“You could have said something to us before you took off,” he suggested mildly. “You promised to wait just outside the restaurant.”
“I guess I forgot about it.” She gave him a defiant look. “Sort of like you broke your promise and didn’t think to say goodbye when you took off and left me at Grandma’s.”
Slade was shocked by the accusation, especially since she’d obviously kept it bottled up inside for months now. “Of course I said goodbye. And we talked about you staying there while I went to look for work.”
She shook her head. “You talked. I never agreed. When I got up in the morning, you were gone.”
He thought back to that time and how little clear thinking he had been doing, and realized it was entirely possible that it had happened just that way. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter.”
He hunkered down and took her by the shoulders. “Yes, it does matter, and I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I thought staying with Grandma would be the best thing for you.”
“And you’re the grown-up, so I guess that means you were right.” She shrugged away from him. “Never mind. You found me now. Is it time to go home?”
Slade directed a helpless look in Val’s direction and she immediately stepped in.
“We still have to buy food for the party,” she reminded them. “That’s why we came into town, remember?”
“I don’t care about the party,” Annie replied.
Slade was losing his fragile grip on his patience. “Fine,” he said tightly. “We can always cancel.”
Annie’s alarmed gaze shot to his. “We can’t call everyone and tell them to stay home.”
He softened his tone. “Why not?”
“It would be rude.” She turned to Val. “Wouldn’t it?”
“Very rude,” she agreed.
Relieved to see Annie’s spirit returning, he nodded. “Then, by all means, let’s go shopping.”
The trip through the grocery store was an adventure. Slade should have known Val would come prepared. She had a mile-long list, organized precisely according to the aisles of the store. He was relegated to pushing the cart, while she and Annie made their selections with as much care as if they were choosing lifelong mates. Deciding which mustard to buy took on the significance of selecting the perfect present. He would have chosen the cheapest of everything and been out of the store in ten minutes. Annie and Val seemed to have very definite—and often diametrically opposed—opinions. They’d been debating white sweet corn versus yellow for the past five minutes.
“Slade, what do you think?”
“Corn’s corn,” he said.
“No, Daddy. Silver Queen is the best. Grandma says so.”
“And I’ve always liked sweet yellow corn,” Val said.
“Get some of each.”
“A compromise,” Val said, beaming at him as if he’d single-handedly brought peace to the Middle East. “What a novel idea.”
“How much longer is this going to take?” he grumbled. “I have chores to do.”
“Harlan Patrick said not to worry about the chores,” Val informed him. “He said he’d take care of them.”
Slade scowled. “You asked Harlan Patrick to take on my chores?”
“Settle down, cowboy. He volunteered. He knew we were going to be getting ready for the party. If you’re going to follow us around with a scowl on your face, you might as well wait in the car.”
He stared hard at her. She was serious. She was dismissing him as if he were an unruly kid.
“Can’t do it. You need me to pay for all of this.”
“I’ll pay,” she said, facing him stubbornly. “You can pay me back.”
“If I’m forking out all this money, I want to see what I’m getting,” he insisted.
“Fine. Suit yourself.”
“I will.”
Annie watched them intently, then sighed. “It’s my fault, isn’t it?”
“What’s your fault?” he and Val demanded in a shocked chorus.
“That you’re fighting. You probably never fought till I came.”
“We barely spoke till you came,” Val said with sincerity. “Don’t worry about it, Annie. Your father and I are used to it. This is the way we communicate.”
She tucked Annie’s arm through hers. “Let’s check out the steaks. I want really thick ones. How about you?”
“Daddy likes thick steaks, too,” Annie said, as if trying to convince Val of their compatibility.
“Give it up, sweetie. Making peace between us is not your job,” Val assured her, then leaned down to whisper something that had Annie grinning.
They moved off to the meat section, giggling. Slade watched them with their heads together and sighed heavily. Would he ever have that kind of easy relationship with Annie again? Or had he ruined it forever by abandoning her at her grandparents?
She and Val were still laughing when he found them loading up on steaks. As he got closer, he realized they were talking about dresses, of all things. Judging from Annie’s recent wardrobe choices, he hadn’t imagined she knew what a dress was. Val gave him a wink.
“Your daughter and I were just discussing whether or not we should get new outfits for the party. After all, we can’t spend the whole day in bathing suits. What do you think?”
What he thought was that his entire life savings were going into this party. But even he was smart enough not to say that.
“I say go for it, if it’s what you want.”
“Will you help us pick them out?” Val inquired with a glint in her eyes that made him very uneasy.
“Me? In a dress shop? I don’t know.” The quest for a bathing suit had been disconcerting enough. He’d reduced his daughter to tears over that.
“Maybe I should just wait in the car,” he suggested. “And you can’t take too long because we’ll have all this food. It’ll spoil in this heat.”
“Come on, Daddy. Please?” Annie said.
