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“Bite your tongue, Vera.” He grinned. “You know that will never happen.”
“Never say never,” she warned. “Say hi to your folks for me.”
“I’ll do that at dinner on Sunday.” His mother insisted on it and none of her children had the nerve to say no to Mary Dalton. “You tell John and the kids hello from me.”
“Will do.”
He waved, then walked out to his truck and opened the passenger door to set the coffee on the seat. What had just happened? It was out of character for him to turn down a pretty lady, because he liked them all and kept things fun. As soon as that changed, he found a way to slide out of it without hurting anyone’s feelings. Everyone had a gift and that was his.
He never saw the point of taking it up a notch and never said no to a potential fling.
But that had changed tonight. Because he’d been thinking about Mallory Franklin? Maybe that was what happened when you got hit by lightning. Some people lived after getting zapped, but they were never the same. Since he liked himself just fine the way he was, he needed to watch out for storm activity and head for cover as soon as possible.
He was very good at that, too.
Chapter Two (#ulink_87554d72-c4bf-5309-bbd9-9ca201e8eb62)
With Lily securely buckled up in the backseat, Mallory parked her compact car in front of the Dalton house. Her boss had invited them to dinner because his wife said Mallory had been in town over six months and that length of time without having her over crossed the line into unfriendly territory. It was five o’clock on Sunday and they were right on time.
“Here we are,” she announced and turned off the car.
The sound of a seat belt clicking apart came from the rear seat. “Mr. Dalton has a big house.”
Mallory agreed. It was located just over the bridge and next to the creek on Sawmill Street. The two-story structure was wood and glass with a manicured lawn, neatly trimmed bushes and brightly colored flowers lining the walkway to the front door.
She’d heard about the devastating flood the previous summer when the rain wouldn’t stop and the creek overflowed, wiping out a good portion of the town. The law office was still handling claims and property issues along with renovation contracts and insurance matters. Right here, right now, you’d never know anything bad had happened. Ben’s house was on high enough ground that it hadn’t sustained any damage and she was glad for him and Mary.
“Okay, kiddo, let’s go.” Mallory opened the driver’s door and exited the car while her niece did the same from the rear-passenger side.
Lily looked up and down the street. “There are a lot of cars.”
“I noticed.”
At the front door she knocked and waited for someone to answer. That someone turned out to be Caleb Dalton. He looked as surprised as she felt, but probably his heart was beating a normal, steady rhythm, while hers was pounding abnormally fast.
“Hi.” His curious tone filled in the question he was too polite to ask. What are you doing here?
“Caleb! Do you live here?” Lily was clearly happy to see him.
“No. Just visiting.” The smile he gave her was genuinely warm and welcoming. “It’s nice to see you again, Lily.”
Mallory wondered if he really meant that after what she’d said during their last encounter. “Your father invited us to dinner. I didn’t know—”
“That I’d be here?”
“Well, yes,” she admitted.
“It’s Sunday.”
“I’m aware of that. It’s when your father told me to be here.”
Ben had mentioned the family dinners a couple of times, but she didn’t really get that it was all of them every Sunday. She’d had it in her head that this was just her and Lily with Mary and Ben. No way had she expected to see Caleb.
There was an edgy expression in his eyes, but she got the feeling it wasn’t about her. “What I meant is on Sunday my mother insists that the whole family be here for dinner.”
“That’s nice.” She couldn’t imagine her mother doing anything like that.
Before he could respond to that, Mary Dalton walked up and stood beside her son. “Caleb, for goodness’ sake. You weren’t raised by wolves. I know because I’m your mother and had a hand in raising you. Invite our guests in.” The woman smiled. “Mallory, I’m so glad you could come. And this must be Lily.”
“Pleased to meet you,” the little girl said politely.
Lily had always been in school or day care when her boss’s wife had dropped into the office. Mary Dalton was a tall, very attractive blue-eyed brunette. Trim and fit, she was wearing jeans, a plaid cotton shirt and a friendly smile. Mallory liked her a lot.
