by Vella Munn
“My family lives in Sacramento,” she said. “They’re surrounded by restaurants.”
“Why don’t you still live in the area?” Garret asked.
She’d tucked him into a corner of her mind while talking to his mother and grandmother. Instead of immediately answering, she snagged three pieces of pie and carried them to the table. She placed one in front of Bea. Another went to Garret. Not trusting herself to look into his eyes as she sat across from him, she studied his hands. The scratches were still there, waiting for her to kiss them.
“I explained it was time to try my wings,” she said with her gaze lowered. “See how I’d do on my own.”
“A man wasn’t involved?” Bea spoke around her first bite of pie.
Laura’s sigh said she’d given up trying to temper her mother’s outspoken nature. To her surprise, Amber realized she didn’t mind the question.
“There’d been a man.” She cut into her slice and brought it near her mouth. “He factored into my decision to apply for this job, but even if I didn’t get it, we wouldn’t have stayed together.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Grandma.” Garret cautioned.
“I’m just voicing what’s on your mind. Don’t try to tell me it isn’t.”
After placing the piece in her mouth and sighing in approval, Amber looked at Garret. His dark eyes were partly sheltered by lashes she envied. Despite what he’d just said, he didn’t look embarrassed by his grandmother’s words. She imagined him growing up in this cozy space, the only male in a family of confident, capable women.
Knowing her brothers, they’d point out the worn surfaces and inexpensive, dated appliances. Her parents would debate whether the house should be extensively remodeled or torn down. They wouldn’t understand the significance behind the fading high school graduation announcements taped to the refrigerator.
“There’s nothing wrong with Barnes. Well, not much. I wasn’t right for him.”
“Which means he wasn’t right for you,” Laura said.
“That, too. This is fantastic!” She indicated the pie. “Am I too old for you to adopt?”
“So you like it.”
“Love it. I never knew cherries could taste so good.”
“That’s because you probably always bought them in stores. There’s nothing like getting them right out of the orchard.”
She had little to say as Garret’s relatives explained what they’d learned from decades of planting and maintaining gardens. The two women discussed the best way to keep rhubarb roots from freezing, how much of which farmer’s steer manure to mix into the soil, how large the compost pile should be, and how to keep a single zucchini plant from overwhelming them.
Except for taking credit for rototilling the garden plot in spring, Garret concentrated on his dessert. Just the same, she had the sense he was aware of the impact the conversation was having on her. The longer she listened to Laura in particular, the more layers she saw to the woman. Grandma Bea was solid and basic, no nonsense. In contrast, Laura thought before she spoke. When the conversation turned to local politics, Laura spoke from the perspective of someone who’d spent several years on the city council. She’d served her time there, she explained, done her duty. Making quilts for children in need filled a need within herself.
“I just hope my girls wind up back here after college,” she said. “I’d make a fantastic grandmother.”
“I’m sure you will.” How was Garret reacting? “What if you have grandsons? Will you teach them how to cook?”
“Absolutely she will.” Garret broke in. “I speak from experience.”
The warmth in his voice too much to ignore, she focused on him. He was looking at his mother, and she was doing the same. Pure, uncomplicated love resonated between them. Amber’s throat tightened and her eyes became hot as she tried to remember whether her own mother had ever looked at her children in the same way. Her mother loved her children, but what she felt for them was different, tempered and limited by something Amber didn’t want to examine. Even though Garret didn’t have a loving father, he was blessed.
Chapter Six
“She didn’t have to do that.” Amber indicated the half pie she’d just placed in her vehicle. “Just because I praised—”
“Mom wanted to,” Garret interrupted. “Believe me, she doesn’t give away something she spent considerable time making to many people.”
“Why me?”
“She likes you. So does Grandma.”
She and Garret were standing in the dark preparing to go their separate ways while the others remained in the wonderful-smelling house. Instead of taking off, she closed her car door and faced him. Thanks to the moon, stars, and porch light his outline was clear, but she couldn’t make out his expression. Neither, she hoped, could he see hers. It might give away too much.
“I like them, really like them. They’re real.”
“My exact sentiments. So what do you think?”
“About what?”
“Living with them.”
She’d known he was going to ask and how she’d respond so why was answering hard? “I envy you. All that great cooking, a house with character, two women who would die for you.”
Garret made a sound she couldn’t identify. Wondering if she’d stumbled into something that was none of her business, she struggled to continue.
“I love them,” she whispered as the lump she’d experienced earlier returned.
“But...”
She took a deep breath. “I came to Montana because I wanted... I needed to stand on my own feet. To prove to myself that I have what it takes to succeed on my own. If I move in here, which is tempting, I’ll become part of them.” A tear leaked. “Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“I think so.”
He wasn’t touching her so his impact shouldn’t be hard to weather but it was.
