“For the first eight months. She took a leave from her job just to do it.”
He’d never met her mother but had spoken to her once or twice on the phone when she’d called. He knew of Keisha and her mother’s close relationship. He also knew Keisha had inherited her mother’s independent nature. Keisha had told him the story of how her father had denied she was his child when her mother had told him about her pregnancy and how her mother had raised her alone without any involvement from him.
Canyon noticed when Keisha glanced at her watch. “I guess we need to leave if we want to—”
She stopped talking when he reached out and took her wrist in his hand and looked at the watch…remembering. “You kept it.”
It was a statement more than a question and he was well aware that she knew it. He had given her the bracelet watch for her birthday a few weeks before she’d broken up with him.
“Yes, I kept it. Did you think I was going to throw it away?”
He shrugged. “That had crossed my mind.”
She absently flexed her fingers and he knew she was nervous about something. “Are you nervous about Detective Render’s visit later today?”
She glanced over at Beau before shifting her head back over to him. “No. That’s not it.”
He lifted a brow. “Then what is it?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “It’s your family.”
“What about them?”
She drew in and then released a deep breath. “You and I agreed we won’t be pretending and I have a feeling they won’t either.”
He tilted his head. “Meaning?”
Lowering her voice so Beau wouldn’t hear, she said, “You and your family are close, Canyon. You and I didn’t part on the best terms, and I’m sure they know all about it. There’s no doubt in my mind they’ll be taken with Beau, but…”
“But what?”
“Maybe you should have found out for certain if they really want me there. I have done things they probably don’t agree with. I’m sure most of them took your side about what happened. They probably figure I should have believed what you said. And that I was wrong for not telling you about Beau. Even you believe I was wrong on both counts so how can I expect them to feel any differently?”
Canyon didn’t say anything for a minute. “First of all, please stop judging my family prematurely. You met most of them already—all of my brothers, except for Bane and Micah, and all of my cousins except for Gemma, since she’d already married and moved to Australia. You and I met the year after I returned home from law school, so you already know some of my brothers’ and cousins’ wives. You met Pam, Chloe, Lucia and Bella, because Dillon, Ramsey, Derringer and Jason had married them by the time you and I started dating.”
Although she was three years younger than his thirty-two, they had finished their respective law schools at the same time, mainly because of the extra time it had required for him to change his major. He would never forget the day they’d met in the courthouse lunchroom. He had been an attorney for fewer than six months and had won his first case that day. She had won her case that day, as well. They had celebrated that night over drinks.
“My family,” he continued, “will decide if they like you because of you and not because of me. They’ll let our business be our business. The Westmorelands make it a point to stay out of each others’ affairs.” He chuckled. “The only time we didn’t abide by that rule was when Derringer got involved with Lucia. She was Chloe’s best friend and childhood friends with Megan and Gemma. So, unfortunately for Derringer, those of us who knew his reputation were overprotective where Lucia was concerned.”
He paused. “When you and I were involved I tried to get you to spend more time with my family, but you declined all my invitations. If anything, they probably think you have something against them because you never wanted to get to know them before.”
His statement sent an embarrassing tint across her cheeks. What he’d said was true. She had turned down invitations to his family’s chow-downs and other little activities. But it hadn’t been because she’d had anything against them.
Her grandparents didn’t have any siblings and her mother had had only one brother. For that reason, the thought of a family as large as Canyon’s was overwhelming to her. Luckily, he’d understood and hadn’t pushed. When she’d attended that charity ball with him and finally met his family, she’d found them to be nice and very friendly. His sisters-in-law and his cousins-in-law—Pam, Chloe, Lucia and Bella—had invited her to lunch, but before she could take them up on their offer, she and Canyon had split up.
“I had planned to get to know them better,” she said in her defense. “But both of us know what happened, don’t we?”
The look in his eyes turned cold. “Yes, we know. You chose to believe a lie rather than the truth.”
