by Fox, Calista
“She has great instinct and insight. She’s a hard worker too.”
“I think this is exactly the project she needed. Something bigger and more challenging than her B&B. She lost her passion for it because of her ex, but this inn has her undivided attention.”
“Almost,” Sam joked.
Caleb grinned. “Thankfully she can juggle the inn and me.”
Sam was quiet as he put more thought into the situation, then said, “You need to take her to Dallas on Saturday. Let her meet Dad and Judith.”
With a shake of his head, Caleb said, “Not a chance in hell. They’d chew her up and spit her out. Look at her. I’m not sending a lamb into the lion’s den no matter how crazy I am about her.”
“That’s your problem right there,” Sam said with the stern, older-brother voice he only used when needing to drill a point into Caleb’s sometimes stubborn head. “You keep her under wraps and it’ll be hell to pay when everyone finds out about her.”
He groaned. “I know. But it’s not fair to subject her to our family.”
“I’ve seen the way the two of you look at each other. And you practically feed off the other’s ideas. There’s something there, Caleb. Don’t fuck it up by trying to shield her. You’ve seen Judith go to work before. Don’t make my mistake by thinking you can ‘eventually’ spring her on our parents. It’ll never happen.”
Caleb removed his hat and raked a hand through his hair. Sam was perpetually single because the only woman he’d ever loved had caved under the pressure of Dallas—and Bennett—society when he’d finally brought her around.
“Reese seems resilient. And don’t forget…I’ll be there to help run interference.”
Caleb groaned. Of course he wanted to take her to the party. But he didn’t want her tangled in family politics.
Giving more thought to what Sam said though, Caleb knew if he was truly serious about Reese—and he was—he had to let her presence in his life known.
Sooner rather than later.
So that night, as he and Reese lay in bed, he said, “Sam and I are going to a party in Dallas on Saturday. Interested in attending?”
“What’s the occasion? New Year’s Eve isn’t until next Monday.”
He didn’t bother mentioning the new jewelry bestowed upon his mother at Thanksgiving, just said, “There typically isn’t one. It’ll be a quaint shindig of two or three hundred of our parents’ closest friends and relatives.”
She whistled under her breath. “They call that a quaint shindig?”
“It won’t be without ulterior motives from both my mother and my father. But I’d like to introduce you around.”
With a smile, she asked, “As what? New manager of your imaginary inn?”
“Well, there is that.” He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “But I was thinking more along the lines of my girlfriend.”
Her brow crooked. “Girlfriend?”
“Yeah.” He kissed her. “You have a problem with that?”
“Not in theory. But the label seems kind of youthful for a thirty-one-year-old divorcee.”
“I’d introduce you as my sex goddess, but that might not go over too well.”
“Ha, ha.”
He grinned. “What would you prefer, darlin’? Significant other? I’m more than okay with that.”
“For now, why don’t you just introduce me as Reese?”
His grin faded. “I don’t mind everyone knowing about us.”
“Neither do I. But maybe it’s best if we let them draw their own conclusions. I’m sure it’ll be obvious, considering how difficult it is for me to take my eyes off you.”
“Well, you know, Sam usually gets all the women’s attention.”
“I doubt it. He’s pretty amazing, yes. But doesn’t quite hold a candle to you.”
Caleb didn’t want to delve into the gold-digging factor in his or his brother’s lives. They’d both been played. Sam’s real love, however, had been thwarted by their parents. And he’d never given a relationship a second chance after that. Not that he was bitter per se. Caleb thought his brother was more of a realist. Being an heir to the kind of fortune they both were meant everyone in the family thought they had a say in what the brothers did and certainly who they dated.
Of course the thought agitated Caleb. It wouldn’t matter how beautiful or genuine Reese was, his mother would find fault in her because she was simple and grounded. Perfect in Caleb’s mind. Which would never do for Judith Bennett because she lived to be a big-shot diva. Reese would prove to be too country mouse for his mother. The Glam Goddess simply wouldn’t get her.
But he knew Sam had a valid point. Even if Caleb tried to hide his new relationship, his mother would eventually ferret it out. In doing so, she’d likely make Reese’s life a living hell whenever Caleb brought her around in the future—her way of getting back at him for keeping a secret.
So showing her off was his only solution. But he did warn her, “Remember when you said you should come with cautionary signs?”
“Yes.”
“Now it’s my turn to say that. Don’t take anything my family—other than Sam—says as gospel. They’re of the ‘you should be just like us’ variety. Know what I mean?”
She smiled. “I’ll completely underwhelm them, I have no doubt. But if that bothered you, you wouldn’t ask me to go.”
“Damn,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “You do catch on quick.”
“I can keep my shoulders squared.”
“That’s my girl.” He kissed her, then amended, “Woman.”
* * * * *
Caleb had to chuckle come morning when he rolled over and discovered he was sleeping alone. The smell of coffee and waffles told him exactly where he’d find his missing bedmate.
