She's the One (12 page)

It probably was safer. But she couldn’t help but be hurt Dylan hadn’t told her.

Zeke dumped the crushed flakes into a mixing bowl as the door opened and the three hunters who’d flown to the spike camp stepped in carrying their gear. Colt’s head jerked up at the sight of the newcomers and he got to his feet and ran to the kitchen.

Zeke ruffled Colt’s hair and hugged him close to his legs when Colt wrapped one arm around Zeke’s thigh.

“That cold air get’cha?” Zeke chuckled. “Say, I need to go talk to those fellas for a second. Shouldn’t take me more’n five minutes. Would you mind keeping an eye on Colt while I do that?”

She blinked at the request. Dylan had warned her away from his son after she’d taken Colt’s picture but surely that didn’t apply now? “Sure.”

“Colt, you stay with Alex, okay? I’ll just be in the other room but I need to talk to those gents.”

Colt looked up at her with his big brown eyes and Alex smiled, uncomfortable with the child’s stare. “What do you say, Colt? Would you like to help me?”

Z
EKE LEFT THE KITCHEN
and Alex tried to come up with something funny to say to draw a smile from Colt. Her mind went blank. Would it make Colt uncomfortable if she talked to him? Should she keep working? Why talk if he won’t answer?

She was out of her element when it came to kids. Playing with her infant niece and nephews on trips home wasn’t enough to clue her in to this situation. “That’s a nice cowboy setup you have in there. Do you like horses?”

Colt made eye contact with her briefly but didn’t respond, not even a nod or a shrug.

Alex forced another smile. Okay, then. “I have a horse. She’s in Tennessee at my parents’ house. They take care of her for me.”

Again, no answer, though he did seem to be listening and the expression that flickered across his handsome little face said he liked hearing about her horse. So, horses it was.

“Her name is Bandit. She’s an Appaloosa and nearly all white, but she has black socks on all four hooves, black spots on her hindquarters and a black stripe over her eyes and ears like a hat a bandit would wear.” She pointed to the cornflakes. “Your grandpa left the recipe
here for baked fried chicken but it looks like we need a lot more of those. Would you mind crushing them like your grandpa was? Like this,” she said, showing him. “Yeah, perfect.”

Colt started crushing the cereal with little-boy fascination and single-minded purposefulness, and more questions about Colt’s disability piled up in her head as she told Colt about riding Bandit, grooming her and other things she hadn’t thought of in quite a while.

Home. Bandit. Her family. Was she going to wake up one day sad that she’d missed out on what was going on there because she was always traveling? She didn’t think so. Especially when it kept her under the radar so her mother’s focus was on her brothers rather than her.

Still, the wave of homesickness rolling over her surprised her. Talking with Colt was like chatting up her young nephews. And Ansel and Walter and Zeke reminded her of her many uncles, joking and kidding and telling outrageous tales. The lodge held such a sense of warmth and comfort, it was no wonder it made her think of home.

And that made her remember the antsy, can’t-wait-to-get-out-of-here feeling she always got when she stayed too long in one place. She didn’t feel it yet. But she would.

She knew it was only a matter of time.

A
LEXANDRA BECAME MORE NERVOUS
about her decision to stay as the last two days of the original weeklong stay drew to a close. So much so she briefly considered packing her bags and going home to Tennessee thereby skipping her vacation, as a punishment.

Why? Because every time Dylan walked into a room,
her heart picked up speed. Every time he brushed his hand against hers, she caught herself wanting to close the distance and weave their fingers together. And when he talked or smiled at or hugged his son? Her heart totally melted into a big glob of goo.

Yup, she was a total sap. Because every one of those little things Dylan did made her want him more. When they came together—she couldn’t even think of it as
if
anymore, which freaked her out to the point of bingeing on Zeke’s double chocolate cake—they’d be lucky if they made it to a bed. But no pressure, no promises.

She was determined to take things slow even if she’d never felt this intensely about a guy. But was it pure and simple lust, or the beginnings of something bigger?

She didn’t know.

In her twenty-eight years she’d had her share of dates and boyfriends but when her nomad ways and constant traveling wore thin, the relationships always fizzled and ended. Still, sex wasn’t something she did casually. Her parents were about to celebrate their fortieth anniversary together, so to her sex equated to long-term dating, commitment, marriage.

