Harlequin American Romance May 2014 Bundle: One Night in Texas\The Cowboy's Destiny\A Baby for the Doctor\The Bull Rider's Family (32 page)

He used his tongue and lips to stoke the building heat between them—heat that was the result of more than chemistry. He felt a sense of desperation in her touch, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to calm her fears.

Feeling as if he were fighting an invisible demon, he ended the kiss and stood. “I don’t know any other way to show you how good we are together but to make love to you.” He swooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom then placed her on the mattress. She looked more beautiful than ever with her red hair spread across the pillow and her big blue eyes glowing with warmth.

This time, no matter how badly his body ached for her, he wasn’t rushing their lovemaking. He stood next to the bed, ready to disrobe, but Destiny got to her knees in front of him and loosened the buttons on his dress shirt then shoved the cotton material off his shoulders. She ran her hands over his chest, her short nails scratching his skin, leaving thin red lines in their wake. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his chest. He shivered.

She fumbled with his belt buckle, and he waited patiently for her to unclasp it. When she succeeded, he trapped her fingers against the jean zipper and waited for her to make eye contact. He needed to hear her say the words...needed to know she felt the same way about him that he felt about her. He understood that she might need more time to come to terms with her feelings, but he was certain that if he could look into her eyes and see her love for him, the words wouldn’t matter.

She lifted her head and he swore the emotion swirling in her shimmering gaze was love, but there was something else.... Fear?

He cupped her face between his hands. “Don’t be afraid. We’re meant to be together.” He sealed the pledge with a kiss then lost himself in Destiny’s embrace.

* * *

D
ESTINY
STOOD
IN
front of the bedroom window, watching Buck’s reflection in the glass. He looked peaceful sprawled on her bed, and the image caused a searing pain in her side. For an instant she feared for the baby, but the hurt was too high in her chest—too close to her heart.

Damn it.
This should never have happened. Buck had been a temporary fling. A few weeks of cowboy fun. A diversion from the stress of fighting to save the town. How had the situation spun so far out of control in such a short time? And how in the world had Buck fallen in love with
her?

He deserved better than a girl who would lie to steal a little happiness for herself without giving a thought to the consequences. He shifted on the mattress, the sheet catching on his hips. With the taste of his kiss lingering on her lips, she approached the bed. Careful not to wake him, she caressed his bare shoulder, the length of his arm and then gently grasped his fingers. The ache in her chest expanded, eating her from the inside out. She closed her eyes and imagined Buck holding her baby, the three of them a happy family. As much as she wanted that dream, she refused to burden Buck with a child he hadn’t fathered.

“Destiny! You in there? We gotta talk!”

Daryl?
What was he doing here at... She turned her head toward the nightstand and squinted at the clock. Three in the morning? This couldn’t be good.

She padded across the room to her closet and flung on her bathrobe then fled the room, closing the door only partway because of the squeak. “Get lost, Daryl!” she whispered after she opened the door. He swayed on the stoop. “You’re drunk.”

“No kidding.” He hiccuped.

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

“I did, but my mom—”

“You spoke to your mother?” As long as she’d known Daryl—granted it hadn’t been long—he’d never picked up the phone and called his mom.

“I told her about the baby.”

Destiny wasn’t opposed to Daryl’s mother learning about their child, but the timing of tonight’s visit couldn’t be worse.

“She wants me to do right by you.”

Who was Daryl kidding? He’d never comply with his mother’s wishes and marry her.

He peered behind Destiny. “Tell her, Buck.”

Destiny swallowed a gasp.

“Tell Destiny what?” Buck’s sleepy voice smacked her in the back of the head, and she bit her lip to keep from crying. She hadn’t wanted Buck to find out about the baby.

“Tell Destiny that she has to marry me.”

“You stood her up at the chapel,” Buck said.

“I know.”
Hiccup.
“But I gotta do right by the baby.”

“What baby?” Buck’s voice dropped to a whisper.

It took all of Destiny’s strength to face Buck. “I’m carrying Daryl’s child.”

