Like Lightning (10 page)

Trey's brows rose in surprise and his thoughtful expression left Maddie with a gladdened heart. She walked away with a smile.

U
nder ordinary circumstances, Maddie would have looked forward to an evening with new friends. But tonight, her heart simply wasn't up for it. She stared in her bedroom mirror to find a woeful reflection looking back. Her bleak mood matched the gloomy rain they'd been experiencing for days now. How was she going to put herself together enough to share a dinner with Trey and his friends, Paul and Brittany tonight?

She held up the lovely handwritten invitation and reread the beginning sentiment.
The pleasure of your company.

Maddie had almost forgotten all about this invitation until Brittany had called yesterday specifically making sure Maddie would come. She'd been caught off guard and fumbled around in her head for an excuse, but Brittany's sweet demeanor and her hopeful tone caused her
to change her mind. She didn't want to disappoint the woman, and Maddie had to face facts. She couldn't hide from Trey Walker. They lived in the same house.

She'd treaded carefully, trying not to purposely bump into him these past few days. That hadn't been too difficult a task, since she'd been working long hours, taking on appointments, making referrals when her limited ability to treat the animals hadn't been enough and going out on house calls. After the night when she'd taken off on Storm, she'd been swamped with work. She welcomed the distraction.

Trey hadn't been around the house much either. She'd see him on the cloudy mornings ride off on his horse with Kit or some of the other ranch hands, doing what cowboys do, but she didn't look for him at night. She'd retire to her bedroom in the evening with a good book, trying to put thoughts of him out of her head.

With a deep sigh, Maddie fingered the silver necklace around her neck. “I've got a big decision to make, Aphrodite,” she said, thinking of Nick's proposal. He'd given her some much-needed time to make her decision, but she knew he couldn't wait indefinitely. He had a time frame and Maddie wouldn't take advantage of his good nature. She'd have to come to her decision soon.

From down the hall, the shower door opened, closed and water pelted down, reminding her that Trey also readied for the dinner party tonight. And as she moved about her room, shedding her work clothes, she heard his sounds, becoming familiar with the noises he made while getting dressed.

Maddie quickly donned a pair of tan slacks and a soft buttercream scoop-neck sweater. She dressed her outfit up with drop pearl earrings and a matching bracelet.
She'd debated whether to wear the pearl necklace that matched the set, but she didn't have the heart to remove Aphrodite. If ever she needed to feel a bond, that special closeness to Grandma Mae, it was now. Okay, so she wouldn't make the greatest fashion statement tonight, but she'd have something more important.

Maddie styled her hair, letting the waves fall where they may, gave it a quick spray and grabbed her purse. Taking one last look in the mirror, she pasted on a smile. The transition was complete. She inhaled, fully ready for the evening, and opened her door.

Trey stood at the threshold, his hand fisted as if he were about to knock.

“Trey?” she said, taking a step back. She hadn't expected to see him standing there, fully dressed and looking better than sin itself.

He wore dark trousers, a white dress shirt and a thin black bola tie decorated with a triangle of turquoise. His hair, pushed back from his face and still a little damp, exposed clean-shaven skin, high cheekbones and unreadable dark eyes. “Are you almost ready?” he asked.

Maddie swallowed. “Uh, ready?”

He nodded. “For dinner at Paul and Brit's?”

Maddie stared at him. “Yes, but I think I need to change. Maybe I should wear a dress,” she said, mostly to herself. Trey looked drop-dead gorgeous. She'd never seen him in anything but jeans and a work shirt. The man cleaned up nicely. And suddenly Maddie felt underdressed for the occasion.

She made a move to shut her door. Trey put up his hand to hold the door ajar, halting her from retreating into her room. “You look beautiful, Maddie.”

“But, I—”

He offered again, more firmly, “Look. Beautiful.”

Her heart did a little flip. It wasn't often Trey offered up a compliment. Yet, Maddie thought that he was the one who looked beautiful and, as she gazed into his dark appealing eyes, she wondered if she'd be able to keep from staring at him all night.

