Читать книгу Aurora's Cowboy Daddy - Melinda Barron - Страница 8

His chest felt so strong and comforting that Aurora wanted to stay in his arms forever. She sniffled, then whispered, “I’m sorry.”

He stroked her hair again and said, “Don’t ever feel sorry for your feelings. They are yours and yours alone and they make you who you are.”

Holt’s words wrapped themselves around her heart and gave her comfort. She pushed back just a little and looked at his shirt.

“I got makeup, and snot, all over your shirt.” She put her hands on his chest. He’d loosened his hold on her just enough so she could look up at him. Never had she felt so safe, and comforted.

“It’ll wash out,” he said. “You were brave to tell us your tale. You could have refused, you know.”

“You’re my new boss and you told me to tell you.”

He stroked her hair, and she couldn’t help but pull away. His hands were huge, when Ben got that close to her with his hand it was usually to slap her, or even punch her with his fist.

“I’m not going to hit you, not like your expecting.”

Aurora could tell he was telling her the truth, but in the back of her mind she wondered if he ever would. But what did he mean by the phrase ‘not like you’re expecting’? Did that mean he would wait until she was doing something else and he would catch her off guard? He didn’t seem like the type to hit a woman, but then again she hadn’t thought Ben would, either.

“You should go eat,” she said. He released her and she turned toward the mirror. “Austin worked hard on that mousse.”

“And he will be very upset if you don’t taste it,” Holt said. “Wash your face, then come upstairs. By now one of them has chosen a movie to watch, which is how we spend a lot of our evenings.”

To her surprise he cupped the back of her head and kissed her on the forehead. He left before she could express her shock, or even tell him he shouldn’t have done that, because it made her feel things she didn’t want to feel. But she didn’t need to dwell on that now. She soaped up her hands and washed her face, taking off every bit of makeup she’d worn. But she was used to going without it, because she hardly ever went out She dried her face, and then went out to the hallway. It took her a minute to find the stairs, but as she climbed she could hear laughter, and the sound of the TV.

How was it possible she’d found this place? Jake, her friend Dana’s husband, had told her about the job and encouraged her to apply. She thought he’d done it to get rid of her, but right now she felt as if some force had guided him, as if she was meant to be here. She prayed she was right. She finished climbing the stairs and followed the noise to a cavernous room.

The doors were open to her right, and to her left there were sliding glass doors open to the upper veranda she’d seen when she’d arrived. She entered the room and Austin jumped from his seat and hurried to a table where a large bowl sat. It was half empty, but he still dished up a huge serving of mousse and topped it with a large dollop of whipped cream.

She hadn’t sat down yet when he offered it to her. “Thank you, Austin,” she said. She took a small bite and sighed in wonder. “You’re a much better cook than I am,” she said before she took another bite.

“I’ll give you lessons,” he said. He sat back down and Aurora glanced around the room. There was only one seat available, next to Holt on a love seat. She sat down next to him and slowly ate the chocolate treat.

“Don’t be afraid to get more,” he said. “In fact, Austin would love it if you did.”

“I will,” she said, her voice low. Yes, she was definitely home.

Holt stuffed his face with mousse, and used every ounce of his self-control to keep from pulling Aurora closer to him. When he’d left her in the bathroom he knew she’d been close to crying, and when he’d walked down the hall, something stopped him at the end. Her sobs filled the hallway, and instead of going upstairs, as he’d known he should, he’d gone back to her.

The words he’d spoken to Hawk just that afternoon had rung in his ears as his hand had hovered over the doorknob. There is a rule about messing around with the ladies. But she wasn’t a rescue Hawk had said, and he’d been right, she wasn’t. But she was an employee, and a boss was not supposed to screw around with his employees, and he knew if he went into the bathroom it would be the start of something that was not meant to be; at least he didn’t think it should be.

Feeling her next to him right now stirred senses he hadn’t felt in a long time. His last girlfriend had been Betty Turner, who was now happily married to Mark Trainer. They had been good together at first. She loved him taking care of her, making her obey rules. But after they’d been together for a year she started to complain that he spent more time on the Rescue Ranch, both with the horses and the ladies who sought refuge here.

After Betty left, he’d thrown himself into the Ranch with abandon. He didn’t dare date because he needed to keep his desires to himself. It had taken six months of a relationship with Betty before he’d let her know he was looking for a Little. In a small town it was hard to let your secrets out. It had taken him that long before he’d truly trusted Betty, truly thought she’d be open to what he wanted, and would keep his secret if things didn’t work out between them.

And it hadn’t. Because of him. It made him wonder if he should start a relationship with Aurora. She’d faced so much pain and grief in her life. If he made the same mistakes with her that he did with Betty… he couldn’t even think that now. He needed to let her settle in, get used to her new home before he tried to form a relationship with her.

