Home on the Ranch: Unexpected Daddy

by Pamela Britton

  Maverick.

  She’d managed to avoid him all night. That was a good thing...or so she told herself.

  Someone tapped a glass, and everyone grew quiet. Crystal stood on a raised dais at one end of the tent.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” she said with a smile at the crowd. “On behalf of the Gillian family I’d like to welcome you to our first annual Fostering Hope event.”

  Someone applauded and that grew to more hand clapping until Crystal had to raise her own hands to quiet people one more time.

  “I’m so tickled you could come out. As some of you may know, my nephew recently decided to adopt a little girl. He’s here tonight with his soon-to-be new daughter and he wanted to say a few words, especially since it’s getting close to someone’s bedtime.”

  People laughed. Maverick made his way through the crowd. For some reason Charlotte sank back, hiding partly behind a man.

  “Hello, everyone.”

  She swallowed. Hard.

  “I just want to thank all of you for coming out tonight.” He glanced at Olivia, who stared at the crowd with wide eyes. “This is Olivia. Say hello, honey.” She buried her head in his neck. She heard more than a few “aw”s, including one inside her own head. Clearly, Olivia trusted Maverick implicitly.

  So why didn’t she?

  She shook her head, trying to shake away the thought like an annoying fly.

  “She’s shy,” he said, looking back over the crowd. “But I wish you guys could have seen her when she first came to us a few weeks ago.” He glanced back at the little girl, who wore a tender smile on her face, and Charlotte’s throat grew thick at the love shining from his eyes. “She’s come such a long way. But the thing is, she almost ended up a ward of the state. I only agreed to take care of her on a temporary basis. But the more time we spent together, the more I wondered how the hell I was going to give her up. And then one day she called me ‘Daddy.’”

  He stopped and it was clear that he tried to get ahold of himself. His voice dropped an octave. “That was a moment I’ll never forget. I knew then there was no way I could ever give her up.”

  Charlotte had to inhale against the tears that were forming. She would bet she wasn’t the only one in the room.

  “Of course, I had to convince my dad it was a good idea.” Some of the people in the crowd laughed. Maverick turned and Charlotte followed his gaze, spotting Mr. Gillian in the crowd. “Don’t worry, Dad. I haven’t lost my mind...yet.”

  His teasing smile faded. “Seriously, though, there’s a shortage of foster parents in Via Del Caballo. So my aunt and I decided to do something about that. We’re hoping that tonight you’ll do more than drink our champagne and eat our food.” A few laughs. “We’re hoping you’ll be touched by Olivia’s and my story and the stories of the other foster parents in this room tonight, and that you’ll want to sign up to become foster parents, too.”

  He looked around the room and she could swear he locked eyes on her. She wanted to duck all the way behind the man in front of her, but she didn’t. She stood there, looking into his eyes and thinking...

  What? What was she thinking?

  “Thank you,” he said, turning to exit the stage.

  The crowd erupted. Charlotte applauded, too, though her mind was spinning at the same time. He was such a good man. Why didn’t she trust him?

  “Wasn’t that great?” Crystal said in her ear.

  She turned. She hadn’t even known the woman was nearby. “It was.”

  “The music is starting next. Why don’t you and Maverick dance?”

  “Oh, no. I couldn’t. He has Olivia.”

  “Sure you can. Someone needs to be the first couple on the floor. Come on. I’ll take Olivia. She needs to get to bed, anyway.”

  “Crystal, no. I should network some more.”

  “Nonsense.” She hooked her arm through her own.

  That was how she found herself in front of Maverick. Crystal held out her arms. “Come to me, lovey. Time to go join your cousins and head to bed.”

  “You taking her to your place?” Maverick asked, but he avoided looking at her, Charlotte noticed.

  “Yup. And you’re going to dance with Charlotte.”

  He tensed. She could see it happen even as he handed Olivia off to his aunt.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I think I should go up to the house with Olivia. She’s never seen this babysitter before.”

  “Don’t be silly.” His aunt took the little girl from his arms. “She’ll be fine. Dance.”

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to,” Charlotte said.

  “Oh, my goodness, you two. Stop. I need you to dance. The crowd’s just standing around.”

  People were, but it was clear Maverick wasn’t anxious to take her hand, and she wondered if it was because he feared she’d pull away like she had that first time he’d touched her.

  She held her hand out.

  His gaze shot to her own, questioning. She had no idea where it came from, but she smiled.

  His fingers clasped her own.

  Chapter 16

  Dance, his aunt said.

  So he danced. But only because Charlotte held out her hand and he was smart enough to recognize the significance of the gesture. As he led her toward the dance floor, though, he tried to ignore the way his heart beat out of control and how he could feel the soft texture of her hand and the way her fingers flexed when his grip connected with her own—as if she felt the weird jolt of electricity, too.

  And, of course, it was a slow dance. He didn’t want to pull her close. It was like being in seventh grade all over again and dancing with the popular girl when he had no clue how to hold her. He placed a hand on her waist, trying not to move it, his other hand still holding her hand. He hoped like hell his palms didn’t start sweating.

