Page 66 of The Cowboy Takes A Bride

Briefly, her father looked away, and when he looked back, tears glistened in his eyes. For the first time since her mother had died, she saw the man who'd taught her to ride a bike. She saw the softness in his expression, a look she remembered from her childhood.

“I'm sorry Meredith. Everything I did was because I––”

“Don't say it was because you love me.” She shook her head. “Love doesn't look like that.”

“But fear does.” Father wiped a tear from under his eye and stood. “You were all I had left. That alone frightened me. I wanted to protect you while protecting myself in case I lost you.”

“That doesn't explain why you used me for your business purposes.”

“Initially, I thought I was giving you a purpose, too, a job of sorts. Then having you work the crowd simply became my modus apparatus. It was easier to be that type of guy than a worrying father.” His gaze never wavered from hers.

Meredith was lost for words. In the beginning, this conversation was all she wanted from her father, to understand why. Now? It would take more. Something big. He'd broken her trust, and getting that back would take work and time.

“Father––”

“Just think about coming home with me. Talk with that—your—your husband.” He stepped up to her and, catching her off guard, pulled her into a hug. “I'm so relieved you are all right,” hesaid before letting her go. After a final squeeze to the shoulders, he kissed her forehead and left.

Shocked to her core, Meredith didn't know what to do next, at least as far as her father was concerned. Hopefully she and Jace would get a chance to talk about it tonight. If he was up for it.

After all the guests had left and Willow had gone back to the cabin with her mom, Meredith found Jace sitting in the dark in his office, a bottle of whisky beside him.

“Hey,” she said softly.

He nodded.

“Want me to start a fire?” There was a chill in the room, and she wrapped her arms around herself while moving toward the fireplace.

“Leave it,” he said and set his tumbler on his desk.

“Can I get you anything?” She wanted to take his pain away.

He shook his head. “What's the deal with your dad?”

“There is no deal. He left.” Maybe talking about him right now wasn't a good idea. There was a weird vibe in the room. She expected grief, but anger seemed to be present as well. She supposed that was how men dealt with their emotions.

“He'll be back.” Jace sat forward and grabbed her hand, then pulled her before him.

“Yes, I'm sure he will.” She looked down, trying to read his expression, but he was staring at her chest. “Why don't we go to bed,” she suggested.

He shook his head, then slid his other hand under her skirt, up her thigh, and then skimmed his fingers across the seam of her panties.

“Jace,” she whispered, her knees wobbly.

He tugged her closer, her legs bumping the chair as she came to stand between his legs. He tugged again, and she nearly fell into his lap. Sensing what he wanted, she leaned forward andclimbed onto his lap, straddling him, her skirt rising to her hips. Clothes weren't removed, only shoved aside. Lips brushed across bodies, and his hand tangled in her hair, clutching tightly. He took her there with such fierceness and urgency she felt as if they were racing against something. Being caught? Time? She wasn't sure, but the frenzied need called out the loudest so she ignored everything else but that. When it was over, he led her to bed where they repeated it, only this time with less urgency and more sadness. No words, only touch with Jace running his hands over her body as if he was memorizing every curve.

They fell asleep in each other's arms.

29

Watching Meredith sleep was amazing and painful at the same time. Painful because he'd forgotten that she might not always be there and this might, in fact, be the last time he would be able to enjoy this voyeuristic activity. Jace was an honorable man who was compelled to do the right thing. Too bad he didn't know what that was. Pops would know what to tell him, and not being able to ask made the ache in Jace's chest throb harder. At least his old man had died happy and, hell, Jace was thankful Pop's heart attack had been quick, his death instantaneous. There would be no wheelchairs or ventilators, which Jace tried to see as a silver lining. Pops would have hated that. Jace hated the whole damned situation. He simply wanted his dad back.

Brushing a hand down his face, then wiping his eyes, Jace decided coffee might help him swallow the lump in his throat. He knew what needed to be done.

Downstairs he made a large pot of coffee and stuffed a dinner roll from last night's wake in his mouth. He would check the herd and feed the chickens, but not before he spent a fewminutes sitting on the fence. Tuck would be in soon, but Jace needed some time to clear his mind, come to terms with his decision. Maybe he'd talk to Pops out there. After filling a Thermos, he pulled on his jacket. His boots––still speckled with blood––were by the door and reminded him that his mom could have been burying her son and husband within a two-week period. He could understand Hanover's angst about Meredith. Following a quick glance at the empty stairs, he quietly left the house. His mom's cabin was dark, and he hesitated, wondering if he should check on her.

He'd let the sun rise fully first. He sat on the fence––no small feat getting up with his aching ribs and bruised lungs––and weighed the options of Meredith staying, leaving, the ranch, Willow, and all the responsibility that was now his. With the sun high in the sky and the roosters crowing, Jace couldn't linger any longer and got about starting the daily chores. His mother sat on the porch of her cabin with a mug of something hot––likely coffee––and gave him a sad wave before looking away. He left her to her thoughts.

He was coming out of the barn when a small limo came down the lane. It stopped by the porch stairs, and Hanover stepped out. Meredith was on the porch in a flash, arms crossed, and a scowl on her face. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but Jace could read her body language. Whatever Hanover was saying was working. Meredith's arms dropped to her hips as she faced her father. When he pulled her into a hug, Meredith didn't resist. When they separated, she caught sight of Jace and bee-lined for him, Hanover waiting on the porch.

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