“It’s the house.” He traced the outline over the glass.
“Yep.”
“And the mountains.”
She nodded.
“Bex.” His voice was hushed.
“All I did was suggest it to Mel. The one she made for Spence was so beautiful I thought you might like one, too.”
“I more than like it.”
He did. That was very obvious. Tate said, “I’m not even going to guess where you want me to hang it. You choose.”
“It’s your kitchen.”
“Doesn’t matter. You choose.”
She found the perfect spot, above the nook for a table and chairs. There was a bay window and the clock was the right size to fit just above it. Bex pointed. “I’d put it there.”
She’d almost said: If this was my house, I’d put it there.
Tate caught her around the waist, his mouth warm as it pressed against hers. He murmured, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She kissed him back.
“I bet there is a hammer around here somewhere and a stray nail or two. I’ll put it up tonight. Did Tripp really help make it?”
She nodded. “Mel did the design, of course, but he cut out the metal. I keep telling her she needs to add the custom clocks to her business, but she’s busy as it is. Maybe she needs an assistant. I do think clocks like this would be in demand.”
“I do, too.”
“Dad! Dad. Come and see! This is really cool.” Ben was trying to whisper, not quite pulling it off. “You’ve got to come out and see.”
Two moose stood at the edge of the pasture. The boys were entranced, quiet for once, just watching as the giant animals grazed. Bex saw that Tate was no less focused.
Minutes later, he turned to her. “This is exactly why I moved here,” he murmured.
“It’s wonderful.”
“Oh, yes, it is.” But he was looking at her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
TATE SIGNED THE BILL of sale and wrote the check. Tripp slapped him on the shoulder as they walked out of the livestock barn. “That mare was a bargain. Clean lines and just the right age.” He was pretty distracted these days.
He hadn’t really seen Bex in two weeks. Two weeks.
Well, he’d seen her, but they hadn’t been together.
She was busy, and he knew that, and he picked up Josh when he got Adam and Ben. She’d decided to move home, so he only saw her briefly and in passing.
He understood that the rental didn’t have enough room for all of them. Not only that, she was used to her independence, her nephew was an unexpected responsibility and she was very involved with expanding her business, but…two weeks?
It wasn’t as if he was free, either—not very often, anyway. The house was all but done. He was going to have furniture delivered today, and they could move in soon. He’d given notice to the rental management company to terminate the lease, the plans for the stable and barn had been altered to match the demands of his warring investors and he should feel that his life was on target.
Not so.
He and Tripp walked out to the truck. “I appreciate you coming along. I thought that horse was worth the price. Thanks for confirming it and for keeping her until the stable’s finished.”
“No problem.”
“Hey, is Hadleigh at the shop today? I need to talk to her for a minute.”
“About Bex?”
He doubted Tripp wanted to hear about his feelings, so he kept it simple. “Yeah.”
“She’s avoiding you.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” He paused, his keys in his hand. “Obviously, your wife has mentioned it. Do you mind telling me why Bex is doing this?”
“I would, but I didn’t ask. Hadleigh said Bex wasn’t talking about you, and that’s about all I heard.”
“I could swear everything was going well.”
Tripp shook his head. “If you’re asking for insights into the female psyche, you’ve come to the wrong guy. When they’re pregnant, it’s even more mystifying.”
That wasn’t his current problem. Three times their first night together, and three condoms. They’d been careful. He just needed to talk to her and find out what was going on. Maybe Bex really was just busy.
Whenever she swung by to pick up Josh, she got the heck out of there as quickly and efficiently as possible. He was glad Greg wasn’t causing her problems, but he missed her.
Hadleigh heard the shop-door bell and came out front. Her smile was warm but there was a cautious light in her eyes. “Hi, Tate.”
The shop was small and cozy. He hadn’t been in lately; he saw that the merchandise was geared toward fall and the holidays at the moment, the quilt colors mostly oranges, dark greens and reds. A maple leaf–patterned one caught his eye and he knew what he was going to buy his Aunt Gina for Christmas.
One problem solved. On to the next.
“Hi, Hadleigh. So, what’s up with Bex?”
That might be a little too straightforward, but school was getting out in fifteen minutes, and he had to be there.
Hadleigh leaned on the counter and to his relief didn’t pretend not to know what he was talking about. “If you want my opinion, she doesn’t like being in love again. It scares her, makes her feel like the safe, solid world she’s struggled to rebuild is sitting on quicksand.”
In love? Had Bex actually said that? Or was it just Hadleigh’s description? He remembered what he’d told Bex about the difference between being in love versus loving someone—and how being in love reminded him of tottering on the edge of a cliff. So he should understand her fears. But…things had changed. He’d become used to the comfort and companionship he’d found with her, and he wanted more of it.
He sighed in frustration.
Hadleigh’s expression was sympathetic. “She obviously needed some space. I know her, and Mel and I have always said that of the three of us, she’s the one who has to have everything clear and logical. For instance, she’s happy Tara is going to leave her disaster of a marriage, but she can’t really grasp her sister leaving Josh with someone else, even her, and even if it’s better for him. I mean, Tara’s right, since she’s sleeping on a couch in a friend’s apartment, and staying that far away from Greg is a good idea all around—but I know Bex can’t quite comprehend it. She could never do it herself.”
