Back to Texas (13 page)

Bridgett’s stomach began to flutter. “I’ve missed you, too.”

“How did your interview go?” Adam shielded his eyes from the sun.

“Interviews,” Bridgett emphasized. “Not too good. Turns out, I’m not qualified for much. I’m surprised Lexi or Shane didn’t tell you.”

Adam closed the distance between them and gripped her shoulders. “You’re qualified for many things. You just haven’t found your niche.”

Bridgett looked up at him. “Are you going kiss me?”

Adam tilted his head, his eyes focused on her mouth. “Is that what you want?” His voice was thick with desire.

“Yes.” Bridgett sucked in her bottom lip.

“It won’t change anything, Bridgett.” His rough, callused fingers gently brushed a windblown wisp of hair from her face. “I refuse to stand in the way of your dreams.”

“Those dreams haven’t exactly worked out for me.” Bridgett gingerly lifted her fingers to his chest, allowing the weight of her palm to settle against his chest. “I told the people I care about my plans. Now whenever I speak I can see them tense, as if I’m about to drop a bomb on them.”

“Can you blame them?” Adam’s hands trailed down her sides, increasing in pressure as they wound around her. He drew her close to him, his lips inches from hers. “No one wants to see you leave. But they won’t stop you, either. We want you to be happy.”

Bridgett’s chest rose and fell in unison with his. “What if this makes me happy?”

“Then who am I to deny you?” Adam’s lips had just grazed hers when sirens startled them.

A fire truck pulled up, a cloud of dust in its wake. Its crew jumped down and ushered Bridgett and Adam away from Bubba.

“Is anyone hurt? Do you need an ambulance?” one of them asked.

Bridgett waved her arms. “I’m fine—we’re both fine. My car died, but I didn’t call you guys. It’s not on fire.”

“Someone called it in saying they saw smoke,” the firefighter said. “We still need to check it out.”

Bridgett turned to Adam. “Care to give me a ride to Lexi and Shane’s? I’ll need to get someone to tow this out of here.”

Adam dramatically bowed and swept his arm toward his truck. “Your chariot awaits.”

“That’s good because my coach just turned into a pumpkin.” Bridgett laughed.

Adam walked her to the passenger side of his truck. “I’ve missed your laugh.”

“I’ve missed yours, too.” Bridgett climbed in. “I heard you’ve been keeping yourself pretty busy working. How do you like it?”

“It’s the best job I’ve had in years.” Adam ran around the front of the truck and hopped in beside her. “For the most part everyone’s been very welcoming. A few of the old-timers are a little set in their ways, but I really have no complaints.”

“Anything new with your family?” Bridgett asked.

Adam steered past the fire truck. “Status quo. I still have no intention of moving back to Katy, if that’s what you’re wondering. My sister’s had nothing new to report. She’s glad I’m settling in here, though. Since we’re on the topic of family, and I swore I wouldn’t get involved, but I do see Abby on the ranch. She wants a relationship with you. She’s a bit hurt that her twin sister goes out of her way to avoid her.”

“You’ve spoken to her about me?” The thought unsettled Bridgett.

“I haven’t told her anything you asked me not to.” Adam rested a reassuring hand on Bridgett’s thigh. “Abby did the talking...and can she talk. I am in a unique situation. I’m asking my family to give me a second chance and I’ve had your support the entire time. Abby’s also asking for a second chance.”

“It’s a different situation. I haven’t done anything to Abby. Not intentionally. My mother and Darren did. They did it to both of us. It’s not the same as your family being mad at you for whatever you did. Outside factors created our mess.”

“Does how it started still matter? Your sister is getting married in six weeks and she really wants you to stand up for her. And if you can’t do that, you should at least go to the wedding.”

“I guess I could call Lexi and ask her to meet me at Dance of Hope instead. It wouldn’t kill me to stop in and spend a minute or two with Abby if she’s not busy.”

“Why don’t you and your sister go to dinner tonight? She passes the Bed & Biscuit on the way home. She can drop you off.”

“Don’t push it, please.” She’d agreed to talk with Abby. That was all she was up for at this stage. “What about you? Do you think we could grab dinner one night this week...to talk?”

“I don’t want to complicate your life, Bridgett.” Adam slowed the truck to a stop at the ranch’s entrance. “I’d love to take you to dinner. Hell, I want nothing more than to kiss you, but I told you I’d wait for you to decide what you want.”

