Million Dollar Cowboy (Cupid, Texas #5)(101)

The doorbell glowed orange in the darkness. The same doorbell his mother had told him to push twenty-nine years ago.

He didn't push it this time. Simply walked right in. Went straight to Duke's office, grabbed his laptop, briefcase, and Stetson. Headed back to the front door.

Vivi came into the foyer from the living room. She wore elegant silk pajamas and looked as if she'd been waiting for him. "You're really leaving?"

"Yes."

"It's after midnight."

"There's a ticking clock. I'm needed in China." He settled the Stetson on his head, hoisted the strap of the briefcase onto his shoulder, and tucked the laptop underneath his arm.

"Excuse me." Vivi glared. "You're needed here. Your father just came home from the hospital after open-heart surgery."

"You and Ranger have got it covered. And I'll help pay for the home health nurse."

"Duke doesn't need your money." Vivi's eyes flashed anger. "He needs you. He could have died. You should spend time with him. Make amends."

"I have nothing to make amends for."

"No? How about the fact you can't forgive?"

"He's never asked for my forgiveness."

"You have to give him time."

"I don't have the time to give."

"I never thought of you as a selfish man until now," she said.

"So now I'm the dick?"

"Your father is a proud man, but he knows when he's wrong. He regrets the way he treated you. Truly he does. If you stay, we can fix this. We can be a real family."

He laughed harshly. "With you as the mom? No thanks. We can skip that little fantasy."

"You're being a jerk."

"Yeah well, I'm not the only one."

"I know your father is not an easy man to love," she said. "He's a hardheaded, opinionated, control freak, and he refuses to back down even when there's solid proof he's wrong. Come to think of it, he reminds me a lot of you."

Ridge shot her a cool stare. In the dim lighting she looked done in. Maybe she really did have feelings for the old man beyond the value of his wallet. Had he misjudged her all these years?

"You are more like him than you care to admit," she went on. "That's why the two of you haven't been able to make peace."

"If we're so much alike," Ridge said, "why did you pick him over me?" It wasn't that he'd ever wanted Vivi back, but it had been eating at him all these years. Why had she thrown him over for his father? Why had she stayed with Duke? He'd never expected them to have longevity.

"You mean besides the fact that I fell in love with him?" she asked.

"Why did you fall in love with him? What does he have that I don't?"

"Darling," Vivi said in a surprised drawl, as if he should have known her motives. "For one thing, you didn't love me, and we both know it. And, for another thing, at the end of a long day, your father knows how to put work aside, cut loose, and have fun. Can you blame a girl for wanting to kick up her heels a little?"

"I know how to have fun," he said, hearing the defensiveness in his voice.

"Maybe," she said. "But do you ever do it?"



       
         
       
        

Yes. Yes he did. With Kaia. He'd had more fun with her since . . . since . . .

Ridge ran a hand over his chin. He couldn't remember a time when he'd so much fun.

"You're so busy making money that you don't stop to consider why you're making it," Vivi went on. "Money is just a tool. It's not a reason to get up in the morning."

"I disagree," Ridge said.

"I know." Vivi sounded sorry for him. "And that's one of the reasons I'm with Duke."

"Don't hold back on my account. Let me have those punches."

Vivi let loose. "I was nothing to you but arm candy. A trophy. Something you could show off to your friends."

"I . . ." He opened his mouth to argue, but she was right.

"Hey, I'm not blaming you. I loved how you spent money on me. But the relationship had run its course. Served its purpose."

"You could have just told me that instead of bedding my old man."

"I'm deeply sorry for how I handled things," she said. "It still eats on me. You deserved better, and you deserve an apology from both of us. I know you probably won't get one from Duke, but I swear to you, from the bottom of his soul, your father regrets what he did."

"You're assuming he has a soul."

She touched his arm briefly, dropped her hand "I truly am sorry."

"Better late than never, I suppose," he said, softening toward her.