Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch) (23 page)

Kate tilted her head to the house. “Get in there and wash up. Your father’s in the living room, and Anna called to say she and Mitch will be here in ten minutes.”

“I’ll just take Melody—”

“Run along, little boy,” his mother ordered, flicking her fingers at him. “I’ll take care of her.”

It wasn’t as if he were afraid his mother would do something to ruin his chances with Melody, but at the same time Steve hurried to the boys’ bathroom, as his mom called it, and washed up as rapidly as he could.

“Bringing her for supper with the folks already. It’s that serious?”

Steve glanced in the mirror to discover his sister, Anna, standing behind him, her long dark hair loose around her shoulders, the hint of a flame tattooed on her shoulder peeking out from under her tank top.

His sister, the straight-laced cop who was head over heels in love with the last guy he’d expected her to fall for. But then over the past month, he’d never seen her happier.

Maybe they all had someone special who’d bring out the best in them.

But now he had to head this one off before it went out of control and made things tougher. “It’s nothing like that. I mean, yes, I want this to be serious, but having dinner with Mom and Dad is just dinner—I don’t want Melody to feel rushed or anything.”

Her expression remained serious “You know people are talking?”

Steve paused. “About me and Melody?”

“They’re talking mostly about her, and a little about you.”

He turned to face his sister, leaning a hip against the counter. “You’re not making any sense.”

She hesitated then spoke clearly. “Mitch hears a lot of gossip down at the shop and out on the street. Some of the old-timers aren’t happy with her work.”

“Well, that’s bullshit on their part. I’ve seen her in action. She’s been working for us and the other Coleman ranches without any complaints.”

A slim finger pointed in his direction. “That’s the biggest talk. How maybe you aren’t the best judge of whether her work is any good or not, since you two are involved.”

Steve grabbed the towel off the rack, drying his face and hands as he prepared to go back upstairs and join the family. “And if all they have time to do is sit around and gossip, then I don’t know that I give a shit about any of those old men’s opinions. Melody knows her job, and she’s good in the sack, and she’s a ton of fun to be around, period. Those are three separate things, and if they’re not smart enough to see that, fuck them.”

His sister’s smile bloomed. “Good. You’re not an idiot anymore.”

“Nope,” he agreed, before grinning back. “Did you bring that bad-ass fiancé of yours along tonight, or do we get to eat dinner without having to fight him for it?”

Anna backed down the hall, her smile taunting him. “He’s here, so don’t let your guard down. I hear we’re having meatloaf, and he’ll do anything for third helpings.”

Steve shook his head at people’s foolishness. So what if he and Melody were going out? They weren’t hurting anyone, and that was the plain truth. He paused at the top of the stairs, mesmerized by the sunlight shining in the window catching a loose strand of her hair and turning it into molten gold.

She’d pulled a stool beside the La-Z-Boy his father had settled in, a ball of wool held in front of her. Yarn draped across to his father.

Randy was explaining his situation. “Until we figure out what’s wrong, I’m stuck looking for things I can do that don’t mess everyone else up.”

“I’m sorry you’re still not feeling well,” Melody said. “But it’s good to see you’re keeping busy.”

Steve stepped forward far enough that his father’s hands came into view. The knitting needles he held moved steadily, nowhere near as quickly as his mom or any of the aunts, but there was a respectable looking dishcloth hanging underneath the work surface.

“I can’t cook, and I can’t drive, because both those things make me feel like I’m ready to fall over.” Randy let out a massive sigh. He lifted his head and his gaze met Steve’s. “So instead of doing my work, I’m sitting here like a slacker and letting my sons work like dogs.”

“I’d far prefer to have you bossing me around,” Steve confessed.

Randy made a face and went back to finish the row. “I’m knitting up the washcloths Kate promised to donate to the church fair.”

“Good for you for knowing how,” Melody said. “That’s a trick I’ve never learned.”

“Mama Coleman insisted all her boys learn how to do everything, from splitting wood and fixing cars to cooking dinner and sewing on buttons. She always said there’s no shame in getting the task done.”

Kate stepped out of the kitchen, hands full with a dish of steaming hot food, Lee right behind her. “We’re ready to go to the table. Randy, if you feel up to it, come join us.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I think I’ll stay here. I’m close enough I can give you what-for if the conversation starts to get boring.”

