Montana Cherries (8 page)

Thankfully, her other brother, the remaining twin, Nick, came home on a more regular basis. But then, he also lived the closest. As
part of the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit, he was only three hours away.

When she looked at everything as a whole, her family seemed to be crumbling around her. And she couldn’t figure out how to stop it. Her dad was moving on, getting married to someone else. Gabe’s marriage was teetering all over the place. And everyone else did their own things. She’d struggled even to get them on the phone lately.

Given the fact that she’d been in charge of a huge chunk of their upbringing, she took the problems personally. Her mother would have held the family together better.

Ready to get out of the room, she took a step back, landing her on the other side of the doorway. “We’ll leave at nine Saturday morning,” she told him. “I hope you’ll go. Haley would love it.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Good.” She nodded, suddenly unable to leave. While at the same time desperate to go.

Desperation showed its hand. She fled down the hallway and hurried into her room.

Once inside, she leaned against the closed door. He wanted to kiss her. Which meant, he wanted to do more. There was no doubt in her mind.

Her subconscious did a happy dance, while at the same time shaking in terror. The first time she’d been with him, she’d wanted to not be a virgin anymore. That’s pretty much all there’d been to it. Lose her virginity. Yeah, he’d been hot and sexy, and after three years of overhearing stories of his escapades, she’d wanted to see what it was all about.

Plus, she’d been mesmerized by the guy. He talked to her. He listened to her.

But she hadn’t been prepared for him to sleep with her.

He’d been shocked to discover that she’d never been with a man, and she’d even thought he might stop. In fact, he’d offered to—of course, the deed had been done by that point. She hadn’t taken him up on his offer, and instead, he’d slowed. He’d made love to her. He’d treated her like she was the most important person in the world.

After he’d fallen asleep, she’d escaped back to her room and stared at her ceiling for the rest of the night. No one had ever made her feel that special.

And if she kissed him now, she feared he might make her feel that way again.

chapter seven

T
hey’d been going strong since arriving at the festival that morning, the energy and excitement of the crowd seeming to pump enthusiasm into the kids as they ran from one exhibit to the next. Not to mention what it was doing for Dani.

Ben watched as she hurried from inside the Main Street Bakery with yet another cartful of pies. The cherry pie eating contest was set to begin in thirty minutes, and when one of the organizers came down with a last-minute family emergency, Dani had jumped into action.

Of course, she’d also been chatting up everyone she’d come into contact with.

If it wasn’t talking to Mr. Tamry over at the Co-op about which brand of feed was best for horses—as if Dani owned a horse—it was exchanging recipes with the Women’s Auxiliary Club, discussing quilt patterns with the owner of All in Stitches, or laying out quick marketing ideas with various shop owners.

In a word, Dani was the center of the crowd here as easily as she was the center of her family. Drop her into the middle of something—the bigger the better—and she flat-out fit.

She would thrive in New York.

“Daddy, look!” Ben’s attention returned to his daughter, who stood twenty feet away, one hand clasped with her best friend’s. She’d taken to calling him Daddy the day before, and those two syllables did something to him every time he heard them. Something that made him forget what life had been like before her. “Check me out!” she shouted again.

She and Jenna were on a small platform two feet high, with one of the Wilde twins standing just behind them. Nick had arrived at the house before they’d headed into town that morning, but Nate hadn’t shown up with him as planned. Nate was a crab fisherman off the Alaskan shore, and had decided at the last minute not to come home. He’d sent word of his change of plans through Nick instead of giving his sister a call. Dani had not been pleased.

Ben waved a hand at Haley to let her know he was watching, and she turned back to the waiting crowd of onlookers. She then wiggled her mouth, scrunched up her face . . . and spat.

The cherry pit dropped at her feet.

“I did it!” she shouted. Her arms pumped in the air.

Ben laughed out loud. “You most certainly did.” Kids in a pit-spitting contest were a sight to behold.

He remembered taking part in the adult contest years ago, when he’d been twenty. A contest in which he’d won. Haley would need a little direction in learning the fine art of spitting the pit, but with this particular action, Ben felt he was up to the task.

In fact, he was feeling more up to the task of parenthood every day.

“She’s changed this week.” Gabe spoke from beside Ben. The two men had been deserted at the arts and craft booth when everyone else had scattered for attractions seemingly better than hanging with them.

“She’s happier,” Ben agreed. “Doesn’t seem as scared.”

“Coming here was a good decision.” Gabe looked to Ben. “You seem like you’re getting a handle on things.”