Staying with Dylan, hiring him as her tour guide, wasn’t something she should even consider
doing
given the temptation she felt for him. But no matter the internal lectures and warnings of what might befall her, here she was.

“Want to help me put Colt to bed?”

Alex looked up in surprise. She’d been sitting staring into the flames in the hearth listening to Dylan play his guitar. Now he stood beside the couch holding his sleepy-eyed son in his arms, and even though there was
nothing sexier than the sight of Dylan’s scarred hands cradling Colt so protectively against his chest, pure, unadulterated fear zipped through her veins.

You could so totally fall for him.

And what would she do if she did?

Her pulse began to race at warp speed. She’d wanted time to connect, to see how she felt about Dylan but she didn’t want to
fall
for him. And in a week? That couldn’t happen, could it?

She dropped her gaze and made herself focus on Colt’s tired form. The little boy had enough problems without adding to the mix. Whatever happened between her and Dylan, she didn’t want Colt to be a casualty and the only way to prevent it was to keep her distance. “Actually I think I’m going to turn in, too. I need to charge my equipment for our first tour tomorrow, and I haven’t folded my laundry from earlier today…” And she made excuses and by the awareness on Dylan’s face, he knew it.

The warmth in his eyes faded. “Have a good night then.”

Oh, you can feel the chill in the air now.

Alex hugged her arms around herself and remained on the couch as Dylan carried his son down the hall to his room.

Dylan had been disappointed by her response. Maybe even hurt? Guilt stirred.

She wanted to call out to him, wanted to follow and listen to Dylan while he read Colt a story about Toad’s adventures. But she didn’t, partly because of the drama presently playing out in Tennessee. Not long ago her brother Ethan had come home from his sojourn to Niger
with Doctors Without Borders with a child in tow. He’d hired their sister-in-law’s sister, Megan, to be the boy’s nanny. But Megan’s habit of messing around, not sticking around, had some members of the family worried.

And like it or not, those same concerns also applied to her. Liking Dylan was one thing, spending time with him and enjoying his company to the fullest extent of wherever it led all fine and dandy, but they had to be careful around Colt. Didn’t Dylan see that?

Colt was too young to understand the complexities of relationships, and he didn’t need someone else coming into his already confusing, traumatized life, then walking away. Colt’s big dark eyes were too observant, too aware of what was happening around him. Even his inability to speak was proof of that. The trauma of the fire and losing his mother had been too much for Colt’s immature coping abilities.

Dylan would thank her later because she’d refused his request, would thank her for protecting Colt.

But the sound of Colt’s door closing down the hall?

That made her wish she was on the other side with them.

D
YLAN LOWERED
C
OLT TO HIS
twin bed then lay down beside his son, torn between being happy Alexandra had refused him and angry that she could so easily say no when
he
hadn’t been able to stop himself from making the request.

Colt squirmed against Dylan’s side, and with a measure of surprise, he realized Colt was shoving the book at him. Once Colt would have sat motionless. The show of impatience was progress. The shrinks and
doctors had said to keep testing Colt in little ways, to deliberately do things to provoke a response instead of catering to Colt’s every need as Dylan had when Colt was a toddler. The hope was that Colt would get impatient enough to voice his frustration.

Dylan ignored the book and remained silent, his thoughts on Alexandra. In the past he’d never wanted the guests to notice Colt’s muteness, but Alexandra knew. Zeke had told Dylan about Alexandra watching Colt today and all evening she’d been pensive and quiet herself.

Was that why she’d said no? Because he hadn’t told her or because she was uncomfortable around Colt now as a result? Did she consider his son damaged? He imagined getting involved with a single father was hard enough, but if the child had issues?

No pressure
. If Alexandra couldn’t handle it, best to find out now.

Colt shoved the book at him again, and even though Dylan knew he ought to wait for one more impatient shove, he accepted the book with a sigh. “You know, one of these days I’m not going to read to you until you ask me with words.”

His son blinked at him, all sad-eyed innocence.

Dylan pulled Colt closer and kissed his curly head. “But not tonight. Where were we?”

T
HE NEXT DAY
A
LEX FELT
the intensity of a stare and turned to find Colt regarding her, his precious face seemingly questioning her preoccupied mood as though debating whether or not to approach her. And since she couldn’t be mean to the little boy…“Hey, sweetie. You caught me daydreaming. What’s up?”

The boy’s arm came out from behind him and he held something out for her to see. A horse?