Which meant he needed to stay on target, a business target. “We have to go into Amarillo tomorrow,” he said, keeping his voice low. “We have paperwork that needs to be filled out and they need to photograph and print you.”

“I’ve been printed before,” she said. “And photographed.”

“Shush, we’re watching a movie,” Wyatt said.

“One you’ve seen a million times,” Holt said.

“Still, it’s a Bond film, not a Holt film. Be quiet.” Wyatt glared at Holt, who fought the urge to shoot him the finger. He would’ve if Aurora hadn’t been sitting next to him.

Holt jerked his head toward the open door. Aurora nodded, but when she got up she went to the table and put another scoop of mousse in her bowl. Holt glanced at Austin, who was grinning like he’d just won a Nobel Prize.

At the door to the veranda he stood and let her pass, and once they were outside they sat down in two of the wicker chairs his mother had picked out ages ago.

“I need to get Dana’s car back to her,” Aurora said. “I promised her it would be tomorrow. I’ve already imposed on them too much to break that promise.”

“Then we get up early, go to Amarillo and handle the paperwork, stop by here to pick up your friend’s car and then head to Dallas.”

“Busy day,” Aurora said.

Very busy, but not too busy that we can’t stop and get to know each other better, Holt wanted to say. “You know you just made whole sentences? I’m proud.”

“I did it while I was telling you about Ben’s death,” she said. He noticed she didn’t call it murder. That was a step in the right direction.

“Yeah, but you were off in another world then.” He wanted to ask if his holding her in the bathroom had any effect on how much she’d relaxed. Instead of bringing that up he said, “It’s the mousse, isn’t it? Chocolate loosens your tongue?”

Aurora giggled, and Holt felt his body stir. Her laugh was lyrical, sexy.

“Chocolate with freshly made whipped cream is especially good,” she said. “But I have to say it’s a good thing y’all don’t want me to cook for you. I’m not really good at it.”

“You’ll get better with practice,” he said.

“That’s what Dana said when she asked me to cook, and it never got any better.” She laughed again and Holt resisted the urge to put his hand on her thigh and gently squeeze. “When it was my night to cook I generally ordered out.”

“That can get expensive when there are seven of you,” he said. When she frowned he said, “The six of us and you.”

“Oh,” she said.

“So we’re back to one-word answers?”

“Oh, I see?”

This time they both laughed.

“I should go before it gets much darker,” she said. “What time do you want to leave in the morning?”

“It’s a little more than an hour’s drive to Amarillo,” he said. “We should leave about six.”

She stood, and when they went back through the room she said good night to his brothers. He was happy to see Wyatt waved at her. Maybe it wouldn’t take so long for his brother to get over the fact Holt had hired her without consulting everyone else.

They made their way downstairs and crossed to where she’d parked the UTV. “Text me when you get home so I know you made it.”

“Yes, Dad,” she said.

He lifted an eyebrow as she climbed behind the wheel.

“Be careful and stick to the path,” he said. “Snakes can come out at night.”

The look she gave him made him laugh. “You forget I grew up in Texas,” she said. “Most rattlers are tucked in their beds by now.”

She put the UTV in gear and drove off without saying goodbye. He was going to have to scold her for that. But he was happy to see that she seemed to be opening up a little. He’d teased her about the snakes just to see how she’d react. When she gave it as well as he did he knew things would get interesting with her.

At least he hoped so.

“You could have kept the car one more day.” Dana sat down on the bed and Aurora continued to stuff her clothes in a garbage bag, since she didn’t have a suitcase.

“It’s been a long day, but Mercy, the woman I’m replacing, has chemo treatments and I need to start as soon as possible.”

They’d been at the government offices at eight that morning, had gone back to the Ranch to pick up the car, and then headed for Dallas. They’d been slowed down by road construction and didn’t get to Dallas until after four, and that was after grabbing lunch in a drive-thru. They’d had very little conversation while they sat in his truck and ate, and at one point she was sure she heard Holt mumble, “Maybe it was the chocolate.”

When they’d arrived at Dana’s, Aurora had hurried to her room to gather her things. They had a long drive ahead of them and she wanted to get back to the Ranch. She felt comfortable there, and for some reason when they’d driven out of there this morning that feeling had disappeared. Not totally. She’d been happy to have Holt next to her but when they’d stopped at the social services office that morning for her to do her paperwork she felt as if everyone were staring at her, as if everyone knew she was a murderer. That feeling had stayed with her as they’d driven, and she’d found herself giving Holt what she knew he didn’t want—one- and two-word answers to questions. Finally he’d stopped asking and they’d driven in silence.

She shook her head to get rid of the guilt she felt over acting like she did. She picked up the few books she owned and handed three to Dana. “These need to go back to the library. Can you do that, or should we go by before we leave town?”

“I’m going tomorrow so I can do it,” Dana said as she grabbed the books. “Have you had your mail forwarded?”

