Busted (13 page)

She choked back a sob. “Please, don’t leave like this. I did
this because I love you.”

He glared at her hand before looking into her eyes. “You
sure as hell have a funny way of showin’ it. I think it’s time for you to
leave.”

“But I want to see Cassidy perform in the play. Please, I
promised her.”

Cole knew punishing his daughter for her grandmother’s indiscretions
wasn’t fair. “Fine, but I’d appreciate it if you kept your distance from me and
left as soon as the play is over.”

“Cole, please don’t do this.” The tears fell as she reached
into her purse for a tissue. “You and that little girl mean the world to me.
Having both of you back in my life is such a blessing. I don’t know what I’d do
without you.”

“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before.”

Cole was still seething by the time he claimed a seat near
the back of the packed gymnasium.

Jake sat down beside him, chuckling when he asked, “Is this where
all delinquent parents get to sit? Must be punishment for bein’ the last to arrive,
huh?”

Cole just grunted. He wasn’t in the mood to talk to
Charlene’s brother of all people.

“Look, I know you kept your word to me, and I just want you
to know that I appreciate it.”

“How do you know I’ve kept my distance? You been spyin’ on
us?”

“Jessica’s been doin’ the pickup and drop off at the school
lately, and she said you never venture inside anymore.”

“That oughta make you happy.” Cole crossed his arms. “You
and your whole damn family.”

“Just for the record, my wife is mad as hell that I’m
stickin’ my nose in where she says it doesn’t belong.” He nudged Cole in the
arm. “But you know if it was your kid sister, you’d feel the same way.”

“I don’t wanna talk about this anymore. I’m just here to
watch my kid in the play. Then I intend to go home, have a stiff drink, and
forget this night ever happened.”

“I heard you’ve had your fair share of those lately. Stiff
drinks, that is. Dixie said she’s reservin’ a stool at the bar with your name
on it.”

His ranch foreman’s wife, Mrs. Garcia, would often bring her
knitting up to the big house and sit with Cassidy so he could slip out for a
drink or two or three, after his daughter went to bed. That’s when the loneliness
seemed unbearable. When the house was dark and quiet, he began imagining what
it would be like when Cassidy left home and he had no one there to help him
fill the emptiness.    

“You gotta a problem with that, too?”

“Look, I’m just concerned about you, that’s all.”

“Spare me the bullshit. I don’t believe for a second that
you’re concerned about me. The only person you’re tryin’ to protect here is
your sister. And I get that, it’s fine. Just don’t pretend to be my friend when
you’re clearly not.”

“How can you say that? I am your friend, but I love my
sister—”

Jake’s very pregnant wife, Jessica, claimed the seat beside
her husband. “Hope I didn’t miss anything? The plumber took a little longer
than expected.”

Jake laced hand through his wife’s. “You got here just in
time, baby.”

Cole felt the ache expanding inside of him as he glanced at
their joined hands. He and Charlene would never have what they had. He just had
to accept that and figure out how to get on with his life.  

Jessica leaned over and smiled at Cole. “How’s it goin’,
Cole?”

“Okay.” He was anything but okay, but he wasn’t going to
burden anyone else with his problems. He’d do what he’d always done: suffer in
silence. “How ‘bout you, Jess?”

“I can’t complain. It’s been busy at the travel agency the
past couple of weeks. Everybody’s anxious to get away in January.”

Getting away sounded like a good idea to Cole, but he didn’t
know where he would go or how a safe distance would help to mend his broken
heart. He could only hope that time would ease the ache in his chest whenever he
looked at Charlene. Stealing a glance at her now, she seemed cool and composed,
as though directing dozens of children was second nature to her. She would make
a wonderful mother someday, but it sure wouldn’t be to his kids. That much was
obvious.

He looked at Paul, sitting in the front row, admiring
Charlene. He was perfect for her. Kind, gentle, respectable. Everything Cole
wasn’t. They belonged together, and that should make walking away easier, but
it didn’t. Knowing he was leaving her in another man’s arms made it harder.

“Hey, you sure you’re okay?” Jessica asked, following the
direction of his attention to the stage area.

