CHAPTER
NINE

 

 

 

Isabella stretched languidly. She was exhausted. They’d made love over and over the night before. After his endearing display of linguistic skills at the restaurant, Isabella had taken him home and taught him a few essential sex words. After she’d shown him how to slip his el pene in her la vagina, they’d hacer el amored all over the place. To her utter delight, Bull was insatiable when it came to her body, but that wasn’t the best part of being with him.

She enjoyed him.

His sense of humor was spot-on, he kept her laughing. They liked many of the same things, especially old westerns and anything they could do outdoors. They shared a love of animals and their knowledge of ranching and the cattle business complimented one another.

Isabella loved taking care of him too. She’d spent some time in the garden and spiffing up his house. Everything looked taken care of now, especially him.

The man was satisfied and Isabella knew that she had given this to him.

As much as she loved Terra Dura, she loved him more. The day she found her red stiletto hidden in the back of his underwear drawer, she’d cried. Sentimental giant. She would be happy staying here with Bull for the rest of her life.

If only he wanted the same thing.

She knew her days with this incredible man were drawing to an end. They hadn’t officially discussed her return to Mexico, but he hadn’t asked her to stay either. Isabella was very afraid he’d just end things with her one day, leaving her broken hearted and longing for more.

“No, no, no. Stop it. You’re still here. Be thankful and enjoy it.” She rose and grabbed her robe, heading for the shower. “After all, you might be able to change his mind. Anything could happen.”

Yes, she was determined to be optimistic.

After her shower, she ran downstairs and out the door. After their marathon lovemaking session, he’d let her sleep late. She knew he hadn’t lingered in the bed, he never did. When that damn alarm went off at six am, he was wide awake. Several times, he’d awakened her to make love, but sometimes he just let her sleep. This morning was a case in point. One thing she’d learned about Mr. Redford, he could be a workaholic. Isabella managed to distract him, occasionally, but he seemed to thrive on two things – working and pleasing her.

She really liked the ‘pleasing her’ part.

“There you are.” She found him next to a loaded stock trailer, giving one of his men some last-minute instructions.

“Hey, pumpkin-pie. Give me a kiss,” he said, holding out his arm to draw her close.

She gave him a quick kiss, very aware of the several sets of eyes watching them closely. “Where’s the rodeo?”

“We’re sending a load to Midland-Odessa for this weekend.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go?” she asked, thinking she’d heard him mention this rodeo. “Isn’t this the event where you’re planning on debuting Hurricane?” Isabella knew he’d purchased the bull who had cornered him behind a barrel.

“Something’s come up.” He finished up with his men, waving them on their way. When they were gone, he took Isabella’s hand. “We’re going to have to postpone going to Tebow too.”

“What’s wrong?” Isabella was beginning to be concerned.

Bull couldn’t contain his smile. “Luke’s coming. Carol called and offered to let him come visit.”

“That’s great!” She could see the happiness shining in his face. Isabella ignored the niggle of apprehension she felt. Meeting Luke wasn’t what she dreaded.

Carol was a different story.

“Come on, let’s go back to the house. I want to get ready. I want everything to be perfect.” He squeezed her hand. “Luke hasn’t been back here, not since Carol left me almost a year ago.”

Carol. Carol. Isabella narrowed her eyes. She wished she had a voodoo doll and some straight pins. She dreaded meeting the woman Benedict had once loved enough to marry.

Isabella wished he would choose to marry her.

“How long can he stay?”

“Over the weekend. She’ll pick him up on Sunday.”

“Good.” Isabella patted his chest. “You’ll get to have a really good visit. Do you know what his favorite food is?” Since she’d been here for the last couple of weeks, they’d restocked Bull’s pantry and freezer.

“Fried chicken and mashed potatoes or hamburgers and French fries,” was Bull’s answer. 

“Why don’t we plan on both? Should I make a dessert?”

“Well, we have Oreos.”

Isabella laughed. “You and your Oreos. How about I make a white cake with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles. Every kid loves sprinkles.”

