Cowboy Sanctuary (The Dixon Ranch) Read online

  “Well, there ya go. I’d get those tests done as soon as possible, and hope the results come through before Derrick gets in touch. The only other suggestion I can make is if he calls prior to that, see if he’ll allow you to keep him a little longer. Tell him you’re on a vacation or something to that effect.”

  “Danielle had a DNA test done to prove Derrick isn’t the father because she was working on a divorce,” Dana said. “It was never brought up during her murder trial because she made me promise not to say anything until she told Brock.” She took a quick breath before continuing. “Legally, though, Derrick is still Jeremy’s father until we prove otherwise because his name is on the birth certificate.”

  “Do you have proof of that test? It might help us legally keep Jeremy here with you until Brock has his test done,” Travis said.

  Dana nodded. I felt a sense of relief that we had some leeway. Her nod had made my stress level sink a little lower.

  It was a temporary fix, but I hoped it would give us long enough to right this situation before getting Dana involved in something that would tarnish her reputation. Whatever it took, though, my kid was staying here with me. With that burden out of the way for now, we sat around discussing the possibilities of what life was going to be like with Jeremy here. I was excited, even though I knew my schedule was going to drastically change.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Cowboy Life

  Dana

  Talking with Brock’s brother helped settle my nerves a little. I looked at my cell phone when I went to check on Jeremy, and there were no messages. Maybe Derrick didn’t care enough to bother. He’d never acted like a real father as far as I’d seen. I’d been the only person Danielle had been allowed to see on a regular basis, and it was usually at my place because Derrick made me uncomfortable. The times I had to be around him, though, he’d never even held little Jeremy. That was my sister’s responsibility.

  I couldn’t change the court’s verdict, but I could make sure my nephew had a better life than what that monster would offer. Being around Brock for even these few hours told me he had a strong moral character and the support of his family. It was going to kill me to leave him with his father, but I felt Jeremy would be safe at least. It felt like an intrusion to hang out with his family, so I stayed up in the bedroom with the baby, falling asleep on the full bed that had been pushed against the wall to make space for Jeremy’s crib. The guys had quickly put it together earlier and now the playpen was folded up in the corner.

  When I awoke in the middle of the night, I walked over to check on Jeremy, and he was gone! I nearly had a heart attack until I ran out of the room and saw him fast asleep on his daddy’s chest on the living room couch. Taking several deep breaths, I took in the sight and felt some strange emotion move through me. That huge hunk of a man carefully holding his son was a sight that a photographer should capture. I knew I’d made the right decision bringing him here. He was going to have everything my sister and I wished we’d had growing up.

  Our father was a good man, but he’d been so busy trying to keep on top of business that he’d left us in the care of nannies most our lives. Our mother, rest her soul, died giving birth, so we’d never had that time with her that girls desperately needed. Our dad had made sure all our physical needs were met, but neither of us had a great relationship with him. He’d left us taken care of financially when he passed away a few years ago from natural causes. He was almost thirty years older than my mom when they married.

  I turned to my studies in college to fill the void, and Danielle fell in with the worst bad boys she could find. As far as twins go, we were polar opposites except in looks. I wanted nothing to do with the opposite sex, and she was buck wild, which is how she ended up with a man like Derrick. He’d introduced her to drinking and drugs, something forbidden in our lives, even without our daddy being fully present. I wouldn’t say she was an addict, but she took partying to extremes.

  That wild life and marrying Derrick had eventually caught up with her. I didn’t blame Danielle for what he’d done, but I often thought if she’d chosen a better life, she’d still be with me today. Now the only family I had left was little Jeremy. Daddy’s family had never approved of his marriage to my mother, and my mother’s family had never been introduced to us, so I assumed they hadn’t been happy about it either.

