bride Page 13
