Karen Booth – Secret Twins For The Texan (страница 2)

“Of course I know who you mean.” Cole strode over to his brother and folded his arms across his chest. “Back or just visiting?” He hadn’t seen Dani in nearly six years. That time had helped dull some of the sting of their breakup, but he lived with the reason for it every day. It was sitting inside his brain, just waiting to kill him.

Sam took a quick swig of his beer. It was the last bottle of Cole’s favorite IPA. He never should’ve been so generous as to offer his brother a drink. “From what I heard, she’s back. She’s working as head chef at the Glass House over at the Bellamy.”

“Not surprising.” By all accounts, Dani had been wildly successful in New York. So much so that Cole was shocked she’d ever return. What job could be so enticing as to make her step off a big stage onto the decidedly smaller one in Royal?

“I just thought you would want to know. In case you want to look her up. Or something.” Sam shrugged. “I don’t know if she’s still single, but you are. And I know one thing for sure—you were a hell of a lot more fun when you were with Dani.”

“Hey. That’s not fair.”

“It’s the truth.”

Cole didn’t bother disguising his grumble. “I know better than to go barking up that particular tree. Dani would rather choke me than talk to me.”

“Can you blame her? You broke her heart, Cole.”

“I had my reasons. You know that better than anyone.”

“And six years later, you’re still alive while the woman you used to be madly in love with has just moved back to town. Maybe I’m nudging you in the right direction.”

Cole shook his head. “I don’t need nudging, but thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“That’s it?” Sam got up from his bar stool and knocked back the rest of his beer, tossing the bottle in the recycling bin.

“The Dani chapter of my life is closed. She moved on and so have I.” That wasn’t entirely true. He still thought about her, more than he would ever admit out loud. Sometimes he even had dreams about their immediate and sizzling connection. Visions of Dani beckoning him to bed, her silky dark hair cascading over his crisp white sheets, still haunted him. Memories of making love with her were unforgettable—her luscious curves fit too perfectly in his hands to ever erase them from his mind. But she wasn’t meant for him, and there was nothing he could do about that.

“You moved on to more work than is reasonable for one person to do.”

“I gotta stay busy, Sam. It’s the only way I know.” Cole didn’t need the money he earned from having two careers. Not by a long shot. But he did need to stay occupied. It was the only thing that kept him sane.

“You don’t think Dani will come looking for you?”

“Are you kidding me? The woman packed up every one of her worldly belongings and moved halfway across the country three days after I broke it off. That’s how far she’s willing to go to get away from me.” Cole’s stomach rumbled. He stalked to the far side of the kitchen and pulled out a cast-iron pan for his steak. “My guess is that Dani will avoid me like the plague while she’s here.”

“You think you know her that well?”

“I do.”

“And you don’t want to reach out to her and tell her what happened?”

“No. I don’t.”

Sam shot Cole that look of pity that he absolutely hated. If he didn’t love his brother so much, he might be tempted to knock that look right off his face. “You are a sad case, Cole Sullivan.”

“That’s life. The sooner you get used to it, the better.”

* * *

Whether she liked it or not—and she didn’t like it at all—Danica Moore could not live in Royal, Texas, and avoid Cole Sullivan forever. She was going to run into him and his handsome face at some point, and it would be ridiculously hard not to slap him. Just imagining the sting of her palm when it struck his chiseled jaw brought a bit of satisfaction, but not enough to undo the pain Cole had caused her. A lifetime of face slaps could not erase that.

Running into Cole’s parents or one of his two brothers, Sam and Kane, was just as likely. The superwealthy Sullivans were as ubiquitous in this town as the sun was fierce in July. Dani was eager to avoid any surprise run-ins—too much dredging up of painful memories. His elitist parents’ persistent disapproval of her. The accident. Nursing Cole back to health. And a rejection that not only knocked her back on her heels, it left her gasping for what had felt like her last breath.

But she was back in Texas, a state that was in her blood, and there was nothing anyone was entitled to say about that. She wanted her twin sons to know the open sky and fresh air she’d lived off as a child. She wanted them to know the only living family she loved, her aunt Dot and her longtime best friend, Megan Phillips. When Megan told her that the executive chef job at the Glass House at Maverick County’s crown jewel, the Bellamy, was available, Dani took her chance to return to Royal. She could keep her career as top-notch chef on track and give her boys a connection to a place she loved deeply. Couldn’t do both of those things in New York. Hence, hello, Texas. Again.