His favorite, one of the hand-carved horses from the play set she so admired. What did she say to that? “You want me to have it? Keep it?”

His eyes widened in obvious alarm.

“Oh, I couldn’t do that.” She rushed to assure him. “I can see how much it means to you.” So what did he want her to do? Play?

Oh, honey. How am I supposed to say no to you?
Especially when she knew he had to be lonely. “I don’t know. I was just getting ready to…You know, I suppose I have some free time. Would you mind if I played with the horse? I’ll give it back to you when we’re done.”

Colt gave her a slight nod. Wait a minute—
a nod?
She knew from watching Colt with his father and grandfather that Colt typically didn’t respond. At all. “So that’s what you want? For me to play with you?”

Wariness settled over his features now, as though he was afraid she would turn him down, afraid she expected him to answer or nod again.

She thought of Bandit, how skittish the mare had been when she’d become part of their family. Her grandfather had been adamant that Alex take things slow, build trust with the animal.

Showing him none of the hesitation she felt, Alex smiled. “I sure miss Bandit. May I name this horse Bandit? Just for today?”

His little shoulders lowered a tad, his tension lessening. He nodded again.

And just like that she understood what her mother meant whenever she became frustrated with Alex’s take
on marriage and children and freedom. She’d vowed Alex’s maternal instincts would kick in one day.

Well, surprise, here they were.

She felt a sense of tenderness and pride, hope and heartache. Sure, Colt had a long way to go but he was making progress right in front of her. Of course, she soon wouldn’t be around to see what else he accomplished.

Colt wasn’t her child but that nod, that sweet smile after a week of seeing his sad face? Those were hers to cherish and she always would.

And that pragmatic, cynical voice in her head whispered that maybe she’d subconsciously chosen to care for a guilt-ridden man and his son because she knew the problems they possessed were a guarantee she
wouldn’t
stick around.

Z
EKE GRABBED
D
YLAN AS SOON
as he stepped through the door. “Boys, go stow your fishing gear and wash up. Dinner in about thirty minutes. Dylan, come with me. You gotta see this, son.”

Curious, Dylan followed his father down the hallway, minding Zeke’s orders to be quiet as they approached Colt’s room. What he saw inside nearly sent him to his knees.

Colt sat on his rear bent forward over his crossed ankles, a horse in one hand and a cowboy in the other. No surprise there. The surprise came in seeing Alexandra sprawled on her stomach on a pillow, her legs bent at the knees, feet swinging idly in the air above them while she pretended the horse in her hand was avoiding Colt’s attempt to round it up.

Playing. They were playing.

Together.

“Been that way for a while now,” Zeke whispered. “Haven’t seen him like this with anyone. Not even you and me.”

Neither had he. Colt played, yes. But he didn’t play
with
those around him. He didn’t interact. Until now. Until
her
. Instead of being happy that Alexandra had connected in such a way, the fear in his gut spread. He felt like a man standing at the top of a mud slide, knowing he was about to go down and trying desperately to prepare for the rush.

“Isn’t that something?” Zeke whispered the question, a smile in his voice. “I hate to see you take her on those tours now. At least you spaced them out some. Wish she could just spend the next couple weeks hanging around here.”

So did Dylan. Standing here spying on Colt and Alexandra as they played, Dylan consciously took the first step Zeke had been pushing him to take since Lauren’s betrayal and his arrest and the whole debacle with Belinda.

The two weeks hadn’t even begun but he knew it wasn’t going to be long enough. Colt was getting attached, he liked her, was reaching out to her.

Like father, like son?

He wasn’t sure of the answer but Dylan didn’t want that connection to end.

The sight before him made him
believe
a future was actually possible.

As though sensing his perusal, Alexandra glanced up. Their gazes met and locked and unable to help himself, he let his eyes flow over her body. When he made eye contact again, a blush bloomed on her cheeks.

“I’ll go watch after dinner,” Zeke said. “Get on in there,” he ordered before hightailing it down the hall.

Dylan hesitated, uncomfortable even though it was his son and his—what? Girlfriend? Soon-to-be lover?

No pressure, no promises.

Alexandra pushed herself to a sitting position and smiled at him. “Would you like to join us? Colt could use a few more horses to round up.”

Dylan lowered himself to the floor and picked up one of the horses presently positioned out of the action, his gaze on the beautiful woman beside him.