“Howdy, partners. I’m Jackie, your server.” A perky, voluptuous woman with equally puffy big hair stood at their table. She wore tight jean shorts and a T-shirt two sizes too small. “I see we have a new visitor to our fine establishment. Welcome, fine sir. I take it you did not see the sign.”
“What sign?”
Becca shook her head.
“The No Ties sign,” Jackie said.
“I saw it,” he admitted.
“Then there’s only one thing left for me to do.” She pulled out a pair of scissors from her back pocket, leaned toward him giving him a bird’s-eye view of her breasts and cut off his tie right above one side of the knot.
“What the...” He stared at where his tie used to hang. The spot was empty. “That was a silk tie.”
An expensive one.
“I told you,” Becca said. “More than once, if you remember.”
“You never said they’d vandalize my tie.”
Jackie shrugged. “You saw the sign. You disobeyed the sign. You pay the price.”
This was unbelievable. “What happens to the tie now?”
“It becomes part of our decor,” Jackie said. “Look up.”
Caleb did. Hundreds of colorful ties hung from the ceiling.
“You should have listened to me,” Becca said. “But I didn’t try that hard to convince you. I’ve never been all that fond of your yellow tie. No big loss, if you want my opinion.”
“Red is a power color.” Jackie tucked the tie into her bra. A good thing they had a use for it, because he wasn’t going to want it back now. “Yellow is too...”
“Understated,” Becca said.
Unbelievable. His grandmother had said the same things. He half laughed.
“You’ve got your peanuts and menus and sense of humor,” Jackie said. “I’ll be back in a jiff to take your drink orders.”
With that, the server walked away.
“I hope you’re not too upset about your tie?” Becca asked.
“Not upset,” he admitted. “It’s my fault. You warned me. I chose not to listen to you. Lesson learned.”
With a smile, Becca grabbed a handful of peanuts. “Dig in.”
He took one from the pail. “You just toss the shells on the floor?”
“You’ve led a sheltered life. Watch.” She illustrated what to do. “Your turn.”
Caleb took another peanut. Opened it. Removed the peanut. Tossed the shell on the ground.
“Easy-peasy.” She dumped a handful of peanuts in front of him, then pointed to a target painted on the aisle between the tables. “Now we can get serious. High point wins.”
That sounded fun. “What’s the prize?”
She shrugged. “What do you want it to be?”
You. In the horizontal position. But he didn’t think she was up for that. At least not yet. Maybe later tonight. “I don’t care.”
“Then I’ll have to think of something—until then...go for it.”
With each peanut shell he tossed, the stress of his day spent working at Fair Face and attending meetings slipped away. Nothing mattered, not Grams or Courtney. There was only here and now. And Becca.
He threw another peanut. “This is more fun than I thought it would be.”
“Fun is the name of the game here.”
Caleb saw that. He liked it, too. “I like having fun.”
Becca had brought fun back into his life. The kind of fun Grams said he needed. And Caleb knew one thing.
He didn’t want it to end.
At least not anytime soon.
* * *
Becca didn’t want the night to end. Delicious food. Interesting conversation. A handsome date who made her think of slow, hot kisses.
Charmed by Caleb, yes. Totally enchanted by him—she was on her way.
Time to pull back. Though that was hard to do when he held her hand in the restaurant’s parking lot.
“I had a great time tonight,” Caleb said. “Want to get together tomorrow and go tie shopping?”
Her heart leaped. Common sense frowned. She laughed, not knowing if he were serious or not.
“I mean it.”
Okay, he was serious. She bit her lip.
The list of reasons she shouldn’t want to see him again was long. But those things were easy to forget when Caleb’s gaze made her feel like the only woman in the world. His world, at least. That could be oh-so-dangerous. “You should ask your sister to go. I know nothing about ties.”
He brushed his lips over Becca’s hair, making her knees want to melt. “Courtney might know fashion, but you know me.”
Her heart bumped. The thought of spending more time with Caleb made her want to cancel her plans. But she couldn’t. “I would love to go tie shopping, but I’m driving down to see my parents tomorrow.”
“Overnight?”
“A day trip,” she said. “I need to be back for the dogs.”
“Ah, yes, the dogs.”
He sounded funny. “What do you mean by the dogs?”
“I never thought I’d be jealous of some pups.”
“Jealous, huh?”
“You’re at their beck and call.”
“It’s my job.”
“Admit it,” he said lightheartedly. “You like the dogs better than you like me.”
He was teasing, but there was some truth to his words. Becca liked dogs better than most people. But better than Caleb?
“It’s a different kind of like,” she said. “Dogs are loyal, protective and think I’m the center of their universe. That’s pretty appealing.”
“True, but a dog can’t do this.”
Caleb dipped his head, touching his mouth to Becca’s. Electric. His lips moved over hers, sending pleasurable tingles shooting through her. She savored the feel and the taste of him. Forget the dinner they’d eaten, this was all she needed for nourishment. He drew the kiss to an end much to soon.
