Heather nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
“Is this your first time in Idaho?”
“Yes. It’s a beautiful state.”
“I agree, but then it’s home.” Brandi gave them each a menu. “What do you want to drink?”
“Dr. Pepper?”
Brandi shook her head. “We have Coke, Sprite, root beer . . .”
“Coke is fine.” Heather wasn’t sure if she could live in a town that didn’t have Dr. Pepper at every restaurant. They’d better not eat out much.
After Brandi walked off, Heather studied the menu. “What’s good?”
“Pretty much everything.” Michael closed his menu and pushed it away. He always got the same thing, and he wasn’t sure why he even bothered to look, but every single time he reread the whole menu, looking for hidden gems.
She finally closed her menu, realizing the little restaurant was jumping. The waitress was rushing around. “It seems like a nice town.”
“Trust me, it is. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I mean, your town was nice and all, but with no winter, I don’t think I could live there.”
She glanced out the window and saw that the snow was still falling. “How deep does it get before people stay home?” she asked. In Texas, a state of emergency would have been called with the amount of snow on the ground already, and it didn’t look like it was stopping anytime soon.
“A foot or more probably. I never really thought about it. My truck has four-wheel drive, and I just go when I need to.”
When Brandi came back, she ordered a club sandwich and the soup of the day, which was baked potato soup. After the waitress had hurried off, she leaned forward. “Am I allowed to make a joke about eating potato soup in Idaho?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it!” He grinned. “Actually, we embrace our potato-loving ways. Potatoes are a staple crop around here. People from all over come to help with the potato harvest.”
“Interesting,” Heather said with a grin. “I guess if you grow good potatoes, you might as well brag about it.”
“Trust me. We do!” He took her hand in his. “I have a surprise for you after lunch. Do you like surprises?”
She frowned at him. “I’m not sure. It depends on the surprise.”
“Well, I hope you like this one then. I worked hard on it.”
“Then I’m sure I’ll be pleased with it.” She had no idea what it could be, but she wasn’t going to complain. He’d thought about doing something special for her, and that was all that really mattered. “I want to see a picture of your parents together later, if you can find one. After listening to your mom talk about your dad today, I want to check out their auras.”
“Sounds good to me. I also want you to tell me if you think my sister’s new boyfriend is worth anything. She met him at college, and we’re all meeting him for the first time tonight. Tell me if he’s good for her, and I’ll know whether or not I should scare him off.”
She laughed softly. “I guess I could do that. What about your brothers? Are either of them bringing dates?”
He shook his head. “Nah. No one would ever go out with those two losers.”
Heather smiled. “Sounds like a brother talking there.”
“Well, I am a brother. A good brother, too.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. What’s the surprise?” Heather had learned that if she distracted her father when he was talking about a surprise, but then turned the conversation back to it, he was more likely to spill the beans.
“I’m not telling you that! That’s why it’s called a surprise. You’ll just have to see for yourself.” Michael frowned at her. “Are you trying to use your voodoo on me? Because it won’t work.”
“The only voodoo I have is knowing if people belong together. I couldn’t use voodoo on you if I wanted to.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want that.”
Heather put her hand in Michael’s and smiled. “No voodoo for you.”
Chapter Nine
After lunch, they got back into the truck, and Michael drove Heather to a part of town they hadn’t yet been to. There was a huge building on the main street through town that he stopped in front of—a for rent sign on the dirty window. “There’s a real estate agent meeting us here in a few minutes.”
“A real estate agent?” She gaped at the building, realizing then what he’d meant it for. He wanted her to rent it as a studio.
“Don’t you think it would be perfect for teaching young dancers?” he asked. He wanted her to be at home there, and for her being at home meant that she would need to have an occupation.
“You’re being awfully presumptuous, aren’t you?” Forget that she’d made the decision that she would stay in Idaho as his wife if that’s what he wanted just hours before. The fact that he would just assume she would move across the country for him made her angry.
A car pulled up behind them, and a middle-aged woman got out, walking up to the truck. “Hi, Michael. Is this Heather?”
Heather couldn’t help but wonder what the woman had been told about her, and she wanted to be angry, but she didn’t think the woman deserved to treated badly simply because Michael had overstepped. “Yes, I’m Heather McClain.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Michael has said wonderful things about you. I’m Janet Jensen. Do you want to see it?”
Heather nodded, smiling politely, but inside, she was seething. He hadn’t even asked her to marry him, and there he was trying to get her to start a business in Idaho. Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t sure they’d ever talked about marriage. They’d talked about making lives together, but did he realize that meant marriage for her?
She got out of the truck, not allowing herself to look at Michael. Stepping into the building, she could see it had been vacant for some time. “What was it used for?” she asked.
“It was a saloon at one point. It’ll need some major renovating to make it into a dance studio, but I think it could happen. Michael and his brothers could supply the labor. He’s already been all over the building, trying to make sure it would work. There’s even a little apartment above the store that you could rent out or use as a place for your down time. Maybe a lunch room and a place to have meetings. An office.”
