stared into their blue eyes, reality hit. She was the biological mother of three little girls and she had wrestled with it during the rest of her stay in town. They were Liv’s children. Not hers. It wasn’t until she was on a plane flying back to LA three weeks later that she finally breathed easier. Once she had returned to her normal routine, any lingering thoughts of being their mother faded and she gladly slipped into the role of auntie.
Until today.
She needed to find Liv...fast.
* * *
GARRETT TOOK THE reins as Wes dismounted. “Thanks for helping out.”
“No problem.” Wes didn’t mind filling in for other employees while he was visiting the ranch, considering they had covered for him plenty during his last few months of employment on Silver Bells. It had been an unbearable period in his life and he’d wanted nothing more than to get away from Saddle Ridge. And he had. He’d moved to Texas and escaped the drama he once called home.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Garrett snapped his fingers. “You have a visitor. Do you remember Jade Scott?”
Wes damn near tripped at the mention of her name. Even though he couldn’t think of one person he despised more than Jade, it was her sister he didn’t want to think about.
“What is she doing here?”
“I guess she’s babysitting the triplets while her sister’s away on business. She has some emergency at Liv’s house. I offered to help, but she insisted on talking to you.”
“Keep your distance from the Scotts.” Wes swallowed hard. This was exactly why he hadn’t wanted to come home for his brother Dylan’s wedding and his niece and nephew’s christenings. “They can call someone else. I have no business with Liv or Jade.”
“What’s with the attitude?” Garrett asked. “I thought you and Liv were good friends. Besides, it’s too late. Jade’s about ten steps behind you.”
Wes turned to see her weaving through the ranch guests walking back to the lodge. His stomach somersaulted at the sight of her and he wasn’t sure if it was because of their past or how much she had transformed since high school. The mean girl who had once made his life miserable had gone from a rough, chip-on-her-shoulder teen to a California knockout.
Sleek, rich mahogany waves replaced the frizzy curls she used to have. But that body and those curves...good Lord Almighty! Her black polka-dot chiffon blouse revealed just enough of her ample cleavage to make any man look twice, and her tailored black pants hugged her hips in perfection. She exuded an edginess combined with old Hollywood glamour and if she had been any other woman on the planet, he would have moved in for the kill. Their past made her off-limits and his connection to her sister sealed that deal.
“Wes.” Deep blue eyes held his gaze before traveling the length of him and back.
Transfixed upon her matte ruby-red lips, it took every ounce of strength he had left to respond. “Jade.”
“Hey, kids. A conversation requires more than that.” Garrett laughed. “Try hello, how are you.” He nudged his brother in Jade’s direction before walking away.
“What do you want?” Wes hadn’t meant his tone to be as harsh as it sounded.
“It’s about Liv. Is there someplace private we can talk?”
Wes stiffened. “I have work to do.” He turned to tend to his horse, but it wasn’t there. Silently, he cursed his brother.
“I thought you were on vacation from your job in Texas.”
He reeled to face her. “Who told you that?”
“The rodeo school where you work.” She stepped toward him and wobbled in her ranch-inappropriate four-inch heels. He reached for her arm to steady her and instantly regretted the contact. “I looked you up online. I need your help.”
Wes released her and rubbed his palm, wanting to erase all traces of her from his body. “On second thought, I don’t care what your reasons are. I’m asking you as politely as possible to leave.”
“Wes, please.” A half-foot shorter, even in those ridiculous heels, she stared up at him.
“What could you possibly need my help with?”
“Tell me I can trust you first.”
“No. You can’t trust me, so let’s end this now. Goodbye, Jade.” The intoxicating scent of her perfume wasn’t enough to entice him to hear more.
“I know.”
It wasn’t so much the words, but the firm way she said them that stopped him in his tracks. “Do you care to expand on that?” He prayed it wasn’t what he thought.
“I found the contract today at my sister’s house,” Jade whispered. “Before I go into details, promise me everything I tell you will stay between us.”
Wes wanted to argue and deny his role in Liv’s daughters’ paternity, but the worry etched into Jade’s face gave him pause. “Okay, you have my attention. And yes, you can trust me.”
Jade assessed him sharply, making him more uncomfortable than he already was. She had no reason to take him at his word considering their past had thrived on a mutual loathing of one another after their brief high school romance. Her shoulders sagged as she closed her eyes momentarily, shielding him from the pain that reflected in them.
“Liv left the triplets with Maddie yesterday and hasn’t returned.”
“That doesn’t sound like Liv.” Wes’s heart dropped into his stomach. “Have you called the police? Or checked the hospitals?”
“I called every hospital within a two-hundred-mile radius while I waited for my flight last night. I don’t want to involve the police. This isn’t a case of her getting in a car accident. She left a note saying she was leaving. Do you have any idea where she might’ve gone? Has she ever mentioned a place she enjoyed going to when she was under a lot of stress or anywhere she always wanted to visit?”
“Not offhand. I can’t believe she left the girls.” Wes propped a booted foot up on the fence rail and stared into the corral. “I was afraid this would be too much for her.”
“Wait a minute.” Jade grabbed him by the arm and forced him to look at her. “You suspected she was in trouble?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Wes checked over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone. “I was long gone before those babies were born. And for the record, this wasn’t an easy decision on my part. There was never anything romantic or sexual between your sister and me. We were good friends. She was there for me during the darkest time of my life.”
“So how did you get from point A to point B?” Her face soured. “She told me she used an anonymous donor.”
“Liv hated the thought of a stranger fathering her children. I had initially said no, then I realized she wanted this more than anything and relented. I felt I owed her for being there for me over the years. But that’s where it ended. I couldn’t continue our friendship, knowing she was carrying my—” Wes shook his head. “They are not my children. I refuse to say they are.”
“I’m not asking you to raise them.” Thick sarcasm laced her assurance. “Just tell me what happened.”
Wes hesitated before answering, not wanting to sound callous. “Liv and I went our separate ways. She called me once I was in Texas and told me she was having triplets. I’ll admit, I had my concerns and asked if she could handle that many babies. She said she was a little overwhelmed by the news, but even more excited. I could hear it in her voice. She also had you and her friends. So, I continued on with my life.”
“Turns out she was more overwhelmed than we both thought.” Jade’s phone rang. She removed it from her bag, checked the screen and then rejected the call. “No matter how long it takes to find