With a quick smile, Maddie said, “Thanks. I guess I'll see you over there.” She brushed by him, catching a whiff of his aftershave. The pure male scent with a heady mix of musk and lime did something pleasant to her insides.

“I figured we'd go together.”

Maddie stopped in the hallway. “Why would you figure that?”

“Because the rain's only going to get worse. A T-storm is brewing and the roads might get washed out. It only makes sense, we're going to the same place and we'll be returning back here when it's over.”

Maddie knew she was being unreasonable, but she didn't want to arrive at the dinner party with Trey. She didn't want to be drawn to him anymore than she already was. She didn't want to sit next to him in the truck and be reminded of the night they'd made love. She couldn't face any of those things right now. She spoke softly and directly into his eyes. “I think it's best if we go separately, Trey.”

Trey stood firm, pursed his lips in displeasure then inhaled deeply. “If that's what you want.”

None of this was what Maddie wanted. But Trey hadn't given her much of an option to her wants and desires. He hadn't given them a chance, but that wouldn't stop her from making him see his own potential. If she could leave him with one gift, it would be to make him trust in himself again.

Even though she'd been hurt, she wasn't angry at Trey any longer. She understood him and where he believed he had a weakness, she saw it only as a loss of faith. Once his faith was restored, Trey Walker could move on with his life.

She gave him a slow nod then walked to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she removed a frosted lemon layer cake and carefully set it onto a large plate.

Trey followed her and now stood in the doorway. “What's that?”

“I baked a lemon cake this afternoon.”

“You…baked?”

Maddie chuckled. “For what it's worth, I did.”

“Lemon's my favorite.”

Maddie glanced at Trey's puzzled expression. She'd learned a lot about Trey Walker lately, but she hadn't known his favorite…anything. “It was Brittany's suggestion.”

“Oh.”

“She and Paul think the world of you, Trey. You've been a good friend to them, working at their place non-stop, and even after you hurt your hand—”

“Hell, it was a scratch, Maddie.”

“And even after that, you went back to finish the job you'd started. That new baby is going to have a wonderful nursery, thanks to you. Your friends want to show their appreciation.”

Trey found the floor real interesting then, scratching the back of his head. “They don't have to do this.”

“They
want
to. I imagine there'll be a lot of your favorites at dinner tonight.”

Trey stepped closer to stare into her eyes. He tucked
a finger under her chin and cast her a heart-melting smile. “I imagine so.”

“Trey?” Maddie's blood warmed considerably.

“You're one of my favorites, Maddie,” he whispered and bent his head.

Maddie couldn't allow him to kiss her. She'd fall deeper and harder than ever, and that would prove disastrous. She took a step back, whispering, “Cross me off your list.”

Trey's head popped up. He ran a hand down his jaw, staring at her lips with regret in his eyes. “I'm trying,” he said solemnly, as if caring for her was the worst of all possible options. And sadly, Maddie knew that in his heart, Trey really believed his loving her would be her downfall. “Trouble is, I'm crazy about you.”

Maddie wanted to shout the famous movie line,
“Snap out of it.”
But instead, she grabbed the cake plate, headed to the front door, muttering under her breath, “Maybe, we're both just plain crazy.”

 

A little bit of hurt was far better than a whole world of hurt, Trey rationalized, as he sat on a wing chair in the Fuller parlor, sipping beer. Trey knew that he'd hurt Maddie the other night. He hadn't meant to. He hadn't meant to touch her, much less make love to her. But he'd come to his senses far too late and even now he didn't regret that night. How could he, when everything had been so perfect? How could he regret the best night of his life?

He couldn't be more sorry about rejecting Maddie the way that he had, but it had been his only option because she deserved more. She deserved a fair chance in life. She deserved a man who would be there through
thick or thin, a man who could weather any of life's storms, a man with staying power.

Trey would never forget the sober, nearly desperate look on his father's face, when he'd spoken those last bitter, haunting words. “Don't make the same mistakes I made, son.” Trey hadn't told a soul, but today was the anniversary of his father's death. And today, more than ever, his father's plea had stuck in his mind with dawning clarity. That is, until he'd breathed in a delicious lemony aroma in his kitchen then witnessed Maddie lifting a two-layer cake from the refrigerator with pride in her eyes. That is, until he realized that Maddie Brooks had baked him his favorite cake.

