A Cowgirl's Secret(46)

“You’re pissing me off,” Luke said, his whole body tensed. “I’ve known you my whole life. You know the kind of solid man I am. What makes you think for a second I couldn’t make Daisy happy?”

Gazing across the glassy pool, Dallas said, “I don’t for a second doubt that. What worries me is that you even have to ask. Used to be, when it came to Daisy, the two of you just did whatever you wanted. To hell with what anyone else thought. Now, you’re too mechanical about it. For the sake of your son, I think part of you wants to be with his mom, do the whole perfect family routine, but wanting isn’t enough. You have to need it. In here.” He patted his chest.

Luke rolled his eyes. “Dallas the philosopher.”

“Mark my words,” his supposed friend said, “you go into a relationship for any reason but love, you’re either going to get burned or light the fire. Either way, no one’s getting out alive.”

“Nice.” Rising, Luke said, “Remind me next time I need a friend to look elsewhere.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

After changing back into his jeans and T-shirt, Luke bypassed Dallas on his way into the house. He found Daisy putting leftover tomato and onion slices in a plastic container. Bonnie and Betsy sat at the kitchen table struggling with math homework. “Thanks for dinner,” he said, “but I’ve gotta go feed my horses.”

“Sure,” she said. “Rub some noses for me.”

“Will do. Where’s Kolt?”

“Upstairs changing.” Putting the tub in the fridge, she added, “He’s got spelling words to practice.”

Not entirely ready to leave, yet not sure what else to say, Luke nodded. “I, ah, got you flowers. They were on the table outside.”

On her way to stash leftover buns in the pantry, Georgina said, “I wondered who those were from. I already put them in water.”

“Thanks,” Daisy said. Luke couldn’t tell if she’d meant the sentiment for him or her mom.

“Thought you had to feed your horses?” Bonnie glared up at him.

“I do,” Luke said. “What’s with the mean look?”

“You ate the last scoop of potato salad and everyone knows that’s my favorite.” Hands on her hips, Bonnie resembled a pint-size linebacker, itching for a fight.

“Yeah,” her twin, Betsy, chimed in. “Everyone knows.”

Hands up, Luke said, “Sorry. Next time I won’t take a single bite.”

“Better not,” Bonnie said with an extra-fierce scowl.

“Knock it off.” Georgina gave both girls swats on their behinds in passing. “Daisy, why don’t you walk our guest to his car.”

Safely in the living room, Luke asked his escort, “They this territorial about other things?”

Laughing, Daisy said, “As far as I can tell, they don’t like sharing cookies or deviled eggs, either. If you have a hankering for brussel sprouts, you should be safe.”

“Good to know. Thanks for the intel.”

Outside, serenaded by the cicadas’ rise-and-fall song, Luke was again struck with the notion that he didn’t want the night to end. His quiet cabin didn’t hold its usual appeal.

“I never asked what brought you by,” Daisy said.

“I heard through the grapevine that you got your house. Wanted to congratulate you.”

“Oh. Thanks.” Her faint smile contained layer upon layer of meaning Luke wasn’t equipped to decipher. Why couldn’t women be as easy to read as horses? “I was pretty jazzed.”

He asked, “When do you close?”

“End of the week. For the deal I got, I’m paying cash from my trust. Without loans, it’s a simple transaction.”

Looking to his boots, then back to her, he asked, “Once you’re in, think I might be able to help?”

“Sure.” A light breeze caught her hair, floating it back from her face. Superhuman restraint was the only thing keeping Luke from grazing his fingertips along her cheeks to sweep those loose strands behind her ears. “Kolt and I will need every willing body we can find.”

“Good. I want to be there—for both of you.”

“While I’m grateful for the offer,” Daisy said, “I’m also a little suspicious. What happened to your solid stance on staying away from me?”

Good question.