He couldn’t, either. No way would he ever leave Ben and Adam with someone else, even Aunt Gina, and just take off the way Tara had.
“I don’t want to push, but couldn’t Bex at least talk to me?”
“She will eventually.” Hadleigh watched him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. “I don’t think she knows what you want from this relationship, Tate. She isn’t the only one not talking as far as I can tell.”
That was a valid point. He wished he could deny it.
“I want her in my life.”
“Great. On what terms?”
He saw Hadleigh touch her charm bracelet, something he’d seen Bex do often enough. He’d asked about the piece—she and Melody and Hadleigh all had duplicates, he’s noticed—and Bex had explained, in somewhat oblique terms, that the charms represented the accomplishment of a goal the three of them shared.
“That bracelet,” he said with a nod toward Hadleigh’s wrist. “It’s beautiful.”
She blushed ever so slightly. “Yes,” she agreed with a nod of her own. “Melody made one for each of us.”
“That’s meaningful,” Tate mused quietly.
“Yes,” Hadleigh said again.
That was when his intuition kicked in, and he knew what that mysterious common goal was—Hadleigh and Melody were both fairly recent brides, and they were both expecting babies. Each charm symbolized a marriage, the start of a new family.
The bracelets were their way of celebrating both the hope and the fulfillment of a dream.
Well, he definitely wanted more children. That was one of his dreams.
But marriage was another matte
r. It wasn’t something he felt ready to attempt again now, if ever. For reasons that had nothing to do with Bex.
“I’m not sure.”
“Then you’d better forgive her for not being sure, either.”
Okay, that made sense.
“I have to pick up the boys from school. I’ve given her space, like you said, but now I’m afraid it’s creating a distance between us. When she comes to get Josh, should I make her discuss this, or still back off?”
Hadleigh’s mouth twitched. “You’ve been extremely patient. With Bex, the direct approach is the best bet. Oh, and by the way, you didn’t hear that from me.”
“Exactly the advice I wanted,” he said, pointing at the display. “I want that quilt. My aunt will love it. Here’s my credit card—you can give it back to me later. Gotta run.”
“Good luck.”
“I’m hoping I won’t need it.”
“Oh,” she said, “you will.”
*
BEX WAS RUNNING LATE, but there was nothing new about that. Balancing the demands on her time was hard, and balancing her personal life with work was even harder.
Staying away from Tate had been so difficult. Almost impossible, in fact, and she had to remind herself why she was doing it.
She was so attracted to him, which was precisely why she’d needed to step back. She felt no regret about making love with him; in any event it had happened, and she couldn’t wish it away. But because of her past—and his—she was still trying to figure out a few things. To find some clarity. At least that was the plan.
That plan wasn’t working.
He was outside, raking leaves, when she pulled in to collect Josh. The boys weren’t exactly helping, since they were leaping through the piles, scattering leaves everywhere. She knew he’d be moving very soon, so he wouldn’t be able to drive Josh to school, and that was minor, but another issue she’d have to resolve.
Just her luck, he looked great in a gray sweatshirt with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, and the usual faded jeans. When did Tate not look great?
“Hello.” She got out and closed the driver’s door.
He leaned on the rake, watching her closely. “Hello, back. Can we talk? As you see, the boys are having fun, so I’ll have to do this yard all over again, but I won’t mind it if we could just…talk.”
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t sensed that he was unhappy with the sudden and unexplained distance between them. However, she hadn’t expected such a direct request.
“We can.” She wasn’t prepared for this conversation. She knew what he was going to ask; what she didn’t know was how she’d answer.
“So what do you think is going to happen next?” he began.
“I’ll take Josh home. I’m making spaghetti.”
He gave her the look she deserved. “We aren’t exactly strangers. Can’t I get a straight answer from you, please?”
“The answer is…I don’t know.”
“You’re running scared, then?”
“You haven’t told me what you want, either, or what you think should happen next.”
“Fair enough,” he said with a shrug that was probably meant to seem nonchalant. “I want you in my life. In my bed. I love you. And I’m not the only one who misses you. The boys have been pestering me half to death about Aunt Bex.” He paused. “I wasn’t planning to ask this yet, but when we move to the ranch, would you consider moving in, too? With Josh, of course. In some ways, it’s your house as much as mine, since you picked out all the important stuff.”
Bex wasn’t entirely taken off guard. She’d had a feeling this question was coming, but she had a very mixed reaction. When Spence had asked Melody to move in with him before they got married, Bex was the one to say, Don’t settle for less than everything.
Because that’s what the pact means.
Back when they’d made the pact, she hadn’t counted on being in the same position as Melody, with even more complicated circumstances. Tate was a package deal. She loved Ben and Adam, now diving gleefully into piles of brilliant leaves with Josh, but being the instant mother to one child was hard enough. Three?
