she noticed, but still breathtaking. Most people would call them gray, yet Patricia knew they turned silver when he made love, glittered sensuously when he lowered his head to kiss a woman—touched his tongue to hers—filtered his fingers through her hair.
How many women had there been? she wondered. How many had watched those eyes change color, enjoyed that staggering touch?
Patricia smoothed her skirt. Jesse Hawk should have been hers. He should have come back, kept his promise. On the night he’d taken her virginity, he’d pledged his love forever. They had snuggled in each other’s arms, tasted each other’s skin, made secret vows. Young, romantic vows. And she’d kept hers, kept them locked in her heart until she’d cried herself to sleep at night. No, she hadn’t agreed to move in with him when he’d asked, but she’d had her reasons—good reasons. The young man she’d loved needed a fair chance to pursue his career, and the baby in her womb needed some sort of financial stability. So she’d sent Jesse away, believing he’d return for her.
I’ll never forgive you, she wanted to say. But Dillon has the right to meet you. She had told her son about his father, promising Jesse would be back someday. They just had to be patient and let him finish college.
“I’d heard this place sold a few months ago,” she said, unaware then that Jesse had been the buyer. The property had been purchased under a corporate name.
“I’ve been coming back and forth from my rental in Tulsa, spending weekends out here, trying to get the renovations done. I hired a crew to build the clinic, but I’m doing most of the work on the house myself.”
Immediately she thought about Dillon’s interest in architecture. “I didn’t know you had experience in carpentry.”
He shrugged. “I did a little construction work during college. It put food on the table, paid the rent.”
Patricia wanted to ask him about his education, if his studies had been difficult. She knew dyslexia made reading a struggle. Her son suffered from the same confusing disability. But asking Jesse about college would probably rehash their past and the part her father had played in it—a moot point after all these years. “So I can assume the building out back is a veterinary clinic.”
He nodded. “I share a practice with three other doctors in Tulsa. We decided it was time to open a facility in the country.”
That explained the company that had purchased his house. Apparently Jesse and his colleagues had formed a small corporation, the property serving as a tax deduction. “Looks like things worked out for you.”
“Yeah.”
They sat silent for a time, staring out at the dusty road. A butterfly winged by, and Patricia felt herself smile. As a toddler, Dillon used to chase the butterflies that graced his grandpa’s abundant flower garden.
Jesse rocked his chair. “Are you sure you don’t want a soda?”
“No, but if you’re thirsty, go ahead.”
His chair scraped the side of the house. “That’s okay. I’m all right.”
Think of something to say, she told herself, as they suffered through another bout of awkward silence. She tucked her hair behind her ears while he crossed one leg in male fashion, then uncrossed it, stretching both long limbs out instead. Physically, he’d changed. He’d put on weight, but the virile bulk suited his tall frame, considering it came in the form of muscle. And against the hard wall of his chest lay a small leather pouch, the medicine bag he’d always worn. She knew it contained items that were special to him. He had even placed a small lock of her hair within it. Surely he had discarded that romantic memento long ago.
“So, have you officially moved in?” she asked, not wanting to think about the past.
“Yeah, but I was in California not too long ago. My brother lives there, and his wife had a baby.”
“Your brother? You mean you found him?” Patricia knew Jesse and his older brother, Sky, had been separated as children and taken to different foster homes when their parents died. Since Jesse was only two at the time, he hadn’t known about Sky’s existence until years later. At eighteen, Jesse had begun to search for his brother. But by then, Sky was long gone.
“Sky returned to Marlow County looking for me. So actually, we found each other.” A warm smile touched his lips. “He’s great. Everything a guy could want in a brother. And he has such a loving family. A sweet wife and an adorable baby daughter.”
Hurt and envy pricked her skin. If you had come back for me, you could have had a loving family, too. “Sounds like you two got along well.”
“Yeah. My brother and I talked about everything. Our heritage, our childhood, our work. He’s been learning the Muskokee dialect.” He rocked his chair again. “So what about you, Tricia. How’s your life going?”
“Fine. I’m happy.” I adore our son. He’s my entire world. “I’m a real estate broker.”
Jesse narrowed his eyes. “You buy and sell property for Daddy, right?”
Patricia lifted her chin. The sarcasm in his tone set her on edge. “Yes. I buy and sell property for my father’s business.” A highly successful company Dillon would inherit someday. “The income benefits the family trust.”
“And what a tight little family it is,” Jesse mocked. “Daddy and his precious daughter.” He combed his fingers through his hair. “Or are you married, Tricia? Did you bring a suitable young man home for your father’s approval?”
She waved her left hand. Apparently he hadn’t noticed the absence of a wedding band. “I’m single,” she snapped. “But I’ve matured, Jesse. Unlike you. Your childish grudge is most unbecoming.”
“So sue me. Or better yet, try to run my life again.”
She didn’t want to have this conversation. Not now. Her father had been wrong all those years ago, but he’d made it up to her. He had loved her son from the moment the boy was born. And being a parent herself, she’d come to understand her father’s motives, his overly protective nature.
“I didn’t come here to dredge up the past.”
He sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. And I’m glad you’re happy, Tricia.”
Since the gentleness in Jesse’s voice reminded her of the man he used to be, the youth she had loved so desperately, Patricia glanced up at the window for a diversion. Two dogs were perched there now, panting against the glass. She couldn’t help but smile.
“You can let them out. I don’t mind.”
He grinned, flashing a set of straight white teeth. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The dogs, three of them, barreled out the door in a whirl of fur and excited barks. Cochise sat, ears perked, watching the activity. Patricia was all but attacked, nuzzled and nudged with wet noses and hairy paws, so she tried to give each dog equal attention, petting them simultaneously. Jesse laughed as a small wiry brown-and-white mutt made its way onto her skirt.
Jesse knelt to stroke the dog on her lap while the other two lost interest and zoomed down the porch steps, Cochise staring longingly after them.
Jesse
