“Hailey, I know you’re still excited, but it’s time to get ready for bed,” Jennifer reminded her daughter.

  “Oh, okay,” she said. “Good night, Miss Toni.”

  “Good night, Hailey, and Merry Christmas.”

  Hailey smiled and waved a little as she walked down the hallway, yawning. Her dark-blond curls bobbed with each step. A little over a year ago, she’d lost all her straight, long hair. Now it had grown back darker and curlier. But the most important thing was that she was healthy once again.

  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you staying with Tommy Jr. We had a great time with Hailey. It’s so good to see her participating in things again.”

  “I was happy to. I mean that.”

  “Are you sure Wyatt McCall isn’t hiding in a closet or under the bed?”

  “No, he didn’t come over. Actually, he was having dinner with his parents.”

  “Oh. Well, it was fun to remember the times we did smuggle our boyfriends in when we were supposed to be alone.”

  “Or just with each other,” Toni added, smiling.

  “Exactly. So, I know I can’t pay you for babysitting, but maybe I could take you to lunch after Tommy Jr. gets back in school. We could even go down to Graham to the tearoom.”

  “I’d love to. Just call me and we’ll set up a time. My schedule is a little unpredictable with this hotel project, but I can usually work in a lunch. As a matter of fact, I look forward to getting away from the all-boys atmosphere on the job site.”

  “Okay, then. It’s a date.”

  “You bet.” Toni hesitated just a moment, then hugged Jennifer. “I missed you,” she whispered.

  “I didn’t realize how much I missed you, too.”

  “Hey, is this one of those mushy girl moments? Because if it is, I’m going back out to the truck,” Tommy said, coming through the back door.

  “Kind of, but I’m leaving,” Toni said, wiping her eyes. She patted Tommy’s arm on the way to her jacket. “I kind of missed you, too, you big lug.”

  “Gee, thanks,” he said, trying to rub his knuckles into her scalp, which he knew she hated.

  Toni laughed as she put on her jacket and picked up her purse. “Have a good night. I hope Tommy Jr. gets better soon.”

  “Thank you,” Jennifer said, leaning against Tommy as he put his arm around her. “I’ll see you soon for lunch.”

  “Definitely.” Toni walked out to her truck. I want that, she thought as she breathed in the crisp night air. I want what they have. Love and joy, even through the bad times. Children. A family.

  Only with the right person, though. Tommy and Jennifer had obviously made a go of their marriage. But they had other classmates who hadn’t. Brody’s Crossing had its share of divorces and split ups.

  Toni started the truck before pulling her cell phone from her purse. Call me. She sent the mental message to Wyatt as she imagined him finishing dinner with his parents. For a good time, call Toni. She’d never been a victim, but she remembered the silly, hurtful messages that had been written on restroom stalls about other girls. For a good time tonight, she hoped Wyatt called. The sooner, the better.

  WYATT PUT HIS HAND OVER her mouth as she screamed, pulsing light behind her closed eyes and intense pleasure infusing her whole body. She didn’t think it was the first time he’d had to quiet her, but her brain was so fuzzy and the night was so dark and she’d been so turned on by the time they got to his motel room that she wasn’t sure.

  She held him tight as he muffled his own pleasure against her neck and the pillow beneath her head. Just like old times, only better. How many times had they been forced to be quiet, to slip around in the dark, to be together in the most intimate sense of the word?

  Tonight, she hadn’t exactly slunk into his room, but they’d been discreet. He’d picked her up in his SUV. She’d left her truck in her driveway and kept a light on in the kitchen. They’d been quiet coming into the room. There was a couple or a family next door; Toni had heard the muffled sound of the television earlier.

  And then Wyatt had kissed her, and she’d forgotten where they were. Didn’t care who was around. Couldn’t even think clearly.

  Fortunately, he’d been aware enough to keep her from screaming, which probably would have prompted a 911 call from the room next door and lots of sirens in the parking lot. Thank you, Wyatt, for saving me from myself.

