Chapter Nine
Tara paced in the small living room of the employee cottage. For a whole five minutes, she had thought of this house as home. She had been stupid enough to believe Drew was done with them after the last time. Now he was tucking Royce in as if he were father of the year.
She should have hidden, found a place where he would never have been able to locate them. Why hadn’t she thought of that sooner? Why had she thought moving onto a ranch where people came and went would be a good idea? Why had she made them easy to find?
Because she would not be alone on this ranch, and there was safety in numbers. Because her car had broken down at the town border on the day of her interview, and she had foolishly thought of that as a sign. Because she’d forgotten who she was and had started fantasizing about Kace.
With each thought, her feet pounded the hardwood floor harder and harder. She had to get Drew out of there as quickly as possible. They were through. She had to make him understand. And then she’d have to move again. Royce would hate her, but this time she would hide. Drew had no right to either of them. He’d given that up when he hit her.
Royce’s door closed, and Drew’s footsteps echoed in the hallway. She willed herself to breathe and remain calm. The phone in her back pocket offered a safety net. It was voice activated if she needed to call for help. Because she would this time.
Drew rubbed his hands together and offered her an impish smile. His championship ring glittered in the overhead lighting. His six-foot-three frame sucked all the air out of the room. At one time, his height and size had made her feel protected. Maybe she found Kace so attractive because, though he was almost as tall, he was not overpowering. His muscles were strong but trim. He was physical but not pumped up on chemicals to build bulk. Drew’s job had required him to be big and fast. The sofa and table between them would be easy for him to dodge. A cold shiver ran over her skin as she realized she might have to get past him to her son if she needed to run.
“Wow, thanks for letting me put him to bed. It was fun.”
His voice shook her thoughts loose. She blinked a few times. “Why are you here?”
“I missed my family.”
The smile wavered for a split second, but she caught it. He would have another reason for being there. She had to get it out of him. “We aren’t your family anymore.”
“Royce is my son, and you are his mother. That makes you my family. Do you have any bourbon?” His gaze searched the room, as if a crystal decanter might appear out of thin air.
Biology made him a dad, but they were far from a family. She wouldn’t remind him of that now and possibly incite an argument. She just wanted him out of her house. “You saw him. I need you to leave.”
He put his hands up in surrender. “Hear me out.”
“We don’t have anything else to talk about.” She was done talking to him because reason got her nowhere. Divorce papers and her moving out while he was traveling had hit home finally, but he had still hunted her down in the last town and now here.
“I know. I know I screwed up. It’s all my fault. I take all the blame. I miss you. You and Royce. I want you back. I want you to come home.”
This was their home now. This was the place she wanted to make friends and build a business. The Rykers were the kind of family she wanted someday. Drew could never be a part of that. “Why aren’t you working? Shouldn’t you be broadcasting?”
Drew’s playing record as a tight end blew most others out of the water. He rivaled the best tight ends in the history of the league. When he busted his knee three seasons ago, he couldn’t come back the same way. He had tried for a season but ended up retired. Every sports broadcast network wanted him because he was an unparalleled player with distinguished accomplishments. He was also handsome, with his blond locks and piercing blue eyes, and as charming as a rattlesnake. A very dangerous combination for her. He had swept her off her feet when she wasn’t looking and then ended up shoving her down the steps.
“I decided to take some time off. You sure there’s no bourbon?” He tried to pass her into the kitchen, but she stood in his way.
“I don’t have any booze. Why did you come looking for us? To do what with?” Why hadn’t she allowed Kace to come in when he offered? Drew was the ultimate bully. If another man had been around, he would have left sooner. Though he would have accused her of sleeping with Kace the second he had her alone.
“I know you said to leave you alone after last time, but I missed you.”
“I lost my job because of you. I can’t afford to lose this one too. Please go.” She pointed to the door as if it would magically open and he would float out on the wind.
He stepped closer to her instead.
Her heart, ready to fight back, banged against her rib cage.