Steve paused to greet Mitch with a firm handshake; the man’s hands calloused from his hours of labour down at his family’s garage.

“Good to see you again.”

Mitch nodded in response before turning to rescue Anna and the heavy casserole she’d brought to the table.

“That one’s mine, anyway,” he claimed, taking a deep inhale and smiling contentedly. “Kate, you made meatloaf. You’re spoiling me.”

“You make my daughter smile. If meatloaf makes you happy, you get meatloaf,” Kate teased easily.

Steve pulled back the chair beside his usual one and seated Melody at his side. Her blue eyes sparkled as the rest of the family joined them.

“Everything looks great, Kate,” Melody offered.

“Thank you. In spite of Randy’s comment about not being able to cook, he put most of this in the oven a couple of hours ago.” Kate glanced at her husband, concern and affection written on her face. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Trevor asked about Melody’s work. Mitch shared a story from his day at the garage. Kate mentioned a couple extra chores for the following day. Good conversation and good food settled together, and again Steve felt the contrast between now and last year.

Why the
hell
had he not seen before how much he was missing?

Melody glowed brighter as the meal went on, her happiness clear as she shared with Kate her plans to train the new dog. Trevor joined in and even Randy offered a few suggestions.

She fit so well into their family, Steve wanted to jump up right then and there and point it out to her. Of course, that would be awkward as hell and probably get his foot stomped, but the thought did flit through his mind.

Trevor poked Lee in the arm. “How come you’re not talking?”

Their little brother shrugged. “You’re all talking enough without me.”

“But tonight is different. You’re quieter than usual.” Trevor glanced down the table. “Ahhh, Melody is here. That’s it. You’re too shy to talk around girls.”

“What am I, an elephant?” Anna demanded.

“And me?” Kate glared at her son.

Trevor didn’t seem to know when to stop. “You’re my sister and mom. You’re not girls.”

Laughter rang from behind them from where Randy was reclining in his chair. “You’re digging yourself a deep, deep hole, son, and no one in this room is going to throw you a rope to save yourself if you keep it up.”

“Hey, I was just pointing out Lee needs to find himself a lady friend. It sure improved Steve’s mood.” Trevor didn’t have time to get out of the way before a spoonful of peas struck him straight on in the face. He blinked in surprise, his mouth opening in shock as he stared at his mother. “What was that for?”

Kate let him have it. “Number one, looks to me like you also don’t have a
lady friend
, probably because there’s no one willing to put up with your shenanigans full time. Number two, I’m not just your mother, I’m the one who’s cutting the cake for dessert, and if you don’t mind your manners, you’ll find yourself eating the tiniest piece I can cut.”

For once Trevor didn’t open his mouth and continue chatting himself into more trouble. Steve reached under the table and caught Melody’s fingers in his, her low laughter triggering his own.

“Actually, I think Trevor’s the only one in the room without a lady friend,” Anna said sweetly as she helped gather the plates.

“What?” Trevor glanced at Lee. “What’s she talking about?”

Lee and his sister exchanged glances for a moment before his youngest brother broke eye contact, shuffling to his feet and picking up empty dishes. “Just because I like someone doesn’t mean everything is going to go my way.”

“Holy cow, Anna is right? You’re sweet on someone?” Steve demanded.

He was given another one of Lee’s patented younger-brother looks. The one that said “my, aren’t you stupid” and “don’t make me explain this all over again” at the same time.

“Drop it. It’s nothing.”

The temptation to keep poking was there, but so was the warning tug on his fingers from the amazing woman sitting beside him. One look into her eyes, and Steve promptly forgot about tormenting his youngest brother. The cool blue depths were so full of happiness he couldn’t bear to do anything to upset her.

Instead he turned to his troublemaking middle sibling. “Some of your mail delivered to my house by accident,” he announced.

“Yeah?” Trevor paused in the middle of pouring another drink.

“Your subscription with FarmersOnly.com is up for renewal, and they suggested you use a better picture this time. Seems the one you used last time, they weren’t sure if it was you or one of the cows…”

Lee and Mitch were the first to chuckle, his father seconds behind them. All the women rolled their eyes, but Steve’s point had been made as his brother offered him a glare of doom.