  “I have to move, but I don’t want to,” Wyatt murmured against her neck, sending a wave of goose bumps down her arms.

  “That was…incredible,” she whispered.

  “You always were a master of understatement,” he said, raising up on his forearms. “I’ll be right back.” Kissing her, he pulled away and rolled to his side. He breathed deeply, then groaned and sat on the side of the bed. She watched him walk into the bathroom, his skin bleached white by the light filtering through the silvery curtains.

  Suddenly she felt cold and very alone. She was covered in a fine sheen of perspiration, his scent and hers mingled together, and yet he wasn’t there, pressed against her, and she felt the loss nearly as much as if he’d walked out the motel-room door. She felt a premonition, as if she were watching him leave forever.

  Hey, babe, it’s been great, but I can’t stay. I’m feeling itchy, you know? Time to get back to my real life. You didn’t really expect me to stay in Brody’s Crossing, did you?

  Oh, God, she was in love with him. Deeply, fully and undoubtedly, when she’d told herself—no, she’d promised herself—she would not fall in love with Wyatt McCall again.

  She rolled away to stare at the window, not the bathroom, and pulled the sheet and satin comforter over her. Shivering, she tried to make sense of this sudden change in her life. Just a few weeks ago, she’d been perfectly grounded in her business and her political career. She’d known what she wanted, where she wanted to go and what she needed to do to get there.

  If she’d been a little lonely, well, that was the price she had to pay for being a public figure. And a businesswoman who couldn’t get too close to employees or suppliers. She couldn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. And if she had a difficult time meeting eligible bachelors, then that was worth it for the esteem of the people she cared about.

  Now, she felt lost. Falling in love was supposed to feel wonderful, but she wasn’t glowing with an inner fire. All she could think about was that Wyatt would leave her. Again. This time, as an adult, she wasn’t sure she could handle the loss as well as she had as a teenager. Back then, she’d gone away to college. Gotten out of the town where everyone knew almost every detail of Wyatt’s desertion. Had met new friends and immersed herself in studies.

  She was stuck here, and since so many people knew she and Wyatt had been dating, when he left they would also know he’d left her again.

  Poor Antonia Casale. Poor Toni. What had happened? I thought they were going to make it this time.

  No, she couldn’t stand to hear those comments or see the sympathy in their eyes.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, sliding back into bed and pulling her close. He felt so good, toned and tight, smooth in some places, hairy-rough in others. His chest was warm against her cold back, and only then did she realize she was shivering despite the comforter. “Did I hear you sniffle? Are you crying?”

  “No! No, I’m not crying. I guess I’m just…emotional. You know…aftermath and all that,” she hedged.

  “Oh, babe,” he said, pulling her tight. “Don’t cry.”

  “I’m not. I won’t,” she promised, knowing she’d violate that vow before morning’s light.

  “You were happy earlier.”

  “I know. You left me and I started thinking. And that’s not a good thing. I need you here beside me, Wyatt. Don’t go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Not yet, she thought, but you will.

  “Hold me,” she whispered. “Warm me.”

  “I will.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her flush against him. He rubbed his feet along her cold ones. “Do you want me to turn up the heat?”

  “As in the thermostat?”

  “Or whatever,” he said, kissing her shoulder.

  She was already in love with him. She was already here, worried about him leaving. They’d made love this time, not just had sex under the stars.

  “I choose whatever,” she whispered, and turned in his arms to kiss his lips and lose herself in his arms.

  ON THURSDAY, WYATT TALKED TONI into having lunch with him at Dewey’s. He got to the restaurant early to secure a private booth near the back, then sat with a glass of sweet tea to think about what had happened in the past two days. First, Leo had had the big brother talk with him, and then his parents had put pressure on him to settle down. And then, last night…He and Toni had only been apart since around four o’clock in the morning, but already he missed her like crazy.

