“I thought Tyler would pass out. He’s terrified.” They watched Jess and Tyler disappear, the two clinging to each other. “Poor guy.”
“He’ll get over that too,” Ross said. “Or—maybe not. Taking care of a newborn won’t be a picnic.”
“Not much sleeping for him, I guess.”
They shared a look, Callie’s smile making her eyes sparkle.
Just like that, Ross knew, in one moment, what he wanted in his life.
Callie glanced around, breaking the spell. “I need to move my car. This is a loading zone.”
Absolutely no one was rushing to load or unload anyone, but security would probably come out to tell them to clear the driveway. Callie turned away.
“Wait,” Ross said. He liked how quickly she swung back to him. “You want to get something to eat? The cafeteria is kind of crappy, but—”
“Sure,” Callie said before he could finish. “I have the feeling my appointment with AGCT has been postponed.”
Flashing another smile, she darted to her car and drove it smoothly to the parking lot.
Callie met Ross outside the cafeteria, which had just finished its breakfast service and hadn’t started lunch, but they grabbed iced teas and plastic-wrapped muffins from its front counter and took a table near the window.
“Jess is settling in, Tyler told me,” Ross said. “It will be a while, though. I figure I’ll leave them alone for now. We’ll call everyone in when it’s time.”
Callie wasn’t certain she should be there when the rest of the family arrived for the birth, but at the moment, it was nice to face Ross across the table. He wore his uniform, but he explained his shift didn’t start until that evening—he’d be at the station most of the night.
“Life of a cop,” he said, shrugging.
Callie wasn’t certain how to respond. He’d said they should take things as they came, but she had no experience with being casual. Her expected role with Devon had been spelled out for her—supportive girlfriend, never be demanding, hang out with your own friends until I’m ready for you.
She’d never sat in a hospital cafeteria and just talked to a man. Men and women, Devon had implied, weren’t supposed to be friends. Guys before that had mostly thought the same.
Ross apparently hadn’t received the memo. He rested one arm easily on the table while he took uninhibited sips of tea through his straw around snacking on the packaged muffin.
“Stuff’s kind of rank,” he said, studying the label. “Maybe Grace should give up on the pastry shop idea and cater the clinic.”
“I thought she was planning to open a restaurant in Fredericksburg,” Callie said.
“She was, but her business partner ran out on her with the money. She’s been selling her pastries through the diner and is saving up to open a bakery on the square. But then Zach came along, and now she’s a little busy.” He finished with a laugh.
Zach was Grace and Carter’s nearly year-old son. Grace and Carter were also raising Faith, Carter’s daughter. Callie at least knew that much.
“I’m out of the Riverbend loop,” she said regretfully. “Too much time in Dallas and then hiding out at the ranch. Our housekeeper gives me some of the news, but she doesn’t believe in talking about people behind their backs, darn it.”
“She must be the only one in River County who thinks like that.” Ross crumpled the empty plastic and pushed it aside. “Let me catch you up on the dirt.”
He launched into tales of his brothers, while Callie nibbled her stale muffin, how Adam the movie stuntman had returned to training horses, occasionally taking a movie job, but as stunt coordinator, riding stunts only if he wanted to. Mostly, though, he and Bailey stayed in their new house not far from the ranch and enjoyed their son Dale. They hadn’t said anything, but Ross suspected another Campbell baby would be coming along next year.
Grant and Christina were living in the shotgun house with their little girl, Grant as full of himself as ever. But Ross was glad for him, because he and Christina had been through some rough times.
Tyler and Jess had built a house on the other side of the ranch, which they’d just moved into. Ross and his brothers had been recruited for the heavy lifting.
Ross then turned to his friends and neighbors, talking about how the Malorys had become closer friends since Carter and Grace had married. He told Callie how Karen Marvin had a new cowboy on her arm every month, and people joked she was collecting them for a calendar. But they respected her acumen and acknowledged how much she’d helped the people of Riverbend.
