“The Owens’ foreman,” Harley explained, catching Grant’s confused expression. “He gave Daniel his first riding lesson and claims he’s a natural.”
“We’re going back next week,” Daniel continued. “Mom said we could go on a trail ride. You should come, too.”
Grant doubted his son had any idea how much he appreciated being included. “As long as it’s okay with your mom,” he hedged, glancing toward Harley. To his surprise, she looked agreeable.
“Do you ride?” she asked.
“It’s been a while. Growing up, I used to spend my summers at my uncle’s ranch just outside of Abilene.”
“Come riding. Come riding,” Daniel crowed.
Grant smiled at his son. “I’d like that.”
“Then it’s settled,” Harley said. “And now, I think we should be going. Someone is due for a nap.”
“No,” Daniel wailed. “I wanna swim some more.”
“You can stay if you want,” Grant offered, reluctant for their time to end.
Harley shook her head. “He should nap before any more swimming.”
“I have several guest rooms available.” Grant could see protests building in Harley’s expression. “I’d love it if you’d stay,” he murmured, fighting the urge to reach for her hand.
During their weekend together, they’d been inseparable, finding a thousand excuses to touch and snuggle during the long hours in the hotel suite. He’d never been so obsessed with staying connected to anyone before, and after she’d fled on Monday morning, he’d ached at being parted from her.
In the intervening years, he’d used his anger at her for deceiving him to blunt his need. Until she’d reappeared in Royal, he’d believed her thoroughly purged from his system. Yet all it had taken was being in the same room with her for the cravings to start in again. Only this time the stakes were higher. He couldn’t eject her from his life on a whim. They shared a son. That meant he would have to figure out what he wanted, make a plan and stick to it.
“I guess we could stay.” Harley glanced away from Grant and fixed her son with a firm stare. “As long as Daniel promises to sleep.”
“I will, Mommy. I promise.”
After lunch, Grant led the way to one of his many guest rooms and left Harley to change her son into dry clothes and settle him for a nap. Seeing that Franny was clearing their lunch dishes, he headed into his den to check on the test results for several of his patients. To his surprise, Harley appeared in the doorway before he’d finished composing follow-up emails to his staff.
“That was fast,” he remarked.
“He’s really good about going to bed. He plays hard and sleeps hard,” she said, waving her hands as he got to his feet. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I just wanted to let you know that he’ll probably sleep for about an hour. Please keep working. I’m going to sit by the pool.”
Grant circled the desk and headed her way. “I’d rather keep you company,” he replied, meaning every word. “How about we grab some sweet tea first.”
“Sure.”
The kitchen was both pristine and empty when they entered it. Earlier, his housekeeper had indicated she was going to spend the afternoon running errands and he suspected that he and Harley were alone. Anticipation sizzled through him.
“The glasses are there.”
He pointed to a cabinet, and then selected a knife and pulled out a cutting board. As if by design, they converged on the refrigerator, Grant in search of lemons and the pitcher of sweet tea, Harley looking to fill the glasses with ice. Their bare arms grazed and that was enough to spark the wildfire chemistry between them.
“Harley.”
All too aware that groaning her name betrayed his sharp need, Grant captured her narrow hips between his hands and backed her against the counter. He dipped his head and stroked his lips across hers once, twice, coaxing her to surrender. His body sang with pleasure as her bones melted and her arms went around his neck,
“We can’t.” She shook her head.
“You said Daniel was asleep.”
“Daniel isn’t the problem.”
“Then what is?” He rocked his hips forward. Desire pooled in his belly as he nudged her with his erection.