“Thank you for tonight.” Her voice was tight with tears. “I loved it.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She again filled her lungs. “Chalk it up to female hormones.”
“If it’s because you feel I’m pressuring you—”
“No, not at all. I just feel bad about not...”
“I get what you’re saying. People need to prove themselves.”
Feeling a little more in control, she impulsively stroked his cheek. His whiskers abraded her fingertips and made them tingle. Caution said she should back off. Instead, she continued the contact.
He covered her hand with his so her fingers were sandwiched between his flesh. She was getting turned on, but that wasn’t the only thing she felt. They were sharing something that didn’t need words, deep, unspoken emotions.
“You still need a place to live,” he said at length.
“That can wait until tomorrow. You’ve done enough for me for one night.”
“Not that much.”
“Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I’m being honest.”
Instead of telling him she suspected he was leaving something out, she wrapped her other arm around his neck and rose onto her toes. When their mouths met, she couldn’t say which of them had made the first move. If it was her, she’d blame the female emotions she’d told him about except blame wasn’t the right word.
She’d done this before, kissed him the other day. Knew what it did to her.
At least she should have.
He held her, kept her against him with his lips strong and real. There was no hesitancy on his part and only slightly less on hers. This night, time, and place was for letting go of everything else. Exploring. Bodies pressed together and mouths parted. He was strong, capable of endlessly supporting her, his masculinity making its presence known in ways she’d never experienced.
He was everything, too much.
Everything.
As the word expanded inside her, she tightened her hold on him. His family might be watching, but she was beyond caring. In
ways she’d keep at a distance from herself, she’d been wanting this since the first time they’d kissed. He was strong and sure, an elemental part of the world she’d moved to. He wasn’t just sexy but with his legs pressed against hers and his breath feathering her cheeks, she wasn’t interested in a complete explanation.
Groaning, he pushed her back. She tried to put an end to the separation between them, but he wouldn’t let her.
“All right.” She stopped struggling. “I get it.”
“I’m not sure either of us do.”
“I thought you’d taken off,” Amber said. “Aren’t you and Jake heading for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area?”
Garret explained they’d be leaving in a few minutes, but he felt the need to try to talk to her first. Going by her widened stance as she stood beside her SUV, he surmised she was tense around him. He didn’t blame her. Didn’t being this close to her put him on edge in ways both good and bad? They hadn’t said a word to each other last night following their second impulsive kiss. This morning he’d only come halfway into her office to let her know she wouldn’t have to concern herself with his presence today.
“Mom called,” he said. “Her friend Jan who lives in Sweetheart just left on a job rotation. There’s no one living in her place.”
Amber opened her car door and placed the camera on the passenger’s seat. “Oh?”
“According to Mom, the neighbor is willing to keep an eye on it, make sure the furnace doesn’t shut off.”
“Oh.”
She wasn’t giving him enough. Heck, she’d barely glanced at him both now and earlier in her office.
“What do you think? Mom said she’d vouch for you if you’re interested.”
“It’s interesting, but I can’t make a decision about a place I haven’t seen.”
“I’m not asking you to. Mom offered to call Jan on your behalf.”
“In Sweetheart?”
“A few blocks north of the Montreau Hotel and south of where the cherry orchards begin. At least that’s what Mom says. I’ve met Jan. She’s a squared away woman, a little at loose ends since her husband died. If Mom vouches for the house, I know it’s all right.”
Amber hadn’t moved, hadn’t even blinked. He’d give a lot to know what she was thinking, but she seemed intent on keeping her expression neutral. Heck, so was he. Last night’s leave-taking had been the second mistake he’d made since meeting her, and like before he’d spent more time warning himself not to let it happen again than he had sleeping. He’d thought he’d gotten the point across until he’d seen her with the breeze tossing her hair and a bit of lipstick where he wanted to touch.
“When can I see it?”
“This evening if Mom can get in touch with Jan about a key.”
“All right.”
Wishing he could shake more reaction out of her, he indicated her vehicle. “Where are you going?”
“I managed to get a copy of the original plat for Bigfork, the one Everit Sliter designed not long after he planted the original fruit trees back in 1892. Hopefully I can locate exactly where that is and document any structures I find on the land.”
Relieved because she wasn’t intending to go to the forest cabins, he said he hoped she’d be successful. Truth was, her plans didn’t sound like anything he’d want to do. What would she think of how he spent many of his days? Would the wilderness speak to her as it always did to him?
“It doesn’t turn you on, does it?” she asked.
He frowned. “What doesn’t?”
“My agenda. It’s all right.”
“What about you?” he asked. “Is that how you want to spend your day?”
She jerked her head back as if avoiding a blow then plunged her hands in her pockets. “It has to be done.”
“What if it isn’t?”
“Don’t. I’m not going to defend myself to you.”