Keisha opened her mouth to give him a blistering retort, when she felt a tug on her jeans. Beau pulled on Canyon’s pants, too, and then glanced up at them with big pleading brown eyes. “Bouncy bed again?”
She knew Canyon was about to give in when he reached down to pick up Beau, but Keisha knew her son’s antics better than anyone. He would use those beautiful eyes to wrap a person around his finger, and he’d figured out that Canyon was an easy target.
“No, Beau,” she said firmly. “No bouncy bed again.” She then switched her gaze back to Canyon. “I’m ready to go now.”
Canyon nodded and, without saying anything, he led her toward the door.
* * *
“I don’t believe it,” Pamela Westmoreland said, staring at the little boy in Canyon’s arms. She turned to her husband who was standing at her side. “Can you believe it?”
Dillon smiled. “Yes. That’s how Dare and I knew we were cousins the first time we met because we looked so much alike. Strong Westmoreland genes.”
Canyon chuckled. “I don’t think Keisha believes us. I can’t wait until she sees Denver. Where is he by the way?”
“In the back with Bailey,” Dillon said, grinning. “Playing with Denver gives Bailey the excuse to act like a kid again. Come on in. Welcome to our home, Keisha.”
“Thank you,” Keisha said, glancing around. This was a big house, bigger than Canyon’s. She knew all about the history of Dillon’s home. It had been built by Canyon’s great-grandfather and passed on to his grandfather who’d passed it on to his two sons. The house tripled in size when both sons, their wives and their families lived here—in what was considered the main house—in harmony. Then the sons and their wives died and as the oldest grandchild Dillon had inherited the house and the three hundred acres it sat on.
“So good seeing you again, Keisha,” Pam said, giving her a hug. That was something else Keisha had tried to get used to when it came to Canyon’s family. They were such a huggy group. She and her mother were close, but didn’t hug as much as the Westmorelands did.
“Canyon told us what happened to your home. That’s just awful. If there’s anything any of us can do, please let us know.”
“Thanks.” Keisha felt Pam’s offer was sincere, and she appreciated it. Pam Westmoreland was a beautiful woman. Keisha had thought that same thing the first time she’d seen Pam on her husband’s arm at the ball. And from what Canyon had told her, Pam, a former actress who’d lived in California at one time, was perfect for his brother.
“Where are the others?” Canyon asked. “I see the cars out front.”
“They’re out back, as well,” Dillon said. “It’s such a nice day that Pam and the ladies decided to set up things outside on the patio. And speaking of cars, yours is parked in the back, Canyon.”
“Thanks for handling that for me.”
“No problem. Everyone expects you to be here, and I didn’t mention anything about Keisha and Beau. I decided to let you handle it.”
Keisha felt her stomach tighten. She could just imagine how many of Canyon’s family members were here. She inwardly prepared herself for a lot of cold stares. Things would be worse when they saw Beau. He was their family, and they would probably resent her for keeping him from them.
“Jill flew in last night, and I’m excited about it,” Pam said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Jillian is Pam’s sister,” Dillon said, chuckling. “She’s twenty-four and in medical school in Louisiana, with a goal of one day becoming a neurosurgeon. She couldn’t make it home for Megan’s wedding, so this is the first time we’ve seen her this year. We’re all excited she was able to get time off to come home for a few days.”
Dillon led them through a huge dining room and a very spacious kitchen. Keisha recalled what Canyon had once told her. When Dillon had married Pam she had been the guardian of her three younger sisters who’d come to live with them in this house, as well. It seemed fitting that a man who’d once made it his life’s mission to be responsible for his younger siblings and cousins had married a woman who’d done practically the same thing.
Keisha drew in a deep breath when they reached the sliding glass door. Outside, she saw a beautiful patio with the most gorgeous view of a huge lake. She felt Canyon slip his hand in hers and she glanced up at him. The look in his eyes was unreadable, but she figured he knew how nervous she was and he was letting her know he was there for her. His actions were confusing. He’d said he wouldn’t pretend, so why was he acting as if he cared?
