“Nice to meet you,” Joan said with a welcoming smile—which instantly reminded Caitlyn of Owen’s—and Caitlyn was surprised that she felt no animosity from the woman, especially if she was pulling for Lindsey.
“I think the gray,” Lindsey said a bit loudly. “What do you think, Owen?”
“Um . . .” Owen turned to a large cardboard sheet with squares of tile affixed to it. He shrugged. “Sure.”
“Or maybe the beige,” Lindsey said, drawing her fingers over a sample. “This is pretty close to the tile you laid in your powder room.”
Owen laid tile? Caitlyn thought he played bass.
“So how did you and Owen meet?” Joan asked Caitlyn.
Caitlyn’s face burned with embarrassment. It was one thing to blatantly tell her ex-husband how they’d met, quite another to tell Owen’s mother.
“At a club,” Owen said. Not a lie, just an understatement of the truth. Caitlyn could handle that.
“Oh, oh,” Lindsey said, covering her belly with one hand. “The baby is kicking.”
Joan and Owen plopped down on either side of her, their hands searching Lindsey’s belly for signs of baby movement. Caitlyn tried not to feel stabby toward the pregnant woman, but it was quite obvious to her that Lindsey was doing everything she could to wedge herself squarely into Owen’s life. Rather Lindsey was pregnant or not, Caitlyn would not be putting up with her obvious ploys. Caitlyn couldn’t have a frank discussion with Lindsey while Joan was present, though. If Caitlyn went off on Lindsey now, she’d likely earn Joan as an enemy, and she didn’t want to start her relationship with Owen with that hanging over them.
“Do you want to feel him kick too?” Lindsey asked Caitlyn, throwing her so off guard that Caitlyn merely blinked at her.
“It’s really cool,” Owen said, his fingers and his mother’s overlapping as they found the right spot.
Joan laughed. “He’s got quite a kick! He’s either going to punt footballs or be a swimmer.”
“Football,” Owen said. “I definitely vote for football.”
Lindsey’s adoring gaze as she stared at Owen had Caitlyn’s hands balling into fists. Did he not see what kind of situation he’d gotten himself into here? Or maybe he wanted Lindsey. He definitely wanted the baby.
The amazed smile on Owen’s face faded, and he sank back into the sofa, removing his hand from Lindsey’s belly. “He stopped.”
“You always calm him down,” Lindsey said.
Owen lifted an eyebrow at her. “I do?”
Lindsey’s laugh rang false as she patted Owen on the leg. “You know that.”
Owen shook his head and then rose from the sofa to wrap an arm around Caitlyn’s lower back. “Are you hungry? We should probably think about dinner. Do you want to go out or—”
“I have chicken thawed,” Lindsey said. “I was going to fry it for dinner. There will be plenty.”
“Is that okay?” Owen asked.
Eating a dinner that Lindsey cooked in Owen’s kitchen? Yeah, no, that wasn’t even slightly okay, but Joan was staring directly at her, so she plastered a smile on her face and choked out a yes.
“You can help me cook,” Lindsey said, rocking forward to get her feet under her.
“Oh,” Caitlyn said. “I don’t cook.”
Lindsey cocked her head. “You don’t?”
“She’s too busy changing the world to cook,” Owen said. He kissed Caitlyn’s temple.
Caitlyn appreciated that he stood up for her, but his defense didn’t change the curious way Joan was suddenly looking at her.
“I can give you a hand,” Joan said, standing.
“That’s not necessary,” Lindsey said. “Are you staying for dinner?”
“No, I need to head home and get supper started for James.”
“That’s my dad,” Owen whispered next to Caitlyn’s ear. “I’ll take you over to meet him later.”
It occurred to Caitlyn that Lindsey and Joan had a lot more in common with each other than she had in common with either of them. And didn’t they say men always married women like their mothers? Panic clawed up Caitlyn’s throat. If she was going to have any sort of meaningful relationship with Owen, Lindsey had to go.
Joan pointed to her tile samples and asked Lindsey, “Beige, then?”
“Gray,” she said. “No, wait—beige. Or cream. Maybe cream.”
“I’ll leave this with you and you can decide,” Joan said. “I need to know by tomorrow so we can get the tile ordered, okay?”
“I’ll figure it out by then,” Lindsey promised. She hugged Joan before waddling off toward the kitchen.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Caitlyn,” Joan said, taking her hand and clasping it. Her pretty blue eyes were both kind and welcoming, but Caitlyn still felt she was at a disadvantage when compared to Lindsey. “We need to get together while you’re in town and get to know each other better.”