It was the first time in a long time that she’d actually asked him for anything. After what she’d said earlier about him running out on her, how could he refuse?
Which was why he ended up spending the most unnerving two hours of his life sitting on a puffy yellow ottoman surrounded by frills and watching two females parade around in silk and satin that was more suited to a formal event than a barbecue. He got the feeling that they were just having fun playing dress-up.
Watching his daughter was one thing. Watching Val was something else entirely. The woman made very sure that she ratcheted his temperature up to white-hot before she showed an ounce of mercy. One of these days he’d make her pay for that, and he was getting some fascinating ideas about how.
“Have you two decided yet?” he asked eventually. “The steaks will be barbecued in the car pretty soon.”
“One more dress,” Annie pleaded.
“One more,” he agreed.
When she came out of the dressing room this time she was wearing a yellow gingham sundress. She twirled around and made the skirt spin. “I like this one, Daddy. What do you think?”
“I think you’ll be the prettiest girl at the party,” he said, earning a beaming smile from Val, who’d already paid for her own selection.
He told himself that his effort to say the right thing had been made on Annie’s behalf, but Val’s approval touched something deep inside him. It had been a long time since what anyone thought had mattered. Maybe he was going to survive Suzanne’s betrayal whether he wanted to or not.
Six
It never ceased to amaze Val how many members of the Adams family could be assembled at the drop of a hat. At the mention of a party, they swarmed to White Pines like ants getting word of a particularly tasty picnic. Even Luke and Jessie, who lived across the state, and their daughter Angela, who
lived in Montana with her family, made it to White Pines for most events.
Harlan Adams was in his element presiding over this latest party. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren gravitated to him, not just because he was the family patriarch, but because of the love that flowed from him as tangibly as water splashing from a fountain.
It broke Val’s heart to see Annie standing on the fringes, looking left out. She knew if she’d been a little closer, she would have been able to detect the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes. Harlan, ever the thoughtful host, apparently spotted her about the same time.
“Well, there she is,” he said, smiling warmly and beckoning to her. “Annie, my girl, come over here and meet the rest of these hellions. This is your party. You can’t be standing on the sidelines.”
Annie’s expression brightened at once as she was introduced to various Adams cousins. Within minutes she and Jenny’s stepson had teamed up against Dani’s twin stepsons for a boisterous game of Marco Polo in the pool.
“She looks happy,” Slade observed, sneaking up beside Val.
She turned and caught his sober expression. “She does, doesn’t she?”
“Thank you for that.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Don’t be so modest,” he chided. “You dreamed up this party and badgered me into it. You planned the guest list. You saw to it that Annie had the right things to wear. You bought the groceries.”
“It’s just a party, Slade,” she said, reluctant to take too much credit for instigating such a simple thing.
He shook his head. “It’s more than that, and you know it. It’s a chance for Annie to make friends. You cared about her feelings, Val. I’m still not entirely certain why, but you did, and I’m grateful.”
For some reason she couldn’t explain, his thanks irked her. She told herself that he’d say the same if she’d been a hired caterer whose cheese puffs were especially tasty. “I don’t want your gratitude,” she said, though she was unable to explain just what she did want.
“A gracious woman would accept it, though.” He grinned knowingly. “Any particular reason you’re not? Are you holding out for something more?”
He had her pegged, she realized unhappily. Maybe what she wanted was as simple—or as monumental—as recognition that she could make a difference in his family, that she could fit in. She wanted him to see her in a new light, to realize what she could bring to his life.
Okay, she really wanted him to fall madly in love with her. And all because she’d helped him buy some clothes for his kid, and picked out some steaks. Was she crazy or what? Relationships didn’t blossom based on a grand gesture.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I’m glad you’re pleased with the way this turned out.”
“I’d be even more pleased if you’d come eat with me,” he said.
Val was astonished. It was rare for Slade to seek out her company. She usually had to throw herself at him. “Why?” she asked, regarding him warily.
“Why not?” he said, as if he uttered similar invitations all the time. “If you turn me down, I’ll just end up talking horses all afternoon with Cody or Harlan Patrick. I can do that anytime.”
She grinned. “I thought you liked nothing better than talking about horses.”
“No, darlin’, even I get tired of hearing my own voice on that topic sometimes. Besides, only a fool would rather talk to a bunch of cowboys instead of a beautiful woman.”
She gazed into his eyes and saw a glimmer of amusement that was as rare as the invitation. “Are you actually flirting with me?” she asked, not bothering to hide her astonishment.
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “To tell the truth, it’s been so long, I can’t say for sure.”
The soft sigh of his breath across her cheek was almost as heady as a kiss. It made Val want to move an inch or two closer, to coax his arms around her. She’d been wanting him to kiss her for so long now she was just about ready to make it happen and damn the consequences.
“Maybe if you have a little food, you’ll know for sure,” she said, turning and leading the way to the buffet that she had helped the housekeeper set out earlier. “Do you want the whole meal now or just an appetizer?” She turned to find his gaze locked on her.
