Chirp(62)

“What if it isn’t?”

His lungs burned at the thought of losing her, but he had to stand his ground. “Then I guess we’re done.”

“Then I guess it’s enough.” She snaked her hands around his neck and pressed her lips to his.



The next morning Rance let Chirp sleep while he and Seth went to see a man about a horse. Rance had never seen his brother so happy. Which was nuts, because he still had an engagement to break and no future job in sight. But his luck was changing, because Mr. Henderson had several ponies that fit the bill for a young boy.

Seth wanted to saddle one up and walk him home, but the old man talked sense into him.

Rance stuck his checkbook in his back pocket, and as they reached the truck, Seth’s phone rang. He looked down at the number and pulled his brows together. “Hello—yes—what?” He leaned against the fender as if needing it for support.

Rance tried to read his face. Confusion? Worry? Hell, was it bad news?

Seth’s eyes widened, then he smiled. “Yes, sir. I can be there next week. Yes, sir. Thank you.” He clicked off and stared at Rance. “You won’t believe this. I got a job offer. And a damn good one.”

“From a law firm?”

“No. The legal department of Montgomery Steel.”

“Montgomery Steel,” Rance repeated.

“Yeah. They’re the biggest . . .”

“I know who they are.” Rance climbed in the truck.

Seth opened his door and slid onto the seat. “They want to see me next week.”

“To interview?”

“No. To make an official offer. He mentioned a signing bonus. I don’t understand this. How the hell did a company like that even find out about me?”

“Hey, don’t question it. Consider yourself lucky.”

“Damn straight I won’t question it. I’ll sign that contract so fast Mr. Sherman’s head will spin. Another thing. Since when does the CEO personally call a new hire?”

“Thought you weren’t going to question it.”

“Yeah. You’re right. Do you know what this will mean for Hanna, Noah, and me? We can buy a house. Maybe a place big enough to keep his horse. Damn, somebody upstairs must be watching out for me.”

“Yeah.” Or somebody back at the house. “Must be Dessie.”

“Right.”

Rance glanced at him. “Well, you look like shit. Did you sleep at all?”

“No. Couldn’t stop thinking about meeting my son. Think he’ll like me?”

“You’re giving him a fucking pony, of course he’ll like you. Give me a horse, even I’ll like you.”

“Shut up. You like me now.”

Rance smirked. “Yeah, I do, and I’m happy for you. You’ll be a great dad.”

“I hope so.”

“Tell me something. What’d you ever see in Heather?”

Seth stretched his lips tight against his teeth and sighed. “I guess I went a little crazy. Take somebody like you and me, we don’t fit in that circle.”

“Yeah.”

“Now you tell me something. What’s really going on with Blaze?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you in love with her?”

“What makes you think that?”

“You were upset when you thought she wasn’t coming back, so if she isn’t important to you, why did you go after her?”

Rance tightened his grip on the steering wheel until his fingers tingled. If he was a better man, worthy of her, it could be more—would be more. He’d make sure of it. But he wasn’t. “It’s just sex.”

“You sure? Because I see how you look at her.”

“So what? Now that you’ve found your one true love, you’re psychoanalyzing me? Don’t waste your time. I’m a lost cause when it comes to forever.”

Seth chuckled. “You’re living together. I’d say there’s already an element of commitment on your part.”

That evaluation hit hard. Rance had made plenty of mistakes. He’d brought her home, moved her into his bedroom, and expected her to accept his rules. No wonder she’d mentioned the love and marriage crap. Thank God he’d set her straight. “I know she has a big-time crush on me, but she doesn’t plan to stay in Bluebird. It’ll run its course and she’ll move on.”

“If you say so.”

“Well, I do, so drop it, and worry about your own love life. You’ve got double trouble.”

Even as Rance said, “She’ll move on,” his heart ached. No. He couldn’t allow himself to have feelings for her. He cared. That was all. The pain had to come from giving up the sex. Hands down the best he’d ever had, which was crazy since it started out as the worst. But the way she gave herself to him was as if she wanted to seep into his soul, and that made him feel something he’d never felt before. No. It was just sex. That’s all it could ever be.

Seth’s truck was in the drive when they got home, so Nicky was back. Chirp stooped by the shed planting seeds. Probably zinnias, because that’s what Gran always put in that spot, right next to the hollyhocks.

Rance brought the Chevy to a stop. Seth got out and went inside while Rance made his way to her. “Planting zinnias?”