clip.
Though the baby’s cries had tapered, she was still putting up a fight. As Nicole pressed cold water to her face, she heard another howl. She could empathize. If she had to choose between allegiance to Adele and friendship with the Millers, she might cry, too.
* * *
DR. GREENE, A TALL, slim woman in her fifties, raised her eyebrows above her wire-rim glasses. “You’re awfully tense. Worried about the results of the surgery?”
Daniel shook his head, feeling sheepish. “Medical facilities give me the heebie-jeebies. No offense, Doc.”
“None taken.” She confirmed that he was doing the “passive” exercises she’d recommended and that he could make it through most days without pain medication. “All things considered, you’re healing nicely. But...even with the surgical reattachment of the ligament and the physical therapy you’ll be starting, your shoulder’s stability is compromised. I have a son your age. And if he were in the same situation, I’d ask him to think about quitting the rodeo circuit. Going forward, you’re in jeopardy of reinjuring your shoulder.”
The idea of giving up rodeos wasn’t as upsetting as she might think. Although Daniel had worked hard to earn his ranking—sometimes even beating Jacob, who’d had a real shot at the National Finals—his career path had developed more from his environment than a conscious desire on his part. People called oil the family business, and God knew Baron Energies had made Brock plenty of money, but, until this year, it would have been equally true to say rodeo was the family business.
His thoughts drifted to Bodie’s description of life at the Double F. Daniel enjoyed physical labor. Ranch work would allow him to continue being around livestock without the risks of trying to stay on Brahman or longhorn descendants specifically bred to buck.
Thanking the doctor for her advice, Daniel promised to give it serious consideration. She told him he could pick up the referral paperwork for the therapist at the checkout window, then left him to put his shirt back on. He was glad not to be hampered by the sling anymore, anxious to start PT and rebuild his strength.
When he returned to the waiting room, he spotted Carly in one of the padded seats, idly twisting a blond curl around her finger as she studied a bridal magazine. As he got close enough to see the hot-pink headline, he realized she was looking at a checklist. Damn, there were a lot of items! Surely checklists that detailed were necessary only for royal weddings.
She glanced up with a smile. “All done?”
“Finished and sling-free.”
“Great. Do you mind if we make a stop on the way to your place? I need to swing by the florist and double-check all the arrangements. And corsages. And bouquets. I’d love to get your opinion on them!” She paused, then flashed a mischievous smile at his rising discomfort. “Kidding. Julieta asked me to drop off some assorted baby supplies Chris and Lizzie left at the ranch yesterday.”
Midday traffic wasn’t too bad, and the drive didn’t take long.
As Carly grabbed the baby stuff from the backseat, she asked, “Aren’t you coming in? I mean, I don’t expect to be here long, but I was going to take the opportunity to snuggle our niece. Assuming she’s awake.”
He’d already missed a family gathering yesterday. Staying in the vehicle now would be downright antisocial. A few feet from the front door, it became evident that baby Natalie was very much awake.
“Yikes.” Carly grimaced. “Someone’s unhappy.”
Daniel wondered if, among the metric ton of other infant-care paraphernalia, Chris and Lizzie had also purchased earplugs.
Without bothering to knock, Carly opened the door. “Hello?” They found Chris in the living room, pacing with his daughter. “I brought some of the things you guys left at the Roughneck. Any chance there’s something in this bag that will help? Favorite pacifier? Magic wand?”
“I think this’ll be over soon,” Chris said. “She can’t even keep her eyes open. It’s not the most peaceful way to fall asleep, but she’ll be out in another ten minutes.”
Ten more minutes of this? Daniel felt a wave of sympathy for the other man.
Chris nodded toward the kitchen. “Lizzie was just about to fill some bowls of soup if you guys haven’t eaten lunch yet.”
“Thanks, but I had a big breakfast,” Carly said. Daniel could have hugged her for declining the invitation. “But I definitely want to say hi before we leave.”
The first thing Daniel noticed as they approached the kitchen was the warm, savory smell. But that was immediately overshadowed by the staggering tension in the room. Lizzie was standing at the counter, holding a ladle in a white-knuckle grip, her eyes bright with emotion.
Seated at the table was another woman, a beautiful brunette who looked vaguely familiar. But if he’d met her before, why didn’t he recognize her? Short of being kicked in the head by a bull and sustaining brain damage, it seemed impossible any man would forget her. She was stunning, with something indefinably exotic about her appearance. Perhaps her coloring, or the shape of her dark eyes? Her delicate features were balanced by her lush mouth and framed by thick, straight hair that tumbled well past her shoulders.
Right now, however, her lovely features were crinkled into an anxious frown. Were the two women distraught over the baby’s misery, or had he and Carly walked in on the middle of an argument?
“Daniel, Carly.” Lizzie cleared her throat, forcing a smile as she met her sister’s gaze. “This is Nicole Bennett.”
Right! “We met in April,” Daniel recalled, “when you brought Lizzie to the hospital.”
Nicole nodded. “Nice to see you again.”
He would have remembered sooner but he’d been preoccupied when they met, worried about Lizzie. He’d always had a soft spot for the oldest Baron. If anyone could understand Brock’s favoritism of Jet and how it made Jacob and Daniel feel, it would have been her. Although she was the firstborn, Brock often underestimated her because she was female. It had taken the old man’s medical leave from Baron Energies for him to finally trust her with the responsibility she deserved.
Carly straightened, her posture alert. “Nicole Bennett who works for AB Windpower?”
No wonder the atmosphere was tense. Had Chris and Lizzie invited the woman here to ask her about the stock purchases?
Whatever conversation had been taking place, Nicole looked reluctant to continue. She rose from her chair. “I should get back to the office.”
“We haven’t even had lunch,” Lizzie protested.
“I wouldn’t have eaten much anyway,” Nicole said. “My, um, stomach hasn’t entirely settled since the turbulent flight into Dallas yesterday. I don’t blame the baby for having an off day, but I’m not sure this is the best time to talk. It sounds like you and Chris wanted to ask me some questions. Instead of trying to cram everything into my lunch hour, why don’t we get together over the weekend?”
“I’d like to be there, too,” Carly said softly. “Sorry. I realize you don’t know me, but—”
“Actually, I think you should
