He took off his ball cap and ran his fingers through his hair. His stomach rumbled and he was glad Ilene always had a plate warming for him. Cutting the engine, he slapped his hat back on, grabbed his duffel bag and climbed out of the truck.
As he approached the front door, the muscles in his shoulders tensed. He could hear laughter coming from inside. That was very unusual for the Holbrook house, especially since Kellen’s return from Afghanistan.
The hinges screeched loudly as he pulled the door open. The laughter and talking ceased as Jace walked toward the living room. “Jace must be home,” George said, sounding more upbeat than he had in a while.
A few seconds of silence followed as Jace rounded the corner and entered the living room. With his ball cap low over his eyes, Jace scanned the individuals present.
Kellen sat in his wheelchair, watching Jace with a look of amusement on his usually stony face. George sat in one of the leather chairs, while Ilene was perched on one end of the couch. Both of them were grinning as big as the kids on his baseball team when he’d treated them to ice cream last week.
Jace felt his gut tighten with a feeling of foreboding as his gaze landed on the pretty girl he’d met a few hours ago. She flashed a brilliant smile and waved at him.
***
Caytie’s first impression of her “brother” was that he was hot. When he swaggered in, a warm tingly feeling slipped over her that was anything but sisterly. The brim of his ball cap shadowed his face, but she could see a day’s worth of dark whiskers covering his jaw. His wavy dark hair looked a little long, and curled out from under the back of his hat. He had on a white T-shirt that stretched across a muscular chest, the short sleeves revealing well-developed biceps.
“Jace,” George said. “I’d like you to meet my niece, Caytie Holbrook.”
“Your niece?” he said with a hint of disbelief.
“That’s right. She drove here all the way from California. Caytie this is Jace McAllister.”
Caytie waited for him to say hello, but he just stood there staring at her. Maybe he was the shy type. The cute ones sometimes were. She popped up from her seat and walked over to him, holding out her hand. “Hi, Jace. It’s nice to meet you.”
This close up she could see more of his face and she got the feeling she had met him somewhere before.
Slowly, he took her hand and gave it a firm handshake. “We’ve already met.”
She pulled her hand away and tilted her head, studying his handsome face one more time. “We have? When?” She was pretty sure she would have remembered this guy.
Without saying a word, he dropped his duffel bag to the floor, bent down and unzipped it then pulled out a brown cowboy hat. He removed his ball cap and placed the cowboy hat on his head. Then he crossed his arms over his chest and said, “This afternoon when you ran a red light.”
It was him! The surly cowboy she’d nearly rear-ended. Apparently he needed to be reminded about what had really happened. “The light was yellow, and you pulled out in front of me.”
His dark brown eyes narrowed. “It was red.”
“No,” she said, raising her chin a notch. “It was yellow. The only thing that was red was my car.”
He pushed the brim of his hat back and leaned forward. “Sweetheart, I can promise you I’m seeing red right now.”
“Don’t call me sweetheart, Hay Boy.”
She felt a tiny victory when she noted how much he didn’t like the nickname from his license plate. He started to speak but Uncle George cleared his throat loudly and put a hand to each of their shoulders.
“Okay, kids, that’s enough.” He gave a deep chuckle. “If you all can’t stop calling each other names I’m gonna have to send you to your rooms for a timeout.”
Caytie felt petulant. “He started it.”
“No,” Jace said with a smirk. “You did.”
From behind her she heard Kellen snort. Ilene made a tsk-tsk sound and walked over to stand across from George. “My goodness, you two have obviously met and started out on the wrong foot.” She put one arm around Caytie’s shoulders and gave her a motherly squeeze. “Jace, you’ve been taught to treat ladies with respect. Please apologize and start acting like a gentleman.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His eyes settled on Caytie and he flattened his lips. “I’m sorry I called you sweetheart.”
Kellen made a strangled noise then started to laugh. When everyone turned to look at him, he maneuvered his wheelchair around the sofa, moving toward the kitchen. “I think I’m going to have another piece of pie.”
Caytie noticed the look of wonder on the faces of Ilene, George and Jace as they watched the still laughing Kellen roll out of the living room.
“Well, I’ll be,” George said, his voice cracking with emotion.
“Amazing,” Ilene said, wiping a tear that rolled down her cheek.
“Incredible,” Jace said, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. “That’s the second time today he’s laughed.”
“When was the first time?” Ilene questioned.
Jace pointed at Caytie. “Right after Princess here ran a red light and I had to swerve out of the way and slam on the brakes.”
Chapter 5
Caytie huffed. “How many times do I have to tell you the light was yellow!” Then she narrowed her gaze. “And did you just call me princess?”
“Sorry.” Jace flashed a white-tooth smile and winked at her. “And I’m sorry I pulled out in front of you. I’ll try to be more careful next time.”
Caytie was sort of sad their little tiff was over. As she watched him swagger after Kellen, she couldn’t help liking the sexy, if not crabby, cowboy. She also felt guilty since she probably had been going way too fast through the intersection.
Uncle George scratched his head. “So, uh, you and Jace had a minor altercation today?”
“Sort of.” Caytie sank down on one of the easy chairs. “I may have been driving a little too fast, but he did pull out in front of me.”