“Maybe I’ve already decided.” Bridgett shifted in her seat to face him. “I had five interviews in San Antonio. Even if they had turned out, I’m not sure I would have gone for it. I wasn’t overwhelmingly thrilled with San Antonio. Don’t get me wrong, I love visiting there. It’s a beautiful city. But it’s a city. With many people. And I can’t believe I’m saying this...but it doesn’t compare to Ramblewood. After each interview, I found myself itching to get back here. To the people who matter in my life. This is my home—it just took me a while to realize it.” Bridgett slid closer to Adam. “And it’s your home, too.”

Adam hooked his finger under her chin, tilting her face to his. “I’d like nothing more than to build a life here with you.” Lowering his mouth to hers, he claimed her lips. The heat from his kiss coursed through her veins. She’d missed his touch. As his strong arms wrapped around her, she knew she’d been a fool to think there was anything better than this out there.

Chapter Nine

The next week and a half flew by at warp speed in Adam’s mind. He’d taken the first offer presented to him on the house, much to the delight of his real estate agent, and his attorney had prepared for the closing on Monday. Based on his agent’s recommendation, he had hired a mover and they had packed up his house. His belongings were on their way to a warehouse storage center in Texas.

Adam mentally went through the checklist he’d created for his countdown to reveal his true identity, and he had completed every item. His manager and publicist had worked together to compose a series of press releases. Once he told Bridgett the truth, he’d give the go-ahead to issue them.

He could weather whatever the rest of the world threw at him, but he feared Bridgett would never forgive him for deceiving her. They had easily slipped back into each other’s lives, and he felt they were on solid footing for once. He hoped when he explained the extent of what he went through to put his old life behind him, it would be enough to prove his sincerity. But he was fully aware he deserved nothing less than a slap in the face.

“Hey, man.” Shane reined his horse to a stop beside Adam and dismounted. “Lexi told me Bridgett’s stressed out over this whole Thanksgiving dinner thing tomorrow night with Abby and Clay’s families.”

“It should be interesting to say the least.” Adam crouched down in front of the fence post and checked the soil. “There’s a definite leak in the irrigation system along this section. It’s rotting the wood away. I’ll need to replace these two posts and a couple of rails.”

“We repaired a leak here once before.” Shane tugged off his gloves. After he phoned the ranch to have someone come out to repair the line, he grabbed a shovel from the bed of the truck and began to dig out the other post. “How are you and Bridgett doing?”

Adam appreciated Shane’s work ethic. He could easily have left the job to Adam, but he’d rather do it himself.

“Good.” Adam slid a new post off the tailgate. “Having her to myself for the night would be nice, though. Dating is great and all, but the lack of privacy gets old real fast.”

Shane jammed his shovel into the muddy soil. “Listen, Lexi and I have a small Airstream travel trailer that we use for weekend escapes. It’s way up in the hills alongside a creek. Why don’t you take Bridgett and spend the night? It’s clean, and I brought out a full tank of propane a week ago.”

Adam titled back his hat. “Thank you, I appreciate it. I’m iffy about how Bridgett will take it, though. I don’t want her to think I’m pushing too fast.”

“You don’t have to spend the night, but the option’s available. Pack a dinner, and treat it as a date night. Let what happens happen. I’m sure Bridgett will appreciate a break from the people of Ramblewood and everything that’s been happening in her family. Lexi and I had to figure out this blended family thing ourselves not too long ago, and it’s not easy. We’re a prime example of how a lie gone bad can turn out all right.”

“What do you mean a lie gone bad?” Adam asked. Did Shane suspect something about his own situation?

Shane rested his arm on the shovel’s handle. “Lexi gave our son Hunter up for adoption. I had no idea I had a son until he was thirteen.”

“And your marriage survived?” Adam’s lie paled in comparison to Lexi’s.

“We weren’t married. In fact we were barely a couple. Lexi had Hunter when she was in college. If I hadn’t cheated on her and married another woman, I’m sure she would have done things differently.”

Adam’s mouth went slack. “You cheated on Lexi?”

“It was a one-night stand with a buckle bunny. I was young and foolish. When the woman showed up at my house pregnant, I married her. Turned out the kid wasn’t mine and we divorced. When Lexi moved back to town I wanted a second chance. Hunter came into our lives just when we had begun to date again. He ultimately brought us together. I forgave Lexi. I may not agree with how she handled it, but I understand why. I asked her to marry me a few weeks later.”