  What did that mean, exactly? Something had happened last night, although he wasn’t sure what. Her earlier eagerness to be with him, her enthusiastic response to his kisses, had turned him on like never before. They’d made love last night, that much he knew. Did that mean that he was in love? Or that she was? Or that they were in love together?

  He didn’t know. He had no experience—as a grown man—with being in love. In the past fifteen years, he’d never told a woman he loved her. He knew that he’d loved Toni when they were teenagers. He’d loved her enough to leave her. He didn’t want to break her heart later, when she discovered he wasn’t husband material. He was still convinced that the clean break after high school had been best for both of them.

  But now…Now, he didn’t have the excuse of being too young, of having too many challenges ahead of him. He could write his own schedule, create whatever life he wanted. He might even be able to overcome his innate aversion to the M word. A hazy vision was beginning to form, in which he and Toni made their relationship work. Maybe they could even provide those grandchildren his parents wanted, although he wouldn’t bring children into the world just because the senior McCalls wanted them to fulfill their own needs.

  But the idea of a blond-haired little girl or a darker-haired mischievous little boy made him smile. Or maybe the roles would be reversed, and they’d get a hell-raising daughter and a studious, serious son. That was okay, too.

  “You’re in a good mood,” Toni said, sliding into the booth across from him.

  “You should come and sit by me, and I’ll let you know what I was thinking about.”

  “I have a very good idea what you’re thinking about, Wyatt McCall, and I’m not going to risk sitting by you while you try to talk me into anything.”

  “Would I do that?”

  “Of course you would.” Toni frowned. “Although, I have to admit, lately you’ve really been behaving yourself. Sometimes I think aliens have swooped down and replaced you with a kinder, gentler version of yourself.”

  “Hey, I was always kind.”

  Toni smiled. “That’s true. In any case, you’ve been a perfect gentleman in public, and for that I thank you.”

  “I can be good,” he said, giving her an exaggerated leer.

  “Oh, you’re very good,” she said in a husky voice. “But don’t get me started on that.”

  Wyatt chuckled. “Okay, your time is limited, so let’s order. I have something else I want to discuss.” He motioned for the waitress to come over.

  “Hi, Twila,” Toni greeted her. “I’ll have the chicken tenders salad with ranch, and iced tea.”

  “I’ll take the same,” Wyatt said, handing back the menus.

  “You’ve got it.”

  As soon as they were alone, Wyatt asked, “I’d like to plan something this weekend for the two of us, but I wasn’t sure if you could get away.”

  “A whole weekend would be tough. George Russell is having his annual party, where he invites the city council, city manager, police chief and everyone else he deems important, on Saturday night, and then on Sunday afternoon we have the VFW Christmas party.”

  “Hmm, more obligations. Okay, how about Friday night?”

  “I don’t think I have anything then, although I usually have dinner with my folks and Leo.”

  “Will you come to Granbury with me? I reserved a room at a bed-and-breakfast there. I know you used to talk about visiting one of those, but we were too young at the time to pass ourselves off as a…well, you know. A couple.”

  Toni fidgeted with her napkin, folding it into a precise triangle. “Yes, I know. A married couple is what you’re trying to say. And you’re right. We couldn’t have pulled that off way back then.”

  “Now I understand they’re not so rigid.”

  “I suppose.” She seemed withdrawn suddenly, as if talking about the past had upset her.

  “If you’d rather not, I understand.”

  “No, I think it’s a nice idea. We might as well do whatever we can while you’re here, and during the Christmas holidays I don’t have as many city council or department demands.”

  “I told you I wasn’t going anywhere. At least, not for a while and not for long.”

  “You certainly can’t live in the Sweet Dreams Motel forever, Wyatt. You have a home in California. You have your foundation, which I assume is important to you.”

  “It is! And I have been working on it. We’re in a situation right now where I’m waiting for all the permits to be approved, all the leases to be signed. My assistant is taking care of most of that in California, but I’m online for conferences regularly. The whole point of the foundation is so that kids realize they don’t have to act out to get noticed and they don’t have to do something potentially harmful because they’re bored. There are lots of smart kids who waste their potential because they don’t have anyone who understands them.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that I was questioning your motives or your commitment to the kids. I think what you’re doing is great. I’m just saying that your situation here seems temporary.”

