Authors: Hope Navarre
His lips feathered across her cheek and down the curve of her neck. She leaned back, offering him greater access, but he returned to her mouth. His lips became firm and demanding. A low moan escaped his throat as she responded in kind. The passion she had denied for so long rushed up in an all-consuming wave. She wanted to be closer. She needed every square inch of her body touching his. She wanted his weight pressing her down and bringing her the pleasure she knew he could give her.
By unspoken agreement, they settled side by side on the quilt. She pulled at his shirt, wanting her hands on his skin.
“Not yet,” his breathy voice stopped her.
“Why?” She didn't want to wait. She had waited long enough. She reached for his belt buckle.
“Oh, baby, I've dreamed of this moment for so long. I don't want to rush it.”
She caught his lower lip between her teeth and pulled gently. When she released him, she asked, “Did you bring protection?”
“It's in my hip pocket.” He was breathing hard. The sound fueled her excitement.
“More than one?”
“Yes.”
“Good, 'cause we're gonna rush it now. Later, you can take your time.”
“Ah, woman, you say the sexiest things.”
“Shut up and I'll show you sexy.”
And she did, until they were both spent and resting in each other's arms.
Curled against him, basking in the comforting feel of his arm over her waist and his broad chest behind her, Robyn smiled as she let the peace of the place and her utter happiness wash away every last bit of anger and remorse. They were starting over. She couldn't ask for more.
* * *
A
S
R
OBYN
RODE
the long miles home that evening, her euphoria faded as her doubts and fears pressed in again. Was she being fair to Neal? Could he really give up his lifelong dream of a rodeo championship on top of continuing her charade? She was asking a lot.
His quick assertion he would quit the rodeo troubled her, as well. She couldn't help feeling that something was wrong. After so many years and so many fights about his riding, suddenly he was willing to give it up?
It didn't feel right, but then who was she to say what was right and wrong? Maybe she should just accept that by some miracle she was being given her heart's desire.
And it was her heart's desire.
A life with Neal. Neal being a father to Chance. It was more than she expected or deserved.
She rode into the corral and dismounted. The house was quiet. Leading her horse into the barn, she stopped short at the sight of Edward measuring out grain to feed the other horses.
“You don't have to do my chores,” she said, leading her horse into a stall.
“I don't mind. You were gone a long time. What were you doing?”
“I went riding with Neal.”
What would Edward think of Neal taking Colin's place in their lives? She braced herself to find out.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“R
OBYN
,
YOU
KNOW
I love you like a daughter, don't you?” Edward asked as he poured the feed into the manger. Her horse pulled at the reins, eager for his supper.
“Of course I know that.” After slipping the bridle off, she turned the animal loose in the box stall.
Robyn chewed her lower lip as she wondered how to tell Edward that Neal would be taking Colin's place in their lives. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, but he would have to know sooner or later.
Edward leaned on the stall door, watching her. “You really care about Neal, don't you?”
“Yes, I do.” She smiled gently.
“I'm glad.”
Relief filled her. “You are? Really?”
“Oh, honey, you're much too young to spend your life alone. Neal seems like a fine young man. He likes Chance, and Chance adores him.”
“Yes, Chance does adore him. Are you okay with that?”
Stepping up to her, Edward enfolded her in a comforting hug. “I wish my son had lived to raise Chance. He would have made a wonderful father, but it didn't happen.”
He held her at arm's length and searched her face. “You don't believe I want Chance to grow up without a father, or for you to spend the rest of your life alone because Colin can't be here, do you?”
“I guess I don't.”
He gave her a gentle shake. “Good. Now let's go get some supper, shall we? It's a good thing we're leaving in the morning. I'd have to buy all new clothes if I keep eating your mother's cooking much longer. My pants are already getting tight.”
“We'll miss you.”
He draped an arm over her shoulder, and she slipped an arm around his waist as they walked out of the barn. “Thanks, kiddo. I'll miss you, too. I'm only a phone call away if you ever need anything.”
* * *
N
EAL
DROVE
INTO
the O'Connor yard the next afternoon and stepped out of his truck. Chance was playing in the front yard with Bell and his new soccer ball. Barking excitedly, Bell raced toward the gate. Chance waved when he saw Neal. Chance ran to the gate and pushed it open, and Neal dropped to one knee to pet the puppy as she scampered up to him and fawned at his feet.
Chance tucked his ball under one arm as he carefully closed the picket gate, and Neal was struck again by the familiarity of that image. The boy reminded him of someone, but who? He frowned as he tried to pin down the elusive memory. If only he could picture where he'd seen him before.
A picture. That was it. Somewhere he'd seen a photograph of a boy who looked like Chance holding a ball in front of a picket fence. But where?