“I’m trying.” Ben watched as his daughter took another stab at it, only to have the pit land on her chin, and he couldn’t contain a smile of pure joy. He didn’t remember ever feeling this way.

“I hope you’ll stick around,” Gabe added. “I think it’s good for her. And you.”

He’d been thinking the same thing. “It’s possible.”

“I just hope I stick around too,” Gabe muttered. The words were spoken under his breath, and didn’t seem to be asking for a comment, so Ben didn’t offer one. No additional words had been exchanged concerning Gabe’s marriage since Michelle had paraded almost naked down the hallway Monday night, but it was clear things were snowballing fast. Michelle had been out with friends every night this week instead of at the house, and when husband and wife
did
talk, everyone in the room grew nervous.

Ben saw Max in line for the adult pit-spitting contest, with Gloria by his side. They wore matching T-shirts and baseball caps advertising the Wilde orchard, and the smiles on their faces would have given away their newly engaged status if the gigantic ring on her finger didn’t do it first.

They’d been at the house again the night before, sharing dinner with the family, and Dani had been more herself. Ben only hoped that meant that she was coming around to her dad marrying another woman. If not, she’d done an excellent job faking it.

But then, he
had
witnessed her heading out to the beach later that night, a bowl of ice cream in hand.

He hadn’t followed her, but he’d wanted to.

Of course, he’d wanted to follow and do more than ask about her need for ice cream. But she’d said no in the study the other night. Kissing wasn’t what she had in mind. Which was a bummer.

Someone appeared behind them, and Ben turned to take in the newly arrived brother. It had been ten years, but Jaden Wilde hadn’t changed much. Glasses, a full head of dark hair, and still several inches shorter than his older brothers. He needed a shave, and intelligence shone from his eyes. He also had a gorgeous woman with him.

The brothers shook hands, and Jaden slapped Gabe on the back. “Old man,” he said with a grin.

“Pain in my ass,” Gabe returned.

Both brothers laughed with fondness and Jaden turned to Ben. “I’d heard you were back.” He held out his hand. “Good to see you.”

“You, too. Congrats on the diploma.”

“Thanks.” Jaden took a half step back, and the brunette he’d walked up with eased in front of him. “This is Megan.”

She slipped an arm around Jaden’s waist, and fired off a wink. “I came with the degree.”

Both Ben and Gabe chuckled.

The four of them talked for several minutes, Jaden explaining that he and Megan had met in psychology class as freshmen, but hadn’t started dating until this past year. They had several interests together, and had been going strong ever since.

Eventually, Gabe pointed out Max and Gloria in the crowd, and the younger brother headed off. But before he reached his dad, his sister approached him. Dani launched herself at her youngest sibling, her smile wide and eyes shining. After finishing with Jaden, she enveloped Megan in a welcoming hug. Ben forced his attention back to his daughter.

Haley had moved on with Jenna to the face-painting booth. She smiled freely up at something Nick said behind her, and Ben lifted his camera. It had been riveting to watch her come to life this week. She was so different than even a few days ago.

In the background of the shot, Dani returned to the bakery and once again exited with a cart full of pies. He lowered the camera to watch. She slid the cart to the waiting crowd of helpers, said something to them, and had them all laughing. She was totally in her element.

“So . . .” Gabe spoke up again. “What’s going on with you and my sister?”

“What?”

At Ben’s glance, Gabe nudged his chin toward the tables set up for the pie-eating contest.

Ben shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Right,” Gabe replied. He crossed both arms over his chest, and widened his stance. “You help her with the dishes every night. I hear you in there laughing.”

The words sounded accusing. Which didn’t sit well with Ben.

“The better question is,” Ben began, “why don’t
you
help with the dishes every night?”

“What?” Gabe looked honestly shocked at the idea. Ben just shook his head.

“You never do,” Ben said. “Why?”

“Because I . . . well . . .” Gabe stammered, finishing with “She likes to do them herself. I’ve heard her say it.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Gabe sounded offended. “I’ve lived with her my whole life. She’s always been that way.”

“You ever offered?”

“Listen, where’s this coming from? You’re just trying to change the subject. There’s something going on between you two. I see it. I’m simply asking what it is.”

Ben shrugged, trying to act casual, but that protective streak he’d discovered with Haley had reappeared. Only, this time with Dani. “And I see that she does everything at the house. Have you ever actually paid attention to her? The dishes, laundry, cleaning. Hell, she made you and your wife a pot of tea the other night. She even takes care of your kid.”

“Hey, she’s taken care of your kid this week, too.”