  “That was a good speech,” she said, her gaze darting to him, but only for a split second. “Fineus.”

  He stumbled a bit. “I think I like Mav better.”

  “I don’t blame you.”

  He was bumped from behind and their bodies connected and it was like walking across a lawn and having the sprinkler suddenly turn on. He gasped. She jumped back, too.

  “Sorry,” he said.

  “No, it’s okay.”

  She was looking anywhere but up at him. He wondered if he should just keep quiet, but then she said, “I’ve been meaning to tell you how happy I am that you’re adopting Olivia.”

  Good, safe topic. “I couldn’t imagine my life without her.”

  They were bumped again. People had crowded onto the dance floor to join them. This time he managed to keep their bodies from touching. But then he felt a small spurt of amusement. Here they were, both of them close to thirty, and they acted like they’d never danced with someone before. Then again, she had a damn good reason for never having danced before. The thought sobered him.

  “She loves you,” she said. “I can tell.”

  “Yeah, well. The feeling’s mutual.”

  Her next words were hard to hear, as if she had to work to get them past a lump in her throat. “I can see why Becca chose you for Olivia’s dad.”

  Becca. He thought about her often. Sometimes he could see her face in Olivia’s. It always made him sad, but it also made him all the more committed to Olivia’s future.

  “I wish she’d have come to me for help. You know, tried a little harder to get in touch with me. She could have come out to the ranch. I wouldn’t have turned her away. But she didn’t, and I feel so incredibly guilty for ignoring her calls. Maybe if I hadn’t none of this would have happened.”

  She tipped her head sideways, whatever it was he saw in her eyes intensifying. “It’s not your fault, Maverick. Don’t blame yourself. And if you think about it, she did ask for your help in a way. By putting your nam
e on Olivia’s birth certificate, she was ensuring her daughter’s future. I think deep down inside she knew the direction her life was headed. I think she also knew you and your family were Olivia’s best hope.”

  He had to look away because the words made him so sad and yet touched him so deeply that for a moment he could barely breathe. He had a feeling she was right.

  “I wish I’d had someone like you when I was younger.”

  He met her gaze, surprised by her admission.

  “I wish that, too.”

  She stared up at him, and even though it didn’t, it seemed like the music slowed, like they were the only two people in the room. He didn’t consciously make the decision to pull her closer, but he did, and she went into his arms willingly and it made him feel...

  He closed his eyes. It made him feel like Superman.

  “I think...” She looked away from him again. “I think that if I was different, if things were different, I’d be a fool not to grab your hand and whisk you out of here.”

  She had the look of a woman who’d said something bold and brave, and immediately wished she hadn’t.

  “I mean, I like you. A lot. I just don’t think I could ever...”

  He should let the conversation drop. Should smile at her and change the subject. Instead he said, “I think you could.”

  She glanced up at him sharply.

  “I think if you trusted me you could.”

  She lifted her chin. “I do trust you.”

  “Oh?” he asked.

  She couldn’t hold his gaze and for a moment he wondered if he’d pushed her too far.

  “When I was little,” she said softly, so softly he had to lean forward to hear her over the music and the din of voices, “all I wanted to do was survive.”

  She’d done it again, kicked him in the gut.

  “You have no idea what I’ve been through.”

  “You’re right. I don’t. And it’s wrong of me to think I do. I just wish...” He shook his head. “I just wish things were different.”

  The music ended, and he realized she looked pretty. Really, super pretty. Fancy red shirt with sparkles along the neckline that emphasized the flush in her cheeks. Hair down. Her eyes big and brown and, yes, sad.

  Sad.

  It broke his heart and he had to let her go before he did something reckless, like grab her hand and lead her outside.

  “Take care of yourself, Charlotte.”

  * * *

  She tried to act like nothing was amiss. When her boss came over to personally congratulate her on a successful evening, she smiled and deflected the credit to Crystal. And when Crystal told her later that the local news station would be airing a piece on them, she acted excited. But when a young couple came up to her, people she’d met earlier, and said they now wanted to adopt, she was genuinely thrilled.

  Maverick was nowhere to be seen. She told herself it shouldn’t bother her, but it did. She didn’t mean to ask about him, but when she bumped into Jayden, she found herself mentioning in passing that she hadn’t seen him.

  “Oh, he left,” she said with a smile, waving at someone who passed by. “He said there was no reason to stick around now that he’d given his big speech.”

  So she’d chased him off. Again.

  He’s right. You can’t even trust someone like Maverick. What is wrong with you?

  Someone that she knew with every fiber of her being was a good man. Someone that she trusted with Olivia. Someone that she trusted to kiss her. Once.

  Her face began to feel like the walls to a castle crumbling brick by brick. She had to get out of there.

  “I think I’m going to leave, too.”

  She smiled at Jayden, hoping she didn’t spot the way her mouth trembled or the way her hands shook. Damn it.

