Sweet Home Montana (The McKaslin Clan) (9 page)

It was eight minutes after, according to the clock on the wall. Looked like he was already in trouble. He pulled on a T-shirt, ran a comb through his hair and grabbed the gift he’d picked up last week. He folded up the report and took it with him. Spence was going to ask for it. Man, he didn’t like this, but he also saw Spence’s point. Mary was a very well-off woman, a multimillionaire in her own right, and Caleb knew the real concern wasn’t Lauren alone, but her mother.

Lauren’s words had stuck with him, even through the tough day.
A good family is one of the greatest things there is. But don’t forget that a good man is, too.
It meant a lot to him. A little affirmation was good to hear, now and then. Lauren had a compassionate heart and he figured she had her values in the right place. His respect for her just kept growing.

He climbed in his truck and headed down the road, remembering that first day when he and Lauren had chased the escapee horses. He’d liked her then, right off the bat. Now that he’d spent more time with her, he liked her more. He’d gotten enough glimpses to get an inkling of who she was and what she stood for.

As he guided the truck around the final bend in the road, Mary’s house came into sight. His pulse began to skip with a deep anticipation. He was looking forward to seeing Lauren again. And, as if the universe was listening, she was the first sight for his tired eyes. She was tying red and blue helium balloons to the porch rail. The bright balloons bobbed in the wind and tugged at their strings. She made him feel as light and cheerful as those balloons.

He pulled the truck out of the way, so he wouldn’t block in all the other vehicles parked in the driveway, tucked the envelope in Spence’s truck and headed her way.

Chapter Nine

L
auren pushed away from the porch railing. Caleb was here. Why did that feel like something to celebrate? The rubber squeak of the balloons yanking against their ribbons, the fragrant homemade pizza smell wafting out the open windows and the rustle of the breeze in the trees faded into the background. Caleb strode through the gravel, looking shower-fresh in a blue T-shirt and worn jeans. He was every inch the salt-of-the-earth man she believed him to be.

“Hi, cowboy.” She shaded her eyes with her hand to see him more clearly. “We were starting to wonder if you were going to be a no-show. Mary was about to send Spence down to make sure you were all right. Did you get my message?”

“And Mary’s. It was a long day, is all, and I’m glad to be here. I smell homemade pizza. My favorite.”

“It was the birthday boy’s choice. I’ve never made homemade pizza before, but I imagine out here you don’t have delivery.”

“One of the local places in town will drive out to the city limits, about a half mile away, and meet you. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Doesn’t it defeat the purpose of home delivery to drive out to get it?”

“Right, but they didn’t used to come out at all, so it’s a case of taking what we can get.” He paused to look her over. “You sure look nice. Judging by the grin on your face, you’ve had a good day with your sisters.”

“I spent most of the day with Aubrey shopping and stopping to see her horse.”

“She’s got a pretty fancy stable she rides at. Did you like it?”

“I couldn’t imagine jumping, the way she does with Annie. I barely survived the trotting this morning. Anyway, then I helped Gran get ready for the party.”

“You two are getting to know one another?”

“More with each day. Your name was mentioned several times.”

“Guess that explains why my ears were burning. Nothing bad was said, I hope.”

“That you arranged for Tyler to visit the fire station.”

“I know the captain.” Caleb shrugged one shoulder like it was no big deal. “Besides, Danielle’s husband, Jonas, and I are good friends. When he was dating Danielle, he rented one of the houses on my grandparents’ property. Our friendship goes way back. What happened to him was a double blow. When you’re in law enforcement and an officer goes down, it’s like you going down, too. We’re all in this together.

“And I’m close enough to his family to see what it has cost them. Danielle’s spent the better part of the past two months at his side, day and night, torn apart not knowing if Jonas would live or die. Not knowing if her kids would grow up having their dad. Tyler’s missing Jonas and I just want to help out, make the day a little happier. It’s what Jonas would want.”

“I’ve noticed you help out around here a lot.”

“Well, I have to do something with my time. Might as well do some good.”

Did Caleb know how attractive this humble thing was? “Let’s see. You have your own place, take care of Gran’s horses, you protect and serve the community by day and help out everyone you can on your off-hours.”

“Whew, when you say it like that it makes me dog tired. All I can say is I try to keep up with my responsibilities.”

Was it her imagination or did he make her dream? He
was
pretty dreamy. “My grandmother has pointed out that you don’t let anyone down. That’s pretty admirable.”

