Second Chance Cowboy (13 page)

“
I did warn you, but not
because I think Duke is a bad guy. He’s not, but he is the
dictionary definition of a bachelor. For him to show up on your
doorstep unannounced, maybe he has rethought your relationship.
Maybe he’s regretting breaking up.”

Lila laughed crudely. “Not
possible.”

“
Have you asked
him?”

With a quick shake of her head, Lila
answered assertively, “No, I haven’t. You have to promise me you
won’t say anything, not to Duke and definitely not to Chance.
Promise me.
”

Carly stiffened. She didn’t like to
keep secrets from Chance. Yet, she didn’t think Chance would get
offended if she didn’t tell. He never liked getting involved in the
details of Duke and Lila’s love affair. “I won’t, but Duke
may.”

“
I don’t think he will,”
Lila said. “And right now, I’ll take one day at a time. I don’t
know the answers, but I sure as hell will enjoy the ride.” Lila’s
eyes glowed.

“
You know I want you to be
happy. I could think of worse ways to spend your night than having
hot sex with a cowboy.”

“
You should know. You and
Chance are probably tearing the sheets up.”

Carly shook her head.

Lila’s silly grin faded. “What? No
sheet ripping? No steamy escapades like before?”

“
Chance is different. He
acts like he’s afraid he’ll hurt me.”

Lila’s expression became softer. “Come
on, Carly, you can’t blame the man. You fall down the stairs, crack
your head, almost killing yourself, and you’re having a bad case of
absentmindedness. Damn, I’d be afraid, too.”

“
I didn’t almost kill
myself. I took a tumble down the stairs and bumped my noggin. What
does he have to be afraid of? Unless I’ve forgotten something
important that I should remember.” She sighed in thought. “He’s
hiding something. You’d tell me if there was something I needed to
know, right Lila?”

“
If there was something I
thought you
needed
to know, sure, I’d tell you.” Lila
winked. “Why do you think Chance is hiding something?”

Toying with a loose thread on the hem
of her shirt, Carly shrugged. “I know him well enough to understand
when he’s keeping something under wraps, but I don’t have a clue.
I’m beginning to think our marriage was heading south.” Her vision
blurred. “I can’t imagine my life without him.” She sniffed
loudly.

“
Let’s say, in theory of
course, if you and Chance’s marriage was in a bad way, do you feel
at this moment that you’d want to leave him, or stay and fight for
what you both have?” Lila asked.

Carly tossed around the question.
“Without a doubt, I’d want to stay and start again.”

“
Then, sweetheart, don’t
focus on what you’ve forgotten about your marriage but concentrate
on how sure you are that you love Chance.”

“
You’re right, Lila.
Whatever it is that my mind doesn’t want to remember then I
shouldn’t force them. Chance and I have something special. It’s
possible we both have realized just how so when I went to the
McAllister for a few days.” She moved her gaze to the horses in the
pasture. “Having amnesia is scary. I keep wondering if suddenly
I’ll have memories crashing through and won’t have a hint what I
should do with them.”

Lila laughed. “Oh dear, someone with a
more sorrowful life than my own.”

“
Thanks. By the way, when
did you start seeing Chance’s way of thinking? Any other time you’d
be offering him up for prosecution.” Carly brushed her bangs back
with her fingers.

“
My dear, if I could be so
lucky to find a man who looks at me the way your cowboy looks at
you, I’d be happy.”

Carly smiled when realization came to
her. Her stomach twisted. “Lila, what did you mean when you said
‘like before?’”

“
What?”

“
Chance and I not having
sex
like before.
What did you mean?”

Lila shrugged. “I don’t remember
saying it. I guess I meant before the accident. You know, Carly, I
think you should help Chance realize your body is bruised, but the
goods are A-OK. Maybe he needs a push to help him get over the
fear. If that doesn’t work, tell him you’ll have to find another
cowboy to tame your heat.” She laughed. “A hint of jealousy will do
him good.”

“
Chance isn’t the jealous
type.”

Lila waved a hand through the air.
“All men are jealous if given a reason.”

She arched an eyebrow. “He’s never had
a reason.”

“
Put on a sexy number,
light some candles, and trust me, he won’t be dragging his heels
another second.”

“
I may be injured on the
outside, yet on the inside, I’m craving my husband’s attention. I
miss him,” she admitted.

“
Miss him?” Lila
questioned. “He’s right here, sweetheart. He’s here for
you.”

“
I know it sounds odd, but
I’ve got this crazy feeling if I don’t hold on tight to what I have
I could lose everything.”

“
I’m not the best person to
give advice. Look at my situation. It isn’t the best. What I do
know is, you should enjoy each day like it’s a new beginning.
Happiness is a gift, not a given.”

“
Those are awesome words,”
Carly said.

“
I’m glad you think so
since you said those very same things to me when Duke and I broke
up.”

“
Wow, you’re one lucky
woman.”

Lila’s brow lifted. “I am?”

“
Yes, to have such a smart
friend like me.”

Their laughter was carried to the man
who skulked nearby.

With a bitter scowl, he turned and
marched back toward the barn.

Chapter
Twelve

CHANCE PUSHED HIS hand through his
hair as his blood pressure rose. He looked across the yard at Duke
who was appeared angry also. “Where’s he at now?” Chance
asked.

“
He hasn’t wandered in yet.
This is the second time he’s been late this week.” Duke locked the
gate to the stall.

“
Second time? Why didn’t I
know about the first?” Chance grumbled the words. Knowing that
Martin went against the steadfast rules of the Swift Wind tore
through him like a hot blade.

“
Chance, it ain’t like
you’ve been around lately, mind or body,” Duke reminded
him.

