the sound of the knock on her door, Kira looked up to see her fellow counselor and friend, Michelle Turner, peer in.
“Michele,” she greeted. “Are you coming for the meeting?”
“It’s been postponed until one o’clock,” her friend said as she walked inside the small enclosure and closed the door. “Kira, are you all right?”
She gave her friend a bright smile. “I’m fine.”
The young teacher sat down in the only other chair. “No, you’re not.”
Kira shook her head. Michele had been the one person she’d confided in about her inability to conceive. The fellow teacher had been her first friend when she’d come to the western Colorado town. “No, really. We’ve gotten word from the adoption agency.”
Michele’s pretty blue eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s great news.” She frowned. “Why so sad?”
Kira shrugged. “Hormones, probably. And Trace. He’s a little hesitant about the idea.”
Michele leaned forward. “You two have been through a lot over this and now that you’re so close to having a baby, he’s probably a little scared.”
And he wants his own child, Kira added silently. “It’s more.” She looked her friend in the eye, knowing she’d never betray her confidence. “It hasn’t been easy living with me this last year.”
“You’ve gone through a lot, trying to have a baby.”
Kira released a shuttering breath. “Trace moved out to the bunkhouse two months ago.”
“Oh, Kira.” Michele shook her head. “Isn’t that just like a man? When they can’t deal with things, they up and leave. Well, I know Trace loves you.”
And Kira wasn’t so sure of that anymore. “I might have pushed him too far this time. We both said things that can’t be taken back.” She recalled the hurtful words she’d thrown at him. And yesterday she mentioned the “D” word. It was all or nothing now.
“Then march out to that bunkhouse and convince him to come back home.”
“I’m not sure that will work.”
“How do you know if you don’t try? So go and seduce your husband.” Michele glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to get back. Can we do lunch later in the week?”
“Sure. Are you going to help chaperone at the roundup?”
Michele grinned. “I wouldn’t miss it. Is your good-looking brother-in-law going to be there?”
Kira was surprised by her friend’s interest in Jarrett. “I’m not sure.”
Michelle waved off the question then hugged her. “I’ll see you later.” She walked out.
Kira leaned back in her chair. Could she get Trace to come back home, and get him to change his mind about the divorce? Could they work together to repair their mess of a marriage?
She thought back to the last time Trace had wanted to be close to her. In the weeks before he’d moved out, her once-loving husband hadn’t wanted to touch her, or even be in the same house with her. And she couldn’t blame him. The sad part was she’d driven him out. Out of his own home.
Trace loved the McKane Ranch, one of the oldest in the area. He was a cattleman like his father and grandfather before him. There had been times when she was a little jealous of his dedication, maybe if he’d talk about the operation with her it would help. Even when he’d bought out part of his brother’s land, she hadn’t been asked anything about it until it came time to sign the loan papers. She just wanted to feel like a part of his dreams.
Kira felt her chest tighten with the familiar ache. The same feeling she’d had when she’d lost her parents in the accident and her grandmother wouldn’t take her into her home. Rejection. When she had to go into foster care, then from home to home. Rejection. When she fell in love with the first boy who gave her the time of day, he’d abandoned her, too. Rejection. Now, her marriage…
Kira sat up straighter. Why was she thinking so much about the past? She’d worked so hard to put those years behind her. A glance at the calendar gave her the answer. It was approaching the seventh of June. Fifteen years had passed and it still hurt like a fresh wound.
No! This baby was going to change things. She was going to have her family, even if it was only part of one.
“Kira…”
She turned around to see Trace at the door. He was dressed in his usual jeans and Western shirt, his cowboy hat in his hand. With her heart pounding, she stood. “Trace.” He never came to her school. “Is something wrong?”
“Do you have some time to talk?”
“Sure.” She stepped aside. “Come in.”
He glanced around the busy office. “I’d rather go somewhere else. Can you leave for a while?”
She checked her watch. “I’m free for the next hour.”
“Let’s go for some coffee.”
“Sure.” Kira grabbed her purse, stepped out into the hall and together they walked out of the building. When Trace placed his hand against the small of her back, she shivered.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” she lied. “I’m fine. I just need some coffee.”
He gave her a sideways glance. “You should switch to decaf.”
She studied his profile. Trace McKane had always been serious by nature. He didn’t smile easily, but when he did he was irresistible.
They were quiet as he helped her to his truck, then drove past all the recently built, chain restaurants to the older section of Winchester Ridge to Bonnie’s Diner. Still a favorite with the locals.
They took a booth by the picture window. The red vinyl seats were worn and cracked, repaired by tape over the years. The place was clean and the food good. Right now, there weren’t any customers, only the sound of a country ballad coming from the old fifties-style jukebox.
Trace signaled the waitress for two coffees and sat down across from Kira. He wondered if he should have waited until she got home to talk with her.
After what happened between them last night, he should be staying away from her, completely. But here he was, sitting across from her. Just looking at her had him working to breathe normally. Nothing had changed. Kira Hyatt had gotten to him from the moment he laid eyes on her, right here in this diner. It had been the only time he’d ever won out against his older sibling. For once Jarrett hadn’t gotten the girl. Younger brother, Trace had.
But Trace had nothing now. Not a wife. Not a marriage. It helped to remember the bad times. That kept him from storming back into the house they’d shared for five years. To a life he’d thought was perfect, but reality hit and he’d learned nothing was perfect. That it hit home again as he recalled that Kira only wanted a six-month marriage.
The
