Second Sunrise Cowboy (Second Chance Book 8) (12 page)

He sat back into the cushioned vinyl seat, his head spinning. “And I’m supposed to believe you?”

She pushed the letter closer. “It’s all here. I understand this is a lot to accept, especially under the circumstances.” She stood up and lifted the straps of her purse over her shoulder. “I’m not the enemy here.  No one is, not really. Derrick and Rebecca made a mistake and I’ve forgiven them. It took a lot of years and that’s why I’m here now. And why I want to do right by Rebecca. Think of Becca in this. I do believe she deserves to have as many family members as she can. I can share stories about her mother, things Rebecca would have shared herself. Think it over and you can reach me at the bed and breakfast.” Then she left.

Cash grabbed the envelope and tucked it inside of his shirt pocket. Deep in his gut, he knew Kennedy told the truth. Throwing a few bills on the table, he left the diner feeling the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

****

Dakota shifted in the chair at the attorney’s office and tugged the hem of her skirt down further on her knee. The door opened and she glanced up, doing a double take. Her breath caught. “What are you doing here?”

Cash closed the door behind him and dragged his hat from his head, a grim expression marring his rugged features, as usual.

He started to open his mouth, but the door to the left opened.

“There you two are,” Mr. Jones stepped out of his office. Dakota recognized him from his picture on the wall. He was a tall man, well over six feet and gangly.

She stood up so fast her head became woozy. “Do I have the right time?” Dakota glanced at the wall clock.

“Yes. I’m running a bit late. I had a business call. Are you both ready?”

“I’m confused. Why are we both here?” Dakota kept her gaze far away from Cash who she knew was staring at her profile. She wrapped her arms around her waist, wishing the butterflies would cool it. A flash of him kissing her, his hand in her jeans flashed through her brain and she inwardly groaned.

“I asked you both here because Delores’s will has stipulations you’ll both want to hear.” Mr. Jones waved them into his office. “Have a seat and make yourselves comfy. I’m afraid my receptionist is out for the day and she’s the glue that keeps this place together. Can I get either of you something to drink? The only thing we don’t have is scotch. Unfortunately, I could use some after the day I’ve had.”

“No, thank you,” Dakota answered. The two chairs in front of the desk were too close. She subtly pulled her chair two feet from the other and sat down. Cash sat too and she got a strong whiff of his spicy scent. His knee brushed hers and she almost jumped out of her skirt. She turned and met his gaze, swallowing against the lump building in her throat.

“You’re a little jittery this morning,” he teased.

She narrowed her eyes and concentrated on Mr. Jones as he stacked papers and closed and opened folders. Why did Cash have to sit with his legs so wide spread?

“Delores came into my office several months ago and she wanted to make a few changes to her will. The alterations were a bit unorthodox, but you both knew she liked to laugh and I’m sure she’s looking down now and having a good one.” He looked from Dakota to Cash. Mr. Jones’s ruddy complexion turned redder. Dakota clutched the armrests. “I’m sure she is.” She caught a glance at Cash’s profile and he seemed a bit worried too.

Mr. Jones sniffed and pushed his plastic frames higher on his nose. Dakota focused on his words. “Delores had a reputable amount of money in her savings, stocks, and bonds.”

“My aunt had money?” Dakota narrowed her gaze.

Mr. Jones smiled. “She was worth—” he skimmed a document in front of him. “a little more than a million.”

“Wait, I’m not following you.” Dakota dropped her purse to her feet.

“As you already know, Delores lost her husband and child to a car accident some years ago. Your aunt was awarded a large sum of money as a settlement through the other driver’s insurance. Delores never lived expensively, so the money sat in her account and drew interest.” He sat back in his chair and removed his glasses, setting them on the desk. “In her will, she has named two beneficiaries. You, Miss Childs, and Becca Bailey, minor child of Cash.”

Dakota slid to the edge of her chair. “Delores never said anything.”

