The - Cowboy’s - Secret - Twins (7 page)

He gestured her toward the door of the store. Shopping at Nathan’s General Store was kind of like delving into a treasure hunt. The floor-to-ceiling shelves were stuffed full of items with no rhyme or reason for their placement there. Candles sat next to disposable diapers, jars of peanut butter next to boxes of cereal.

“Wow,” Melissa exclaimed as they entered the store. “It looks like you could find whatever you need in this one store.”

“If you can find what you need,” Henry said dryly. “Nathan has an unusual way of arranging things.”

“I can see that,” she replied. “But that’s just going to make this fun.” As she drifted toward a shelf, he watched her and wondered what it was that so drew him to her.

Granted, she was pretty, but it wasn’t the heart-stopping beauty that could make a man yearn. She was pretty in a girl-next-door kind of way. But she wasn’t a girl. She was a woman with lush curves that he remembered intimately. She also had an intriguing aura of a combination of strength and vulnerability. Certainly she had to be strong to take on the job of raising twins alone. But there were times when he saw a wistfulness in her eyes, a yearning for something that he had an idea had nothing to do with his money or his lifestyle.

A blue sweater, he thought suddenly. That’s what she needed. A sweater the exact color of her eyes. He’d like to buy her several things, but he wasn’t sure if his gifts would please her or make her angry. He’d like to buy her a new robe to replace the one she’d been wearing yesterday morning. He’d like to buy her a new car to replace the junk on wheels that she’d driven to his house. But besides her strength and stubbornness he sensed more than a little bit of pride. He liked that about her and yet knew it was that very trait that might make it difficult for him to get what he wanted.

Although he wouldn’t mind another night of pleasure with her, he certainly didn’t want to marry her. He didn’t even want a romantic relationship with her. All he had to figure out was a way to convince her that it was in everyone’s best interest for her to move into the carriage house. That’s what he wanted more than anything and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

Despite the anxiety that had weighed heavy in Melissa’s heart from the moment she’d opened her eyes that morning, she was enjoying the unexpected shopping time with Henry. The talk in the truck had helped ease some of her fear. He’d promised he wouldn’t try to take custody of the boys and she only hoped that she could trust that promise. She’d steadfastly refused to think about his offer of the carriage house. She might think about it later, but she didn’t want her ambivalence to ruin a perfectly good day out.

They’d wandered in and out of stores and she’d been successful in buying rose-scented lotion and body soap for Mary.

Dalhart was a charming little city that Henry explained got an influx of tourists each summer.

In August there was a three-day celebration that included the largest free barbecue in the United States, a rodeo and three nights of live music and fun.

“See that building over there?” He pointed to a four-story brick structure on the corner. “That’s the Randolf Hotel. I bought it six months ago and it is currently undergoing massive renovations. I’m going to need an interior designer when the renovations are done. I’d hire you if you were living here.”

“Sounds suspiciously like a bribe,” she replied lightly. He grinned. “Maybe a little one. But I have to hire somebody and it might as well be you.”

“You don’t even know if I’m good at it,” she exclaimed.

“I have a feeling you’re good at whatever you put your mind to,” he replied.

As they continued to walk the sidewalks Henry pointed out other places of interest and eventually led her to a café where he insisted they go inside and have a cup of coffee before heading back to the ranch. She agreed. Although she was eager to get back to the kids, she was also reluctant for this time with Henry to end. He’d been charming, making her laugh with a surprising sense of humor and making her feel as if she were the most important person on the face of the earth. He’d introduced her to people that greeted them and she’d seen the respect, the genuine admiration Henry’s friends and neighbors had for him.

In the café they were led to a table in the back where they sat and ordered coffee. “I thought you said you had things to buy,” she said once the waitress had poured their coffee and departed from the table.

“I got them,” he replied.

“But you don’t have any packages.” She reached for the sugar to add to her coffee.

“I always have my purchases delivered to the house.”

“I guess that’s one of the perks about being you,” she said dryly. He grinned and the charm in that gesture kicked her in the heart. “I’m not going to lie. There are definitely perks to being wealthy. For instance, I never go to bed at night and worry about how I’m going to pay the rent. You’d have that same luxury if you’d move into the carriage house.”