  “Oh?” Jayden seemed genuinely disappointed. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ve been feeling kind of yucky all night. Stomach bug, maybe.”

  “Ugh.” Jayden thrust up her hands. “Stay away from me, then. I don’t want to get sick while I’m pregnant.”

  She felt bad for lying, but took a step back to soothe her friend’s concerns. “Tell your aunt I said goodbye.”

  “Sure.” Jayden smiled. “I’d hug you, but I don’t want your germs.”

  “No.” She gave a little wave.

  Running out of your own event and not even saying goodbye to the woman who’s done the bulk of the work. Some nice person you are.

  But when she made it outside it was like she’d been underwater. She gasped in big gulps of air, stood there for a moment trying to pull herself together because she realized she liked Maverick. Maybe even a lot. And it scared the crap out of her.

  “Are you leaving?”

  She about jumped out of her boots. But then she settled back into them. Her heart flipped around in her chest and then swirled around all over again—at least that was what it felt like. She recognized the voice even though all she could make out was the outline of a pair of wide shoulders and a cowboy hat.

  “I was just...” She had to suck in another gulp of air. “I was about to leave.”

  He moved forward, and it was funny because as he closed the distance between them all she wanted to do was run toward him. To hide in his arms. To let him hold her and tell her everything would be all right because deep down inside she knew this man would never do anything to harm her. Not a single thing.

  “I thought you’d left already,” she said.

  She could make out his face now, light from the tent behind her casting his face in shadows but not to the point that she couldn’t make out his soft smile or the way his eyes held her own.

  “I came back for you.”

  And her heart just went sort of oomph, beating wildly and causing a cascading chain reaction within her. That was all it did and yet it caused a cascading chain reaction within her. Her chest rose and fell. Her legs began to quiver. Electricity seemed to dance through the air.

  This was desire, she realized.

  “Where’s Olivia?” she asked.

  “Still up at my aunt’s.” He was standing right in front of her now, and she saw his hand lift, only to fall back to his side again. “I didn’t want to wake her up. Or maybe, I don’t know, I knew I’d be back for you. All this time I told myself to leave you alone, and so I did. But the whole time I’ve been back at home I’ve been sitting on my porch thinking of you and I have no idea why, because we’ve barely even kissed and we’ve never even been out on a date and yet I can’t seem to stop thinking—”

  “Maverick.”

  He stopped. She took the final tiny step so that they were nearly touching, and as she stared up at him, she knew she was about to do something she’d never done before. She told herself to be brave. That he was right. It was way past time to put the past behind her.

  “Stop talking and kiss me,” she said.

  He didn’t need to be told twice. When his lips met her own, they were gentle, just as they had been before, but she could tell he fought for control. His hands moved up her back, slowly, lightly pulling her toward him.

  He tried not to scare her and she appreciated that and wanted to thank him for that because he seemed to understand just what she needed. His kindness prompted her to open her mouth to him, trying to tell him without words that he didn’t need to worry, that she finally believed.

  His tongue touched her own and it did things to her that made her insides curl and twist and made her gasp. She wanted—no, she needed—more of this.

  He reared back, gasped in air and stopped kissing her so that he could say, “I want to take you back to my place, Charlotte. I want to show you what it’s like to be loved by a man.”

  Loved? Did he love her? She didn’t think so. It was just a figure of speech, she told herself, but that was okay.

 
“Take me home, Maverick. Make love to me.”

  He didn’t move. And even in the darkness she spotted the way his eyes widened. Then his shoulders relaxed and the hands at her back dropped. One of them took her own. They turned in unison and headed toward his home.

  Chapter 17

  They picked their way through the darkness, although the moon shone so brightly it brushed the landscape with shades of gray. He thought maybe she might change her mind as they walked along the road, but she held on to him like someone afraid of drowning.

  Still, he felt the need to ask, “Are you sure about this?” when his house came in sight. Sadie had started barking, but she must have recognized his voice, because the dog quieted before running up to them.

  “I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.”

  Hard to name the emotions that flowed through him as they climbed the steps to his home. Anticipation, certainly, but also an anxiousness born of a desire to please her.

  The brightness inside his home made him blink. Sadie danced around their feet until he told her to stay. He still held Charlotte’s hand as he guided her to his bedroom at the back of the house, which wasn’t completely dark thanks to wall sconces on the wraparound porch. He loved his room with its hardwood floors and high ceilings and wondered what she would think of it. She had eyes only for him, though, and just like when they were dancing, a sudden awkwardness overcame him. What was it with her, he wondered, that everything felt like the first time?

  “I don’t want to scare you,” he said, turning to face her, uncertain what to do.

  “Just kiss me,” she said, her brown eyes so big, the pupils so dilated from being outside that her eyes looked almost black

  That he could do...did do, his mouth capturing her own, and this time she opened for him almost instantly. Progress, he thought, but then stopped thinking about anything other than the way she felt in his arms. She didn’t kiss him like other women had in his past. Her touch was shy and tentative and yet all the more endearing because of it.