Mr. Jones dropped a shoulder. “Maybe she didn’t see the need, but I assure you, Cash’s daughter and you will be very well taken care of. Of course, Becca won’t receive the majority of her share until she reaches the age of twenty-one.” He jotted something down on two pieces of paper and slid them across the desk to Dakota and Cash. “This is the sum she’s left each of you, or what she’s left your daughter, Cash.”

Dakota read the amount and her mouth fell open. “I’m sorry, but this has to be a mistake.”

“Really?” Mr. Jones glanced at the paper. “No, I’m afraid I wrote the right amount. She also has left you a storefront she bought years ago. I never understood why, but I’m sure she had her reasons. She had shop renters come and go until she stopped renting it and it has been vacant since.”

Cash remained quiet, a blank expression on his face. Anger spiraled through Dakota that he showed no surprise, no response.

Mr. Jones clasped his hands on the desk, his expression turning grim. “This is where it gets a bit sticky…”

“Sticky?” Dakota whispered.

“For lack of a better word.”

Cash shifted. His first small sign of awareness.

“You see, Delores wanted a provision placed on the money, or rather a stipulation.”

“Can you just get to it, Dan?” Cash moved, brushing her thigh again. She trembled and swallowed. “Spit it out.”

“It might be best if I read the letter and then I’ll answer any questions you have.”

****

  Cash bid Dan a farewell, stepped out of the office and onto the street, scanning the sidewalk for any sign of Dakota. After Dan had read the letter, she ran out of the office like a jet plane

She was already at her car now, pulling open the door. “Dakota,” he yelled. He knew she heard him, but she didn’t acknowledge him. He raced down the sidewalk, but he didn’t catch her before she drove away.

He crossed the street to his truck and climbed in. What happened to him? One day, life was easy, and the next he woke up stuck in an episode of the Twilight Zone. He blew out a long breath, laying his head back against the headrest. Then he remembered the letter in his pocket.

Pulling the wrinkled, folded paper from his pocket, he opened it, holding it up.

He read it. Once, twice, then three times before every word soaked into his brain. As he’d guessed, Kennedy was telling the truth. Rebecca apologized for the affair with Derrick. She’d also wished things could have been different with Kennedy.

And Cash was left dazed.

He folded the letter back up and dropped it onto the passenger seat. How had he been married to a woman he knew so little about? Had shame kept her from talking about what drove her from Kennedy? He thought he’d known everything about her, but this proved everyone had a few skeletons in their closet.

He dragged off his hat and dropped it on the seat with the letter. Would he have looked at Rebecca the same if he’d known?

The truth wasn’t always easy to swallow, especially when it involved betrayal.

Starting the truck, he pulled out onto the street and drove toward home.

When he pulled into Havens Ranch, he found Dakota’s car sitting in the driveway. She was leaning against the rail on his porch.

He hadn’t expected to see her, not after the lawyer visit.

He climbed out of his truck and kept his gaze on her as he stepped up beside her.

    “Did you know about this?” she snapped.

He swallowed, feeling his heartbeat in his throat. “Sure Dakota, I knew Delores would make you get married before you could get the money.” He sighed. “Do you really think she’d share that news with me? I didn’t even have a clue that she had a nest egg.”

She sniffed and her mouth twisted. “You certainly didn’t seem shocked.”

“Sorry that I didn’t respond the way you expected me to. So therefore, I’m to blame here.”

“I didn’t say you were to blame.”

“Delores explained why she put this stipulation on the money.” He kept his voice low.

“Because she wants me to settle down.”

“If you want the inheritance, you’ll have to do this. Or just as she stated, you’ll have to wait five years, whichever comes first.”

She threw her hands up in the air. “I didn’t even know she had money stashed away. That’s not why I came here.” A tear dropped to her cheek and she swiped it.

His chest tightened. “She did this because she wants you to find yourself—figure out where you need to be in life. And you can have the storefront immediately. It’s worth something.”

“But I don’t have the money to do anything with it, and it could take months, even years, to sell the building.” Her sniffs turned into sobs and she couldn’t wipe her tears fast enough.