“Huh. Well, I’m glad nobody was hurt.”
He sat back down in the other chair across from Caytie as Ilene excused herself and hurried off to the kitchen. Caytie figured she had left the two of them alone so they could finally talk about why she was here and why she didn’t want her father to know about it.
“You ready to tell me what’s going on yet?”
Letting out a big breath, Caytie nodded her head. “I ran away because Daddy is forcing me to marry a man I don’t love or trust.”
She went on to explain how it had been easier to keep dating Edward, just to keep the peace with her father. When she told Uncle George about Edward cheating and then her father announcing her engagement later on that night, his face darkened.
“Richard knew about the other woman and he still wants you to marry this man?”
“Yes.” Deciding not to mention the nuptials were supposed to take place in two months, Caytie pressed a hand to her belly. The stress was making it churn. “And he will make me marry Edward or try to force his hand by cutting me off financially. I don’t have a job and I won’t have access to my trust fund until my birthday.”
She paused as another knot twisted her stomach. The only reason Edward wanted to marry her shortly before her birthday had to be because of her inheritance. Now that she thought about it, he’d frequently talked about how to invest her money in the future. The rat! But what did her father have to do with it?
Feeling even more desperate, she said, “If I could just stay here until then, I plan on going back to California to buy my own condo. In the meantime, I’ll work for you to pay for my room and board.”
Her uncle’s eyes widened. “Hang on there, honey. You don’t need to worry about that. I’m sure Ilene can use your help but it isn’t a requirement.” He shook his head. “My little brother always did dance to the beat of a different drum. I never could talk any sense into him. I doubt he’ll listen now.”
“You can’t call him, Uncle George. I don’t wan
t him to know where I am.”
“I won’t call him.” He reached over and patted her on the knee. “And I doubt he’ll call me, but if he does I’ll protect you.”
Caytie felt the tension leave her and she smiled. “Thank you, Uncle George. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you had turned me away.” Her bottom lip quivered as tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t try to see you before this. To be honest, up until yesterday I really believed I didn’t have a single living relative. Dad had thoroughly erased you from our lives, and I’m ashamed to admit that I was so caught up in myself that I forgot all about you.”
“Oh now, don’t you worry about it, sweetie. The important thing is that you’re here now. And you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. Forever if you want.”
The invitation was so sweet but Caytie loved California. She loved the ocean. She loved to shop, and she was itching to travel to places like Italy and Paris. But keeping in touch with this kind man was something she was determined to do.
“I appreciate the offer, and I promise once I have my own place, I plan on visiting you again.” She blinked away the moisture in her eyes. “Maybe you could even come and visit me?”
The soft look on her uncle’s face was so foreign to her, and it made her realize how cold and distant her father really was. How could two brothers be so different?
“I just might do that,” he said, in his deep gravelly voice.
A round of laughter coming from the kitchen punctuated the air. Caytie saw her uncle’s eyes light up even more. “Those rascals are gonna eat all of the pie if we don’t get on in there.”
Caytie wanted to join in on the fun, but she was leery of another confrontation with Jace. The cowboy made her feel edgy as if she’d had one too many Diet Cokes. “You go ahead without me. I’d like to unpack and get settled, if that’s okay with you?”
He stood up and gave her a wink. “Honey, you can do whatever it is you like. I want you to make yourself at home.”
Her throat tightened with emotion as she stood up and gave her uncle another hug. Home. Had she really ever had that before?
George patted her on the back and then pressed a kiss into her hair. “It’s good to have you here, Caytie Bug.”
More laughter rang out from the kitchen and Caytie stepped back. “You better get in there before it’s too late.”
Uncle George gave her a thumb up and hurried off to the kitchen. Caytie made her way up the stairs, and paused in the hall so she could study the pictures a little more closely. The cowboy with the huge belt buckle was Jace. He was skinnier then but still just as handsome. She wondered what event he had won, and whether or not he still participated in rodeos. She’d never been to a rodeo before and hoped she might get the chance while she was here.
Moving toward her room, she opened the door and stepped into the pink room. Just knowing the room had been decorated with her in mind made it feel like home. She unpacked both of her suitcases. As she hung up the clothes she’d brought with her, she couldn’t help thinking about all the clothing she’d had to leave behind. Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of clothes.
Maybe she could contact an attorney to see if there was any way she could get access to her trust fund early. In the back of her mind she worried that somehow her dad would figure out a way to block Caytie from ever getting her inheritance. If that happened, what would she do? As much as she loved Uncle George, she couldn’t stay in Montana indefinitely. She also knew that living under her father’s rule was no longer an option. Not after tasting freedom, if only for a day.
She sat down on the bed and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to head off a potential panic attack. She hadn’t had too many of those, but when they did come it wasn’t a pleasant experience. She practiced her yoga breathing again, drawing in a deep breath through her nose and exhaling through her mouth. There was no reason to believe her father could actually interfere with Grandma Rose’s will. If he’d had the means, he would’ve already done something about it.