“I’m not asking you to. Look, there’s something I should have mentioned before. One of the cabin owners I warned you about, Sig, make sure you aren’t ever alone with him.”
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Call it a warning. He’s aggressive when it comes to women.”
“In what way?”
“He thinks he’s god’s gift to the opposite sex.”
“He isn’t to me, Garret. I’m not going to fall all over him any more than you went after those teenage girls the other night.”
“It isn’t the same thing.”
“I know how to take care of myself.”
He had to get better at choosing things to talk about with her. Otherwise, their relationship wouldn’t go anywhere, assuming he wanted them to which he wasn’t sure of. “What?” he asked. “Would you prefer I say nothing about him?”
“It’s not that. I just want you to give me credit for having a brain.”
“I do.”
“Good.”
Instead of pointing out that dealing with Sig or his friends might call for more than intelligence, he told her he’d let her know what he heard from his mother about the potential rental.
“That’s fine.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry if I don’t sound more enthusiastic about the house, but I’m not going to get my hopes up.”
“Got it. About last night, at the end.”
“I know.” She lowered her gaze. “We shouldn’t have.”
As they turned off Highway 35 and entered Sweetheart, Garret tried to see the town through Amber’s eyes. Comparing it to Sacramento was impossible. Instead of skyscrapers, the majority of buildings were single story and the commercial area only a handful of blocks long. City hall, the sheriff’s office, library, and post office were laid out on Main Street while business like the beauty parlor, pizza shack, auto shop, and real estate drew shoppers and visitors to nearby streets. Even though there were several other Victorian homes around it, the Montreau Hotel on the corner of Main and Second Avenue stood out. Twice she thanked him for giving her the grand tour, saying she was appreciating the town more now that she wasn’t driving.
Neither of them brought up the earlier awkward moments.
Finally they reached Jan’s place. Thanks to Mom’s description, the compact size didn’t surprise him. What did was how many trees surrounded the property.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “It’s isolated.”
“It’s perfect.” Her voice resonated with enthusiasm. “I’d love to have some elbow room.”
He supposed he should be relieved because she was more relaxed than she’d been before, but he wanted her to study the craftsman-style place with a deck that had been built around an evergreen through his eyes. Shadows perfect for sheltering someone intent on hiding loomed over the place.
Darn it, he wouldn’t be thinking this way if it wasn’t for what had happened to his sisters.
“There’s a garage,” he said as he turned off the engine. “That’ll come in handy this winter.”
“If I’m here.”
Noting a touch of disappointment in her voice, he looked over at her, but she was getting out. Because of his vehicle’s size, not once had they touched during the drive here. He’d been both grateful and disappointed and wondered if she felt the same way.
As his mother had explained, Jan had been delighted to hear that someone her friend vouched for might move into her place. Jan had called her neighbor who’d offered to leave the key under the front mat since she and her husband were going to be gone tonight. Instead of looking for the key, Amber stood on the deck with her arms outstretched.
“I love it. If I ever have my own place, it has to have a deck like this. Countless summer evenings out here.”
She was speaking in the singular but surely her dreams included a husband and children. He wanted children, ideally a boy and a girl, but he’d cherish whatever he got. He’d treat them equally and raise them to embrace the forest like he did. They’d think of Jake and Hunter as uncles and if anything ever happened to him—nothing like what had happene
d to his father—his friends would help raise his children.
As for his offspring’s mother, that’s where his imagination broke down.
“I’m nervous,” Amber said.
“About what?” He retrieved the key and placed it in the lock.
“What if the interior doesn’t live up to my expectations?”
Because he didn’t know what her expectations were, he didn’t respond. He had to put his shoulder against the door to get it to open, but a lot of places were like that thanks to the long, cold winters. There wasn’t a deadbolt.
“Are you ready?”
“Not really. Contrary to what I told you about not getting my hopes up, I did. This feels weird, going into someone else’s place when they aren’t here.”
Thinking to give her space so she could take everything in, he stepped aside. Two large windows highlighted the living room. Whoever had designed the place had done a good job of positioning it so it captured the maximum amount of sunlight. The windows also let anyone outside see too much of the interior. Granted there were curtains, but what if in her enthusiasm for the land, Amber neglected to shelter herself?
Her mouth parted a little and, her eyes wide, she walked around the decent-sized living room. Serviceable furniture had been arranged around a large flat screen TV. He imagined how it must have been before Jan’s husband died, full of life.
“This must be her chair.” Amber patted the smaller recliner. “I wonder if she took the job rotation because she was lonely.”
“Maybe.”
She walked over to a bookshelf. “A lot of history. Some older school annuals. Several books on health issues.”
He wanted to join her, but maybe this was better her voice had taken on the choked quality he’d noted last night when she told him how much she enjoyed his mother and grandmother.
After flipping through a large book with nature photographs, she headed toward the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a half wall. She opened a cupboard then closed it.
