Like Lightning (7 page)

Whenever he looked at Maddie, he saw his future. But the vision was false, a deception of the mind, because Trey wasn't the man for her. She deserved someone she could trust not to wound her gentle soul. He chalked up these unwelcome sentiments to being around Paul and Brittany all week. With the new baby coming, their excitement had rubbed off on him. He found himself longing for the same, a wife and family. And being with Kit wasn't much help, either. That man was so doggone smitten with his new wife he barely spoke a sentence without mentioning her name.

Trey knew people with successful relationships. That's all it was—this
wanting
he'd been experiencing lately. But his father's words haunted him daily. And Trey had vowed not to make those same mistakes. Trey was smart enough to realize that
wanting
and
having
were two different things. He wasn't cut out for family life. He'd tried that once and had failed miserably.

“Promise me something, Trey,” Maddie said when she was all through with the bandaging. “You won't go busting up this hand I worked so hard on tonight. You won't injure yourself again.” She held his wrapped hand in both of hers and stared at him with softness in her eyes.

“Hell, Maddie,” he whispered, leaning close, beck
oned by her caring nature and her sweet, tentative smile. “When you ask me like that, there isn't anything I wouldn't promise you.”

Maddie leaned in also, coming dangerously close, their eyes meeting. “There isn't?” she asked breathlessly.

Raspberry sweet and red-haired sexy, Trey had a mind to kiss her again, the need so strong that he couldn't pull away. He stared at her heart-shaped mouth, glossy and full, parting slightly. He wanted to lift her out of the chair, put her onto his lap and brush his lips over hers until kissing wasn't enough.

Hell, who was he kidding? He wanted to lay her down on the kitchen table and…

And
then the phone rang.

Trey jerked back in his chair and into reality. He'd almost made another mistake and although it would take his body a moment to adjust, he was glad for the interruption. He bounded up and answered the wall phone by the refrigerator. “Hello.”

A few seconds later, he brought the receiver over to Maddie, stretching out the long cord. “Do you know a Nick Spencer?”

Maddie's face beamed with joy. She stood up, practically standing on her toes. “It's Nick? Really?”

“That's what he said,” Trey answered, handing her the phone.

“Nick, I can't believe it's you.” Maddie twirled the cord around her fingers. “How did you find me?”

Trey walked out the back door and into the night air, giving Maddie some privacy and him a place to cool off. He told himself over and over he was glad he hadn't kissed her again. He told himself he was glad Maddie had a personal life outside of her work. He told himself
he was glad this guy Nick had called, interrupting the wild fantasy Trey had entertained.

He glanced down at his bandaged hand, flexing his fingers and feeling no pain. He took a deep crisp breath, realizing that most of all, he was glad he hadn't made any promises to Maddie.

Promises that he couldn't keep.

T
he next day, Maddie knocked on the hotel room door at the Cactus Inn, anticipation growing in her stomach. She hadn't seen her dear friend Nick for more than a year, since she'd moved to Hope Wells. They'd gone to UC Davis together, Nick receiving his DVM two years before she'd graduated. But she and Nick had stayed in touch while he'd worked as an intern in Fresno, California. He'd made quite a name for himself in the field of veterinary medicine, having saved the life of a K-9 from the
Faithful Partner
program. That particular police dog had taken a bullet for his human partner and Nick had worked relentlessly to save the dog's life.

He'd become something of a local hero then, but that hadn't slowed him down. Nick went on to join an international symposium on bioterrorism among other worthy animal-related endeavors. In short, Nick was
brilliant and Maddie considered herself lucky to be his good friend.

Maddie smiled when he opened the door. “Hi, Nick.”

Nick grinned that winning handsome smile of his and took her into his arms in a warm embrace. “Maddie.”

Maddie pulled away to look into his sky-blue eyes. “You look wonderful. I can't believe you're here.”

He had blond good looks and charm enough to spare. He was as clean-cut as they come, always wearing button-down shirts and pleated trousers, today being no exception. “I'm here to see my best friend.”

“
Best
friend? We haven't spoken in months. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me way out here in Texas.”

“Nope, I couldn't forget you. I've been busy, Maddie. That's why I'm here. We have to talk. I have a proposition for you.”

“You came way out to Hope Wells to proposition me?”

He took hold of her hand. “Yes, I did. Listen, I know you don't have more than an hour or so with me this morning before you have to get back to work and I'd like to see something of the town. Show me around, and we'll talk tonight, over dinner?”

“A proposition
and
a dinner invitation? How can a girl refuse?”

“You can't and you won't, I hope. But I don't want to get ahead of myself here.” He stopped smiling and squeezed her hand. “I'd like to see where your office was, Maddie. I came as soon as I heard the news. Thank God you and the animals weren't hurt.”

“Yes, we were fortunate. And I have Trey Walker to thank for taking us all in.”

“He's the man you're living with?” There was noth
ing suspect in his tone of voice, yet Maddie felt the need to clarify.

