Of course his failings had shaped him, but in a different way from how Becky’s had her. She’d had tragedy befall her and risen above it, while he’d been the cause of his own pain. He might be infatuated with her, but he wasn’t about to open himself up to that kind of hurt again. Becky’s life was complicated and he remained determined to keep his as simple as he could manage.
“You can find love again,” Stephanie continued.
“I’m not looking for love.” He pushed back from the table and walked toward the counter to refill his coffee. “It was one dinner. You’re making too much of it.”
“I know you, Callum. All I’m saying is don’t shut the door on a possibility before you’ve given it a chance.”
He paused with his hand on the coffeepot’s handle. His sister was right, of course. He’d decided after his divorce that he valued his independence too much to make a committed relationship work. The decision hadn’t been a problem because no one he’d met had made him question it.
Until Becky.
“When did you get too smart for your own good?” he asked.
Stephanie grinned. “I’ve always been brilliant. You’re just realizing it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a laugh. They talked some more about possibilities for an upscale restaurant in Rambling Rose, and then Callum headed out to start his morning.
He appreciated the pace of life in Texas. He could move quickly, but things also seemed to adjust to fit the wide-open spaces and the sense of community pride that felt uniquely Texan. This was a setting that made a man earn his place. The residents of Rambling Rose might be curious about his ties to the famous Fortune family, but people seemed more concerned with his dedication to the town.
Callum felt at home here in a way he hadn’t during any of the other projects he’d taken on over the years. It made his desire to succeed burn even brighter and caused the future to beckon in ways he hadn’t anticipated.
* * *
Later that week, Becky looked up from the lunch she’d packed to see Callum walking toward her across the pediatric center’s sunny courtyard. A slow smile spread across her lips as awareness tingled along her spine. This was the third day Callum had appeared during her lunch break.
Maybe she shouldn’t read too much into it. He’d explained he had business at the pediatric center. She had no reason not to believe him.
“What’s on the menu today?” he asked as he slid into the seat across from her. Becky always took her lunch early since most mornings she didn’t have time for breakfast.
“Turkey and cheese,” she said, then pulled out the extra sandwich she’d made. “I have one for you if you’re hungry.”
He stared at the plastic baggie for so long she wasn’t sure if he was going to take it or get up from the table and run the other direction. When he finally reached for the sandwich, it embarrassed her that she’d even made the effort to bring something extra for him. “Thank you,” he said. “That’s thoughtful.”
Electricity zipped along her skin as his fingers brushed hers. Her reaction to Callum continued to surprise her. She couldn’t remember a time when anticipation had played such a huge part in her life. Despite her busy work schedule and how much effort she put into mothering her girls, Becky felt like she had energy for days. Just the idea of seeing Callum at some point during the day had excitement zinging through her veins like a jolt of caffeine.
“Are you here checking on the mechanical systems again?” she asked.
“Um...yes.”
“Will they have it fixed soon?” She pulled a container of apple slices from her lunch sack.
“Probably.” He took a bite of sandwich. “Although I may need to stop by for a while longer to make sure it’s all going well.”
“That has to be frustrating. I’m sure you’re ready to move on to your other projects.”
“I like seeing how well things are going here,” he told her, then leaned in close. “Talking with you is an added bonus.”
“Oh.” Heat bloomed in her cheeks. “That’s nice.”
She gave herself a mental head slap. A man said something sweet and her reply was completely boring. She imagined men like Callum came out of the womb knowing how to flirt, and Becky reminded herself that it didn’t mean anything. That she didn’t want it to mean anything.
“How are the girls?” he asked, grinning at her like she wasn’t making an absolute hash of flirting with him.
“They’re enjoying the new day care.” She tugged her lower lip between her teeth. “I’d like to visit them during the day but the director told me it’s too disruptive for their schedule.”
“You’re a dedicated mom,” he murmured.
“Sasha and Luna are my whole world,” she told him. That was probably the wrong thing to say, as well. What single man wanted to hear a woman gush over her children? But she couldn’t deny it.
“Maybe I could take the three of you to dinner?” His smile turned almost bashful. “If you have a free night sometime?”
She clasped a hand over her mouth when a hysterical laugh bubbled up in her throat.
“What’s so funny?”
“All of my nights with the girls are free. Unless you include dinner, bath time and reading board books as a busy schedule.”
“So dinner would work?”
“Sure.” She felt a frown crease her forehead. “Why would you want to subject yourself to a meal with two toddlers?”
He inclined his head as if pondering a response. “Um...we all need to eat and as great as my brothers and sister are, I sometimes need a little break from the family togetherness.”
“I’m not sure dinner with the twins constitutes a break, but I won’t say no to an evening out.”
“How about tomorrow night?”
“Yes,” she breathed, then cleared her throat. “Tomorrow would be great. I get off work at five, which I understand is early for dinner. But with the girls’ bedtime...”