Chance stomped his booted foot in the
dust. He guessed he deserved that. Since Carly’s return, he’d been
a wreck. He hadn’t wanted to leave her side and when he did, he
couldn’t think clearly.

He never once stopped loving her, even
during the divorce. Somehow, over the last two years, he’d grown a
thick skin and a hard shell of protection. Being without her had
finally become bearable only to have her thrust back into his life.
Now, his thick skin thinned, his hard shell cracked, and he was
chin deep in fire.

How had she done it? How had Carly
crawled under his skin again, to gain the upper hand?

He wasn’t the vulnerable one in this
scenario, he needed to remember that she couldn’t remember
anything. But he’d like to forget a few things too.

Carly could always work her magic with
him. She stroked him with one hand, and with the other, she grabbed
his heart and twisted—a bittersweet way. She reminded him of the
things he enjoyed in life. Fresh lemonade when he was thirsty. A
fast run on his stallion, catching the rising sun in the morning
sky. A dip in cold water on a steamy, hot day. And his beautiful
ex-wife.

“
Send him up to the house
when he gets here.”

Chance was in the mood to kick some
ass.

No, he’d never lay a hand on another
human being, except in self-defense or to protect someone he loved.
Yet, he was as mad as a hornet.

He didn’t need to resort to violence
when the power tipped on his side.

His ranch, his rules.
It would
be his decision. Today, some jokester would get the axe.

* * * *

Carly stretched her arms and yawned as
she moved down the stairs. Chance was already out of bed, probably
out catching up on the ranch details.

On her way past his office, she heard
muffled voices through the closed door. She stopped and listened.
The deep tone from the men inside suddenly came to a jarring
silence.

The door swung open wide. It caught
her by surprise and she quickly straightened. She didn’t have time
to react or pretend she hadn’t been snooping. A young man with
dirty blond hair and thin features stormed toward her, scowling.
Carly jumped back before he slammed into her.

His head came up and their eyes met.
Carly shuddered in response. If looks could talk, his would be
screaming bloody murder.

He pushed past her and marched out the
front door. To prove his anger, he kicked a large terracotta pot,
sending it and its flower contents flying across the
porch.

Carly glimpsed inside Chance’s office.
Her heart pounded a hard rhythm against her rib cage. He was
leaning against the edge of his desk, his arms crossed solidly over
his broad chest, and wicked tension marked his jaw.

“
Who was that?” she
asked.

When his blazing eyes met hers, she
could see rage. His slanted eyes and thin lips told her he battled
a tornado of emotion. “Martin Kincaid. One of my
ex-staff.”

She stepped closer. “Are you
okay?”

He shrugged. He wore a red button-down
and the crimson in his skin matched the shirt. “Just peachy.” He
pushed himself away from the desk and rounded it in three quick
strides.

“
That great, huh?” She
frowned. She couldn’t remember him looking so disgruntled. He was a
man who had more patience than anyone she knew, but she saw none of
his tolerance this morning. “You said an ex-staff
member?”

“
He’s a pathetic
resemblance of a hand. I fired his lousy ass. I gave him chance
after chance.” His words were close to a growl. “Hell, no reason to
talk about it.”

He hid his emotions behind a lock and
Carly wanted to find the key. “Talk to me, Chance.” She wanted to
help. He needed to stop shutting her out of the ranch business.
“
Maybe
I can help.”

“
I don’t like firing
employees, yet this time it was a real pleasure.” He ran his palm
over his face.

“
He seemed like a real
prize.” She strolled over, sat down on the edge of the desk where
he’d been, and lowered her body slightly toward him. “What’d he
do?”

“
He broke the rules. He was
late.”

“
Hmm.” He wasn’t telling
the whole story
.
She knew Chance, and although he demanded a
lot when it came to business, tardiness would have him dishing out
a warning, not walking papers. “And? What else did he
do?”

“
He got angry with the new
mustang Wildfire and used a strap on him. Bastard should have a
belt used on his ass. Doc Bakerfield hadn’t even cleared him yet
from his illness.” His voice grew thick.

“
When are the hands allowed
to discipline the horses?”

“
Never.”

Now she understood. “Hey, I can see
why you’re angry. Did you pay him his last wages?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“
He should consider himself
lucky. You could have kept his wages until Leslie Bakerfield
checked the mustang for any serious problems caused by his
carelessness.” Feeling professional and confident with the advice,
she winced, noticing Chance’s astonished expression. “Too
cutthroat?”

Shaking his head, admiration became
evident in his deep eyes. “I’m thinking you’ve become quite the
businesswoman.”

She squirmed in delight. “And I’m
thinking you like it.”

His voice lowered. “I think it’s
hot.”

Carly’s temperature spiked and her
desire took on a climbing pattern. His eyes asked, “Can we
play?”

Her mind conjured up an image of her
upper body leaning across the desk, Chance standing behind, buried
inside of her. They’d made love there before. In every spot of the
room. Many times. They’d spent hours exploring one another, licking
heated skin, touching places no one else would ever know the
pleasure of.

He’d taken her places she’d never
known existed.

Her panties moistened as desire
spiraled through her in waves of bittersweet pain.

Since the accident, they hadn’t gotten
further than a hand to her breast and his erection rubbing against
her hip, neither done without clothes on.

She wanted to touch him now, to slip
her fingers over rock hard muscle, kissing every inch…

Damn, she had an appointment.
On she couldn’t reschedule.

She slid off the desk and straightened
her shirt. “I’ve got an errand to run.”

“
What?” His eyes
widened.

“
I said I have an errand to
run.”

“
What errand?”