But for as many problems as Royal solved, it left her with one—Cole. He was the ultimate loose end. She was already living on borrowed time. She’d been back in Royal for a few weeks. She’d have to see him eventually, so she decided she would see him on her terms. Tonight. His place. He would get no warning. He didn’t deserve it.

Dani turned in the mirror, sucking in a breath so deep it was as if she believed the air was made of confidence. Her long black hair was perfect—glossy and full. Touchable. Her makeup was on point, as well. The dress was the cherry on top. Cherry red, to be exact, cut to show off her assets and hugging every curve she’d been blessed with.

She’d worked hard to get back her prepregnancy body, and she intended to let Cole get an eyeful before she informed him that she’d returned to Royal for good and he was cordially invited to leave her the hell alone. Break a woman’s heart and you get the cold shoulder. Or in Cole’s case, trample a woman’s heart, destroy her illusions about love and leave her knocked up with twins, and you got a four-alarm fire set on showing you what’s what.

Dani ducked her head into the bedroom her five-year-old twin boys, Cameron and Colin, shared. She adored this room, with its powder blue walls, the bunk beds the boys had always wanted, and plenty of floor space to play with cars and trains. It was everything they couldn’t have in a New York apartment. “Everybody ready for bed?”

Elena, Dani’s faithful nanny, looked up from the book she was reading to the boys. “You look amazing,” Elena said. “You’re going to knock Cole Sullivan dead.”

Dani raised a finger to her lips and shook her head so quickly she nearly rattled her own brain. She wasn’t ready for Cameron and Colin to know Cole’s name. Not yet. They were still so little, so innocent. It wasn’t their fault their daddy couldn’t be counted on.

“Oh, right. Sorry.” Elena’s facial expression said more than her words—she understood how important it was to keep the boys a secret from Cole and vice versa. “Boys, hold on one minute. I need to talk to Mommy.” Elena got up from the floor and tiptoed over to Dani. “You sure you’re not going to tell him?” She didn’t need to add the part about the boys. Dani knew exactly what Elena was asking.

“No way. Not today.” Dani wouldn’t tell Cole anything unless she was completely certain that he wouldn’t reject the boys the way he’d rejected her.

“What are you going to say to him when you run into him later and he sees the boys?”

Dani patted Elena on the shoulder. “That’s the least of my worries. Cole is so self-absorbed, I doubt he’ll bat an eye.”

Elena smiled, even though she appeared unconvinced. “I’m sure you know what you’re doing.” She returned to her spot on the floor to resume story time.

“You boys be good for Elena, okay?” Dani reminded them.

“Where are you going, Mommy?” Cameron asked, ever the chatty and curious one. He looked most like Dani, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Colin, her quiet observer, more closely resembled Cole. Lighter hair. Soulful blue eyes.

“I have an old friend I need to go see.”

“Why can’t we go with you?”

“Because this is going to be boring grown-up talk and I know you’ll have much more fun with Elena. Plus, it’s nearly your bedtime. Growing boys need their sleep.” She knelt down onto the carpet and collected her hugs and kisses. “I love you both very much. See you in the morning.”

“Good luck,” Elena mouthed.

Dani marched down the hall, snapped up her car keys and slipped through the kitchen to her three-car garage. She’d had nearly six years to stress and worry about the first time she would see Cole again. If she stopped to think about it for too long, she’d put it off, and she didn’t want to do that. She knew the exact message she wanted to send tonight, which meant leaving the minivan parked right where it was and choosing to climb into her latest purchase, a treat for herself, a silver Porsche convertible.

Dani had always loved cars. She got it from her dad, who had been a police officer. Ten years gone and Dani still missed him like crazy, but zipping around in this little sports car made her feel closer to his memory. He’d taught her to drive stick. He’d taught her to be a great driver. All those years in New York had meant too many taxis and subway rides. Dani liked to think that her new car was a perfect metaphor for her new life. She was in control now. Completely.