Heather traipsed through the old building, following Janet everywhere. She made all the right noises and smiled at the right times. She was aware that Michael was behind her the entire time, but she didn’t dare turn around. She was too annoyed with him at the moment.
As she walked through, she couldn’t help but picture it after it had been converted to a dance studio. She could see a barre where the bar was. She stifled a laugh when she realized she would replace a bar with a barre. Oh, her sense of humor was ridiculous at times.
When they had finished touring the building, Janet stopped in front of the bar, and she spread out some information on it. “The building can be purchased or rented.” Two figures were named, and both seemed to be terribly inexpensive to Heather.
“I’m going to have to think about it. I didn’t realize I was going to look at a building today, and I don’t have a loan in order or anything . . .”
“The money would be taken care of if you were interested in this property,” Michael said softly.
“As I said, I’ll need to think about it.” Heather’s voice was curt, and she hoped he realized she was annoyed with him. She certainly wanted him to realize it.
Janet smiled at her and nodded, obviously understanding they needed to talk. “Michael has my number. You just let me know if you need anything at all, and I’ll be around.”
“All right.”
“Is it okay if we stay a while longer so she can see what I was thinking for it?” he asked softly.
“Of course.” Janet put the key in his hand. “Make sure I get that back by the end of the day. You can put it in my drop box at my office.” With those words, she left the building, leaving Heather and Michael alone.
“Why are you upset with me?” Micha
el asked softly.
Heather folded her arms over her chest. “I’m a little annoyed that you just assumed that I’m moving here. When did you set this meeting up?”
“Last week, but—”
“But? You decided that you had the right to decide not only that I will give up my life in Texas and move here, but that you got to pick the building where I’d work? Are you kidding me?”
He frowned. “I was just trying to help you see that you could make your dream work as well in Idaho as you can in Texas. Does it really bother you that much?”
“I just think you should have asked me if I wanted to see buildings while I’m here. I don’t know why you thought it was okay to take it upon yourself to make such major decisions for me.”
“I’m not making decisions for you. I’m showing you that you have options here as well as you had at home. That’s all. If you hate it that much, we can leave, and I won’t show you what I was thinking for the space.”
She sighed, still annoyed, but not willing to bite off her own leg from annoyance. “Fine. Show me what you were thinking.”
Michael wasn’t sure why she was upset, but he decided it wasn’t the right time to propose to her. He had the ring in his pocket, and he’d planned to drop to one knee as soon as Janet left.
Instead, he took her arm and guided her through the building she’d just seen but talked about what he saw in each room that would benefit her. “I think this is as big as the studio you had in Texas, right?” he asked as they finished the tour.
Through his eyes, she could see it all, and it was amazing. She wanted to stay, and she wanted to teach dance there. “Are there even enough children who would want to learn to keep me busy?”
“I’ve been asking around town. One of my sister’s friends teaches at the local elementary school, and they even sent home a form to be filled out to determine interest. There are thirty-four school-aged girls who are interested in taking dance. I know of at least twelve pre-school girls. And that doesn’t count junior high and high school. I think you would be kept as busy as you wanted to be. I even mentioned to a few women that you taught an aerobics class in Texas, and many of them want that as well.”
“You’ve put a lot of thought and a lot of work into this, haven’t you?” All at once, she felt horrible for getting so angry with him for assuming she’d move there.
“I have. I wanted you to know exactly what you’d be looking at if you decided to move here. You do have options.”
Heather walked into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry I got angry with you.”
His arms closed around her. “I think we’re both feeling a bit overwhelmed. We only have six more days together. The week is going to go by too fast, and then you’ll be back in Texas, and I’ll be here, missing you all over again.”
“Just in case, I found someone who could take over my school in Texas,” she said softly. “We cheered together, and I know she would be wonderful with my students.”
He looked down at her, his face lighting up with excitement. “You did?” He was thrilled to hear she was thinking the same way he was, making plans for any eventuality.
“I did. I told her it wasn’t a for-certain thing because I didn’t know if we’d still feel the same when we saw each other again, but she’s standing by and ready if we decide that I should come back.” She’d almost said stay, but she wouldn’t stay without being married, and she wanted to be married in Texas, where all of her family was.
“I want you to come back,” he said softly. “We’re bound to have fights, but I think we’ve found an alternative for you to work here.”
“Thank you for all the time and effort you put into making sure I would have an alternative here. What happens if I decide not to work?” She couldn’t see it happening, but she had to ask.
“Then you don’t work. I don’t care either way. I just want you to be able to do what you’ve trained for, if you want to do it.”
He picked up the key from the bar, and they walked toward the door together. “You know we’re going to have to replace the bar with a barre, right?” she asked, wondering if he’d understand.
He nodded, his eyes full of humor. “That was one of the first things I thought of when I saw this building.”
