––––––––
The next morning, Kaitlyn got up at her usual time and glanced over to the other side of the bed. Riley was gone. She supposed she’d better get used to that, because some day he would be gone for good.
Quickly taking a shower, before Sadie woke up, she dressed for work. When she entered the hallway, she peeked into her daughter’s room and gasped. Riley was sitting in the rocking chair holding Sadie. They were both sound asleep. Kaitlyn tiptoed over to them and lightly touched Riley on the shoulder. He opened his eyes and gazed up at her. Those gorgeous eyes blinked away sleep and then crinkled happily.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
“What are you doing here? I thought you had to leave early?” Kaitlyn whispered back.
He shrugged. “I carried the rocking chair in and she woke up. I thought if I rocked her, she’d go back to sleep. I didn’t mean to fall asleep myself but someone kept me up kind of late.” He gave her a sly smile.
Kaitlyn could feel the heat in her cheeks. “I didn’t hear any complaints.”
Her insides melted when his grin grew bigger. “And you never will, darlin’.”
Sadie squirmed, stretched her arms over her head, opened her eyes, and grinned up at Riley then spotted Kaitlyn and immediately reached for her. “Mama.”
“Hi, baby.” Kaitlyn moved to take her from Riley, but he held on.
“How about a good morning kiss?” He burst out laughing when Sadie kissed his chin. Kaitlyn chuckled suspecting he was talking to her, not to her daughter. Riley stood and handed Sadie to Kaitlyn then leaned in to steal a quick kiss. “I need to get going. I’ll call you later.”
Kaitlyn nodded and watched as he left the room. She heard the front door open and close. When will that happen for the last time? Carrying Sadie, she moved to the window that looked out over the parking lot and watched Riley climb into his truck. Moments later, the truck roared down the street.
Kaitlyn dressed Sadie and after breakfast, they headed for the shop. Madilyn was already there when she arrived. After placing Sadie in her playpen, Kaitlyn helped Madilyn get ready for the day.
“When did you buy her a new bunny?” Madilyn whispered nodding her head in Sadie’s direction. Kaitlyn glanced back at her daughter and smiled when she saw Sadie talking her gibberish to the stuffed animal.
“I didn’t. Riley got it for her and brought it over last night,” Kaitlyn whispered then felt the heat in her cheeks when Madilyn grinned at her.
“Last night, huh?”
Kaitlyn cleared her throat. “He, uh...brought a pizza over. I didn’t know he was going to buy her a new one. I’d mentioned she needed a new one but...”
“You’re rambling, Katie.” Madilyn laughed.
Kaitlyn sighed. “I know.” She collapsed into the chair behind the counter. “He also gave me a rocking chair that had belonged to his mother.” Shaking her head, she gazed up at Madilyn. “He’s going to break my heart.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He’s going to leave Clifton, and I’m sure it will be soon. He won’t be back, either. The construction company he owns is now at the ranch clearing the land for a new house.” Kaitlyn’s voice caught on a sob. “Not a new home for him. No, he’s planning to sell it all once the house is built.”
“I’m sorry, Katie,” Madilyn told her.
“I knew it, Madilyn. I knew from the start he didn’t plan on staying, he doesn’t want to be here but like an idiot, I fell in love anyway.” Kaitlyn tried to hold the tears back but they rolled down her cheeks. When she felt Madilyn’s arms go around her, Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around her and cried until she heard Sadie calling for her.
“Mama?” Sadie gazed up at her. Kaitlyn picked her up out of the playpen and hugged her tight.
“Mama’s fine, baby.” Kaitlyn wished she didn’t have to lie to her daughter but in this case, she had no choice. Everything wasn’t fine but for her daughter’s sake, she’d have to make it so.
