Although the idea was a pretty wonderful one.
Charlee smiled and started down the path again. “I so can’t wait to tell Bailey.”
“Not without me,” Dara said.
Charlee gave her a wicked smile. “Next call we’re on, you’d better spill the beans from the beginning, or I’m going to.”
“I will.” Dara nodded. “I promise, first thing.”
While doing her best to get into a thriller novel on her e-book reader, Dara rested her back on pillows stacked up against the headboard. She had to have at least ten pillows on her bed, most decorative, but it was a ridiculous number regardless.
She and Charlee had walked the trail twice as they chatted, then enjoyed more than one of Ricki’s pastries at her bakery, Sweet Things. Ricki was a doll and an amazing baker.
Dara’s hips were so going to suffer for the indulgence, but it was worth it.
Charlee and Dara had talked and laughed a lot more at one of the small tables in the bakery before heading home.
Dara had thought about watching Netflix or Prime, but in the end had settled on reading the thriller.
It had taken a while, but she’d finally gotten into the book. The suspense, the excitement of the chase, the capture, the escape, stuff blowing up, and a little romance mixed in—she loved it.
Her phone rang beside her bed, jerking her out of the story. She glanced at it. The moment she saw Jack McBride on the screen, her heart started pounding.
She held her hand to her chest and took a deep breath. She answered with, “Hey there.”
“You have a good day, honey?” he asked in a way that made her feel warmth straight to her core.
Hearing him call her honey made her day complete. Hell, the rest of the week would be perfect.
“Cleaning the house wasn’t the most exciting part of my day.” Dara shifted on the pillows. “But I got a lot done.”
“That wouldn’t be on my list of favorite things to do.” Could he possibly sound even sexier, talking about mundane chores?
“I also went walking with Charley at Acker Park.” Dara held her breath, wondering if he’d ask her if she’d shared their new relationship with her friend.
“Did you get read the riot act for seeing me?” Jack asked with amusement in his tone.
Dara laughed with relief. “I did get the third degree, but Charlee thinks it’s great.”
“Just wait until my sister finds out.” Jack laughed. “That ought to be interesting.”
“She’ll think I’m kidding,” Dara said. “Then she’ll think it’s great.”
She appreciated Jack’s assumption she would tell her friends, which included his sister, and that he didn’t seem to have a problem with it.
“Jayson thinks I’m robbing the cradle,” Jack said as he mentioned his twin. “But I’m thinking ten years isn’t a big difference when it comes to you and me.”
She liked how he said, “you and me,” and the fact that he’d mentioned their new relationship to his brother added to her pleasure.
Dara hesitated. “Did you tell the kids?”
Jack gave what amounted to a groan. “An old friend of Lucy’s told Leslie she saw us together before I had a chance to. It wasn’t pretty.”
“I’m sorry,” Dara said quietly.
Jack sighed. “Telling Leslie before you and I met up would have been the best thing to do, but it’ll all work out.”
“Do you think it will?” Dara bit her lip as she waited for his response. This mattered, more than anything else in their relationship.
“I love my kids, Dara,” Jack said in a tone that told her his heart was in every word he said. “They mean the world to me.”
He went on, “The thing I have to think about is that one day they’ll be gone with families and lives of their own. Hell, I’m looking forward to being a grandpa one of these days.”
Dara laughed. “Grandpa Jack.”
“When you put it that way…”
She grinned. “Has a ring to it.”
“I’m looking forward to that future,” Jack said. “But in the here and now, Leslie and Max can’t be in charge of my life and dictate my future. So yeah, Leslie will get used to it and eventually I’m sure she’ll accept it. She’s a teenage girl, though, so it’s gonna take some time.”
“As a former teenage girl, I can understand that.” Dara leaned back on her pillows. “What about Max?”
Jack chuckled. “He’s already planning for the future with you in it.”
Warmth inside her grew. “I’m glad Max is good with it all. I just hope one day Leslie will be too.”
She hesitated before going on. “How do you think she’ll be at work?”
“We talked about that.” Jack quieted. “I explained to her that throughout our lives, things aren’t always the way we want it to be. She needs be professional and do her job, and I think she will.”
“Okay.” It saddened Dara that this sweet teenager, who she’d know for all of the girl’s young life, was so upset that Jack and Dara were seeing each other.
“Hey,” Jack said. “Everything will turn out fine. Leslie just isn’t used to having another woman in her life.”
“I understand.” Dara played with the material of her silk PJs. “What did you and the kids do today?”
“I took them fishing at Lynx Lake,” he said. “You wouldn’t want to smell me right now. I haven’t taken a shower yet.”
Dara laughed. “Catch anything?”
“Leslie and Max both caught their limit of trout,” he said. “I managed to hook the smallest fish possible all day, so mine went right back in the lake.”
“My dad used to take us when I was a kid,” Dara said. “Well, let’s say he took Andy and had to drag me along, too. Dad wasn’t real patient when it came to younger kids, so he didn’t teach me how to fish. Maybe because I was a girl.”
She went on, “Anyway, I was always happy to go. I spent my time building things out of mud, rocks, and sticks while they fished.”
