Her Soldier of Fortune Page 7

  Nate had loved weekend mornings as a kid when his mom made huge stacks of pancakes. He and his brothers would polish off a half dozen each after their morning chores. They didn’t make nearly as many now, but EJ was thrilled to pull up a chair in front of the stove and use the wide spatula to flip the pancakes. Nate washed and plated the blueberries Bianca had bought at the grocery store then poured a glass of juice. He didn’t bother with coffee. Her first morning on the ranch Bianca had confirmed that his coffee was unpalatable. She’d quickly mastered Ariana’s fancy coffee maker and had made him promise that he’d let her handle their morning caffeine.

  It was such a little thing, but it felt like they were on the same team. Nate found that idea strangely appealing.

  They put everything for breakfast on a tray then headed upstairs. Nate knocked softly on the bedroom door, but EJ just pushed it open.

  “We made breakfast, Mommy,” he shouted.

  Bianca was already awake, sitting up against the pillows, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail and a notebook propped in her lap.

  She gave her son a brilliant smile. “This is a special treat. What’s the occasion?”

  “Mr. Nate said real men cook.” EJ took the tray from Nate and carried it to the bed.

  Nate sucked in a breath as Bianca’s gaze lifted to his. She looked so fresh and happy, and an adorable blush colored her cheeks when he winked.

  “Mr. Nate is a smart man,” she murmured. She put aside the notebook and took the tray from EJ. “I love pancakes. Thank you both.”

  She was wearing an oversize, shapeless scoop-neck T-shirt that was about the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Maybe because she looked relaxed and a little bit rumpled, and he could easily imagine a night spent with his body curled around hers.

  He stayed in the doorway, afraid all his willpower would disappear if he stepped any closer. She took a bite of the pancakes, closed her eyes and then smiled as she chewed.

  “They’re perfect,” she said, forking up a bite and holding it out to EJ.

  “I flipped ’em,” the boy reported.

  “You did a good job.” She brushed the hair away from his face, and Nate’s heart clenched. He couldn’t get enough of Bianca and the love she had for her son. She was exactly the type of woman he would have never chosen for himself. He usually went for the party girls, the ones who wanted a good time and expected nothing more.

  No expectations meant nobody got hurt.

  But Bianca made him crave more, a different life than the one he’d grown accustomed to. He wanted to be the kind of man she deserved, but could he trust he wouldn’t fail her the way he had Eddie? Despite having Earl Thompson as a role model, Nate was still Gerald Robinson’s son. What if he took after his dad and hurt the people who cared about him the most?

  There was no doubt Gerald had broken Deborah’s heart, and Bianca had already had one man desert her. She needed someone who could truly commit to her and EJ. As much as Nate wanted to, he wasn’t sure if he had it in him to be that guy.

  “What are you working on?” he asked when she glanced toward him again. It was a struggle to do anything except stare at her like a googly-eyed teenager, but despite the amazing kiss they’d shared, Bianca wanted to take things slow. She considered him a friend. He needed to act like one to her. He owed it to Eddie.

  She bit down on her bottom lip, looking almost embarrassed. “It’s nothing.”

  “I don’t believe that for a minute.”

  “It’s the start of a business plan,” she said, dropping her gaze to the plate in front of her. “Just an initial inventory list and some ideas for how to market the care packages and gift boxes.”

  “That’s fantastic,” he said, and was rewarded by one of her sweet smiles.

  “You don’t have to say that. It’s probably a silly idea in the first place.”

  “It’s a great idea, and good for you for making a plan. You’ll be back on your feet in no time, and you won’t need me anymore.”

  Something flashed in her brown eyes that looked like disappointment, but it was gone a second later. She took another quick bite of pancake, then set the tray aside and threw back the covers. “Hopefully we’ll be out of your hair sooner than later.”

  “That’s not what I meant.” All the warmth he’d felt from her minutes earlier had disappeared. He wanted to kick himself for his careless words. The last thing he wanted was for Bianca and EJ to leave, not when they’d already made such a difference in his life.

