A Carpino Series Collection, Books 1-3

by Brynne Asher

  Staring down at me bewildered, he clarifies, “You made cinnamon rolls to help with breakfast?”

  “Yes,” I say, frustrated with him.

  He just doesn’t get it. You don’t show up empty handed when someone’s invited you into their home for the first time. But of course he doesn’t get it—he doesn’t even clean his own kitchen. He told me his parents go to a church in their little town and everyone knows everyone. He even made a point to tell me to bring something nice to wear. When I asked what ‘nice’ meant, he informed me his mother always wears a hat to church. I took that to mean pretty damn nice. Who wears a hat anywhere these days, other than maybe to a famous horse race? To say the least, the more he describes his family, the more it stresses me out. “Why are you complaining? You have a huge SUV, there’s plenty of room.”

  He pulls in a big breath, moves around me, and starts to load my bags, not saying another word.

  “Can we go now?” Jordy complains.

  “I get to pick the first movie!” Cara screams as she climbs into her booster seat.

  “Fine,” Jordy mutters. “As long as we can leave.”

  I climb in the front passenger seat with all the bags I might need within an arm’s reach during the trip. I wasn’t kidding when I said I love road trips. There’s a lot to see and it’s fun to stop at new places along the way.

  The kids are buckled in and I start to dig through my bags. I hear the back end of Cam’s Expedition slam shut and he climbs in the driver’s seat, closing the garage door with my car parked safely inside. Ariel is staying with Sophia and Lanny, but John Wayne stays at home by himself. Lanny offered to feed him every day, he’s too persnickety for anyone else to take care of him. I haven’t won him over yet and he still hisses at me all the time. Damn cat.

  As Cam starts to back out, I hand the kids separate bags with their names on them. “Here you go. Road trip goodie bags.”

  Cara squeals, “Yay!” as Jordy asks, “What’s this?”

  “A road trip goodie bag,” I repeat. “But the rule is you have to eat the healthy stuff before you eat the sweet treats. Goodie bags are the fun part about road trips.”

  “Sweet,” Jordy mutters as he digs through his bag.

  “A ring pop and Skittles!” Cara keeps up her squeals.

  “I got SpongeBob UNO,” Jordy announces.

  “What did I get?” Cara asks, holding up her deck of cards.

  “Old Maid,” Jordy reads her package for her.

  “And I got stickers!” she yells.

  “I got Mad Libs,” Jordy adds.

  “I got a Search and Find and new crayons!” Cara keeps yelling.

  I smile as I look at them going through their bags and when I look back to Cam, I realize he’s stopped the car in the middle of Athica Lane and is staring at me.

  “What?” I ask.

  His look is sort of intense, but it slowly turns into a smirk when he finally asks, “Do I get a goodie bag?”

  I grin back. “No. But I do have Cheez-Its and Twizzlers for us. You can’t go on a road trip without Cheez-Its and Twizzlers.”

  His smirk grows into a smile as his right hand comes out to tag me behind my head. He pulls me in and I have to lean on the console when he kisses me to keep my balance. He’s started kissing me more often in front of the kids, I guess they’re becoming immune to it because Jordy no longer claims it’s “gross.”

  Letting me go, we both settle into our seats and he heads down Athica Lane, finally getting our road trip started. I pick up my travel mug and settle into my morning coffee.

  “Cinnamon rolls smell good,” Cam says, looking forward as he pulls out of the neighborhood.

  “Thanks,” I answer into my coffee.

  “That’s torture, you know. Making me smell those for over twelve hours and not getting any until tomorrow for breakfast.” He says this like he’s complaining, but I know he’s not because he’s grinning at the road.

  I smile back but stay quiet and put my coffee to my lips. I think I might just like road trips with Cam even more.

  “Please, daddy,” Cara whines.

  “We’ll get something to eat in the car,” he says.

  “I have to go to the bathroom,” Jordy complains.

  “It’s not that far off the highway,” I add.

  “It’ll take too long,” Cam argues.

  Cara backs me up. “I wanna see the planes.”

  “It does say it’s at the end of a little runway, Cam. It even has some play equipment for the kids—they can move around. I don’t think it will take that long,” I say.