****
Riley sat on the bulldozer, running it over what was left of the flattened house. He used the blade to lift the rubble then dump it into a large garbage dumpster. His eyes scanned the pasture to see his crew using backhoes to dig out where the new house would sit. He was already able to picture it up there. A lodge style log home with a wraparound porch overlooking a large pond. The back of the house would face the Glaciers. It was going to be a beautiful place and will make a lovely home.
Averting his eyes, Riley got back to work. The thoughts running through his head would never materialize, thoughts of him and Kaitlyn making a home, building a life, and giving Sadie a happy family, maybe with brothers and sisters. No, he wasn’t staying. No matter how beautiful it turned out, it was not going to be his home. Memories haunted the land that he could never exorcise. He was going to put it up for sale as soon as it was finished. Riley pushed the lever to move the bulldozer through the remnants of the house he hated yet again.
The feelings raging through him made him smile. Seeing the house destroyed made all the difference in the world. After emptying the bucket for the last time, he hopped off and headed for his truck. Riley drove it up the rise to where his men were working on clearing the area. Getting out, he strolled to where Gus stood.
Riley mentally shook his head any time he looked at Gus. The man stood six foot six. He was as wide as he was tall and he always had a cigar, or what was left of one, hanging from the corner of his mouth. Not able to think of a time when Gus didn’t have one, he even wondered if the man might even sleep with it there. Poor Martha. Riley snorted. To each his own. Some of the men even teased Gus that they were surprised his driver’s license didn’t have a picture of him with it in his mouth, since it wouldn’t look like him otherwise.
“Hey, Gus.” Riley stopped beside him.
“Hey, boss. This sure is beautiful country.” Gus gazed around the land.
Riley nodded. “Yes, it is.” His mouth tightened. Too bad the memories were so ugly.
“We should be able to start on the foundation tomorrow. We’ll get the slab poured today before sunset,” Gus assured him.
Slapping him on the back, Riley gave a nod of approval. Before heading to his truck, he told his men he’d bring back lunch. It was well past lunchtime and he knew they all had to be hungry. Riley would pick up eleven burgers and fries, including one for his own lunch. His thoughts ran to Kaitlyn, wondering if she’d had lunch yet. Pulling his cell phone out, he called her.
“Katie’s Florist and Greenhouse, Katie speaking,” she answered, sounding out of breath.
“Are you being run ragged today, sweetheart?” Riley laughed.
“You have no idea,” she muttered into the phone as if she might be overheard.
Riley frowned. “Did I catch you at a bad time? I was wondering if you’d had lunch yet.”
“What time...? Oh my God...I didn’t realize it was after one.” Kaitlyn sounded a bit exasperated but then laughed softly, sending a tremble of desire over him.
He cleared his throat. “I’m heading to the diner to pick up lunch for my crew. Do you want me to bring you and Madilyn something? What about the squirt?”
“I’d love it. Just bring us burgers and fries, and an extra order of fries for Sadie. She ate around eleven, but I’m sure she’d love some.”
“You got it. I’ll be there in a little while.” Riley smiled as he hung up. He loved watching Sadie eat her fries but frowned for a moment, when he remembered he couldn’t stick around to watch her this time. His men needed to eat so he’d have to head back to the site. As he started into the diner, he held the door open for two women coming out, recognizing Becca and Olivia Stone.
“Hi Riley.” Becca smiled up at him.
He touched the brim of his straw cowboy hat. “Hello Becca.”
“You remember Olivia, right?” Becca grinned.
Riley looked to the raven-haired beauty beside Becca and took the hand she offered. He wouldn’t be surprised if he were starting to drool. The woman was gorgeous with a sexy mole at the top right corner of her lush mouth. Her amethyst eyes sparkled with humor.
“Good to see you again, Riley.” Her eyes ran over him and his male pride hoped she liked what she saw...but she wasn’t Kaitlyn.
Riley raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Good to see you too, Liv. Damn, Wyatt’s one lucky bastard.”
Olivia laughed softly. “Thank you, but I think you have it backwards. I’m the lucky one.”