  I’d just finished my final semester in college when Danielle’s young life had been snuffed out in her prime. I have a degree in business, but I haven’t used it since taking over raising my nephew. Thankfully I still have Daddy’s house and a really nice nest egg in the bank from my inheritance, so we weren’t struggling. While Derrick was financially well off, he hadn’t offered a penny to help with Jeremy’s care. It was another reason I thought he knew the little man wasn’t his responsibility.

  “Everything OK?” Brock’s sleepy eyes met mine, and I realized I hadn’t moved from the spot I’d been in when I found them.

  “I woke up and he was gone. Sorry to wake you.” I kept my voice soft, not wanting to wake up the baby.

  “He was playing in his crib, and I figured you were passed out from exhaustion, so I took him. Does he usually wake up during the night?” Brock was careful to keep his voice at a whisper, and I smiled at the respect.

  “No. But he’s in a new place. It’s going to take him a little time to get used to his surroundings,” I replied. Jeremy seemed pretty happy right now, though. Who wouldn’t be, snuggled against that strong chest? I flushed at my thoughts. “Um, did you want him to stay with you?” I needed to get my head away from how sexy Brock looked resting with my nephew. Those thoughts were incredibly wrong!

  “I probably should get him settled back in his bed,” Brock said. “Don’t want to start building bad habits. He usually sleeps in a crib and not with you, I’m assuming?” It broke my heart that he didn’t know about his son. When my sister told me that Derrick wasn’t his father, I’d begged her to call Brock and tell him the truth. She’d told me it wasn’t safe, and I wasn’t sure if she meant for herself or Jeremy. Now I feared it was her life she was protecting. Even a cold-hearted beast couldn’t want to hurt a child. I hoped.

  “He sleeps in his own bed unless he’s not feeling well.”

  Brock nodded and carefully eased off the couch, his long legs looking entirely too sexy in shorts. He walked with me following him back to the bedroom. With more gentleness than a man of his size should have, he carefully lowered Jeremy into the crib. Jeremy didn’t move.

  We both stood there watching him sleep for a few moments, his precious little face looking like an angel filled with contentment. “If you’re not too tired, why don’t we walk downstairs and talk for a minute?” Brock said.

  Part of me wanted to refuse, because I was abnormally attracted to this man and it confused me. We did have a lot to discuss, though, and I inched out of the room quietly. Brock joined me, and we walked down to the kitchen.

  “You drink coffee?”

  I grinned at the ridiculous question. Who didn’t? If I had an addiction besides reading books, coffee was it. “Strong and black,” I replied.

  He returned my smile, and now that he was no longer looking at me like I was the devil, he seemed even more handsome. His hands were big with long fingers, and I watched in fascination as he worked the coffeemaker. There was nothing small about Brock, and I’m not saying he was fat. He was all muscle and strong man, and I thought that type would be a turn-off to me. I wasn’t really in the market for a relationship, but if I was, my type was usually the nerdy, non-alpha type, or so I’d always believed. Maybe it was just because I’d never been around a cowboy before that he had me so fascinated.

  He turned and caught me staring at him, and I felt my cheeks flush. When was the last time I’d blushed? Probably when Victor DuPoint had tried to put his hand down my shirt after prom. I slapped his face and never went out with him again. I didn’t feel that disgust looking at Brock. In fact, it was the complete opposite. He filled the ro
om with some strange masculine attraction, and it confused the crap out of me.

  He placed our cups on the island bar and took a seat. I joined him nervously. Whatever strange feelings he was provoking in me, I knew it was just a passing fascination. “So tell me about yourself. Since we’re living together I figure we shouldn’t be strangers.”

  My heart quickened at his words, and I wanted to give myself a mental slap. “Well, there’s not much to tell, really. I just finished my bachelor’s degree in business, and haven’t started looking for a new job yet.” I took a sip of my coffee to focus my attention somewhere other than his bare chest. I wasn’t accustomed to men walking around half-naked in my company, and I was a little too entranced by his perfect body.

  “Have you thought about what kind of job you want?” he asked.