“I’d like that,” Caitlyn said.
“Lindsey and I are doing lunch after her appointment tomorrow; maybe you could join us?”
She wouldn’t like that, but she said, “Okay.”
“Mom, don’t subject her to even more Lindsey,” Owen said in a harsh whisper. “You should hang out with Caitlyn without her.”
“Owen, you’re not asking me to exclude Lindsey, are you?”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking.”
Caitlyn squeezed his hand, grateful that he understood how being around Lindsey made her feel.
Joan smiled at her son and reached over to cup his cheek. “Walk me out?”
Owen apparently figured that meant his mother needed a private word with him. He picked up the television remote and handed it to Caitlyn.
“Find something to watch, a ball game or something. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Okay,” Caitlyn said, watching him walk with his mother to the foyer. She wasn’t the type to eavesdrop, but after she turned on the television, she silently followed them. She couldn’t help herself. She needed to know if she’d be battling one woman or two for Owen’s affection.
“You really like her, don’t you?” Joan asked quietly.
“Madly in love with her,” Owen said, and Caitlyn’s heart skipped a beat.
“If you aren’t careful, Lindsey is going to scare her off.”
Not happening.
“You were the one who insisted she stay with me until the bathroom is finished,” Owen said.
“I didn’t realize you were so serious about Caitlyn. I was trying to help. I’m sure Ben will rush the bathroom repairs if I ask nicely.”
“That would be awesome.”
“That doesn’t help you now, though. I’ll call Lindsey after dinner and beg her to keep me company tonight. We’ll have a girls’ night in. That will give you and Caitlyn some alone time.”
Owen blew out an audible breath. “You’re the best, Mom.”
Caitlyn slunk back into the living room, a wide smile on her face, and settled on the sofa. She had absolutely nothing to worry about. Owen’s heart belonged to her. At least until that baby was born.
Chapter Eighteen
Owen closed his front door and leaned against its solid back. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Mom seemed to like Caitlyn, and maybe now that the two had met, Mom would stop pressuring him about Lindsey. His career was still in shambles and his bandmates were acting like a bunch of idiots, but Caitlyn had Mom’s approval, so he had one less worry.
He found Caitlyn in the living room, smiling to herself. He plopped down next to her on the sofa and kissed her cheek. “What are you grinning about?”
“I love your mom.” Her eyes flipped upward with emphasis.
And now Owen was smiling as well. “She’s great, isn’t she?”
“She reminds me of my mom. I want you to meet her, and Daddy too.”
Now that sounded serious. Owen’s smile broadened. “I’d like that.”
He leaned in to claim her mouth with his, but his phone ch
ose that inopportune moment to ring, so he was only able to give her a swift peck instead of diving in for the deep, satisfying kiss he craved.
“Sorry,” he said, scooping his phone out of his pocket and checking caller ID. Adam. Owen’s heart hammered in his chest. He’d been waiting for this call all afternoon. “I need to take this.”
Caitlyn smiled in understanding as he answered.
“Did you talk to Jacob?” Owen asked without greeting.
“I tried,” Adam said. “He hung up on me.”
After he’d taken off on his rented motorcycle, Adam hadn’t contacted anyone for almost twenty-four hours. Owen had been on the phone with the Texas State Patrol to report him as a missing person when Adam had finally called Gabe and informed him that he was in Dallas because Madison had taken a nasty fall off her horse. Adam had agreed to try to sort things out with Jacob for the sake of the band, but if Jacob wouldn’t even talk to him, how could they make amends and fix this fucking disaster?
Caitlyn linked her fingers through his and leaned against his shoulder to offer support. He was so glad she’d decided to make the trip from Houston to stay with him for a few days. She couldn’t possibly know how great it felt to have her in his corner.
“Did you try going to his house to see him in person?” Owen asked Adam. Maybe Jacob would listen to him if they met face to face. Or maybe they’d come to blows.
“I’m still at the hospital.”
In Dallas with Madison. “Of course,” Owen said. “I wasn’t thinking. I’ll go.”
“Don’t bother. Gabe went to find him, but Jacob wasn’t home.” Adam released a long breath. “And there’s a For Sale By Owner sign on his lawn.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” Adam snorted. “Maybe I should buy the place.”
“That would really piss him off. How’s Madison?”
“Sleeping. I might get to take her home tomorrow. Or maybe the next day.”
