Chapter 10
After eating, Lane failed to convince Celine to let him stay longer. He’d made sure she set the alarm before leaving. Tearing himself away from Parker had been like removing a limb.
Climbing the stairs to the porch, he rubbed a heel over his aching chest. This lonely feeling wasn’t new, heck he’d grown up missing something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Meeting Parker and knowing he had a son filled that hole in a way he hadn’t expected.
In a way he hadn’t known possible.
Which lead him to the next problem. With a renewed sense of purpose, he stormed into the house and stalked into one of the two rooms where he never stepped foot.
He stalled for a second at the closed door, reminding himself that his father was gone.
That no one sat and waited to ambush him, to threaten or hit him.
His father’s ghost might remain, but the old man couldn’t do more to him while dead than when he was alive.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he entered the sacred space.
Heavy crimson drapes covered the windows, casting the spacious room in shadows.
The thick rug padded the steps of his scuffed cowboy boots as he crossed to the oversized mahogany desk.
He did his best to ignore the framed photos of his father on the walls, along with the awards and accolades he had mounted along with the trophies of past hunts.
If he planned to use this office, he’d have to change every last detail down to the types of books displayed in the built-in shelf that took up the far wall. Even the lingering scent of cigars twisted his stomach, transporting him back to years spent trapped in this house with a man he despised.
But now he’d take everything he’d been given—whether he’d wanted it or not—and use it to create a future for him and his child. The only question was if his idea held merit or not.
First, he had to get a better understanding of the finances.
Even though his father had left him everything, he planned to give half to Suzy—who their father had screwed over royally in the will.
After he figured out where he stood, he’d sell the damn house if he needed to.
But something Celine’s mom said stuck in his brain.
He’d looked at this property being dumped in his lap as a bad thing.
Maybe he could use it for something more than what was intended.
His father would roll over in hell if he knew he’d taken a space filled with pain and heartache and turned it into something useful.
Something that provided what he needed as well as gave back to the community that played a hand in raising him.
Sitting behind the desk, he found the stack of paperwork he’d been given by his lawyer and fired up the computer. Numbers and graphs stared back at him, mocking him. Dammit, making heads or tails of the mountain of information might be the death of him.
“Knock, knock,” Duke said from the doorway. “Mind if I come in?”
Lane shoved aside the file folder and sank into the brown leather chair. For once, he was grateful for Duke’s interruption. “Only if you don’t talk to me about figures or assets.”
Duke chuckled and sat on the bucket chair across from the desk. He hooked an ankle over his knee and rested his cowboy hat on his lap. “That’s fine. We can talk about your sister instead.”
A flash of anger heated Lane’s face. He had a hundred things to say about the two of them spending time together, but Celine’s wisdom rang in his ears. The more he protested, the more he’d light the fire between him. Better to keep his opinions to himself.
“Did you guys have a nice afternoon?” He bit out the words through gritted teeth.
“Sure did. She showed me the town, which is much cuter than I thought it was. Nice little place. And your sister’s funny as hell. Don’t know how some guy hasn’t swept her off her feet yet.”
“Who knows,” Lane said. “Guess she’s got a good bullshit detector, and no one’s passed the test.”
Duke snorted out a laugh. “Maybe. How’d it go with Celine? Wasn’t sure if you’d be around when I got back. Kinda hoped you wouldn’t.”
The sincerity in his buddy’s voice shocked him. “You and me both. She let me spend time with Parker, which is all I can ask for. I think some of the ice has started to melt. You’re right. I need to keep showing up and proving myself. Now I have to figure out how to do that.”
“What do you mean?” Duke asked, frowning.
Lane flicked out a hand, gesturing to the mess on the desk. “I need a job, man. I’ve got some savings, but that won’t last me too long. Then there’s the financial chaos my dad left. I want to use that to set myself up. Maybe start a business of my own.”
Duke set both feet on the ground and leaned forward. “What kind of business?”
Taking a deep breath, Lane dove right into the idea that had taken form in his mind. “A security business.”
“Meaning?”
“Installing security systems, providing one-on-one protection when necessary, hell, I could even do some investigative work if needed. A catch-all kind of thing. Whatever the people in Hillmore need to keep themselves and their families safe, I’ll provide.”
“And you know how to do that?”
Lane let out a gruff laugh. “Not at all.”
A slow grin spread on Duke’s face. “Do you have any experience running a business? The logistics, financials, operations?”
“Nope. Not a clue. All I know is how to ride a bull and win championships. But I need a job, and I need one quick. I haven’t been in town long, but it’s clear there’s a need for something like this.
At least Celine does. The sheriff’s department can’t be everywhere at once, and she doesn’t trust me enough yet to let me be there.
If something like this existed, she’d be safe.
She’d be protected. I don’t want anyone else in this town to feel as helpless as she does right now. ”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
Lane raised his brows, surprised again by Duke’s sincerity. “You do?”
Duke nodded. “Yep. And you’re also a lucky sonofabitch.”
“What do you mean?”
“I happen to be a whiz at numbers, logistics, and operations.”
A mixture of dread and excitement dropped deep in his gut. “What does that have to do with me?”
“You need a job quick, I get that, but you can’t build a business from the ground up overnight. Especially when you don’t have any experience. You need a partner. Someone who can help set things up, can be your right-hand man.”
“I thought you stopped by for a quick visit before you get back on the rodeo circuit.”
Duke shrugged. “I’m not closing the door on that forever. I might go back, might not, but until then I have to find something to keep me busy. This could be just the thing. At least for a little while.”
Doubt nagged the back of Lane’s mind. He wasn’t completely sold this was the right decision. But he couldn’t ignore the zip of adrenaline shooting through his veins.