He took a step closer, the tip of his boots rubbing her shoes. “Sticking around wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”

“You’re completely misunderstanding where I’m coming from.” She threaded her fingers through her hair. She looked up at him through moist eyelashes and an invisible foot kicked him in the gut. “I didn’t come here for all of this…to inherit money, to meet you, or to get stuck here.”

He blinked. “I didn’t say that you did.”

“I especially didn’t come here to screw you,” she said through snuffles.

“Damn, Dakota, I definitely didn’t think that you came here to screw.”

“It sure did seem like you thought that’s what I was doing here last night.” She clamped her mouth tight.

“I’m sorry about that, but I was caught up in the moment and so were you.”

“I don’t really know why I’m so emotional. Suddenly I feel like I’m carrying a load of baggage.”

“Or maybe you’ve just realized that you have an anchor.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged. “You don’t have roots. Not in a job, not in a family, not in a home. I think you’re scared of commitment, and receiving an inheritance is certainly a big one.”

“And you have a right to talk. Your wife has been gone for five years and yet you hang on as if you’re afraid to move forward.”

He leaned against the rail. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“Your house is a shrine to the past. You can’t even do the repairs around here because it would change the way things were when she died.”

He scratched his jaw. “I’m more than willing to change.”

“Is that right? I happen to disagree.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach.

“To show you how wrong you are, I think we should get married.”

Chapter Eight

Dakota stared at Cash. A cloud washed over her.

“What did you say?”

“I think you and I should get married,” he said the words with such ease, no hesitation whatsoever.

She laughed, but it fizzled. He stayed straight-faced. “Married? You must think I’m desperate to get the money.”

He rubbed his forehead, knuckled his hat, pushing it back on his head. “I don’t think you’re desperate, but I do think you’re logical. The way that I see it, we can both gain from a union.”

Blinking, she wrapped her mind around what he offered. “A union? Between us? We don’t even know each other.” Was she even contemplating his offer? She should just say ‘no’, but then why wouldn’t her tongue form that one, simple word? He couldn’t possibly mean it anyway.

“People marry for far less.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Serious as a horse racing in the Kentucky Derby.”

The breeze picked up and a chill raced across her skin. “Usually people have time to think a question like this over.”

He shrugged and she swore she heard a seam break. “You don’t have to answer right now.”

“Let me ask, what do you get from this?” Her bottom lip trembled, much like her insides. She couldn’t believe they were actually discussing marriage. What looney train did she step off of on her way here?

There was a long hesitation. He was never at a loss of words, but there was a first time for everything. “You’re good with Becca. She likes you.”

The proposal wouldn’t rate as a top best, and she should be disappointed that the only reason he wanted to marry her was for Becca, but a part of her found his reasoning admirable. After all, she had grown to care for Becca and being her mother, step-mother, wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. But could she marry Cash just to become a part of the family? They were a package deal.  And what would he expect from her? She didn’t want to give him any more ammunition. He already had a virility about him that brought her to her knees, but it didn’t look like she had any other choice. Standing there on the porch, the boards creaking under her weight, she decided she needed to lay it all out on the line. “It’s not about the money, Cash.”

“You don’t need it?” His soft voice dripped like an IV of morphine into her bloodstream.

She growled in frustration. “I-I have fifty dollars to my name. Does it sound like I need it?” Breathless from standing so close to him, she took a step back, pressing against the rail.

Cash’s gaze darkened, intoxicating blue eyes broke through her barrier. Why couldn’t she resist his charm?

“Delores didn’t do this as punishment, Dakota. I think she knew exactly what she was doing.”

“I think she’s playing cupid from her grave.”

He chuckled, but the wind caught it and carried it away. “She could always work magic. Why would it stop now?”

Exhaling, she clutched the wood. “I quit my job before I left home. I have nothing to go back to.”

He dragged off his hat and hooked it on the rail. “I understand I’m probably not what you’re wanting in a husband, but I’m hard working and I’ll provide.”

She met his gaze. Dakota was hanging on by a thread here and this good looking cowboy stood before her, and for the first time she wanted to fall into a set of brawny arms. She had a real chance of making a home here, to be part of a family, but why did it scare the shit out of her? She’d run for so long that slowing down had become difficult, if not impossible. Now it made sense what her aunt tried to do for Dakota. She wanted her to set roots…find a home.

