“Define ‘that.’”
“Kissing me.”
“Ah.” He blew out a breath. “It was me getting into my surroundings.”
It could be that the kiss had her brain malfunctioning, but she didn’t get what he meant. “I’m sorry. I need a little more than that.”
“All night we’ve been hearing about gut instinct and looking for signs. For example,” he said, “the last seat in the Community Center was next to mine and you took it. Was that a sign?”
“Now you’re talking crazy and it’s starting to scare me,” she teased. “But for the sake of argument—a sign of what?”
“That I should kiss you. I decided to see what would happen if I didn’t ignore it and followed my gut instinct.”
“And?”
“It wasn’t wrong.” He grinned. “You’re a really good kisser, Mallory Franklin. It was every bit as nice as I thought it would be. And—”
“What?” Her voice was one part breathless and one part anticipation.
“I’m thinking signs again.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Maybe it means you should go out with me. After all, it’s not a good idea to thumb your nose at signs from the universe.”
“Hmm.” Mallory nodded. “I see what you mean.”
“Is that you saying yes?”
“It is.”
That affirmative answer came from gut instinct but Mallory couldn’t help it. She liked the prospect of a night of fun with a cute cowboy and the thought was irresistible.
Who said it had to mean anything?
Chapter Six
The day after learning to embrace his inner psychic, Caleb picked Mallory up at her house. He could have waited until the weekend, but when the universe hands out signs, you don’t look the other way. And he was glad he hadn’t. He’d had such a good time with her last night, all day he’d been looking forward to seeing her again.
After saying good-night to Lily and Cecelia Clifton, who was babysitting, he walked Mallory to his truck parked at the curb. He opened the door for her. “This was really short notice. I’m glad you didn’t have plans.”
“It’s fate. I happened to have an opening in my busy social calendar.” Before putting a foot on the running board to climb into the truck, she gave him a wry look. “There’s nothing on my schedule these days except work and spending time with Lily.”
He made sure she was settled before closing the door, then walked around to climb into the driver’s seat. “Then I’m glad Cecelia was free to stay with her.”
“Me, too. So where are we going?”
Caleb met her gaze and thought she was as pretty as a picture sitting there beside him. For a second or two the sight of her took his breath away. Excitement was shining in her eyes and hummed in her voice and for a moment he couldn’t think straight, let alone answer.
Finally he said, “Don’t you want to be surprised?”
“For someone who doesn’t make a move without some serious strategic planning, that’s a loaded question.”
“And yet you moved to Rust Creek based solely on instinct and it worked out. That tells me you need more surprises in your life and you’ll find out when we get there.”
“Okay.”
It sounded as if she trusted him, and he liked that a lot.
The Ace in the Hole wasn’t far, so the suspense didn’t last very long. He drove into the parking lot that even on a weeknight had a good number of trucks, which made sense, since it was a favorite hangout for local cowboys. Tonight there were also a few motorcycles and cars.
“I’ve been in Rust Creek Falls for over six months and lately I seem to be broadening my horizons. I’ve never been here,” she said.
Caleb was happier about that than he had any business being, but he didn’t like the idea of her coming here alone. The clientele leaned toward young, single, rowdy guys who were looking to let off steam.
“The food is pretty good,” he said. “I thought we could have dinner and get to know each other.”
“Sounds good.” She smiled, then opened her door and slid out of the truck.
Just ahead they could see the old-fashioned hitching post out front to tie horses for cowboys who rode them into town. Lighted beer signs in the window left no doubt about what kind of establishment was inside, and over the door an oversize playing card, an ace of hearts, blinked in red neon. Caleb walked beside Mallory, close enough that the skirt of her summer cotton dress brushed his jeans. Her short-sleeved yellow sweater seemed to wrap her in sunshine.
Caleb opened the screen door with the rusty hinges and winced at the screech that seemed to contrast with her fresh innocence—and not in a good way. He tried to see the place through her eyes. To the right there was a scarred bar with stools in front that ran the length of the wall. A mirror behind it reflected the bottles of liquor lined up there. Booths ringed the outer wall and circular tables big enough for six, or however many chairs could be pulled up, surrounded the dance floor in the middle of the room. The antique Wurlitzer jukebox was playing a country song and in the far back corner men were playing darts and pool.
The rest of the cowboys in the place stared openly at Mallory the second she walked in. With his hand at the small of her back, he felt the exact moment she noticed the male attention and tensed up.
“Do we have to wait to be seated?” she whispered.
“No.” He chuckled. “It’s not that kind of place.” He urged her toward a booth, which offered more privacy than the tables. Unfortunately the guys and a group of women sitting at the tables could still check them out.
On top of that, it suddenly hit him that she’d lived in New York. The wait-to-be-seated question was a big clue about her once-sophisticated life.
They sat across from each other on the padded faux-leather seats. Caleb met her gaze. “So, this must be different for you.”
“My friends in the Newcomers Club have talked about coming here for girls’ night.” That didn’t really answer the question. “They left out a lot of details.”