As he spoke, Callie relaxed. This man loved his family, as much as he grumbled about them, and enjoyed the people in their small town. Callie came from a close family too and understood the mixture of love and exasperation.
She found herself opening up, telling him about Evelyn, who had a beautiful voice, and was knocking the socks off of the music crowd in Austin. Callie wasn’t sure how far her career would go—local girl made good or superstardom—but Evelyn was happy.
Her other sister, Montana, was struggling through the male-dominated field of astronomy. She was smart, had her PhD, and deserved recognition for her work on supernovas.
“I’m not exactly sure what she does,” Callie admitted. “I went to her lab once, and she mostly stares at rows of numbers, which made no sense to me.” She shook her head. “But she’s a good teacher. I sat in on her class, and she had her students laughing and asking all kinds of questions. In my science classes it was always the professor talking a mile a minute while we scrambled to take notes in dead silence.”
“Yeah, I had teachers like that in college,” Ross said. “I went for a criminal justice degree. I’d already been hired on as a deputy, because this county is always desperate for people, but I wanted the degree so I wouldn’t remain at the bottom of the ranks. Not that it’s helped me. Hennessy has his own agenda.”
He took an immediate sip of tea as though regretting speaking the sheriff’s name. Ross had done that in his apartment, too, when she’d joked that the county’s criminals weren’t used to honest cops.
Callie was good at putting two and two together, and she wondered what Ross didn’t want to say about Sheriff Hennessy.
Callie’s father didn’t like the man much and had backed the few who’d dared run against him in the past. Most people had given up getting Hennessy out of office—he’d be in his seat until he dropped over, was common consensus.
“You should run for sheriff,” Callie said on impulse.
Ross took his straw out of his mouth to laugh. He had a smooth laugh, which warmed the air. “You’re funny.”
“Why not?” Callie’s zeal grew. “Everyone likes you, you’re good at your job, and you’re a Campbell, which gives you a lot of clout. One of the oldest and most respected families in the county.”
“So are the Joneses. Why don’t you run?”
Callie poked her ice with her straw. “Sure, Ross. I think the population would head for the hills if there was a chance a woman would become sheriff. I love Riverbend, but it’s a seriously old-fashioned town. Women really run the county, but the guys have to pretend they do.”
“That’s for sure.” Ross didn’t look offended. “Hennessy would wipe the floor with my ass if I decided to run against him. Or send guys to do it for him.”
He shrugged off her suggestion, but Callie saw a spark in his eyes, as though the idea had taken hold.
A county sheriff would have even less time to explore a budding relationship, she knew. Was she trying to put obstacles between them? And why?
Fear, she realized. Pure and simple. Callie had walked out of fire after Devon, and she feared being burned again.
Ross was smart to say they should take things as they came. Because maybe nothing would come after all.
Callie studied his strong fingers around his cup, remembering the gentleness of them on her body. She had a hard time breathing correctly around him.
She could go for enjoying his presen
ce, his touch, listening to his deep voice as he talked, laughed. She’d learn how to savor every moment together, and not worry about the end.
Take it slow. Callie wouldn’t mind that, if slow meant getting to know each other over the next ten years.
Callie didn’t realize how much time had passed until Grace and Carter arrived with Faith and Dominic, Jess’s son from her first marriage. Dominic looked worried, though Grace was trying to keep his spirits up.
Grant and Christina entered behind them. No babies with either couple, but Callie figured they’d not want to bring them to the clinic.
Bailey and Adam, it turned out, had volunteered to be the designated baby watchers while the others and Olivia came to see the wild Tyler Campbell become a father.
“I should go,” Callie said quietly to Ross.
They’d been in the cafeteria for hours, lunch having come and gone, talking about everything and nothing. It had been a long time since Callie had talked to anyone who actually listened. Even her sisters, as close as they were, had their own lives, their own troubles. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed this connection.