The heaviness in Adam’s chest lifted slightly with Shane’s personal revelation about his and Lexi’s past problems. It confirmed he had made the right decision to come clean with Bridgett and added some much-needed hope and strength to get him through it.

“Lexi’s lie changed everything I knew,” Shane continued. “But what happened to Bridgett and Abby is much worse. Bridgett’s scared and angry and who can blame her?”

“Yeah, I can see why it’s so overwhelming for her. Abby’s a little tornado, isn’t she?” Adam removed two bottles of water from the cooler in the truck’s cab and gave one to Shane. “Don’t get me wrong, she has a huge heart, but she comes on a bit strong.”

Shane twisted the cap off his bottle. “She has the perfect personality for a physical therapist and her determination was exactly what Clay needed to pull him out of his funk. But that’s his story to tell. I will say, she took a broken man and made him whole again.”

Adam wished Bridgett recognized the similarities between her and her sister. Two strong-willed women, wanting to serve others. Yes, physical therapy was different from wanting to open a restaurant, but people’s happiness was the ultimate result of both. One was determined to make the most of their family’s situation, and the other was determined to run from it. The sooner Bridgett accepted Abby in her life, the sooner she’d realize she already had the large family she’d once told him she dreamed of.

“You know Bridgett better than I do. How do you think she’d react if I surprised her with the trailer idea?” Adam asked.

“If you’re thinking of blindfolding her and driving her up there, I strongly advise against it.” Shane removed his hat, scratching his head. “I’d tell her the truth. That way it’s her decision.”

“Thank you. You’ve been an incredible friend.” Adam wondered if their friendship would continue once he discovered who Adam was.

“Let’s finish this, then you can knock off early.” Shane shook the rotted fence post loose. “I’ll follow you back, get you the keys and draw you a map. You won’t find it without one.”

The hair on Adam’s arms rose. Was he nervous or excited? Whether they ate dinner and watched the stars, or ended up spending the night together, he’d be happy.

* * *

B
RIDGETT
PARKED
THE
convertible Mustang Lexi had loaned her alongside Adam’s truck at the ranch. With the countless ranch vehicles at Lexi’s disposal, she had told Bridgett to keep her car for as long as she needed.

She’d been surprised when Adam had called and mentioned the travel trailer. She had agreed to go there with him but hadn’t fully weighed the implications of what the night might bring until she reached Bridle Dance.

She checked her watch. She was almost an hour early. Seeing Barney in the backyard, Bridgett decided to stop in and pay Kay a visit. She hadn’t seen her since the day she’d met Adam. Besides, Bridgett could use some sage advice to help her get through Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. She wondered if Kay ever tired of counseling the young people of Ramblewood. They’d all managed to turn to her for one reason or another through the years.

“I thought that was you driving Lexi’s car.” Kay held the side door open for Bridgett. “Come on in and I’ll fix you a glass of sweet tea. By the look on your face, I don’t think you came here for a purely social visit. Sit a spell and tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Tomorrow night we’re having Thanksgiving at Clay’s parents’ house. All the families. Mine, Abby’s, Clay’s. It’s a pre-wedding get together to introduce everyone. I’m excited to see Clay’s sister because it’s the first time Hannah’s been home from college since August, but sitting down with Abby’s family isn’t exactly my idea of fun. And Clay went from being my friend to my future brother-in-law, which I never thought possible until recently. It’s a whole lot of awkward. I don’t even know what to call Abby’s brother?”

“What’s his name?” Kay asked.

“Wyatt.”

“Call him Wyatt.” Kay set a glass of sweet tea in front of Bridgett. “Stop overthinking this. You go there with the best of intentions and if you don’t want to talk, just listen. You don’t have to put on a show or impress anyone. Be yourself. Besides, out of all those people, only three of them are new to you. I’d venture to guess your mom will be more nervous than you are. And I’m sure she’d appreciate your support. While it might be uncomfortable, I promise you’ll survive.”

Bridgett sipped her tea. “What really gets me is that I can’t stop wondering what life would have been like if I’d been born first. I’ll look at Abby’s parents with the knowledge that they could’ve been my parents. That I might have grown up not knowing my real mother.”

“True.” Kay joined Bridgett at the table. “The empathy you have for Abby is commendable, but it happened to her. Not you. Playing the
what-if
game won’t make it any easier. Do think for one minute that Abby hasn’t run through the same scenario in her head. If she’d been born second, she would have had your life. Everything happens for a reason and we may not like it when does, but acceptance is a part of life.”

