Second Dance Cowboy (Second Chance) (8 page)

Cassie’s red lips thinned
. “Peyton? I know her. She owns the dance studio and her son attends the school I teach at.”

Fuck!
This was the very reason why he’d prided himself in never lying. One fib led to another, to another and so on. If Peyton thought he was a jerk before, she was really going to despise him now. “Oliver’s a great kid.”

“
Of course…yes, he’s a smart kid. I—I guess I’m just shocked.” She tugged her hair behind her ear.

“So,
you better go before Dante starts wondering where you are.” The quicker she left the better. He was angry with himself for dragging Peyton into this, but somehow mended in the smugness that came with putting Cassie in her place.

“Yes, I should leave.” Cas
sie moved to the door, the heels of her boots knocking against the floor. “’Bye.”

He didn’t even acknowledge her as she closed the door. He heard the faint
clicking of her steps disappearing down the hall. Relieved, he pulled off the damp towel and tossed it onto the floor. He grabbed his underwear and had them pulled to his knees when the door swung open. “What the—”

Deckl
and stepped in, his eyes narrowed and his lips thin. “What the fuck was she doing here? And what are you doing undressed?” His brawny chest bulged.

“Don’t you knock?” Dillon finished pulling up his boxers and adjusted himself
.

“Can’t
you keep your dick inside your pants?” Deckland growled.

“It’s not what it looks like, Deck.” Dillon shook his head at seeing the disapproval on his brother’s face.

“Oh, really? It
’s every day that your brother’s fiancé, who just happens to be
your
ex-fiancé, is seen walking out of your bedroom where you just happen to be naked. Sure, I’d love to hear the explanation.”

Dillon slammed his hand
over his wet hair, sending beads of water onto his bare shoulders. “I found her here. She must have come in while I was in the shower. No touching occurred, and never will again. I’m not Dante. I have morals and values.” He guessed the sting of his brother’s betrayal remained embedded in him.

“I understand your anger with Dante, but he loves you and you still love him. Eventually this will all blow over.” Deckland
finally smiled. “You should be proud of yourself, Dilly. I bet she didn’t wear the tight shirt and short skirt just for the fun of it.” He laughed so hard it vibrated the walls.

“I didn’t ev
en notice.” Dillon pulled on his shirt and grabbed his towel off the floor, throwing it over the chair.

“I bet you didn’t. However,
I guess you have a dancing brunette who’s occupying your thoughts. You were at her house tonight, weren’t you?” Deckland took the autographed baseball from the shelf and tossed it up in the air, catching it, then tossing it again.

Dillon brought his gaze up, landing on his brother in
wonder. “How the hell did you know?”

Deckl
and shrugged. “Small town, brother. Keep that in mind.”

“
It’s not that small.”

“Aspen told me.” Deckland held the ball
. “Word of warning. I’m friends with her Uncle Marty. I know he wields a shotgun like a third hand. You dirty up those waters and he’ll shoot you and ask questions later.”

“Do you think you’re talking to Dante?”
Dillon huffed.

“Just saying, bro. And she’s got a kid.” All
humor left Deckland’s expression.

“Did you know this when I mentioned her this morning?”

“I knew, but I didn’t know at the time that your attention would last beyond a dance or two.”

“Well, min
d your own business. I’m not planning to end up with bullets in my body. I’m a complete gentleman.” Even as the words passed his lips, he knew Peyton might just prove him wrong. How the hell was he going to tell her about the lie he’d told Cassie?

“Sure you are. A man who hasn’t had sex in two years is anything but a gentleman,” Deckland said.

“Get out of my room.” Dillon picked up a ruler from the desk and whirled it at his brother.

Deckland tossed him the ball and jetted from the room.

CHAPTER SIX

“UNCLE MARTY, WHERE are you?” Peyton yelled from the front door of her uncle’s house.

“I’m in here, Pey.” He came from the kitchen, drying his hands with a dishtowel.
In the last year, her uncle had started showing his age. His hair was greyer, the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth were deeper and his arthritis was bothering him more—not that he ever complained but his wobbly walk told her all she needed to know. His bubbly personality didn’t falter, though.

Oliver came bustling through the door behind her,
brushing past her and came to a dead stop in front of Uncle Marty. “Can I feed the baby calf today?”

“
Yes you can.” Uncle Marty tousled Oliver’s hair.

Every weekend Peyton would drop Oliver off at
the farm so he could help Uncle Marty with the animals. Although it was a big task taking care of the chickens, cows and sheep, Oliver never complained because the work wasn’t a chore for him.

When Uncle Marty
turned to watch Oliver run into the kitchen, he lost his balance but quickly caught it. Peyton narrowed her eyes. “Are you doing okay?”

He waved a gnarled
hand. “Never better.”

“If you say so.”
She’d learned long ago not to argue with the man. He wouldn’t tell her even if he didn’t feel well. She realized she had to watch for cues of ill health, like the grimaces when he moved a certain way.

“Are you in a hurry this morning?” he asked.

“No. I can stay for a bit.” She always liked to visit.

“Cup of coffee?”

“I’d love one.”

On
ce they each had a cup, they moved to the screened in patio and took a seat on the wicker furniture. Peyton nestled deeper into the cushion and sipped the freshly brewed coffee. The owner of a deli for over twenty years, there were two things he could make better than anyone. Coffee and Reuben sandwiches. “That hits the spot.” She licked the fresh cream from her upper lip.

“If you moved here you could have a cup every morning.” He wriggled his silver tinged brows.

She chuckled. “You keep promising me that and you may just persuade me.”