“It has local color.”
“Uh-huh.” Mallory’s eyes widened as she glanced around, then quickly looked back at him.
Caleb noticed Lani behind the bar. She worked here part-time and was talking to her boss. He knew his little sister could handle herself if some dude got out of line, but it was a comfort that the owner’s new husband spent a lot of time here in the evening with his wife. Sam Traven was a retired navy SEAL and could deal with a drunken cowboy with one hand tied behind his back.
When Rosey Shaw Traven headed their way, Caleb again tried to see her through Mallory’s eyes. The woman was in her mid-sixties and wore a peasant blouse, leather vest and wide belt over her tight jeans. She had dark hair, brown eyes and still flirted with the men and flaunted her assets. He wasn’t sure whether or not to be relieved that she would be their waitress instead of his sister.
“Hey, handsome.” She looked away from him to Mallory. “You’re new in town. Do I need to warn you about this good-looking rascal?”
That was when Caleb made up his mind to not be relieved about Rosey. At least Lani had Sunday dinner with Mallory and would have been friendly but not outrageous. Rosey knew most of his secrets and didn’t mind telling anyone who would listen.
“I’d appreciate a warning very much.” She smiled and extended her hand. “Mallory Franklin.”
“Rosey Traven.” She shook hands, then said, “Pleased to meet you.”
Before the secret sharing could commence, Caleb said, “Can we get a couple of menus?”
“Really? You bring a different girl in here every night. How come you don’t know it by heart?” Rosey shook a finger at him. “And don’t tell me it’s because of how often it changes. I’ve only added salads and wraps to accommodate all the ladies from the
Rust Creek Falls gal rush.”
“You know Mallory isn’t part of that,” he said quickly.
Rosey took her measure. “Don’t say.”
“What he means is that I didn’t come here looking for a man.”
“Maybe not, but—” she angled her head toward the tables in the center of the room “—they’re sure looking at you.”
“I noticed.”
And Caleb noticed that the excitement was missing from her voice now, and that bothered him. He’d let her down and didn’t like that he had.
“So, I’ll go get those menus.” Rosey started to turn away.
“That’s okay,” Mallory said quickly. “I’ll have a burger.”
“Make it two.” Caleb just needed a little time to turn this around.
He’d been told by more than one woman that he was charming, and now was the time to turn up the power. When the bar owner walked away, he smiled. “So, this must be really different from your life in New York.”
Her attention shifted from the men still checking her out and back to him. “That’s the second time you mentioned that I’m not from around here.”
“It’s a conversation starter.” He gave her the grin that was guaranteed to put a lady in a good mood.
Her lips curved up. “As you already know, I’m originally from Montana, so this isn’t like stepping off a spaceship onto the surface of Mars. New York is where I really felt out of place.”
When the rusty screen door opened, he looked over and saw Sharla Jenkins walk in. She was blonde, built and looking for action. Caleb knew that because he’d taken her up on the offer once upon a time, but once was all it would ever be and they both knew that. Still, when she spotted him, a smile spread across her pretty face and she headed his way.
“Caleb Dalton, you handsome devil. How are you?” Before he could answer, she looked at Mallory. “I haven’t seen you in here before. Must be new in town.”
“Six months now. I’m Mallory Franklin.”
“Sharla Jenkins.” She winked at Caleb. “Don’t let this big bad cowboy break your heart like he did mine.”
It was hard to maintain a level of charm when you were really annoyed. “That’s not true.”
“Mallory knows I’m teasing.”
The pinched expression on the lady’s face made him pretty sure she didn’t know that at all. “You and I are just friends.”
“Good friends, if you know what I mean,” she said to Mallory.
“You’re probably meeting someone here.” This would go from bad to worse unless Caleb could move her along. “It’s been nice seeing you, Sharla.”
“You trying to get rid of me?”
“That would be my guess,” Mallory said, her tone cool and cynical.
“A woman who’s not afraid to stake her claim. I can respect that.” Sharla smiled and nodded. “Okay, then. See you around.”
She moved away and pulled up a chair with the other women at the table near the plank floor. When the music changed to George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart,” a cowboy walked over to her and held out his hand. Sharla took it and the two started moving around the dance floor.
Maybe he should ask Mallory. Dancing might turn things around and he sure would like an excuse to see what her sexy curves would feel like in his arms. He opened his mouth to suggest it when Lani walked over with a tray holding two longneck bottles of beer.
“Hi, Mallory. Nice to see you again.” His sister gave him a look that said she wasn’t surprised to see him here with this woman.
Mallory’s smile was friendly. “How are you, Lani? I didn’t know you worked here.”
“I help out now and then.” She put a bottle in front of each of them.
“We didn’t order those,” Mallory protested.
Lani pointed to the guy who hadn’t taken his eyes off Mallory since they’d walked in the door. He had the nerve to tip his hat. “He sent it over.”
