by Vivian Arend
Beth sighed. “Thanks. Okay, I think I can handle one hormonally challenged, poorly groomed woman.”
Blake choked again and Jaxi patted his back. “Don’t worry, dear, it’s a girl thing. Like you’ll have to deal with our daughters down the road.”
By the time she rose and made her way to where Daniel stood attempting to untangle himself from the woman’s clutches, Beth was still undecided what tack to take. It was obvious Daniel wasn’t the instigator, but he needed to learn there was a time to stop being such a gentleman.
She reached his side shortly after Sierra finally let loose the vacuum seal on a second kiss and Daniel tried to get a word in edgewise. The creature covered his mouth with her hand and pouted prettily.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she said in a husky voice.
Beth fought to keep from retching. The dramatic effect the woman was attempting was so pathetic.
“There you are, sweetheart, can I get that for you?” Beth carefully took one of the glasses from Daniel’s fingers and smiled at him. Finally able to move, Daniel stepped clear of the clutches of his ex. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand and grimaced.
“Beth, you want to meet Sierra before she leaves?”
Beth raised a brow and looked the woman up and down slowly. Okay, the ex-girlfriend was good looking, but damn it, Daniel was hers now. Sierra had missed her chance.
“Not really. Not unless she wants to explain why she was clinging to my lover like a piece of Saran Wrap?”
“Lover?” Sierra sputtered. She glared at Daniel. “But you… But we…”
“Split up. A long time ago now, and that’s the end of it.”
“But, I thought maybe we could try again.”
Beth sighed. Sierra was obviously not one of the brighter bulbs in the room. There was no need to be unpleasant about it. As long as the woman didn’t even think of making another move.
Daniel wrapped an arm around Beth’s waist as he shook his head. “You thought wrong. Beth and I are seeing each other, and if you don’t mind, we’ll be returning to our friends.”
The woman stared in silence as they walked away. Halfway back to the table, Beth glanced up to discover everyone was watching, their eyes glued to the drama. Travis and Blake wore matching smirks, Matt looked impressed. Jaxi pumped a fist in the air in victory. Yeah, there was a place for her in their midst, and she felt surprisingly comfortable with that. But the fact she hadn’t even known Daniel had an ex in town bothered her. A lot. Heck, she’d never imagined he was a monk before he met her. Suddenly she wanted to know it all. Who he had dated, what he had loved to do while growing up. What his dreams were for the future.
Holy cow, somewhere in the past two minutes she’d realized she really cared about the big cowboy. She almost felt she should run after Sierra and shake her hand enthusiastically for pushing the right buttons.
Beth was falling in love, and the thought didn’t make her sick to her stomach.
She tugged his hand and led him to the side of the room, staring up at him seriously for a minute.
Daniel touched her cheek gently. “I’m sorry about that. I had no idea she was going to be here, and then I couldn’t figure out how to get away without—”
She pressed her fingers over his lips. Yeah, he should have cut the woman off a lot faster, but his tender heart was part of what she appreciated about him. Time to jump in with two feet and stop holding back.
“You know, we’ve spent an awful lot of time together in the past months, and it appears we haven’t talked about anything more important than the weather and where our next sexual tryst is going to be.”
He frowned. “We’ve mentioned a few things but…you’re right. I was thinking that the other day as well.”
“It’s not easy, not with the kids around. And I know I haven’t been the best at opening up. I’m going to work on changing that, okay?”
There was a flash of delight in his eyes. “You’re not mad at me for that little display with Sierra?”
She shook her head. “Not your fault. Only, if a woman does an octopus imitation on you again, you are allowed to accidentally pour the drinks in your hands on her. That would make her let go quick enough.”
He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll remember that.”
She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. The scent of Sierra’s perfume hit her, and she wrinkled her nose.
“Ugh. You smell like that woman.” Daniel laughed as he leaned over to kiss her. She pressed her hands against him and turned her face away. “No sir. You’re sterilizing those lips before I kiss you again.”