The color drained from Buck’s face. His mouth parted but no words came out, then he spun and went back into the bedroom and slammed the door.

“I gotta go to California, Destiny.”

“I know, Daryl.”

“We should get married tomorrow.”

“We’ll talk about it in the morning.” There was no way she’d marry Daryl no matter how good his intentions were. “Go sleep off your drunk in the cemetery.”

He belched. “I don’t think I can drive.”

Destiny held out her hand. “Give me your car keys.” He surrendered them and she watched him descend the steps.

When he reached the ground, he said, “I don’t love you, Destiny.”

I know, Daryl.
Once he’d disappeared into the dark, she retreated to the bedroom. Buck was sitting on the bed, dressed, staring at his boots. His shoulders were hunched as if bracing for more hurt. She wished with all her heart that time would stop and she could make sweet love with him again. She hadn’t wanted his last memory of her to be tainted with anger.

She was the first to break the silence. “Buck...”

His gaze connected with hers, and the pain in his eyes stabbed her in the heart. She’d been a fool to believe she could pretend with Buck then walk away without either of them getting hurt.

“I can explain,” she said, knowing she really couldn’t—not in a way Buck would understand. “Daryl and I got drunk one night and ended up in his bed. It was the only time we slept together.”

“If it was a one-night stand, why were you going to marry him?”

“I wanted my baby to have a father.” Surely Buck wouldn’t fault her for feeling that way after they’d both grown up without fathers.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and stared at the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”

“I didn’t expect things to go this far between us.”

“And when they did?” His piercing brown gaze collided with hers. “Why didn’t you say something then?”

Buck was one of the good guys. He had a generous, caring heart and deep down she’d worried that if he’d known about the baby he might offer to marry her. And Buck deserved a special woman to have a family with. Destiny wasn’t special—far from it.

She shook her head until the room spun before her eyes. “I didn’t tell you about the baby, because I never expected...”

“Me to fall in love with you.”

Or me to fall in love with you.

“Where do we go from here?” he asked.

Most men would have stormed out of her apartment by now. Buck was giving her a chance to fix what she’d done. If she confessed that she’d fallen in love with him he’d stay in Lizard Gulch with her. He’d forgive her for everything.

Exasperated, she spoke without thinking. “Buck, this was never supposed to be anything but a good time.”

He gawked at her.

She knew every word out of her mouth was a bullet straight into Buck’s heart. She had to end this before she begged him to stay. “I’m going to marry Daryl.” She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat from the lie.

“But you said you didn’t love him.”

“He’s the father of my baby.”

“So it doesn’t matter that I love you, and Daryl doesn’t?”

Why was he making this so hard?

He went to the closet and reached inside for his duffel bag, filled with clothes she’d recently washed for him, then he left the bedroom and walked through the living room. He paused at the door, his hand on the knob as if he hoped she’d stop him.

Dear God, just go, Buck. Please.

Then he was gone.

The tears pressing against Destiny’s eyes finally broke free and dribbled down her cheeks.

Chapter Thirteen

“Well, look who the haboob blew in,” Mack said when Buck entered the bunkhouse Sunday night.

“Things are getting pretty bad if you and Porter are the only ones playing poker.” Buck had left Lizard Gulch the morning after the rodeo and had driven aimlessly across the state, hoping he’d forget Destiny. After seven hundred miles he’d raised the white flag and had headed home to Stagecoach. It wasn’t until his truck whizzed past Vern’s Drive-In that he admitted Southern Arizona no longer felt like home.

“Did Destiny come with you?” Porter asked.

“No.” Buck set the duffel bag by his bed and stared at the rodeo posters he’d helped select to decorate the bachelor pad. He’d had a lot of good times in the bunkhouse, but the familiar sense of comfort was missing.

“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Mack said. “What happened with Lizard Gulch? Did the townspeople vote to sell to the developer or not?”

“I don’t know.” Buck helped himself to a beer.

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Porter said. “Aren’t you tight with the mayor?”

