Epilogue
“Boss, looks like your missus is coming this way,” Bill said with a nod.
Cade shoved his hat back on his head and looked up, and yes, indeed, she was, picking her way through the frost-covered pasture in his long brown suede coat. With the winter sun haloing her dark brown hair and the chill turning her cheeks pink and making her eyes shine, she looked both sexy and sweet, and he felt a rush of tenderness and a wave of protectiveness.
Rachel, his gorgeous girl, who was now his wife and the mother of his children, five-year-old Tommy and their sweet baby girl. And he’d always loved her, falling for her the moment she and her bike had collided into him, but that love was nothing compared to what he felt for her now.
“Hey,” she said, reaching his side, her breath clouding, her eyes impossibly bright in her face.
His blood heated just looking at her. They’d made love early this morning before he’d left bed to get to work, but already he wanted her again. “What are you doing out here?”
“Madelyn’s sleeping and Mrs. Brown is playing with Tommy so I thought I’d check on you.”
“Check on me?”
“Make sure you weren’t freezing to death out here. It’s cold.” She smiled, eyes dancing. “So I’ve brought you some hot coffee and love.” She pulled a thermos out of one of the coat pockets and handed it to him, leaning in close to press a warm kiss to his cool lips. “Love you, Cade.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, darlin’.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, angel.”
* * * * *
Hill Country Cupid
Tanya Michaels
Dear Reader,
As a writer, I always enjoy sharing my stories—but some projects are even more fun than others! I particularly love this Valentine collection because I’m being included with fantastic author Jane Porter and because I got to create a happy ending for Tess Fitzpatrick (one of my favorite secondary characters from my Hill Country Heroes series).
Ballet instructor Tess Fitzpatrick has never been able to resist meddling for a good cause. Single father Nick Calhoun devotes all his time to raising his six-year-old daughter, Bailey, and working on his family’s ranch. He leaves the dating scene to his more outgoing brothers. But Tess knows just how much Bailey wants a mom and can’t understand why more women haven’t noticed how hot Nick is. When she decides to play matchmaker for the quiet cowboy, plans quickly go awry—especially when Nick realizes who he really wants as his Valentine.
Happy reading,
Tanya
My heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful readers who’ve let me know how much they enjoy the Hill Country Heroes series.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Excerpt
Chapter One
Although it had taken years—and repeated motherly lectures—for Tess Fitzpatrick to accept that she’d never be a prima ballerina, she had to admit she loved her life. She enjoyed her career as a dance instructor at the small studio, and she adored her students. Unlike people trapped in offices, watching their computer clocks and counting the minutes until they could go home, Tess was actually a bit disappointed to be ending the day’s lessons. She was in no real hurry to go home and eat dinner by herself. But parents were waiting on the other side of the large observation window.
“Class dismissed,” Tess told the roomful of bubbly kindergarten-aged girls. Several of them, including star pupil Josie Winchester, ran up to hug Tess before exiting into the lobby.
There was a flurry of activity as students exchanged tap shoes for sneakers and mothers bundled kids into coats to ward off the late January chill. Within moments, the crowd had dwindled to single mom Farrah Landon, texting while she waited for her daughter to emerge from the restroom, and six-year-old Bailey Calhoun, who sat in a folding metal chair with a glum expression.
Was the girl disappointed not to be chosen as a soloist? Several classes were combining to put on a special performance for parents during the studio’s upcoming Valentine’s party at the high school. Bailey had been in consideration for a part that ultimately went to Josie Winchester. It was a minor role in a brief presentation, but Tess understood the sting of being passed over for a chance at the spotlight.
She pulled a piece of chocolate from the jar she kept on the reception desk and went to Bailey’s side. “Nice job today.” She held out the candy. “I was impressed with how quickly you picked up the new combo steps.”
“Thanks, Miss Tess.” But neither the chocolate nor the compliment garnered a smile.
Tess ruffled the girl’s dark hair. “I’m sure your dad will be here any minute.”
Sure enough, the door swung open and in walked Nick Calhoun, Tess’s favorite of the three Calhoun brothers. She was used to seeing him in the jeans and boots appropriate for outdoor work at his family’s horse ranch, but today he wore a suit. He would have looked downright dashing if he hadn’t seemed so ill at ease. As he walked, he tugged his tie loose.
“Daddy!” Bailey’s face lit up like the annual Fourth of July fireworks.
Nick looked equally happy to see his daughter, affection obvious in his clear gray eyes. “Sorry I’m late, Bay.” He was making a beeline toward them when he drew up short, belatedly noticing blond, willowy Farrah. “Hi.”
“Hey, Rick,” she said absently, not glancing up from her cell phone.
“Um, Nick. Nick Calhoun?”
That got her attention. “Oh, right! Your brother is Wyatt Calhoun.”
He nodded.
“Tell him Farrah Landon said hi.” She dropped her voice to a not-quite-whisper as her daughter returned to the lobby. “And remind him that I got divorced last year.”
Platinum-haired mother and child exited the studio as Nick waved halfheartedly in their wake. Then he whipped his head around, features flushed. Was he feeling guilty that he’d gotten sidetracked en route to his daughter or was he embarrassed to be caught watching Farrah?
He closed the distance between himself and Bailey, scooping her into his arms as if she weighed nothing, then apologized to Tess. “I had a meeting that took longer than expected.”
“Not a problem.” She grinned. “I’m guessing from the fancy duds it was important?”
“Discussing some plans for expansion with a loan officer. Dad should have sent Wyatt or Kevin. My brothers are better with...people.” His self-deprecating tone made Tess wonder if the loan officer was a woman. Nick
darted a glance over his shoulder, in the direction Farrah and her daughter had gone, and sighed. Then he shook his head, smiling once again at his daughter. “You hungry?”
“Starving!”
“Guess we’d better track you down some dinner before you waste away to nothing,” he teased.
They were headed for the door when Bailey suddenly swiveled around. “Miss Tess? Did I really do good today?”
“Didn’t I say so?” Tess winked at the little girl. “I never say anything I don’t mean.”
Once the studio was empty, Tess used the time to finalize the choreography for the Valentine’s performance. As she locked up for the night, she recalled Nick’s wistful expression. No secret who he wanted for his valentine. But Farrah had seemed oblivious. It didn’t look as if Nick had a shot—although this was the season for romance. Maybe Cupid would decide to intervene on his behalf.
* * *
TESS SILENTLY CHANTED positive thoughts as she entered the bridal boutique Saturday morning. I am excited for my friend. I am happy for my friend. After all, it had been Tess who encouraged Lorelei Keller to get romantically involved with Sam Travis in the first place. Tess was thrilled Sam and Lorelei were getting married during Frederick-Fest, the weeklong event that had helped bring them together last spring. So what if their March wedding meant Tess would be wearing her third bridesmaid dress in two years? Prior to this, she’d been in the bridal party for her elegant, swanlike sister, Regina, as well as newly married Heather Winchester.
“Tess! You’re here!” Lorelei, not typically a hugger, rushed forward to embrace her. Then she drew back, abashed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to tackle you.”
“No problem. It’s nice to feel so welcome,” Tess quipped.
“I couldn’t do this without you! You’d think such a small wedding would be easier to manage.” Since neither bride nor groom had much family, the ceremony would be an intimate affair in the heart of town with Tess as maid of honor and an old rodeo buddy of Sam’s as best man. The reception afterward would be held at the B and B Lorelei and Sam ran together.