Riley could tell even though she flirted, she totally loved her husband. “Well, you beautiful ladies have a great afternoon. I need to pick up some lunches.” He moved past them into the diner, and took a seat at the counter.
“What can I get you, Riley?” Connie asked pulling her pad from the pocket of her skirt. He gave her his order and glanced around the diner. Everyone he made eye contact with smiled or waved at him. No one in this town ever treated him differently than anyone else even though they hadn’t liked his father but then honestly, who had. Riley’s eyes went to the door when the bell rang and he mentally groaned when Sam strolled in. Their eyes met and they gave each other that male acknowledgment nod. Sam sat down beside him.
“How’s it going out there, Riley?”
“Good. The old house is leveled and we’ve started on the new foundation.”
“New foundation?” Sam gave him a questioning lift of his brow.
“I’ve decided to build a log home on the land.”
“So you’re staying?”
“No. I just think the land will sell better with a house on it, a nice house.”
Sam grunted and looked away. “You’re an idiot.”
At that moment, Connie set the lunches he’d ordered in front of Riley. He gave her some money and waited until she walked away then picked up the large bag. As he got off his seat, he leaned over toward Sam. “Fuck you, Garrett.”
Sam laughed. “That’s fuck you, Sheriff Garrett.”
Riley chuckled, told him he’d see him later, and walked out.
Arriving at Kaitlyn’s shop and seeing the parking lot filled with cars, he could see why she’d sounded so tired and frustrated. He knew she only had Madilyn as help. Riley strolled through the doors and grinned at her frazzled look then moved through some customers milling around to get behind the counter.
“Lunch,” he announced.
Madilyn grinned at him. “Lunch? What is that? Some meal I haven’t heard of?”
Riley laughed. “It would seem so.” He pulled out three bags and glanced around. “A lot of people in here.”
“I love it, but it seems like they all come at one time,” Kaitlyn muttered as she took fries from a bag.
Sadie squealed when she spotted Riley making him grin. He picked her up from the playpen and even dropped her bunny to hold on to him. “Where’s my kiss, squirt?” He laughed when she kissed his cheek.
“You have a beautiful daughter,” an elderly woman said to him. “I can certainly see where she gets her looks.” Her gaze went between Riley and Kaitlyn.
“Uh...” Riley started to respond but didn’t know how since he kind of liked the remark.
“You love your dada, don’t you, sweetie?” The woman laughed and moved on.
Sadie gazed up at Riley, and his heart clutched when he heard her say, “Dada?”
Kaitlyn quickly took her from him. “I’m so sorry. She must be a tourist,” she muttered.
Nodding and relinquishing Sadie, Riley swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like the world was closing in. Why had hearing Sadie call him Dada hurt so much. “I’ll, uh...call you later. I have to get going.” He practically ran from the shop.
****
Kaitlyn was mortified. She could feel Madilyn’s eyes on her then felt her rub her back.
“It was an honest mistake, Katie. I’m sure Riley knows that,” Madilyn whispered.
With a deep sigh, Kaitlyn nodded. “I know...it’s just...I know now I need to stop seeing him. It’s already too late for me but Sadie’s asking for him every day so the sooner I end this, the better.”
Glancing at Madilyn, she saw her own pain reflected in her friend’s eyes.
The women ate their lunches while they continued waiting on customers since they couldn’t really take a break, yet the day still seemed to drag. Kaitlyn wasn’t looking forward to doing what she needed to do before the pain of losing Riley affected both, Sadie and her, worse than it already did. She could no longer see Riley, not only for her sake but also for Sadie’s as well.
The day was finally over. Kaitlyn locked the door behind her before she headed to her SUV. Taking a deep breath, she put Sadie in her car seat, and then drove home. Thoughts about what to say to Riley filled her brain as she drove. Once home, she set Sadie down on the floor with her bunny. With a nervousness turning her stomach, she called Riley.
“Madison,” he answered abruptly and she almost hung up.