“Good memories?” Jack asked.
“Pretty much,” Dara said. “I worshiped Andy while I was growing up. He could do no wrong in my eyes. That was until I was old enough to know better.”
“Sounds like Andy to me.” Jack had a grin in his voice. “You like trout? Dipped in cornmeal batter and fried?”
“I love trout,” Dara said. “Isn’t that the only way to fix it?”
Jack laughed. “Yep.”
“Andy and I enjoyed fishing when we were growing up,” Dara said.
“When’s he due to come in?” Jack asked.
“Last time I talked with him, he was thinking about a quick trip out here before the pro basketball season starts.” Dara thought about it. “Since the season starts in the middle of October and it’s now the end of September, it’ll probably be a real quick trip if he does make it.”
“I’d like to see him when he’s out,” Jack said. “It’s been a good long time.”
“A real long time,” Dara said. “I barely get to see him anymore. Especially since he took that assistant coach position. When he does make it, I do think he’d enjoy visiting with you.”
“Is the 4-H meeting at six-thirty this Thursday?” Jack asked.
“Yes.” Dara slid her palm over the satiny PJs covering her belly. Why did butterflies always take off in her belly at the thought of seeing him? “If you want to come earlier, I can show you around the ranch.”
“I’d like that,” he said. “What time?”
“Emily and Leslie always help get the kids together for the meeting.” She thought about it. “I think five-thirty would give enough time for me to show you around.”
“Sounds good to me,” he said. “Are you getting sleepy?”
“I’d rather talk with you all night than sleep.” Dara smiled. “But since we’re not teenagers and I have to get up earlier than normal and walk with Charlee before work, I guess I should get to sleep. Walking is supposed to be our new routine, then I need to get to Spe
cial Dreams.”
“Ranch work starts pretty early around here, too.” Jack paused. “Good night, sweet Dara. I’ll call you tomorrow evening.”
“Good night, Jack.” She hesitated just a moment before she pressed the disconnect icon on her phone.
She smiled as she set her cell on the nightstand, then drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. She settled her chin on her knees.
Should she pinch herself? She’d dated and dated and dated over the years, but they were always the small fish that she ended up throwing back, like Jack had done today with the trout.
Over the years, she’d have a relationship here and there that she’d thought might get serious that ended up fizzling out. That was about all that had been in her life. Including the time she’d dated the father of one of the ranch kids. What a mess that had been.
But Jack McBride? She’d long respected and admired the McBride men, especially Jack. She’d always liked what she’d seen of him with his kids, and the way he joked around with his brothers and his sister.
They were a fun bunch. No family was perfect, and the McBrides had their not-so-great moments, but everyone did. Overall, she respected and admired them more than any other family she’d met.
She’d just never thought she would have the chance to become closer with those she loved. She’d had no idea she’d get to know Jack better, much less date him.
He’d even gone so far as to explain their relationship to his kids. And he’d explained to her that he needed his kids to understand that his life wasn’t entirely theirs.
Not all parents realized that. Their children were their complete world. But once the kids were grown and gone, the parents were often left looking at each other, suddenly realizing they’d given everything to the kids and nothing to their relationship.
She’d seen it happen with parents who brought their child to the ranch to learn real world skills. They chose to put the child in an environment that would nurture them and help them grow in ways that the parents couldn’t.
Some of those parents had put everything into raising their child and then found themselves trying to deal with the reality that they had to rebuild their relationship or part ways.
That was the sad part of what she’d sometimes seen. Other times the couple had a healthy love for each other and their child.
And then of course there were those who left their child and walked away.
Dara tried not to let those thoughts burn at her. What she concentrated on was the fact she loved those kids and gave them everything she could.
But, like any parent, she needed to nurture herself as well.
Jack had a healthy outlook for the future and that was a wonderful thing.
Dara put her hand over her belly that decided to do tricks and flip around as she thought about the man she was already falling for.
For the first time since Saturday, before she’d met with Jack, she thought about Lucy. Why the memories of the woman popped into her mind now, she didn’t know.
Dara tried to breathe. Would she be competing with a ghost when it came time for things to move forward? When it came to his family?
She forced air in and out. Just stop, she told herself. One day at a time.
Still, she felt a little of her sunshine dulled by the ghost of a woman who might still be in everyone’s hearts and minds, with no room for Dara to become a part of Jack’s life.
She closed her eyes tight and forced the thoughts away. She should be doing nothing more than enjoying her new relationship with Jack.
He was ready to move on from his past, and that was what mattered. She believed it with all she had in her heart.
Everything else would work out fine. She and Jack wouldn’t rush things—more than they already had—and they would take it a day at a time.
This extraordinarily virile, good looking, and sexy man had just turned her world upside down.
She loved the way his lips would curve into a smile that made her stomach flip, and the heat in his gaze when he’d just finished thoroughly kissing her. He made her entire body tingle the way he audibly breathed in the scent of her hair and tasted her skin when he kissed her neck.
One of these days she’d get to skim her fingers over his bare skin and touch all that incredible muscle that she’d felt through his shirt. She loved a man in Wranglers, and damn, but he looked good in them. Was it possible for one man to look better in those jeans than another?