“Yeah, sure.” He tore his eyes away from Charlene. “I’m
fine.” He crossed his arms over his chest. He knew he was scowling, but he
didn’t care.

“Just for the record, I’m not on board with my husband’s
plan to try and keep you two apart. I told him I think he’s dead wrong.”

“This isn’t the time or place to discuss this,” Jake said,
putting his arm around his wife and drawing her into his side.

“Your husband’s right about that, Jess. But I appreciate the
support. It’s nice to know not everyone in this town thinks I’m a freak.”

Jake muttered a curse and whispered, “I never said I think
that, man. Come on, let’s talk about this some other time, okay?”

“No need,” Cole said, clearing his throat. “It’s over. You
got what you wanted.”

Charlene walked on to the stage, smiled at the crowd, and
claimed the microphone.

At that moment, Cole realized he would spend the rest of his
life wanting something he could never have.

Cole was just on his way out to run an errand in town when
he opened the door and almost walked right into his older brother, Liam. “What
the hell are you doin’ here?” Cole asked, drawing him into a hug. “Man, it’s
good to see you.”

Though the two brothers hadn’t grown up together, they were
still close. Liam spent most of his professional football career in Texas, and
he and Cole made an effort to see each other at least once a month, until Cole
decided to move to Brant and help his mother with the ranch.

Liam put his arm around Cole and led him back into the
house. “I came back to spend the holidays with my family. Is that okay with
you?”

Cole shot him a side-long glance. “Sure, but why do I get
the feelin’ there’s more to it than that?”

“Seems like my family’s goin’ through a rough time… you and
Mama are on the outs, and Vanessa and Tara are havin’ a hell of a time since
Cliff’s death.”

Cole felt guilty he hadn’t been more of a presence in his niece’s
life since a car accident claimed her step-father a few months ago. He was too
preoccupied with Charlene to consider anyone else.

“It’s gotta be rough. The first holiday without him, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess it will be. Thought it might be a good idea
to be here, you know, in case Tara needs me.”

“You plan on stickin’ around a while?” Cole asked, following
his brother into the family room. This was Liam’s home growing up, while Cole
had lived with their father in Texas.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Liam said,
sitting down in one of the leather armchairs flanking the fireplace. “Mama
mentioned that you’re goin’ through a bit of a rough patch.” He grinned. “Who’d
have thought, my tough-guy brother brought down by little Charlene McCoy.”

Cole rolled his eyes as he sank into the chair across from
Liam. “She may have been a little girl back when you left town, but trust me,
she’s not anymore.”

“Oh, believe me, I know.” He chuckled as he wiggled his
eyebrows. “I’ve seen her around time a time or two when I was home visitin’.
She’s… wow.”

“She’s too damn young for you.” Just the thought of his own
brother making a play for Charlene made him see red. Liam may have earned his
reputation as a womanizer before a knee injury took him out of the game he
loved, but he didn’t have his younger brother’s reputation as the devil
incarnate.

Liam nudged his leg with the heel of his cowboy boot. “I’m
just messin’ with ya, man. I’d never go after your woman.”

“She’s not my woman. She’s involved with someone else.” It
hurt Cole just to think about it, much less acknowledge the relationship aloud.

“Oh yeah? Who’s the guy?”

“I don’t think you’d know him. He’s new in town.”

“So listen, I thought you might be ready for a change of
scenery, you know, because of everything that’s goin’ down with Charlene.”

“Runnin’ away from my problems isn’t the answer.” Not that
he hadn’t thought about it a time or two in recent weeks.

“I’m not suggestin’ you run away. Just take a little time to
get your head together, figure out where to go from here. I know, better than
anyone, that losing
the one
can mess with your head, no matter the
circumstances.”

Liam had left Brant and his then girlfriend, Vanessa, nearly
two decades ago to pursue his football career. He didn’t know she was pregnant
with his baby when he left. He found out years later, when his daughter reached
out to him, but Cole knew standing by and watching another man claim the life
and child that should have been his killed Liam.

“Is that why you’re back here, because of Vanessa?”