  How could he explain that without sounding like a wuss? He was supposed to be a big, strong navy SEAL, not a broken man who was no longer sure of his purpose in life.

  “Have you already been helping Mr. Nate with chores?” Bianca asked EJ as she stood.

  “Yep,” her son confirmed. “We fed the horses and the chickens. After breakfast we’re going to fix the gate behind the shed. It needs new hinges.”

  She wore a pair of pajama pants with a pattern of rubber ducks all over. She was medium height but had a delicate bone structure that made her seem younger than twenty-eight. He had to remind himself she was nine years younger than him. And his best friend’s little sister.

  Nate sighed. As amazing as their kiss had been, he needed to keep Bianca at arm’s length. He had no reason to ask her to stay once she’d gotten her life back on track. Despite the setbacks she’d obviously faced, it was also clear she hadn’t lost her sense of hope or her willingness to work hard and try new things.

  “Can I join you?” She reached behind her head and pulled out the ponytail holder, her dark hair falling over her shoulders and making his mouth go dry.

  He should say no. He should walk away, put some sort of distance between them. Instead he found himself nodding. “It’s not easy work.”

  “I’m good with that,” she assured him.

  “Meet me at the barn in twenty minutes.” He moved forward and picked up the tray from the bed. “I’ll take this downstairs.”

  “I can do it,” she told him, her fingers brushing his as she reached for the tray.

  He ignored the sparks that raced along his skin and gave EJ a pointed look. “A real man also cleans up the dishes.”

  The boy nodded and picked up the juice cup Bianca had set on her nightstand. “I’m a real man, Mommy.”

  “My best man,” she murmured. She met Nate’s gaze again, the tenderness in her brown eyes almost bringing him to his knees. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He nodded. “Let’s go, little man,” he told EJ, and the boy followed him out of the room.

  Chapter Seven

  The following week Bianca drove into Paseo to pick up the boxes of supplies she’d ordered to start on her stock for military care packages and birthday boxes. The post office was also housed in the general store, so she’d had the packages delivered to town because it seemed quicker than trying to find a delivery driver willing to make the trek out to the Fortune ranch.

  Rosa, who owned most of the businesses in town, asked her to open several of the packages then immediately placed an order for two gift boxes for her daughters, who both had birthdays in February.

  “They’ll feel so special.” Rosa clasped her hands in front of her ample chest. She was short with generous curves and a bright smile. “I’ve gotten into the habit of sending gift cards because it’s so easy, but I love giving them something personal.”

  “I appreciate the business,” Bianca told her honestly. “I can’t help but wonder if people will see the point of them. Nothing I offer is extravagant—”

  “But you make it look so beautiful,” Rosa interrupted. “You have an eye for color and design.”

  Susan from the library had stopped into the post office while Bianca was still there. Both of the older women oohed and aahed over the photos Bianca had saved on her camera of the gift boxes she’d put together for the store in
San Antonio.

  “Thanks.” Bianca couldn’t hide her grin. She was excited to start putting together the boxes. She’d used the internet at the library to go online and set up an Etsy page and a website for her business, which she was calling “Just the Two of Us Designs.” She already had a half dozen preorders. It was hard to believe that only a short time ago she’d left San Antonio with no idea what she was going to do with her life. Now she was a small business owner and part-time ranch hand.

  She glanced at her watch. “Oh, no. It’s almost noon. I told Nate and EJ I’d make lunch and I promised that EJ could start horseback riding lessons this afternoon.”

  Susan laughed. “Just make sure it’s Nate teaching him and not Grayson. Otherwise your son will be bronco riding by the time he starts kindergarten.”

  Bianca felt her eyes widen. “No way. I’m nervous enough to let him be led around the corral.”

  “Nate will take care of him,” Rosa said matter-of-factly.

  “I know,” Bianca agreed softly. Rosa gave her a calculated look, but before the women could ask any questions about Bianca’s relationship with Nate, she picked up her stack of boxes and walked out into the bright Texas sunshine.