Robyn stepped out of the house and hurried down the steps, looking fresh and beautiful in jeans and a yellow blouse and sporting a matching yellow bow in her hair. She stopped in front of him. “What are you frowning about? Don't you like my outfit?”
He'd made the right decision, Neal thought as he stared up at the beautiful woman in front of him. She'd forgiven him. She loved him. No belt buckle or championship title could ever make him this happy.
Grinning, he tilted his head to one side. He rose, leaned close and whispered, “The outfit is okay, but I like you better naked.”
Blushing furiously, she pushed him toward the truck. “I should have known better than to ask you.”
Chance looked at her and signed, “What did he say?”
“Never mind,” she signed. She shot Neal a menacing look. “Get in the truck or we'll be late.”
Neal turned to Chance and signed slowly, “I said your mother is beautiful.”
Neal looked at Robyn. “Did I get that right?”
Her eyes sparkled with happiness as a slow smile curved her lip. “You got it right.”
“The twins have been helping me work on my signing,” he admitted.
She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Remind me to thank them.”
“You won't need this, sport.” Neal took the soccer ball from Chance and tossed it over the fence into the yard. He scooped up the puppy, intending to deposit her in the yard as well, but Chance grabbed his arm, then signed quickly. Before Robyn could interpret, Neal said, “Let me guess, he wants to take the dog.”
“Yes.”
Neal hesitated a second, then nodded, and Chance beamed as he pulled Bell from Neal's arms.
Robyn frowned. “Are you sure you want to take a puppy to the fair?”
He answered honestly, “No, but I think I can handle one pup better than I could handle one pouting boy if I made him leave her at home.”
Shaking her head, Robyn muttered, “He sure has you wrapped around his little finger.”
She signed to Chance, “Go get her leash.”
Chance dashed into the house with Bell close on his heels.
With Chance out of sight, Neal did the one thing he'd wanted to do since they had parted the day before. He pulled Robyn into his arms and kissed her soundly. As her lips parted softly beneath his, he knew he wanted to do this every day for the rest of his life.
“Well, it's about time!”
Neal shot a look to the gate, where Martha stood with her hands planted on her hips and a satisfied smile on her face. Robyn stepped away, and Neal turned to her mother.
Reaching over the fence, he cupped her face in his hands. “Forgive me. It's just a fling, Martha. It's you I really want.”
She batted his hands away as she blushed bright red. “Oh, you scamp! Get out of here and take these two with you.” Chance brushed past her with Bell on a leash.
“All right,” Neal drawled. “But you're breaking my heart, honey.”
“I'll break more than that if you don't mind your manners.”
Laughing, Neal opened the truck door and helped Chance and Robyn in.
As they drove toward town, Robyn noticed Neal seemed distracted. He frequently glanced at Chance and his puzzled frown reappeared. Chance was sitting between them, holding Bell in his lap. The pup was behaving better in the truck than Robyn had expected. “What's wrong?” she asked Neal at last.
“What? Oh, nothing, I guess.”
A smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. “Regretting bringing the dog already?”
“No.” He reached over and scratched Bell behind her ear. The pup promptly tried to lick his hand.
“Something's on your mind,” she insisted. There would be a rodeo at the fair tonight. Was he regretting that he wouldn't be riding in it?
He shrugged. “It's just something Clara said once.”
“When she asked you to tune her piano?”
He laughed and shook his head. “No, Clara told me I didn't look like a Bryant.” He glanced at Robyn. “But she said that Chance did.”
“What a strange thing for her to say.”
“She was right. He does.”
Robyn frowned at him. “What do you mean?”
“I take after Mom's side of the family. Most of our cousins from Dad's side are blue-eyed, curly-headed blonds. It makes me wonder if anyone else has noticed the resemblance.”
“Like Edward?”
“I was thinking about my mother and Jake.”
“Why wouldn't they say something?” She hadn't considered that her secret might not be much of a secret after all.
“I've been wondering that, too.”
He slowed the truck and turned into the grassy lot at the edge of town, which was rapidly filling with cars and pickups. “Okay, we're here. Let's enjoy the day and forget about everything else.”
She smiled at him and nodded. “Excellent plan.”
The county fair was in full swing by the time they reached the fairgrounds.
She turned to Neal. “Don't let him fill up on junk food. Don't let him stuff himself with corn dogs, and make sure you know where he is at all times. Do you know the sign for bathroom?”
“I've got this. See you later.”
Neal and Chance left Robyn at the hospital booth and set off to explore the varied delights the fair had to offer.
Robyn stepped under the red-and-white-striped awning and saw that Jane Rawlings was already there. Jane sat behind a folding table lined with pamphlets about the hospital and its programs. Behind her, a lab technician was setting up the simple lab equipment that could be used to run blood tests from finger pricks.
After pulling her stethoscope from her pocket, Robyn looped it over her neck and joined Jane.