His face brightened. “I like them too. I’ll even make Luke a special breakfast this morning.”

“Good. You two are going to have a blast together.” She hoped they’d let her join in also. “We can go horseback riding and play games. I bet we can even find some Disney movies on Netflix for him.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Bull told her. He studied the beautiful woman at his side. Isabella seemed right at home.

He could get used to this.

…An hour later, the cake was done and she’d prepped everything else. Now, all she needed to know was when their guest would be arriving. Approaching Bull’s office door, she knocked lightly. When he didn’t answer, she glanced in. The office was empty. Hearing a noise down the hall, she went to check, spotting him in Luke’s room. “Have you heard from Carol?”

Bull was straightening the bedspread. “Yea, he’ll be here in about a half hour.” He adjusted stuffed toys on the bed, carefully stepping over the green toy soldiers scattered on the floor.

Nine o’clock. Zero hour.

Isabella was very aware that Luke wouldn’t be arriving by himself. Carol would be bringing the little boy by.

Bull hugged her close to him, kissing the top of her head. “I’m nervous,” he confessed.

“Why? He’s your son.”

“Yes, he is,” he said slowly. “Come here, I want to tell you something.” He drew her down on the bedspread he’d just straightened.

Isabella could tell by his voice that this was something important. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, I just want to share something with you.” He picked up a teddy bear and sat it in their laps, where it sat partially on her thigh and partially on his. “Luke is my boy in every way that counts, but I’m not his biological father.”

Isabella’s heart broke for him. “Oh, Benedict.”

“I told you she cheated on me. I walked in on them in our bed once. Matt Lawton was my foreman.” Bull shook his head at the memory. He didn’t love Carol anymore, he hadn’t for a long, long time. In fact, he couldn’t even compare what he’d felt on the best day he’d ever had with his ex-wife to any day he shared with Isabella. There was just no comparison. Still, the memory of the betrayal stung like fire. “I’d fired the asshole and Carol and I were on the verge of separating when she discovered she was pregnant. She pretended the baby was mine and I let her.” He shrugged. “I loved him before he was born and I love him now.”

“I always knew you were a good man, Benedict Redford.” She hugged him tightly. “You just proved my point.”

Bull hung his head. “When we couldn’t make it together anymore, she threw it in my face that the baby wasn’t mine. She took him away from me and got back together with Lawton. I sued for custody and she proved Luke wasn’t mine with a paternity test.” He set the Teddy Bear down on Luke’s pillow. “I petitioned the first court for visitation rights, but I was denied. Even though I was pushed out of Luke’s life, I started voluntarily paying child support. A few months ago, I petitioned the court to reconsider my position and a kind-hearted judge has given me limited visitation rights. This is the first time our schedules have worked out.”

“Well, let’s just be thankful she’s cooperating. After you rushed to him in the hospital, I’m sure she realized that she’s done you wrong,” Isabella consoled him. “So, don’t worry. I’m sure little Luke will be over the moon when he sees you. Maybe that will soften Carol’s cold heart and you two can see more of each other.”

“Oh, you don’t know my ex. She can be…umm…”

“A bitch?”

“I’m sure there is a more delicate way to put it, but yes, that about sums it up. Carol is no stranger to throwing a tantrum when she doesn’t like something. And I’m worried she might so something this time. I don’t want to do anything to set her off.”

“Why would she do such a thing?” She rubbed his back. “You’ve been nothing but accommodating to her.”

It was true, Bull had bent over backward for his ex-wife. When Aron McCoy found out how much Bull was sending the woman, he’d approached him to discuss it. “I’m not tryin’ to argue with you or step into your business, Bull, but you’re letting that woman take advantage of you,” Aron had said one day as they were standing in Canyon’s blacksmith shop on Tebow Ranch. The men had ridden the circuit together and although not the best of friends, a relationship still existed. “Canyon just mentioned it the other day.”

“I’d thank you both to stay out of my personal business, McCoy,” Bull had grumbled in response.

