Kitabı oku: «The Cowboy Wants a Baby»

CHAPTER ONE

THE MANTEL OF the massive stone fireplace in the great room of the Double G ranch overflowed with calla lilies. The elegant white flowers had been placed with care just below the portrait of great-grandmother Isabella Trueblood, and Lily Garrett knew who was behind the sentimental gesture.

She turned to face her loved ones, and her gaze landed on her father, William. “I can’t believe you did this, Daddy. You know they’re my favorite. You’re trying to make me cry, aren’t you?”

“Nothing wrong with a tear now and again.” With a smile that made him seem much younger than his sixty-one years, William leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t give you, darlin’,” he whispered.

“I know, Daddy. Thank you.” Before Lily let the moment disarm her further, she looked over at the couch. Her brother, Dylan, sat perched on the arm. “Hey, get over here. It’s your birthday, too.”

He shook his head. “I’m fine right where I am.”

“You coward.”

He shrugged. “That’s me.”

She sighed, even though she wasn’t really upset. Dylan was shy about this kind of thing, which was peculiar, since he wasn’t shy about anything else. But she didn’t mind taking the spotlight for her twin. “I’m only letting you off the hook because I’m so much older.”

“Ha,” he said. “By all of eight minutes.”

“Quiet, you young whippersnapper.” She smiled, really looking at him, appreciating him. He had the light-brown hair and blue eyes of their father, while Lily had inherited her mother’s wavy black hair and green eyes, but they were well and truly twins. The bond between them… Well, sometimes even she didn’t understand the connection.

Her gaze moved to the rest of the family. Her sister, Ashley, who looked disgustingly young and perky in her tennis whites. Six years Lily’s junior, Ashley had taken time from her busy schedule at the ad agency to be at the birthday party.

Max was there, too. Although not related by blood, he was family in all the ways that were important. He’d grown up on the Double G, just as his father had before him. As ranch foreman, Max played a large part in making the horse and cattle ranch profitable. As a friend, he was even more important. Only five years older than Lily, he’d been a playmate, a tease, a strong shoulder to lean on.

“So are you going to open the presents or what?” Ashley checked her watch impatiently. “I’ve got a game at four.”

“Your game can wait.” William walked over to the big leather couch and eased down, a contented sigh escaping the moment he was off his feet. “It’s not often we have the two of them home on this special occasion.”

“They’re going to live here forever now,” Ashley said. “We’ll have hundreds more birthdays to celebrate.”

“But none like this.” Lily took Ashley’s arm and maneuvered her to the couch, next to their father.

Now that she had everyone’s attention, Lily cleared her throat. “This isn’t an ordinary day. Aside from it being our thirtieth birthday—which, by the way, I feel is totally unbelievable since I don’t feel twenty-five, let alone thirty—today marks a new beginning for me.”

Her brother’s right brow arched in a silent question.

“You’ve all had to put up with a lot from me for the last seven months. I want you to know that I appreciate your patience and your generosity.”

Ashley’s eyes widened. “You appreciate us? It’s a rare day indeed.”

“Hush, Ashley, and let me finish.” Lily moved to the center of the room and glanced up at the second floor for a moment. She cleared her throat, then went on with the speech she’d prepared that morning. “The construction on the new offices is nearing completion, which should be a relief to everyone.”

Ashley clapped, prompting Lily into giving her younger sibling one of her better glares.

“Finders Keepers is well on its way to becoming the success we knew it would be,” Lily went on. “There’s a need for what we’re doing. Too many people are lost and lonely, longing for what we have in abundance in this very room. It’s a cold world out there without someone who loves you. Someone to love. And it’s part of our legacy to help.” She hesitated, wondering if she had the nerve to say the rest. But then she looked into her father’s eyes.

“I also want to let you guys know that as of this day, I won’t be griping about Jason Gill anymore. In fact, I won’t even bring up his name.”

Ashley’s phony choking earned her a pinch from Dylan. Lily didn’t let the episode shake her.

