COWBOY FOR SALE--A Second-Chances Spicy Romance (26 page)

Jamie shrugged, her eyes dancing.

“Well, you go first,” Lacey said, handing Jamie the large, tissue-wrapped bundle.

Jamie carefully opened the package, setting the tissue paper aside. Her eyes grew wide as she examined the wooden box with its different-sized compartments.

Lacey waited. She was enjoying watching Jamie's mind work. She could see the little girl was determining what the box might be for. Before long, the light shone in her eyes when an idea finally formed.

“It's for my c'llection, isn't it? I can put my rocks in this part, my feathers here, and my sticks in here.”

“You like it?” Lacey asked, pleased that Jamie had figured it out for herself. “You can hang it on the wall or lay it flat on a table.” She showed Jamie the picture hanger she'd put on the back of the tray which she’d gotten at her favorite local antique shop.

“Thank you very, very much.” Jamie threw her arms around Lacey's neck for a hug.

She drew the little girl closer and rocked her in a loving, maternal embrace. She bit her lip until it throbbed like her pulse, shocked at the wave of emotions that threatened to overpower her. “I'm so glad you like it. I hoped you would.”

“Wait 'til Daddy sees it,” she said. “I’ll bet he likes it almost as much as me.”

Lacey nodded and studied Jamie's face; her mouth in an irresistible smile, blue eyes sparkling, shiny blond curls against cheeks that had that peaches and cream complexion of little girls. An angel. She felt a fierce tug on her heart.

“I almost forgot,” Jamie said as she turned away. She went to her closet and retrieved a small box, childishly wrapped in wrinkled, obviously recycled wrapping paper that was sprinkled with pink ponies and fairies.

Lacey held the charming little package in one hand. “I wonder what it is,” she said. Winking at Jamie, first she smelled it, then shook it, then held it to her ear.

“Open it, open it,” Jamie urged. “I made it for you.”

“Ah, a clue. Hmm. It's not very heavy and it doesn't make any noise, so I guess it's not a box of jewels, is it?”

Jamie shook her head, giggling behind her fist.

“I guess I better open it, then.” Lacey pulled at the paper.

“Daddy, come watch Lacey open the present I made her.”

Lacey's fingers stopped. She looked up to see Jared leaning casually against the door frame of Jamie’s bedroom.

“What present?” he asked.

By his expression of wariness, Lacey suspected he was unaware of Jamie's gift for her. She held up the box for him to see.

Jared shrugged matter-of-factly and shook his head, confirming her theory.

Lacey stared at him. He was wearing the same forest green shirt and faded jeans he'd worn during the photo shoot at the cabin. He looked devastatingly handsome as he stood in the doorway, his gaze locked on hers.

She licked her lips when he ran his fingers through his hair, pushing back an errant curl from his forehead.

A delicious shiver ran through her. His mere presence in the room had an instant impact on her. Did he feel it too?

Jamie sighed loudly, obviously frustrated at the slow progress in the opening of the gift.

Lacey swallowed hard and tore her gaze from Jared's. With trembling fingers she finished removing the paper and opened the white box. In a bed of cotton balls was a gold-painted, long half of a broken wishbone.

Lacey took the wishbone from the box and realized it actually was meant to be a pendant.

“The necklace part is yarn that I crocheted,” Jamie explained, “and it's made from our alpacas’ wool. I even put some beads on it and everything,” she said proudly. “Auntie Jo helped a little.”

Lacey held up the necklace, running her fingers over the crocheted yarn. It was remarkably soft and delicate, similar to mohair. Multi-colored ceramic beads were strung on either side of the wishbone. She looked up as Jared walked in the room and stood at the end of the bed.

“Oh, Jamie. It's beautiful. Shall I put it on?” Lacey gazed at Jamie. The little girl looked as though she might burst with joy. How simple life was at five.

Lacey put the necklace over her head. “It fits perfectly.”

Jamie reached up to delicately touch the wishbone. “I saved it all the way from last Thanksgiving. You 'member, Daddy?”

Lacey looked at Jared's face. The hard lines softened when he looked at his daughter. He nodded.

“I remember, Sugar Plum. You got the long half, but you said you were saving your wish.”

“Right. And now I made a wish.” Jamie fingered the wishbone gently. “You wanna know my wish?” she whispered dramatically, looking first at her father, then at Lacey.

Lacey nodded, mesmerized by the compelling look in Jamie's eyes.

“I wished for you to be my new mom.” Her hushed voice had a ring of finality, as though she believed with all her heart that her wish would be granted.

Lacey gasped, her heart thudding in her ears. She was speechless in her surprise. She dropped her gaze to the wishbone that hung ceremoniously around her neck.

Jared cleared his throat. “Jamie, Auntie Jo told me she could use your help with the ice cream. Why don't you go and see what she needs, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy.” She looked at Lacey and asked, “You're staying for ice cream, aren't you?”

“Of course, Jamie, it's your birthday.” Lacey managed to keep her voice light and cheerful, amazed that she could make her lips work at all.

“See ya,” Jamie called as she skipped out of the room.

Lacey felt the bed shift under Jared's weight as he sat beside her on Jamie's frilly bed. She looked up at him, her eyes filling with unexpected tears.

“I didn't know anything about this,” he began.

Lacey turned away from him, looking across the room, taking in the simple details of a five-year-old's life, hoping to divert the sob that was building in her throat. She stared at Jamie's collection of natural things, her stuffed animals and dolls that filled her toy box to overflowing, the frilly curtains at the window.

Unconsciously, she fingered the wishbone, searching for a way out of the impossible situation where she suddenly found herself.

“Lacey.” Jared's voice was velvety soft.

Her heart squeezed in anguish as she reacted to the sound of it.