“Well, I’ve got shortcomings enough, but I’ve never disappointed anyone on purpose.”

Yeah, she’d already figured that out. She followed him into the house, remembering what the twins had said. That all of them had been sweet on Caleb.

She was starting to feel that way, too.

The screen door squeaked open and Gran beamed out at them. “Caleb! You made it. I saw the report on that bank robbery on the noon news. Glad to see that not one of you boys was hurt.”

“We’re all okay, and thank you for thinking of us.” He tipped his hat.

On top of it, he was old-school polite, too. Lauren was starting to notice the list of Caleb’s fine attributes was growing longer. If this kept up, she would need a computer to keep track of everything.

“Lauren, I can see our talk about marriage has gotten you thinking in the right direction.” Gran radiated delight. “It’s nice to see you kids both together.”

“My dear grandmother, I cannot believe you said that.” Lauren took her by the hand, overcome by this woman’s good will for her. “I can see your high hopes.”

“Now, I know what I’m talking about. You two just look right together.”

Leave it to her kindly grandmother to leap to the wrong conclusion. She looked to Caleb for help, but he just stood there, blushing. Had he guessed that Gran was at least a little bit right? She
was
sweet on Caleb, and she didn’t want him to know. She braced her feet and prepared for the worst. “You know, Gran, Caleb and I are just friends?”

“That’s how the best romances start. That’s how it was when I first met your grandfather. That’s how it was when your dad met Dorrie. When Katherine met her fiancé. Oh, I can go on and on.”

“I’m sure you can, but we’re friends.
Just
friends.” It didn’t feel like the truth. But what else could they be besides friends? For a moment, Caleb seemed to have a differing opinion, but, no, that was just her imagination.

No one could look more serious as Caleb rubbed his chin. “Lauren’s right. We’re just pals. So, Mary, don’t you go getting any ideas, you hear?”

Mary lifted her chin, all charm and sweetness. “Why, it’s a free country. I can get ideas if I want to.”

“That may be, but don’t you go settin’ yourself up for disappointment.”

“Disappointment?” She looked at him as if that were impossible.

Yep, he could see right through Mary—she thought that happy endings happened all the time. He knew it was more complicated than that.

“Lauren’s too classy to be interested in the likes of me. It’s tough on my male ego to say so, but we might as well admit the truth.” He winked, to let her know he wasn’t affected by it. But this wasn’t entirely true. His heart wasn’t going in the general direction he’d like it to. “Besides, Mary, you know you’ve ruined me for other women. No other lady could stand a chance compared to you.”

“You’re a shameless flatterer and a smooth-talker, too. In my day, nice girls avoided men like you, you rascal.” She chided, although she flushed at the compliment.

Caleb laughed at that. “I’m still more rascal than gentleman and don’t you forget it. Lauren, don’t believe everything this lovely woman has told you about me. With the way she talks, you’d think I’ll soon be up for next year’s Most Eligible Bachelor nomination.”

Lauren arched one brow as if she had great doubts about that possibility.

Why did that sting his male pride, too? He knew the second he first saw her that they weren’t in the same league.

“I don’t know that I’d nominate you, young man.” Caleb heard Mary’s heart in her words. Saw her joy in the gentle hand on her granddaughter’s arm, unable to let go—and apparently unable to stop singing his praises. “Maybe you haven’t heard, Lauren, Caleb was engaged a few years back and it didn’t work out. He’s been alone ever since.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that.” Lauren struggled to hold back a smile.

Great. If he wasn’t embarrassed before, he was now. “Don’t you go putting Lauren on the spot. Likely she’s not interested in a country boy like me.”

“There’s no man on earth like a Montana man, born and raised.” Mary glimmered with mischief. “Lauren’s a smart girl. Surely she noticed that right away. Right, Lauren?”

If she did, Caleb couldn’t tell by the way she blithely pressed a kiss to her grandmother’s cheek. “Thanks, Gran, but I’m going to plead the Fifth.”

Great. Caleb knew he was blushing ear to ear. He could feel his face heat so he grabbed the nearest thing—the screen door—and yanked it open. What he planned to do, he had no idea, but one thing was sure, he needed to get some distance. Was Mary just being her normal, rose-colored-glasses self? Or had she guessed at the truth—that he was a tad bit, and only a tad bit, smitten with the pretty Lauren McKaslin?

Good going, man. That was pretty much the last thing he wanted anyone to know—especially Lauren.

“Caleb, where do you think you’re going, to the kitchen?” Mary called him back. “There’s not one more thing to do until the pizza needs to come out of the oven. Off to the patio and relax, both of you. Shoo.”