The woman sighed looking at Lily. “What a cutie you are. It’s so nice to have children here. I so want a houseful of grandchildren.” The expectant look she gave her son made him squirm.
Mallory wasn’t sure what to say to that but figured she couldn’t go wrong being polite. “Thank you for inviting us, Mary.”
She stepped back and opened the door wider. “Come in.”
They did and Mallory was forced to walk very close to Caleb, which put her closer than the last time they were together at his father’s office. He was very tall, muscular and smelled really good, the scent a pleasant manly mixture of soap and aftershave.
They were standing in the two-story entryway with twin staircases on either side. A brass light fixture descended from the ceiling over a circular mahogany table with fresh flowers in the center.
Mallory felt like a clog dancer in a ballet. “Ben didn’t mention that this was a family dinner. I don’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense. He’s told me how hard you work and it’s much appreciated. He’d be lost without you and that means you’re like family.”
“Speaking of that,” Caleb said, “what about Sutter and Paige? With Mallory and Lily there aren’t enough places set at the table. I can put out more.”
“He means the oldest of my three girls and her husband, but you probably know that.” Mary looked at her son. “Your sister isn’t coming.”
“But you always said if our backsides aren’t here for dinner every Sunday, we better be bleeding or on fire.”
“Now I’m adding childbirth to the list of acceptable excuses. She just had a baby a few weeks ago.”
“Seriously? That gets her a pass?”
“It does. When you go through labor, delivery and the first few weeks with an infant up all night, you’ll get a dispensation, too. Until then...”
Caleb winked at Lily. “She drives a hard bargain.”
“And you’re a silver-tongued devil. Always trying to charm your way out of trouble.” She affectionately touched his arm. “Now I’m going to introduce our guest to everyone else.” She put her hand on Lily’s shoulder. “Come along, sweetie.”
That left Mallory and Caleb to walk behind them. He nodded toward the other room and said, “Let’s go meet the Daltons.”
Mallory’s head was spinning and not just from being this close to the good-looking cowboy. She was baffled by the banter between mother and son. What a concept. If her mother—or father, for that matter—were that warm and approachable she’d still have a relationship with them. But disapproval was their trademark and she was pretty sure they’d frown on Lily, who wasn’t related to them by blood. This child would never go through what Mallory and Mona had growing up.
Caleb led her past a big, beautiful kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and a granite-topped island to the large family room. It had a leather sectional in front of a big screen TV mounted on the wall. Ben was standing with his other two sons. She knew them from the photos in her boss’s office, but shook their hands as Mary made introductions.
The men were all about the same height, six feet give or take an inch, and the unmistakable family resemblance marked them as brothers. Anderson, the oldest, had the same brown hair and blue eyes as Caleb, but there was an air of authority and seriousness different from his brother. Travis was the middle son and had his father’s brown eyes.
“Are you a cowboy, too?” Lily asked him after meeting all the men.
“I am.” Travis indicated his older brother. “So is he. In fact he’s in charge of the family ranch.”
“Aunt Mallory didn’t tell me you had a ranch.”
Mallory happened to be looking at Caleb and saw his mouth pull tight when Lily called her Aunt. He’d grown tense after Lily put on her matchmaking hat at the office. Clearly he was skittish about starting a relationship with a woman who had a child.
“We have a big ranch,” Travis was saying. “The Dalton family spread.”
“Do you have horses?” When Travis nodded, the little girl practically quivered with excitement. “I’ve never been on a horse, but I’d like to—”
“Lily,” Mallory interrupted, “it’s not polite to invite yourself.”
“That’s okay.” Travis smiled down at the child. “Pretty girls are always welcome.”
“How come you never tell us that?”
“Because you’re both irritating.” Travis grinned at the two beautiful young women who’d walked into the family room from the kitchen.
Mary stood between them and slid her arms through theirs. “These are my youngest daughters, Lani and Lindsay.”
Both had the Dalton light brown hair, but Lani wore hers long, and Lindsay had a ponytail.
“It’s really nice to meet you,” Mallory said. “I feel as if I know everyone already from all the photos Ben has in his office.”
“I’m Lily.” The little girl grinned up at the girls. “My name begins with an L, just like yours.”