“No, she just lost her husband. I know she’s still grievin’,
but if I can lend my support and help her and Tara get through it, I will.”

“All right, let’s hear it. What are you proposin’, ‘cause I
can tell by that look in your eye that you’ve got somethin’ on your mind.”

Liam looked around. Their grandfather had built the post and
beam ranch house almost fifty years ago to replace the family home his wife had
grown up in. This land represented their family’s roots, and Cole knew Liam
still thought of it as home.

“I thought getting away from here for a couple of weeks
might be a good idea for you and the munchkin. I know she’s out of school now,
and I’m sure her other grandparents would love to see her over the holidays.”

“You’re suggestin’ I go back to Texas? Why the hell would I
want to do that?”

Liam sighed. “Texas was your home long before you moved to
Brant. You were happy there. You and Cassidy both.”

“Yeah, but now she’s happy here. Mama’s here, and she has
her friends. She’s doin’ real well in school, and she loves her teacher.” Cole
cursed when he thought of Charlene. Was that gaping hole in his chest ever
going to heal? Maybe his brother was right. Maybe he did need to get away from
her for a while.     

“What about you? You sure as hell can’t tell me you’re happy
here.”

Cole braced his elbows on his knees and covered his face
with his hands. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m tired. Life is wearin’ me down.”

“I can see that. That’s why I’m askin’ you, hell, I’m
tellin’
you to take some time to re-group. You can stay at my place, I’ll stay here.”

“You think you can manage the ranch by yourself?”

Liam laughed. “Boy, I’ve still got shit on my cowboy boots.
Don’t worry about me.”

“Okay, but I will be back, so don’t get too comfortable.”

Liam looked at him a long time before he asked, “Are you
sure, really sure, that you wanna be here? The people in this town are never
gonna be able to see past your reputation, and in my opinion, that’s their
loss. But think about what that’s gonna do to your little girl when she gets
older. You really wanna put her through that?”

“You’re tellin’ me you think I should consider movin’ back
to Texas permanently?”

“I’m just sayin’ it’s somethin’ to think about.”

Charlene opened the door and felt her heart sink when she
saw the expectant look on Paul’s face. She thought the barriers she’d erected
between them would give him a hint that she wasn’t interested in taking their
relationship to the next level, but judging by the warmth she felt in his
embrace and the hopeful look in his eye, she knew this would be harder than she
thought.

“I know you’ve got a busy day planned,” he said, taking his
coat off and hanging it on the hand carved wooden rack at the door. “I won’t
keep you too long.” He patted his pocket. “I’ve been dying to give you this,
and I just couldn’t wait another day.”

“Before you do that, I think we should talk.”

His smile slipped. “Uh oh, I don’t think I like the sound of
that.”

She linked her arm through his and led him into the living
room. Her eyes drifted to the fire roaring behind the tinted glass safety
panel. Entering this room without thinking of Cole was difficult, especially
now when her feelings for him were the reason she couldn’t continue seeing
Paul.

“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked, leading him
toward the sofa.

“No, thanks.” He looked nervous, as though he dreaded her
next words, but wanted to her to put him out of his misery nonetheless. “I’ve
missed you. A lot.” He reached for her hand when she claimed the seat beside
him. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. About us.” He released a
shaky breath. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. We’re so good
together—”

Charlene pressed a fingertip to his lips as she cursed
herself for allowing him to get in so deep. If she’d been honest with herself
about her feelings for Cole months ago, Paul wouldn’t be in this position. “I
think you’re a wonderful man, Paul. I’ve enjoyed our time together, but—”

He kissed her hand, holding it in a tight grip. “Please,
don’t say that you don’t think we have a future. I think we’re great together.
We have fun, we have a lot in common, you’re great with my daughter…”

“But I just think of you as a friend.” She knew her only
course of action was to be blunt. “I’m sorry, but that’s the reason I didn’t
want us to be intimate. I kept waiting for it to develop into more. I wanted it
to, I hoped it would…” She shrugged. “But it just didn’t. At least not for me.”

He released her hand and sat back. “Is there someone else?”