She’d really missed him, too. It had taken a lot of resolve to stay away while she thought it all over. She still hadn’t found the clarity she was searching for, the certainty she needed, but the moment was here.
Tate expected a response. He deserved one, since he’d crawled out on a shaky limb and risked a question that could be met with rejection.
Mel was going to give her hell for this. Hadleigh would have an opinion, too, since she always did.
“We could try it.” The words just came out.
Decision made.
“Josh would love it,” she added.
Tate’s slow smile was worthy of Hollywood. “I was kind of hoping you’d love it, too.”
It was impossible not to throw in a smart-ass comment to deflect the panic. This was a giant step. “The kitchen counter does look good. And there’s that six-burner stove. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I’m really moving in with your kitchen.”
“At the moment I’m thinking it was worth every penny.” He lowered his voice. “I haven’t kissed you in two weeks. Not that I’ve been counting the days or anything.”
He seemed so elated, and that made her happy, too. His happiness deepened her own, and solidified her decision.
“Well, a man with a rake is hard to resist.”
“Oh, yeah?” He strode over and took her in his arms, dropping the rake at one point. She didn’t notice.
Their kiss was swift because they were standing in the driveway on a residential street with children playing nearby, but it was still satisfying.
They broke apart when Josh ran over to hand her a piece of paper. “This is a note from my teacher. I’m not ’sposed to forget.”
He dashed off and she looked at it apprehensively.
Tate correctly interpreted her expression. “Parent-teacher conferences. No big deal. That time of year. You walk in and they explain how the kid’s doing in class, address any concerns and you get his report card. Just like when we were in school—only we’re on the other side now.”
“Oh, okay.” That was a relief, although she had no real idea how Josh was doing in school. Tara hadn’t said. He was just in the first grade, after all.
“Their teacher’s very helpful. She’ll let you know if anything’s going on with Josh. He seems well-adjusted to me, all things considered, and if there was a problem, you would’ve heard by now. I’m going to bet he’s doing okay.”
“I don’t want Greg involved, but I don’t understand how he can just walk away. I don’t even know if the school will talk to me about Josh. I have no official status.” She stared at him. “I should’ve made Tara sign something, giving me temporary custody.”
Tate shook his head. “Don’t worry. This is Mustang Creek they know exactly where he’s living and who’s taking care of him. His teacher will talk to you.” He took her hand and squeezed it lightly. “This isn’t as hard as it seems.”
“You’ve been doing it longer,” she muttered.
“That’s true, and it’s never really easy. I’m not going to pretend it is. But if you make a mistake, and we all do, then dump ballast and adjust.”
“Like a hot-air balloon? There’s an interesting analogy.”
She turned and motioned to Josh. “I’ll ask him if this—moving in here, I mean—is what he wants. It seems to me that the one thing that hasn’t happened is anyone asking Josh anything. I know what his answer will be, but he should have a say.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
He was obviously sincere, and she appreciated his vote of confidence.
Tate would definitely have to start over when it came to the yard. By the time she got Josh into the car, there were leaves everywhere.
Bex waited a few minutes, and once they’d pulled onto the street, she simply asked, “Do you want to move out to the ranch with Ben, Adam an
d Tate?”
“And with you?”
“And with me,” she confirmed. “Of course.”
“Yep.” He grinned and she noticed one of his front teeth was missing. She almost ran the stop sign before turning onto Main. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“My tooth was loose. It fell out. Don’t worry, Aunt Bex, it’s in my pocket. We can put it under my pillow.”
Now she was the tooth fairy?
Not a big deal, maybe, but it was yet another new role in a season of change.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ON MOVING DAY, Tate was grateful for the assistance—and the muscle—of Tripp and Spence. The three of them dealt with the heavier furniture, while Bex, Hadleigh and Melody had no trouble directing them. They’d indicate where a particular piece should go, change their minds, arguing in a sisterly way and then eventually settle on a final destination.
The men all looked at each other whenever a new arrangement was requested and obligingly moved stuff around.
Personally, as long as he had a couch and a place with a view of the mountains, a television nearby, and a side table where he could set down a beer or a cup of coffee, he was content. But having some feminine input was not a bad thing.
When he’d approved the plans for his house, he’d had a picture in mind, but the reality was even better. The river-stone fireplace was a masterpiece, and he could picture snowy winter nights with a cozy fire and Bex in his arms.
She was in the kitchen now, and he could hear her laugh and Melody’s laugh in return, as the boys ran past the window after Muggles, Harley and Ridley, and it felt like…home. Much more so than the big suburban house he’d shared with Sandra.
He dusted off his hands as they set down the last box. “Thanks, guys.”
Spence glanced around at the high beams and log walls. “Hey, this turned out great.”
“Yeah,” Tripp said, nodding. “The location’s perfect for raising horses and kids.”
“I hope so.” Tate took a drink from his bottle of water and wiped his brow. “This is where I’m planning to live forever. Wandering the globe is a learning experience, but I’m ready to just stay put.”
The Marriage Season Page 17