“I’m finished with that,” she continued. “My entire focus is going to be on the agency and nothing else. But I will say one last thing. I know there’s a lesson in this. There’s a reason I fell for the rotten son of a bitch, and a reason I didn’t know he was married. Unfortunately, I have no clue what that reason is. But I figure if it wasn’t for endings, there wouldn’t be new beginnings, right?”

Tears came to her eyes, but she blinked them back. The speech, the sentiment, were totally unlike her. She prided herself on her no-nonsense approach to life. Maybe it was turning thirty. Maybe it was the heat. She had no idea what had prompted her to get all mushy. But enough of that. She pushed her shoulders back, took a deep cleansing breath, then made the mistake of looking at Dylan.

His eyes seemed focused on something far away. She had a good idea what he was thinking about. Last year had been tough for him, too. He’d lost a part of himself while he’d been in Dallas. She wished with all her heart that she could take away his pain as well as her own. At least they were home, where they could rebuild their lives and find some peace.

“This is what’s important,” she said, mostly to Dylan, but to herself as well. “Being here with the people we love, and who love us. That’s the best present of all.”

“Uh, Lily?”

She was almost afraid to respond. “Yes, Ashley?”

“Does that mean you won’t be wanting the sweater I got you?”

Laughter shifted the mood, and when Lily walked over to strangle her little sister, things got even livelier. Although she didn’t hurt Ashley, she did pluck her gift from the pile on the coffee table. “Sweater, eh?”

Nearly tearing off the white bandage on her hand, a reminder not to save feral puppies without thick gloves, Lily ripped into the purple-and-white package that Ashley most assuredly had paid someone to wrap. Lily flipped open the box underneath. But there was no sweater. Instead, she pulled out a Sherlock Holmes hat, a meerschaum pipe, and a magnifying glass.

Dylan cracked up and Ashley’s cheeks turned pink.

“This is so cool!” Lily plopped the hat on her head and stuck the pipe in her mouth, then turned to her brother. “Watson, bring me my violin.”

Dylan got up off his perch on the side of the couch and approached her, a sly smile tugging the corners of his mouth. “Watson?” He swiped the hat from her head. “I don’t think so.”

She reached to grab it, but Dylan held it too high. “Give that back. It’s mine!”

“Finders keepers,” he said, dangling the woolen cap tauntingly in front of her.

“I’ve got your finders keepers right here, buddy.” She jumped for the hat and caught the bill. They tugged back and forth, causing much hooting and laughter from Ashley and Max, until, at William’s urging, Dylan gave up. Lily put the hat on, grinning at her victory. They hadn’t tussled in years. It reminded her of their childhood. There had been lots of roughhousing, but very little ill will. Well, except for the time he’d broken into her diary. But since that had happened fifteen years ago, she might be ready to forgive him.

“It’s my turn,” Dylan said, taking the second of the purple-and-white packages. He, unlike Lily, took his time opening the gift. First the ribbon, then each piece of tape. It was maddening. Finally, though, he hit a box. He opened it and grinned as he pulled out a mahogany door plaque that read Finders Keepers in beautiful gold script.

“For the new office,” Ashley said.

“It’s a knockout, Ash.” Dylan passed the plaque to Lily, then kissed his little sister on the cheek. “You did good.”

“Was there any doubt?”

Lily didn’t respond. She was too busy admiring the beautiful workmanship on the plaque. The investigative agency was as real as the wood in her hands. Their intervention had brought three couples together and reunited two mothers and their children—everything Dylan and she had talked about when they’d decided to carry on the Trueblood legacy.

She couldn’t wait until the offices were finished. Maybe she’d even open a bottle of champagne when they put this plaque on the door.

Max cleared his throat, getting her attention. He nodded at the other presents on the table. She plucked a pink bag from the pile and read the card first. It was from her father, and the message was as sweet and corny as he was. Inside she found a jewelry box.

