Teresa Southwick - From Maverick to Daddy

“You have to admit that the population of Rust Creek has increased with an influx of females.”

“So are you looking for a gal?” Mallory asked him, letting just a hint of sarcasm slip into her tone.

“No, ma’am, I’m not.”

“And why is that?”

“I’ve got my reasons,” he said mysteriously.

Although curious, Mallory wouldn’t ask, but if any of the town’s female newcomers heard him say that, from Sawmill Street clear up to the falls, there would be a line waiting to interrogate him and change his mind. Although she wouldn’t be one of them.

“Turnabout is fair play,” Travis said. “Are you looking for a husband?”

“No, sir, I’m not.”

“Fair enough,” he said, nodding. “So, why did you move here?”

Before she could answer, Mary and her girls returned and handed out drinks. Mallory took the wineglass and made sure her back was to Caleb. That turned out to be problematic because her skin prickled and she felt his gaze on her, no matter how stupid that sounded. Making something out of nothing was a flaw she was working on and now was an excellent time to practice stopping the habit.

But when she chanced a look, she caught him staring at her, and the intense expression on his face stole her breath. In her humble opinion, this was the very definition of mixed signals.

* * *

All through dinner Caleb had watched Travis put the moves on Mallory and he didn’t like it, not even a little bit. He was disturbed by the feeling, because earlier he’d deliberately joined a conversation that didn’t include her, then found himself wanting to hear everything she said to his brother.

Now dinner conversation was winding down and he knew table-clearing was next. When Mallory laughed at something his brother said, Caleb couldn’t take it anymore.

“Travis, you’re on dish detail.”

“I did it last week,” he protested.

“Nope. That was me. You’re up.”

Travis gave him a back-off look. “I don’t want to neglect our guest.”

Caleb didn’t like the sound of that. Age might have its privileges usually, but this time it was every man for himself.

His mother must have sensed something because she stood up. “Let’s stack these dishes and take them to the kitchen. Travis, Anderson, it’s your turn.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The oldest of the three brothers stood and took his sisters’ plates.

“I’ll entertain our guests.” Caleb looked at his brother and dared him to argue. “I’ll give them a tour of the garden.”

“Do I have to go?” Lily was sitting between his sisters. “I’m going to play a game with Lani and Lindsay.”

“Of course you can do that.” Mallory’s voice was quiet, but her expression showed equal parts unease and confusion.

Caleb was confused, too, and didn’t get his own behavior. All he knew was that he didn’t want his brother alone with her. He stood and walked around the table, then put his hands on her chair to slide it back so she could get up. Just in case Travis was planning a play, Caleb put his hand at the small of her back and ushered her out of the dining room. He guided her to the French door in the kitchen and opened it for her to walk outside.

The sun was low in the sky and would soon disappear behind the mountain. A light breeze carried the fragrances of roses and jasmine.

Mallory looked at the brick-trimmed patio and expanse of grass, bushes and flowers outlining the yard. Her gaze settled on the white gazebo in a far corner. “This is really beautiful.”

“Yeah. The folks really like it out here.”

“I want to do this in my yard. For Lily. There hasn’t been time yet since moving. Getting her settled was the priority and it was winter. Then spring arrived, but there was so much going on at work, people picking up the pieces of their lives after the flood.”

“Now we’re facing down another winter,” he said. “But when you’re ready, I can recommend a good landscape contractor.”

“That would be great.” She looked as if his being nice was unexpected.

He probably deserved that. “No problem.”

She walked across the grass to the gazebo and looked longingly at the wooden bench that lined the interior. “Is it all right if I sit?”

“Sure.”

She did and said, “This is so lovely.”

“Yeah.” But he was looking at her face. Instinct had him wanting to sit beside her but he held back, leaned his shoulder against the solid support beam beside her.

“You didn’t know I was coming to dinner, did you?”

That was direct and he liked her for it. No beating around the bush. “I didn’t know.”

“When Ben invited me, he didn’t say that the whole family would be here.”

“If you’d known, would you have come?”

She thought for a moment, then nodded. “Your father never misses a chance to say what a good job I’m doing. He treats his employees and clients with respect, as if they really matter, and understands that real life sometimes has to come first. It would have been rude and ungrateful to turn down his invitation.”

“Are you sorry you came?”

“No.” She met his gaze. “Your family is wonderful and you’re lucky to have them.”

He thought of Travis and thought sometimes not so much. “If you say so.”

“I do.” Her voice was wistful. “I wish I’d had that kind of warmth and closeness growing up.”

Lily called her “aunt,” so she hadn’t been an only child. “But you have a sibling.”

“A sister. Mona left home as soon as she was old enough, so we weren’t that close.” Sadness filled her eyes. “She died almost a year ago. Now I feel guilty for not making more of an effort to stay in touch.”

“Lily is her daughter.” Obviously the little girl was adopted. Obviously now her aunt was her guardian.

“Mona and her husband, Bill, were college professors at NYU. They couldn’t have children, so they adopted Lily from China.”

“Not New York?” That got a small smile, as he’d hoped.

“There, too. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call that her parents were killed in a terrible accident. Hit by a taxi.”

“I’m sorry.” It was automatic, but he meant the words.

“Thank you.” She sighed. “It just occurred to me how odd that is. Thanking someone who feels sorry for you.”

“Not you,” he clarified. “I’m sorry you had to go through something so terrible. I can’t imagine losing one of my sisters or brothers. Even Travis.”

“He’s a teddy bear.”

“More like a pain in the neck. But I’m related to that pain in the neck.” He sat down on the bench beside her, not touching, but close enough to feel the heat from her body, smell the sweet scent of her skin. “I can’t imagine what it’d be like without him.”

“Cherish the closeness.” She rubbed her arms as if suddenly cold. “Now there’s no chance Mona and I can ever be that way.”

“But you’re Lily’s guardian. That has to count for something. You’re the one she trusted with her child.”

“I appreciate you saying that. It helps.”

“So, why didn’t you stay in New York?” He was curious to know everything about her and liked hearing her talk. The voice that was a little honey with a side of gravel scraped over his skin and scratched its way inside.

“For a lot of reasons. It’s expensive and there were sad memories for Lily everywhere.”

“Out of all the places you could’ve come, why Rust Creek?”

The look she gave him was wry. “I admit to reading Lissa Roarke’s blog, but I’m not here to find a man.” The tone was a little emphatic, a lot defensive. “I liked the community spirit. Everyone pulling together after the flood and during rebuilding. Lily lost so much and I thought it was important for her to feel a part of something bigger than just the two of us. Not so alone and maybe a little more secure.”