“I knew the rumor mill was wrong.” Jane sat back and crossed her arms.
“Which rumor and which mill?” Robyn started arranging the consents fairgoers would have to sign before she could draw their blood.
“Mary Beth said you were dating Dr. Cain.”
“We did go out.”
Jane narrowed her eyes. “But you came to the fair with Neal Bryant?”
“You are very observant.”
“Do not tell me that you are letting a gorgeous doctor slip through your fingers for a cowboy. I don't believe it. You've got more sense than that.”
“Jane, I had no idea you were so prejudiced against cowboys.”
“Don't get me wrongâI like cowboys. Some of my best friends are cowboys. But it makes a whole lot more sense to marry a doctor.”
Robyn shook her head. “Only if you are in love with the doctor.”
Jane leaned forward eagerly. “So you're telling me that you are in love with the cowboy?”
“Yes.” It was exciting to finally admit it out loud. She hadn't felt this giddy in ages.
Jane squealed with delight and threw her arms around Robyn. “I'm so happy for you. Do you have a date set?”
“Hold those horses, girlfriend. We are a long way from the wedding chapel. I have a son to consider. He likes Neal, but I don't know how he would feel about adding him permanently to the family.”
“I can understand that.”
Robyn stared out the tent toward the midway. “Today is sort of a test to see how well they do together.”
“They'll be fine. You'll see.”
“I hope you're right. Today I'm not staying one minute later than I agreed. We've got to get good seats along the parade route.”
“You don't fool me. You just want to ride the Ferris wheel with your guys.”
“You are so right.” She looked up and greeted their first customer.
* * *
C
HANCE
WAS
ENCHANTED
with the whirling rides and colorful tents and booths that lined the midway. With Bell's leash clutched tightly in his hand, he dashed ahead of Neal to first one booth and then another. Neal was ready to switch the lead from the dog to the kid. He was pretty sure Bell would stick closer than Chance was inclined to do.
The first ride Chance wanted to go on was the merry-go-round. The calliope music played as families stood in line to put their little ones on mechanical horses. Judging from the number of well-worn cowboy hats in the group, most of the families had real horses at home. Neal wasn't sure what the draw was unless it was the fancifully painted ponies.
When it was their turn, Neal held Bell under one arm and lifted Chance to the back of a shiny black steed with a flaming red-and-yellow mane and tail. Chance was grinning from ear to ear. On the other side of him, another cowboy was holding on to a little girl in a pink shorts set.
Neal struggled with his balance for a few seconds when the ride started, but he managed not to drop the dog or fall off the ride.
The cowboy across the way looked from his excited daughter to Chance. “That's a mighty fine-looking horse you're on, partner.”
Chance ignored him and watched the faces of the crowd spinning by. Neal said, “He's deaf. He can't hear you.”
Sympathy filled the man's eyes. “That's a tough break for your son.”
Neal opened his mouth to deny that Chance was his son, but he couldn't say it. He wasn't sure he would ever be able to say it out loud. Chance was his. No one else's. Although he had agreed to Robyn's stipulation, he hadn't realized how difficult maintaining the lie would be.
How had Robyn managed to do it for so long?
It was something the two of them needed to discuss. He knew she wasn't going to like it.
An hour later, Chance had consumed a cone of cotton candy and three corn dogs, although Neal thought Bell had wound up with the lion's share of those. It was a day he would always remember, Neal decided as he watched Chance ride around in a swing shaped like an airplane.
Would he make a good father for his boy? He was more than willing to try, but how could he be sure he was doing the right thing? Would he know if he was making mistakes? What if he and Robyn disagreed on something more important than cotton candy and maximum corn dog numbers?
When the ride ended, he waited for the teenage operator to steer Chance to the exit. Neal was waiting on the other side. Chance hopped up and down and signed, “Again. Again.”
Neal shook his head. “We are all out of tickets. Time to go look at something else. What do you think, the butter sculpture shaped like a giant ear of corn or the 4-H animals?”
Chance tipped his head to the side the same way Bell did when she didn't understand something. Neal's smile slipped a little. “I've got to master sign language, and quick. There are so many things I want to share with you, son.”
He'd started out wanting to make amends with Robyn and had ended up with a family instead. How lucky could one man get?
His nightmares still plagued him, but he hoped they would fade with time. Robyn and Chance were more important now than his riding. He'd always known his bull-riding days were numbered, that the day would come when he'd make his last ride. He wasn't going to wake up when he was fifty and decide which rodeo to go ride in that day.
The only thing was, he'd wanted to go out a winner. His one regret was that the bull had won the last round.
Regrets aside, making a home and having a family were the things he needed to concentrate on now. Tomorrow he'd ask Jake if he could start working for him. Jake had always said there would be a place on the ranch when Neal was ready. Well, he was ready now.