A zip of adrenaline he hadn’t experienced since his last bull ride.
Tired of all the uncertainty surrounding him, he shoved aside all the doubts and reasons this was a bad idea. “You sure about this?”
Duke’s toothy grin split his face. “As sure as I am about anything.”
Lane extended a hand over the desk. He waited for Duke to fit his palm in his then gave a hearty shake. “All right partner. Let’s give this a try.”
Water soaked into Celine’s t-shirt as she wrapped Parker in a soft towel and carried him to his bedroom. Bathtime was one of her favorite activities, but it hadn’t held the same joy tonight. She could blame it on the fear that swarmed around her like a tumbling weed.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop picturing what such a simple everyday task would look like with Lane by her side.
He’d shocked her today. Showed her a side of himself she never believed could exist. Now, all she could do was pray and hope it wasn’t an act. That he was serious about wanting to be a part of Parker’s life.
A shudder of excitement shook her shoulders, and she stared down at her son’s sweet face. Now that Lane knew about his child, she could tell the rest of the town. He’d have an aunt to dote on him as well as a father. He’d have more than just her and her mother.
With Parker in her arms, she found his snuggly pajamas covered in yellow ducks. They were her favorite, his feet covered in orange beaks. Once he was dried, diapered, and dressed she held him up and chuckled. She set up in his chair and grabbed her phone from her back pocket to snap a quick photo.
“I know, I know. You already hate getting your picture taken all the time. But you’re just so stinking cute.” She stared at the screen and smiled. “Maybe I should send this to your dad.”
Saying the words out loud made a lump wedge in her throat. She hovered the thumb over screen, hesitating for a few seconds before finally sending the photo along. She’d have to make a lot of uncomfortable decisions in the days to come. Might as well start with something as small as a pj picture.
Her phone dinged instantly with Lane’s response.
Thank you. He’s a handsome dude.
Tears hovered over her lashes. She drew in a deep breath then plucked Parker from his seat. “Enough of that for one day. Let’s get you fed and settled in for bed.”
Before she sat on the rocker, the blast of the doorbell set her on edge. Panic tightened her muscles, but she opened her new app to check the security feed before she spiraled.
Irritation made her muscles impossibly tighter. Her ex-husband stood at the door carrying bags of God only knew what.
She was tempted to slam the door and let him stand there all damn night, but she knew Kevin too well. He wouldn’t budge until she let him speak his piece. A stubborn characteristic that had always annoyed her.
“You’re going to have to wait a little bit, okay? Let Mommy deal with this then we’ll get back to your bedtime routine.”
Parker answered with a large yawn that told her she better hurry and get Kevin out of there or her little one would lose his patience soon.
Hurrying to the front door before another blast of the bell gritted her nerves, she shut off the alarm and pasted on a tight smile to greet the last person she wanted to see. “Hi Kevin. What’s up?”
The porch light shined down on her ex-husband, beating back the dark sky.
He lifted a bag in the air and flashed an over-enthusiastic smile.
“I brought dinner. You had a rough night, and I figured cooking was the last thing you’d want to do.
” He shifted his attention to Parker. “And look at you. All shiny and clean. Cute pjs.”
“I was about to get him ready for bed.”
“Then it’s a perfect time for me to set out the food. It will be all ready when you’re finished.” He made a move to step inside.
Frowning, she blocked him. “What are you doing?” she asked, sighing. Now wasn’t the time to deal with her exhausting ex-husband. Her patience was too thin to even pretend to be nice.
His clean-shaven face crumpled in confusion. “I’m only trying to help.”
“That’s not your job anymore. Hasn’t been for some time.”
“But it can be again. I want to make things right. I want to be the man you married—the man you fell in love with.”
She lifted her chin, irritation sliding down her spine. “The man I married lied to me for years about his gambling. Hid his bad habits. Made me look like an ignorant fool.”
“But I’m better now. I’m done with that. I can step up and be the man you want, the father Parker needs.”
An image of Lane popped in her head. He was the man she’d wanted for the past year. That would never happen, but it was time to tell the world that he was Parker’s father. Kevin knew he wasn’t, but that hadn’t stopped him from trying to claim the title and worm his way back into her life.
She sucked in a deep breath before spilling the truth. “Parker’s father is back in town and ready to be here for him.” There was more she could say about Lane, but she didn’t owe Kevin any kind of explanation. She just needed to say enough to get him off her property.
Narrowing his eyes, he moved his jaw back and forth. “Only one man I know of has come back to town lately. Are you freaking kidding me? Lane Tipton? How the hell did that even happen?”
Fire scorched her veins. “You lost the right to question my decisions the day I found you crying about all the money you owed. We are no longer married. It’s time you get that through your head.”
His shoulders slumped forward. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll go, but you might as well take the food.”
She wanted to say no but her growling stomach said otherwise.
“Thank you. Good night,” she said, grabbing the bag and closing the door before he managed to say something else to try and sway her.
She pressed a quick kiss to her baby’s cheek and headed for the kitchen.
“Just gotta make a little pit stop then I’ll get you fed, okay little man? ”
With his gaze latched on her face, he cooed and gurgled.
She took a second to soak up his sweetness and let the stress bunching her neck melt away. No matter what happened outside these walls, as long as she had Parker, she’d be fine.
With the bag of take-out in the fridge, she turned toward the hallway.
The screech of the alarm blasted through house and sent a spike of fear straight to her heart. Sweat dotted her palms, and she held Parker tight as she ran to his room and shut the door. With trembling hands, she found her phone in her pocket and popped up the cameras.
A masked man fled from her back stoop, disappearing into the darkness.
Panic stole all logic, leaving only one thought circling her brain. She needed Lane, and she needed him now.