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  “She’s invited both of us to her bridal shower on Saturday,” she told Nicole. The happiness on her face when she shared the news made her look twenty years younger. And the sheer enthusiasm in her expression reminded him of Carly.

  Nicole appeared less enthused. “Are you sure you don’t want the time alone with them? I was planning to work on Saturday to make up for today.”

  “Please.” There was a naked vulnerability in Adele’s tone that evoked Daniel’s sympathy. It couldn’t be easy to face her children after so much time. “The shower’s being thrown by Lizzie and one of Carly’s longtime friends, Kim. They’re having it at the ranch, and I haven’t been back there since... Anyway, it wouldn’t be time alone. There will be plenty of guests.”

  “We’ll talk about it later,” Nicole promised with a wary glance in Daniel’s direction. Then she excused herself to get water for the tree. The man at the lot had warned it would need to be watered often for the first few days. He’d also advised against decorating it right away so that the branches had time to “settle” first. Nicole had chuckled at that. Since she didn’t actually have any Christmas ornaments in Dallas, waiting wouldn’t be a problem.

  Daniel felt an almost physical need to hear her laugh, see her smile, again.

  “So.” Clearing her throat, Adele folded her arms across her chest. “You and Nicole have been spending a lot of time together.”

  And he’d enjoyed all of it. Would Nicole want to see more of him before she returned to San Antonio, or had he shot himself in the foot?

  “We run into each other occasionally because we have doctors in the same office park. Shopping for a Christmas tree was a spontaneous idea.” It wasn’t his place to tell Adele about the twins or how he’d thought Nicole was too shaken up to drive.

  “Do you have any other ideas where she’s concerned? Because—”

  “Daniel, thank you so much for your help.” Nicole reentered the room, sending him a pointed smile. “I didn’t mean to eat up so much of your evening. You’re free to go now.”

  He bravely returned her smile. He knew from growing up around females that provoking them came with consequences, but he was unwilling to walk out now with tension between them. “Actually, didn’t you say something about one other favor you needed? I wanted to talk to you about that.”

  Her eyes widened, darting toward Adele. No way did she want him mentioning here that she’d asked him to kiss her. “It’s all right,” she said tightly. “I’ve changed my mind.”

  “I can understand that, but—”

  She stepped forward, gripping his elbow. “How about I walk you to the elevator? We can talk on the way.” Her eyes flashed, and the look she skewered him with would have made him fear for his safety if he weren’t nearly a foot taller than she was.

  When they were safely in the hall with the apartment door closed, Nicole whirled on him, socking him lightly in the shoulder. The left one, thankfully.

  “What is wrong with you?” she demanded. “It wasn’t enough for you to reject me, you had to rub it in?”

  He held up his hands in a posture of surrender. “All I wanted was a chance to explain. Not kissing you earlier wasn’t rejection. I just— You had a tough day, and I figured you were more vulnerable than usual.”

  She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, considering his words. “I was only talking about a few kisses in a parking lot, Daniel. That’s hardly enough to warrant a what have I done? shame spiral later.”

  “I overthought it,” he admitted. “But can you honestly tell me that if we’d exchanged ‘a few kisses,’ you wouldn’t have wanted anything more? Because I can barely stand in an elevator next to you without wanting more.” A lot more.

  Pink filled her cheeks, and she ducked her gaze. “Okay, fair point. I’m a big girl, though. You don’t have to worry that if anything happened between us, I’d get the wrong idea. I know we want different things in the long run.”

  In the long run, they were wholly incompatible. But in the here and now? It sounded as if there was at least one thing they both wanted: each other.

  He shifted his weight. “Did I mention the spectacular view of the stars from my back porch? It’s supposed to be clear tomorrow night. Can I cook you dinner?”

  Her head shot up. “You mean like a date?”

  “That’s exactly what I mean.” A moment passed, and he realized he was holding his breath. He tried to let them both off the hook. “You don’t have to answer now. You could call me tomorrow and let me know.”

  “My answer is yes.” Her lips curved in a wicked smile. “But ‘spectacular’ is a tall order, cowboy. I hope I won’t be disappointed.”

  Chapter Seven

  Daniel called Sierra first thing in the morning to apologize for missing his therapy session and to throw himself on her mercy.

  “Ha!” she said into the phone. “I don’t have any mercy.”

  Picturing the redhead’s slight form, he laughed at her imperious tone. “Has anyone ever accused you of having a Napoleon complex?”

  “Not and lived to tell about it.”

  “I really am sorry I had to cancel last minute. I ran into...” He fumbled, at a loss to describe Nicole and what was happening between the two of them. “A friend who was having a personal emergency.”

  “I see.” Her voice softened. Considering that the therapy building was surrounded by other doctors’ offices, there was a wide range of emergency situations that might bring someone to the complex. “Well, I guess that’s why I don’t have friends,” she joked. “I’m never required to worry about anyone but myself.”

  He knew she was kidding, but, honestly, hadn’t she summed up his philosophy pretty well? His own friends were mostly casual rodeo buddies. He preferred a certain buffer of unspoken distance between him and others. Life was less complicated when you didn’t have to worry about letting anyone down or dread an inevitable goodbye.

