The Cowboy's Lullaby

He expected her to continue with one of those standard remarks, something about it being a pleasure to finally meet him. But since she didn’t utter anything more, he wasn’t sure what she’d heard about him.

In his attempt to distance himself from his stepmother, he’d neglected to consider what Desiree might think of him, what she might confide in her friends.

Not that it really mattered, he supposed.

Chloe shifted her weight and placed a hand on a shapely hip. He tried to read her body language, but his gaze merely locked on an impish spark in those green eyes, the hint of a pair of dimples, the fullness of her lips.

“Since we have an appointment in Dallas on Friday,” she said, “it’s a bit of a surprise to see you in California.”

“I realize that, but I wanted to see my sister. I think it’s best if she has family near her right now.”

“Chloe’s my family, too,” Brianna said. “Mommy told me. They’re the same as sisters.”

“Oh, yeah?” Jake responded, sensing the showdown to come and prepared for it.

Yet when he glanced at Brianna, at the smile she wore, he realized this wasn’t the time or place for a confrontation. Maybe he’d better tread easy, make nice. Lay on the charm until he could take Brianna home, then let the attorneys fight it out.

Brianna tapped him on the shoulder. “Could you please put me down? I lost my shoe.”

He placed her on the ground, and she half hopped, half walked to get her missing pink flip-flop.

His full attention returned to Chloe, even though her presence had been nearly overwhelming once she’d come on scene.

“I have temporary custody of Brianna,” she said, “until we meet in Dallas.”

“Okay. But you’ll have to forgive me for being concerned about her. All of this came as quite a shock.”

Chloe crossed her arms under her breasts, causing them to swell before his eyes.

Didn’t she have some kind of cover-up to wear?

He fingered the collar of his crisp white shirt and adjusted the knot of his tie. According to the weather report, it wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near as warm in Bayside as it had been in Dallas, but it seemed as though he’d brought the heat and humidity with him.

“Brianna is doing as well as can be expected,” Chloe said. “Desiree tried hard to prepare her.”

“How can you prepare a five-year-old for something like death?”

“It’s difficult for anyone, I suppose.” Her voice was soft, laced with something. Grief? Compassion?

Whether it was sincere or not, he couldn’t say. “I’m sure you can understand why I wanted to come and check on her. And why I want to take her home.”

“She is home.”

Before he could object, Brianna ran back and grabbed one of each of their hands. “Are you going to spend the night with us? We’re having brownies for dinner. Chloe and I made them all by ourselves.”

“I, uh…” He glanced at Chloe, feeling as awkward as an adolescent on hormone overdrive.

“It would be nice if you stayed for dinner with us,” she said. “But from what I understand, you’re a very busy man. So maybe we ought to take a rain check. Brianna and I will be flying to Dallas on Thursday evening and will be staying for a while. You can spend some time with her then.”

She’d welcomed him to dinner politely, then blew him off at the same time, making it clear that she wasn’t going to allow him to take Brianna without him making a scene—something he wasn’t about to do.

Not if it caused Brianna any unnecessary sadness. She’d had far too much already.

“Maybe we can go to Buckaroo Roundup for dinner on Friday night,” he told the child.

She brightened. “That will be so fun. I like to ride the pony in the game room. Will you get me a bunch of tokens?”

“You bet.” A grin tweaked his lips. Score one for the home team. He’d make up for lost time as soon as they got back on his turf. Maybe he’d have to throw in a visit to the toy store, too. There was a lot he needed to make right.

In his attempt to avoid Brianna’s mother, he’d inadvertently steered clear of his little sister, too. And he regretted it. Especially now.

“You’ll like Buckaroo Roundup, too,” Brianna told Chloe. “They have ponies and other rides in the back room.”

His gaze locked on Chloe’s, and he sensed a don’t-underestimate-me vibe.

He wouldn’t. But she’d better not underestimate him, either. If she messed with the bull, she’d have to watch for the horns.

It was out of character for him to step down from a fight, to fly all the way to California, then leave without taking Brianna with him. But he didn’t want the little girl to sense the power struggle brewing. He’d just bide his time—until Friday.

So he tossed his adversary a what-the-hell grin. “I’ll see you in a couple of days, then.”

Jake might have lost this minor skirmish, but he was determined to win the war.

And win custody of his sister.

After all, Chloe shouldn’t be looking after—or influencing—a little girl.

What kind of woman wore a bikini to the park and fed brownies to a child for dinner, anyway?

As he strode toward the rental car he’d parked near the entrance of the condominium complex, he fought the urge to take another look at his pretty opponent. She had an attractive face and a dynamite body, but he doubted she had one maternal bone in her.

He just hoped she didn’t have much fight in her, either. He planned to put a stop to this foolish custody thing by the end of the week.

In spite of his determination to climb into his vehicle and not look back, curiosity won out, and he turned, only to find her eyes locked on him.

He tipped his head, acknowledging her. And in return, she lifted her hand and fluttered her fingers in a wave. Then she crossed her arms, causing her breasts to stretch the limits of that bikini top.

The summer breeze blew a corkscrew strand of red hair across her face and she swiped it away.

He couldn’t deny that looking at her caused his hormones to pump or his blood to heat. Heck, she’d have that effect on any man, he supposed.

But Jake had learned to control his impulses.

His old man might have fallen gray-head-overboot heels for a topless dancer, but Jake had more sense than that.

Still he had to tear his gaze away from her and force himself to head for his car.

On Friday, at a quarter to twelve, Chloe and Brianna sat at a table in the restaurant of the Dallas hotel in which they’d stayed last night, waiting for Mrs. Davies to arrive.