  I really hadn’t given much thought to where I wanted to use my degree. I’d pursued business because I wasn’t sure where I saw myself in five years but knew that it offered a lot of different opportunities. If my dad had lived, I’d have considered working for him, but his partner had bought out his share of the business because of his will. It had added to my savings, so I couldn’t be upset he hadn’t offered me the chance to take over his part.

  “Honestly, I haven’t. I’d just finished school when Danielle . . . ” I swallowed down a lump in my throat at the memory, unable to finish the sentence. “I had Jeremy then, and he was more important.” Family was something I really wanted after the way we were raised, and it wasn’t a hardship giving up my dreams for him. I had this plan, though. I was going to settle into a good career first, then worry about finding the right man to start that part of my life.

  “That had to be a huge burden for a young lady just starting out in life?” The sympathy in Brock’s whiskey-colored eyes warmed my heart. I couldn’t allow myself to have feelings for this man! Clearing my throat, I looked away, needing some control again.

  “Jeremy could never be a burden. My daddy left me financially stable, and having him in my life was what kept me going.”

  Brock had this huge family and was surrounded with what seemed like genuine love. There was no way he could understand how I’d give up everything to make my nephew happy.

  “I didn’t mean it that way,” Brock clarified. “I’m just saying it had to be hard for you to raise him on your own. I know my sister and her husband depended on us so much with my nephew, Levi. Susan was so stressed out she swore she wasn’t having more kids.” He chuckled, and I guess I was missing the inside joke.

  When he saw the confusion on my face, he explained, “She’s pregnant again. I think the two of you would get along. Maybe you can meet them when they return from their delayed honeymoon.” Brock seemed to be rushing to speak, and I wasn’t sure why because this big, strong man couldn’t be nervous in my company. “They’ve been married two years, but Susan gave up their time away because her old man was working here on the ranch, and it was our busiest time of year.”

  “If I’m still here, I’ll look forward to meeting them,” I said. “I’ve only had Jeremy the past three months, and it’s had its moments. Especially the sleep thing, but I think I’d like to have a houseful of kids one day.” I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I barely knew this man. I’m sure he didn’t care what my future plans held.

  “Same here. Of course, finding the right woman to have them with might be a chore.” Thankfully Brock added his own personal spin on things so I didn’t feel so embarrassed.

  “I can’t imagine you’d have any trouble.” Was I destined to keep sticking a foot in my mouth with this man? “I mean, you have this great place, and you are already so good with Jeremy.” I decided to shut up before I said something worse than I already had. What I was thinking was how handsome he was, and how any woman would probably fall head over heels for him.

  “Most of the women here are already married, and it takes a special kind of person to marry a rancher. I spend long hours working my horses and maintaining the land. It’s not an easy life,” Brock said.

  I knew nothing about his life here, but how hard could it be to work from home? “Maybe you can show me a little about your work while I’m here?” I shouldn’t have brought that up, and it really wasn’t my business except for the way Jeremy would fit into his life. I hoped he saw it that way and not that I was interested in becoming that woman. I most definitely wasn’t. I planned on working behind a desk and enjoying mental work. I worked out three days a week but didn’t consider myself a physical person.

  He grinned a perfect smile, and I had to bite back a gasp. The way his eyes crinkled on the sides was sexy, and I didn’t like the attraction I was feeling. Definitely not my type, I told myself.

  “I don’t know if a city girl can handle getting a little dirty.” Brock was obviously joking, considering the humor lacing his gaze, but I took it as a challenge.

  “I think you’d be surprised what this city girl can adapt to,” I asserted. Of course, I had no idea what I was talking about, but I was prideful and wasn’t backing down.

  “Sweetheart, you really shouldn’t have said that.” His full lips lifted into a smirk, and I knew it was game on. There was nothing in this world I couldn’t do if I put my mind to it. Calling me sweetheart made me think he was being condescending, and that meant I was going to prove him wrong!

