too modest.”
“I just don’t see how telling them about the accident has anything to do with my culinary skills. If they don’t think I’m qualified for the job, then I’ll find someplace that does. I have another interview tomorrow.” She placed a pink block over Sienna’s lavender one.
“Good for you. With Christmas coming, I’m sure the restaurants are busier than usual. You’ll find something. But you know you can stay here as long as you like. I love having Sienna and you here for as long as it takes. Makes this big place feel more homey.”
“I do know that. You’ve been wonderful. But I need a job. I need to get back on my feet.” What she really wanted was to open a restaurant of her own. She’d worked toward that goal for a while. Now that dream had to be put on hold until she could make sense of her life.
“Have you heard any news of your father at all?”
“No, thank goodness. I didn’t leave a forwarding address with anyone I know in San Francisco and I have a new cell number. Your place is so brand-new that even if he wanted to find me through you, he wouldn’t be able to. He’s a stubborn old mule. And Yvonne is no help. She’s probably grinning from ear to ear that we’re out of Marco’s life now.”
“The evil stepmother.”
“Hardly a mother. She’s only thirty-eight, ten years older than me. The thought of that woman ever raising my daughter makes me sick to my stomach.”
“Your dad would never take Sienna away from you,” Amy said. “It’s an idle threat, Bella.”
“I don’t know that for sure. He was eager to accuse me of having a mental breakdown when Paul died. I did my best to hang tough, but it was difficult for me.”
“You were grieving. That doesn’t make you unstable,” Amy said. “And you bounced back, for Sienna’s sake.”
A sigh blew from Bella’s lips. “We’re better off now. Starting fresh. Starting over. At least I won’t have to worry about Dad announcing my engagement in the society page to a man I’d barely dated. That was the last straw.”
“That was pretty underhanded,” Amy said, lifting up the Dallas Tribune. “But it seems like you made the newspapers again, Bella. I found this last night on page three and thought maybe you’d like to see it.”
Amy handed her the newspaper. The black-and-white photo of the accident scene jumped out at her first. It pictured what was left of the hot red Lamborghini and next to it was an image of Jared Stone. She skimmed the article, learning that the victim was an entrepreneur and rancher who lived on Stone Ridge Ranch quite a few miles outside the city limits. It went on to say that Jared Stone had multiple holdings and companies in and around the Dallas area and shared his ranching business with his brother, Cooper. The piece hinted at a privileged lifestyle, portraying a man who courted danger with fast cars, racing boats and motorcycles.
“Seems like your guy has a need for speed,” Amy said, grinning.
“Yeah, well. Hopefully he’s learned his lesson. When I think about what could’ve happened to him, I get flustered.”
“Oh, yeah, that was a pretty gruesome scene. But you pulled it off. That guy doesn’t know how darn lucky he was that you were driving on that road at that exact moment. There’s a mention of you in there, but they didn’t print your name. You’re the brave mysterious woman who pulled him to safety and saved his life.”
“Yeah, well, I ducked out of the hospital before the news crew arrived, I guess.” She tossed the newspaper aside. “I don’t want to think about it anymore. I have enough trouble sleeping at night.”
“Oh, man, Bella. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was keeping you up.”
“It’s nothing new. I’m a terrible sleeper. I envy people who can lay their heads down and fall asleep. That’s so not me.”
She helped Sienna put the princess block on the very top of the castle and this time it didn’t topple over. “Yay! You did it!” She clapped her hands and Sienna mimicked her.
“I did it, Mommy!”
She hugged the baby to her chest. Sienna was growing up way too fast. She deserved a good life in a place she could call home, with a dog or a cat or a goldfish, and a backyard instead of a high-rise elevator.
But for now, they had to make do living in Dallas.
* * *
Jared leaned against Cooper, his brother bracing him under the arm as they strode into the house. He was banged up pretty badly, but after two days in the hospital, he refused to enter his home in a wheelchair. He’d make it under his own power, with a little help from Coop, and that was that.
“Man, I wish like hell you would’ve let me take you to my place,” Cooper said for the tenth time. “Lauren is a great nurse.”
“Your new bride is also pregnant. She doesn’t need me underfoot and neither do you. Besides, I’ll be more comfortable here.” The last thing he wanted was to be a burden to the honeymooners.
Jared’s home was on Stone Ridge land, a good half mile from Cooper’s place. They shared the stables and pastures and got along that way just fine. They were brothers and business partners, but they both needed their own space. “You can barely walk. And even if Marie could help you around the house, she’s getting too old to keep up with everything. It’s not fair to her.”
“Don’t argue with me, Coop. It’s hard enough just to breathe with these cracked ribs, much less get in a pissing match with you.”
“Fine, but think about Marie.”
Their housekeeper shared duties between the two houses, splitting her time between both. Jared’s injuries would make it much harder for her to keep up. “Don’t worry. I won’t let Marie tax herself. I’ll think of something.”
They left the foyer and Jared gestured toward the great room, wincing slightly. “Just help me to the chair.”
His favorite leather armchair faced the back window, where he had a view of the vast amount of land he called his backyard. His home was modern in most respects, but this room with throw rugs over hardwood flooring and a massive flat-screen television was more lived in, a place he could unwind and not worry about disrupting the fine order of things.
With Cooper still supporting him, Jared slowly lowered himself into the chair. He felt a sharp jolt in his chest and it took a good few seconds before the ache subsided. “I’m...okay,” he said breathlessly.
Cooper’s lips pulled down in a stern expression.
“You look like Dad when you do that,” Jared whispered.
“And you look like a man who’s...in pain.”
“Good observation. Sit a minute, will you?”
Cooper took a seat on a matching leather sofa facing him.
“Tell me about the woman.” The angel, whose voice calmed him, whose touch gave him solace when he might’ve
