Throughout this time, Valerie kept in regular contact with her mother and her sisters. They knew where she was and that she was expecting a child—though they believed she’d met the baby’s father after leaving Nevada, because she was determined that no one would ever know his true identity.
She’d been happy in Serenity. Of course, there were times that she’d missed her family, but whenever that missing became too much to bear, she’d make a quick trip home. She never stayed more than a few days—long enough for her family to fuss over Ashley but not so long that the awkwardness that lingered between Valerie and her father was evident to the rest of the family.
Then her mother died—a stark warning to Valerie of how quickly things could change. Although she was estranged from her dad, she still had family in Haven. More important, Ashley had family in Haven, and if anything ever happened to Valerie, she knew her little girl would benefit from being around her grandfather and aunts and uncles and cousins.
The move back to Haven was part of a carefully thought-out plan that had nothing to do with Ashley’s father. Of course, as her daughter got older, she began to ask more questions about the man who had contributed to her DNA. Then she came home one day with a history-slash-art project: to create a family tree. And Ashley had cried, because her branches would be missing some pretty significant leaves.
Only a few days later, Valerie had been picking up pizza from Jo’s when she heard about Dave Gilmore’s heart attack. She’d realized then that she was the one who’d deprived her daughter of the opportunity to know her father. And when she’d gone to the hospital, she’d been acting purely on impulse—just like the night she’d invited Dave back to her apartment.
She didn’t blame him for demanding proof, and so she’d said nothing to anyone else until the test results were in. When she’d finally told Ashley, she’d thought her daughter would be pleased to have the opportunity to know her father.
“Gilmore?” Ashley had echoed, not only shocked but devastated by the revelation of her father’s identity. “But the Blakes and the Gilmores hate each other.”
“That’s ancient history,” she’d said, in an effort to appease her daughter.
But Ashley wouldn’t be placated. “How could you do this to me? Don’t you realize that this is worse than not having a father at all?”
“It’s not,” Valerie told her. “And when you’ve had a chance to get to know him, you’ll discover that he’s a good man.”
Except that Ashley was no longer listening to her.
Or talking to her.
So now they were on a plane headed to the Big Apple, because Ashley had watched the movie Enchanted at least a hundred times and frequently expressed a desire to visit New York—and especially Central Park. And Valerie, desperate to reconnect with her daughter, had suggested a quick weekend getaway “just for fun,” though she recognized that it was also a bribe. And maybe a plea to her daughter to forgive her. Or at least start talking to her again.
But just in case, she’d invited Ashley’s best friend, Chloe, to come along.
* * *
Brie was on her way to The Met to check out the Art of Native America exhibit when she felt her phone vibrate inside her pocket.
In the two weeks that had passed since Grace’s birthday, she’d kept herself busy so that she wouldn’t think about Caleb. Of course, being busy didn’t prevent thoughts of him from sneaking into her mind—and into her dreams. One night together after seven years apart, and she missed him as much now as when she’d said goodbye to him at the old cabin.
It was beyond frustrating to realize that, even after so much time had passed, her heart still wasn’t her own. That the biggest part of it continued to belong to Caleb Gilmore—and probably always would. Even more frustrating was that she hadn’t heard a single word from him since they’d said goodbye in Vegas.
“I can call you,” he’d said, explaining why he wanted her number.
But he hadn’t called, and she was admittedly a little disappointed.
And how screwed up was that?
She’d asked him to sign the divorce papers, clearly indicating to him that their relationship was truly and completely over, yet she was upset because he hadn’t called.
Maybe Lily was right. Maybe Brie had deeper feelings for Caleb than she was willing to acknowledge. Grace seemed to have arrived at that same conclusion when Brielle made it back to their suite in Vegas the morning after.
“I’m not sure what my feelings are,” she’d hedged, when pressed to explain why she’d spent the night in Caleb’s bed.
“How many guys have you had sex with in the last year?” Grace challenged.
She frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“How many?” her friend asked again.
Brie sighed. “One.”
Lily nodded. “Caleb.”
“And the year before that?” Grace pressed.
None.
Which they undoubtedly knew but which she had no intention of admitting aloud.
“So? Just because I don’t sleep around doesn’t mean I’m in love with my ex-boyfriend.”
“He might be your ex-boyfriend, but he’s also your current husband,” Lily pointed out.
Because of course Brie had immediately told them about Caleb’s revelation and their marital status.
And two weeks later, Brie was still reeling from the discovery that their marriage had never been dissolved. Still angry that he’d refused to sign the papers—and angrier yet that he’d never sought her out to tell her that they were still married.
So when her phone rang now, she wondered if it might be Caleb calling—and then pretended she wasn’t disappointed when she saw her aunt’s name and number on the screen instead.
“Help me!”
Despite the desperate tone of the words, Brie was more amused than alarmed by the plea.