“I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have come to your work all fired up like that. I couldn’t control myself. I was filled with jealousy. But I’m better now. I swear it.” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
Her insides recoiled.
He had promised to be better before. He had promised he wouldn’t hit her again, but he had. After the second time, she’d run. She didn’t know how she’d found the courage, but she could not, would not, become her mother. That had been her motivation. Royce deserved a better childhood than the one she’d had.
“I don’t want to hear it. If you won’t go, I’ll call my boss. You’re trespassing on his property.” She stepped back, needing to reclaim her personal space.
“Let me show you. Please. Just one minute.” He dug into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out an orange pill bottle.
“Are you high right now?” She hadn’t considered that but should have. She should stay one step ahead of him.
“No. No. I swear it. These are antidepressant drugs. I’ve been in therapy for the last six months, right after I caused you to lose your job. I’m a better man. I promise. Please, Tara. Give me another chance.”
He had to be joking. Drew Paxton, the superstar who had his way his entire life because he was a gifted athlete, who made a living out of beating the crap out of other men, who had more than his fair share of concussions, was in therapy? “I can’t think right now. It’s been a long day. I have to be at work early in the morning. Please go.”
“Can we talk about it at least?”
“Why do you want me?” She needed more air. The walls of the room closed in on her. How could he come here and ask her to pick up where they left off as if she hadn’t suffered the worst possible tragedy because of him?
“Because I love you, and I love our son. Doesn’t he deserve his family intact? Come on, baby. We were good together once, weren’t we?”
“Don’t call me baby.” Every sentence was a battle she did not want to have.
“I understand. You’re upset. You need time. I can give you all the time you want. I’m renting a house in town.”
“What?” That could not happen. This was her town, her space, her freedom. Tears burned the backs of her eyes, but she could not cry in front of him. He would take that as a victory.
“I want to show you that I’m a better man now. I can be the kind of man you deserve. So take your time. I’ll wait forever for you.” He took a few steps toward the door.
“I’m never coming back to you. I don’t love you anymore. You’re wasting your time with me. And why this sudden interest in Royce? You never cared that you had a son before. You didn’t even care about the one we lost.” She should not antagonize him, but she couldn’t stop the words from spilling like oil from a broken lantern. Fear and rage clouded reason from her brain.
He dropped his gaze to the floor. His hands clenched at his sides. When he faced her again, his jaw clicked. “You have every right to be upset with me. I just want a chance to prove how much I love you. I know you still love me too. I’ll go for now. Can I come by tomorrow to see Royce?”
She didn’t know what the right thing to do was. Maybe she should have reported him that night, but she hadn’t wanted their marriage and their personal lives dragged through the media. She certainly hadn’t wanted her mother calling and saying she had told her so. But if she had made a report back then, she could get a restraining order at least. The only way the authorities could help now would be if Drew hit her again. That was not an option. If he laid a hand on her or Royce, she would kill him.
“I’m going to have to see about tomorrow.” She ducked past him and opened the door. A blast of cool air swooped in. The smell of lavender and patchouli followed it.
“Hi.” Kace stood on her front porch, holding her jacket with one hand and the other poised to knock. The porch light circled him in a spot of gold. “You left this in my truck.”
Relief washed over her like a hot shower. She wanted to berate herself for her weak knees at the sight of him. His hair was down and waved softly at the tops of his shoulders. His navy-blue tee fit snug across his pecs. The scruffy beard made her fingers want to walk across his jaw, but his overall image screamed rugged and tough, a man’s man. Something Drew wouldn’t tangle with.
“Thank you.” She fisted the coat in her hands to keep them from reaching out to him.
“I’m Drew Paxton, Tara’s husband.” Drew pushed past her to get to Kace. He stuck out his hand and gave Kace his high-voltage smile, the one he saved for the camera and his fans.
“Ex-husband,” she said.
“Kace Ryker, her friend and owner of this ranch.” He stepped forward and squared his shoulders. The two men stared each other down like dogs fighting for dominance before Kace gripped Drew’s hand.