“An appetizer,” he said quietly. “Some things shouldn’t be rushed.”
He really was flirting with her, she concluded. What she couldn’t figure out was why. Not twenty-four hours ago he couldn’t get away from her fast enough. Was it the party atmosphere? She hadn’t noticed that his personality changed all that much at past parties. She regarded him suspiciously.
“What’s really going on here, Slade?”
He looked as innocent as a newborn. “I have no idea what you mean. I thought we’d grab some food, find a place away from the ruckus and enjoy some quiet conversation. Does that bother you for some reason?”
“Of course it doesn’t bother me,” she retorted. “It’s just so...out of character.”
“Maybe I’ve reformed.”
“Overnight?”
“They say the love of a good woman can do amazing things to change a man.”
She plunked down her plate. “Okay, that’s it. Who said anything about love?” Her gaze narrowed. “Has Laurie said something to you?”
“About?”
“Me, dammit.”
Laughter danced in his eyes. “Can’t say that I’ve talked to Laurie recently.”
As her temper lathered up, his grew cooler, Val noticed. It was very irksome. She tried to match his calm, even tone. “Harlan Patrick, then.”
He grinned. “Val, I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss about sneaking off to a corner to chat. For weeks now you’ve been pestering me with a million questions. Now when I’m ready to talk, the cat’s got your tongue. Why is that?”
“Because it doesn’t make sense. Neither does that comment about the love of a good woman. I think you’re making fun of me, Slade Sutton.”
He set his plate down and cupped her face in his hands, hands that were just a little rough from hard work. Hands capable of incredible tenderness, she discovered.
“Maybe I’m just waking up,” he said, his gaze fixed on her mouth. “I’d like to kiss you, Val. You going to turn skittish if I do?”
Her breath caught in her throat. Finally, after all these months, he was going to kiss her. It was what she’d been praying for. She’d imagined his lips on hers a thousand times. She’d ached to have him wake up and notice her.
Because she couldn’t have gotten a word past the lump in her throat if she’d tried, she simply shook her head.
Slade smiled. “Okay, then.”
He lowered his head until there was little more than a sliver of air between his mouth and hers, and there he stopped. Anticipation shimmered through Val. It required all of her willpower to simply wait, when she wanted so desperately to close that distance and finally discover if he tasted half as wonderful as she’d imagined. Her heart pounded at the prospect. Her nerves rioted.
“Daddy!”
Annie’s shrill, excited voice cut through the air. Slade jerked away so quickly, Val very nearly cried out at the loss.
“Hey, Daddy, look at me! I can dive off the board.”
Slade glanced down into Val’s eyes with mute apology. “Let’s see, angel,” he called out. He took Val’s hand and urged her to come with him as he moved back toward the pool.
Sure enough, Annie executed a perfect dive off the low board. She swam to the edge of the pool and stared up at them hopefully.
“What did you think?”
“Awesome,” Slade said. “How long have you been doing that?”
“Since a few minutes ago. Zack taught me.”
“Then you’re a natural,” he praised. “Maybe we should see about getting you some di
ving lessons this summer, if it’s something you’d like to do.”
Her eyes shone. “Could I? Zack says there’s a lady in town who gives lessons. She was in the Olympics once. She’s really, really amazing. So, do you think we could call and find out if she’d take me?”
“First thing on Monday,” he agreed. “Be sure you get her number from Zack.”
She swam away happily to tell the twins what he’d agreed to.
“I can’t believe she’s that good,” he said, staring after her, obviously awestruck.
“She has a real talent for it, that’s for sure,” Val agreed. “You handled that really well, you know.”
Slade shrugged. “I just told her the truth.”
“You did it instinctively. Seems to me you’re getting your fatherhood legs back under you.”
“I’ll admit, I’ve been walking on eggshells since she got here. I guess for a minute there I forgot all the problems we’ve had and just reacted to her excitement.”
“See how easy it is when you stop thinking so hard and worrying about every little thing?”
He gave her a rueful look. “Great advice, but if you ask me, it’s easier said than done.”
“Just keep trying,” Val advised. “It’ll get easier.”
“I hope so,” he said fervently.
“By the way, I’d be happy to drive her in for her lessons, if you can’t get away. Laurie doesn’t need me much these days, so I’m at loose ends.”
Slade shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered.”
“Still, it’s my responsibility.”
“Which means it’s up to you to make sure she gets there, right?”
He nodded cautiously, as if sensing a trap.
“And you’ve already found me to take her.” She patted his arm. “Good job, Dad.”
He frowned. “I think we ought to talk about me relying on you so much to help with Annie. It’s not right.”
“I’d much rather get back to that kiss that almost happened,” Val countered.
He suddenly looked uncomfortable, as if she’d brought up a long-ago indiscretion that he regretted. “That was probably a mistake,” he said.
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