It Happened One Night

* * *

Parking the truck by the corral gate, Josh looked over at the woman in the passenger seat beside him. Kiley was the only woman he had ever loved—would ever love. And he had to make things right between them.

“Thank you for allowing me to bring the two of you out here to the ranch,” he said, reaching over to take her hand in his. “I wanted to give Emmie her Christmas present.”

Kiley nodded, looking cautious. “I’m sure she’ll love whatever you have for her.”

He had hurt her emotionally and she was being careful. He could understand that and he didn’t blame her one bit. He had been a complete jackass and he wasn’t fool enough to think that telling her he loved her in front of a crowd was going to make everything okay. It was going to take some serious groveling on his part to make it up to her. He was prepared to do that and whatever else it took to get her to give him another chance.

“Wanna see ponies,” Emmie chimed in from the backseat. Apparently she had recognized the barn when he stopped the truck.

“I think that can be arranged, princess,” he said, smiling in the rearview mirror at the most precious little girl in the entire world. She and her mother were his whole world, and if Kiley would give him the chance, he would spend every minute of every day proving it to them.

Getting out of the Navigator, he came around the front to open Kiley’s door and help her down from the seat. Then, getting Emmie from her car seat, he set her on her feet. “Are you ready to see the ponies?”

Emmie clapped her hands. “Pet a pony.”

“You can do more than pet a pony,” Josh said, smiling. “You can ride one.”

Her little face lit up with glee as she nodded. “Wanna wide.”

“We’re not dressed for horseback riding,” Kiley said, frowning. “Was that the reason you were dressed so casually for the meeting? You intended to go for a ride afterward?”

He shrugged. “I’m not going riding, but since a suit and tie aren’t appropriate attire for a barnyard, I figured jeans were my best bet.”

“I don’t understand,” Kiley said, looking confused.

“Emmie’s Christmas present is in the barn,” he said, grinning.

Kiley shook her head. “You didn’t.”

He nodded. “I sure did. My daughter likes ponies, she gets a pony.”

“You’re going to spoil her, Josh Gordon.”

“That’s my intention.” He wanted to tell Kiley he intended to spoil her, too, but that would have to wait until a little later.

When Bobby Ray led the fat Shetland pony from the barn, already saddled and ready to ride, the look on Emmie’s face was one Josh knew he would never forget. “Pony! Pony!” his daughter chanted excitedly.

“This is Rosy,” he said, lifting Emmie to set her on the saddle. “She’s your pony.”

“Me pony?” The child’s delight was priceless and he wouldn’t have traded seeing it for the entire world.

Strapping a blue toddler-size riding helmet on her head, Josh walked beside the pony as he led her around the corral several times until he noticed Martha waiting at the corral fence. He had made arrangements in advance for his housekeeper to watch Emmie while he tried to straighten out things with Kiley.

Lifting his daughter down, he handed the lead rope back to Bobby Ray. “You can ride again a little later, princess. Do you think you could go with Martha now and have some lunch while I talk to your mommy?”

Grinning, Emmie waved as she and Martha walked toward the house. “Bye-bye.”

“She’s amazing, Kiley,” he said, staring after their little girl. “You’ve done a wonderful job with her.”

“She’s my world,” Kiley said, smiling for the first time since they left the TCC clubhouse.

“Do you have room in that world of yours for me?” he asked, gently touching her smooth cheek.

“Josh, please…” she said, starting to turn away from him. “I don’t want to hear it if you don’t mean it.”

Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms. She tried to push away from him, but he locked his arms around her. He was determined to settle things between them. It was the only possible chance they had of building a future together.

“Kiley, don’t just quit on us.” Placing his finger beneath her chin, he tilted her head until their gazes met. “I know I hurt you, but hear me out before you make the decision to walk away from what we have together.”

She stared at him for several long seconds before she spoke. “Besides Emmie, just what do you think we have, Josh?”