  “I have to go to the bathroom,” Jordy repeats in a higher voice.

  Cam looks to me and I raise my eyebrows smiling, trying one more time to make our plea for lunch. I’ve had an apple and enough Cheez-It’s and Twizzlers to last the next four road trips. I need real food.

  He sighs. “Fine, tell me how to get there.”

  I smile big as the kids cheer from the back and direct him off the highway where we’ve made it through most of Kansas, right outside of Wichita. We’re headed to the little restaurant I found on the internet. It’s at the end of a runway at a tiny airport. Even though it’s only a couple miles off our route, it looks like it’s in the middle of nowhere. Cam wanted to stop for fast food, but we’ve been in the car for almost five hours and we could all use a break. Plus the restaurant looks really cute—it’s decorated with old plane paraphernalia.

  “Darlin’,” Cam complains again as we finally get there. “We’re in the middle of wheat fields.”

  “I know,” I say as I slip on my flip-flops and grab my purse. “But look how cute it is. It’s almost like a golf course for pilots. All these houses that back to the runway have hangers built on. Jude would love this. Maybe they could fly here for lunch someday.”

  We all climb out of the car, stretching our stiff road trip bodies and walk into Stearman Bar and Grill. The whole place is decorated from floor to ceiling with pictures of planes, new and old. There’s an old gas pump at the hostess station and some of the glass tables look like the bases are made of airplane parts. We look out through the main restaurant and there’s an open area with patio tables. The walls, made of enormous industrial garage doors have been completely lifted, opening the space to the outdoors. We hear the buzz of a plane, and look outside to see a yellow and blue biplane landing right next to the restaurant.

  “Four?” a woman asks who’s wearing a Stearman shirt and some cute short shorts.

  “Can we sit out there?” Cara asks, jumping up and down.

  “Sure,” she smiles, proving to be friendly but a woman of few words.

  As we follow her through the restaurant toward the outdoor seating, Jordy states matter-of-factly, “That’s a big-ass fan.”

  I’m shocked and hear Cam growl, “Jordy.”

  “What?” he asks and when I look down, he’s looking up, pointing to the ceiling. “See, it’s a Big Ass Fan.”

  We all look up. I knew Jordy’s a good reader, so he has no trouble reading those three short words printed in the center of the massive fan spanning most of the room. Not only is it a big-ass fan, but it’s a Big Ass Fan. When I say it covers the entire restaurant, it really covers the entire restaurant. Each blade has to be at least fifteen feet long.

  “Oh.” I look to Cam and he smiles, puts a hand to Jordy’s back shaking his head, nudging him forward.

  Once we all get through the bathrooms, we order drinks and the kids scatter toward the play equipment. I start to study my options.

  “What are you getting?” Cam asks, scanning his own menu.

  “Hmm,” I think.

  “We’ve gotta get a move on, you don’t have time to hem and haw.” He tosses his menu to the table.

  “What are you having?” I ask.

  “I’m not telling you,” he says.

  I frown. “Why not?”

  “Because I’ve learned my lesson. I don’t decide until you order.” He leans back in his c
hair, pulling his Oakley’s down over his eyes as he looks up to the planes.

  “Seriously?” I ask.

  “Yep,” he says, not looking back.

  “That’s silly,” I state as the same woman comes back to us who played hostess. I guess they’re all multi-taskers here.

  “What’ll it be?” she asks.

  “Um,” I give Cam a glare and decide. “I’ll have the Flyover Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich with sweet potato fries.”

  Cam smiles with approval, orders for the kids, and a Buffalo Chicken Pizza for himself.

  “Wait,” I call, deciding to switch it up. “I want to change mine to the Spinach Walnut Salad. I’ve had enough junk today.”

  “No she doesn’t.” Cam frowns. “She wants the Philly Sandwich.”

  “I want the salad.”.

  Cam ignores me and looks to our multi-tasker. “The sandwich. Thanks.”

  I watch her walk away and complain, “What did you do that for?”