  He sighed. What could he say? Toni was right about the facts, but she was still expecting him to get bored and leave. “I can guarantee that I won’t get tired of you or the town.”

  “Okay. I’m just saying—”

  “Just say that you want to go to the bed-and-breakfast with me. I think we’ll have a good time. You deserve to get away. We can play tourist. Stroll around the town square, shop for antiques I don’t like and you probably don’t need, and eat in those froufrou places women like.”

  Toni smiled, then laughed. “Okay, since you’ve made your request so charmingly, how can I refuse? What time do I need to be ready tomorrow?”

  “As early as possible in the afternoon.” This afternoon, he had plans to do some more shopping for something special in Dallas.

  TONI HAD A WONDERFUL TIME in Granbury, even though the four-poster canopy bed was a little short for Wyatt and the tiny sink in the bathroom was hard to negotiate when two people were getting ready at the same time.

  They strolled the festive streets of the town square after a breakfast of quiche, sweet rolls and warm fruit compote. They went into almost every shop, and Toni found several Christmas gifts, including something for Jennifer, Hailey and Tommy Jr. As they were debating where to have lunch, Wyatt got a call from James. His friend and Sandy wanted Wyatt and Toni to come out to the ranch that afternoon. Their Christmas presents had arrived and they were all thrilled. They wanted to have an ATV riding party.

  “What do you think, babe? Do we have time before you have to get ready for the Russell party tonight?”

  “We’d have to leave real soon to get back.” The drive to Brody’s Crossing would take a little more than an hour. Riding ATVs would mean being more adventurous than she’d been in years. She’d almost forgotten the excitement of heading up a hill or across a trail where you couldn’t see the other side. It was much like being with Wyatt—you never knew where you would end up. Could she share some of his daredevil ways?

  “If you want to stay and shop, I’ll tell him no.”

  Toni felt a wave of love roll through her. Wyatt was genuinely considerate. Kind, as he’d reminded her. That didn’t mean that he loved her or that they could be together forever. She held Wyatt’s arm and forced a smile. “No, I’d love to go out to the Brody ranch. Please, tell James that would be great.”

  They finished looking through a couple of shops on the street on their way back to his SUV. Wyatt bought her a wide-brimmed feather-adorned red hat that he said she needed for next year’s Settlers’ Stroll. She didn’t have the heart to tell him that was the type of hat worn by the ladies who met in restaurants and tearooms designed for the over-fifty club. He also found a yellow-striped cat Christmas ornament. For her tree, he told her, because that’s what his cat back in Carmel looked like, only the real Tiger was a lot rougher-looking. Wyatt was sure that she’d like his cat, although Toni didn’t understand how she would ever meet the feline, since they lived half a continent apart.

  Knowing Wyatt, he’d probably charter a jet to bring the cat to Texas, just to visit. Toni didn’t have pets. She didn’t have time, and besides, they tore up furniture and carpets. That’s what her mother had always claimed when Toni had wanted to bring a kitten or puppy home.

  “We’d better get on the road,” she said as they exited the store with more bags in hand. The weather was beautiful, in the sixties with little wind. “It’s a perfect day for riding.”

  Wyatt smiled as he looked into the bright blue sky, just a few fluffy white clouds drifting overhead. “On days like this, it seems as if nothing could ever go wrong.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Dressed in faded jeans, an old work jacket and leather gloves to protect her hands, Toni felt as unfashionable as possible as she climbed aboard one of the new ATVs Wyatt had bought. She hadn’t ridden one of these since high school, and she was sure it would feel odd to go tearing up the hill to the small mesa on the Brody ranch.

  Wyatt and James had taken a steep route and made it near the top. Sandy had stayed lower. Toni was taking another route, also not as steep.