by Angel Smits
Finally, she came to sit beside him. “Why did you leave?”
Marcus slowly closed his laptop. “I got the impression they were judging you. I never really thought about it. You’re the principal at my son’s school. Us—uh, dating—Is that a problem?”
“Are we dating?”
He paused for a brief second. Long enough to catch her gaze. “Considering the events in your kitchen the other night? We’d better be.”
Addie laughed, a sweet blush slipping over her cheeks. “Um, I guess so.” She fiddled with the edge of her book, looking away. “Since Ryan’s only been here a couple months, and next year he’ll be going to the high school, I don’t think it’ll be an issue.”
“But it could be.” He didn’t want to cause her any problems. Her job was important, to her and to the kids. She didn’t deserve to lose it.
“Depends on the parents’ response, I guess. To be honest, I’ve never done this before.”
“Me, either.”
“I’ve known teachers who’ve dated parents, but not of kids in their class, and I’m not sure about principals. I guess it could be seen as a conflict of interest. I’ll do some checking.”
Marcus loved her dedication to her job, her sense of right and wrong. “Do you know how badly I want to kiss you right now?”
“Then do,” she whispered.
He glanced around, noting the neighborhood and the too many pairs of eyes that could potentially cause problems for her. “Not here. Too many witnesses.”
“I do have an entire house here, private and all,” she offered, pushing to her feet. “Would you like to come in?”
The silence of the evening stretched out between them. Finally, Marcus took his time shoving his laptop into his backpack. “Yes, I want to come in, but I’m not going to. Until school’s out, we’re going to be good.”
Addie stopped in the doorway. “What do you mean, be good?”
“You know what I mean,” he whispered.
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
* * *
TAKING A WALK seemed like the perfect solution to burn off the energy she felt. Addie’s phone buzzed in her pocket as she turned the first corner, and she pulled it out. The screen seemed unusually bright in the twilight. “Hello?”
“Hey, sis.” Wyatt’s voice was loud in the quiet evening.
“Hey, yourself. What’s up? How did the auction go?” She hadn’t talked to her brothers since before the baby shower.
“Great. We bought some good stock. A couple cow ponies and a beautiful little filly for Dancer.”
“So, you’re picking out your horse’s dates now, huh?”
“Hey, someone’s gotta help the guys out.”
“Uh-huh.” The neighborhood was busy tonight. People out watering lawns, kids zipping by on bikes, dogs barking on the other side of the fences.
“You know Chet’s retiring.”
“Yeah.” It didn’t seem possible. Chet had been the ranch foreman since Granddad’s day. He was a staple on the ranch. His wife, Juanita, had been the cook nearly as long. “It won’t be the same without them.” She already missed them.
“Yeah. I’m confident in his replacement. Patrick Thorne is a good man, but it won’t be the same, you’re right.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Emily and Tara are planning a barbecue to bid them goodbye.”
“Sounds like a great idea.”
“Yeah, and lots of work. We need everyone’s help.”
“Count me in.” She smiled into the phone, looking forward to everyone being together. She liked Patrick, and she’d heard rumors that there was a new special lady in his life. Lindy’s half-joking comment of the ranch being the land of everyone falling in love made her laugh.
“You want to come out for dinner on Sunday? You haven’t been out in a while. They want to start planning.”
Addie had been avoiding the big, boisterous family dinners lately. She’d wondered who would notice first. She still wasn’t in the mood. But she couldn’t avoid it forever, not without an explanation. “It has been a while,” she admitted. “I’ve been busy.”
There was a long pause before he said, “We’d really love you to come. I think almost everyone will be there. Usual time. Noon.”
“Everyone?” That was an accomplishment.
“Yeah. Tara hasn’t gotten Morgan out here for the whole-family experience yet. We need to initiate the boy.”
Addie groaned. “They aren’t married yet. Don’t scare him away.”
“We couldn’t scare him away if we tried.”
“Somehow, I think that means you tried.”
“DJ did. Have you seen the size of the guy?” Wyatt laughed, admitting nothing and everything. “Besides, the boy’s in love.”
Things hadn’t changed much over the years, even now that everyone was moving on with their lives. Addie laughed.
“What’s funny?” Wyatt asked.
“Nothing.” She wasn’t really interested in talking about her siblings’ love lives right now. As she walked another half block, she thought about the wand, and the box of scraps from Dad’s garage. She’d take it and surprise them. “I’ll bring cookies.” She always brought cookies. Everyone got very grumpy if she didn’t.
“Great. Make a double batch so there’s leftovers.”
“And I suppose you’d like them in a separate container so you can just set them aside for yourself.”
“Well, that would be convenient.”
Addie rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’ll be there.”
“With my cookies.”
“With your cookies.”
With only a few more comments, they ended the call, and as Addie pocketed her phone again, the quiet of the evening settled in. It felt good to let the peacefulness wrap around her, soothing her.
Her younger brothers and sisters would all be there. With their spouses and soon-to-be spouses, with their children and all the children that were attached to the people they’d come to love.
