Michelle Major - Fortune's Fresh Start

Steven’s shoulders relaxed under his Western-style button-down shirt. “It’s going to be tight. The supplier is putting a rush on the order so the cabinets should be here in two weeks. I can have the crew work on the flooring and finish the exterior. It’s not ideal, but we’ll make sure nothing falls behind.”

“Let me know if we need to change our move-in date.” Stephanie addressed them both. She not only worked at the current location of the vet center, but also acted as the liaison with the construction crew. “It’s going to be all hands on deck at Paws and Claws to make it a smooth transition for our patients.”

“Got it.” Steven chuckled, then muttered, “Pink cabinets. We’ve had some strange setbacks, but that one might be the most colorful.”

“If that’s the worst unforeseen stumbling block in this whole process,” Callum said, “I’ll take it.”

“The pediatric center opened without a hitch.” Stephanie scrunched up her nose. “Other than a woman almost giving birth in the lobby.”

Callum nodded. “I stopped by today, and the facility is already busy. Clearly there was a need for a children’s health clinic in Rambling Rose.”

“It feels like the town grows every day,” Stephanie observed. “Have you noticed the new houses being built down the road from the ranch?”

Steven rubbed his thumb and fingers together. “Lots of money coming into the community. Hopefully that will mean plenty of business for each of our new ventures.”

“Who needs a margarita?” Stephanie asked. “The pink cabinet fiasco made my head hurt, but it’s nothing a salted rim along with a big plate of enchiladas won’t cure.”

“I’m in,” Steven said.

Callum pulled out his phone and checked the time on the home screen. “I’ll have to take a rain check. I have dinner plans tonight.” He responded to a text from his foreman, then glanced up to find his brother and sister staring at him with equally curious expressions.

“Spill it,” Stephanie said.

Callum feigned confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“He’s evading answering.” Steven elbowed their sister. “My money’s on the cute nurse from the other day.”

“He bombed out with her before he even got a chance,” Stephanie said. “Tell me it’s not that barista at the coffee shop in town who always flirts with you. She has crazy eyes.”

“Enough with the inquisition.” This was the issue with coming from such a close-knit family. Since they’d moved to Rambling Rose, he and his siblings had mostly hung out together. Sure, each of them had made a few casual friends. But they stuck together. The ranch they’d purchased just outside town had a sprawling main house as well as several guesthouses on the multiacre property.

He figured if his brothers and sister ever wanted more privacy in Rambling Rose, he’d buy out their portion of the ranch. But none of them seemed inclined to move out on their own anytime soon. It worked for Callum. He’d needed space after going to school at a local college in Florida. That was part of the reason he’d started looking for projects to take on in other areas of the Southeast. Coming from such a big family and growing up with so much responsibility for Stephanie and the triplets on his shoulders, he’d needed a break.

But after the wreck of his short marriage and subsequent divorce, life had become too quiet. Now he liked being close to his siblings. It had made the move to Texas not so daunting and gave him a sense of confidence, which was probably why he’d taken on a slate of so many ambitious projects.

“Then tell us,” Stephanie prodded. “Don’t think I won’t follow you. Remember when I was in eighth grade and crashed your date with Ava Martin after you snuck out to meet her?”

“How could I forget?” he replied, trying and failing to hide his smile. “I got grounded for a month.”

“You were already grounded, which is why you got in even more trouble.”

“No one is going to ground me now,” he told her.

“Come on, Callum. Just spill it.”

“I’m having dinner with Becky from the pediatric center.”

“Called it.” Steven did an enthusiastic fist pump. “You were so obvious the other day.”

“I wasn’t obvious,” Callum said through clenched teeth. “I was helpful, and she’s thanking me with dinner.”

“How romantic,” Stephanie said in a singsong voice.

“Her twins will be sleeping in their bedroom. It’s hardly romantic.”

“Mom and Dad had four boys under the age of five when they were first married,” Steven reminded them. “They still managed to find some time for romance.”

“This isn’t anywhere near the same thing, and you both know it. You’re just trying to get under my skin.”

Stephanie wiggled her eyebrows. “It’s working, too. I can tell.” She leaned closer. “I can also tell you like her. You were pretty obvious at the ribbon cutting.”

“Go back to Florida,” he told her, deadpan.

“I’m like a rash,” she countered. “You can’t get rid of me.”

Steven laughed. “You do realize you just compared yourself to a bad skin condition.”

“Fitting,” Callum said.

Stephanie only rolled her eyes at their gentle ribbing. “What are you bringing?”

Callum shrugged. “Nothing. She said she’d handle it all.”

She groaned. “Don’t be an idiot right out of the gate. What about flowers or wine or chocolate?”

“You sound like Marci,” Callum told her. “Enough with the matchmaking.”

“Li’l sis is right,” Steven said. “Step up, Callum. Your pretty nurse has been through a lot. Even if it’s just a thank-you, make her feel special.”

“She’s not ‘my’ anything,” he protested, although his heart seemed to pinch at the thought of a woman like Becky belonging to him. He should listen to that subtle sharpening and not get any more involved with her when it could only end badly. “But she is special.”

“Then show her,” Steven urged, laughing when Stephanie gave him a playful slap. “Hey, what was that for? It’s good advice.”

“I’m just shocked it came from you.”

“Remember, I’m the oldest.” Steven pointed a finger at each of them. “That also means I’m the wisest.”

“Hardly,” Callum said on a half laugh, half cough. But his brother had a point. He didn’t know much about Becky Averill, but it was obvious she worked hard, both at her job and taking care of her girls. She deserved to have someone treat her special. Despite knowing he could never be that man, he couldn’t help wanting to ignore the truth—even for one night.

The doorbell rang at exactly seven o’clock that night.

Becky stifled a groan as she finished fastening the snaps on Luna’s pajamas. “Of all the nights for things to go off the rails,” she said to her girls as she lifted them into her arms and hurried toward the front of the small house.

She opened the door to Callum, who stood on the other side holding the most beautiful bouquet of colorful flowers she’d ever seen. “Am I early?” he asked, his dark gaze taking in the twins as well as Becky’s bedraggled appearance.

“Bedtime is running late,” she answered.

Luna babbled at him and swiped a chubby hand at the flowers while Sasha snuggled more deeply against Becky’s shoulder.

“What can I do?”

Her heart did that melty thing she couldn’t seem to stop around this man. “Give me five minutes,” she told him as she backed into the house. “This night is to thank you for helping the first time, not to force you into another round of child care duties.”