“Yes. It's a business arrangement until my office can be rebuilt. I'm renting out a room at the ranch and I'm practicing out of his old barn.”

Nick nodded. “You always were enterprising, Maddie. Good for you.”

Nick had been Maddie's biggest fan while in school. He'd always admired her dedication to her work and her special talent with animals. They'd gotten along great at the university and she was glad to see that their camaraderie hadn't faded. “Thanks, Nick.”

“Are you ready to show me Hope Wells?”

Maddie nodded and they walked hand in hand into the streets of town.

 

Trey held a pair of aces in his left hand, the best you can draw in Texas Hold 'Em. He glanced at his opponents, Kit, Jack, Monty and two of his ranch hands, keeping his poker face. None of his opponents looked too happy.

“I'm all in,” he said, pushing all of his chips into the center of the kitchen table, taking care with his bandaged hand. He'd abided Maddie's request and hadn't done any manual labor today.

The men grumbled and only one player decided to call the bet. Jack tallied up Trey's stack and pushed an equal amount of chips into the pot. All in all, the pot size equaled less than ten dollars—playing with nickel and dime chips doesn't allow for too much loss. Which was good, since Trey's funds were meant for essentials such as hay and feed and household expenses. But the Walker clan had been playing poker since Will Walker's days.
That family tradition would never die as long as Trey had something to say about it.

Both Jack and Trey turned over their two cards. Jack held a pair of sevens. Trey's aces had him beat so far.

The dealer flopped three of the five community cards onto the table, each player being able to use those cards to make up the best possible hand. With Trey being all in, Jack couldn't raise the bet, so the fourth community card was dealt. So far neither of the cards drawn helped either player, keeping Trey in the lead and once the fifth and final card, known as the “river” card, was dealt a winner would be named. Trey's chances of winning the pot were good, the percentages greatly in his favor. He'd waited a long time for a hand like this.

But before the dealer dealt the last card, Maddie's voice stole into the room. “Hi guys. Just wanted to say good night and have fun.”

All of the players' eyes darted toward the doorway, beckoned by Maddie's sweet voice.

“C'mon in here, girl, and let us see you properlike,” Uncle Monty encouraged.

“I don't want to interrupt.”

“Ah hell, it's just our usual monthly poker game. You're not interrupting.”

Trey took his eyes off of his cards to look up at Maddie as she stepped into the room and his breath hitched in his throat. Beautiful came to mind, right after sexy, sinful and seductive. Trey felt a headache coming on, just as another ache developed below his waist.

Maddie was dressed to destroy, with her coppery hair all fluffed up, wearing a tight light-green dress that matched the color of her eyes, with cleavage spilling and her shapely legs exposed. She wore three-inch black
strappy heels. Hell, a man could fantasize for days about those shoes alone, but the whole package was enough to turn Trey's poker-faced cool into steamy hot sizzle.

“Wow, you look great,” Jack said, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head.

“You can interrupt any time,” Kit said with a wink.

The others added their compliments as well, one man letting loose a long, low wolf whistle.

“Got a hot date?” Uncle Monty asked, a bit too gleefully for Trey's way of thinking.

“No, just dinner with an old friend,” Maddie replied, her face flushed with color. Trey wondered what had caused her to blush, the all-around compliments tonight or the idea of her date with that Nick Spencer guy? “Nick and I go way back. We went to college together. He was passing through town and stopped to say hello.”

“Hell, no one just passes through Hope Wells,” Uncle Monty advised. “That man did some zigzagging to get to you.”

Maddie chuckled.

Trey frowned. This morning, he'd driven past her burned-down office on his way to the grocery and had seen the two of them, hand in hand, peering at what was left of Maddie's veterinary office. She'd had her head on his shoulder and it certainly didn't appear that they were just friends. Hell, the image of the two of them like that had put him in a sour mood all day.

“Trey, don't you think Maddie looks pretty tonight?” Uncle Monty prodded.

Trey ground his teeth. He knew what Uncle Monty was up to, but he'd call his bluff; this was, after all,
poker
night. Trey pulled out his chair and stood up. He walked over to Maddie and stared deep into her eyes. “I hope
your date appreciates how beautiful you are, inside and out,” he said, taking her hand. “C'mon, I'll walk you out.”

“Okay,” Maddie agreed. “Good night everyone.”

“Have a great time,” Uncle Monty said.

The others also bid her farewell and Trey guided her toward the front door with her hand clasped in his. It felt so natural, so right, as if this should be their date, as if she'd dressed up special just for him, as if they had a wonderful evening to look forward to. And if things were different, Trey would take her hand and steal her away so no other man could hold her, no other man could touch her.

But Trey knew he had to let her go.

He released her hand. “Enjoy your evening out, Maddie. Have fun tonight.”

“Thank you. I always enjoy being with Nick.”

That comment slashed through his gut. Trey nodded and Maddie took a step toward her truck.

But she spun back around and stared into his eyes. “Trey, do you really mean it?”