“Yeah.” Ben nodded. “Some. But I’m trying. I’m figuring it out. And I’m serious, man, cut your sister a break. She has a full-time job, too.”

“Her job doesn’t start until next month,” Gabe grumbled.

“Are you kidding me?” Ben’s voice rose. He was full-out pissed now. “She has her own marketing business. How many clients does she have? How long has that been going on while she’s been managing everything about the house, too?”

Gabe went silent, as did the people around them. The two of them were causing a scene. “Shit,” Gabe mumbled under his breath. They moved away from the crowd before Gabe continued. “I know she works hard. I’m aware of that. She just makes it look so easy that I forget sometimes.”

“You take advantage of her, is what you do. How much does she do for the orchard?” Ben prodded. “Please tell me you do handle
some
of the paperwork yourself?”

“I do plenty, asshole.”

But Gabe’s words lost their heat as Michelle wound through the crowd, only about ten feet away from them. She’d dressed to the nines that morning, and though she’d smiled and greeted people upon their arrival at the festival, holding Jenna’s hand and looking like the perfect little parent, she’d since forgotten her husband and child existed and had been mugging for any camera she could find.

Including Ben’s.

He’d ignored her every time she’d come near.

Ben watched Gabe as he watched his wife, and saw the light dim in his friend’s eyes when Michelle didn’t so much as glance their way. That was one shitty marriage going on there.

Turning back to Ben, Gabe picked up their conversation, conveniently leaving out the part where Ben had pointed out the man’s shortcomings. “She’s more vulnerable than you realize,” Gabe told him. “That’s all I’m saying. Don’t hurt her. Be friends with her all you want, just don’t sleep with her.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.” Which was a big fat lie. He’d sleep with her in an instant if she gave him so much as an opening.

“I know you did before,” Gabe said, his tone grave.

“I didn’t—”

“I
know
.” Gabe drilled him with a look. “I was looking for you that night.”

“Fuck,”
Ben muttered to himself as a shiver slid over his shoulders. “Please tell me you didn’t see us.”

“God, no. But I did . . .” Gabe looked away, his jaw hard. “I overheard some things. You guys laughing. Other stuff.” He shook his head. “Look, it doesn’t matter. I knew she didn’t date much, and you were heading back to school. I didn’t see the harm. But she’s about to leave now. Finally. Don’t give her an excuse to stay.”

Their conversation from Monday night flitted back through Ben’s head. “That’s why you don’t want her to know how bad things are between you and Michelle?”

“She’ll try to fix it.” Gabe gave him an imploring look. “She’ll think she needs to stay in Montana to take care of things. And she’ll be worried about Jenna.”

“Should she be?”

“Hell, no. I’ll take care of my daughter.”

“Your wife doesn’t.”

“I’m aware of that. It’s why I have to do something. Only, I want Dani to have her own life first. After all this time, she deserves it.”

“Yes. She does.” Both men grew quiet, each in his own thoughts, then Ben offered all he had. “I’m sorry, man. Sometimes life can be a bitch.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

Jenna and Haley shouted for their fathers, and both men looked around. Jenna had two cherries with stems painted on one cheek, and Haley’s entire face was red.

“I’m a cherry!’ Haley shouted happily.

“I see that.” Ben laughed at his daughter. She was amazing to be around.

Nick eyed the two men as though he understood the seriousness of the conversation going on, and quickly steered the girls to the next booth, where they all met up with Jaden, Max, and the women.

“You’re planning to change things after Dani leaves?” Ben asked Gabe, seeing the path of the conversation.

“I have to. If I don’t, Michelle will divorce me.”

“Who’ll run the orchard?” he asked.

Gabe faced him, his look dead on and serious. “You want the job? Looks to me like you could use one.”

“I don’t need a job managing an orchard.”

Gabe shrugged, but the move didn’t come off as casual as he might have liked. “Can’t blame me for trying.”

“How about one of your brothers? Jaden looking to take on more?”

The silence that followed Ben’s question raised the hair on the back of his neck.

“What?” Ben asked cautiously. He didn’t like the look on Gabe’s face.

“Jaden isn’t staying.”

Jaden was supposed to take over the accounting. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“You can’t tell her,” Gabe said.

“You can’t keep this from her.” Though Ben did understand her brother’s reasoning. She’d want to stay. Give up her dreams yet again. Because if there was one thing that woman was overprotective about, it was her family. And her
family
included the orchard. “How do you think it’ll make her feel when she does find out? Knowing that you’ve been keeping secrets from her.”