“Hi. It’s Kaitlyn. Can you come over tonight?” she whispered hoping her voice didn’t betray her hesitation.
“I’d love to, darlin’, but I’m meeting with a private detective tonight at six,” Riley told her. “I got his name from Sam the other day, and already the man has some news for me.”
“That’s great.” She tried to sound enthused even as the words caught in her throat.
“What’s wrong, Katie?”
“Nothing. I...” She choked back a sob. “Nothing important. We can talk later.”
“Uh oh...you want to talk. That’s never good.”
Kaitlyn tried to laugh but the sob spilled out. “Later.” She hung up quickly. When the phone rang a moment later, she refused to answer it when she saw Riley’s number on her phone.
****
By eight-thirty, Kaitlyn sat alone in her living room trying to concentrate on a movie. She wasn’t having much luck. Sadie had gone to bed an hour earlier and Kaitlyn usually enjoyed the down time but tonight, all she could think of was Riley. The sound of the doorbell startled her and sent her heart racing. Peering through the peephole, she saw Riley standing there. Great!
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm her anxious body, she opened the door to him. The man stood there with an expectant expression and still looked too sexy for her own good.
“Hi. Can I come in?” he asked.
Kaitlyn sighed, and opened the door further. Striding past her, he proceeded into the living room where he halted in front of the fireplace then turned to stare at her with his hands on his hips. She pushed the door closed.
“Are you all right?” Kaitlyn asked.
“What did you want to talk about? If it’s because of the way I freaked when that woman thought Sadie was mine...I’m sorry.”
Kaitlyn moved around the room pretending to pick up after Sadie. “What did the detective have to say?” She heard Riley huff.
“Answer me first.”
“No. Her thinking you were...well, that was an honest mistake.” She shook her head. “I’m not saying more until you tell me what the detective found out.”
“Christ, you’re as hardheaded as your brother,” Riley muttered as he moved to stand in front of her. He took her hands in his, and led her to the sofa. “Let’s sit down first.” Taking a deep breath, he blew it out in a huff. “He found her. He found my mother. Now all I have to do is decide if I want to see her.”
“What do you mean if? Don’t you want to?” Kaitlyn frowned.
“I do...but I don’t know what to say to her.” Riley sighed and took her hand in his, looking at it as if he was examining it for answers.
“You’ll think of something when you see her. Where is she?”
“Tallahassee, Florida.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “I’m going to fly down there tomorrow.” Riley lifted his gaze and met her eyes. “Come with me please.”
Kaitlyn gasped. “I don’t know about that...”
“Please. I’m sure Madilyn can cover for you for one day. The squirt can come too, if you’re worried about leaving her.”
“I don’t know. Can we get tickets on such short notice?”
With a quick chuckle, Riley grinned. “I have my own jet, sweetheart.”
“Of course you do,” Kaitlyn mumbled. He had money enough to do what he wanted on a moment’s notice but he couldn’t stay in Clifton.
He laughed then sobered. “Will you? I need you with me on this.”
Sighing, this wasn’t how the evening was supposed to go. How was she going to do this? Having planned to break things off with him and now he was asking her to travel to Florida with him, she started shaking her head.
“Kaitlyn. Please,” Riley pleaded, and she realized he needed her, and that was something she wanted from him. How could she refuse?
“All right.” When she gave in and agreed to go, Riley’s excitement increased and he hugged her.
“Thank you. Thank you, Kaitlyn. I’ll pick you both up at five in the morning. We should touchdown before noon, so Sadie can sleep on the plane.” He leaned over and kissed her. “We’ll be back by evening, I promise.”
Suddenly excited about the details of the trip, he prattled on as her wanting to talk to him now seemed forgotten. She wasn’t going to remind him since she was still unsure what to say. Riley kissed her good night at the door before he left.