“That’s not true. I would never expect to live someplace free of charge. I pay my way, Henry.” She wrapped her hands around her coffee mug. It was one thing to be independent, but it was another to make the boys suffer from her independence.

“There are two things I’d ask of you,” she said after a moment of hesitation.

“What’s that?”

She realized this close that his eyes were really more gray than blue. Almost silver, they were the kind of eyes a woman could fall into, eyes a woman could lose herself in.

“I haven’t been able to afford to get them health insurance,” she said.

“Maybe it would be nice if you could put them on your policy.”

“Done,” he answered without hesitation.

“The other thing is that maybe you could help me with a college fund for them. I didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, but I’d like my sons to.”

“You didn’t have to ask for that. I’d want to make sure they go to college,” he replied. “Why didn’t you go?”

“There were several reasons. Financially it was impossible, but even with a full scholarship I couldn’t have gone.” She paused to take a sip of her coffee and then continued. “When I was a junior in high school my mother developed health complications due to diabetes. She lost most of her eyesight and they had to take one of her legs. There was no way I could leave her to go to college. She had nobody but me to take care of her.”

“Quite a sacrifice on your part,” he observed.

Melissa smiled. “I never considered it a sacrifice. I considered it a privilege to take care of the woman who had always taken care of me.”

“One of the reasons I broke up with the woman I’d been dating for a while was because she thought it was time to put my mother into a nursing home.”

Melissa looked at him in stunned surprise. “What was she thinking? Your mother certainly doesn’t belong in a nursing home.”

“My sentiments, exactly,” he replied. “And you don’t even need me to tell you what Mom thought of the idea. Needless to say Mom wasn’t upset when I broke it off with Hilary. Now, tell me how you got involved with interior decorating.”

As Melissa told him about working in a furniture store and finding her calling in arranging rooms and décor, she once again remembered the thrill of his mouth on hers, the way his arms had felt holding her tight.

“Shouldn’t we be getting home?” she asked when she’d finished telling him about her struggling business. “It’s been a couple of hours and I don’t want to take advantage of your mother.”

“We’ll head back,” he agreed. “But I can promise you my mother wouldn’t feel taken advantage of if we were gone all day. She’s absolutely crazy over those boys.”

Melissa smiled. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is that the boys not only have a father like you, but also a grandmother like Mary. I’m well aware of the fact that James the cowboy could have been a man who wanted nothing to do with them.”

He looked at her sheepishly. “I want you to know that night was the first and only time I’ve lied about my name.” He motioned for the waitress to bring their tab. “To be honest, that night I just wanted to be James the cowboy, not Henry Randolf III.”

The café had grown busy with the approach of the noon hour and Melissa was aware of several people looking at her with curiosity as she and Henry left their table and headed for the door.

They were just about to reach the door when a tall, willowy brunette walked in. “Henry!” she cried in obvious delight, then her gaze swept to Melissa and her smile faltered slightly.

“Hilary, this is Melissa Monroe, a friend visiting from Amarillo. Melissa, this is Hilary Grant,” Henry said.

“Nice to meet you,” Hilary said to Melissa, then turned her attention back to Henry. “I was going to stop by your place this evening. I made a batch of that fudge you love and was going to bring it to you.”

“That’s not necessary,” Henry protested.

“Well, of course it isn’t necessary, but it’s something I want to do. Will you be home this evening?”

“We’ll be home, but it’s Christmas Eve. It’s really not a good time,” he replied.

Her lush red lips pursed with a hint of irritation. “Then I’ll give the fudge to Charlie to give to you tomorrow,” she said. “I made it especially for you, Henry.”

He smiled at the beautiful Hilary. “That was very nice, Hilary, and now we’d better get out of here. We’re blocking the entrance.”

“Nice to meet you, Hilary,” Melissa said.

She nodded and returned Melissa’s smile but there was nothing warm or inviting in the dark centers of her eyes. She swept past them toward a table where another woman sat as Melissa and Henry stepped out into the cold late morning air.