It was far more fun to torment Trevor than Lee anyway.

Chapter Sixteen

“Oh my God. What did he do then?”

Jaxi only grinned harder. “What do you think? Exactly what I wanted him to, of course.”

The group of women gathered in Allison’s recently expanded living room laughed, and Melody glanced around with a sense of awe and gratitude.

These women were her contemporaries. Not because they’d gone to school together or spent the last twenty years living in the same place. They all had different levels of education and hugely different backgrounds, but they were united by a love for the land and compassion for each other. Five women working in the middle of a male-centered society.

Allison’s cheeks were rosy, and as she leaned back on the couch, the front of her shirt pressed to the small swell of her belly.

Melody couldn’t resist. “You’re showing.”

Her friend’s grin had become nearly permanent by this point. “It’s the weirdest thing knowing someone’s growing inside me. I can’t wait until I can feel the kid move.”

“It’s very cool,” Jaxi agreed. She held four-month-old Peter in her arms, and he nursed noisily as they visited. “At least until they get big enough to dance on your bladder. And poke knees and elbows into your ribs.”

“Still looking forward to it,” Allison said.

“Definitely.” Jaxi offered her a hug and the two of them chatted for a moment as Melody sat back and relaxed.

Girls’ night out. After the workload she’d been pulling, it was good to take a break. Steve had been…

Well, he’d been amazing. Not only in helping with Charlie, but in calling her when they couldn’t get together. Dropping by for short visits when that’s all the two of them could handle. And the sex?

Maybe Allison wasn’t the only one with a perma-grin these days.

But tonight the call had been issued to spend time with the ladies, and Melody was glad to accept. Of course, as it turned out she was once again surrounded by the Coleman clan, but by now, she was used to it.

Along with Jaxi and Allison, Vicki and Ashley had joined them. Vicki wasn’t as well known to Melody, but the young woman had a snappy way of responding that made everyone in the room smile. Ashley…

Ashley defied definition.

The blonde-haired woman returned from the kitchen with two pitchers of the icy-pink concoction she’d poured the instant Melody had arrived. One was plain lemonade, and the other lemonade with a serious attitude. “Who’s ready for another round?”

Vicki pulled a face. “One is usually my limit. Plus, I have an online test I have to study for tomorrow. I don’t know if I should drink any more of the spiked one.”

“You’re okay, honey,” Jaxi assured her. “You know damn well you’re not going to get out of bed until noon anyway. I’ll give you my hangover recipe, and you’ll feel fine by the time you get up.”

Allison frowned. “How do you know she doesn’t get up until noon?”

Vicki’s cheeks shot past a blush to bright red, and she refused to meet Melody’s eyes, leaning instead toward her sister-in-law. “You said you weren’t going to tell anyone about that,” she complained.

“Oops.” Jaxi muttered, holding out her hand for a refill of the virgin lemonade that Ashley cheerfully offered.

Secrets. Anytime a gathering occurred, there were bound to be some, but at the same time the gentle teasing and familiarity added an intimacy to their get-together.

And sometimes secrets were meant to be shared. Vicki folded her arms over her chest as if she was going to be stubborn before spilling the beans. “Jaxi stopped over the morning Joel had decided to go a little…bossy on me.”

“A little?” Jaxi exclaimed. “Honey, he had you tied to the bed posts.”

“Are you telling me you and Blake never play with ropes?” Vicki retorted. “Because if you are, I call Bull. Fucking. Shit.”

“I never said that. I just think if you’re going to play
kidnapped by the wicked cowboy
you should time it better so your poor sister-in-law-to-be doesn’t get traumatized when she stops by to drop off a load of baking.”

“Ha. The day you’re traumatized by something the clan does, the national news will report it.”

Ashley offered a top-up from the pitcher with no alcohol to Allison then plopped onto the couch next to Melody. “Okay, time for the most current gossip. I nominate Melody to start.”

Melody hesitated. “Who, me?”

“Of course, you,” Allison teased. “We’re dying to know. You broke up with Steve, then went away for nearly a year. Now you’re back, and I’ve never seen the man smile so much in his life.”