  “You think you can squeeze me in today?” he asked.

  “No can do, slick. The earliest opening is on Friday. You mentioned that you have access to a heated pool?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’ll email you some sheets on low-impact aquatic protocols. Try to do some of those exercises today, and I’ll see you at the end of the week.”

  She didn’t know it, but she’d just handed him the perfect opportunity to talk to Anna, the Barons’ housekeeper, without being conspicuous about it. He planned to grill a couple of rib eyes tonight, but he wanted to prepare more impressive side dishes for Nicole than a baked potato and bowl of salad. After all, he owed her “spectacular.”

  Grinning in anticipation of seeing her, he tidied up his cabin. It was a small place, but he hadn’t needed much—especially when he’d been on the road so often. The silver lining of living somewhere so compact was that it wasn’t difficult to clean. Daniel wasn’t a slob; his mother never would have allowed it. He remembered when he’d complained that making his bed every morning was stupid since he was just going to mess it up again at night and had refused on principle. He also remembered being grounded for the rest of the week.

  Well, his house probably wouldn’t pass any white-glove tests, but he thought that if his mom could see it, she’d be reasonably proud of him. Now that he was reminiscing about Peggy, he suddenly wondered what she would think of Nicole if the two women had had a chance to meet. Would she view Nicole as working behind enemy lines, since Nicole was loyal to Brock’s first wife? Or would Peggy, who’d briefly been a single mother between divorcing Oscar and her eventual remarriage, commend Nicole for bravely facing motherhood and all it might throw at her?

  He got into his truck and made the short drive to the Roughneck, surprised to see both Lizzie’s and Jacob’s vehicles parked next to the house. He started to knock on the front door but, assuming that Natalie was here with her mom,
thought better of it in case the baby was napping. Instead, he slipped in quietly, passing by the closed door of Brock’s study. Although Lizzie was on maternity leave until after the new year started, she kept close tabs on what was happening at Baron Energies in her absence. Maybe she, Jacob and Brock were having a management meeting here at the ranch.

  Next week, Alex would be out of school for the two-week holiday break, but for now, the house was still. He found Anna in the kitchen, frosting cupcakes at the kitchen island.

  “Smells good in here,” he greeted her, leaning in to inspect the cupcakes.

  She gave him a fond smile. “Thank you, but stay away from those! They’re for Alex’s class party tomorrow. If you want something sweet, I made a coconut cake the other day. There’s probably some left.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m actually headed out to the pool.” He hefted the duffel bag that contained his towel and suit. “I just stopped in to say hi and ask you about recipes. I’m grilling steak tonight and wanted to pick your brain about easy side dishes that are more original than a tossed salad. It must take a combination of genius and magic to get six kids to eat vegetables, but you always managed it.”

  Her eyebrows inched toward her hairline. “Who did you say you were grilling for?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “But it’s a girl.”

  Woman. A hot-blooded, hardheaded woman. And he couldn’t wait to see her again.

  “Can’t I just be looking to expand my cooking repertoire?” he dodged. “I’m not getting any younger, you know. It would do me some good to eat healthier.”

  Anna snorted. “Is it that Nicole Bennett? The one you brought with you to dinner on Sunday?”

  He could once again point out that Lizzie had been the one to invite her, but since he’d definitely issued the invitation for a romantic dinner tonight, it seemed a pointless distinction. “Yes, it’s her.”

  “She’s pretty.” She lowered her gaze, swirling the silicone spatula in the strawberry frosting. “And she works for Delia. Adele, rather. Is that going to be weird for your brothers and sisters?”

  “I doubt it.” How much did Anna know about the girls making strides to reconnect with their mom? “Everyone likes Nicole.” Not to mention, by this time next month, Daniel might be relocating to Colorado. His dating life wouldn’t influence his siblings in the slightest.

  For that matter, by this time next month, his social life wouldn’t affect Nicole either. She would have returned to her regularly scheduled existence, one that would soon include two babies. Whatever brief time they had, he wanted to make the most of it. She was a special woman. He doubted he’d meet someone who made him feel the way she did anytime soon.

  “Well...” Anna spread some icing across a new cupcake. “It doesn’t get much simpler than roasted fresh green beans. You could do a cucumber ‘ribbon’ salad that, when plated properly, looks more elegant and sophisticated than it is. Or I can show you how to make a fruit salad with a pear half that looks like Snoopy’s face. Alex is a big fan of that one.”

  “Thanks, but I think we can skip the Snoopy face.” Although...he did love when Nicole laughed. It would be funny to serve her the fruit salad and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas.

  “When I’m done with the cupcakes, I’ll jot down instructions for a couple of quick recipes.”