She could sense, even before opening the lid, that she needed to sit down for this one. She settled on the couch, forcing Ashley to squeeze against the arm. When she opened the box, her heart stopped. She recognized the necklace instantly. It had been her mother’s.

“We thought you ought to have that when you turned thirty.” William squeezed her hand. “She’d be so proud of you.”

Lily lifted the elegant teardrop diamond on the slim gold chain. She’d seen her mother wear this on the most special of occasions. It had been her pride and joy. “Help me?” she asked, turning her back to her father and lifting her hair. His fingers trembled slightly as he struggled with the catch, but she didn’t mind the wait. It gave her time to settle her own emotions. She still missed her mother so much.

“There you go, darlin’.”

She let her hair loose and rose to look in the hallway mirror. The diamond hung beautifully on her neck, just below the hollow. It was stunning, but the importance wasn’t in the perfect three-carat stone. It was in the memories. And in the future. She’d give her daughter the necklace, and with it, all the stories of Lily’s mother, and her mother before her… . All the proud heritage of the Truebloods, who’d risen from the ashes of the worst epidemic the world had ever known, only to plunge into the work of reuniting families, finding lost loved ones, creating hope from despair.

“Come back, Lily. Dylan’s opening the next one!”

She left the mirror, but not before she said a silent thanks to her mother.

Dylan had nearly finished his painstaking unwrapping by the time she sat back down on the couch. He got a jewelry box, too. Her father’s watch. The one William had been given by the Ranchers’ Association. The one he’d worn each time their mother had donned the necklace.

“Dad, I—”

“It’s your time, son. I’m just glad I’m here to see you wear it.”

Dylan didn’t speak. He took off his own battered watch and put on the heavy silver timepiece. It looked right on his arm. As if it had always been there.

“There’s only two more,” Ashley said impatiently. “So, would you guys please open them together? And, Dylan, I swear to God, if you don’t rip the paper like a normal human being, I’ll whack you with my racket.”

“You try, little sister, and you won’t sit down for a week.”

“Why? You’d take away the chairs?”

“Very amusing.” Dylan stood tall, reaching his full six-feet-one-inch and folding his muscular arms across his chest. “Amusing, and yet highly annoying.”

“Just open the damn present.”

“Ashley, language.”

“Sorry, Dad.”

Lily interceded by grabbing the next gift. Inside the bag was the most beautiful journal. It had her name inscribed on the outside, and inside was page after crisp white page, just ready for her favorite purple pen and her most private thoughts. “Max.”

He nodded. “I remember you saying you were reaching the end of your last one.”

“Handsome and smart. What a combination.”

He blushed, which had been her intention, and she stood to give him a thank-you kiss on the cheek. But as she turned, her attention was diverted. Sebastian Cooper stood in the doorway, his face ashen and his eyes dark and terrible. She hadn’t seen him much since his wife had disappeared. He looked like he’d been chewed up and spit out.

She got Dylan’s attention and motioned toward the door. She heard a small gasp as he turned to see his best friend. Which meant Sebastian’s condition had worsened very recently.

Dylan rushed around the couch and reached Sebastian’s side at the same time Lily did.

“What is it?” Dylan’s hands formed fists, something he’d done his whole life when he was terribly scared.

“I’m sorry. I should have called.”

“What’s wrong? Is it Julie?”

Sebastian shook his head. “It’s not that. Or maybe it is, I don’t know. All I’m sure of is the San Antonio cops couldn’t find the River Walk without a guide. It’s been seven months—”

Lily winced at his obvious pain. It must be torture. Julie had vanished early in January, the apparent victim of a car-jacking. So far the police had no leads, and Dylan had only been able to do so much investigating without tipping his hand. He hadn’t wanted to push his services on Sebastian, but it had been impossible for him to sit by and do nothing. Julie and Sebastian meant too much to him.

When Lily had asked Dylan why he didn’t just insist on heading the case, he’d talked to her about friendship and loyalty and male pride. She hadn’t completely understood, but he remained adamant that before he could pull out all the stops, Sebastian needed to ask for his help.