“You’re right.” She rubbed her throbbing lips together. “A dog can’t to that.”
His chest expanded. “Damn straight they can’t.”
She laughed. “Thanks for dinner. It’s been a lovely evening.”
“We don’t have to call it a night.”
Oh, Becca was tempted. But keeping her heart under lock and key was becoming more difficult each time they were together.
Thanks to Caleb, she felt more confident, competent, sexy.
She liked it. Liked him. And felt herself growing closer to him. But she wasn’t sure she could trust her feelings. Or his. He didn’t seem eager to get into a relationship. She had avoided them herself. “There’s no reason to rush into anything, right?”
“No,” he said. “But I would like to see you tomorrow. How about I go with you to your parents’ house?”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “You know Grams. Seems fair I should meet your parents.”
“Sure.” Becca wiggled her toes. “That would be great.”
* * *
On Saturday afternoon, Caleb drove into the trailer park outside Twin Falls. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but so far seemed stereotypical. Singlewides, doublewides and RVs filled the various lots. Cars and trucks were parked haphazardly on the narrow streets. Cats lounged in the sun. Dogs barked at his car.
“Turn left at the Statue of Liberty. You can’t miss it,” Becca said.
“I’m looking forward to meeting your parents.”
“They can’t wait to meet you.”
A six-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty stood like a sentry at an intersection. Nearby, two men with handlebar mustaches and tattooed arms eyed his sports car. An elderly woman sat in a rocking chair with a Chihuahua on he
r lap on the porch of another trailer.
Becca pointed out the windshield. “My parents live in the trailer with the chicken wire fencing and the Jolly Roger flag.”
O-kay. Caleb gripped his steering wheel and parked. Not only was there chicken fencing, but also live chickens. Was that even legal in the city limits? He turned off the ignition.
“My parents are normal folks, so don’t be nervous,” she said.
A couple thoughts ran through his mind. One, this was going to be interesting, if not enlightening. Two, he doubted he’d ever see the hubcaps on his car again. At least he had insurance. “I’m not nervous.”
Not much anyway.
“Good, because I am.”
Caleb fought the urge to kiss her nerves away. He squeezed her hand. “No reason to be nervous. They’re your parents.”
“Exactly.” She rewarded him with a grin. “If my father wants to show you his gun and knife collection, say no. Otherwise, he’ll try to intimidate you.”
Caleb knew from what Becca had told him as well as the private investigator’s report that her father had been arrested and jailed for fighting, so this didn’t surprise him. “Good to know.”
“If my mom mentions UFOs and government conspiracies, smile and nod. Whatever you do, don’t mention Roswell or Flight 800.”
“Maybe I should have brought a tinfoil hat.”
“If you had, you would endear yourself to her forever.” Becca moistened her lips. “I’m not kidding.”
Her serious tone told him she wasn’t.
If Becca considered this “normal folks,” he wondered what her version of not-so-normal would be like. Given the Taylors’ daughter had grown up to be such a lovely, caring and hardworking woman, he shouldn’t rush to judgment. He’d made that mistake with Becca. “Let’s go meet your folks.”
A man and a woman in their early forties stood on the porch and waved.
“That’s my mom and dad, Debbie and Rob,” Becca said.
The woman had the same brown hair as Becca, only longer, and a similar smile. The man had lighter brown hair and the same blue eyes as his daughter. “They look so young.”
More like an older brother and sister, not her parents.
“My mom was seventeen and my dad eighteen when they got married. I arrived a week before her eighteenth birthday.”
“Kids having kids.”
“They thought they were grown up enough at the time, but both told me I should wait until I was older, maybe even in my thirties, to get married.”
He opened the gate for Becca. “Good advice.”
“Make sure none of the chickens escape.”
Caleb closed the gate behind him and double-checked the latch was secure.
Introductions were made. Becca’s parents were friendly. He received a handshake from Rob and a hug from Debbie. The four of them entered the house. Their trailer was small, tidy and welcoming. Pictures hung on the walls. Knick-knacks covered shelves. But no pets. Not a dog or a cat in sight. That surprised him given Becca’s love of animals.
Caleb studied the photographs of a young Becca riding a tricycle and one of her winning a ribbon at a 4-H dog show.
He motioned to her high school graduation picture. “You used to have long hair like your mom’s.”
She nodded. “I’m not that same person anymore. I like my hair shorter.”
“I like it, too,” Caleb said, noticing her parents watching the exchange with interest.
“Why don’t you help your mother with dinner,” Rob said to Becca. “I’ll keep Caleb company.”
Becca followed Debbie into the kitchen.
Rob slapped him on the back. “So Caleb, you into guns and hunting?”
He remembered what Becca had told him, but he wasn’t about to be intimidated. “My grandfather used to take my best friend and me elk hunting. Crossbows, not guns.”
“Bag anything?”
“A buck.” Caleb remembered his surprise when he’d hit the animal. He’d felt a burst of excitement at making the shot and a rush of sadness at seeing the elk fall. “He was so much bigger than me. Had a helluva time getting him back to camp.”