Kaitlyn had wanted to ask him to stay so she could be with him one more time, but he seemed to have his mind on so many other things so she let him go. She called Madilyn to coordinate her covering the shop the next day, then after taking a quick bath, she packed a small bag for Sadie and crawled between the sheets. Lying on her back, she gazed up at the ceiling thinking about the next day. When they returned tomorrow night, she was ending it. It had to be done, even as she was grateful Riley had forgotten all about her wanting to talk to him, with his excitement over getting her to go with him. A tear rolled from the corner of her eye and down into her hair at her temple.
****
Riley pulled into Kaitlyn’s apartment complex at almost exactly five the next morning. Her front door opened as he walked toward it. Halting mid-stride, he stared at her as she came toward him carrying a diaper bag, which she handed to him.
“Can you take this? I need to get Sadie wiped off. She’s wearing her scrambled eggs,” Kaitlyn told him.
Chuckling, Riley wished he’d been there to see her enjoy her eggs. “Do I need to get her car seat from your car?”
Seeming somewhat flustered, Kaitlyn nodded. “Yes, please. I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the apartment, and then returned with her keys.
While she returned inside to clean up her daughter, Riley moved the car seat to the backseat of his truck, thanking God that he’d rented a king cab. He grinned as he watched Kaitlyn coming out the door carrying Sadie, who had her arms wrapped around her bunny. The little girl squealed when she spotted Riley as he strode toward them.
“Hey, squirt.” He took her from Kaitlyn and kissed her cheek then leaned down and kissed Kaitlyn. “Good morning, sweetheart,” he whispered against her lips. When she grinned up at him, his heart slammed into his ribcage because being with both of them felt so natural. “Are you ready?”
“Are you?” Kaitlyn tilted her head.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he murmured, grateful Kaitlyn would be at his side while he did this. They piled into the truck and headed for the airport in Butte. It was a two-hour drive. Riley chuckled as Sadie babbled away from the back seat. “She is definitely a morning person, isn’t she?” His eyes ran over Kaitlyn who was stifling a yawn. “Unlike her mama.”
A blush lit up her cheeks when he saw her glance over to him. “I’ve never been a morning person, especially when someone keeps me up late, or has me up at the crack of dawn.”
Riley burst out laughing. “I think you have that backwards...the part about the keeping someone up late.”
Kaitlyn snorted. “Yeah, right.”
They fell into a comfortable silence except for Sadie talking from the backseat, and Kaitlyn answering her. When they finally arrived at the airport, Riley parked his truck near the private hangars, and then carried Sadie while Kaitlyn brought the diaper bag.
“Do you fly the jet?” Kaitlyn asked glancing around.
“No. I have a pilot.” When he thought he’d heard her mutter something like of course under her breath, Riley spoke over his shoulder. “What?”
“Nothing.” Kaitlyn trotted to keep up with him.
They headed toward a blue and white Learjet sitting beside the hangar on the tarmac. The stairs were down and Riley stopped at the bottom of them. He nodded for Kaitlyn to go ahead of him. Upon entering the cabin, a woman came toward them.
“Kaitlyn, this is Diane. She’s been with me for eight years. She’ll get you anything you want or need.” He watched the two women shake hands but Kaitlyn wore a scowl on her face as she took Sadie from Riley then sat down, holding her in her lap. Riley frowned at her and wondered what had pissed her off, everything seemed fine up until now...except whatever it was she still wanted to talk about with him. He took a deep breath, hoping that conversation wouldn’t come anytime soon then moved toward the cockpit, leaving the two women alone.
****
Kaitlyn felt a stab of jealousy over the beautiful Diane. She had no right to feel that way. Riley didn’t belong to her but she couldn’t help it.
“Your little girl is beautiful. She looks just like you, especially with those gorgeous blue eyes.” Diane smiled at them and seemed genuinely friendly.
O-kay. So she was nice. Who cares? The woman was too gorgeous with her flaxen hair and big green eyes. She was petite too, and Kaitlyn hated towering over people. She’d always wanted to be shorter. Kaitlyn gave her a tight-lipped smile and felt like an ass when Diane pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as if she’d done something wrong.
