LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Mommy,” Lily called to her with a wide smile. “This is Jared.”

      Mommy. Jared’s gut constricted, making his breathing tight. This little girl was Ava’s…child? The word cut deep, as did the idea that Ava had been touched by anyone but him. Although he knew she’d been married, he’d ripped the knowledge from his mind. Didn’t want to think of her with another man. But here it was right in the face, proof-positive.

      “I know who he is, Lil,” Ava said at last, her green eyes fastened on him, questioning him. Why was he here and when was he going to leave? they seemed to ask.

      About twenty minutes ago, he’d been tearing down Route 15, all fired up, ready to ask some questions, ready to do battle with the woman who held all the answers. But this little girl had stopped him, quelled his ire and charmed the socks off him as her mother had done so many times in the past.

      Like Ava was doing right now, just standing there on the grass, watching him, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. He cursed silently as all thoughts in his head disintegrated while his gaze traveled over every inch of her. The pink satin potato sack she’d been wearing earlier was gone and in its place was the reminder of how luscious her body had been and still was. His groin tightened. White shorts, white T-shirt and chunky sandals. Long, tanned legs, high, full breasts and toes painted the color of his saddle.

      Jared wanted only to be angry, feel the rage he’d been holding inside for so long, but this woman had a power over him. The sun pierced through the slats in the overhang like torrents of golden rain, backlighting Ava. Complete with a halo of blond locks, she looked like an angel. Too beautiful to behold. Well, too beautiful for him to hold.

      Jared turned to Lily. “Your mom and I used to know each other.”

      Lily looked wide-eyed at her mother.

      Ava smiled, then she glanced back at Jared. “Did you change your mind about coming to the wedding—”

      “Not exactly.” He eased off his Stetson and wiped his brow. This was not going as planned. One thing was certain, he thought as he looked at the two of them. He sure as hell wasn’t going to interrogate Ava with her daughter around. It would have to be another time, another day.

      Mother and daughter, he thought as he watched them sit down on the grass side by side, then start methodically picking blades of grass, discarding them. Why in the world hadn’t he thought about the possibility of a child? What a fool he was. She’d left Paradise to get married. And children were a natural progression in a marriage.

      “When can I come see the horsies?” Lily asked, forcing Jared back into the present.

      Jared smiled. “You’re welcome at my place anytime.”

      “Now?”

      “No, Lil,” Ava said quickly. “We’re about to have dinner.”

      Undaunted, Lily said, “Tomorrow?”

      Ava shook her head. “No. We…have plans.”

      She sounded utterly panicked, Jared noticed. Hell, she looked panicked. Obviously she didn’t want him around her child. What did she think he was going to do?

      His jaw tightened.

      They’d talked about children once. The first night they’d made love. Late into the night in the small tack shed he’d fixed up to look romantic. They’d talked about everything: their future, being together, kids. Then he’d pulled her close, kissed her hungrily and made love to her again. Jared shook the images of wet skin and heated mouths out of his head. He wasn’t here to reminisce. She owed him an explanation and tomorrow would be the perfect time to get it. Muna could take Lily to see the horses and he and Ava could talk.

      “What are we doing, Mommy?” Lily asked.

      Ava startled. “When?”

      “Tomorrow.” Jared supplied dryly.

      “Oh. Well, I thought I’d take you to the movies. That cartoon you wanted to see is playing.”

      “No,” Lily said, her brows drawing together. “I wanna see Jared’s horsies. One’s gonna have a baby.”

      Ava tucked a stray hair behind Lily’s ear. “Jared’s a very busy man, sweetie.”

      In other words, Jared thought, she thought he should be leaving, getting back to that busy life and getting out of here. Fine, he’d give her what she wanted and be on his way. But not without a promise for tomorrow.

      “I wanna help him with the baby horsie, Mommy.”

      “Oh, Lil. He doesn’t do that himself. He hires a vet to—”

      “Actually I do help in the birth,” Jared interrupted.

      Ava’s brows rose considerably. “You do?”

      “Don’t sound so surprised,” he said tightly. “I am good for more than asset allocation and stock portfolios. I was pretty handy on a ranch once upon a time.”

      Ava felt like crawling beneath the blades of grass that fluttered in the breeze under her hand. She hadn’t said one sane word since she’d seen him and Lily together. She amended, “I know you are. I didn’t mean that. I just never knew that you helped with foaling, that’s all.”

      “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Ava.” He jammed his hat back on his head. “And there’s a lot I don’t know about you.”

      The thin shelter of grass was far too open a place to hide, she thought. She scanned the ground, ashamed of those kinds of thoughts. She knew better than anyone that running away never solved a thing. Was she going to run forever? Was she ever going to stop, take a deep breath and face life?

      Admittedly, facing life, past and future was partly why she’d come back to Paradise. She looked up into Jared’s severe but magnetic gaze and found no shelter, no safe place to fall, only a deep yearning and seething anger.

      At that moment, Lily jumped to her feet in a fit of spirit. “You can help us, too, Mommy.”

      “Listen, Lil, I never said—”

      The little girl put her hands on her hips. “C’mon, peas?”

      Saying no to the word “peas” was near to impossible.

      “First things first,” Jared said to Lily. “Why don’t you two just come by tomorrow, then we’ll see about helping with the foaling.” He nodded at Ava. “My house at noon? Can’t miss the place. Out the highway, then a right at Wes Lamb’s place and down a few miles.”

      Ava opened her mouth to speak, then closed it as she shook her head. “I know you’re really busy with your work. We can—”

      “There’s a lot to catch up on.” He arched a brow at her. “I’ll make the time.”

      “See, Mommy. He said he makes time.”

      Yes, he did, Ava thought, frustration setting in for the second time that day. She knew now that he wasn’t here to get an invitation to Rita’s wedding. He’d come here for answers. But Lily’s presence, her existence, had thrown him, so he was pushing for tomorrow when he could get her alone. The thought unnerved Ava in ways she didn’t want to explore.

      “Can I pet the horsies, Jared?” Lily asked, her eyes dancing.

      “I don’t see why not.” He gave her an easy smile. “It’ll be good for them to see a pretty face after looking at the ranch hands’ ugly mugs day in and day out.”

      Lily looked at her mother. “Mommy? Peas…”

      Jared tipped his Stetson back. “Ava?”

      It was a challenge—and one she knew she shouldn’t back down from.

      The unrelenting heat from the sun burned through her clothes. And no cool breeze was sent to rescue her. She felt herself nod.

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