“I’ll even throw in those
sandwiches you love.”

He was coming out with the big guns now. “Your life would be
thrown for a loop, Uncle Marty. Oliver would keep you busy.”

“And that’s exactly what the doc said I need
ed.”

Marty
had wanted her to move back. They were the only family they had. She’d refused all of his invites because she wanted to be independent and didn’t want to burden him. Here lately, she was getting the idea that Marty wanted company. “I’ll think about it.” She patted his leathered hand. “Now, I’ve got to go.” She got up and stopped to kiss him on the cheek.

Finding Oliver
in front of the TV, she plopped down beside him on the couch. “I’m leaving, kiddo.”

“Okay.” He didn’t remove his eyes from the screen.

“I’ll be back to pick you up later.”

“Uh-hm.”

“If the aliens land, make sure you and your uncle make it to the basement.”

His head
turned and his eyes were wide. “What?”

“Ahh, you are listening.” She kissed him on top of the head. “See you.”

Once she was in the car, her mind wandered to a certain cowboy who’d visited her dreams last night, for the second night in a row. As steamy as her dreams were, that’s where it stopped. A man who wasn’t over his ex was off limits—and lethal.

She’d had a crush on
Dillon for as long as she could remember, but she needed to keep in mind that like any crush, the image was better than reality. It didn’t matter that he had the dreamiest eyes, flawless olive complexion, beautiful smile, toned body.

It mattered—a lot.

He still affected her like none other. Richie didn’t even move her the same at the highpoint of their relationship.

Pulling along the street in front of her studio,
she laid her head against the steering wheel. She needed strength. 

Knock, knock!

She jumped and shot around in the seat. Her breath caught in her lungs. “Dillon?” She rolled down the window. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.” His smile lit.

“I—well, okay.” Her mouth went dry.

“Were you getting out?” he asked.

“Oh, yes.” How could she
think when her stomach knotted every time he was around? On the drive here, she’d tossed around thoughts of him, and here he was, standing on the sidewalk wanting to speak to her. Closing the window, she opened the door and slid out while nervously tugging at the hem of her shirt. “We can go inside.”

His hat
hung low on his forehead but she could see his pale eyes and they were exceptionally bright in the sunlight. “If that’s okay?”

“
We will be alone. Aspen isn’t in today and I don’t have a class until another hour.”

Once inside the studio, Peyton discarded her bag on the counter and wat
ched Dillon who buried his hands into his front pockets and shifted his worn boots. Was he nervous? The butterflies floating around inside of her stomach was a good indication her nerves were on edge also. “I’m surprised you’re here.”
But I’m not disappointed.

He nodded and removed his hat. His
matted hair made her ache to brush her fingers through the thick locks, but he beat her to it. He ran his finger through the coal-black mass and she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ve lied,” he said.

She blinked as the air left her lungs.
“You did? To me?”

“No, not to you. I need to explain.” He set his hat beside her bag. “Last night I got a visitor. Cassie.”

“Oh.” Her stomach twisted. “I guess that’s good?” She played with a pen, rolling it around her fingers. Did she really want to hear anything more?

“No, it was anything but good.
” He scrubbed his jaw. “She caught me off guard and before I knew what I was doing I told her I was involved with someone.”

The
room closed in around her. The temperature rose and her head spun. She went to the row of chairs lining the wall and took a seat. He had the ability to awaken every cell of her body with one smile, one look. Now was he telling her that he was involved with someone? This roller coaster ride was out of control. “Who?” The word crossed her trembling lips.

“You.”

“I didn’t know—what?”

“I told her that you and I
were dating. I’m sorry, but I’d lost my head for a moment. And once I started to correct the facts, I found that I couldn’t. I’ll speak to her today and tell her the truth.” The lines around his eyes grew deeper. Had he lost sleep over this?

Dizzy, she
clutched the edge of the cushioned chair. “You told Cassie that you and I are, well, together?” She needed air, quick. Turning, she opened the window a few inches, sucking in oxygen. It didn’t help. The man was an aphrodisiac.

“It was wrong…”

“You had me scared for a minute.” She sighed. “You seemed anxious.” She smoothed her clammy hands down her jeaned legs.

“You’re not angry?” He sat beside her and she got a strong whiff of soap and coffee. She moistened her lower lip, but what she really
wanted was to slide her tongue along the plump curve of his mouth.

She laughed
, not that she thought anything was funny. “Angry? No. I understand what you were doing. You were making Cassie jealous. I don’t know how healthy that is, but we’ve all been there and done silly things.” How could she be upset with him when she knew he still reeled over the betrayal of Cassie’s relationship with Dante? “Easily remedied. Have a talk with her.”

He
brushed his fingers down his face. “I know it was wrong, but I don’t want to clarify the facts.”

“Because…?”

“I liked seeing her cross.”

At least he was honest. “
It’s been said that the easiest way to get a person back is to make them jealous.”

He blinked.
“I didn’t do it to get her back.”

“Things like this can backfire.
But, I do understand why you don’t want to correct the mistruth.” A man like Dillon had lots of pride, and although she didn’t like lies, she didn’t like how a woman like Cassie could come between two brothers. “I have something to confess myself.”

“You do?” His eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re still married.”

She shook her head. “No. I’ve carried around a bit of anger toward you over the years because you stood me up.”

He smiled. “I already guessed
as much. You had every right to be upset. I just need you to know that I did forget about the date, but not because it wasn’t important. Dante was in a car accident and we didn’t know if he’d make it. Hours turned into days. Days turned into weeks. When I came back a few months later you were no longer working at the diner.”