A Baby Under the Tree. Judy Duarte

Dad doing all right?”

      “Yeah, but he’d like to hear from you, too.”

      “I’ll call home in the morning.”

      After disconnecting the line and putting the receiver back in the charger, Shane plunked a couple of ice cubes into his glass, filled it full of tap water and took a nice, long swig.

      Any other night, he might have been tempted to fix himself a real drink, but memories of Jillian were still too fresh in his mind. And despite their time together being purposefully short, it was also the kind of memory that was worthy of keeping…sacred in a way. And Shane wasn’t about to lessen or cheapen it.

      Those magical hours spent in her bed had been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one he’d been reluctant to end.

      As dawn had threatened to break over Houston, he’d drawn her close to his chest and savored the fragrance of her shampoo, the faint floral whiff of her perfume.

      She’d slept with her bottom nestled in his lap, and he’d felt himself stirring, rising to the occasion—again. But even if they hadn’t gone through the only condom they’d had during the night, time hadn’t been on his side.

      As he’d glanced through an opening in the heavy curtains and seen the night fading into dawn, he’d carefully slid his arm from under her head, trying his best not to wake her. Because a cowboy didn’t call in sick, especially if the only excuse he had was a beautiful woman in his bed. So he’d snatched his wrinkled shirt and jeans from the floor.

      He’d found himself dragging his feet, not wanting to go, not ready to end what they’d shared.

      Why had it felt as though they’d created some kind of invisible bond, some reason for him to linger?

      Probably because their lovemaking had been so good. That had to be it.

      Besides, Shane wasn’t ready for a relationship. And he wasn’t sure if he ever would be again.

      So he’d quickly gotten dressed, wishing he could think of a better way to say goodbye. But he hadn’t been able to come up with anything that wouldn’t have created some kind of promise he couldn’t keep. And that wouldn’t have been fair to her.

      Not that he didn’t want to see her again. But they had very little in common, and their lives were headed in different directions.

      His only regret had been slipping out of her bed at nearly five in the morning and leaving a note, which might have cheapened the whole thing.

      Last night was amazing, he’d written. You were a gift I didn’t deserve, and one I’ll always cherish.

      And while he’d struggled to choose the right words, he’d meant every one of them.

      He supposed he could try to find her again. His detective skills and his connections wouldn’t make it too hard. But Jillian wasn’t the kind of woman who’d fit into Shane’s life, whether it was in Houston or Brighton Valley.

      He’d already gone through one star-crossed relationship that he shouldn’t have let get off the ground, and he’d lost his son because of it.

      No, he’d just have to let well enough alone. After all, if something between them was meant to be, then he’d run into her again. No need for him to chase after something that was sure to crash and burn.

      But that didn’t mean he wasn’t sorely tempted to look her up in Houston. He’d love to spend one more night together.

      They might end the evening in a blaze of glory, but what a way to go…?.