“Would you like something to drink or eat?” Diane smiled at her again.
Kaitlyn shook her head. Jealousy does not become you, Kaitlyn.
Glancing up when a good-looking man entered the jet, she saw him grin and wink at Diane who blushed prettily, and waved. It was then that Kaitlyn noticed the wedding band and huge diamond on Diane’s left ring finger. The man strolled toward them, kissing Diane’s cheek before turning friendly brown eyes on Kaitlyn. He stuck his hand out.
“Hello. I’m Brett Watkins.” His genuine smile showed perfect white teeth. He looked like a model from a magazine or on a book cover.
“Kaitlyn Parker.” She smiled and shook his hand.
Brett squatted down in front of her seat and shook Sadie’s hand. “And who is this little beauty?”
“Sadie.” Kaitlyn grinned as Sadie babbled at him and showed him her bunny. She was getting quite flirtatious with men since Riley’s been in her life.
Brett laughed, stood, and gazed at Diane. “We’re hoping to have one soon aren’t we, Di?”
Diane smiled and nodded. “Maybe in another year or so.”
Relief at knowing Diane and Brett were married washed over Kaitlyn as well as shame at being jealous. She wanted to kick herself for being rude to the woman when it was obvious these two were very much in love. She was about to apologize for being a bitch when Riley came back.
“I don’t pay you enough to stand around and talk, Brett.” Riley glared at his pilot with his hands on his hips.
Brett winked at Kaitlyn. “You sure as hell don’t pay me enough to fly this thing either.”
Riley chuckled and slapped the man on the back. “And yet you keep doing it. We’re ready so whenever you can get us up.”
Brett saluted, winked at Diane again, and then strolled toward the cockpit. Riley took a seat beside Kaitlyn. He gazed up at Diane.
“Why don’t you go sit up front with your husband? Keep an eye on him.” Riley smiled. Diane didn’t hesitate. She smiled at them, told them to let her know if they needed anything, and left to join her husband.
“How long have they been married?” Kaitlyn asked.
“Seven years.”
“Seriously?” Kaitlyn was surprised and worse, really felt like a fool for acting like such a bitch to her.
“Yep. Brett’s been my pilot since day one. I hired Diane a year after him to help when I had clients on the jet. After a year of flipping houses, I started flipping businesses.” Riley shrugged. “I’d fly all over the states for business. I quit that a couple of years ago and went into the building part—houses, not businesses. I really don’t need the jet as much as I used to but I can’t put Diane and Brett out of work.” He smiled. “They met flying for me and married a year later. I even built their home for them.”
“They said they want to have children.”
Riley nodded. “I know, and I told them they’d both have jobs with me as long as they wanted. Brett’s a hell of a pilot and I’d still use him, but I think Diane wants to be a stay at home mom. That’s fine too, and I can always use Brett in my construction company as an architect. He has a degree in architecture. He just loves to fly and prefers it.”
Kaitlyn smiled. “You’re a nice man, Riley Madison.”
“Shhh...don’t tell anyone.” Grinning at her, he took Sadie from her when the little girl reached for him. All of a sudden, Riley frowned. “You said you had something you wanted to talk to me about...”
Kaitlyn shook her head. “When we come back.”
Feeling self-conscious, she couldn’t look at him so she turned her attention to the window, and the activity on the tarmac outside the plane. Riley took her chin in his hand and turned her to face him. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like it.”
Kaitlyn jerked her chin from his grasp. “Not now, Riley.” She held his gaze until he glanced away then she blew out a breath.
It didn’t matter if he didn’t like it. She had no choice because it was how it had to be...unless he was willing to stay in Clifton. After tonight, it would be over between them. Kaitlyn quickly blinked away the tears blurring her vision and gazed out the window as the jet taxied down the runway and lifted into the air.