“Why?” Ross gave her a puzzled look as they joined his family. “You all remember Callie.”
Christina was Montana’s age, and had been what Callie and her friends called one of the “older girls,” at school, and so the object of veneration. Christina and Montana had graduated five years before Callie.
Callie was closer in age to Grace, who had been two grades ahead of her. Grace Malory had always been super-sweet, a debutante herself, and had given Callie lots of guidance. Grace also had two hunk-a-licious brothers the female population of Riverbend wanted to get close to. Result—Grace had a lot of friends.
Grace brightened when she saw Callie and immediately hugged her. “So good to see you,” she said in true gladness. Grace did not have a false bone in her. Callie hugged her hard, her shyness falling away.
“How you doing, Callie?” Christina asked, a touch more formally.
Callie put on her warmest smile. “I’m just fine. I hear you have a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations.”
Christina softened, and Grant’s pride took over his expression. “She’s the most gorgeous thing I ever did see,” Grant boomed. “Her mama excepted.”
Christina’s happiness radiated from her as she turned to Grant. These two were so much in love, it was palpable. It gave Callie a wistful feeling.
The family gathered, the three brothers towering over the ladies. Dominic still worried about his mother, so Callie offered to buy him and Faith an ice cream.
“You’re pretty,” Dominic said as Callie got them both soft-serve cones and paid at the register. “Are you going to marry Uncle Ross?”
Callie jumped, a drop of chocolate ice cream staining her pristine interview-day slacks.
Faith, nearly twelve if Callie remembered right, and starting to grow tall, grinned. “That would be awesome. Uncle Ross is lonely.”
Callie glanced quickly across the room where Ross talked animatedly with his family. Carter had his arm around Grace, and Christina snuggled into Grant. Callie hoped no one had heard.
Ross did stand out among them, his crisp uniform contrasting the jeans, T-shirts, and cowboy boots of his brothers. Carter and Grant had calmed way down from when Callie had seen them last—spending a few years out of town gave her fresh perspective, and the change in the Campbell brothers was remarkable. Their lives had been stabilized by the women in their embraces, as well as the children here and waiting for them at home. Marriage hadn’t exactly “tamed” them, Callie could see, but they were no longer reckless, searching.
Ross stood apart from them, not only because of his uniform, but because observant Faith was right—he was alone. He had that alert and restless look of someone who wasn’t hankering to rush home.
Callie led the kids with their ice cream back to the group. Ross gave her a look of gratitude that warmed her to her toes.
Olivia burst in through the door. Her tanned face was flushed, her eyes sparkling with gladness.
“She’s here. Miss Sarah Campbell, seven pounds, five ounces.”
Grant whooped, and Ross echoed him. Dominic imitated them, his yell robust. Carter, always quiet, cracked a smile, and Grace and Faith shared an excited hug.
“Can we see her?” Christina asked.
“Is my mom all right?” Dominic demanded at the same time. Callie put her arm around him, never minding his ice cream that led to the further ruin of her pants. He was the only one truly scared, she understood. Having his mom be rushed to the hospital had probably terrified him.
“She’s wonderful, honey,” Olivia assured him. “She did amazing, and she’s asking for you.”
She held out her hand, and Dominic, after giving Callie’s a squeeze, ran to her. Olivia led him away, Faith skipping after them, the others pouring behind them.
Callie hung back. This was a family thing, and she wasn’t part of the family. She’d depart and leave them with their joy.
Her heart sank at the thought of going back to her own house, big and empty with her folks gone. Maybe she’d drive into Austin, do some shopping, have a spa day, pamper herself. Go over her business plan again and reschedule with Karen Marvin.
Ross had gone out the swinging door of the cafeteria, leaving Callie alone with the cooks who were prepping dinner.
The door swung one way, and when it swung back, Ross came with it. “Come on. They move fast, but we’ll catch up.”
Callie took up her purse. “I really need to go. Things to do.”
“What things? Don’t let them scare you away. They’re just Campbells.”