  He thanked her again, then went to change into his bathing trunks. The water was warm and welcoming. While the exercises Sierra had sent him were nowhere near as demanding as trying to stay seated on a bucking bronc, he was glad to be doing something physical. Unbidden, Nicole’s voice echoed in his head, the note of yearning in her voice when she’d talked about these early months of pregnancy being her last chance to indulge in a few selfish temptations. How physical would things get tonight? When she’d drawled her challenge about making their date spectacular, it had been damn near impossible to keep his hands off her. But he’d left without kissing her last night, keeping to his principles. She’d still been processing the news about the twins.

  Tonight, however, was about her and Daniel. He’d give her whatever she wanted. And he’d do his level best to make it spectacular for her.

  Daniel was out of the pool and drying off when Jacob emerged on the patio, dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt that was open at the collar.

  “You look overdressed for a swim,” Daniel said, shrugging into his own shirt. It was definitely too cold outside to be standing around in nothing but wet trunks.

  “Anna told me you were out here. How’s the shoulder?”

  “Improving. But...even after this is all healed up, I’m not sure I’m going to return to rodeo.”

  Surprise flickered across Jacob’s face. “That’s a shame. After I came so close this year, I was kind of hoping one of us would make it to the National Finals someday. It would have been awesome to root for you.” He hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his slacks. “I know you have some stuff on the side to generate supplementary income, but have you thought about what you want to do full-time?”

  “I have feelers out,” Daniel said evasively. “You mind if we go inside so I can put on dry clothes?”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to hold you up.” They turned toward the house. “I came looking for you to see if you’re busy tonight. Mariana texted that she’ll be late. She’s staying after hours for a legal powwow on some big case, so it’ll just be me and the little guy. Want to join us for dinner?”

  “Actually, tonight’s no good. I have plans.”

  Jacob frowned. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’ve been avoiding me lately.”

  “What are you talking about? I was here on Sunday. And we had beers with Jet after the exhibition.”

  “Yeah. But even when we’re in the same room, it feels like you’re not quite present. Or like you’re keeping something from me. I know a lot’s changed lately, with me juggling Cody and the new job and wedding plans, but I’m your big brother. If something’s up, I’m still going to badger you until you tell me what it is.”

  They’d reached the door to the house, but instead of opening it, Daniel hesitated. “Nothing’s up, exactly. I have been thinking about Mom a lot, though. Christmas, you know?”

  Jacob nodded. “I’m excited because it’s my first holiday with Cody, but even with the excitement... I hate that she never got to meet him.”

  It went without saying that Jacob didn’t plan to introduce Cody to their biological father, even if he did finally make parole. When Oscar Burke had been arrested, he’d been in the midst of running off with another woman, leaving his family behind. He hadn’t bothered contacting his sons except once, when he’d thought that, as prestigious Barons, they might be able to help his parole cause.

  He should have been released long before now, but he’d been in some fights. The man had a temper. Daniel thought back to some of his own schoolyard fights and wondered if he’d inherited Oscar’s angry streak.

  “There is one other thing,” Daniel said slowly. Jacob had been the most constant member of his family, there for Daniel since the day he was born, and he didn’t deserve to be blindsided. “You know how I said I was putting out feelers for job opportunities? Well, some of those opportunities aren’t in Texas.”

  “You’re kidding!” Neither of them had ever lived outside Texas. Before moving to Dallas, they’d grown up in Houston. “But...”

  “Nothing’s definite. Can we keep this between us for now? I thought I’d wait and see if anything pans out then talk to everyone after Carly’s wedding.”

  “I won’t say anything,” Jacob promised, looking glum. “I can’t imagine you not being here, though. I had the mental picture of you helping me teach Cody to ride. Maybe cheering him on in junior rodeo.”

  “Like Mariana’s going to allow junior rodeo,” Daniel teased. “Besides, this plac
e is lousy with aunts and uncles for Cody. Jet can help you teach him just as well as I can. You... You’re fitting in with all of them a lot better these days. I don’t know if it’s the job at the family company or being able to relate on the weddings-and-kids front, but I—”

  “Don’t feel like you fit in? Believe me, I understand. I felt the same way for years. Brock wasn’t the most demonstrative dad. At least, not with us. He told me once that he was trying to give us space to get past our anger with Oscar. But when you give the old man a chance, he’s not half-bad. Being married to Julieta and having another kid in the house is helping to soften him up, I think. So far he’s been a terrific grandfather for Cody.”

  “Good. Cody deserves that. But since I don’t plan to have kids of my own, I’m not too worried about Brock’s skills at grandparenting.”

  “Never say never,” Jacob advised. “You think I was expecting to be a dad right now? Besides, when you meet someone who makes you feel like I do about Mariana—”

  “You don’t get it.” Daniel didn’t want that, the mutual obligation and risk that came with falling in love. After years of feeling like an outsider, he’d come to appreciate the freedom that role gave him. He hadn’t chafed under the same expectations as Lizzie, the firstborn, or Jet, the heir apparent. He’d begun to realize there was a certain kind of emotional safety in solitude.

  But that didn’t give him the right to torpedo his brother’s happiness. “Sorry, I’m cold and cranky. Going in to change now, okay?”

  “Sure.” But Jacob’s tone was subdued.

  Daniel felt like a jerk. His brother had been trying to look out for him, just as he always had. “Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?”