He tucked her fingers into the crook of his arm to lead her back to their table. Somehow in the next while they would find the time and ways to start sharing with each other.
Beth took her seat at Daniel’s side, surrounded by the Coleman clan. Maybe making a few more friends along the way would be a good idea was well.
Chapter Thirteen
Gabe jotted down a few final ideas before closing his notebook. “That was exactly what I needed to know. Thanks, Allison. I’m glad I spotted your name when I went researching. The government information online was plain enough, but getting to talk to someone actually in the business makes it seem more real. I’m going to have to think a bit how we’ll be able to follow up.”
His dining mate, an old classmate from high school who now lived and worked in Red Deer, raised her water glass and smiled. “I hope you decide it’s worth your while. There’s a call for quality organic meat, and I’m more than happy to use local growers for the restaurants we service. The demand is definitely higher than the supply.”
“Your website mentioned that. About wanting to use local suppliers when possible. That’s part of what made me contact you in the first place.” The fact Allison was a beautiful woman who he already had connections with didn’t hurt matters either, but this was business. No way was Gabe willing to mess up something that could be the savior of their financial future for a tumble. No matter how attractive she’d turned out. The years she’d been gone had been good to her. “I like the idea you’re still working in the community, in a new way. I appreciate that.”
Allison shared a wide smile with him, his compliment obviously making her happy. “Are you staying in Red Deer tonight?” she asked.
Gabe shook his head. “Back home this afternoon. My brother picked up the slack today, but I can’t be gone too long.”
“Do you have time for a tour of our shop? There’re a few classes and weekend workshops I have information on that might help. I forgot to bring the brochures along, but if now isn’t good, I can email you the links instead.”
Someone upstairs liked him. “I have time. Thanks for offering. Thank you for everything.”
Allison accepted his outstretched hand and shook it firmly. “Always glad to see a familiar face from my hometown, and hey, if this works out, I’ll be in a winning situation as well. If you give me a minute, I’ll meet you at the door and you can follow me over.”
Gabe rose to his feet and pulled out her chair, caving far enough to allow himself to watch her hips in admiration as he followed her to the front. He took care of the bill and waited for her to return.
His reflection in the window behind the cash register displayed his enormous foolish grin. He couldn’t help it—the delight filling him at actually having come this far? Man, it felt good.
He’d come up with an idea, and it wasn’t even a halfcocked idea at that. All the requirements Allison had listed to become a registered organic beef farm were possible on the land his family owned. The idea was radical—a complete departure from the way his father ran the spread, but the end result?
It might be enough. The attempt would certainly be interesting.
A familiar laugh carried to his ears, interrupting his mental calculations, and he glanced back into the restaurant. The place was bright with midday sun, and it wasn’t hard to spot the source. Understanding what he
saw was more difficult. Helen Meridan leaned forward over one of the tiny tables at the far edge of the room, an older man seated across from her holding her fingers in his.
Gabe stared, waiting for her to pull back. Waiting for a sign this was a business handshake—like the one he’d just given to Allison that had been all above board and legit.
He waited, hoping what he suspected wasn’t really happening, because right now it looked an awful lot like his cousin Matt’s steady girlfriend was holding hands with a stranger.
He wasn’t in the know about everything going on in his cousin’s life, or Helen’s, but he was damn sure she didn’t have a reason to be hours away from Rocky with another man. Especially one old enough to—no, he refused to even conjecture. But when the man raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, Gabe’s mouth turned sour.
Fuck it.
He must have spoken the words, must have cussed far louder than he intended. Helen’s head swiveled and her eyes went wide. She turned briefly back to her seatmate and pulled her hand free, rose and made her way over to where Gabe stood, feeling slightly slack-jawed. The man at the table stared after her, a small frown building as if he was shocked at Helen’s rapid departure.
She brushed past Gabe and pulled him with her to the edge of the hall that led to the bathrooms. By the time she turned to face him, her face was covered by a bright smile.