“I like your sense of humor, Michael Muir.”
“I like everything about you, Heather McClain. Except maybe your temper. I’m not sure I like your temper.”
She grinned. “Well, I need to be able to stand up for myself, right?”
“Yes, you do. Just not against me. I’m here for you . . . not against you.”
After getting in the truck, she squeezed his hand. “I know. I really am sorry to be so moody. This is hard. I can leave everything I’ve ever known and everyone I’ve ever loved to marry a man who I believe I need to spend my life with . . . or I can stay home and let love pass me by.” She wanted to kick herself for saying marriage, but he didn’t seem to even react.
“I can see that it’s a hard decision to make. I don’t know that I could do it.” He pulled out onto the street and drove toward the ranch.
“I wouldn’t be able to walk to work here.”
“That’s true. But you would be dancing your heart out every day, and that would give you good exercise.”
She was silent for a moment as she thought about it. “Are you excited to introduce me to the rest of your family tonight?”
“I am. I really do think you’re going to love my sisters in particular. You’ll have built-in friends if you move here. No pressure, but I guarantee they’ll make you feel welcome and loved.”
“Yeah, that makes everything so much easier.” She made a face at him, and then regretted acting so childish. She was glad his eyes were on the road. “Is there enough snow for a snowman? I’ve never made one.”
He pulled up in front of his mother’s house and shut off the engine, staring at her in shock. “Never? How is that even possible?”
“I’ve lived in Texas my whole life. We get ice but not much snow. I’ve always wanted to build a snowman and maybe make a snow angel.”
“Let’s do it! Hang on, though. I need to tell Mom what we’re doing, so she’ll know her part in it all.”
Heather frowned. “Why does your mother have a part?”
“You’ll see.” Michael ran to the door, yelled something to his mother, and then he walked back to Heather. “Let’s find a good central spot. You start with a snowball . . .” He explained to her how snowmen were made, and they created their very own work of art right there in his mother’s yard.
After eyeing their snowman for a moment, she took off her scarf to give it some color. “He’s beautiful! The most beautiful snowman that has ever been!”
He grinned at her. She was so happy to be playing in the snow. “Now for snow angels.”
Heather frowned. She’d been all for it before she lost her scarf. “What if snow goes down the back of my neck?”
“Then you’ll get cold. It’s snow. Come on.” He found a patch of untouched snow and carefully got onto his back without messing it up. “You’ll regret it if you don’t do it!”
She knew he was right and carefully joined him. “All right. Now what?”
He didn’t say anything about her not even knowing how to make a snow angel. “Move your arms and legs. Like this.” He demonstrated, watching as she started doing the same. Then he showed her how to carefully get to her feet without messing up her creation. “There. Your first snow angel. It’s magnificent!”
She tilted her head to one side, studying it. “I approve. I believe I like making snow angels.”
Michael grinned and pulled her to him, kissing her softly.
Heather felt the snow falling onto her face, and her eyelashes felt wet against her cheeks. “I think I love snow.”
“I hope you continue to love it. The first snow is always pretty and special. By April, we’re all hating it.” He took her hand and led her to the door. “N
ow it’s time for Mom’s part of playing in the snow.”
He stomped and brushed the snow off him at the front door, and she followed suit. When they got inside the house, he led her to the kitchen, where his mother had fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate topped with marshmallow cream.
Heather squealed and hugged Mrs. Muir. “Thank you! This is perfect for a snack after playing in the snow. I didn’t even realize I was hungry until we stepped inside.”
“Every first snowfall of the year, I would send the kids out to play, and I would make chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate. It’s a family tradition. And while this isn’t our first snowfall of the year, it is yours, so I had to do it up right.”
Heather sat at the table and pulled one of the mugs full of chocolate toward her, taking a sip. Michael laughed and reached over to rub the marshmallow off her top lip with his thumb. “There.”
Her eyes locked on his, and she so badly wanted to kiss him, but she was fully aware of his mother sitting at the table with them, drinking her own hot chocolate. Instead, she turned her attention to Mrs. Muir. “Is there anything I can do to help with supper tonight?”
“Yup. Stay out of my way.” The words were softened with a smile, but it was apparent that Mrs. Muir truly meant them. She had no desire to have anyone in her kitchen when she was preparing a feast for her family.
Heather nodded, a smile touching her lips. “So I either spend the rest of the day with Michael or I read some of those romance novels you mentioned.”
Michael sighed. “I need to get back to work. Romance novels. Maybe you can go out and work with me tomorrow if you still want to. I think you should warm up after your fun in the snow before you plan to spend more time outside.”
“You’re going straight out.”
He laughed. “Yes, but I’m an Idaho man. You’re a Texas girl.” Ignoring his mother, he dropped a kiss atop her head as he headed back outside. “I’ll see you in a while.”
Heather shrugged. “Where are those books?”
Chapter Ten
Heather (Seven Sisters Book 1) Page 7