  Cam looks to me and I feel his hand come through my patio chair, grabbing my bottom giving me a firm squeeze. “Baby, I’ve gotten used to you stealing half my meal when we go out. I even find it funny. But I don’t want a salad. If I’m only gonna get part of my pizza, I want the Philly Sandwich.”

  Then he leans closer and kisses me fast, giving me another firm squeeze. Well, I guess that’s sort of fair. He is driving a long way today and every time I ask if he wants a break he smiles, shaking his head no. I’ll just have to eat healthy when I get to Texas.

  Our drinks are plopped down in front of us efficiently by our no nonsense server. The next thing I know, Jordy and Cara are yelling while pointing at the sky, “Look!”

  We look up and see parachutes attached to skydivers falling from the heavens. Jordy and Cara are at the wrought iron fence, anxiously anticipating their landing.

  I look over at Cam and reach out for his hand to get his attention. “See, aren’t you glad we stopped? It’s lunch and a show.”

  Cam threads my fingers through his and shakes his head.

  “Wake up.” I feel a hand brush my cheek. Opening my eyes, I see the sun is low and we’re on a country road. I push up in my seat and lower my feet from the dash, turning to Cam. Through his window, I see a high brick wall trimmed in limestone. He looks at me. “Almost there.”

  “Sorry I fell asleep.” I reach to my purse for my brush and lip gloss.

  “Jordy, Cara. Wake up,” he calls.

  “Are we there?” Jordy asks sleepy-like while I pull a brush through my hair.

  “Just turning in, buddy.” Cam slows down and takes a turn.

  When we turn, the brick wall opens into a massive gate that has a “M” scrolled into the iron. It’s plain to see the cameras pointed every which way. Cam rolls down his window and pulls up to a speaker system with lots of buttons.

  He pushes a button and after a few rings, we hear a woman’s voice. “Hell-O.”

  “Mom,” Cam says. “We’re here.”

  I jump when I hear a scream come over the speakers. “Ahhh! Kipp! They’re here! They’re here!”

  Cam tips his head and whispers so his mom can’t hear, “I did not exaggerate.”

  “I guess not,” I whisper back.

  The gates in front of us slowly open, the scrolling “M” separating in the middle. Cam pulls through and the property is hilly with live oaks everywhere—the single lane winding in and out. The trees finally open up and when we come around a bend, there’s a huge home dressed in limestone. Cam said his parents lived on a ranch and I’ve never been to a ranch before, let alone a ranch in Texas. I didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t this. This hardly looks ranch-like. Maybe upscale ranch, or even upper-upscale ranch.

  The limestone is surrounded by heavy brown trim with shuttered windows. The house is two stories with dormers extending out over a dark metal roof. A porch lines the front, sneaking around the side, making me wonder if it surrounds the house. Beyond, I see what looks to be an enormous barn, but it doesn’t look like most barns. This one is painted a creamy off-white to match the limestone on the house with the same roof and trim. The property goes on forever and it’s hard to believe Cam grew up here. I’m excited to see the cowboy side of him.

  “There’s a small guest house, but my mom likes us to stay with them. Hope that’s okay,” Cam says and I realize he’s watching me take in my surroundings.

  “I certainly didn’t expect a guest house, so I’m good with wherever she wants us. I get that she wants you close, it doesn’t sound like she sees you often.”

  Cam nods and pulls up to the front where a rounded older woman with dark blonde hair is moving as quickly as she can, which isn’t very quick, out the front door. I know this is Cam’s mother because I see from here he has her eyes. She’s waving her arms up in the air and it sounds like she’s still screaming with excitement. Following her out the door is a gray-haired man who’s as big as Cam, but also rounding a bit at the belly.

  “You ready?” Cam asks.

  “They don’t look scary at all,” I throw at him, at the same time, I really hope I’m ready for Kipp and Hattie Montgomery.

  The second I step down from the SUV, Cam’s mother comes down the wide stone steps from the front porch and keeps screaming. “Well, buttah my butt and call me a biscuit, you’re a tiny little thing! You’d have to stand up twice to cast a shadow. Don’t you worry, my cookin’ll thicken you up.”

  And before I know it, I’m wrapped up in Cam’s mother, my arms squished to my body, and she’s swaying me back and forth.