Aurora made a mental note to do it tomorrow and said so to her friend.

“By the way, that guy you’re with… wow. Are all his brothers that gorgeous?”

Aurora couldn’t help but laugh. “I thought you were married?”

“What’s the old saying; that doesn’t mean I can’t look? So, are they?”

“Yes.” Aurora glanced around the room. She didn’t own much, so there weren’t that many things to pack. “Thank you for all you’ve done for me.”

“Anytime, my friend,” Dana said. “Your bed will always be here if you need it.”

Dana stood and the two women hugged. Dana crossed to the window and looked outside. “It looks dark out there. Maybe the two of you should stay here overnight and head back in the morning. You don’t want to get caught in a storm.”

“Holt will want to get back,” Aurora said. “We’ll be fine.”

She picked up the two trash bags. “Thank you again.”

“Like I said, anytime.”

They went into the living room, and both men stood as they walked in. Holt had his cowboy hat in his hand, and she could swear his boots were already pointed at the front door.

“Is that it?” he asked with a frown.

“This is all I own,” she said.

He put his hat on his head and grabbed them both from her. “I hate for us to run, but the weather is looking dicey.”

“You’d better get going,” Jake said. He put his arm around Aurora’s shoulders and squeezed. “Come back anytime and bring your friend. We’ve been talking fishing, and you know how much I love to fish.”

“That makes two of us,” Holt said.

After they’d said their goodbyes and climbed into the truck, Aurora’s chest tightened.

“What’s wrong?” he asked after they were on the highway.

“I’m nervous,” she said. “This is all so new to me. Prison, and Dana’s house, are the only two homes I really remember. My parents didn’t always want me at home, so I spent a lot of time at the library. When I was sixteen I got a job at the local movie theater. That’s where I met Ben.”

She stopped talking and she looked out the window at the passing scenery. “Sorry for the verbal diarrhea.”

“Keep going,” he said.

“I need something to drink,” she said.

He pulled off the highway at the next stop and she stayed in the truck while he ran in a convenience store and bought sodas. When they were back on the highway he said, “Finish your story. I’m listening.”

Aurora took a drink from her bottle and said, “I got pregnant when I was seventeen. My parents thought it was the perfect excuse to get rid of me.”

“Shotgun wedding?” Holt asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Three months after we were married I lost the baby.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“I lost the baby because Ben got mad at me and slammed me to the floor.” Was it her imagination or did she see his hands tighten on the wheel?

“It got worse from there.” She took another swig from her soda. “Eleven years later he was dead.”

It had started to rain, slowly at first and then picking up as they drove. Thunder rolled across the area and lightning lit up the sky. The sounds made her nervous and she wrapped her arms as tightly around her chest as she could. The seat belt bit into her shoulder and she loosened her grip.

“You realize none of that was your fault?” he asked. He’d slowed down as the rain increased.

“According to my mother it was,” she said. “The first thing she asked me was what I did to make him mad.”

Hail started to hit the truck, small pellets at first, and Aurora clasped her hands together.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Enclosed space with lots of noise,” she said. “Not really.”

“I’ll find someplace to pull over.”

“Hopefully someplace we can go inside.” They were in the country, so the chances of that happening was slim to none. The hail grew in size, the stones hitting the windows and making her even more nervous.

“There’s a rest stop,” he said. He pulled off the road as the hail grew in size. Just as he parked the truck golf-ball sized hail started to fall. They hit the windshield and the sound of it cracking filled the cab.

Aurora screamed and covered her face with her hands.

“I’ll check to see if the building is unlocked,” he said.

“No, it’s golf-ball sized hail!” she yelled out, but he was already out of the truck. It was raining and hailing so hard she couldn’t see him, so when the back door of the truck cab opened she screamed again.

“It’s locked. Get in the back!” he ordered.

Aurora scrambled between the small space between the front seats, then lay down on the back seat at his order. The hail continued to beat on the truck, and when he placed his body over hers she grasped him tightly and buried her face in his chest.

“Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop!” She grasped his shoulders in her hands. The hail sounded like gunshots as it slammed into the windows and truck. Her body shook with each strike.

“Shush, shush,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m here, I’ll take care of you, it’s all right.” He held her tight and whispered, “It won’t last long. It’ll be okay. Shush, shush, it’s okay.”

It didn’t feel like it was okay. Every time a hailstone hit the vehicle she felt the gun go off in her hand. She heard Ben groan in pain, and she saw blood. Aurora tightened her grip on Holt’s shirt. Feeling his weight on her finally offered her comfort, made her feel as if she would make it through this.

“It’s letting up,” he whispered. “My truck is probably beat to hell, but it’s letting up.”

Aurora sniffled, then laughed. “For the second day in a row I’ve smeared tears, snot, and makeup on your shirt.”

He laughed, and then to her amazement he leaned down and kissed her.