The Cowboy's Lullaby

Mercy. At any moment he expected to hear music in the background and Roy Orbison break out in song at the sight of her.

Hands down, Chloe was a hell of a pretty woman.

And too damn sexy for words.

“Please have a seat,” Willoughby said.

“Thank you.” She moved toward the chair next to Jake with the grace of a dancer, her eyes glimmering with sexual confidence.

Jake might have braced himself for a fight, but he hadn’t realized he’d have to buck his libido, too.

Interestingly, Willoughby didn’t seem to be the least bit fazed by her. And why was that?

Jake supposed it was because Desiree had always carried herself in a similar manner, and her attorney had grown used to it.

Well, Jake wouldn’t get used to it. Looking at Chloe all dolled up like that left him a bit unbalanced. And he didn’t like having the urge to stare.

Fortunately, Willoughby got them all back on track by reading the will. And per Desiree’s wishes, the estate was split between Jake and Brianna, which Jake didn’t have a problem with. But Desiree had appointed Chloe to look after Brianna’s holdings and her best interests until she was of age.

What kind of ogre had Desiree thought he was?

Jake would never put his own interests ahead of his sister’s, so his stepmother’s distrust cut him to the quick.

Chloe shifted in her seat, drawing his attention, then crossed a leg over her knee, flashing a lovely stretch of thigh. “What about custody of Brianna?”

Jake tore his gaze away from the sexy redhead and focused on the attorney. Chloe had only been granted temporary custody. Surely, Desiree knew the best person to have permanent custody was Jake.

“Desiree appointed you two as joint guardians,” Willoughby said.

“Excuse me?” Jake gripped the armrests of his leather seat. “That’s crazy. Desiree couldn’t have been in her right mind when she drew up that document. How in blazes can two people living in different states share custody of a child who will start kindergarten in the fall?”

“Let me read the letter she wrote, giving the details of her wishes.” Willoughby sorted through the pages before him, found what he was looking for and cleared his throat:

“Dear Jake and Chloe,

I’ve been dealt a crappy hand, but I’ll play it out to the end. I know this may be a bit out of the ordinary, but I hope you’ll understand where I’m coming from.

Brianna has lost her father and now me. No child should have to go through that, but I’ve tried to prepare her the best I can. Now it’s up to you. I know that you both love her. And interestingly enough, I believe that having the two of you share custody will be best for her. Jake, you favor your father in more ways than looks. And Chloe, you’re a lot like me. I’m hopeful that Brianna will be comforted by that.

I’m asking you to live together as a family at the ranch for six weeks. At the end of that time, I’d like you both to come to an agreement on how to make shared custody work.”

What? No way.

Jake wasn’t about to stay in the same house with a sexy redheaded bombshell who seemed to get off on taunting a man.

Willoughby continued to read:

“I realize you both are established in separate states, but maybe Brianna can spend the school year in Bayside and summer vacations, holidays and some weekends on the ranch. Either way, I know you both love her. And I expect you to learn to accept each other and become friends for Brianna’s sake.”

“A request like that can’t be legally binding,” Jake said.

“You’re right.” Willoughby placed the letter on his desk, then folded his hands over the handwritten note. “You don’t have to abide by her wishes, but she hoped you would agree for Brianna’s sake. It was Desiree’s sole desire to ease her daughter’s loss and help her to adjust to life without her parents. In fact, that’s why Brianna has been seeing a child psychologist in town for weekly visits, something Desiree also hoped you two will continue for a while.”

“Desiree explained her wishes to me weeks ago,” Chloe said. “And as difficult as it will be for me to remain in Texas, I promised her I would do so.”

“Well, she didn’t say squat to me,” Jake snapped. “I didn’t even know she had cancer. Or that she was dying.”

“Jake,” Willoughby said, “what’s done is done. But if Desiree told me once, she told me a dozen times. She wished the two of you had been closer.”

Jake raked a hand through his hair. Okay, so he’d been a bit…hardheaded. What would it have hurt to be…well, not friends, but…

He blew out a sigh. He should have taken the olive branch she’d tried to give him, but it was too damn late to do anything about it now. Either way, he wasn’t going to reveal his regret here. Or anywhere, for that matter.

“Desiree also asked that you return here in six weeks with your decision,” Willoughby added. “And, at that time, if you can’t agree, a preappointed third party is to evaluate the relationship between the child and each adult and determine who should be granted full custody, with fair visitation given to the other.”

“Who is the third party?” Jake asked.

“Desiree asked that the identity be kept secret so that there was no chance of influencing the decision. Of course, Mrs. Braddock was hopeful that it wouldn’t come to that.”

Jake suspected the psychologist was the person who would make the ultimate decision on custody. It only made sense. And, that being the case, maybe Jake ought to volunteer to take Brianna to her appointments so he could share his concerns with the doctor about Chloe’s ability to parent.

Willoughby reached into a manila envelope, withdrew something small and handed it to Chloe. “Here’s the key to the ranch.”

A chill hunkered over Jake, as he watched his father’s memories and essence be given to a stranger—at least, symbolically.

And what about Brianna?

Who would make sure she was okay during all of this?

Damn.

As it was, he had no choice but to agree with his stepmother’s foolish request to move back to the ranch temporarily. If they were all together, it would be easier for Jake to look out for Brianna’s best interests and make sure she was treated well.

And if she wasn’t?

Then he’d have firsthand evidence for the custody battle he would wage when Desiree’s fantasy family failed.

Chapter Three

The next morning Jake packed his bags, then threw them in the back of his Lincoln Navigator and headed for the ranch.

During the entire one-hour-and-fifteen-minute drive out of the city, he utilized his cell phone, informing his office staff and rescheduling as many meetings as possible. He’d do what he could from a distance, but there would be days when he’d have no choice but to make the trek back to Dallas.

Damn. His life would be out of whack for six long weeks.

Desiree had surely been out of her ever-loving mind when she’d cooked up this scheme. Not that he wouldn’t have put his life on hold indefinitely for Brianna or done whatever it took to make sure she adjusted to her loss. But he couldn’t figure out why Desiree had thrown Chloe into the mix. It hadn’t been necessary—unless this was some lame attempt to punish Jake. Of course, if she’d known how much he now regretted not coming around more often, she wouldn’t have bothered. His conscience would be punishing him for a long time to come.

Up ahead he spotted the entrance to the ranch and turned on his left blinker. Then he swung into the tree-lined, graveled drive and continued to the house.