“Look who finally got here,” Dillon said, stepping out onto the patio with Pam at his side.
Keisha watched as everyone looked over at them. Her presence garnered only a little interest. The one who really snagged everyone’s attention was Beau.
“Hey, guys. Most of you know Keisha,” Canyon said. “I want to introduce you to our son, Beau.”
Everyone stared without saying anything. Keisha had known meeting Beau would be a surprise, but the crowd’s response made her wonder why so much attention had been drawn to Beau. Were all the shocked expressions necessary?
Just then, a little boy raced across the room toward Dillon. “Daddy! Daddy! Look what Megan gave me.”
Keisha glanced down at the little boy and her breath caught. Her hand flew to her chest. “My God!” she whispered in shock.
The little boy could be Beau’s twin.
Six
“I tried to tell you,” Canyon whispered in Keisha’s ear. She felt her body tremble slightly from the heat of his breath so close to her skin.
Dillon swung his son up into his arms as pandemonium hit. Canyon’s siblings and cousins rushed over to them. The ones she had met before gave her hugs and told her it was good seeing her again. She tried to keep surprise out of her features.
They cooed and aahed over Beau, who seemed to enjoy getting so much attention. No one questioned why they were just now meeting him for the first time. Keisha figured they were staying out of Canyon’s business because they knew he would handle it.
“How old is he?” Bailey asked. She was the one holding Beau and didn’t seem inclined to relinquish him.
“He’s a little over two.”
Bailey smiled as she looked back and forth between Beau and Denver. “Denver is almost four. Except for their size, they have the same facial features. That’s absolutely incredible.”
Keisha thought it was pretty incredible, as well. If Denver wasn’t taller and almost two years older, the little boys could pass for twins. And speaking of twins…
The Westmoreland twins stood in front of her, smiling, and she couldn’t help but smile back. Identical twins. Even down to their handsome grins. She couldn’t forget the identity trick they’d played on her the night she had met them.
“Aiden and Adrian.” She lifted a brow then looked from one to the other. “Or is it Adrian and Aiden.”
Their identical smiles widened. “We’ll never tell,” one of them said.
“Okay, guys, you’ve forced my hand now I’m forcing yours.” She reached out and took one of their right hands and turned it over so that it was palm up. She nodded and then glanced back up at the man whose hand she held. “You’re Adrian.”
Both men shifted their gazes from her to Canyon and Aiden said accusingly, “You told.”
Canyon shrugged, and Keisha couldn’t help but grin. Yes, Canyon had told her that the only way to tell the two apart was by the tiny scar in the palm of Adrian’s right hand just under his thumb. It had been a childhood injury caused by falling out of a tree.
“Move over guys, Keisha needs to come with us so we can girl talk,” Ramsey’s wife, Chloe, said, taking Beau from Bailey. Bailey then reached for Denver and when the two women stood side by side with both boys everyone just shook their heads. The two boys seemed as fascinated with each other as much as everyone was fascinated with them.
“Now Denver has a playmate he can do guy stuff with,” Dillon said, grinning. “Susan is getting too prissy for him.” Susan was Ramsey and Chloe’s daughter who was a few months younger than Denver.
“I hope when they grow older they don’t play those crazy games and go around tricking people like Aiden and Adrian used to do,” Megan said, laughing.
“You mean those games they still like to play?” Riley Westmoreland said as he came to join them. “Keisha, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Alpha Blake.”
Instead of extending her hand, Alpha reached out and gave Keisha a hug. “Congratulations, and nice meeting you.”
“Same here.”
“Think I can have my son back now?” Canyon asked, reaching for Beau.
“I guess,” Chloe said, smiling, handing Beau to Canyon.
With a huge grin on his face, Beau reached out eagerly to go to Canyon. “Daddy-Dad.”