“Oh, come on now, Bull. Don’t be that way. Canyon just cares about you, is all. Hell, he’s your best friend. I could tell he wants to say something to you about it, he just doesn’t want to piss you off.”

“Something you don’t mind doing, I take it. I ain’t too old and broken down to whoop your ass, McCoy.”

Bull’s claim had given both men a laugh. “Oh, please Redford. With that hobbly ankle and wonky back of yours, I’d probably be doing you a favor if I just put you down. Seriously, man, like I said, I’m not tryin’ to tell you what to do. I just understand what it’s like to have a rattlesnake for an ex-wife. I get the part about wanting to take care of your boy and see he has the best, but don’t forget, you and his mother broke up for a reason. Don’t let her take advantage of you.”

“It’s different than it was for you and Sabrina. You didn’t have a kid involved.”

Aron clapped him on the shoulder and the conversation was over. He’d shown his friend that he cared and more than anything, that was what mattered.

Isabella gave Bull’s arm a squeeze. “I think I’ll go change clothes.”

He squeezed her back. “All right. I’ll make breakfast.”

“Thanks.” She didn’t feel like she wanted any breakfast, her appetite was nonexistent. Isabella was excited to meet Bull’s little boy, but from what she’d learned about Carol, she wasn’t eager to meet his ex-wife.

The closer it came to time, the more nervous she became. Isabella kept checking her appearance in the mirror of the bathroom. She wanted to look okay, but nothing special. No makeup. Plain jeans and a tee. She was sure Carol would have an issue with her no matter what, so Isabella planned on being as unobtrusive as possible.

Bull was milling around at the kitchen island when she came down the steps. He looked up and smiled at her. “You look great.” He pulled her to him for a quick kiss.

Isabella smoothed her hair down, she was just wearing it straight. “I look terrible, but thank you.”

“I’d fuck you.” He gave her ass a hard slap. “Go sit down.”

Bull watched her walk. Even without makeup, she was still the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid his eyes on.

“What’s for breakfast?”

She followed him to the kitchen and found the table set for three. Bull came to join her with a glass pitcher in his hand. “This is apple juice. Orange juice is on the way. I’m just squeezing it now.” He placed the pitcher down beside a bottle of milk.

“Lots of variety.”

“Luke can be picky about food. I just mixed-up some waffle batter. He loves waffles with fresh strawberries on top and whipped cream.”

“So, do I.” Isabella licked her lips.

“I hope you don’t mind if we wait for him to eat.”

“No, of course not.”

Bull was all smiles. He’d prepared a little waffle station on the counter. The waffle maker was plugged in with a big unopened bottle of maple syrup beside it. He’d cut up the strawberries and placed them in a glass bowl. Another bowl held fresh raspberries and another was full of cut-up bananas. The cream was fresh whipped and sat like a snow-covered mountain in the middle of all the other options.

The toaster popped and Bull went to retrieve four slices of bread he’d dropped in. “Here.” He handed her a slice. “Just a little something to tide us over. I’ve got coffee on.”

She’d been waited on back at Terra Dura, but never like this and never by a man like Bull Redford. Isabella felt like a princess.

Bull checked his watch and took a deep breath. “They should be here any minute.”

He got them both a coffee and took a seat at the kitchen table to eat his toast.

There was a nervous energy about the man and Isabella smiled at him over the rim of her cup, choosing to stay silent and let him talk if he chose to. She did her best to hide it, but Isabella kept sneaking little glances at the stove to see the time. Bull asked her how she slept last night, just polite conversation, it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

Nine-fifteen came and went, then nine-thirty.

“Traffic,” Bull said nervously. The whip cream had fallen in its bowl and the bananas were visibly brown around the edges.

When the clock on the stove hit ten, they’d already finished their second cup of coffee.

“More coffee?” Bull asked.

“Maybe you should call her.” Bull got up from the table and walked to the window. “I don’t want to bug her.” The last thing Bull wanted to do was annoy Carol and give her another reason to not show up.