“Jacob would have done the same thing if Amanda had been hurt.” And Owen would have dropped everything for Caitlyn. He wouldn’t have remained out of touch for an entire day, but he’d have gone to her, just as she had come to him. Of course, Owen had a huge network of support and knew someone would be there in a crisis if he ever needed help. Other than Madison, Adam didn’t have anyone like that in his life. Jacob had once been that person, but that relationship had been strained one time too many. So Madison was Adam’s only champion. Of course he’d panic if he thought he might lose her. Owen silently vowed to forge a stronger bond with Adam. The guy obviously needed more support, and Owen had failed him.
“He might,” Adam said, his voice subdued.
“I could come to Dallas and hang out with you if you want.” Owen offered his olive branch. Caitlyn squeezed his hand in encouragement, her support clear. He kissed her forehead to let her know he appreciated her.
“Nah.”
Owen’s phone beeped. “I’ve got another call. Will you hold on for a second?”
Before Adam could respond, Owen released Caitlyn’s hand so he could switch calls.
“Did you see that he’s going to be on TV tonight?” Kelly asked
“Who?”
“Jacob. He’s going to be on the local news to explain what’s going on with the tour.”
“So we’re supposed to be on the news tonight? Nice of him to warn us.” And nice of him to explain to them what was going on with the tour, because Owen was sure he wasn’t the only member of the band Jacob had left out of the loop.
“Nope. Just him.”
“What the fuck is going on with him?” Owen rubbed his forehead with his free hand. He was getting a headache. Jacob was giving him a headache. Maybe even a stroke.
“I think he’s lost his shit entirely,” Kelly said. “Have you heard from Adam or Gabe?”
“Actually, I have Adam on hold. Jacob hung up on him. I guess Gabe went to Jacob’s house to hunt him down, but the ass wasn’t there. Did Jacob mention anything to you about putting his house up for sale?”
“I’m telling you, he’s lost his mind, Owen. I’m on my way to your place, so I’ll see you in a few.”
“Okay.” Owen hung up and reconnected with Adam. “You still there?”
“No,” Adam said, drawing a chuckle from Owen.
“That was Kelly. He said Jacob will be on the local news tonight.”
“In Austin? I’m in Dallas, and I don’t want to leave Madison, but—”
“Just him,” Owen said. “A news segment all about him.”
“What the fuck is his problem?”
Owen would say that Adam was much of Jacob’s problem, that Jacob had finally taken all he could take from their lead guitarist, but there had to be more to the situation than that. Something with Amanda. Or with his daughter, Julie. “Maybe we’ll figure it out if we watch the news. See what he has to say.”
“So he’ll talk to the media, but not to us?”
“I guess so.”
Owen’s doorbell rang, and Lindsey called from the kitchen. “I’ll get it. It’s probably your mom.”
Or Kelly.
He would never ever get used to having Lindsey living in his house as if she belonged there. He’d come home to a spotless kitchen and she was an excellent cook. Owen didn’t hate that she was living there. It just felt odd.
“I can get the door,” Caitlyn said. “She’s cooking.”
And the fried chicken smelled fantastic.
But before Caitlyn could rise from the couch, Lindsey’s hurried footsteps crossed the foyer next to the living room.
“I’ll find out as much as I can and call you back,” Owen said to Adam.
“I’m sorry I set Jacob off again,” Adam said. “I should have told someone where I was going. I just panicked. All I could think about was getting to Madi as fast as I could.”
“It’s over and done with, Adam. We can’t change any of it now.” And Owen wasn’t convinced Adam’s disappearance right before a show was the reason Jacob had gone off the deep end. Part of the problem, sure, but not the only reason. Jacob had been acting strange on the plane from Austin too. “We have to move forward from here.”
“Force!” Lindsey said at the front door. “We weren’t expecting you.”
We?
“Uh,” Gabe said. “Hi, Lindsey. I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Because Owen hadn’t exactly told his band that she was living with him. He hadn’t told them Caitlyn was visiting either. They were sure to have him committed to an asylum when they found out he had two women staying with him.
“I’m staying with Owen until my apartment is ready.”
“Gabe is here,” Owen told Adam. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks, man,” Adam said.
Owen pulled himself off the couch, shoved his phone into his pocket, and after offering Caitlyn a smile, hurried to the front door. Gabe looked a little queasy, as if he crossed the threshold, he’d be forever haunted by evil spirits.
It was funny that something as unthreatening as an unborn baby could strike fear into the hearts of rock stars, but Owen understood where Gabe was coming from.
“Come in. Make yourself at home,” Owen said. “Did you ever reach Jacob?”
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