The solid lines of his features and the stubble on his jaw made him even more incredibly attractive.
The most important things, however, were his integrity, honesty, intelligence, and the way he loved his family and cared for others in his life. He had such good qualities in every way she could think of.
She was sounding pretty starry-eyed, she knew. No one was perfect, but the one thing she definitely knew was that Jack McBride was a good man.
Could she get any luckier? She smiled. She’d find out soon enough.
Chapter Seven
Dara hurried around Special Dreams Ranch’s kitchen as she worked with Adrian and Shelly. The teens were helping fix dinner and get it on the table by five-thirty.
She only had two of her kids in the kitchen at a time so that she could address their needs more easily.
And make sure she didn’t have chaos erupting with too many cooks in the kitchen.
Earlier today, before starting dinner, Jacob and Belle had made a Jell-O and whipped cream dessert for later that evening, after the 4-H meeting.
Not long after dinner, Jack would be here for a tour and the meeting. Emily could handle cleaning up after dinner with the kids, while Dara took Jack around the place.
The first four days of the week, including today, had been tense with Leslie. Dara tried to act like nothing had changed, but Leslie was clearly having nothing of it. She was polite and did her work as efficiently as usual, but she didn’t make any effort to talk with Dara as she normally had.
Right now, Leslie was out with the horses. She was a 4-H senior leader and helped run the meetings, as well as teach a project on caring for horses. The kids loved Leslie, and she was good with them.
Shelly, one of the teens making dinner, touched Dara’s sleeve. “Can I serve dessert after dinner, Miss Dara?”
Dara smiled. “You’re doing so well with making dinner. We need to give others the chance to help, too.”
Shelly sighed. “Okay.”
“Aren’t you on the list for serving dessert tomorrow?” Dara asked.
Shelly went to the chart on the wall near the fridge. The type was big to help those who had difficulty seeing. She turned back to Dara. “I help tomorrow.”
“Wonderful.” Dara gave Shelly another smile.
She turned to Adrian, who stood on the other side of the kitchen, struggling with a sack of flour.
This isn’t going to end well, was her thought as she shot across the kitchen.
Adrian grappled with the package and dropped it two seconds before Dara reached him.
Flour poofed up in the air, hitting Dara straight in the face.
She managed to keep her groan inside as she tried not to suck more flour up her nose. She wiped flour out of her eyes and blinked it away.
“I’m sorry, Miss Dara, I’m sorry.” Adrian looked around at the mess. “I will clean.”
“It’s not a problem, Adrian.” She reached him and put her hands on his shoulders. “I’ll help.”
Adrian hugged her and she was covered with even more flour.
Dara laughed and hugged him back.
“I like the new look.”
Jack’s voice came from behind her and she whirled to see him grinning.
Dara struck a pose. “Didn’t you know flour is the latest fashion?”
He rocked back on his boots, still grinning. “Where’s the broom?”
“The pantry.” She was grinning herself as she watched him go in the direction she’d pointed to.
Emily helped Shelly
finish up the last of dinner while Dara and Jack worked with Adrian to clean up the mess.
They ended up having more help from other teens than was required. The kids enjoyed cleaning up the mess a little too much.
A small flour fight started, but Dara got that under control pretty quick. The flour ended up distributed pretty evenly over all their clothing.
By the time they had gotten it all up and the entire mess cleaned, Dara and Jack were coated from head to toe in the white stuff.
They were laughing, the kids were laughing, Emily was laughing.
In those moments, Dara had more joy bubbling up inside her than she could have thought possible. The whole thing had been funny, and she’d shared the experience not only with her kids, but with Jack, too.
“You look terrible.” Leslie’s voice caused Dara to turn. Leslie’s expression was dark as she looked from Dara to Jack. “You’re acting like kids.”
“We’re not going to discuss your attitude here, but we will when we get home.” Jack frowned, his forehead creased. “I think you have work to do.”
Leslie scowled and marched out of the kitchen.
“I’m sorry.” Jack reached out and took Dara’s hand. “She shouldn’t have spoken to you the way she did. Leslie and I are going to have a long talk.”
Dara squeezed Jack’s hand. “I understand. She’s hurting, and I’m the source of her pain.”
“No, you’re not.” He frowned and brought her closer to him. “She’s a teenage girl who needs an attitude adjustment. Just because she has those feelings, doesn’t mean she can take it out on anyone.”
Dara nodded, but a heaviness weighed down her heart that hadn’t been there before.
She did her best to shake it off and smiled. “You’re here early, but I can’t say I mind it one bit.”
Jack grinned. “You look so damned cute.”
Warmth heated her cheeks. “I’m going to clean up a bit and then I’ll show you around.”
“You look beautiful dressed in flour.” He held onto her. “But if it makes you feel better, go on. I’ll work on getting some of this off, too.”
“There’s a room down the hall for corporate guests to stay in while they’re here.” She drew him along with her as they entered the west wing. “All the way down to the end of the hall, last door on the right.”
Wild for You Page 7