Buck slammed the fridge door and ignored his brothers’ frowns.

“Did you two have a fight?” Mack asked.

Buck expected a grilling about his extended absence from the farm, but he wasn’t in the mood to discuss his relationship with Destiny. He sat on his bed, back propped against the wall and stared into space.

“They had a fight,” Porter whispered to Mack then said, “for what it’s worth, I liked Destiny. She’s a cool chick.”

“Porter, when are you going to grow up?” Buck asked.

“What do mean?”

“Cool chick?”
Buck mimicked his brother’s voice. “You talk like a teenager.”

“Did she cheat on you?” Porter asked.

Buck flew off the bed, tackled his brother and they rolled across the rug on the floor.

“Knock it off, guys.” Mack put a stop to the brawl. “What’s gotten into you, Buck? You never pick fights.”

The bunkhouse door opened, and Conway waltzed in, wearing a huge grin.

“What are you so happy about?” Buck asked.

“Isi’s pregnant.”

Porter crawled to his feet. “Is she having twins?”

“Yep.”

“For a man who swore he’d never have kids, you’re gonna be father to a whole passel of rugrats.” Mack slapped Conway on the back then the brothers bumped fists. “Girls or boys?”

“Don’t know yet.”

Buck slunk off to a corner and tried to block out the conversation.

“How far along is she?” Porter asked.

“Three and a half months. Isi didn’t want to tell me until she knew for sure everything was okay with the pregnancy.”

“Whoo-hoo!” Porter danced a jig. “I’m gonna be an uncle again.”

“You wait, baby brother,” Conway said. “Your turn at fatherhood is coming.”

“The next brother who ties the knot will be Mack or Buck,” Porter said. “Not me.”

“It’s gonna happen sooner or later to all of you,” Conway said. “You’ll fall in love with a woman, and your whole world will turn upside down.”

Buck’s world had already been turned upside down, and he’d been dumped on his head. Right now he wished he was anywhere but in the bunkhouse.

Mack nudged Buck’s arm. “Aren’t you going to congratulate Conway?”

“Congratulations.” Buck’s voice was devoid of excitement.

“Did Destiny come home with you?” Conway asked.

“No.” Porter and Mack answered for Buck.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Buck said.

“Maybe you should speak to Will. He feels bad that he made you leave town,” Conway said.

“Where are Will and Marsha living?” Buck asked.

“They’re renting a house in Stagecoach,” Conway said.

There were only two streets with homes in town. “Which house?”

Porter chuckled. “The one next to Fiona Wilson.”

The retired English teacher was dating Shannon’s father. “Guess I’ll head into town and pay Will a visit.” Anything was better than hanging around his happy brothers.

Mack stepped in front of Buck, blocking his path. “We’re here if you need to talk.”

His brothers meant well, and Buck felt bad for being an ass. “Thanks.” He made eye contact with Conway. “I’m happy for you and Isi.”

“We’re grilling out tonight. You gonna eat with us?”

He shook his head. “I don’t have much of an appetite.” Buck left the bunkhouse and made a beeline for his truck before his brothers found an excuse to keep him at the farm. He wasn’t used to seeking advice, but he felt like a ticking time bomb that might explode at any minute. Maybe Will could help him screw his head back on straight.

Fifteen minutes later Buck pulled up to his brother’s house and studied the ranch-style home. The stucco structure wasn’t fancy, but it appeared well kept. There was no garage—just a carport and Will’s truck sat beneath the cover. Buck parked on the street. He didn’t notice Fiona Wilson kneeling in her flower bed until he was halfway across Will’s yard.

“Is that you, Buck Owens?”

“Hello, Ms. Wilson.”

The older woman smiled and waved her pruning shears. She wore a big floppy hat that hid half her face from view and a pair of pink gardening gloves.

“Will got home a few minutes ago. Ryan and Marsha are at the pastor’s house.”

His brother must love having a neighbor who kept tabs on him and his family’s whereabouts. “Thanks.” Buck continued across the yard toward the porch steps.