“Do you like the Mexican restaurant in town?”
“I haven’t been there in ages,” she told him with a smile, then gave a nervous laugh. “Not because I don’t like it. I do. It’s great. I haven’t been anywhere, really.” She covered her face with her hands, then spread her fingers to look at him. “I’m babbling.”
“It’s cute,” he said, his tone soft like velvet. “You’re cute, Becky.”
“You’re cute, too.”
He chuckled. “No one has ever called me that.”
She lowered her hands and arched a brow. “I bet you were an adorable baby. A handful, but adorable.”
“Definitely a little terror,” he agreed.
She sighed. “You have a way of making me jittery, then calming my nerves in the next instant.”
“I’m glad.”
“I’m glad you asked me to dinner,” she said honestly.
“Me, too.”
They sat in a charged silence for a long moment. His full lips quirked into a smile, and she wondered what it would be like to feel that mouth against hers. The desire zipping through her was a thrill. She longed to see where it might take her.
Nowhere fast, a voice inside her head warned. Not with this man. She hushed that voice and offered Callum a wide smile. “I need to get back to work. I’ll see you at the restaurant tomorrow?”
He stood as she did, leaning close to whisper in her ear. “I can’t wait.”
Her nerve endings buzzed with the pleasure of his breath tickling the fine hairs along her neck.
Not trusting herself to speak, she simply nodded, then grabbed her lunch sack and hurried toward the primary care wing.
She had a date with Callum Fortune.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
* * *
Later that evening, Callum stared at the familiar name on his cell phone
’s screen for a few seconds before accepting the call.
“Hey, Doralee,” he said as he put the phone to his ear. “This is a surprise.”
“Hello, Callum,” his ex-wife said, her voice the same rasp he remembered. It seemed like a lifetime ago that they’d flown to Vegas and gotten married on a whim. He’d been young and in love, not exactly sure he was doing the right thing but willing to take a chance because he knew it would make her happy.
In the end, their rash decision had achieved the opposite effect. He’d always regret hurting her, even though it had never been his intention.
“It’s good to hear from you,” he lied, not sure how this conversation was supposed to go.
She laughed. “I don’t believe you for a minute, but I still appreciate hearing it. How’s Texas?”
“Big.”
“Are the projects going well?”
“So far they are. There have been a few hiccups, but we’re on schedule.”
“No doubt thanks to your time and dedication.”
He gripped the phone more tightly. “I can’t tell if that’s a compliment or a veiled criticism.”
“You’re the best at what you do,” she answered without hesitation. “The rest of your life might take a hit because of it, but I’m sure you’ll have as much success in that tiny town as you did back here.”
“Thanks,” he murmured. He didn’t exactly appreciate her willingness to point out what he’d sacrificed for the sake of his career but he also couldn’t deny it. “How are things?”
“Great.” He heard her blow out a slow breath. “That’s actually why I’m calling, Callum. I have some news that I wanted you to hear from me first.”
His stomach pitched like he’d just raced down the first big drop on a roller coaster. “What news?” he asked, although he had a feeling he knew what she was going to say.
“I’m engaged.”
“Congratulations,” he said, forcing his tone to stay neutral. “I’m happy for you.” That part wasn’t a lie. He wanted the best for his ex-wife. Just because things hadn’t worked out for the two of them didn’t mean he’d stopped caring about her.
“I appreciate that,” she said. “John is a great guy. He wants to start a family right away, and you know I wanted children.”
“Yes,” he managed before his throat constricted. Her desire to have children and his unwillingness to start a family had been one of their biggest ongoing arguments during their short marriage.
“It seems like we’re both getting the lives we wanted,” she continued. “You have a thriving business and I’m going to have a family.”
When he didn’t respond right away, she continued, “We’re planning a spring wedding. Not that you care but like I said, I just wanted you to know.”
He swallowed and tried to keep his regret over the past in check. “Please tell your fiancé I said congratulations.”
“I will. Are you dating anyone?” she asked, but continued before he could answer. “Never mind. I already know the answer. Even if you’re dating it isn’t serious. The business is your first love and no one can compete with that.”
He mumbled something about wishing her luck, and they ended the call. A thin sheen of sweat covered Callum’s forehead.
Up until the moment of hearing Doralee’s news, he would have also claimed his life was happy. But her comments about his devotion to his career, whether well-meaning observations or insidious slights, made his gut twist.
He didn’t disagree with her assessment of his dedication to the company, but suddenly that seemed like a paltry excuse for the choices he’d made to avoid serious relationships since the divorce.
His ex-wife had moved on with someone who would probably make her far happier than Callum ever had. It was an unwanted but necessary reminder of what he was unwilling to give in a relationship, in large part due to the responsibilities he’d taken on as a child. He couldn’t make that kind of commitment and the thought that he might be giving Becky the wrong signals made him doubt everything.
Should he cancel the date with Becky?
