They were good kids. Lovely kids. They needed to be cherished. Adored.

I could love them, she thought, looking at Brock. I could love them, and you...

Harley turned back to the sink, and turned the hot water on, filling the scalded pan. “Go,” she said hoarsely. “Please.”

 


 

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

 

 

Harley was in bed reading when Brock and the kids returned from their dinner and movie night in Marietta. It was late, past ten, which meant they had made quite a night of it. She hoped they’d had dinner, seen the movie, and then gone somewhere for ice cream or dessert after. It’s what she would have done with her kids.

She listened as voices and footsteps sounded on the stairs. The kids sounded giddy, silly, their voices were louder than usual and animated. She smiled to herself, listening, catching only bits and pieces of their conversation, warmed by their laughter, happy that they were happy.

Book pressed to her chest, she listened to Brock’s heavier footsteps echo in the stairwell below. It sounded as if he was in hallway outside the kids rooms talking to them. One of the twins must have said something funny because suddenly she heard his laugh, deep and rich and so incredibly sexy she felt a fizz of pleasure.

He didn’t laugh often but when he did it was so damn appealing. He was so appealing. She was falling for him.

That’s why she wasn’t cold and frozen anymore.

That’s why her heart tingled and her body felt so sensitive.

She was coming to life again. She was waking up, feeling, and it scared her. But she couldn’t stop the prickling, tingling sensation creeping through her, sensation in her fingers and toes, sensation surging into her arms and legs, into her torso, where she’d been so cold for so long, and she wasn’t cold anymore.

Her heart still hurt, but it wasn’t the icy pain of old, but a new flutter of emotion, a strange bewildering flutter that was fear and yet excitement.

Exhilaration.

As well as dread.

She was feeling and needing and wanting and yet she didn’t want to be hurt again, wasn’t ready to be hurt again.

Harley took a quick breath, and left the bed and began to pack. It wouldn’t take long to pack, she hadn’t brought that much with her from California, but at least emptying the closet and the dresser drawers would give her something to do.

Activity would keep her from thinking too much. She didn’t want to think too much, not tonight, not when she was battling her heart, trying to keep it under control.

She had to be smart. Had to be practical. She didn’t belong here, not long term, and she couldn’t forget herself and invest in a family that wasn’t her own, and risk having her heart broken all over again.

A hesitant knock sounded on the bedroom door. The door opened and Molly stuck her head around the edge of the door. “Miss Diekerhoff?”

Harley closed the suitcase. “Yes, Molly?”

“I wanted to apologize... for earlier. I was kind of bratty outside, when we had the snowball fight. I’m sorry.”

“You were fine.”

But Molly shook her head. “No. I was rude. I know I was rude and you’ve done so many nice things for Mack and me and I want you to know I appreciate it.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“Well, compared to Maxine you’ve been amazing.”

Harley smiled and sat down on the foot of the bed. “Maxine sounds very... interesting.”

“Oh, she is. She’s... interesting... all right.” The girl smiled and glanced past Harley to the suitcase on the floor. “You’re packing.”

It was a statement, not a question, and Harley felt a pang. “Yes.”

“When are you leaving?”

Harley hesitated. “In the morning.”

“What?” Molly’s voice rose.

“I’m only a temporary fill in—”

“Yes, until Maxine comes back, but she’s not back for another month.” Molly stared at Harley hard. “Did you and Dad have a fight?”

“No.”

“So you are upset about me being bratty.”

“No.”

“Then why go?”

Harley didn’t know how to explain any of this to Molly, not when it was so complicated. “I’m not the best fit for the ranch—”

“That’s not true. Daddy’s happy with you here. We’re happy with you here. Everybody likes having you here. Even JB. He says you’re the best thing that’s happened to Copper Mountain Ranch, and he’s been here almost ten years.” Molly approached Harley where she sat on the bed, and put her hands together, in a little prayer.