“I don’t even have a place to stay here. I can’t live with Hope and Tucker.” Her voice caught.

“I think something can be arranged.”

Her lips quaked. “Tell me, what would that be?”

“Right here. We have three extra bedrooms to choose from. Take your pick.”

“If we get married?” Her stomach looped.

“And even if we don’t.”

The air turned stifling hot. “Why would you offer?”

“Texas hospitality.” He grinned, playing her veins like a violin.

“I’ve heard that before.”

“It’s the truth.” His eyes glowed like magnetic jewels.

“I’m curious. Who was the woman sitting with you at the diner this morning? You seemed very captivated in the conversation.”

Surprise flashed across his rugged features. “You were there?”

“I would have said hello but I didn’t think it would have been good for me to interrupt the cozy breakfast.” Yes, these were her words leaving her mouth, full of jealousy. She should be ashamed, and yet, if she even considered the thought of marrying him, she needed to understand where he stood—where they stood.

He swept his palm down his jaw. “Her name is Kennedy and there’s a lot more there than you’d ever guess.”

“Oh, I bet there is.” The sliver of jealousy turned into a snake, weaving its way through her heart, into her stomach. “Have you asked this Kennedy to marry you too?”

One thick brow lifted. “No. I was married to her sister.”

“I—what?”
That’s why she looked familiar.

“It’s nothing what you think. There’s a whole story there, and one that I’m not even clear on myself.” He rubbed his chin and his calloused palm scraped against the layer of beard. “Rebecca and Kennedy had a falling out and she had no clue she had a niece until she read an article about me in some bachelor magazine.”

“Texas Bachelors? That’s where all of the mail came from scattered across your table.” Should she be relieved that he mentioned the article?

He nodded. “Some silly idea Hope came up with.” He rubbed a hand through his hair, agitation making his jaw hard. “It appears once Kennedy realized she had a long lost relative, she wants to be a part of her life.”

Dakota tried to follow what he was saying. “So you’ve never met Kennedy before?”

He shook his head, sending his hair down his forehead. “Not until yesterday.”

“Wow. That’s a lot to digest. But if Rebecca and Kennedy are sisters, why hadn’t they spoken in such a long time?”

“It might be best if you read this.” He reached into his front pocket and brought out a crumpled paper.

Dakota took it, went to the rocker and sat. After she was finished, she refolded the paper and laid it on the small glass table. “Rebecca slept with her sister’s husband?”

He exhaled. “It seems so. It’s as surprising as hell to learn something about someone you thought you knew like the back of your hand.”

“I don’t think anyone ever truly knows another person. Everyone has secrets and hidden agendas.”

He tilted his jaw. “I didn’t think Rebecca did.”

“I didn’t think Joseph did either.” Her mouth went dry. She hadn’t spoken his name since they broke up.

“Joseph?”

“My ex-fiance. I should look at the positive side. I learned of his discrepancies with other women before the wedding.” She smiled, but her cheeks ached.

He pushed off the rail and took the seat next to her. “I don’t understand that shit at all.”

“What’s not to understand? He wanted me as his partner, and someone else as his lover.”

“I don’t get why he’d need anyone else if he had you.”

His words struck a chord in her. “I don’t think I ever knew him either. I certainly know he never got me. But in your case, you and Rebecca were married and she loved you, and Becca. That’s obvious by the words she wrote in the letter to her sister. She wanted to make everything right with the people she cared for, but maybe she couldn’t tell you because she didn’t want you to think differently of her.”

One corner of his mouth lowered. “She was a good woman. She made a mistake.”

Dakota nodded. “We all do.”

“Kennedy believes she can add to Becca’s life.”

“I wonder why Rebecca didn’t mention Becca in the letter.”

“I don’t know. I really don’t.”

“You’ll make the right decision. I’m sure.” Dakota rubbed her hands down her thighs.

“What about you, sweetheart? Will you make a decision?”