  “Mom, let her go,” I hear Cam call from behind me.

  She lets go of me but puts her hands to my upper arms and pushes me back to smile big. “I’m so happy you’re here!”

  “I’m happy to be here.” I smile back, a bit overwhelmed by Hattie and I’m rarely overwhelmed by anyone.

  “Mom, let her go,” Cam repeats in a firm voice.

  Both Hattie and I look over and he’s glaring at his mom.

  “Don’t make eyes at me, Campbell Montgomery,” she says in a mom voice.

  “Grammy!” Hattie finally releases me for her grandchildren, only for Cam to grab my hand and pull me to his side.

  “There’re my babies!” she goes on, Jordy and Cara flinging themselves at her.

  “Son.” A big, gruff voice comes from our side and I look over at Cam’s dad. He might be calling out for his son, but his eyes are on me.

  Kipp Montgomery has a kind face with lines coming out of his eyes, probably from too much sun or too much smiling. And he’s aiming a big smile right at me.

  “Come ‘ere, darlin’,” he calls, pulling me away from Cam and I find myself in another Montgomery bear hug.

  Not only does he sound like his son when he calls me “darlin’,” but I realize the whole family is touchy-feely and now I know where Cam gets it.

  “Dad, you guys are gonna scare her,” Cam complains but I can tell he’s smiling even though I can’t see him because my face is smushed in Kipp’s chest.

  “You’d better keep hold of her, boy. She’ll blow away in the wind.” He chuckles before letting me go. He extends a hand to Cam and pulls him in for a man hug.

  Cam pulls me into him again and announces, “These are my parents. I apologize now for everything they say and do while we’re here.”

  “I’m gonna have to knock your Daddy caddywompas.” Hattie smiles big at her grandkids making them giggle. She looks back to us. “Come on, I told your sisters to stay in the house. I didn’t want them to pounce on your new sweetie.”

  I feel my eyes go big. If I wasn’t just pounced upon, I’d like to know what being pounced on is like. Cam pulls me into the house while Kipp moves to the back of Cam’s car. He swings Cara up in his arms and gives Jordy a one-armed hug.

  We walk through the front door and there’s no other way to describe the Montgomery Ranch home as anything less than Texas Chic. If you took any of the decorative artwork or furniture out of this house
and put them somewhere else, they would be utterly ridiculous. But all together, it’s really cool.

  In the entry way stands a floor to ceiling piece of modern art on canvas of a horse, all done in blacks, creams, and grays. The bookshelves are dotted with bronze sculptures of cowboys, bucking broncos, and long horns. The furniture is all huge and heavy in leathers, tweeds, and even a chair with the back lined in a cowhide. Antler pieces are everywhere—lamps, lights, candle holders, and even a mess of them holding up a glass end table.

  We move through a huge great room and into the kitchen that’s more of the same. But I quit taking in the décor when I see two women, probably around my age, sitting on bar stools. They’re sort of Montgomery-like, both taller than me, but most people are. The older one has warm brown hair, the younger is a bright blonde, and she’s bouncing a baby.

  “These are my sisters. Jen’s the brunette, Ellie’s got the baby. I’ll apologize for them, too.”

  “Shut up, Cam,” Jen says smiling. She moves off her stool to give her brother a hug before extending a hand to greet me. “You’re brave.”

  “Nice to meet you, too,” I offer. Looking over I say, “Hey, Ellie.”

  “Hi,” she says and turns her baby boy around. “This is Griffin.”

  Cam lets me go and reaches for his nephew who looks to be about four months old and holds him high before settling him in his arm. Griffin is chubby and has a feathering of blond fuzz on his head. He reaches out, fisting Cam’s goatee and screams with baby delight.

  “He’s happy,” Cam states and looks at his sister. “He must take after you.”

  Ellie rolls her eyes at her brother. “Whatever. Robert’s just busy with work, is all. He’s outside on a call,” she says before looking at me. “You guys hungry? I don’t know why Cam always wants to make that trip in the car. Mom and dad always offer to fly them down but he insists on driving. We’ve got some snacks and I can get you a drink while Cam gets your stuff.”