Almost a Cowboy (12 page)

Caroline ran her fingers through her hair. Nervousness made her jittery, and she wished she hadn’t drunk two cups of high-test coffee with breakfast.

Why am I so nervous? It’s not my brother and sister I’m meeting for the first time.

She and Utah stood outside the office building while he tried to gather the gumption to go in. The town of Bennett was sleepy this morning. Only a few people walked the quaint streets. Trees lined the sidewalks, dappling the ground with spots of shade.

Caroline raised a hand to her nape where a single bead of sweat slid from her hairline.

Utah shifted his jaw, and a bracket cut around his unsmiling mouth. Creases lived around each eye, only giving him a more rugged appearance.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Hell, no.” He looked deep into her eyes and then huffed out a laugh. Reaching for the door handle, he said, “Let’s go.”

The air-conditioned interior of the office felt like a sanctuary after standing for so long in the hot summer sun. Caroline filled her lungs with cool air.

A receptionist sat behind glass. She smiled as they approached. “Can I help you?”

“We’re here to see Bennett Davies.” Utah’s voice grated on the last name.

“Oh, Mr. Davies is out today. There’s a golf scramble. He’ll be in tomorrow.”

Panic flashed in Utah’s eyes as he looked to Caroline for help.

She stepped up. “I’m afraid we need to see him today. If you could tell us where the golf course is…?”

The receptionist cocked her head, obviously suspicious of someone who might interrupt a man’s golf game.

Caroline gave her best reporter’s smile—dazzling with a hint of understanding. “We’re from out of town, passing through. Someone Mr. Davies was close to passed away, and we feel he should know.”

The woman’s expression transformed. “Oh! Yes, of course you must tell him. The golf course is…”

Caroline tuned out the directions, knowing Utah would photocopy them to his brain.
Even if he forgets them, he could probably find the golf course by the lay of the land or something.

“Thank you, ma’am.” He tipped his hat to the woman, who tittered a response. Then he clamped a hand on Caroline’s shoulder and steered her out of the building.

Once they were in the beating sun again, he blew out a breath. “Golf! This brother of mine
golfs
.”

She couldn’t suppress a giggle. “Lots of people golf, Utah.”

“I know, but not Davies men.”

“Obviously Davies men
do
golf. C’mon. Before we get into that truck and then flub up Bennett’s golf handicap with our news, let’s drop by that little bakery we just passed. My stomach is turning inside out at the smell of those donuts.”

He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. His eyes softened, and he flashed her the chin dimple she loved so much. “A donut for my baby.”

“Two.”

“Anything you want.”

He draped an arm around her shoulders, and they drifted down the street, passing a mom and pop drugstore, a clothing shop, and a jeweler.

Utah stopped dead in his tracks.

She followed his line of sight to the small window where diamond rings glittered on blue velvet.

Her stomach dropped out, and fear welled in her chest. If he swaggered into that store and bought her a ring, what would she do? She wasn’t ready to answer a big question that went along with a diamond.

Oh God.

She sniffed the air. “Those donuts smell so good.”

He turned his attention to her, his eyes holding a trace of sadness. He didn’t acknowledge her statement about the donuts, just moved away from the storefront and continued to the bakery.

She couldn’t—wouldn’t—get married again, no matter what. She and Utah could live without a piece of paper between them, right? That was if he stuck around.

The bakery was a little hole in the wall establishment. A single door and a window with a donut painted on it faced the street, and a pot of flowers sat beside the door. Utah gestured her inside.

The rich scents of yeast and sugar enveloped her. Her stomach clenched in hunger. Though she and Utah had shared a continental breakfast this morning at the hotel, that fuel had been burned off by a quickie before they checked out.

She stepped up to the long glass case holding dozens of treats and sighed.

“What will you have, baby?” Add Utah’s low voice at her ear, and it was almost more decadent delight to the senses than she could bear.

Mouth watering, she stared at the selection. A young woman stood by, smiling and waiting to fetch their choices.

A fat glazed donut caught Caroline’s eye, and she opened her mouth. But instead of speaking, she turned to Utah. “You choose for me.”