“I think it’s what comes after dinner that I’m most concerned about. Abby will once again ask me to go with her to visit Darren. She’s spoken to him briefly, but she told me she feels as if she’s betraying me by meeting him without me present. And I respect her position, but I never told her not to see him. She won’t do it unless I tag along and I’m not sure I’m ready yet.”

“Darren has a lot to think about this Thanksgiving, especially since his wife left. And who could blame her?” Kay swirled the long spoon in her glass. “I may not know Darren as well as my husband did, but when I heard he’d be alone on the holiday, I extended the invitation for him to come for Thanksgiving dinner. He turned it down, but the door’s open if he changes his mind. I wouldn’t want to offend you, Abby or your mother. It weighed heavily on my conscience whether or not to invite him, but in the end I chose to call. No one should be alone at Thanksgiving.”

Kay’s declaration surprised Bridgett. “Kay, this is your house. I’m not upset because you invited Darren. But if he’s not coming here, what is he doing for Thanksgiving?”

“He said he wanted to play golf during the day and planned to order room service for dinner.”

“How sad.”
No, this cannot be happening. I will not feel sorry for Darren.
“I’ll bet his kids will call him or stop by.” Bridgett still hadn’t wrapped her head around the fact Darren’s kids were her half siblings. For now, it was easier to think of them as his kids only.

“Maybe one or two will.”

Bridgett understood Kay’s double meaning instantly.

“You certainly don’t make this easy, do you?” Bridgett asked.

Kay smiled over the top of her glass. “Finish your drink and find that man of yours.”

* * *

“O
KAY
,
WHY
DON
’
T
you look happy?” Adam said as he met Bridgett on the walkway leading to the stables. “If you’re having second thoughts about our plans, we can do it another day.”

“It’s nothing like that. Kay and I had a heart-to-heart talk about Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. It’s all good.”

“If you’re sure. Ready to head out?”

“Most definitely.” Bridgett snaked her arms around Adam’s neck, pulling him down for a kiss. “How far out is it?”

“See for yourself. Shane had to draw me a map. You can be the navigator.” Adam held the truck door open for Bridgett. “Kay packed us a picnic dinner earlier. When that woman makes fried chicken, she fries up enough to feed the state.”

“It smells wonderful. She won’t share that recipe, so savor every mouthful.” Bridgett moved her handbag from the middle of the seat to the floor and slid closer to Adam. “I hope we don’t wind up lost. A good portion of this ranch doesn’t have cell service. I’ve always wondered why they haven’t leased out a section for a cell tower.”

“Probably because they want to maintain the aesthetics of the rolling hills.”

They drove through Bridle Dance silently. Bridget’s skin pricked each time Adam’s arm bumped against hers. Her breath grew shallow in anticipation of the evening. Following the map, they drove down a narrow, tree-lined dirt road. What remained of the late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves of the thick canopy overhead, lending an almost magical quality to the road.

“I think Cooter Creek runs fairly close to here.” Bridgett attempted to break the silence with small talk. They were alone, on a deserted road, with zero chance of anyone coming upon them. She’d come to a decision. Tonight she wanted to be with Adam. Bridgett smiled when she noticed the beads of sweat forming across his brow. He was as nervous as she was.

They pulled into a clearing next to Cooter Creek revealing a tiny silver Airstream trailer. Adam cut the truck’s engine. He shifted slightly, the leather of his jacket creaking.

“I didn’t bring you here to sleep with you, so I don’t want you to feel pressured. I remember what you said about marriage before living together. We don’t even have to go inside. We can build a fire and eat outside if you want.”

The windows of the warm cab began to lightly fog. “That was about living together...I want to go in. I think this is the first time we’ve truly been alone, without the possibility of someone lurking nearby. Let’s just see where it goes.”

She hopped down from the truck, willing her feet to move. Nervousness rooted her to the dirt. Adam unlocked the trailer door and after he disappeared inside briefly, a warm glow lit the interior. Bridgett grabbed her bag from the truck and managed to cross the clearing without trembling...much. Stepping inside the Airstream, Bridgett immediately relaxed at the sight of cozy retrofitted furniture Lexi and Shane had installed.

“This is really cute.” Bridgett sat on the edge of the couch. She watched Adam fumble with the cork on a bottle of red wine. Handing her a plastic glass, he removed the food Kay had packed. He fixed Bridgett a plate before joining her on the couch. “Thank you. Would it be terribly forward of me to admit I’ve thought about this moment since the day we met?”