  “I think you’re challenging me. Did I mention I was on the debate team in college?” I boasted. When he simply grinned, I knew he thought I would fail. “I bet I can handle a full day of work with you, and if you lose, you owe me dinner.” The truth was I had no idea what kind of workday he had, but at this point, it didn’t matter.

  “OK, but I hope you’re a good cook, because when I win you can bet I’m going to have a huge appetite.” His eyes were twinkling in mirth, and I met his look with one of superiority. No matter what he threw at me, I’d be on my death bed before I admitted defeat!

  “Just remember I don’t want fast food when I win.” I said, smirking back. I was amazed at how easy he was to banter with. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this comfortable around a man before.

  He threw back his head of dark hair and bellowed loudly. The sound was almost primal in its masculinity and sent a warm surge through parts of me I’d forgotten existed. “I like your spunk, city girl. I’m still gonna prove you wrong, though. So you live in Chicago?”

  “I do.” Already I was thinking more about his challenge than the world I’d left behind. Truthfully I was growing tired of the crime and the insanity of traffic I faced anytime I took Jeremy out. If my dad hadn’t left me the house, I think I would have been happy living on the outskirts of the city instead of in the heart of it.

  “Don’t know how you live there. Traveled through parts of the north before, and I prefer having my roots right here,” Brock said.

  It was one thing for me to knock my hometown, another for him to do it. “Believe it or not, there are rural parts of Illinois that aren’t much bigger than your little town here.” I was sure that to a country boy like him, it seemed like we all bustled around like crazy people, just as we thought they were all backward hicks. I wasn’t so sure my assumptions were right after being around him. He seemed pretty intelligent to me. I mean, the man had high-speed Internet, and before coming here I probably would have believed that no one in this part of the world even owned a computer, unless it was at a job.

  “Guess we have a lot to learn about each other.” There was nothing but sincerity in Brock’s words, and I thought maybe he was right. Maybe people were just people, no matter where they called home.

  “So what about you? Have you always wanted to be a cowboy?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine him doing anything else with his ruggedly handsome good looks and strong hands.

  “I always loved raising, breeding, wrangling, and doing everything with horses, so yeah. I travel out to breed if the price is right, but I prefer being close to home.” He seemed so comfortable in his skin as he talked about his passion, an
d I found myself fascinated. “Breaking in wild horses by barebacking and wrangling is something else I love to do, and training young men to hold on for eight seconds in bull riding.”

  “I’m not sure I understand what you mean by that. Wrangling and bareback?” Talking to Brock made me want to know everything. We were from two different worlds, and it was all fascinating.

  “You’ve never been to a rodeo?” His eyes widened, and he looked at me like I’d admitted to being an alien, which forced a laugh from my lips. I shook my head, and he sat back in his chair eyeing me strangely. “I’ll have to show you. There are competitions where you can rope a bull in the fastest time or ride a bucking horse without getting thrown off. I train folks how to do that. We also farm and raise dairy cows, so we pretty much have the whole farm-slash-ranch thing covered.”

  Bull riding and hanging on to a horse trying to throw you off sounded incredibly dangerous. “Couldn’t you get hurt doing that?” I asked. Why anyone would put their life in danger to sit on an angry animal was beyond my thoughts of rationalization.

  “Well, yeah, but you could get in car wreck driving down the road or die in a plane crash. Doesn’t mean people stop doing it.” Brock looked somewhat offended, so I didn’t mention that neither of those were dangers you intentionally put yourself in.

  “You wouldn’t encourage Jeremy to do those things, would you?” The thought of my nephew getting slammed into the ground after a nasty fall off a horse was making me reconsider my thoughts of bringing him here.

  “He’s just a baby. Of course I wouldn’t,” Brock replied. “Growing up around horses, though, most little boys at least think about it when they’re older.” That condescending look in his eyes made me angry.

  “I’m not being unreasonable to think of my nephew’s safety.” I glared at him to show my feelings, and he backed down on his look. I was pleasantly pleased that he wasn’t one of those men who thought they always had to be right.