The Bachelor’s Surrender (3 page)

Not willing to analyze something so bewildering as her attraction to such a complex man, she let go of his arm and kept her mind firmly on business. “Won’t you please take a few days to reconsider your decision?”

“No.” This time, his tone lacked its original harshness. “And I apologize for not responding to your letters because it would have saved you a wasted trip.”

Just when she thought the man had no redeeming qualities, he had to reveal a more gracious side. The contrast from bad guy to nice guy intrigued her. “I would have made the trip anyway. Like I said, I’m persistent and stubborn, so don’t be surprised if you hear from me again.”

“Don’t waste your time on me.” The scowl on his face didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m not worth pursuing.”

She was beginning to seriously doubt that, but issued no verbal argument. Yes, the man seemed surrounded by some kind of personal torment and snarled when someone got too close, but Lauren suspected it was his way of dealing with whatever private demons were provoking him. She’d seen the same kind of reaction in angry young children. Adults were no different in dealing with their pain.

He looked tired and weary. Drained even. Emotionally and physically. She decided to leave well enough alone, and hoped over the next few days he’d read the letters she’d sent him. If he learned more about Bright Beginnings and how he could make a tremendous difference in the life of a young boy, maybe he’d change his mind.

She moved back to where she’d been sitting, gathered the picture and information about Chad, and slipped it back into the file folder. Once everything was tucked back into her briefcase, she faced Rafe again. “I’d planned on spending the night in a hotel in Cody, but I’m too exhausted to make the two hour drive back. Is there a place nearby that I can stay?”

“The Lazy Daze motel is back about five miles, right at the edge of town next to Fran’s Diner.” He hesitated, then added, “It’s not a very luxurious motel.”

She smiled, ignoring the way he stereotyped her. “I’m not looking for something to rival The Ritz, Mr. Dalton, just a bed to sleep in for the night. I’m sure the Lazy Daze will be fine.”

They walked to the foyer quietly, and he opened the screen door for her to pass through. She stepped outside, then stopped and turned to face him again.

“Please think about my client’s request, Mr. Dalton, and if you change your mind, you can reach me at the motel until tomorrow morning. My flight back to Los Angeles leaves at three, so I’ll be gone by noon.” Retrieving a business card from a side pocket in her briefcase, she handed it toward him. “And here’s my card with my cell and work phone numbers, just in case you need to contact me.”

He took the card, but didn’t give it a second glance. “I suggest you head back to the city where you belong, and find yourself another hero for your client.”

“I wish it were that simple.” She smiled regretfully. “Unfortunately for all of us, you’re the only one Chad wants.”

R
afe stood out on the porch, shoulder braced against a wooden column. Hitching his thumbs into the front pockets of his jeans, he watched Lauren Richmond make her way to her rental car as the evening sun slowly made its descent toward the horizon.

Despite her unwelcome intrusion into his life, he couldn’t help but admire her. The woman was passionate about what she believed in, and confident about accomplishing her goal, regardless of the obstacles. She came across as professional and polished, and possessed an elegance he suspected was inbred. It showed in the educated way she spoke, the keen intelligence in her pretty blue eyes, the cosmopolitan way she looked, and especially the way she walked.

Yeah, especially that, he thought appreciatively as he took in the natural, subtle sway of her hips and those long, sleek legs as she strolled toward her car.

A rumble of interest gripped him, the same heat and desire that had taken hold when she’d laid her hand on his. The instantaneous attraction that leapt between them had been startling—enough to throw him completely off-kilter. He’d been too long without the comforts of a woman, too long without someone to ease the loneliness that came with voluntary confinement.

She was the last kind of woman he should want, yet the first woman who’d affected him on an emotional and physical level since his rodeo days. City sophistication and rough-hewn country didn’t mix, as he well knew. And then there were the other flaws in his character that would no doubt shock her well-bred sensibilities.

She believed he was a hero. That was the biggest reason of all to avoid her, and the young boy who believed such fanciful notions. True, he’d saved that young bull rider’s life, but there had been nothing courageous or noble about the deed to warrant a heroic title. Pure guilt had spurred him to leap into that pen to rescue Keith, despite the threat of an enraged bull charging anyone who dared to enter his domain. Rafe had been so horrified for nearly killing a young kid that he’d been blind to the danger of the situation.

Keith had escaped with a concussion and minor injuries. Rafe had paid a steeper price for his ambition and aggression. His actions had cost him his career.

But losing the ability to compete was nothing compared to the disturbing revelation his own brush with death had brought. As he lay in the hospital recovering from the deep wound in his thigh, compliments of Cyclone’s well-aimed horn, he’d faced the awful, bitter realization that he was more like his old man than he ever wanted to believe.

Even now, the thought burned in his stomach like acid.

Rafe focused back to the present just as Lauren slipped gracefully into her rental car, blonde hair swaying silkily along her shoulders, then started the engine. She looked his way, a small, friendly smile curving her mouth. She gave him a polite wave good-bye, and he squelched the automatic urge to lift his hand in response. For as brash and rude as he’d been inside the house, there was no point in being courteous now and offering her any false encouragement that he might change his mind about the boy and his request.

She turned her car around and headed for the dirt drive just as a blue truck crested the hill and ambled toward his house. The two vehicles passed slowly, the women in each turning their heads to glance curiously at the other.

His sister had impeccable timing.

Rafe released a harsh breath between his teeth.
Great
. Just what he needed after his draining visit with Lauren Richmond—an interrogation from his inquisitive sister on who Lauren was, and what she was doing at his ranch. After having his emotions rubbed raw by Ms. Richmond’s visit, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with his sister’s brand of cross-examination.