He couldn’t play around with the emotions of a single mother, especially one who had survived the tragedy of losing her husband. In truth, it didn’t feel like he was toying with her. Becky was like a Fourth of July sparkler come to life. Through everything she’d endured in life and how hard she worked to support her daughters, she practically sparkled with energy. She made him feel alive in a way that even his work hadn’t for a long time.
Doralee had reminded him of how little he had to give, but thoughts of Becky inspired him to be more. To give more. To want more. If only he could be that man.
Chapter Five
Becky parked the minivan around the corner from Las Delicias, the Mexican restaurant situated on Rambling Rose’s quaint main street. She remembered the first time she and Rick had made the trip to visit the town. She’d been charmed by the rustic beauty of the town, a little worn down and in need of some love but with so much potential and the feeling of home.
Now the man she’d agreed to meet for dinner was the one breathing new life into the community. It wasn’t just the pediatric center. She knew Callum was working on a new vet clinic, an upscale shopping mall, a spa and even had plans for a boutique hotel. Up until his investment in the town, most of the money had been limited to the outskirts of the community. He lived in a wealthy enclave, but many of those residents kept to themselves, as if they didn’t want to tarnish their fancy image by rubbing shoulders with the true locals.
Becky wasn’t exactly a local, but she was raising two daughters who’d been born in the town. She appreciated that Callum didn’t seem to care about the differences between them and that he wasn’t intimidated by her situation.
Part of why she hadn’t thought about dating in the past two years was her fear that a man would assume her twins were simply complications. Becky wasn’t sure her heart could stand that.
She quickly checked her makeup in the visor’s small mirror. Normally she didn’t bother, but tonight she’d actually put some effort into her appearance. It had felt good, like she was some kind of single mom butterfly emerging from her chrysalis. With the help of a dab of concealer and a few subtle swipes of shadow, she looked more like the Becky she remembered and less like an exhausted, overworked mom.
The change made her smile.
“Mama,” Luna shouted from the back seat. “Go.”
“Go,” Sasha repeated softly.
Her girls were learning new words every day, and Becky loved this time in their development. They were little sponges, soaking up everything and making even the most mundane parts of life an adventure.
But she couldn’t deny that kids complicated dating, especially two squirming toddlers. Becky unstrapped the girls from their car seats, scooped them up and then slung the diaper bag over her shoulder. She hit the fob to close and lock the car just as Luna dived for her ring of keys. They fell from Becky’s grasp and landed on the pavement, skittering underneath the vehicle.
“Uh-oh,” Sasha said, her voice grave.
“Mommy will get them,” Becky promised, cursing the pale yellow jeans she’d chosen for the evening. They’d seemed so fresh at her house, but this latest small catastrophe was the exact reason she normally didn’t wear anything but jeans, scrubs or sweatpants.
“I’ve got it,” Callum said, appearing at her side like some kind of superhero. He deftly crouched down to retrieve the keys, the fabric of his striped shirt stretching across the lean muscles of his back.
“Thanks,” Becky said when he straightened again, wishing she could control the blush that seemed to appear every time he looked at her.
“My pleasure,” he answered. “You ladies look lovely this evening.” He held out his hands, and to Becky’s surprise, Sasha reached for him.
“She usually doesn’t let
other people hold her.” Becky’s mouth went slack as Callum grinned at her shy daughter, then tucked an arm around her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Sasha and I have an understanding.” He winked at Becky. “She’s helping me win points with her mom.”
“Very true.” Becky returned his smile. “You have a way with babies.” They started toward the restaurant. The evening was particularly mild for this time of year, and the fresh air helped to cool her heated cheeks.
“I had way too much experience in my own family.”
The words were spoken lightly, but somehow she could sense that they meant more to him than he was letting on. If that was how he felt about children, what was he doing there with her and the twins?
“There were four brothers all around the same age, right?”
Callum nodded.
“I’m wondering why you were designated your stepmother’s helper.”
“It started with Stephanie,” he said. “I had a connection with her from the start. I didn’t even realize what I was taking on until it happened. There were things that Marci needed done with the baby, so I did them. Even if Stephanie was crying like crazy, she’d settle down once I played with her.”
“I bet your parents appreciated that.” Becky knew she would love that kind of baby whisperer.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “They also came to rely on it in a way that none of us realized was too much for a kid my age to handle. The same thing happened when the triplets were born.”
They’d reached the restaurant and he held open the door for her. The interior was a homey homage to south-of-the-border decor. Strands of lights hung against warm yellow walls, with colorful flags and sombreros rounding out the decorations. The place was more than half-full, which Becky thought was good for so early on a weeknight.
A stocky man with a pencil-thin mustache strode forward to greet them. “Mr. Fortune,” he said, pumping Callum’s free hand. “We have your table ready. What a beautiful group of women you have with you tonight.”
Fortune's Fresh Start Page 5