“I heard you moved to a small town near Kingman,” Fiona said.

“I didn’t move there, ma’am. I was visiting a friend.”

Fiona frowned. “Oh. I thought you were sweet on a girl up there.” She got to her feet. “I ran into Marsha at the hair salon, and she said the whole family had a wonderful time at the rodeo in...” Fiona shook her head. “I can’t recall the name of the town—”

“Lizard Gulch.” If he didn’t help the conversation along, he’d be stuck talking to the woman for an hour.

“That’s right. Lizard Gulch. Strange name for a town.” She swatted at a bug near her face. “Anyway, Marsha said the town was in some kind of trouble and you were trying to save it from being bought by a developer.”

Gotta love the Stagecoach gossip mill. By the end of the day Buck’s disastrous love life would be the new hot topic. Not wanting to add to the rumors, he took the easy way out. “The town’s taking care of itself, Ms. Wilson.”

“How old are you again?”

“Thirty-one, ma’am.”

“I believe you’re old enough to call me by my first name.”

Where the hell was his brother? Buck punched the doorbell. “Yes, ma’am. I mean, Fiona.”

“Have you been out to the Triple D to see little Addy?” Buck didn’t have a chance to answer before she continued her spiel, “That baby is such a sweetheart, and she’s got her granddaddy wrapped around her finger.”

C’mon, Will. Hurry up and open the door.

“Why you should see all the little frilly dresses Clive’s bought for Addy, and she won’t be big enough to wear them for another year or two.” Fiona wiped her brow. “Between you and me, I think Clive’s trying his best to make sure Addy doesn’t turn into a tomboy like her mother.”

“You don’t say,” Buck mumbled.

“Just the other day Clive caught Johnny putting Addy on the mechanical bull, and I thought Clive was going to have a heart attack. Johnny insists it calms Addy down when she’s in the middle of one of her colicky fits, but—”

“You’re back,” Will said, after he opened the door.

Thank God.

Will spoke to his neighbor. “How’s the garden coming along, Fiona?”

“Fine, Will. My rosebushes have bloomed four times this summer.”

“That’s great,” Will said.

“You boys have a nice visit.” Fiona knelt in the flower bed and continued pruning the bushes.

Buck stepped inside his brother’s house, and as soon as the door closed, he said, “You’ve got to be nuts living next to that woman.”

“She’s not so bad. You want a drink?”

He’d like another beer, but he hadn’t finished the one he’d opened in the bunkhouse. “No.” When they reached the galley kitchen, Buck said, “This is a decent place.”

“There’s plenty of room for the three of us.”

“You don’t act surprised to see me.”

“Porter texted that you were on your way.” Will opened the back door and stepped onto a screened-in porch.

“Hey, this is nice.” Buck sat on the couch and Will took the chair.

“So you broke up with Destiny?”

“Hard to break up with someone when you weren’t even dating,” Buck said.

“I thought you two were a couple.”

“Turns out I was a nothing but a fling.”

Will’s eyebrows rose.

Buck popped off the couch and paced across the porch. How did he explain something he didn’t even understand? Twice he opened his mouth to speak but the words wouldn’t come out.

“What the hell, Buck. Just say it.”

“Destiny’s pregnant.”

“That was fast work on your part.”

“The baby’s not mine. It’s Daryl’s.”

“Who’s Daryl?”

“The stupid ass who left Destiny at the altar the afternoon she rescued me from the side of the road.”

Will grinned.

“You think this is funny?”

“No.” His brother schooled his expression. “But you have to admit, it’s a little comical...a girl coming to your rescue.”

“Be serious, Will.”

“Fine. Did this Daryl guy change his mind about marrying Destiny?”

Buck gaped. “How’d you know?”

“You said he’d left her at the altar.” Will shrugged. “Which means Destiny must have taken this Daryl guy back if he changed his mind about marriage.”

“She doesn’t love him, Will. She just wants her baby to have a father.”

“Does Destiny love you?”

