“You’re about to find out.”
Once Dani had her mother and sister on the phone, she placed hers on speaker so Libby could be included as well. “Mom, Kim, and Libby. Thanks for making time for this call. I think it’s time you knew why there will never be a Steve and Dani again.”
She took a deep breath and began talking, starting at the beginning with Steve’s first missed hit and then the slap, two months later. She had to pause while they released their shock, then outrage, followed by threats of what they would do if they saw Steve again.
And finally, there was the indignation. How dare Dani go through that without telling them? She tried to explain that at the time, it was something she had to figure out herself. The last thing she needed was for them to baby her. It was her decision to make. She couldn’t expect them to do it for her.
She continued, telling them how Steve had shown up at Libby and Richard’s ranch last weekend, but Wade had taken care of him, kicking his legs out from under him, giving him a busted lip, and then a hard knock upside the head.
“Who’s Wade?” her mother asked.
Before Dani could answer, Libby said, “He’s our sexy neighbor who is also a rodeo star. He has the hots for Dani.”
At Dani’s frown, Libby said, “Well, he does. I saw the way he was looking at you during dinner. And Dani really likes him, too.”
“Isn’t it a little soon for you to be getting involved with someone else, Dani?” her oldest sister, Kim, asked.
Dani thought it was time to bring the call to an end. “Look, I just wanted you guys to know the truth so you canstop hoping Steve and I will one day kiss and make up. I won’t be with a man who’ll hurt me.”
She drew in a deep breath and said, “And to answer your question, Mom, Wade Harrison is my new and permanent boo. I understand he thinks like you do, Kim, that I’m on the rebound. But that’s okay, because I plan to show him that I’m well and truly over Steve, no matter how long it takes. I want Wade to be as sure of me as I am of him. He’s the man who should be mine. It was never meant for me to be with Steve.”
The phone conversation got quiet, and then Thea asked, “Will Wade be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner, Dani?”
“If you’re extending an invitation, then I’ll ask him, Mom.”
“Yes, Jeremiah and I are extending an invitation. We’re looking forward to meeting this hero of yours.”
Later that night, Dani lay in Wade’s arms at his ranch house. They’d just made love, and the night was quiet.
“How long will you be remaining in Texas?” Wade asked carefully.
She gently rubbed her hands across his chest, loving the way the hair felt beneath her fingers. “Since it’s so close to Thanksgiving, I was going to fly to Chicago and spend a few days there and then drive to Gary on Thanksgiving Day. Mom invited you to Thanksgiving dinner. She wants to meet my boyfriend.”
“Am I your boyfriend, Dani?”
She smiled. “I hope so. We rock well together. I like cooking, you like eating, we both like riding horses, and although I’m not crazy about doing ranch chores,I manage.”
“Could you handle a long-distance relationship?” he asked.
“I can handle one just fine. What about you?”
“I can come see you every chance I get, when I can take time away from being on the circuit.”
“And when you can’t come to me, Wade, I will come to you.”
He nodded. “Will you take out that restraining order on Steve when you get back to San Francisco?”
“I already have. You can do more stuff online these days.”
“His number has been blocked on your phone?” Wade asked.
“Yes. I blocked him before he arrived that day. That’s probably why he was so angry.”
When Wade didn’t say anything, she said, “I know what you’re doing, Wade.”
“Oh? And what is that?”
“You’re giving me time to trust my feelings. And that’s okay, because I want you to be sure of them. But just so you know, Wade Harrison, I play for keeps. And one day you will accept that I have fallen hopelessly in love with you.”