Valerie was her mother’s youngest sister, who’d moved to Washington State before Brielle started high school and only returned to Haven after she was gone. But Brie had a lot of wonderful memories of her aunt from when she was younger. In many ways, Valerie had been more like an older sister than an aunt to both herself and Regan.
“How can I help?” she offered.
“I’m in desperate need of some adult company and you’re the only person I know in New York,” Valerie said.
“First choice of one? I’m flattered.” Then the rest of her aunt’s words registered. “Wait! What? You’re in New York?”
“Standing outside one of those tacky tourist shops on Broadway, waiting for Ashley and Chloe.”
“Who’s Chloe?” Brie asked.
“Ashley’s best friend,” Valerie said. “I thought it would be exciting for them to visit the big city.”
“You couldn’t find a big city closer to Nevada?” Brie wondered.
Her aunt sighed. “I wasn’t sure that New York was far enough, but at least it would give me a chance to see you.”
“As it turns out, I’m in Manhattan right now.”
“Do you already have plans for today?” Valerie asked.
“None that can’t be changed,” Brie assured her.
“No,” her aunt protested. “I don’t want to be responsible for you standing up a handsome young man.”
“My plans were solo,” she said, already retracing her steps to the subway. “And I’d love to see you. Can you give me more details about the souvenir shop you’re at?”
“The one that sells the ‘I Heart NY’ T-shirts,” Valerie said dryly.
Brie chuckled. “Let’s try this—do you know where M&M’s World is, near Times Square?”
“Yeah, it’s where I spent almost two hours and two hundred dollars last night,” her aunt confided.
“I’ll meet you outside the main entrance in twenty minutes.”
<
br /> Thirty minutes later, they were seated inside Starbucks while Ashley and Chloe browsed the Sephora next door. Valerie was drinking a Black and White Mocha Frappuccino, and Brie was indulging her sweet tooth with a Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino.
“Now are you going to tell me why you decided to bring Ashley and Chloe to New York?” she asked her aunt.
Valerie sighed. “I was hoping the trip might help Ashley forget that she’s mad at me.”
“I got mad at my mom a few times while I was growing up—she never brought me to New York,” Brie mused.
“Ashley found out that I lied about who her father is,” Valerie admitted.
She sipped her Frappuccino, waiting for the big reveal.
“He’s...Dave Gilmore.”
Brie’s jaw dropped. “Caleb’s father?”
Valerie nodded. “Is also Ashley’s father.”
“That’s...a surprise.” After she’d mulled it over for another moment, she added, “And it probably explains why, when everyone else was freaking out over the news that Caleb and I had eloped and were going to have a baby, you didn’t.”
“We don’t always get to choose the people we fall in love with,” Valerie pointed out.
“Are you saying that you’re in love with—” Brie couldn’t call him Dave; it didn’t feel right “—Caleb’s father?”
Her aunt shook her head. “No. Me and Dave... Truthfully, there was no ‘me and Dave.’ I was still hurting over the failure of my marriage. He was mourning the death of his wife.” She shrugged. “We were just two lonely people wanting not to be lonely, at least for one night.”
“Lonely doesn’t lead to naked without attraction,” Brie pointed out. “Or at least alcohol.”
Valerie laughed at that. “You’re right. And there was some of both. He was a great-looking guy. Of course, being a rancher, he was also in good physical shape. And when he took off—”
“Don’t need to know,” she hastily interjected.
Valerie grinned. “Anyway, that’s why Ashley’s mad at me. After listening to her grandfather gripe and grumble about ‘those thievin’ Gilmores’ for most of her life, she wasn’t happy to learn that her father was one of them.”
“And how did Gramps take the news?” Brie asked. “Because I assume it was also a surprise to him.”
“He’s pretty much giving me the silent treatment, too. Although that’s really not new.”
“Well, that’s better than you giving him a heart attack.”
“Oh, honey.” Valerie touched a hand to her arm. “You don’t honestly still believe what happened had anything to do with you and Caleb getting married, do you?”
“No,” she said, because it was mostly true.
It was also true that she’d never forget the words her grandfather had spoken to her when he learned of the miscarriage.
“It’s for the best,” he’d said, not seeing—or maybe not caring—that her heart had been shattered by the loss of her baby.
Brie’s parents had expressed a similar sentiment. Only her grandmother had mourned with them, lamenting the loss of the baby who would have been not only her first great-grandchild but also the best chance to end “the ridiculous Blake-Gilmore feud.”
Brie pushed aside the painful memories to refocus on her conversation with Valerie. “And anyway,” she said now, “we were talking about Ashley.”
Who chose that moment to walk into the coffee shop, bringing their conversation to an abrupt halt.
Valerie offered her daughter a smile. “Did you get everything you wanted?” Her smile slipped when she realized that her daughter was alone. “Where’s Chloe?”