He hauled himself up, showered and dressed. Reese’s soft laughter met his ears as he entered the living room and found her at the table in the nook with Sam. Another platter full of food sat in the center. He settled in next to her and handed over a small, baby-blue box.
“Merry Christmas.”
She eyed him curiously. “Tell me you did not break our rule of keeping the gift exchanges simple and practical. Nothing outrageous.”
“I heard you loud and clear.”
Her low snort made Sam laugh. He said, “You do tend to have Dad’s overboard mentality when it comes to gift giving, Caleb.”
“I stuck to the guidelines,” he insisted. “I promise.”
Reese pulled the white satin bow. “You know, I’ve seen this packaging at Liza’s before. If this is jewelry, you are in very big trouble.”
“You like your little gold hoop earrings. I know.”
She lifted the lid and stared at the claim ticket nestled inside the folds of white satin. Caleb grinned.
“I borrowed the box from Liza. Just to throw you off. Had you a little nervous, didn’t I?”
“I knew it wasn’t a ring, so don’t look so damn smug.” Pulling out the paper, she asked, “What’d I win?”
“There’s a saddle waiting for you at the tack and saddle shop in town. Fully outfitted. I picked it out myself and I’m pretty sure you’re going to like it.”
Her smile was a dazzling one. “You bought me a saddle so I can go riding with you?”
“Yes I did, darlin’.”
“It’s the perfect gift,” she said as she leaned over and kissed him. “And while I am sure it is much more than you should have spent on me, I can’t wait to try it out.”
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear it.” She’d expressed interest in riding, and that had meant a lot to him.
Standing, she said, “I have something for both of you.” She retrieved two packages from under the tree she’d put up a week or so ago when he and Sam had been out at the ranch.
She set the stacked gifts on the table and handed one to each of them. They tore the wrapping and both grinned at the same time.
“Reese, honey,” Sam said, “this is a dam
n good Christmas present.”
They were the same—a framed sketch of the welcome sign that would sit in the inn’s front yard. They’d agreed to the wording she’d presented, but Reese had also had Ginger, who’d obviously produced the drawings, add to the signage, “Bennett Brothers, Proprietors. Established 2012.”
Caleb actually felt a bit choked up with the visual evidence of the legacy he and his brother were building. The outcome of their venture seemed much more attainable as he held the sketched sign in his hands.
“Yeah, kid,” Sam said, as though he read his thoughts, knew the emotion that flowed through him. “You’re really doing this.”
“No,” Caleb told him with a shake of his head. “We’re really doing this. All of us.” He set aside the frame and reached for Reese’s hand. “You’re as much a part of this as Sam and I. And the three of us make one hell of a team.”
“Thank you for including me,” she said, her voice cracking. “All this time, I knew I was missing out on something. But I didn’t know what it was until I met you.” She turned to Sam. “And you. Kinda the brother I never had.”
“We’re more than a team,” Sam said. “We’re family.”
This brought tears to Reese’s eyes that Caleb swept away. “Now darlin’, you know how I feel about that.” He winked at her though, because he was feeling moved himself.
“Hey, we’re not quite done.” Sam leaped up and strolled over to the tree. A tiny gift bag hung on one of the hearty limbs.
Caleb suspected Reese had never noticed it, since she gaped in surprise.
Returning to the table, Sam set the bag in front of her and said, “I made a special purchase. I hope you’ll both indulge me.”
“What did you do?” she asked in apparent anticipation.
Digging into the itty-bitty bag filled with tissue, she extracted a key. She stared quizzically at Sam, who grinned. Then her gaze shifted to Caleb. He shrugged. He knew nothing about Sam’s present.
“What does this open?” she asked.
Sam pulled his wallet from his back pocket and fished out a photo that he handed over. “I know you’re going to offer a warm welcome to everyone who comes to the inn, but I thought I’d lend you a hand with this. I snapped the shot at the design studio. It’s ready to be picked up when the foyer is done.”
She stared at the picture. Caleb looked over her shoulder. He nodded. “That is country elegance at its finest. Nice job, Sam.”
The double arched doors were oversized and painted dove-gray. The large, crystal-cut insets in their centers were intricate and caught the light in the studio, creating a spectacular prism of color. The sun would provide the same effect and it would be sensational, Caleb had no doubt.
“I know it’s not exactly personal,” Sam said, “but I thought every time you walked through those doors you’d feel like you were stepping into someplace special. An inn brought to life by your vision.”
“Ah geez, you guys.” She pressed two fingers to her lips as though to keep them from trembling.
Caleb extended a hand to his brother and said, “You nailed it, bro.”
They shook, then Reese gave Sam a hug. At that moment, Caleb knew his brother had been right about needing to introduce Reese to their parents. He wanted their own, small family unit to work and that meant dealing with the bigger issue at hand, particularly finding a way to assimilate Reese to the Bennett extravagance while also shielding her from their ruthless sides.
Unfortunately he didn’t hold as much hope for a successful outcome with that venture as he did his business undertaking.
* * * * *
The party came upon them much too quickly. Caleb wasn’t in a particular hurry to take Reese home to meet the folks, but the day had arrived.
