Troy Aikman? They retired because of injuries that threatened their lives,” she added. “They found other things that were important to them. Surely you’ve made enough money to start over with something else. Besides, Dylan, you can’t even walk right now. How can you think about going back?”
“That’s what I mean,” he stressed. “So, what’s the use of me killing myself if it’s all for nothing?”
Brenna’s eyes flashed as she got up from the table. “The use is that you have other things to walk for. Your family. Your brother, his wife and their children.”
Dylan was never one to do much with family. Wyatt had been the only relative he had had, until last year when they’d learned their father’s true identity. A bronc rider named Jack Randell. After the discovery, Wyatt immediately had to come to San Angelo, Texas, even bought the old Randell family ranch, the Rocking R. Dylan had wanted no part of the Randells, but Wyatt had gotten close to his half brothers, Chance, Cade and Travis, and their other illegitimate half brother, Jared Trager.
And since the accident, Dylan had been stuck here. “That’s Wyatt’s family, not mine.”
“It’s yours, too,” she insisted. “Family can be important to your rehabilitation.”
He didn’t want to hear any more. “What is it going to cost me to get rid of you?”
Brenna crossed her arms over her breasts. Just the simple movement was erotic. Oh, God. He couldn’t have her living here.
“Why don’t I make a deal with you,” she began. “How about you cooperate with me for two weeks?” She raised her hand to stop him. “Just hear me out.”
He hesitated, then gave a nod.
“If there isn’t any progress by that time, I’ll leave.” She lowered her hand. “Now, I have terms. I want you to get out of bed every morning by seven o’clock, you’ll need to spend the allotted time on the parallel bars and work twice a day with weights. And I will work you hard, Dylan. Harder than you’ve probably had to work in your life, but I also believe that together we can get results.” She looked him in the eye. “You can walk, Dylan. I believe it. So, how much are you willing to do for that? How much are you willing to do so you can get out of the wheelchair, to walk on your own?”
Dylan didn’t want to just walk, he wanted to go back to what he had loved to do: bull riding. He wasn’t afraid of work. Hell, he grew up with hard manual labor, handling rough stock for rodeos. But this was all he’d ever wanted. And even if he was retiring, he wanted to go out on top. He was Dylan “The Devil” Gentry.
“I want to get back to rodeoing. Can you help me do that?”
He watched her hesitate and his heart sank into his gut. Then her eyes darkened with determination. “It’s going to cost you extra, but I feel if the desire is there, you can do anything.”
“I know I have the desire, but do you, Brenna? Can you put up with my nasty attitude and bad days, and make me the man I used to be?”
“I hope by the time I’m finished you’ll learn that being a man has nothing to do with the size of the bull you ride.”
She made him want to do a lot more than just walk. He shook away the distracting thought. “Can you do it?” he challenged. “Will you do it?”
Brenna’s gaze locked with his. There was a flicker of vulnerability before she masked it and nodded. “Why do I feel like I just sold my soul to the devil?”
His face split into a beautiful smile that set her heart aflutter.
Because she had.
Chapter Two
Early the next morning Brenna stepped outside on the porch, hoping the brisk air would help her recent queasiness. What she didn’t expect was to find Wyatt Gentry’s four-year-old daughter, Kelly, sitting on the step.
“Well, good morning.”
Smiling, the cute little blonde stood. “Hi, Miss Brenna.” Under a heavy nylon jacket, she wore a pink sweater with blue corduroy pants and a pair of boots. She came up another step. “You remember me? Kelly. I live in that house.” She pointed to the large ranch house about a hundred yards away.
“Yes, Kelly, I remember you.” Brenna hugged her own heavy sweater closer to ward off the January cold. “What are you doing out so early?”
“I’m going for a ride on my pony, Sandy. My daddy is going to take me.” She frowned. “But I don’t know where he is.” She glanced at the cottage door. “Is he inside with Unca Dylan?”
“No, but your uncle is awake. You want to come inside?”
The girl shook her head, a mixture of fear and sadness in her eyes. “No. He doesn’t like me.”
“Oh, sweetheart. Your uncle was hurt in a bad accident. He’s just having a rough time trying to make his leg work again. I bet soon he’ll be happy again.”
“Then will he like me?”
“I think he already does,” Brenna tried to assure her. “But let’s give him a few weeks and when he’s feeling better you can come by for a visit.”
The child smiled. “I like you,” she said as she studied Brenna. “You’re pretty. Do you have any little girls who are four?” She held up the same number of fingers.
Brenna shook her head as she held a protective hand over her stomach. “No, I don’t,” she said, feeling a sudden yearning. “Not yet.” She prayed that the baby growing inside her would be born healthy. If she survived the next few months, this job paid well enough to guarantee that she could stay home with her child for those first few months, but she still couldn’t give her baby a father.
A man’s voice drew their attention and they both looked toward the barn to find Wyatt. Kelly’s face lit up and she took off running. Brenna waved and watched until the girl jumped into her father’s arms. The scene reminded her of her own father, Sean Farren. There was nothing like the secure feeling parents gave a child. Brenna was a little ashamed she hadn’t told her parents about the baby—the baby she had conceived out of wedlock—with a man they’d never met.
Brenna knew they’d be disappointed with their oldest child and their only daughter. She was the first Farren to bring home a college degree. She also thought she’d be bringing a husband, but that had changed with Jason’s hang-gliding accident and death. Just days later she’d discovered she was pregnant. With no other options, she had to come home to her family’s ranch.
That was the reason she needed to have a job that paid enough to allow her to raise her child and not have to depend on Mom and Dad. Tugging her sweater around her, she knew she had to tell them. She’d seen the subtle changes in her body. At three months, she was beginning to lose her waistline. It wouldn’t be much time before her secret was out.
Brenna walked back inside the cottage. This was to be her home for a while. But what would happen with her job when Dylan Gentry discovered her condition? Would he send her packing or would she be given the chance to help him back on his feet?
She hoped the latter. At least she didn’t have to worry about the man being