Trey stood ramrod still. He couldn't believe Maddie had called him on this. But she had, and her expression held something akin to hope. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Emotions washed over him, fast and furiously, and he could only hear what his heart told him. Did he mean it? Did he want her to enjoy her evening with another man? Hell, no. But he couldn't admit that to Maddie and, right now, he couldn't lie to her, either. They stared into each other's eyes for a long drawn-out moment, his poker face hopefully back in place.

Uncle Monty called out, “Trey, boy, you playing poker or courting the lady?”

Trey lifted his lips in a wry smile. “I'd better get back to the game.”

“Go,” she said, “they're waiting. And Trey,” she added, just as he was about to head back to the game, “I'm glad you took care with your hand today.”

She turned her back and walked away.

Trey watched her climb into her truck and pull away, an ache gnawing through his stomach. He walked back into the kitchen and stood over his poker hand. “Let's see that last card,” he said to the dealer.

The dealer turned over a seven of hearts.

Jack hit three of a kind, his three sevens beating out Trey's two aces.

Trey slumped into his seat. “Boy, I didn't see that coming.”

“Sorry, Trey,” Jack said, hauling in all of his chips. “Looks like you're through.”

“That's poker for you,” Uncle Monty said bluntly. “It's a lot like life. You don't see it coming, until it's too late.”

A short time later, after the game had ended, Trey grabbed empty beer bottles from the table and tossed them in the trash. Only Jack and Uncle Monty remained, the others leaving just minutes ago. Jack had battled Kit in the final hand and had won the evening.

“Too bad you came out the loser tonight, cousin,” Jack stated, putting poker chips back in their holder.

Trey shrugged. He didn't take poker too seriously. It was a game meant to uphold the Walker tradition. It was a way to get together with friends, have a few beers and shoot the breeze. “I'll get you next month.”

Jack's mouth twisted. “I wasn't talking about the game, Trey.”

Monty sidled up next to Trey and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You didn't see that hand coming, cause you weren't looking, boy. The same holds true in life. You
think you're holding a winning hand and then someone comes along with one better. Before you know it, the game's lost. That's what Jack's talking about.”

Trey took a sharp breath. “You're talking about Maddie.”

Monty looked him straight in the eyes. “You took a risk tonight. You went ‘all in' on a hand you believed would win. Sometimes you've got to do that right here.” He pressed a finger into Trey's chest, just above his heart. “Go
all in,
boy. Don't lose that girl.”

“Lose her?”

“Yeah. You've got to ask yourself, what would be worse, winning that girl or losing her forever?”

“You're forgetting that I took a risk on that last hand and came out the loser anyway.”

“Ah, but at least you gave it your best shot.” Monty smiled, his eyes crinkling and his voice elevating. “Remember, if you don't play, you can't possibly win. Get in the game, Trey. Play the percentages. Judging by the way that little lady looks at you, I'd say you're the odds-on favorite. She's worth the risk.”

But Maddie would be the one taking the biggest risk, because sure as the sun sets in the west, Trey knew he would break her heart. And that was a chance he wasn't willing to take.

 

Later that night, Maddie pulled into the gate at 2 Hope Ranch, her mind spinning from her dinner with Nick. He'd really thrown her off balance with his proposition, giving her a whole lot to think about. It had been all she
could
think about tonight and as she'd traveled the road toward 2 Hope and Trey, she tossed around all of her options. She'd wondered about her future here in
Hope Wells comparing it to the marvelous opportunity awaiting her with Nick.

A fleeting sense of belonging assailed her as she parked the truck by Trey's ranch house. She'd come to think of this place as home. She'd settled in quite nicely here, enjoying the peace of ranch life, surrounded by green pastures and solid earth with animals in abundance. And Trey.
He
was here.

She liked the thought of coming home to him.

He'd looked at her differently tonight, as though he'd really
seen
the woman that she was, his gaze raking her body over with appreciation and desire. Maddie's heart had raced the moment she'd stepped inside the kitchen and when he'd taken her hand to walk her outside, her insides had quaked. She'd wished the date had been with him, that he'd been the one to ask her out.

But mentally, Maddie scolded herself for allowing such thoughts when she knew darn well that 2 Hope wasn't really her home. And Trey Walker wasn't the man waiting for her. This was a temporary business arrangement that served both she and Trey well. No use holding on to sentimental thoughts.

Maddie climbed down from the truck and glanced at Storm's corral. Once the stallion had seen her, he'd trotted right up to the fence and waited.

Progress.

Maddie smiled and called softly to the horse, “I'll be right back.”

She tiptoed into the darkened house through the back door and proceeded to her bedroom. All was quiet, Trey having probably turned in hours ago. Still, Maddie made little noise as she undressed, taking off her dress and slipping out of her heels silently. She couldn't pass up
this chance to work with Storm. He'd been on her mind quite a bit lately. Maddie enjoyed the private time she spent with the stallion. She found getting to know the intricacies of the animal's spirit as rewarding as the act of healing itself.