Bob looked toward the kitchen. “I’ve done some bear hunting.”
Caleb expected to be invited to see the gun collection next.
Bob leaned closer. “Never could bring anything I shot home or Becca would cry. You might not want to mention that elk. She’s fond of animals. Might hold it against you.”
So much for being intimidated. “Thanks for the advice.”
“You’re welcome.” Bob’s gaze drifted to the kitchen again. He lowered his voice. “My daughter’s caught some bad breaks.”
“Becca told me.”
“She works hard. Sends us money, even when she doesn’t have much herself.” Rob’s gaze met Caleb’s in understanding. “I don’t want to see my little girl hurt.”
“Me, either. She’s a special woman.”
“Good to hear you say that,” Rob said. “Becca’s never brought a man, or a boy for that matter, home before.”
Caleb straightened. That surprised him. But she hadn’t asked him home to meet her parents. He’d invited himself. She must be taking her parents’ advice about waiting to get married until she was older. She had goals and dreams. The last thing she needed was a boyfriend to get in the way. The same way he didn’t need a girlfriend. This would make life easier for both of them.
They wouldn’t have to worry about things getting serious and complicated. They could keep having fun together and enjoying each other’s company.
Yes, this was going to work out well.
* * *
In the kitchen, Becca put the tray of biscuits into the preheated oven. She set the timer. “Dinner smells good.”
“Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and pie for dessert,” her mother said. “Caleb’s handsome.”
“He’s got the prettiest eyes and the nicest smile.”
“You really like him.”
“We haven’t been seeing each other long.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t have feelings for him.” Her mother stirred the gravy simmering on the stove. “I knew your father was the one a week after we met.”
Becca had heard the story of how they met at a local burger joint over chocolate milk shakes and French fries many times. “How did you know?”
“It was a feeling.” Her mother tilted her head. “We fit from that very first day. When we were apart it wasn’t awful like the world was ending or someone had died, but when we were together things were better. We were a team. We complemented each other. If that makes sense.”
That was how Becca felt with Caleb. “It does.”
“Do you think you and Caleb might turn into something serious?”
Yes! She was afraid to voice her desire aloud. Afraid to believe in a happily ever after with him. “Maybe.”
Her mother removed a bottle of salad dressing from the refrigerator. “How does he make you feel?”
“Special. Important. Like I can do anything.” Her breath caught. “I think I’m falling for him.”
“You think?”
Becca laughed. “Okay, I’m falling. I may have already fallen. It feels scary.”
“Falling for someone is very scary. That’s a normal feeling. But good, too.” Her mother touched her shoulder. “You can’t live stuck in the past. Afraid. Caleb isn’t Whitley. If you like Caleb, give him a chance.”
“I always thought all I needed in my life were dogs, but after meeting Caleb...”
Kissing him...
“You want more,” her mom said.
“Yes.” Becca not only wanted more, she needed more. That terrified her. The last time she wanted more, she’d ended up heartbroken a
nd in jail. She hated to think that could happen with Caleb, too. “But we’re so different. I’m not sure it can work. Do you think I can really fit into Caleb’s world?”
“Yes. Just be yourself. If who you are doesn’t fit, then he’s not the right man for you.”
“Mom.”
“I’m serious.” Her mother wrapped her arms around Becca. “You are a sweet, generous, smart woman with so much love to give the right man.”
“I think Caleb might be the right man for me.”
“Only time will tell.”
Caleb wouldn’t waste hours to drive to her parents’ house if she didn’t mean something to him. He acted as if he accepted her and her past. He called, texted and wanted to spend time with her. He had feelings for her. The only question was what kind of feelings. “I hope it doesn’t take long.”
“Patience is a virtue,” her mother said.
Becca checked the biscuits. “I spent three years being patient. You’d think I’d get a break this time.”
“Sorry to say, baby, but there aren’t many breaks when it comes to love.”
Love.
Becca liked the sound of that, liked it a lot.
She only hoped Caleb would, too.
And this time wouldn’t turn out to be another big mistake.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
FOUR HOURS LATER, the headlights of Caleb’s car cut through the darkness. Becca sat in the passenger seat, cocooned in the comfy, leather seats. Looking at his handsome profile, warmth flowed through her. “I thought the visit went well.”
He glanced her way. “I had fun. Your parents are great.”
“They like you.”
“I like them.” Caleb maneuvered the car around an orange semi-truck. “Your dad didn’t pull out any guns or knives.”
“Lucky,” she teased. “He’d threatened to do that if you turned out to be a bozo or an idiot.”
“Good to know I’m neither of those things.” He readjusted his hands on the steering wheel. “Your mom is a kick. She should have been a lawyer. She had me almost convinced we never landed on the moon.”
Becca laughed. “My mom can argue with the best of them.”
“But I’m glad she had you instead of going on to college.”
The pitter-patter of her heart tripled. “Me, too.”
The Man Behind the Pinstripes Page 15