The brim of his hat shadowed his eyes, but he nudged it back so she could see his cocked eyebrow. “Well, that sounds good to me.” He hitched a thumb in his pocket and leaned over to study the case.

“I think I want that one.” He pointed to a fat chocolate cake donut dripping with glaze. The employee grabbed a slip of wax paper and fetched the donut.

Utah scuffed his knuckles over his jaw, creating a rasping noise that sent shivers down Caroline’s spine. She stepped closer to him.

“And that.” He pointed at a donut stuffed with cream cheese and topped with strawberries.

The employee gaped at him, blushing three shades of red, before she added his selection to the box.

He slanted a glance at Caroline. “Those are mine.”

Why was her heart racing? He was choosing donuts for her, not an engagement ring.

Utah jabbed a finger at the case. “I’m stuck between pumpkin-frosted and apple-filled.”

Caroline licked her lips, her mind racing through ways to describe everything from the shop to the confections to Utah’s deep voice. Last night, unable to find the words for her article, she’d instead begun a journal of sorts. Their first day on the trail of Utah’s siblings had been recorded on screen. She’d left out how she and Utah couldn’t keep their hands off each other but had written about the scenery, the research, and the emotion-packed day.

Utah straightened. “Apple and that sweet little donut with pink sprinkles.”

Caroline smiled and shook her head. His choices for her weren’t a surprise, but she anticipated them all the same.

By the time they left the shop with the small box, she’d almost forgotten about the jewelry shop and the determination in Utah’s eyes.

“Ohh,” she groaned after she bit into the donut with pink sprinkles. Sweet goodness did a two-step in her mouth.

He let the cream cheese and strawberry donut hover in front of his mouth, his eyes tender. “I chose well?”

“Perfectly.” She sank her teeth into it again and chewed.

Utah polished off his first donut, licking his long fingers until she thought she’d lose her mind. He pulled some sunglasses from his back pocket and positioned them, his battered hat still perfectly low. The effect was sizzling.

He held out the box. “Let’s polish these off on that park bench before we go after Bennett.” Even the speaking of his brother’s name didn’t keep the lightheartedness from his tone.

“Okay.”

They reached the metal bench in the shade of a tree, and he put the box in her lap.

“You can take the chocolate if you want.”

“No, you want me to have the apple-filled.”

He studied her face. His bulk crowded her on the bench, but she didn’t want to be anywhere else in the whole world.

“You always loved Ma’s apple donuts.”

She nodded. “I did. I loved a lot about your ma. She was a great woman. I was sorry to miss her funeral.”

“Yeah, me too.” At last his words grew weighted.

Caroline grabbed the chocolate donut and held it out for him. A smile that arrested her heart flashed over his face. He leaned in and took a huge chomp out of the donut.

He chewed slowly, and damn if that cleft in his chin didn’t flicker fifty times. Juices wet her panties.

As she hand-fed him, they were wrapped in a private cocoon. He gobbled the last crumb and proceeded to lick her fingertips.

“Gawd,” she drawled, shuddering. “You’re going to give me an orgasm on the street.”

“Sounds like the most action this town has ever seen.”

“Not with donuts like this. I’m surprised there aren’t benches lining the streets with people doing this very thing.”

He laughed and ran his tongue over his lips.

She had to close her eyes before she jumped his bones. “All right. I’m eating this apple donut. Do you want a bite?”

“Nope.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve been living on venison and garden vegetables for a decade. I can’t remember the last time I had so much junk food.”

“Suit yourself.” She sank her teeth into the donut. Apple filling flavored with cinnamon oozed into her mouth. Memories flooded her mind.

Of sitting in the kitchen at Utah’s ranch, his ma and brothers gathered around the table, ribbing her about how she’d never tasted a real donut until she had one of their ma’s.

She dropped the confection from her lips and stared at him. “That day I tasted your ma’s apple donut, I was wearing your ring.”

He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Yep.” Getting to his feet, he gave her a lazy wink and then sauntered down the sidewalk. She watched him go, heart drumming.

Maybe she
was
the same old Caroline. Life didn’t have to be so complicated, did it? When he’d asked her to marry him all those years ago, she hadn’t hesitated even for a split second.