Feeling a little better, she started for the bathroom to find a place for her toiletries. As she reached for the knob, she heard a door slam and then the sound of someone inside the bathroom using the facilities. Caytie patiently waited to see if he would vacate the bathroom, but knew her final unpacking would have to wait until he was done showering.
While she dug out her favorite scented lotion from inside her bag, she tried not to think about how strange it felt to know Jace was in the next room. While the whole scene might be normal for a family, the two of them were not related. She’d never once had to share a bathroom with anyone, and she hoped Jace was as clean as Ilene claimed him to be. She also hoped he didn’t leave the toilet seat up.
Chapter 6
Jace reached over and slapped his hand to shut off the alarm. With one eye he looked at the time and groaned. He must have hit the snooze button at least three times. It was close to seven and he needed to get up, no matter how poorly he’d slept.
At least he had a full day of work ahead of him to keep him awake and occupied. It was a good thing because he needed to keep his mind on something other than George’s pretty niece. She wasn’t his type, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Last night he’d had a hard time falling asleep, especially when he’d heard her putting all her girly stuff away in his bathroom.
He shoved back the sheets and swung his feet around to the floor. It kind of irked him that he would now have to share his bathroom with someone else. He didn’t like change. For a kid who had lived in constant upheaval, the stability George offered him twelve years ago had given Jace a sense of security and comfort he’d never known.
Lately, it seemed as if Jace’s life had been turned upside down. First Kellen’s injury, then his favorite horse had gone lame and now Caytie had come to shake things up. Then there was the matter of him inadvertently asking Victoria on a date. Why hadn’t he insisted on waiting until Kayden could go with them? He knew their relationship would never be the same, which meant more change.
Feeling irritable about the alterations in his life, he padded across the floor to the bathroom. He twisted the knob, only to find it locked. Great. Caytie must have forgotten to unlock the door. Then he heard the sound of running water and realized the princess had gotten up early and was taking a shower. She better not use up all of the hot water.
Not bothering to change out of his pajama bottoms, Jace pulled on a white T-shirt and hurried down the stairs to use the bathroom off of the kitchen. Just as he exited the bathroom, he saw Kellen coming out of the exercise room George had set up in one of the spare rooms when Jace had gotten into weight lifting his junior year of high school.
Jace stopped and stared, astonished to not only find Kellen up at this hour, but to see he was also using his crutches. The kids gray T-shirt had splotches of sweat, which meant he’d been working out but without Jace. He’d been trying to get Kellen to lift weights and keep up with his physical therapy since he’d come home.
“Morning, sleepy head,” Kellen said. His voice was playful and the smile he wore actually reached his eyes.
“Morning.” Jace grinned and walked toward him, glad to be able to look at Kellen eye to eye. “Wow, I forgot you’re not a shrimp anymore.”
“Yeah,” Kellen said, leaning onto his crutch and flexing one of his arms. “And pretty soon I’ll be ripped so you better watch out.”
From what Jace could see, Kellen’s upper body had benefitted from using his wheelchair the past few months. “I’m impressed. Do you mind if I join you tomorrow?” Jace was dying to know what had transpired to make Kellen start working out and using his crutches. Maybe he’d finally gotten through to him.
Kellen shrugged. “Sure. Caytie’s tough, though. She didn’t let up on me, even though I tried to tell her I’m a cripple.”
Caytie? “What are you talking about?”
“Before you got home last night, I showed her the weight room. She’s used to working out with
some dude from Hollywood and asked if I would be interested in being her partner. She doesn’t like working out alone and says she needs me to help keep her motivated.” Kellen grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. “I couldn’t help being motivated myself. She is very…inspiring wearing shorts and a tank top.”
The muscles in Jace’s gut tightened with something that felt like envy. He couldn’t decide if he was bugged because Caytie had been the one to get Kellen to snap out of his funk, or if it was because Kellen was a man now and was obviously smitten with Caytie.
“It sounds like three might be a crowd.”
Kellen stared at Jace for a few seconds, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that had been absent until now. “Are you jealous?”
Maybe. “No. I don’t think Caytie likes me all that much and I don’t want you to stop working out.”
“She doesn’t dislike you. She just thinks you’re a little on the grumpy side.”
Jace narrowed is gaze, feeling very grumpy. “I am not. She just brings out the worst in me.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” Kellen laughed and sidled past Jace with his crutches so expertly Jace realized the kid hadn’t lost any ground he’d gained with physical therapy. “I’m going to Grandma’s to grab a shower. I’ll see you in a few for breakfast.”
Feeling off kilter, Jace stood there and watched Kellen disappear through the door. The scent of baking bread and bacon drifted on the air and his stomach rumbled. Knowing he would get plenty of exercise today working with a new horse to train, he decided to forego his usual workout and headed back upstairs to shower so he could eat with Kellen.
Much to his annoyance, the bathroom door was still locked. He loudly rapped his knuckles on the door, not caring if Caytie thought he was grumpy or not. “You done in there, yet?”
“Just a second,” she answered cheerfully.
Frustrated, he jammed his fingers through his hair and then leaned his forehead against the door, vowing tomorrow he would not sleep in. Suddenly the door opened and he scrambled on his feet, trying not to fall flat on his face. “What the—”
Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2) Page 4