Elaine took her elbow. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mr. Coleman was very upset.”
She blinked. “He was?”
“There’s no predicting what he might do now that he knows you’re an heiress. Extortion, blackmail. Anything is possible.”
Something clicked inside Jenna’s brain. “Dax isn’t like that. Dax is—” A flood of emotion rushed through her at the thought of everything she’d shared with the Texas rancher.
Here on the Southpaw with Dax, she’d changed from a frightened runaway to an adult with the strength and good sense to run a household, nurture her child as well as his, and turn a lonely house into a lively, beautiful home filled with love. Thanks to Dax, she’d learned that her value and worth had nothing to do with a trust fund. Here she loved and was loved for who she was inside.
Suddenly she knew her mother was wrong. Neither depressed nor mentally ill, Jenna Garwood had become a woman in control of her own life. And she wanted that life to be here, on the Southpaw with Dax if he’d have her. “I love him.”
Elaine’s head snapped back. “Don’t be a fool again. You know what happened the last time a man discovered your trust fund.”
Jenna shook her head slowly from side to side as hope returned, a gentle salve to her wounded soul. “He didn’t know. He didn’t know and he loves me anyway.”
He’d never said as much but she knew now. Dax loved her and Sophie. His love was there in everything he said and did.
She wouldn’t go back. She would not allow the Carrington money to ruin Sophie’s childhood the way it had ruined hers. She’d run away for Sophie’s sake, not to cause her harm, and no amount of psychological manipulation by her mother would change her mind.
Right then, she knew what she had to do.
“Mother, I love and respect you, but I am a grown woman. I am not returning to Pennsylvania.” Regardless of what happened with Dax, she could not go home again. “If you wish to be a part of my life and Sophie’s, you’ll do so under my rules.”
Elaine’s mouth dropped open. Parm snapped to attention but Jenna knew he wouldn’t stop her. He couldn’t.
“Now if you will excuse me, Sophie and I have some unfinished business to attend to.” With a song in her heart and head held high, she went in search of Dax. Somehow she would make him understand.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
DAX SAW HER ROUND the corner of the barn and come toward him across the dead grass, purpose in her stride. The hood of her coat had fallen and her hair blew away from her face. The cold air tinged her cheeks with rose, giving her an invigorated, healthy look. She was carrying the baby bundled in a thick blanket. As she drew near, he could see the excitement emanating from her like heat from a summer sidewalk.
He knew. She was coming to tell him goodbye. She was heading back to the fancy life where she belonged.
Dax hurt so bad he didn’t have the strength to cuss. He was breaking in half, shattered at the thought of losing this woman that he’d known all along he shouldn’t fall for. And yet he had.
When Reba left, he’d been furious and bitter. But with Jenna, he was simply broken. She’d done nothing but make his life better. She’d driven out the bitterness and replaced it with soft smiles, lobster croquettes and Christmas decorations. And the best kisses a man could fantasize about.
Ah, man, he loved her. Maybe if he’d told her and held her and promised her the moon…ah, what was he thinking? She could buy the moon for herself. She didn’t need him.
“Dax?” she said, coming to a halt at his side. He should be angry, but he couldn’t muster the energy. He looked down into those brown eyes and fell apart. Dropping the wrench he’d been using to hang the metal gate, he pulled her and Sophie gently into his embrace.
“I’ll never forget you, Jenna,” he said, memorizing the scent and silkiness of her hair and the curve of her body. Long after she was gone from his life, he wanted to remember. “Gavin will miss you. I hope you’ll keep in touch. For his sake.”
She stilled. “What about you? Will you miss me?”
He squeezed his eyes against the question. Jenna wasn’t normally a cruel person.
“Yeah,” he answered raggedly. “I’ll miss you, too.”
Jenna’s body began to tremble. Dax held her tighter. Soft weeping filled his ears. Gripping her upper arms, he put her a little away from him. Tears flowed down her face and dripped onto Sophie’s blanket.
“What? Why are you crying?”
“Because I think you love me.”
So that was it. She knew he’d fallen hard, and tenderhearted Jenna felt bad about hurting him. But Dax refused to lie about something as precious as love.