“Bull. Bull! Earth to Bull.” Isabella was at his side with his phone in her hand. “Call her.” He gave her an unsure look. “Fine. I’ll call her.”

“Jesus, woman!” He snatched he phone from her hand. “You’d worry the horns off a billy goat!” Dialing Carol’s number, he walked off and was back in a minute. “She said they were leaving in a few minutes.” The smile on his face was unmistakable. “They’ll be here shortly. I better go put everything in the fridge.”

Isabella helped. They stayed silent again, but when another half hour had passed, she spoke-up. “This is bullshit.”

“I know. This is just Carol being Carol. All I care about is that she shows up.”

Isabella wanted to say something further, but she bit her tongue. She loved this man and it killed her to see anyone mistreat him. She knew she should stay out of it, but damn it was hard.

“Where are you going?” he asked when he saw her head upstairs.

Isabella wheeled around, one hand clutching the banister. “I thought I’d go freshen up.” She was prepared to play nice, even make herself look anything but her best for the sake of peace, but Isabella was fuming. If the former Mrs. Redford wanted to mess around and play games with Bull’s heart, Isabella would play games also.

“Please don’t.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He gave her a stern look. “You know exactly what I mean.”

Isabella crossed her arms over her chest. She’d purposely made herself look unattractive in front of the man who she wanted to see her as beautiful every second of the day and done it all to keep his bitch of an ex-wife happy. “Fine. But can I at least run a brush through my hair?”

“Well, I don’t think you need it, but sure. Just don’t go getting all spiffed up and putting my ex to shame like you do every other woman on the planet.”

His admiration sent a charge through her and Isabella leapt from the step she was on and into his arms. “Do we have time for a quickie?” She rubbed up against him, enjoying the heft of Bull’s thick cock in his jeans. His ex must’ve been crazy to willfully leave such a magnificent man.

The sound of gravel under tires behind them drew Bull’s attention. They both turned and peered out the front door. “Doesn’t look like it.” He placed her gently back down on the steps.

“Oh, my god,” Isabella murmured under her breath.

Bull was standing with the front door open. It didn’t matter if he heard Isabella or not, he was thinking the same thing.

Carol got out of the car and retrieved her young son from the back seat. She made her way up the front steps wearing a bright red dress that left little to the imagination up top. Her chest was plumped as high as possible. Bull knew it was all bra and he knew it was all for his benefit, but he didn’t care. All he saw was Luke as he ran up the last few steps, letting go of his mother’s hand.

“Daddy!”

Bull picked him up for a huge hug. “Hey, buddy. I missed you.” He kissed the little boy on both cheeks.

Carol didn’t bother to apologize for being late. She walked up the stairs with Luke’s backpack in her hand.

Bull took the torn pack from her. “I thought you were getting him a new one.”

Carol sneered at him. “Oh, for god’s sake, Bull, he’s only here a couple of days. I haven’t had time.” Her lipstick was almost as bright as her dress.

“Had time to get your hair cut, though, I see.”

She played with her recently trussed locks. “You like it?”

Her hair has been halfway down to her ass the last time he’d seen her at the hospital, now it was all gone, cut up to barely under her chin. Bull was now sure they’d been late this morning because it must have taken his ex-wife a few hours to put herself together like this.

“Shows off the new earrings pretty well.”

Diamonds sparkled in her ears. “Oh, these old things?”

Old things?

Apparently, she’d forgotten they’d lived together as husband and wife for several years. In a desperate attempt to win her affections, he’d bought her many expensive gifts and these earrings were not on that list. He also knew there was no way a chump like Matt Lawton could afford something so nice. It was clear to Bull, that she’d spent some of the money he’d sent for Luke on herself. He seethed, but held his tongue. Now was not the time.

Carol stepped into the house as if she still lived there. Bull didn’t care. He didn’t care about her shocking new haircut, or even the fact that she’d jerked him around for over an hour waiting on them, all he cared about was that Luke was here.