It appeared he just had.

DYLAN GOT OUT the Johnnie Walker Black and poured Sebastian two fingers. The family had dispersed until dinner, so Dylan joined his friend at the kitchen table, handing him the glass. “Tell me what you know.” Dylan probably knew as much as Sebastian did about the case, but he had the feeling his friend needed to talk about it.

Sebastian’s hand shook as he held the amber liquid. “The only evidence they found was some blood on the back seat of the car. Julie’s blood.”

Dylan made sure he didn’t react at all to the bald words. At least not outwardly. Sebastian needed him to be strong now. But it was damn hard.

Julie and Sebastian meant more to him than anyone outside his family. Hell, he’d grown up with Sebastian, the two of them riding the rodeo circuit all through high school. They’d even gone to college together, and that’s when Julie had entered the picture. Beautiful Julie. Who had called him her white knight, but married Sebastian. Dylan couldn’t bear to think of her hurt, or worse.

“They traced the last few hours before her disappearance. She’d been to the bank—to the safe deposit box.”

“What did she do there?”

Sebastian shrugged. “Not much. Got some papers, I think. But someone must have seen her there. Assumed she’d gotten valuables.”

“And followed her.”

Sebastian knocked back his drink, shuddering as the scotch went down. “Followed her and took her.” He stared at Dylan, his eyes filled with more pain than any man should have. “The nights are the worst. I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about what she’s going through.”

“We’ll find her, Sebastian. I swear on my life, we’ll find her.”

“I kept thinking the police would find her. That it had to be something simple, a misunderstanding, that she’d left because I’d said something thoughtless, but she would have called. She isn’t cruel. Dammit, I should have come to you first.”

“It’s good that the police are involved. But they have too many other cases. I swear to you, Sebastian, I’ll find her.”

Sebastian nodded. “I know.” He swallowed hard, then tried to smile. “Remember Christmas?”

“Of course.”

“She was so happy about the locket. So thrilled that I’d had the stones replaced.”

“It meant a lot to her.”

Sebastian leaned across the big oak dining table. “I keep thinking that’s what the bastard saw. That the necklace drew his attention. If I hadn’t given it to her—”

“Stop it. You didn’t do this. It’s not your fault.”

“How do you know?”

“I know this—when she gets back, she’s going to need you. If you rake yourself over the coals like this, you won’t be any good for her.”

He leaned back, nodding. “Right. I need to be strong for her.”

“Let the detective in charge know you’ve hired us. I’ll need to see their reports.”

“I will.”

Dylan nodded at the scotch bottle. “Need another?”

“Yeah. But I’m not going to. If I start drinking now, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”

“Right. So why don’t you kick back. Take a swim or something. We’re having dinner in a couple of hours.”

“I can’t, Dylan. I wish I could.”

“You don’t have to see anyone. I could arrange that.”

Sebastian stood. “I have to go. I’m grateful to you, buddy. And listen.” He swallowed again, his Adam’s apple too visible. He’d lost weight. “Whatever happens—”

“We’ll find her.”

Sebastian turned away. A lock of his hair fell over his eye. Julie would have pushed it back, then she would have kissed him. It was something she did without fail. She’d been a sucker for Sebastian since day one. Dylan was glad she’d found happiness. Now all he had to do was bring her back to the arms of the man she loved.

Failing wasn’t an option.

LILY RAISED her soda glass. “To us.”

The rest of the family joined her in the impromptu toast. “To us.”

They drank their assorted beverages and went on with the birthday dinner. Max and her father were already deep in discussion about the new paddock. Ashley, still in her tennis outfit, ate as if calories didn’t exist. Dylan hardly touched his food.

She knew Julie’s kidnapping weighed heavily on him—even more so now that he’d agreed to take the case. She wondered again if Dylan knew he was still in love with Julie. It had broken his heart when she married Sebastian, but good old Dylan hadn’t said a word. He’d just stood there as best man and watched his one true love marry his closest friend.