“That’s really cool,” Lindsay said with a big smile. “You’re just as cute as you can be.”
“So, the girls will help me get drinks,” Mary said. “Mallory, we have beer, wine, club soda, soft drinks. What would you like?”
“I’d love a glass of wine.” It was weird because these were the nicest people in the world, but her nerves were a little raw, as if they were tightly wound springs ready to come loose. Every time she looked at Caleb they got a little more sensitive.
“What about you, Lily with an L?” Lani asked. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Would it be all right if I had soda?”
Mallory nodded, but added, “Nothing with caffeine.”
“Coming right up. Boys, be nice to our guests.” Mary put her arms around her daughters and headed them toward the kitchen.
Mallory and Lily were standing with Travis while her boss formed a circle to chat with his other two sons just a few feet away. Caleb showed no interest in talking to her, unlike the first time they’d met. At least he’d seemed engaged until Lily told him she, Mallory, needed a husband. If that was a friendship deal breaker then so be it. Her feelings would not be hurt.
After watching Mary Dalton gather her daughters, Mallory smiled at Travis. “It occurs to me that with six kids, your mom must have been pretty good at herding. Maybe that’s where you and your brothers inherited the skill.”
He laughed. “It’s a good theory. And she’s anxious to take those talents out, dust them off and use them on the next generation of Daltons.”
“I understand your sister had a baby and that’s why she’s not here.”
“I like babies.” Lily looked way up at the tall cowboy. “Do you?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do.”
Mallory could almost hear the wheels turning in her niece’s head and decided a preemptive strike was called for. “Travis, you should know that Lily is a budding matchmaker.”
“Is that so?” He squatted down to her level. “Who are you trying to marry off, young lady?”
“Me.” Mallory felt as if someone was looking at her and glanced at the other group. Caleb was staring, but not at her. The frown was directed at his brother, and when it slid to her, she quickly turned away. “She thinks I need a husband.”
“Is that right?” he asked the little girl.
“Maybe.” The beginnings of hero worship glowed in her black eyes when she looked at Caleb’s brother. “And she likes cowboys.”
“Lily!” Mallory didn’t know whether to laugh or apologize. “That’s not true.”
Travis stood and there was laughter in his eyes. “So, you don’t like cowboys?”
“No. I mean yes—” She sighed. “I’m sure cowboys are lovely people for someone who’s looking for commitment.”
She noticed Caleb was still frowning, but this time his gaze was on her. Someone should tell him to be careful or his face could freeze that way. Or stop listening in on her conversation. He was close enough to hear and didn’t seem to be paying attention to what his father and brother were talking about.
“Are you aware, Mallory,” Travis was saying, “that you’re lumped in with all the other ladies who are affectionately known as the Rust Creek Falls gal rush?”
She cringed. This wasn’t the first time she’d heard that and didn’t like it any better now. “If I could have five minutes alone with whoever came up with that name they’d get a good talking-to.”
“You have to admit that the population of Rust Creek has increased with an influx of females.”
“So are you looking for a gal?” Mallory asked him, letting just a hint of sarcasm slip into her tone.
“No, ma’am, I’m not.”
“And why is that?”
“I’ve got my reasons,” he said mysteriously.
Although curious, Mallory wouldn’t ask, but if any of the town’s female newcomers heard him say that, from Sawmill Street clear up to the falls, there would be a line waiting to interrogate him and change his mind. Although she wouldn’t be one of them.
“Turnabout is fair play,” Travis said. “Are you looking for a husband?”
“No, sir, I’m not.”
“Fair enough,” he said, nodding. “So, why did you move here?”
Before she could answer, Mary and her girls returned and handed out drinks. Mallory took the wineglass and made sure her back was to Caleb. That turned out to be problematic because her skin prickled and she felt his gaze on her, no matter how stupid that sounded. Making something out of nothing was a flaw she was working on and now was an excellent time to practice stopping the habit.
But when she chanced a look, she caught him staring at her, and the intense expression on his face stole her breath. In her humble opinion, this was the very definition of mixed signals.