It was inevitable, he knew. Kristin cut him no slack, especially since the incident with the bull that had forced him to come back home and reevaluate his life. She verbally poked and prodded him whenever the opportunity presented itself, which, unfortunately, was often, since she and her husband, James, lived on the Dalton family ranch that adjoined his property.

His sister parked the pick-up next to his, slid out of the cab with a white casserole dish in hand, then headed toward the porch. Climbing the stairs, she gave him a once over that was both chastising and mischievous.

“Geez, Rafe, have you become so uncivilized that you can’t throw on a shirt while entertaining a guest?” A slow grin lifted, right along with a perfectly arched brow. “Or was that woman more than a guest?”

The insinuation in his sister’s voice was unmistakable. He blinked lazily, maintaining a bland expression. “Does ‘mind your own business’ mean anything to you?”

Unoffended by his brush-off, humor filled her eyes. “As much as I don’t condone casual flings, it sure is nice to know that you’re still human enough to enjoy a woman’s company.”

“It’s not what you’re thinking.” He found having his sex life scrutinized by his sister decidedly disconcerting. Especially since he didn’t have a sex life to speak of. “
She’s
not what you’re thinking.”

“Well, then?” she prompted impatiently. “Who is she, and what does she want with you?”

In an attempt to avoid her barrage of questions and distract her, he took the casserole dish from her hands. The sight of pork chops and the mouth-watering stuffing his sister made had his stomach growling. “I wish you’d quit making extra food so you can bring me your ‘leftovers’.” It was a lie, but a good one to divert her attention. “I’m perfectly fine with my frozen dinners.”

She scoffed at that, and smacked him lightly in the stomach. “The least you could do for yourself with all that money you horde is hire yourself a cook.”

“Now why would I waste my money hiring a cook when you do it for me?” he asked in a deep, lazy drawl.

“Stop trying to change the subject, Rafe.” Green eyes narrowed shrewdly, and she shook a finger at him. “I find a woman out here after you’ve isolated yourself from the entire town for the past year, the single, available women included, and you act as though it’s no big deal.”

Rafe’s mouth thinned in growing annoyance. “Trust me, I didn’t invite her.”

“Ah, that makes this even more interesting,” she said, then added on a mocking note, “How dare she ignore that threatening sign you posted out front. I’m amazed she survived that dark scowl of yours, and your blacker mood.”

He summoned an ominous glower just for her, then turned on his heel and headed into the house, letting the screen door slam shut behind him. She followed, dogging his steps all the way into the kitchen.

“So, what could a classy woman like her want with someone as moody and unsociable as you?” she asked, picking up where the conversation left off outside.

He set the casserole dish on the counter, feeling the sting of her deliberate words. Knowing there was no point in avoiding the inevitable discussion, he told her the truth about Lauren, and Chad’s request, and how the nine-year-old boy had followed the last two years of his career, right up until the end.

Kristin took a seat at the small oak table in the kitchen, her soft smile holding a bit of pride. “You must have made quite an impression on him.”

“So it seems.” He rolled his shoulders, wishing he could roll off the unwanted burden of Lauren’s request as easily. “But I’m certain it won’t last once she tells him I’m not available.”

“You refused?” Kristin asked incredulously.

Guilt clouded Rafe’s conscience, and he immediately pushed the offending emotion aside, telling himself he was saving the kid a wealth of disillusionment by declining his request.

“Quit looking at me like I’m some kind of monster,” he said brusquely, feeling defensive. “There are plenty of bull-riding champions out there still traveling the circuit that would be more than willing to meet Chad and spend time with him.”

She stood and moved toward him. “His wish is to meet
you
, you hard-headed idiot!” Her voice lowered, turning as soft and imploring as her moss-green eyes. “Don’t you see, Rafe? This kid has placed a lot of hope in you.”

“He thinks I’m a goddamn hero!” Pacing to the open back door, he braced his hand on the frame above his head and stared out the screen to the green pasture where three Quarter Horses grazed. When the tumultuous emotions in him calmed, he said in a low voice, “I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want this.”

“This isn’t about
you
, Rafe,” she replied with steadfast determination. “It’s about a little boy who has lost so much and wants something that will give him a little faith in life. You obviously do that for him. And maybe, if you just gave a little of yourself, you can find the man you used to be, and make peace with the man you’ve become.”

He clawed his hand through his thick hair and rubbed at the stiff muscles at the nape of his neck. Turning, he met his sister’s gaze. “I don’t think it’s possible to go back to who I was.”

“You’re wrong, Rafe. You lost so much a year ago, but that kind, caring man is still there. I know he is. Deep inside, beneath all the anger and pain is the brother that used to make me smile. And do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve heard you laugh?”

Forever
, it seemed. He dropped his head, sensing defeat.

“Maybe you need this kid as much as he needs you,” Kristen said, her caring voice reaching deep inside him. “If you can’t do this for yourself, then do it for me, Rafe.”

He lifted his head, knowing he’d never be able to refuse his sister anything. She knew it, too. “You play dirty,” he murmured.

Her shoulders lifted in an unapologetic shrug. “Whatever it takes to make you see reason.”

Rafe thought of a young boy with stars in his eyes. A young boy who had him on a pedestal and thought he could do no wrong. A young boy who believed he was a hero.

He shuddered. “What do I know about kids?” he asked gruffly. His own father had hardly been a good parental example.

“Probably more than you realize,” she offered, not caving to his pitiful excuse. “Kids are amazingly adept and have a tendency to show you what they need, and you’ll instinctively know.” When he gave her a look of disbelief, she smiled. “Trust me on this one, Rafe. During the school year I’m surrounded by a dozen different seven-year-old second-graders, each with their own distinct personalities, and I know what each student wants or needs before they even express it.”