“I was just leaving. I’ll call you tomorrow to set up a time to take Royce.” Drew leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She fought the bile rising in her stomach and the urge to push him away. She didn’t want Kace asking questions.
Kace turned and watched the car drive away. When the taillights were nothing more than a speck, he came inside and shut the door. “I’m guessing by your reaction earlier and now with that kiss on your cheek you don’t want him here.”
She shook her head, afraid if she spoke, she’d break down. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling.
“You don’t have to tell me what happened. It’s your business, and believe me, nobody understands minding their own business better than I do. I’ll just see to it that he won’t bother you anymore.”
“How are you going to accomplish that?” She couldn’t tell Kace about her marriage. Shame would destroy her. His kindness offered a strong surface to lean against for support, even for a minute, but no one else could take on her fight.
“Trust me. I’ve taken on bullies bigger than he is.” Kace hitched a thumb over his shoulder.
He didn’t know what Drew was capable of. Drew might not start a fight with Kace in person, but Drew had contacts. He could find other ways to mess with Kace if he wanted. “You don’t have to fight my battles for me. I can handle Drew.” She wouldn’t allow her ex-husband to push her from this ranch even if she wanted to run away and find another place to live. Every nerve ending screamed run like last time, but she couldn’t. Royce needed a place to settle down in, and she needed something or someone to stick. For once.
“I want to help you.”
“Why?” She didn’t understand this man’s interest in her. Maybe he was one of those Good Samaritan types who jumped in whenever he saw someone in a version of distress. She wouldn’t allow him to be hurt because of her.
“Because you helped me today. And because I like you.”
“But you don’t know me.”
He stepped closer. His body heat rolled off him and warmed her. The scent of the massage oil continued to linger between them and relaxed her. Could this man be different than other men? They had spent so little time together, but he had intrigued her from the moment he stepped onto that porch the first day. And the sweet way he had handled Royce after his bathroom accident told her his heart was pure. If Drew had been there to witness Royce wetting himself, he would have yelled and carried on, embarrassed by his son’s behavior.
Kace tilted up her chin with his thumb, then ran his light touch over her jaw. His dark eyes smoldered. His top lip curled as he smiled down at her. Her thighs trembled.
She put a hand on his chest to stop what could happen next. She could be wrong, but his gaze had dropped to her mouth before returning to her eyes, and she could not deny the increasing rhythm of her heart. She wanted him to kiss her, and that thought set her world on edge because wanting to kiss and wanting to keep him away from her ex-husband clashed like two metal swords. “What’s happening here?”
He backed away and took his heat with him. “I don’t know. Why not just go with it?”
“But go where?” She didn’t take risks. Not with her heart. Not anymore. And here was a man who took risks all the time. He might not want to define the sizzle crackling between them, but she needed to. She barely knew him. She would not jump into a situation without more preparation.
He let out a small laugh. “We can go anywhere you want. My car’s right outside.”
“That wasn’t exactly what I meant.” Heat burned her cheeks. She needed some air and some space, but the cottage was small with not enough options. She went into the kitchen just to give her legs something to do.
“I know what you meant. How about if I take you for a ride? I can show you around Backwater. Or we could go hiking right here on the ranch tomorrow or whatever day you want. Just two friends.”
“I can’t leave Royce.” Her statement was her last attempt to dissuade her heart.
“I’ll bring Izzi to stay with him.” Of course, he had the answer. And if Izzi couldn’t watch Royce one afternoon while they hiked or one evening while they took a romantic car ride, Kace would find another way to make it happen.
She should say no, but the warmth shone in his eyes. She had been so lonely for so long. Even while she was married, she was desperate for friends and a place to belong. Didn’t she deserve one afternoon out with a friend? She could have a male friend. A gorgeous, rugged, sexy male friend, but who was paying attention to that? Except for Drew. Drew always watched.
“Okay,” she said.
“Great. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at the spa when you’re done for the day. Make sure to have your hiking boots.” He leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her cheek.
Her fingers lingered there long after he drove away and she went inside.
She liked him.
But Drew would never let her have him.