She realized the unspoken question. “I need some time.”

How had this man reached in and found parts of her she’d thought were buried? Somehow life here at Havens opened a new book for Dakota—blank pages waiting for her story.  Where would she go from here?

****

Cash poured himself a cup of coffee and took it out on the porch. The sun was shining and the blue sky promised a cloudless day—just too bad he had storms brewing inside his head.

He hadn’t slept more than a few winks last night and he blamed a petite blonde who’d haunted his sleep—and his wakeful hours—since she’d popped into his unexciting life. And what did he go and do? Up and asked her to marry him.
Pfft.
Either he’d lost his sanity, or for the first time in his life he was saner than he’d ever been. He didn’t regret one second asking Dakota to be his wife, and that should scare the hell out of him, but instead it made him feel alive.

He wasn’t a man with a lot of skill when it came to being romantic or relationships. Rebecca had never needed or wanted flowers, poems, or jewelry. Hell, thinking back, maybe she did and he just didn’t provide.

Fact was he liked Dakota and found her to be someone he wanted to get to know better. He guessed he could have done it the easy way by dating like normal people, but when it crossed his mind that she could leave town, he’d been overcome by an urge to keep her close.

Sure, he had a hankering deep in his groin that ached for release, but what single man wouldn’t for a beauty like Dakota. He had another craving that ran far deeper than sex would ever satisfy. He wanted her in his life, every day.

Fuck!

The realization struck him like the impact of a semi-truck. Why did he open himself up to her? Hell, she’d snuck in when he least expected it, batted her expressive eyes and he was a goner.

He laughed at his calamity. He was falling for a stranger.

Could be worse. In fact, he quite enjoyed ‘liking’ Dakota Childs. She made his day brighter.

And when he heard the familiar rumbling of the loud exhaust coming up the lane, his heart pitter-pattered like a schoolboy’s.
Sheesh.
Get it together, man.

She slipped out of her car and walked up the sidewalk as he skimmed his gaze over her. He could have melted into the cracks of the dilapidated wood. The short hem of her skirt hit a few inches above her knees, swaying, teasing him. The tank top held the firm mounds of her breasts that bounced just enough to remind him how they felt in his palms. Her toned, tanned legs would fit nicely around his hips as he drove deep—

“You’re up. Good.” Her hands sunk to her hips, tilted at a saucy angle. “We need to talk.”

He meandered his gaze back to her face, but the bulge in his zipper didn’t ease, not even an inch. “Coffee?”

She shook her head. “Nope. I gotta say what’s on my mind.”

“Shoot.”

Her tongue swept out, moistening her bottom lip and hunger pangs spiraled through him. He had it bad and it felt so damn good. “Yes, Cash Bailey, I’ll be your wife.”

He stood up so fast his coffee sloshed over the side, right onto his hand. He didn’t even notice the burning sensation because of the scorching inside his body. “Yes?” Hell, this was the last thing he’d expected this bright and early.

“Well, you meant it, didn’t you?” One corner of her mouth slipped into a frown. He couldn’t have that. A pretty face deserved a smile.

“Of course I meant it. I wouldn’t joke about something like getting married.”

“On two conditions.” One thin brow popped up. Cash didn’t like conditions. “I understand this is in name only. You said you had three guest rooms and I could have my choice.”

“You want to sleep apart?” His gut jerked.

“I wouldn’t want to muddle things.”

“Do you think I asked you to marry me so I could fuck you?”

She nibbled at the corner of her mouth. “No. I think you asked me to marry you so Becca would have a mother.”

He gritted his teeth. He wanted to argue, but what argument did he have? Wanting Dakota in Becca’s life had a lot to do with the proposal, but he couldn’t deny a big part of him wanted a wife. But would she believe him? “Dakota—”

“I only ask that you’re always honest with me.”

He blinked. “I’ve never been a dishonest man. I wouldn’t start now. What made you decide to say yes?”

Several expressions flitted across her face. “Becca. She changed my mind. I like the idea of being a part of her family.”

The realization struck him like a sledgehammer to the head. He was getting married again.