“Hilary knows Charlie?” Melissa asked.

“They’re brother and sister,” Henry replied.

She glanced up at him. “That must have been a bit awkward when you broke up with her.”

“Actually, it was fine. Charlie doesn’t seem to get involved with his sister’s life. I get the feeling that they aren’t real close.”

They had gone only a few steps down the sidewalk when they came faceto-face with a short, squat man. Melissa felt Henry’s instant tension.

“Tom,” he said and gave the man a curt nod.

“Henry. Heard you had some excitement out at your place the other night.”

“And you wouldn’t know anything about that,” Henry replied. His eyes were cool, steely in a way Melissa hadn’t seen before.

“Just what I hear through the grapevine. Sounds like there are some folks who aren’t too happy about your decision to run for mayor.”

“Just a handful, mostly the people who have something to lose if I get into office. You wouldn’t be one of those people, would you, Tom?”

“Taking potshots at a man with a rifle isn’t my style. You’ll see me coming if I come after you.” Tom gave Melissa a curt nod, then stepped around them and walked by.

“Who was that?” Melissa asked as they arrived at Henry’s truck.

“Tom Burke, city manager and the man who definitely doesn’t want me to become mayor.” Henry opened her car door and she slid in and watched as he walked around the front of his truck to get into the driver side.

She could tell he was irritated. A muscle ticked in his strong jaw and his shoulders looked more rigid than usual.

“You don’t like Tom Burke?” she asked as he got into the car.

“I think he’s a criminal masquerading as an upstanding citizen,” Henry replied as he started the truck. “He knows that if I get into office I’m going to do everything in my power to see that he loses his job.”

“So, you think he’s behind the attacks on you?”

He backed out of the parking space before replying. When he was on the road that led back to the ranch he visibly relaxed. “Yeah, Tom Burke is definitely at the top of my list of suspects. He knows I believe that he’s been taking kickbacks from inferior contractors doing work for the city and he knows that if I succeed in being elected, his days are numbered.”

“Have you told the sheriff this?”

He nodded, his dark hair gleaming in the sunshine that danced into the truck window. “Jimmy knows. Unfortunately Tom isn’t the only councilman who I think is on the take. The corruption in this town runs deep and I’m determined to do some housecleaning.”

“And what do the townspeople think?”

“I think they’re behind me, but nobody has been brave enough to speak up. I’m hoping they’ll speak by voting for me.”

Melissa admired what he wanted to do. Like an old Wild West hero he was riding into town filled with outlaws with the intention of cleaning it up.

“She’s very beautiful,” she said.

He didn’t pretend not to know who she was talking about. “She’s okay.”

She’d been more than okay, Melissa thought. Hilary Grant was stunning. Tall and slender, with lush long dark hair and exotic olive eyes, she’d looked like a model in her long, fashionable coat and boots.

“What does she do?” she asked curiously.

“She’s a beautician and she does some local modeling gigs. She and Charlie had a pretty rough life and mostly Hilary is looking for somebody to change all that rather than figuring out how she can change it herself.”

“She’s in love with you, you know,” she said.

“She was never in love with me,” he scoffed. “She was always in love with my money.”

“Were you in love with her?” Melissa was surprised to realize that his answer mattered. It mattered much more than it should to her.

“No, but there was a weak moment when I considered marrying her.”

“You’d marry somebody you weren’t in love with?” Melissa asked with surprise.

“I considered it a business deal,” he replied with an easiness that astounded her. “Hilary would have made a good wife when it came to giving parties and acting as hostess for social affairs. In return she would have been able to live the lifestyle she desperately wants.”

“And you’d do that? You’d marry as a business arrangement instead of for love?” Melissa asked.

“As far as I’m concerned love is overrated.” He cast her a wry look. “I suppose you’re one of those hopeless romantics?”

“Absolutely,” she exclaimed. “I’ll only marry for love. I want to marry somebody who loves me mindlessly, desperately, and I want to love him the same way. I want somebody to laugh with, to love, somebody to grow old with and love through eternity. And I won’t settle for less.”