He’d probably given her the apple donut as a way to remind her of just that.

Utah cut the truck engine and hugged the steering wheel. Leaning forward awarded him with a better view of the course speckled with golfers, but he couldn’t make out anything more than a myriad of colored shirts.

His mind flashed from thought to thought like a strobe light in a carnival ride. Suddenly his sour stomach made him wish he hadn’t eaten both donuts.

Caroline rested a hand on his forearm. He shot her a glance. Her beautiful face was wreathed in concern. “Maybe you should let Tom Berger take care of finding everyone.”

“No,” he answered instantly. “Pa wanted me to do it. I should do it. Dammit!” He slammed the heel of his hand off the wheel, glaring at the seventh hole. A golfer poised at the tee, legs braced wide in a stance that might be considered a Davies characteristic.

Releasing a harsh sigh, Utah pressed his forehead against the wheel and stared at his knees covered in worn denim and a pair of boots that had seen better days. His rugged appearance could turn off so many of these siblings.
Bennett is a golfer. He’s a town official.
More than his own appearance, Utah was worried about the gruff way he’d most likely explain their father’s passing.

Hey, your pa? He’s mine too. Well, he’s dead. Yeah, it seems you don’t only have a secret brother—you have ten. Oh and three more sisters.

Utah gulped down the knot in his throat. “I’m here. I have to do this, don’t I?”

“Not right this minute.” Caroline’s soothing tone trickled over him, making him feel weighted to the seat. He raised his head and stared out the windshield. The golfer had moved on.

“I just need to sit here for a few.” While Caroline’s tone had been soft rain, his was thunder rumbling in the distance.

She nodded and caressed his arm. “When you’re ready.”

For most of an hour Utah watched the golfers drift across the course. How was he supposed to bond with a man like Bennett? Ropes, ammunition, and mountain climates made up most of Utah’s life. He knew nothing of golf shoes or handicap.

The mountains surrounding the course stirred him. Maybe he should just head home, and his father’s estate could rot in hell with the man who’d made this mess.

What of Caroline, though? Utah wasn’t about to walk away from her a second time. The minute he’d driven into his hometown, he’d known only a husband could tear Utah from his purpose of claiming her. Too many years had been wasted.

The sun mounted the sky, hung itself in the peak, and then slowly began its descent. Long shadows extended along the emerald turf. It had to be close to dinnertime.

Utah threw Caroline an apologetic look.

“Don’t say it. I’m along for the ride. I’ll sit here forever if you ask me to.”

His heart did a slow roll, and happiness spread through his system. It was the closest thing to a commitment he’d gotten from her. Of course, he hadn’t flat out asked her, either.

Yet.

The golfers were long gone. Only a few lonely flags dotted the course.

“Get out that list of addresses, baby. We’re going to ambush him on his own stomping ground.” Utah started the truck, suddenly feeling the stiffness of sitting for so many hours. When he looked at Caroline, he realized she held her tablet computer already.

“Sorry, I’ve been working all this time. You seemed lost in your own world, so I thought it best to get a few words out for the article.”

What an ass he was for not thinking of her. “How’d I end up so lucky?”

Her blue eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“Getting a woman like you? Not once but twice?”

Her only response was a smile that lit her face. Utah drove back into town, where they stopped at a convenience store for a restroom break and to buy drinks. Then Caroline set him on the path to the first address.

The streets were quiet—people had already gone home for dinner. As they drove through a residential section, not so much as a child played there. Caroline began counting the houses.

“Number 671…675…”

“What number is it again?” he asked just to soothe his jitters a little. That number was emblazoned on his brain. No escaping that number.

“775.”

“Yeah.”

When they drew up before the updated two-story home, Utah’s heart hit his stomach. “God, what if there’s a wife and kids to explain this to?”

Caroline scooted close to him, offering comfort through the warmth of her thigh. “I’ll be with you to handle it.”

He set the parking brake and gave a rough nod. “Let’s do this thing.”

He sounded as if they were storming an enemy line, not going to meet his brother for the first time. He walked up the flagstone path with Caroline at his side. The landscaping was stark. No flowers in pots on the porch. Utah’s spirits lifted that maybe a woman didn’t live here after all.