Then she indicated a pretty brunette who waggled her fingers at Caleb. “She bought yours and asked me to give you her phone number.” Lani put a cocktail napkin with numbers on it in front of him. “I had to do this because it’s my job, but I’ll return it to her if you want.”
“Don’t bother.” Ignoring it would send a stronger message.
“Okay, then.” She smiled at each of them. “Enjoy your evening.”
“Right,” he muttered, feeling like an idiot.
“I feel like I’ve been brought to school for show-and-tell.” Mallory pulled that bright yellow sweater tighter, then folded her arms over her chest. It was possible for her to look more uncomfortable, but only if a pack of alligators were nipping at her toes.
Caleb could talk the ears off an elephant, but he had no idea what to say. The reality was clear—he felt like an idiot because he officially was one. It was time to admit defeat and get the hell out.
“Mallory, would you like to go?”
“More than you can possibly know.”
He slid out of the booth and offered her his hand, which she ignored. That proved his point about failing to acknowledge a gesture sending a strong message. After tossing some bills on the table to pay Rosey for her trouble, he let Mallory precede him out the door and to the truck. She didn’t say anything on the drive back to her place and couldn’t get out fast enough after he turned off the ignition. For a small woman she sure could move and it was almost a challenge to keep up with her.
“Mallory, wait,” he said when she reached for the handle on the front door. “Let’s talk about this.”
“Talking won’t make it any less a disaster.”
“At least let me apologize for taking you there on a first date.” His father always said he was good with words and could have been a lawyer if he’d wanted. Caleb hoped that was true because he didn’t want this to be the last date. “I’m asking you to trust me one more time. Give me a do-over.”
“Not a good idea.” She settled the strap of her purse more securely on her shoulder. “Maybe this is a sign that going out is a mistake. Consider yourself off the hook.”
He knew how it felt to want off the hook and that was not how he was feeling now. The circumstances could have been better, but being with her didn’t feel like a mistake. Before he could pull together an argument to make his case, the front door opened.
“I thought I heard voices out here.” Pretty brunette Cecelia Clifton stood there with Lily beside her. They wore twin expressions of confusion. “You guys have barely been gone an hour.”
“How come you’re home so early, Auntie Mal?”
“It was time.” Mallory opened her purse. “I’ll pay you for the whole evening, Cece.”
“No, you won’t.”
“It’s hardly worth your time,” Mallory disagreed.
“Are you kidding? I love hanging out with Lily. When you work as a construction assistant, it’s all guys. We had some quality girl time.” She looked down at the little girl. “Right, kiddo?”
“Yes.”
Cecelia refused to take the bill Mallory tried to hand her and started toward her truck. “See you soon.”
“We played dolls. Cecelia was going to show me how to French-braid hair.” Lily’s little face had the beginnings of a pout on it.
“Another time,” her aunt said.
“The next time you go out with Caleb?” she asked hopefully.
Never let it be said that he missed an opportunity. “What a coincidence. We were just talking about that.”
“There’s nothing more to say.”
“So, when are you going out with him?” Lily wanted to know.
“There’s nothing specific,” Mallory answered vaguely.
“We should nail it down.” Caleb knew it was two against one but wasn’t above using it to
get what he wanted.
Mallory’s eyes narrowed, telling him she knew exactly what he was doing and wouldn’t play. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Okay.” He would hold her to that.
“Caleb, are you going to kiss Aunt Mallory good-night?”
“No, he’s not. And that’s an inappropriate question, young lady.”
“Why?” Lily was persistent. “That’s what happens in the movies.”
“This isn’t a movie,” her aunt said.
“No, it’s not.” Caleb remembered his father saying that sometimes a lawyer needed to know when to stop talking. It was good advice no matter what your profession and this was one of those times.
“Lily, it’s time for you to get ready for bed.”
“Okay, Aunt Mallory. ’Night, Caleb.”
“Sleep tight, Lily.”
“Wait, I have to tell you one more thing.”
“What?” he asked, going down on one knee in front of her.
“I just wanted you to know. Travis isn’t my favorite cowboy. You are.” She threw her arms around his neck.
“I’m flattered. And you’re my favorite little cowgirl.”
When the little girl was gone, he moved close to Mallory, settling his hands on her arms before gently urging her against him. Then he lowered his mouth to hers. Last night’s kiss had been about testing the waters, but now he was going to prove a point. He slid one arm around her waist, then threaded the fingers of his other hand through the silk of her pretty, dark red hair.
With the tip of his tongue he traced her lips, letting her know exactly what he would do if there wasn’t an eight-year-old close by. He kept up gentle, nibbling kisses until he heard her soft sigh and knew that, for now, his work here was done.
Reluctantly he stepped away from her and saw the glazed, dazed expression in her eyes. She could pretend there wouldn’t be a next time but her reaction to the kiss said different.
“Good night, Mallory.” He backed away and walked to his truck.
He hadn’t completely struck out tonight. Lily liked him.
At least he was someone’s favorite. Mallory might think this was over, but he wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.
From Maverick to Daddy Page 8