He held out his large and strong hand, his look welcoming.
Callie hesitated. Running off would be rude to Ross. Staying—which she really wanted to—would be butting in on the rest of them. Tough choice.
Maybe not so tough. She’d never seen anyone more handsome than Ross as he reached out to her and smiled in excitement. Only watching his face over hers in the comfort of his bed had been better.
“Guess I can stay a while,” she said. She took his hand, her blood warming as his smile deepened, and he led her out.
Sarah Olivia Campbell was tiny, black-haired, and scowling, and endeared herself immediately to the family that trooped in to see her.
Ross watched his brother Tyler transform as he held the tiny bundle in his arms, his face quiet with wonder. Jess, who looked gorgeous for a woman who’d just gone through labor and childbirth, gazed at Tyler with love.
Ross felt Callie’s fingers twine around his. Her eyes shone with tears as she watched the magic of a family coming together.
Dominic hung back a little, as though worried he’d hurt his mom or the new baby, but Jess opened her arms and gathered him up. “Missed you, sweetie,” she said, dropping a kiss to his unruly hair.
Dominic relaxed against her then popped up to examine the little sister Tyler crouched down to show him. Dominic peered at her tiny face, and a protective look came over him.
“Can I teach her to ride a motorcycle?” he asked.
“And a horse,” Faith said quickly. “She’ll be winning ribbons in no time.” Faith had a wall filled with her own.
“Give her a chance to decide,” Ross said. “She might want to ice skate instead.”
Faith and Dominic looked at Ross as though he’d lost his mind. He wished he could snap a picture of their faces.
“All right, time to go,” Ross said. Jess, though happy, was drooping, and Tyler was giving Ross the eye. Four was company, everyone else, a crowd. “Nothing more to see here, folks. Move along.”
He swept out the family, Faith still dancing. “I have so many cousins now,” she said happily. “And I’m the oldest. This is great.”
Somehow all the Campbells and Sullivans got out of the room, down the elevator, and out of the clinic to the parking lot. Somehow, Callie was with Ross all the way.
“I really do have to go,�
�� Callie said softly as they emerged into the late afternoon sunshine. “I need to call Karen and make sure I didn’t blow my chance by not going back to the meeting.”
“Karen understands. She’ll blame Tyler. Bet he couldn’t stand up when he got the news. You were nice to drive him.”
“I was doing the community a favor.” Callie’s impish look catapulted Ross back to the night before, when she’d smiled at him across his pillow. Damn, he needed to see her there again. “Keeping a dangerous driver off the road.”
“Well, it was sweet of you.” Ross paused at her car, which she’d parked not far from the door. His sheriff’s SUV was a few spaces down. “Thanks.”
He leaned down and gently kissed her. Callie’s mouth softened under his, and she touched his face.
Ross’s body ignited. If they hadn’t been in a public parking lot, he in uniform, his brothers and sisters-in-law and niece looking on interestedly, he’d scoop her up to him and turn this kiss into something more promising.
As it was, he brushed another kiss to her lips and eased back.
“See you soon,” he said, tying not to sound too desperate.
“Breakfast?” Callie asked. “When you come off your shift? If you’re still awake, that is.”
“Perfect.” Ross couldn’t resist kissing her again.
Callie returned the kiss, touched his cheek one more time, and then got into her sleek, rich-girl car and started the engine. The smile she gave him as she pulled out, her car purring, made him want to leap into the air and whoop like Manny sometimes did, but Ross maintained his dignity and gave her a friendly wave.
He watched until she was well down the highway then turned to his own truck.
To find his brothers Grant and Carter standing before him like a wall, the scowls on their faces not boding anything good.
Chapter Twelve
Ross hadn’t been intimidated by his older brothers since before he could walk. They’d been his protectors, his babysitters, the cool guys who’d taught him to ride horses and fight and woo ladies. He’d tried to emulate them, but also watched their mistakes and learned from them.
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