“Hey, you. Didn’t expect to see you this far from home.”
He bet she didn’t. “Helen, what the hell is going on?”
She bit her lower lip and glanced toward the ceiling. The sick sensation in his stomach grew every second she hesitated.
He’d seen this woman in a stressful situation before—a stressful sexual situation to be exact. While he didn’t expect having been invited by Matt into her bed for a temporarily ménage gave any lasting privileges, it sure the hell made Gabe more responsible than he would have been otherwise.
Helen grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled his ear closer to her mouth. “Fine. I didn’t want anyone to know, so you’ve got to keep it a secret. It’s a job interview.”
For fuck’s sake. “For what? Becoming a call girl?”
Helen jerked back, shock in her expression. “A call… What are you talking about?”
“He was kissing you, Helen. I ain’t never had an interview where I kissed anything but ass, figuratively, that one time I really needed some cash.”
“The kiss? Jesus, Gabe.” She waved him off. “He’s old-fashioned, that’s all. It’s his style. He kissed the waitress’s hand when we were seated. You want to go and give her the third degree as well? Maybe he’s starting a brothel or something.”
Gabe hesitated for a moment. She glared back, indignation written all over her. Only, he could have sworn a moment ago he’d seen her confused and panicked.
Helen dragged a hand through her hair. “Look, it’s just an interview, but…I haven’t said anything to Matt yet because I’m not sure anything is going to come of it. Can you keep it quiet for a while? I should know within a couple weeks.”
Another jolt of unease hit. Keeping that kind of secret didn’t sit well.
He hadn’t even had time to respond before she smiled and poked him in the chest. “So what are you doing here? You never get this far out of Rocky anymore.”
With one swoop, his tongue was frozen. Like hell would he mention anything about his ideas for changing his family’s ranch before they were even half-baked. Especially not to Helen, who shared others’ information as rapidly as a flag shook in a brisk wind. His father was going to be hellishly difficult to deal with anyway. A heads-up warning could ruin everything.
To top off his shitty dilemma, Allison appeared from the ladies’ room and was rapidly approaching behind Helen’s back. Gabe’s mind raced—what could he say to cover his tracks? Helen knew Allison from school as well.
His luck had run out.
“I’m on a date.” He was screwed. Please, God, let Allison forgive him. He ducked past Helen and reached for Allison. She frowned slightly but accepted his hand. One tug allowed him to move in close. He planted his mouth by her ear as he wrapped his arms around her in a pseudo-lover’s clutch. “Sorry, I need your help. Play along, please…”
He twisted them, keeping Allison under his arm. “Babe, you remember Helen?”
Allison stood at his side, a trifle on the stiff side. Then, glory be, she passed her arm behind his back, around his hip and slipped her fingers into his belt loop. It was as if she melted in, all cozy and soft, and for a split second Gabe was very sad this was only a ploy.
“Helen. Haven’t seen you in forever.” Allison spoke politely but without much invitation in her tone.
Helen said hello, her gaze jumping back and forth between them. Then she seemed to lose all interest and shrugged. “Hey, don’t mean to be rude, but I need to get back to the table. Nice to see you, Allison. Gabe…”
She stared for a second, an implied finger-to-the-lips there before she turned her back and strolled casually toward the seating area.
Gabe’s heart rate hovered well above normal, but now he wasn’t sure if it was from dodging a bullet or from the sweet scent of Allison in his arms.
He released her, and they separated, heading though the door in silence. They were well into the parking lot before she glanced back, then burst out laughing. “Gabriel Coleman, it seems some things never change. What was that all about? You trying to make her jealous or—?”
“God, no. Exactly the opposite.”
She laughed harder. “Sorry, but the idea one of the Angel Boy Colemans just used me to avoid a woman makes me a little giddy.”