Buck rubbed his brow. “She never came right out and said the words.” He pounded his chest with his fist. “But I know she does. I felt it when we—”

“Whoa, brother. No need for specifics. I get what you’re saying.”

Buck stared through the screen into the backyard. He couldn’t have been wrong about Destiny loving him—it had been there in her eyes when she’d watched him walk out her door.

“What did she say when you told her that you loved her?” Will asked.

“She said what we shared was never meant to be anything more than a good time.”

“Ouch.”

Ouch
didn’t come close to describing the pain Destiny’s confession had inflicted.
But those were just words—words meant to drive you away.
If only he could be sure.

“What are you going to do?”

Buck laughed because if he didn’t, he’d break down and embarrass himself. “That’s why I’m here. You’re supposed to tell me what to do.”

“Hey, I screwed things up so badly with Marsha, it’s a miracle she’s giving me a second chance.”

“I just want a first chance with Destiny.” He shoved his fingers through his hair. “You should see Daryl. The guy’s got rocks for a brain.”

Chuckling, Will asked, “Are you afraid the baby will take after his father?”

“The kid’s going to need a strong, steady hand to make sure he turns out right.” Buck stared at his brother. There was no need to explain what he was feeling—he and his brothers had all dealt with this demon.

“You don’t believe Daryl’s good enough to be the kid’s father, but you’re not sure you are, either.” When Buck remained silent, Will said, “Look at Conway. The boys love him like he was their real birth father. You could have the same thing with Destiny and her baby if you don’t let your fears get the best of you.”

“I told Destiny that it didn’t bother me that I’ve gone through life not knowing who my father is,” Buck said.

“But it does bother you.”

“Yeah.”

“So when Destiny confessed that she was marrying Daryl because of the baby, you latched on to that as an excuse to let her push you away?”

Buck didn’t want to admit his brother might be right. “She picked Daryl, not me.”

“Do you want to be with Destiny? Is she the one you envision spending the rest of your life with?”

“I thought so.”

“You can’t think so, Buck, you have to know so. If she’s the one, then you fight your fears and convince her that’s she’s picked the wrong guy.”

Marsha’s voice echoed through the house before Buck could respond. “We’re back, Will!” She stepped onto the porch and her eyes lit up. “Buck, you’re home.”

He forced a smile, even though his gut had twisted into a giant pretzel. The word
home
didn’t have the same feeling as it had before he’d hit the road earlier in the summer. “Marsha.” He gave her a brotherly hug. “Welcome to the Cash clan.”

“You want me to call you Uncle Buck?” Ryan laughed.

Buck stared at Will. “Did he see the movie?”

“Dad rented
Uncle Buck
for me a few weeks ago.”

“Thanks, Will. Thanks a whole bunch.” Buck ruffled Ryan’s hair. “I think just plain Buck will do.”

“I made a casserole for supper,” Marsha said. “We’d love for you to eat with us.”

“I don’t want to interrupt—”

“You should stay,
Uncle
Buck.” Ryan snickered. “I want to show you the rocket my dad and I built this summer. The model’s three feet long.”

It warmed Buck’s heart to hear Ryan call Will
Dad.
Marsha, Will and Ryan had become the family they were always meant to be. “Sure, kid.”

As Buck walked out of the room, he heard Marsha say, “Is everything okay between you two?”

“Yep,” Will said. “The family’s all good, honey.”

Family.
The word reverberated inside Buck’s head as he entered his nephew’s room. Buck had family—siblings who would be there for him through good and bad. Destiny had no one—just her and the baby. No matter what Daryl said or promised, the deadbeat dad would take off the first chance he got. A picture of Destiny holding a small child in her arms flashed before Buck’s eyes.

The lonely image left him feeling scared and a little desperate.

* * *

“Q
UIET
! P
LEASE
BE
QUIET
!”
Destiny stood at the bar inside Lucille’s and waited for the group to settle down. “I organized this meeting at the request of Jack Custer.” The developer had arrived in town less than an hour ago.