  It wasn’t exactly a surprise that everyone she’d met on her regular trips to town knew Nate and his family. Paseo was a tiny, close-knit community. Bianca hadn’t been in the area long, but already most of the people she encountered greeted her by name. So different from San Antonio, where the barista at the neighborhood coffee shop she’d frequented for almost two years still got her name wrong almost every day.

  Brittany. Bethany. Becky. But never Bianca.

  Two weeks in Paseo and she was a regular.

  She realized people were curious about how she knew Nate and why she and EJ were staying at the ranch while the rest of the family was away. Bianca doggedly continued with the “family friend” line, unwilling to share any more than that when she barely understood her feelings for Nate.

  All she knew was she wanted him to kiss her again, but somehow she’d been relegated back to the realm of “Eddie’s little sister.” Nate was careful to keep his distance, especially at night after EJ had gone to bed. She tried not to let it hurt her feelings, but the longer she spent with Nate, the harder she fell for him.

  She’d gotten so desperate for his company, she’d even made herself into a morning person. Waking before sunrise wasn’t in her nature, but a person could train themselves to do anything with the right motivation.

  Nate Fortune was it for her.

  He’d been surprised the first day she’d stumbled down to the kitchen and offered to make breakfast while he and EJ handled the early morning chores. But now it was a routine, and she’d come to enjoy that quiet time in the kitchen with the scent of coffee filling the air.

  She enjoyed everything about her time at the ranch, other than Nate’s refusal to admit he felt more for her than physical attraction. Sometimes, though, when they were in the barn or driving down the dirt road that led to the far end of the property, she’d catch him staring at her like she was a hot-fudge sundae and he’d been without dessert for months. It had to be only a matter of time until he kissed her. She’d told herself she would wait for him to make the next move, but it was difficult to be patient.

  Still, she was happier in Paseo than she’d been in years. It was more than Nate. There was a sense of community she hadn’t realized was missing in her life. The rolling hills and wide pastures gave her a feeling of being grounded to the earth and somehow a better understanding of her place in it. She loved watching the open sky above her as she drove. It was a welcome change from the constant traffic of her San Antonio neighborhood.

  Here she could sometimes drive the whole way from town to the ranch without passing another car. And when she did, whoever was driving the approaching vehicle would undoubtedly offer her a friendly wave.

  But today, when she pulled into the long driveway, there was an unfamiliar truck parked in front of the barn. EJ burst out the front door and came running toward her car before she’d even turned off the ignition.

  “Sugar’s here, Mommy!” he shouted as she opened the door. “And Jayden and Ariana. And Mr. Nate bought me a pony.”

  “He didn’t,” she whispered.

  “I didn’t buy the pony,” Nate called from the front porch as if he’d read her lips. She heard a deep laugh come from the direction of the barn. A man who was the spitting image of Nate, but somehow totally different, walked toward her.

  “You must be Bianca,” he said, pulling off a faded leather glove. “I’m Jayden.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she said automatically, relieved her voice didn’t falter. She knew Jayden and his wife would be returning to the ranch, but somehow she’d put the thought out of her mind. This place had begun to feel like home, like it belonged to Nate and her and EJ.

  But it wasn’t hers, and Nate didn’t belong to her. She was the outsider here, as she’d been in every other part of her life. What if Ariana resented a woman other than the triplets’ mother being at the ranch? What if neither Jayden nor Ariana could deal with EJ’s exuberance the way Nate did?

  Bianca prided herself on her resilience—on being able to keep a positive attitude no matter what life threw at her. No one other than Eddie had made her feel valued, so she’d learned early on to value herself. But recently, life’s disappointments and misfortunes—both big and trivial—had worn her down until it felt like she was made of tissue paper, easily crumpled, torn and tossed aside.

  “The pony’s name is Twix.” EJ tugged on her pant leg. “Mr. Nate says he’s the perfect size for me.” He looked up at Jayden. “Can I go get Sugar so Mommy can meet her?”