“Traffic was heavy on the way over,” Carol said over her shoulder. She stopped and took her shoes off. “We got here as soon as we could.”

Bull followed her in and shut the door. “Uh-huh.” He wasn’t sure why she was taking her shoes off.

Turning to look into the house, Carol finally spotted Isabella standing on the steps. “Oh, hello.”

Isabella offered a big smile. “Hello.”

Bull placed his boy down on the ground. “Carol, this is Isabella.”

He hadn’t told his ex-wife about Isabella and he hadn’t told Isabella that he hadn’t told his ex-wife about her being there.

Now was the moment of truth.

Isabella stepped down off the steps. “How nice to meet you.” She extended her hand in greeting.

Carol looked her up and down. “I see you took my advice and hired a house cleaner, Bull,” she spoke to Bull as if Isabella weren’t even in the room. “Your first job, dear?” The dark-haired girl standing before her looked like she was entering her senior year in high school.

Luke took off into the kitchen and Bull went after him. “Get back here, you rascal.” He’d take any excuse available to get the hell out of there as soon as possible.

The truth dawned on Isabella about that time. Bull hadn’t told his ex about her. Maybe he had his reasons and Isabella even considered playing along for a second, but the only thing Isabella Carmen Cortez had ever hidden about herself was the fact that she was La Diosa. “Actually. I’m a friend of Benedict’s.”

It only took a moment for Carol to realize what this young girl was saying and the color drained out of Carol’s face. “Bull!”

Luke was jumping up and down on the couch with the man he knew as his father. “Uh-oh, buddy. Looks like Daddy is in trouble.” Bull tickled the youngster’s stomach.

When he came back into the foyer with Luke is his arms, both women were staring at him. “Oh, good. I see you ladies had a moment to get acquainted. Luke, this is Daddy’s friend, Isabella.” He used the child to gain him an extra second or two and possibly suppress some of the anger he imagined both women were feeling. “Can you say hi?”

The sandy-haired little boy tentatively reached his hand out for a shake. “Hi.” He buried his head in Bull’s chest.

“Awwww. Now, how adorable is he?” Bull put the question to both women. “How could anyone be mad after that?”

The proffered handshake had melted some of the ice around Isabella’s heart, but Carol’s remained at the Arctic Circle.

Carol placed her hands on her hips. “This is unacceptable, Bull. How old is this girl? Is she even old enough to drink?”

Bull tickled his little boy again. “Relax, Carol.” He kept his tone even, not wanting to frighten the child.

“Don’t tell me to relax. I’m taking him home.”

Bull looked his ex-wife right in the eye. They had engaged in some epic fights in the past, but Bull had never raised a hand to her and she knew he never would. But the look on his face stopped Carol dead in her tracks as she reached for Luke. Bull’s nostrils were flaring and she knew he meant business.

He placed Luke down on the step. “You remember where your room is, Son?” The boy nodded. “Why don’t you go upstairs and play for a bit. I’ll be up to check on you in a few minutes.” The boy turned to scamper up the steps, but Bull caught him by the arm. “Not so fast.” He kissed Luke on the top of the head. “Daddy, loves you, buddy. Now, you can go.”

Isabella’s eyes followed Luke up the stairs. She intended to go check on him in a little while.

“Is there a problem, Carol?” Bull asked.

“Your goddamn right there’s a problem. This was just the kind of thing I was worried about. This is exactly what I said to the judge, you maintain an unfit environment for Luke.”

“Ha! I present an unfit environment? That’s absurd, Carol. You were the one who cheated on me.”

“And you lost it on poor Matt and beat the crap out of him.”

“He’s lucky I took it easy on him.”

Isabella just watched the back and forth. She wanted to jump in and defend Bull, say how he was the best man she’d ever known.

“You cheated on me when you were out on the circuit.” Carol fired back.

Now Bull’s voice finally raised. “I never cheated on you once! And you know that.”

“Matt told me you did.”