“I need more money,” Ashley said, responding to her mother’s first question. “Chloe’s trying to decide between Ultra Violet and Plum Fiction lip gloss.”
Valerie pulled her wallet out of her purse and handed over a credit card. Her generosity was rewarded with a fleeting smile and quick wave, then Ashley disappeared again.
“You know she’s totally exploiting your guilt,” Brie mused.
“I know,” Valerie confirmed. “But I do feel guilty. I turned her whole world upside down.”
“She seems pretty steady on her feet.”
“She doesn’t let a lot of people see what’s inside—similar to someone else I know,” Valerie said, with a pointed look at her niece. “And since I dropped the bombshell about her dad, she isn’t eager to confide in me anymore. That’s why I brought Chloe along.”
“So you can eavesdrop on their conversations?”
“No,” Valerie immediately denied. “So that she’d have someone to talk to.” Then she sipped her drink again, considering. “But I think I like your idea better.”
Brie chuckled as she pushed her chair away from the table. “Come on,” she said. “While we’re here, I might as well get new lip gloss, too.”
* * *
Three weeks after his return from Vegas, Caleb was shopping for groceries at The Trading Post and trying not to obsess over the fact that he hadn’t heard a single word from Brie.
He shouldn’t have been surprised by the lack of communication. She’d made it clear that the night they’d spent together hadn’t been a “hello” but a “goodbye,” and he was trying to accept that their relationship was over. Bracing himself for the call that would confirm it was time to sign the papers and move on. Because after all the hurt and heartache he’d caused, he knew it was the least he could do.
But what if—
“Excuse me,” a female voice murmured.
He automatically stepped back as the woman reached into the freezer case beside him.
“Kenzie?”
Her gaze shifted to his face, her expression changing from surprise to recognition. “Caleb, hi.” The greeting was followed by a smile—sincere and warm. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before.”
“I moved into my own house a few months ago, so I have to do my own shopping now,” he explained.
“And your own cooking?” she guessed, with a pointed look at the selection of microwaveable meals in his cart.
He nodded as she dropped the carton of ice cream she’d selected in her own cart.
“Not that one, Mommy.” The protest came from an adorable little girl with blond pigtails. “I want strawberry.”
“But your little brother or sister wants chocolate,” Kenzie told her.
“Sister,” the child said firmly.
“I can’t make any promises on that, Dani,” her mother reminded her, reaching into the freezer again for a tub of strawberry ice cream.
“I’d heard you were adding to your family,” Caleb said, trying not to stare at her rounded belly. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Kenzie smiled again.
Her daughter looked at him through narrowed eyes. “I don’t know you,” she said. “You’re a stranger.”
“I’m Caleb,” he said. “And I know your mom from way back.”
“I didn’t live here way back,” Dani told him. “I only came here with my daddy when my mommy died. But I’ve gotta new mommy now and I’m gonna get a new sister, too.”
“Or brother,” Kenzie interjected.
The little girl scowled at the reminder.
Caleb fought against a smile.
“You probably want to get that ice cream home before it melts,” he noted, offering Kenzie a convenient escape.
“We do,” she confirmed, but graciously added, “It was good to see you, Caleb.”
“You, too,” he said.
“Bye, Mister Caleb,” Dani said, as they started to move away.
“Bye, Miss Dani.”
She giggled and waved as she skipped along beside the cart her mother pushed toward the checkout.
The sound of the child’s laugh was pure joy, and he felt
a tug in the vicinity of his heart as he watched them go: the woman who had been Brielle’s best friend all through high school and the little girl with deep blue eyes that made her instantly recognizable as a Channing.
The tug became a pang as he wondered if the baby he and Brie had lost would have had the same blue eyes, and what other characteristics of each of them might have been evident in their child. Of course that led him to again consider the possibility that they might have made another baby together, but he didn’t let his thoughts wander too far down that path.
Because he knew it wasn’t fair to hope that she might be carrying his child if it wasn’t what she wanted, too.
And she’d made it pretty clear that it wasn’t. He was her past and she was looking to the future.
Still, he had no regrets about the night they’d spent together in Vegas, except that he’d been careless with her. Not on purpose, of course. But he hadn’t been thinking about potential repercussions when he woke up in the night, with her naked body pressed against him. He hadn’t been thinking at all.
And now...
He frowned, because he had no idea how to finish that thought. It was quite possible that what followed the “now” was “nothing.” After all, she’d assured him it wasn’t the right time for her to get pregnant.
But what if she was wrong?
He was mostly ignorant about the internal workings of a woman’s body, so he’d turned to the all-seeing, all-knowing Google and discovered that most women’s bodies operated on a twenty-eight-day schedule, with ovulation happening around day fourteen, in the middle of the cycle.
One Night with the Cowboy Page 7