Addie looked up and realized that, without thinking, she’d managed to walk to Marcus’s house.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MARCUS WAS DEFINITELY surprised to find Addie on his front step. A shiver of frustration shot through her when she heard Ryan’s and Dex’s voices behind him.
“I hope this isn’t a bad time.” She didn’t step forward and give him a kiss, like she longed to do.
“The boys are having a game night.” He pulled the door wider. “And yes, I made sure they had their homework done first.” He grinned at her. “What are you doing here?”
“I was talking with my brother Wyatt, and I remembered the box of scrap wood from my dad. I want to show everyone the wand and see if there’s anything else out there.”
“Of course. Come on in.” He led the way toward the back door.
“I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.”
“Nothing stupendous. Just grading papers. Almost done.”
Addie followed him out the back door. The yard looked better than when she’d been here last. The roses were leafing out with several buds threatening to open.
Mom always intended to go out and trim them off, so that a few could be rich and beautiful blooms. She’d never do it, though, loving the bunches of pretty, colorful roses more.
Addie glanced at the honeysuckle vine her mother had loved. Its blooms were full and beautiful, as well. “Mom would have loved that bush this year.” She leaned into the leafy vines and inhaled. “Heaven.”
The vines that covered the side of the garage were thick. She could barely see the window in the south wall. Dad used to trim them away so he’d have some natural light to work by.
She liked being here. It was like coming home. Shaking her head, she realized Marcus had asked her a questio
n. “What? I’m sorry.” She stopped and looked at him instead of the yard.
He smiled. He knew how she felt. They’d talked about it when she’d come by before. “I asked if you wanted me to bring the box into the house, or if out here’s okay.”
“Out here is fine.” The new picnic table he’d put on the patio looked inviting.
“Have a seat, I’ll get it.”
“I can—” She shut her mouth, mentally reminding herself that she didn’t live here anymore. “Thanks.” She sat on the bench and leaned her elbows on the tabletop.
Marcus looked right at home here, and she couldn’t help but watch as he headed to the garage. Sunlight fell through the trees and landed on his thick, dark hair and broad shoulders. He wore his usual button-down shirt with jeans. The light blue color looked good on him. She laughed at herself. Whom was she kidding? Everything looked good on him.
“Here it is.” He came out of the garage with the cardboard box. She knew it was heavy. She’d tried to move it the other day, finding it wouldn’t budge. He carried it easily, but did let it thump down hard on his table.
Addie stood, peering over the edge, hoping she’d find something, afraid she wouldn’t. She pulled out wood pieces, examining them, then setting them on the picnic table. Most were just scraps. She’d nearly given up when she reached the last layer of items. She paused.
“Did you find anything?” Marcus asked as he peered into the box, as well.
“I don’t know.” She pulled out the rough piece of wood. Turning it over, she gasped. A horse. It was undeniably a horse’s head. The mane had been carved to follow the grain of the wood. She held it up to him. “It’s beautiful.”
Marcus nodded and smiled. “Anything else?”
“I hope so.” The next piece wasn’t finished, but she could tell it was a toy gun. Other pieces emerged, all of them clearly gifts for her siblings. A set of wooden spoons, certainly for Tara. She laughed when she pulled out the shape that resembled a book. Obviously for Jason.
She frowned, not sure what her dad had thought would fit Mandy. She pulled out a box. There were two pieces, not yet hooked together, but she could see where they would fit perfectly. A jewelry box? A treasure box? Either would fit Mandy.
Addie stared at the pieces scattered across the table. “He made something for each of us.” She ran a hand over the horse’s mane. “He didn’t finish them, but he made them.” She met Marcus’s gaze. “The only one he had time to finish was mine. The wand.”
Her eyes clouded, and she dashed the tears away. Dad wouldn’t have liked her crying, not even happy tears. He was a man who, despite having daughters and a couple of sisters, hadn’t ever been good at dealing with tears.
“He was very talented.” Marcus picked up the box, taking it apart and putting it together, like puzzle pieces it fit so well.
“He loved to be in his workshop. We kids always wanted to go inside, but he said he didn’t want us to get hurt.” She smiled at the memory. “I think he just wanted peace and quiet.”
Marcus nodded, picking up the toy gun. “For DJ, I assume.”
“When he was little he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a cowboy or a soldier...they both had guns.”
“I think this is more a soldier’s gun than a six-shooter.”
“Yeah. Dad had his opinions, too.” She stared at the pieces. “They’re going to love these.”
“When are you going to tell them?”
She looked at him. “It should be something special. But Christmas is too far off, and their birthdays are too scattered.”
“Does it have to be a holiday? Why not just make a normal day special?”
“I guess it doesn’t have to be a holiday. I’m going out for Sunday dinner this weekend. That’s what made me think of coming here tonight. Guess I’ll take them with me.”
The silence of the evening stretched out around them, and she savored the distant crickets singing in the bushes and the breeze in the tree branches overhead.