Gabe’s cheeks heated. Screw it, she was making him blush. “Hate that bloody nickname with a vengeance—it’s worse than what my Six Pack cousins have to put up with. Look, I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to have to explain what we were doing together. It’s none of her business.”
“Well, that’s true, and seeing you with a woman on a…date…is probably totally un-newsworthy.”
He sighed. “That’s one of those ‘damned if I do, damned if I don’t’ statements.”
Allison’s laugh was downright addictive, and he considered again why he’d never gone out with her when they were in high school. “Yeah, I promise not to make you answer. Forget it, no harm done. Come on, I’ll show you the shop.”
Gabe waited until she’d gotten into her car before he headed to his truck, marveling how this fact-finding excursion had gotten so complicated. Wondering how crazy it was to be thinking about Allison when he had a life to change a hundred kilometers away from her.
Chapter Fourteen
Beth tossed a few more pillows on the couch and pointed firmly. “Sit.”
Jaxi opened her mouth to protest then slammed it shut, lowering herself and curling her legs up. “You know, it’s not often I agree to this kind of nonsense.”
“Nonsense?” Karen Coleman shoved a potato chip into her mouth. “You mean abandoning the guys, ordering a pizza and putting your feet up while you do nothing for an entire evening?”
Jaxi grinned sheepishly. “I will admit getting pizza brought in is a treat and a half. But it feels weird to leave Blake for the night, if that doesn’t sound all little wimpy girlish. I like spending time with him, even if we are married and all.”
Karen laughed. “I hope you’re still enjoying his company. You worked hard enough to catch the man.”
“Damn right, I did.” Jaxi raised her glass of juice. “So, what do you want to gossip about then? Who’s got a hot new beau they want to share about? Although, Beth, you can’t share anything because hearing you talk about Daniel and sex would be way too weird.”
“So this isn’t a pre-pre-baby shower?” Beth teased.
Jaxi snorted. “Hell no. I’m only in my first trimester. I hope I’m not really showing for a good long time, because you know it’s going to get impossible when my belly is big enough the Coleman boys remember every second of
every day. I won’t be able to move, they’ll try to wrap me so tight in cotton.”
“You’ll get enough real baby showers from the rest of everyone down the road. Tonight is just a break—anything the pregnant mom-to-be wants.”
“Pickles and ice cream?” Karen’s sister Tamara poked her head out of the kitchen, pushing the door open with her shoulders and bringing in a tray covered with goodies.
“Don’t be trite. That’s so stereotypical.” Karen removed a few items from the table and helped balance the load on the way down. “Hmmm, but chocolate chip cookies are good even if you’re not preggers.”
Beth smiled at the small group of women gathered in Tamara’s apartment. “Sometimes the stereotypes are true, sorry to say. I had cravings with every one of my kids.”
The conversation took off, and Beth leaned back happily on the couch, diving into the chips and dip and enjoying some female companionship. The knock on the door came far sooner than any of them expected. Beth glanced at her watch in surprise.
She opened the door to discover Daniel’s red-cheeked smile. “Is it really that time already?”
“It’s late, and you said you were going to turn into a pumpkin if you didn’t get to bed on schedule.” He slipped into the room and pulled off his toque and gloves. “Ladies. I’m the taxi service for the night. I have to steal away two of your party, if you don’t mind.”
Karen threw popcorn at him. “Spoilsport.”
“Saucy thing. Hey, you going to stop by and help clear the ice for the skating party before Christmas or should I tell my dad not to bother?”
“What? No ice? That would be anti-holiday. That’s like announcing no toboggan party on Boxing Day. You being the Grinch or something?” Tamara handed over a paper bag and Daniel frowned. She grinned. “Leftover pizza. Don’t ever say the Whiskey Creek Colemans don’t take care of you better than you deserve.”
Jaxi shrugged on her coat and boots, and Beth joined her, bundling against the cold. She turned to give both Karen and Tamara big hugs. “Thanks, girls, that was just what I needed. And anytime you want to come over, you let me know.”