  “You bet.” Jayden chuckled as EJ took off for the house. “I’m guessing my brother didn’t clear the pony with you?”

  Bianca pressed her lips together. “No.”

  “I didn’t plan it,” Nate said behind her. She turned to find him standing closer than he’d been to her all week. He was giving her an aw-shucks smile she could imagine had gotten him out of all sorts of trouble when he was younger. “I was over at the Caplans’ today and they’d gotten Twix when their grandson came to stay for Christmas. The kid won’t be back until spring break, so the pony’s on loan until then.” He lifted his hands, palms out. “I didn’t buy EJ a pony.”

  “Close enough,” Jayden said with a smug grin.

  “Not helping,” a feminine voice called.

  They all turned as a woman walked from the barn, looking both completely out of place on this ranch in the middle of nowhere and utterly like she belonged. She had long dark hair that looked Hollywood A-list shiny and wore a printed shirtdress and the cutest pair of red boots Bianca had ever seen.

  Bianca smoothed a self-conscious hand over the front of her faded shirt. She didn’t own much in the way of clothes. The day before leaving San Antonio, she’d brought everything decent she had to a local resale shop that bought items outright for a pittance of what they were worth. That left her with jeans, yoga pants, a handful of well-worn T-shirts and a couple of floral-patterned blouses she hadn’t been willing to part with because they were her favorites.

  She felt shabby in comparison to this woman who she assumed was Jayden’s wife, Ariana. Why hadn’t she at least taken the time to brush out her hair this morning? Instead, she’d pulled it back into a messy bun, her usual nonstylish style. She’d never considered how much she’d stopped caring about her appearance once she became a mom. Maybe that was part of the reason Nate had backed off. He probably preferred women who were beautiful and pulled together. Women like Ariana.

  She didn’t realize she’d stepped back until she felt the soft pressure of Nate’s warm hand against the small of her back.

  “You’re perfect,” he whispered, and she was once again amazed at how easily he was able to read her.

  “I
’m a mess,” she said under her breath.

  “Perfect,” he repeated and moved his hand to the collar of her shirt. Her neck was exposed because of the bun, and his thumb gently grazed her skin.

  Bianca felt a blush heat her cheeks as her stomach dipped and swirled at his touch. She glanced over to see Jayden watching the two of them, his gaze assessing.

  She sidestepped Nate and moved forward to greet Ariana. Instead of taking Bianca’s outstretched hand, the other woman enveloped her in a tight hug.

  “I’m so happy to meet you,” she said, squeezing Bianca’s shoulders. “Nate told us all about you. EJ is adorable. I’m so sorry about your brother.”

  “Thank you,” Bianca said, slightly overwhelmed at Ariana’s warmth. “Congratulations on getting married.”

  “Thanks.” Ariana grinned. “I guess we’re still officially newlyweds. Our honeymoon was spent traveling around the state for research on my new book, so it kind of feels like we’ve been married forever.”

  “You’re definitely stuck with me forever,” Jayden said, slipping an arm around Ariana’s waist and pulling her closer.

  “I’m a lucky girl.” Ariana tipped up her face and kissed her husband’s cheek. She looked at Bianca again. “We’re glad your stay coincides with our visit home.”

  Jayden nodded. “I only met Eddie a couple of times, but he was a good guy. And he had my brother’s back for a lot of years, so we’ll always be grateful.”

  “It goes both ways,” Bianca answered, glancing over her shoulder. “Nate was the brother Eddie always wanted.”

  Something shifted in the air as Nate looked past her to Jayden—a silent communication between the brothers Bianca didn’t understand. But she knew it had to do with Eddie, and that made her intensely curious.

  “Deborah will be sad she didn’t get a chance to meet EJ,” Ariana said into the uncomfortable silence. “She loves kids.”

  “Hard to believe,” Jayden said with a smile, “after dealing with us for so many years.”