Another thought occurred to her. Should she tell him about Dex, and her conversation with Lindy. But that would ruin it all. She didn’t want to, but he’d already been concerned about their relationship affecting her job. “Apparently, Ryan shared some of what’s happened between us with Dex.”
“What?” Marcus froze, looking at her with a frown.
“Don’t get upset with Ryan. He needs to have a friend to talk to.” She moved around the table, putting her hand on his arm. “But Dex—” She took a breath. “Has told pretty much everyone at school that you and I are, uh, involved.”
Marcus cursed. “I’m sorry, Addie. I never meant to cause you any trouble.”
“So far, it’s not a problem.” She didn’t move her hand away from his. “I’m getting some interesting looks from my coworkers, though.” Even now, she blushed.
“I’m so—”
She put her finger over his lips to stop his next sentence. “I’m not worried about it. It’s more—” Mortification wasn’t the right word, but she couldn’t put another name to her discomfort. She felt her cheeks warm. “It seems kinda silly to be good, if they know anyway,” she whispered. She looked into his eyes and saw the flash of desire. Had she just propositioned him? What would he think of her?
He smiled against her hand, and she moved her finger away—or rather down. The roughness of his whiskers tickled her fingertip. She traced the edge of his jaw.
“Addie,” he whispered. “I—”
He didn’t say any more. She stood on tiptoe and put her lips to his. He grabbed her, hauling her close.
His kiss was different this time. Harder. Deeper. Hungry. She returned every ounce of the intensity. It seemed like forever since he’d touched her, since she’d been with him.
She leaned into him, grinding her hips into the evidence of his arousal. Her legs grew weak, and the only thing holding her up was him. She wound her arms around his neck, holding tight.
As if some semblance of sanity had returned, he leaned back ever so slightly, and slowed his touch. She whimpered, and he chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered. “Except, maybe here.” He pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “Or maybe here.” He licked the hollow at the base of her throat where her pulse pounded. “Here.” He pushed aside the collar of her blouse, his hot breath slipped into the valley between her breasts.
Her nipples tightened, and she gulpedhard. “Marcus, I want you. I need you.”
“I know, babe.” He gulped in air. “I’m dying here. The boys are in the house. This isn’t the place.” He cursed. “Any secret places you know about around here?”
She shook her head. “My place,” she whispered, nuzzling his neck and kissing his heated skin. She knew as soon as she said it that he wouldn’t leave Ryan alone. And she wouldn’t sneak back here after Ryan was asleep.
“I’m starting to understand why teenage boys are so insane.” He held her, rubbing his hands up and down her back. “This could drive anyone crazy.”
She laughed, and did her own fair share of touching him. “We’ll figure something out. In the meantime—” She pulled away, taking the temptation away from them both. She picked up the box. It was lighter now that it was half-empty. “I’ll take all this and my frustrated self home.”
“Hey,” he said softly.
She stopped and looked back. “Yeah?”
“We will figure this out. I want you.” The words sounded strained and shivered over her nerve endings.
Addie watched as the late-day sunlight slipped through trees and fell over him. The breeze fingering through his hair made her fingers itch to do the same. She almost dropped the box and walked back to him.
“I—” What was she going to say? The words I love you nearly slipped past her lips. Did she? Could she? She took a step back, and away, from him. “I’ll see you soon.”
&n
bsp; She turned and fled as quickly as the box would let her go.
* * *
SUNDAY LUNCH WAS INSANE. There were people everywhere, and barely enough seats to accommodate them. It was like being at a school assembly—except more chaotic. Addie loved them all, but she’d never felt so alone.
They’d spent the morning putting all the details of the barbecue together. It was a tradition at the ranch, going back to Granddad’s day, so it was more assigning duties and picking dates and times than anything.
Addie breathed a sigh of relief when finally, the dishes were all cleared, and the kids headed down to see Tyler’s pet pigs. Only the littlest ones were here, and they were down for naps.
It wasn’t as if silence settled over the house, though. The adults were as noisy as the kids. The only one missing was Jason, and she’d come to accept that he would miss things, living in Los Angeles. This was as good as it was going to get anytime soon.
“I have something in my car,” she leaned over and told Wyatt. “Can you help me bring it in?” She hadn’t told anyone about the box she’d gotten from Marcus’s garage. She’d wanted to surprise them.
She’d decided to wrap them, and that made carrying the box more awkward. Wyatt frowned but followed her. When he saw the bright wrapping paper, his frown deepened.
“Is there some holiday I forgot about?”
“No.” She laughed, feeling just a little bit like it was a holiday. Marcus had been right, though she wasn’t sure she’d tell him that. “You’ll see. Come on.” She grabbed the wooden box with her wand in it, and a couple of smaller packages, and let him get the others. She nearly skipped into the house.
“What’s all that?” Mandy asked.
“Just sit down and you’ll find out.” DJ and Tammie shared a glance, as did Wyatt and Emily. She saw Tara shrug. This was fun.
She’d found tags similar to the ones Dad had put on her package, and she’d written each of their names on them. Now, like they’d done at multiple Christmases, she and Wyatt passed them out.