A Cowgirl's Secret(45)
“This true?” Luke asked his son’s mom.
Daisy focused on retrieving the beach ball floating nearby. “I know you’re busy.”
“Never too busy for a party.”
She rolled her eyes. For his ears only, she asked, “Do you intentionally send out such mixed signals, or is toying with me your favorite game?”
“What are you talking about?” Her question genuinely confused him.
“The way one minute you’re shamelessly flirting, and the next, telling me how we don’t stand a chance even as friends.”
“I wasn’t flirting,” he protested, slicking the water back from his hair. “Hell, I wouldn’t even know how.”
“You are so full of yourself.” She whisked her hand over the water just hard enough to give him a light splash.
Jumping back, he warned, “Watch it. For a woman wanting her hair to stay dry, you’re playing with fire.”
“Mom!” Kolt hollered from the diving board. “Watch me!”
Shielding her eyes from the sun, she called, “I’m watching, sweetie!”
Hopping on the end of the board, Kolt said, “Luke, you watch, too!”
“Okay, bud! Show me what you’ve got!”
Kolt’s dive wouldn’t land him in the Olympics any time soon, but Luke’s chest swelled with pride all the same.
“That was great,” he said when Kolt popped up from under the water. “You’re really good.”
“Thanks.” Kolt beamed.
“Sweetie,” Daisy said, “show Luke your fancy dive.”
“Okay!” While Kolt repositioned himself for another show, Luke studied Daisy—the way her whole face fairly glowed, watching their son. For each year she’d been gone, she’d grown infinitely more beautiful.
“Hold on tight for this one,” she advised. “It’s a pretty awesome move.”
Kolt ran off the board, giggling and wiggling. Any reputable judge would’ve scored him a zero. In Luke’s eyes, however, his kid had earned a solid ten.
“You’re amazing,” Luke said when Kolt swam his way.
“Really think so?” Kolt asked.
“Absolutely. You’ll need a pool at your new house so you can keep practicing your moves.”
Kolt’s reaction to the suggestion was to give Luke a huge smile and an ambush hug. “We’ll put the pool right by our tree fort. You need to help me pick where they’re gonna go.”
With his son still clinging to him, for Luke, time slowed and then froze. Daisy grinned at him from where she sat on the pool steps and in that moment, Luke had never felt more complete. Yes, Daisy had screwed up royally by not immediately telling him she was pregnant, but was Luke prepared to toss away what could potentially be a great future all because of fear? If so, how was he any different from Daisy who had kept Kolt’s existence from him for the very same reason?
“You two men look handsome together,” she said.
“I don’t know what you think,” Luke said to Kolt, “but I’m thinking your mom is pretty gorgeous.”
Kolt made a face. “You’re not gonna kiss her, are you?”
“I hope not,” Dallas said with an odd tone. “Because the burgers are done, meaning all of you slackers need to get out of the water.”
All through dinner, Luke couldn’t shake the feeling that his friend didn’t approve of a potential rematch between him and Daisy.
When the ladies volunteered for KP duty, Luke seized the opportunity to ask Dallas what was on his mind. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not a big fan of the idea of me and your sister giving things another shot?”
“Because I’m not.” Dallas eased onto a chaise lounge, resting his arms behind his head. “Bet it’s going to rain tomorrow. The knee I twisted in that ice storm a couple years back hurts like hell.”
“Nice try at avoiding the issue,” Luke said, sitting in the chair beside him, “but I would’ve thought you of all people would support a reunion.”
“Used to think I would,” Dallas said. “But after this business with Henry, Daisy’s messed up. She’d have to be to keep you from your son.”
“Yeah,” Luke said. “I agree.”
“Which proves my point.” Dallas winced while repositioning his leg. “Seems to me you’d be better off going with someone new. So would Daisy. The two of you together?” Dallas shook his head. “Never work.”