Canyon’s brother Jason raised a brow. “Daddy-Dad?”
Canyon chuckled as he perched Beau on his shoulder. “It’s a long story.” He then glanced around and asked, “Where’s Zane?”
Trying to keep a straight face, Riley said, “I guess he and Channing decided to sleep in this morning. We expect them later.”
Canyon nodded. He then shifted his gaze to where the Westmoreland women had led Keisha off to a section of the patio. He knew how reserved Keisha was with new people and inwardly smiled. She was going to find out that when it came to the Westmorelands, the word reserved wasn’t in their vocabulary.
“Hey, Can. You okay?” Stern asked his brother when he followed Canyon’s gaze over to Keisha.
“Yes, I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Stern shrugged. “No reason. Just asking.” He paused. “She looks good.”
Canyon switched his gaze off Keisha and onto his brother. “I see your eyesight is still good. But I suggest you check out somebody else.”
Stern laughed. “Getting testy, aren’t we?”
Canyon shifted Beau in his arms, refusing to be baited. At that moment, Canyon’s cousin Zane and his fiancée, Channing Hastings, arrived and stepped out onto the patio. Everyone greeted the couple and Channing couldn’t resist holding Beau. She left to join the ladies with Beau in her arms. It was then that Zane pulled Canyon aside.
“I see you handled your business without my help,” Zane said, glancing over at Keisha.
Canyon rolled his eyes. He had called Zane a few weeks ago when he’d gotten fed up with Keisha trying to avoid him. That was when he’d come up with the plan for following her home. “Yes, but it’s not what you think.”
“Well, I’ve got a feeling you’re going to find out like I did that…once your woman, always your woman.”
Canyon was about to tell Zane how wrong he was when Zane walked off to talk to Ramsey and Dillon. Feeling frustrated, Canyon moved across the patio to get his son, wanting to spend as much time with him as h
e could.
* * *
Despite Keisha’s apprehensions about sharing an amicable relationship with the women surrounding her, she couldn’t help it. They were so outgoing, friendly and personable that she found it hard to resist their camaraderie. It had been the same way that night at the ball.
She had fond memories of that night even though she had been a little overwhelmed by Canyon’s family. He’d introduced her to not only the ones living in Denver, but also the ones living in Atlanta, Montana and Texas. The one thing she would always remember about that night was how easily they had accepted her. It was as if they’d made up their minds. If Canyon had brought her with him then that meant something. Too bad that she’d believed the same thing only to find out months later just how wrong her assumption had been.
She glanced across the patio to the yard where Canyon was helping Beau go up and down a kiddie sliding board that was part of a cedar swing set. There was also a sandbox, an outdoor playhouse and several other pieces of playground equipment in a play area separated from the lake by a high fence.
She could hear Beau’s laughter and knew he was having the time of his life. As if he felt someone looking at him, Canyon glanced over at her. His dark gaze was neither friendly nor sensual as he stared back. But that didn’t stop the heat slowly inching across her skin. The attraction that was still there between them was frustrating. She was certain he didn’t like it any more than she did.
Holding back a sigh, she broke eye contact with him to watch the women sitting around her. In addition to Dillon’s wife, Pam, Ramsey’s wife, Chloe, and Riley’s fiancée, Alpha, there were also Kalina, who was married to Canyon’s brother Micah; Canyon’s cousin Megan, who’d gotten married a couple of months ago; Lucia, who was married to his cousin Derringer; and Bella, who was married to his brother Jason. And then there was Channing Hastings. From what Keisha had gathered, Channing and Zane had broken up a while ago but had patched things up and were now back together.
Also included in the mix were Pam’s three gorgeous sisters. Jillian was twenty-four; Paige was twenty-two, had recently graduated with a degree from UCLA and was living in Los Angeles determined to follow in her big sister’s footsteps and become an actress; and Nadia, who was in her second year of college at the University of Wyoming. It was easy to see that Pam adored her younger sisters and they adored her.
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