“I shouldn't have come,” she whispered as she turned toward him, a hot tear rolling down her cheek.

“Listen to me. And I want you to hear me out,” he began. “You don't have to say anything, but if I don't, I have a feeling I'll always regret it.” Jared's voice was tender, almost a murmur.

Lacey nodded, waiting.

“I know you and I have very different beliefs about men and women—career women—and how things should be, but I realize that my ideas aren't necessarily always right. At least, I don't think they're right about you. I was wrong, and I can see that clearly.”

Lacey blinked, suddenly feeling lightheaded. What was he saying?

“I know I'm not what you're looking for, and I know how important your career is to you…” His words faded as he closed his eyes.

She watched the play of emotions on his face as he paused. Then he licked his lips, swallowing hard before he continued, his eyes still closed.

“When we were together at the cabin, I can't tell you how different being with you was for me. And if it wasn't special for you, then I need to know.”

Jared's eyes opened and she watched as they widened, blazing down into hers. “I fell in love with you that night…totally in love with you.”

It took several seconds for the words to sink in. He was in love with her?

“When Jamie gave you that wishbone, I knew it’s what I felt too. Believe me, I've been fighting it.” His smile was tentative. “This is where you can tell me I'm an idiot…or not.”

Lacey stared at him, her thoughts whirling uncontrollably. His smile was as intimate as a kiss. She realized the truth in his words. He certainly wasn't what she thought she wanted…he was more.

It was wrong…painfully wrong…to judge him by what had happened to her with Dirk. How could she? This man, this loving father…this kind, wonderful man was nothing like Dirk. In fact, he was not like any man she’d ever known…or imagined.

Jared reached toward her and cupped her chin, his gaze searching her upturned face.

“Children do expect their wishes to come true,” he whispered, stroking her lower lip with his thumb.

She nodded. More than anything, she wanted to get lost in his eyes and never look away. There was an eagerness there, but also an understanding that beckoned to her heart and to her soul.

“We're probably…obligated to not disappoint her, don’t you think?” He said the words softly, with quiet emphasis, his hand dropping to take both of hers in his.

As Lacey held his gaze, she slowly began to absorb what he was saying. She licked her dry lips, searching for words. Her mouth wouldn't obey.

Lacey swallowed hard, the lump in her throat threatening this time to break into a joyful sob. Her heart felt like it might explode and her mind swirled, but this time, she felt no panic at the feeling of being out of control. This time it felt right.

“I…I don't understand what happened.” Lacey's words came out in a breathless stammer.

“That makes two of us,” Jared's voice was low, almost a whisper. “All I know is that I've been miserable since that weekend with you. I can't sleep at night for thinking about what might have been. I can't explain it away. I don't want to explain it away. I just want to figure out how to make it work.”

Lacey stared into his eyes…extraordinary, depthless gray eyes. Jamie's father's eyes. Eyes that seemed to be reaching into her thoughts.

As he waited for her response, a sensuous light passed between them and his gaze became as soft as a caress. He remained quiet, patiently waiting for her reaction.

There was a tingling in the pit of her stomach as her thoughts swirled and stormed in her mind. There was no doubt he had unlocked her heart and soul, that he had stoked a gently growing fire.

Happiness filled her as she considered what Jared was suggesting. He had declared his feelings, the very feelings she'd been fighting too.

“Lacey, I know our worlds might seem incompatible and you have…all sorts of plans and things,” he began, “but is there some way we can make this work?”

The idea sent her spirits soaring. Could they? Could there be a way?

Jared gathered her in a tender embrace and Lacey buried her face against his neck.

He whispered, his breath hot against her ear, “Lacey Murdock, will you marry me…will you marry
us
?”

Lacey gently pulled away from him to look into his eyes again. Marry him? A new and unexpected warmth surged through her as she comprehended what she had heard. Her heart sang with delight as she relaxed, sinking back into his embrace.

Through the roaring chaos of emotions, she said one word. “Yes.”

Epilogue

One year later

The staccato sound of hammering ended and the next sound Lacey heard was Jared's voice calling from the roof of the room addition he was almost finished building.

“You ready to go?” he asked.

“Anytime,” she called back.

“Be right down.”

For her birthday in June, Jared had given her blueprints for a customized salon-addition to their home, a perfect solution to her wants and needs, and he was working long and hard to get it done before the end of summer. She’d gotten to tweak the plans and it had been fun to design features and watch her dream come true, day by day. Having a home business would give her the best of all worlds. She would be there for Jared and Jamie, and still be able to build up a clientele willing to drive a little ways east to have their hair done.

For Jared’s birthday in July she’d given him a certain sheepskin rug she’d talked Mrs. Miller into giving up…which he’d promptly put in their bedroom in front of the fireplace. Last January they’d spent their honeymoon in the same cabin up in the mountains, vowing to return at least once a year for the rest of their lives.

Lacey let out a contented sigh, thinking about how everything had worked out perfectly from the moment of Jared’s proposal. It had been as though her life had taken yet another new turn. And from that moment on, it had felt so right—she was still amazed how she felt even more fulfilled than she ever imagined she could.

At the instant of her decision to marry Jared she’d realized she had been running
away
from something, instead of
to
something. Giving up Denver had some easy.

After telling her boss she wasn’t going to take the promotion after all, Lacey had insisted Kandy still accept the salon manager position at Shear Delight, and she’d stayed a while to mentor her while she eased out of working at the salon…on her own terms, which had been a real luxury and one she’d been grateful for.

After much thought and discussion, she’d decided a transition period made the most sense, and Jared had agreed. She’d helped Kandy get up and running, working part-time while Jamie was in school, which had still given her quality time to concentrate on her new family while she and Jared planned a simple wedding ceremony which ended up happening on New Year’s Eve.