He'd lost all sense of clarity then and nearly kissed her.

Stupid move.

She'd been right to step away. She'd been right to protect her heart. Trey had little willpower when it came to Maddie. But he wouldn't subject her to that whole world of hurt. Hooking up with Trey Walker meant disaster to any decent woman and she was the last person he wanted to injure.

Outside, the storm raged. Thunder boomed and lightning illuminated the night's sky, yet all seemed peaceful inside the parlor with licking flames crackling in the fireplace. Maddie sat on the sofa next to Paul and Jack. She'd been introduced to a few others as well and everyone held a tall glass of champagne in their hands. Everyone except Trey and Jack. Walker men didn't drink anything with bubbles.

“It's time for a toast,” Paul said, standing and holding up his glass. Brittany stood beside him, her glass filled with sparkling cider. All the others stood as well. “To Trey,” Paul began, “our good friend. We couldn't
have finished the baby's room without you. You worked hard, my friend,” Paul said sincerely, then winked, “and even after we tried to kill you with that wood beam, you came back to finish the job. That's friendship.”

“Or stupidity,” Jack interjected and everyone chuckled.

Brittany slugged him in the arm. Then she moved into the forefront and spoke softly. “And if we have a boy,” she said, darting a quick loving glance at Paul, “we've decided that Trey would make a fine middle name for our son.”

Overcome by Paul and Brittany's kind gesture, Trey stood and smiled with heartfelt gratitude at his friends.

“To Trey Walker,” Paul repeated, clinking his glass to Trey's beer bottle then everyone else's glass met with his.

“Thank you,” Trey said, surprised at the lump in his throat. He had trouble getting the words out. “I'm honored.”

He glanced at Maddie. Her eyes had been on him, watching him with interest, bright green sparks touching him and conveying her innermost thoughts. She held that look of hope and expectation again, but those sentiments weren't for her this time. They were aimed at him.

“It's time for dinner,” Brittany announced, breaking into his thoughts. “Follow me into the dining room everyone.”

Trey waited as the others filed into the dining room, catching his breath, trying to absorb all the emotions whirling around inside him. He hadn't seen Maddie move close, but instead the scent of raspberries had alerted him that she stood beside him.

She reached up on tiptoes to whisper in his ear, “No staying power? You're a loyal friend, Trey. You wouldn't
let your friends down. Paul and Brittany are naming their baby after you. They adore you and I can understand why.”

Before Trey could respond, Maddie sashayed away, leaving him standing there amid her sweet scent, staring at her perfect backside as she walked into the dining room.

She looked beautiful tonight. It was hard to remember what his life had been like before she moved onto the ranch. And it'd be even more difficult imagining her gone. But Trey was certain she would leave Hope Wells now.

He'd messed up pretty badly, hurting her in the process. He'd witnessed the resignation in her eyes tonight, even though she tried covering it up. As much as he'd vowed not to get involved with her, he had, proving her wrong tonight. Helping out a friend was one thing but committing his life to a woman was quite another. Trey feared he couldn't do it and where would that leave Maddie?

Trey walked into the dining room with newfound determination. No matter how much pain her leaving would cause him, he knew he'd have to suffer it out. He and Maddie had no future together at 2 Hope Ranch.

 

“You're in love with her, Trey,” Brittany said, wiping her hands on a dish towel in the kitchen.

“With who?” Trey glanced around the deserted kitchen. Hell, he'd only come in here to thank Brit privately for the wonderful meal. She had made all of his favorite things, chicken croquettes, sweet potato pie, creamed corn and fresh baked biscuits.

Brit cast him an irritated look. He knew she wasn't going to give in or give up until they had this conversation.

“With Maddie, and don't get cute.”

“Me? I've never been accused of being cute.”

“That's because you're drop-dead handsome, Trey. It seems as though Maddie thinks so, too. You two couldn't keep your eyes off each other tonight.”