Bull walked off a few steps. “Oh, come on now, you know better.” He’d known Carol long enough to know that even she didn’t believe what she was saying was true. “Is that what you had to tell yourself to try and justify your own behavior in your head, Carol? I gave you everything. There was nothing I didn’t do to try and make you happy. You never wanted for anything. I indulged your every whim and want. Oh, Jesus.” Luke was standing at the top of the steps looking down on the scene. “It’s okay, buddy. Go back to your room. We’re just talking.”

Isabella walked up the steps and took the little boy by the hand. “Do you want to show me your room, Luke?”

The boy’s mother watched the young woman take her son by the hand and once he was out of sight, she launched in on Bull. Accusing him of everything from secret affairs, to hiding money from her and having a drug problem.

“Wow, that is so cool,” Isabella said when the shy boy handed over his favorite stuffed toy.

She did her best to keep Luke preoccupied. Not quite four years old, he probably wasn’t even sure why Mommy and Daddy were yelling at each other, but that didn’t mean he needed to hear it. Isabella knelt on the floor, playing with the child and listening to the fight downstairs. Carol had said more than once that she was leaving and Luke was coming with her, but each time Bull stood his ground, threatening legal action if she did.

“And now you have some teenager here with you?” Venom dripped from his ex-wife’s teeth.

“She’s not a teenager, she’s twenty-one. She may be young, but she’s wiser and more mature than you will ever be, Carol.”

“Even if that were true, I won’t allow my son to be around random girls you bring home from the bar each night.”

Isabella came down the steps. She’d had enough. It was time to put the woman in her place. “I’m not some random girl he brought home from the bar. Benedict and I have been together for some time now. I asked him not to mention me to you.” He and Carol both looked at her with shock. “My name is Carmen Isabella Mercedes Cortez. My family owns one of the largest ranches in Mexico. My grandfather was a nephew to the King of Spain. I have a royal title, but I don’t use it. I do have a college education and I speak six languages. I am also a matador. I face down angry bulls for fun.” She stared daggers at Carol, draping an arm over Bull’s shoulder. “I know it’s sudden, but Benedict and I are engaged. He is the most wonderful man on the face of the earth and I am lucky that he has asked me to be his wife.”

“Engaged?” Carol asked with her mouth open.

“Yes. He has asked me to marry him and I have said yes.”

Bull bit his cheek. He didn’t know what had floored Carol more, the fact that he was engaged, or the fact that she was rich and royal. Hell, he was pretty flabbergasted himself. Either way, Carol seemed to have lost her ability to speak. At least, she wouldn’t be able to use the argument of an unsafe environment against Bull.

“Well, I should have been informed,” she finally said.

Bull spoke up quickly, “You’re right, I should have told you.”

Then Carol did something Bull had never seen her do before, she stopped fighting. “I guess I’ll be going then. I’ll be back to get him on Sunday around noon.”

With that she was gone, racing down the driveway in a car Bull had paid for, leaving an angry cloud of dust behind her.

Bull dry-scrubbed his face and laughed, dumbstruck that Carol had just walked away in a daze. “You’re something else, did you know that?” He picked Isabella up by the waist and spun her around. “You shocked the shit out of her.”

Isabella didn’t know what to say. “I had to do something, I didn’t like the way she was treating you. She needed to be put in her place.”

Bull kissed her. “Was all of that true?”

“All of it, except the proposal part.”

“What’s your title, Miss Royalty?”

“Duchess.”

He kissed her hard. “Guess what? I’m going to be sharing a bed with a Duchess tonight.”

“Oh, really?” Isabella laughed. “We’ll see.

Bull headed for the stairs. “If I know my ex, she won’t stay shell-shocked for long. I’d better go enjoy the time I have with Luke while I can.”

When he was halfway up the steps, she called, “Have fun.”

“Aren’t you coming?”

“I’m sure you want some alone time with the little angel.”

He came back down the steps to her. “Let’s play a bit, then we’ll have breakfast. I want you to share everything with us. You are a part of my world now.” He tugged on her hand. “After all, we’re engaged.”