after dark. They keep an eye on things.”
“Then I’ll give you a ride.”
“There’s no need—”
“I guess you could call for a pizza delivery and hitch a ride back with the driver if you’re afraid to ride with me.”
Afraid? He straightened at the insult to his pride. “I don’t have a cell phone.”
He’d given it up along with most of the other trappings of success. Besides, he didn’t want his Nashville associates tracking him down. Not that he was hiding. He hadn’t done anything illegal. But he had lost all respect for the man he’d become, so he’d cut those ties. Permanently.
“Mine’s in the car. You can use it—if you insist on being impractical.”
That set his teeth on edge. “I need to see to Jelly Bean. If the rain hasn’t stopped by the time I finish then I’ll take that ride.”
He let himself out of the tack room and headed for the mare’s stall. He hadn’t prayed this hard for the weather to change since his first headlining concert in an outdoor venue. Twenty thousand fans had come to see him in the pouring rain. And they’d stayed despite the weather. He’d done his damnedest not to let them down, and from here on he’d do his best not to let himself down by crossing the line into temptation. But there were no guarantees of success. Juliana Alden had a way of getting around his common sense.
He had to get out of this auction package. He couldn’t afford to repay her the thousands she’d bid on him, since most of his cash was tied up in Renegade, but he could afford the four hundred the local dealership charged for the motorcycle driver-safety course. And the farm owner used to ride the horse-show circuit. He’d bet he could talk her into giving Juliana riding lessons in exchange for him doing a few more chores around here.
Yeah, that’s it. Juliana would get her lessons—just not from him. As soon as he got her back to Renegade, he’d tell her goodbye.
“Let me buy you a drink.”
Juliana’s heart missed a beat at Rex’s low-voiced invitation. She searched his face, but the streetlights didn’t penetrate the shadowy interior of her car. Had she misread his stony silence during the drive back?
Her palms dampened and anticipation danced along her spine. Would he invite her upstairs? She wanted to be corrupted out of her Goody Two-shoes image. Really, she did, and she had a brand new box of condoms in her purse to prove it, but frankly, the idea of getting naked with Rex gave her heart palpitations, because she was starting to like him a little too much for this to be a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kind of encounter.
Last chance.
“Um…sure. I’d love a drink.”
He circled the car, took the umbrella from her and guided her toward Renegade without touching her, but Juliana was highly conscious of his hand hovering at the small of her back.
The bartender looked up as soon as they entered. “Your sister’s upstairs and, man, she’s a mess.”
“Give me a minute,” Rex called to Juliana. He yanked open the door to his apartment and took the steps two at a time. Juliana eyed the crowd of construction workers leering at her from the bar. Unwilling to deal with the kind of attention her skimpy attire drew, she followed Rex upstairs.
As she entered his apartment, Juliana noted the suitcase beside the door and then the woman sobbing in Rex’s arms. Unsure if she was intruding, Juliana hesitated.
“What’s up, Kel?”
The petite brunette drew back. Her face was blotchy and red from crying. Fresh tears streamed from her dark eyes as she drew a ragged breath. “Mike’s been hurt. He’s in critical condition in Landstuhl, Germany.”
“The military hospital?” Rex asked.
“Yes. He might—” Her voice broke. “They said he might not make it.”
He gripped her shoulders. “What do you need me to do? Name it. I’ll do it.”
His tender tone vibrated through Juliana. What would it be like to have a man care that much?
“I need you to keep the girls.”
“Whoa.” He recoiled and then dragged a hand over his jaw. “Where are Becky and Liza now?”
“Asleep.” She pointed toward a closed door. “I can’t take them with me, Rex. I know you have to work, but I have to go. I have to see Mike.”
“Yeah, you do, but Kelly, I’m not set up to watch the girls for more than a few hours. What about one of the other military wives?”
“You know I don’t know them well enough to ask. Please, Rex. I don’t have anybody else. And I have to get there before…before…” A sob choked off her words.
The furrow between Rex’s eyebrows deepened. Frustration and a touch of panic rolled off him in waves. “I can’t close Renegade. I’m barely—” His gaze flashed to Juliana and then back to his sister. “I can’t afford to close my doors and I don’t have the staff to cover for me. The girls can’t stay downstairs, and I can’t leave them up here alone. I want to help, but I don’t know how I can.”
Juliana’s heart squeezed in sympathy. The woman’s husband was critically injured and thousands of miles away. If the situation was as grave as Kelly said, then there wasn’t time to research alternative child care. Besides, from what Juliana’s coworkers had said, good child-care centers had waiting lists.
And then the answer fell into place—an answer that could solve several problems at once. Irma, the lady who’d been more like a mother than a nanny to Juliana, had become increasingly lonely and unhappy since having to retire. Juliana worried about her. Helping Kelly meant helping Irma and there wasn’t anything Juliana wouldn’t do for Irma. And, Juliana admitted, she wouldn’t mind having the opportunity to spend more time with Rex and uncover yet another layer of the complex man she’d bought.
“Perhaps I could help.”
Both heads swiveled toward her.
“No,” Rex barked.
“Who are you?” his sister asked simultaneously.
“I’m Juliana Alden. Rex’s…friend. My evenings and weekends are free, and I suspect the lady who used to be my nanny would love to keep the girls for a few hours a day when either Rex or I can’t be with them.”
Hope flared in the eyes the same dark coffee shade as Rex’s. “You like kids?”
“Yes, although I confess I don’t have loads of experience. But I’m a fast learner and I don’t give up easily.”
“If you could cover the girls in the evenings then Rex could watch them in the mornings, and your nanny could cover midday.”
Rex stepped between them. “We don’t need to bother Juliana. I’ll work something out. I’ll call an employment agency or a local day care—”
Kelly looked horrified. “The girls are upset enough. They don’t need that kind of upheaval.”
“My town-house complex has a pool and a playground,” Juliana added, earning a glare from Rex. “Irma could watch them at my place, and I grew up in Wilmington, so I know where all the parks and yummy ice-cream shops are located. How long do you think you’ll be gone?”
Kelly gestured toward the suitcase. “I packed enough clothing for the girls for a week, but I don’t know. It all depends on M-Mike.”
“We don’t want to inconvenience you.” Rex didn’t say back off, but it came through loud and clear in his clipped words.
Juliana ignored him. “It’s no trouble at all. In fact, I’m sure Irma would love to have something to keep her occupied. She’s recently retired and not enjoying it.”