He schooled his face, steeled his spine and willed the blush away—not that it was working. Maybe it was best to escape while he could. “I’m taking a detour. I’ve got a present to deliver.”

“Sorry, cowboy, but the gift table is this way.” Lauren backed across the porch, looking beautiful in her simple denim sun dress. She crooked a finger, indicating he ought to follow her along the wraparound porch. “There’s no man on earth like a Montana man, huh?”

What was he going to say to that? He waited until they were out of earshot to answer, for Mary was still standing in the doorway, watching them go off together. “What is up with Mary?”

“She had the perfect marriage, so she thinks every marriage is that way. She obviously has few trust issues.”

“Obviously.” He wondered if Lauren had guessed how he felt about her. “Did Mary embarrass you?”

“Hardly.” Lauren didn’t seem a bit troubled.

Take notice of that, bud, he told himself, trying to steel his heart. He kept pace with her, their footsteps synchronous. He had some hope the sound might cover up his disappointment. Maybe it was just his pride, but he’d hoped the idea of their being more than friends wouldn’t be so easily dismissed.

“Gran’s going to have to try harder than that to embarrass me,” Lauren went on easily.

“I suppose your outlook has something to do with the anti-marriage sentiment we discussed awhile back.”

“I’m not anti-marriage. I’ve got nothing against the institution in theory, just personally.”

“Oh, yeah?” He kept his voice neutral, but the truth was, he felt a little interested in her answer. Walking on dangerous ground was not a habit of his. Why was he doing it now? He waited.

But they rounded the corner of the house and she didn’t answer. The gang was gathered in the back patio, hemmed in by the east wing of the house, the garden and the sparkling pool. A big yellow dog paddled his way across the middle of the pool to the shallow end, where Ava slipped into the water to help him out. Her fiancé, Brice, shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe his dog had helped himself to Mary’s pool. Manning the built-in grill, Spence had turned his back and was deep in discussion with Aubrey’s William.

The clan was growing. Everyone was finding love and getting married. He felt a little left out and this wasn’t the first time. More and more his friends and family had married and started families of their own. He’d thought he’d be one of them, but it just hadn’t happened. It wouldn’t if he kept falling for the wrong kind of woman. And if there was anyone wrong for him it would have to be Lauren McKaslin.

“Hey, Caleb.” Spence waved him over.

He glanced around for Lauren, but she had already been drawn away by Rebecca and Aubrey.

Be smart about this, cowboy, he told himself. The trouble was, how did he get his heart to listen?

Resigned, he headed Spence’s way. There was the matter of the report to get to him. Then he could put it out of his mind.

As the last line of “Happy Birthday to You” was drowned out by a chorus of cheers and advice, Tyler took a gigantic breath, puffed out his cheeks like a chipmunk’s and gave a loud and long blow.

In the middle of the table, sandwiched between two sisters, Lauren didn’t think she’d ever seen a cuter little boy. Then again, maybe she was biased because she was now his aunt. And focusing on Tyler kept her from thinking about Caleb. Which wasn’t proving as easy as she’d expected.

Tyler got all five candles—thanks to Spence who, standing behind him, sent a little puff in the direction of the final candle.

Tyler didn’t notice and raised his fists in triumph. “I did it! My wish is gonna come true!”

“See,” Aubrey leaned close to say. “Spence isn’t such a bad guy. He’ll warm up to you. I’ve been riding him hard about this, don’t you worry. We’ll wear him all down and you’ll see he’s a good egg.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” It was hard to believe with the hard, piercing look Spence sent from the other side of the teak patio table. He didn’t seem like a good egg but an angry one.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out why. According to Aubrey, Spence had been hurt the most when Mom had made the decision to leave. Spence was the oldest. She had gotten to know enough about the family to see that he took his job as big brother seriously. He watched over his younger sisters with all the diligence and commitment of a good, responsible, dedicated man. He’d been protecting them and taking care of them for many years.

But not her. No, he’d aligned her with their mom and her selfish and often flighty ways. How could she blame him for that? He was doing what she thought was rare in this world: protecting his family. What could be more honorable than that?

That might be troubling her, but not as much as something else. Caleb sat at his side, and he hadn’t looked in her direction once. Not once. She could hear his baritone rumble
we’re just pals.
The thing was, she was confused about her feelings for him. Was he feeling the same way? Was that what he’d meant by the comment? Or was he not interested in her?