I took my first breath on earth and my mother took off with a construction worker when I was ten.”
“I bet no one’s used that nickname in a long time.”
“Riffraff?”
Why was she bringing all this up? he thought angrily. Taylor already knew and he’d spent all his life trying to live that down. Didn’t make any damn sense.
“That’s the one. It’s ancient history,” she said, completely unimpressed.
He almost smiled. “Not to me. It’s who I am. But I’ve come to terms with it.” That was only half a lie. “But back then, bull riding was all I had. I was good at it.”
“You were the only person I knew who was meaner and madder than those bulls.”
He grinned. “Back then I had reason to be. But I learned some important lessons.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she said, “Don’t keep me in suspense. What did you learn?”
“Don’t nod your head unless you mean it.”
“A bull rider’s number one rule you used to say.”
“I’m surprised you remember that.”
She lifted one shoulder. “I have a good memory.”
Unlike him, he finished for her. There wasn’t much good to remember about that time. Which brought him to his other favorite rule. “I found out there’s something more important than that.”
“Which is?” she asked.
“Don’t count on anyone but yourself.”
He saw the shadow that crossed her pretty face and wondered about it. But not enough to ask. He wasn’t here to get reacquainted. Although he didn’t remember that intriguing indentation in her chin. And he couldn’t help thinking how much fun it would be to explore.
“I don’t think you learned the right lesson,” she said. “Who taught you that?”
“Your sister. Rodeo week. The night I found her having sex with Zach Adams, who just happened to be the overall point winner at the state championships.”
Chapter Two
“I didn’t know you’d found out about them like that,” she said, her already big eyes growing wider.
Mitch looked around the kitchen, anywhere but at the shocked expression on Taylor’s face. When he finally met her gaze, his irritation dissolved just enough to let a little guilt seep in. He’d wanted to shock her, he realized. Why? Because she reminded him of everything he’d worked so hard to forget? Including his shabby background? If that was the case, he’d sunk to a new low. Or was he just living up to Destiny’s low expectations? It really didn’t matter. The truth was out and he couldn’t say he was sorry—except about Taylor. There was something still innocent about her.
But he’d thought her sister was, too, and she’d thrown him over for another guy. Why would Taylor be any different? Not that it mattered. Because he wasn’t looking. But something about her appealed to him. For that reason alone he reminded himself to watch out for her.
Still, it was a stretch for him to believe Taylor hadn’t known about him finding the lovers in Zach’s car. The two sisters had always been thick as thieves. Although he didn’t remember much about Taylor, his gut told him she wasn’t that good an actress.
“Jen didn’t tell you how we broke up?” he asked.
“I didn’t know about her and Zach until after they’d eloped.” Her dark eyes were sad and angry at the same time.
He casually lifted one shoulder. “How did your father take it?”
“Better than I expected.”
“So I came in a distant second with father and daughter.”
Her gaze shot to his. “She didn’t plan it, Mitch. It just happened. She fell head over heels in love and—”
“And stepped on anyone who stood in her way,” he finished. He didn’t care about Jen anymore. Why was he rehashing this? To push Taylor away? There was no need to do that. She was a member of Destiny’s founding family and her father had made it clear that he hated Mitch’s guts. Or at least the fact that Jen liked him. Taylor probably shared her father’s conviction and had a low opinion of him.
“Jen would never have deliberately deceived you.” A shadow clouded her face. “I think it all happened fast and she couldn’t bring herself to hurt you. I know my sister. I know how badly she felt.”
“Then it’s real hard for me to believe you didn’t know about them.”
And didn’t tell me, he silently added.
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“Is your last name Stevens?”
“No one set out to make a fool of you, Mitch.”
Whether he believed her or not, the fact remained that it happened ten years ago. He hadn’t thought about Jen in a long time. What was it about coming back to Destiny that churned everything up again?
“You’re right. I apologize.” He rubbed a hand across his neck.
“That first year on the rodeo circuit must have been hard on you,” she said. “Seeing Jen and Zach all the time.”
The last thing he wanted was her pity. “Only because I came in second.” She opened her mouth to say something and he jumped in. “The competition was good for publicity. They milked it for all it was worth.”
“Until Zach was killed.” Her gaze searched his face. “Were you there?”
He shook his head. “I was sitting that one out. A pulled muscle.” But he’d heard. He’d tried to contact Jen. But he’d missed her or she hadn’t wanted to talk to him. Either way, it was a long time ago.
“She got her life together and moved forward.” Taylor released a huge sigh. “But they had so little time together. It’s so unfair.”
Unfair? No kidding. But he could give lessons in unfair. The woman he’d believed was his had tossed him aside for his rival. Ten years ago, Jen had done what she’d had to. That was that. He’d gotten over her. Only one other time had he taken a chance. Another big mistake. These days he made it a point not to let down his guard for any woman and there was no reason to relax it now.
He glanced around the kitchen, and noted the copper cow trivet just to Taylor’s left on the counter. The black-and-white bovine teakettle resting on the cook-top. Feminine touches were everywhere. Homey touches. Emptiness kicked up inside him like rheumatism on a damp, cold day.
“I learned something else you might want to think about,” he said more sharply than he intended.
“What’s that?”
“Life