Over breakfast, she asked, “How long will it take us to get to Dallas tonight?”
“It’s about a four-hour drive from here,” Sam said. “But Dad’s sending the Lear.”
Her gaze snapped up from her plate. “Excuse me?”
With a chuckle, Sam explained, “The G4 is bringing in a group from Houston, so we’re stuck with the second-string airplane.”
“Yeah, right.” Her eyes widened. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
Caleb could sense, deep in his bones, the panic skittering through her.
“Now Reese,” Sam said, before Caleb could get a word in. “The thing about our family is that they’re mostly for show. They like to flaunt what they have. So take ’em with a grain of salt. If you let them pick away at you, they’ll use your weakness to their advantage. They’re all highly skilled at manipulation for their own personal benefit.”
Her gaze slid to Caleb and her brow lifted. “One, I’m not showy. Two, I’m not exactly in a place in my life where I feel particularly confident.”
He grinned at her. “Darlin’, I wouldn’t take you if I didn’t think you could hold your own. And as Sam pointed out to me some time ago, if I try to keep you under wraps, it’ll just make them more determined to find fault with you.”
“Just be yourself,” Sam said. “Don’t second-guess anything or wonder if you’ve said the right thing or not. Don’t think twice about it. The more grounded you are, the less likely they’ll be to trip you up. It’s strictly arrogance on their part. Once they know your feet are firmly planted, they won’t try to knock you off ‘em.”
Collecting his empty plate, Sam stood and took it into the kitchen.
Reese said, “He didn’t give that advice to someone who meant something to him, did he?”
“No, he did not. He took the opposite approach, because he was already in hot water over being with Charlotte for nearly two years without telling anyone. Until they starting discussing a wedding. Then he brought her home. My mother was livid—mostly because she was embarrassed he was springing Charlotte on them at a party, where all her friends wondered why she didn’t know he was serious enough about a woman to propose marriage.”
“I can see where that would sting.”
Caleb nodded. “Yes. I agree. But he had a good reason for wanting to keep her from the family. She was very sweet and unpretentious and he didn’t want anyone pushing her buttons, knowing it would fluster her. And hurt her feelings. That’s not going to happen with you, I promise.”
She drew in a deep breath, let it out slowly. “How can you be so sure?”
No doubt, the look he gave her was one of pure admiration. He felt it to the core of his being. “Because I saw you take on your ex-husband. You stand up for yourself, Reese. That’s why no one’s gonna mess with you tonight. Plus,” he leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I won’t let them.”
He kissed her forehead, then went back to his breakfast.
She was quiet a few moments as Sam returned and poured another cup of coffee from the carafe resting on a trivet. Then she stood. “I have to visit Liza. I’m going to need a dress. What’s the attire?”
“Black tie optional,” Sam said. To Caleb he asked, “You did pack your tux, right?”
“In the garment bag hanging in the closet. I know better.” His attention shifted to Reese. “Now don’t feel as though you have to go all out. There’s no one you have to compete with, darlin’.”
“I’m meeting your parents,” she said. “I have no choice but to go all out.”
She picked up her plate and mug and disappeared around the corner.
Sam said, “Think we sufficiently scared the shit out of her.”
“Yeah, but that’s a good thing. She walked away with her shoulders squared, didn’t she? That is not a woman to be backed into a corner. You were right about taking her, and I’m damn glad she agreed. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is how we feel about each other. The family drama can’t split us up.”
Sam’s brow furrowed. He reached for his cup and took a sip of coffee.
Caleb said, “Okay, your silence speaks volumes. But she’s not Charlotte. I’ve seen her in action and I’ve got faith in her. Plus I learned a le
sson from you. I won’t let them do to Reese what they did to Charlotte.”
“I hope not. Just remember they work behind the scenes as much as they operate up front.”
“Point taken. Let’s get moving.” They had work to do at the ranch. They planned to meet up with Reese around six at the B&B so they could be on their way to Austin, where the Lear would be waiting for them.
Caleb felt confident he had everything under control.
* * * * *
Liza had once been immersed in Manhattan society and Reese knew she was the person to consult when it came to glamming it up for a big to-do. Not to mention, they were the same size.
Although she would certainly heed Caleb and Sam’s warning—and stay true to herself—she knew she’d have more confidence if she appeared a little closer to fitting in with Caleb’s family.
Liza threw open the double doors to her closet and said, “Take your pick!”
“Good grief, girlfriend.” Reese shook her head as she stepped inside. “This isn’t a closet—it’s a celebrity-sized dressing room.”
“Jack knocked down the wall to the adjoining spare bedroom and added all the shelves and racks and jewelry towers. He didn’t realize I’d only brought a couple bags of clothes with me when I left New York. Everything else had gone into storage while I decided whether to stay in Texas. Once I’d shipped the rest of my wardrobe here, it was quite clear I’d run him out of his own closet if he didn’t make room for me.”
“You’d need every inch of storage space in this house if he hadn’t built this area for you.”
“True. Now, what are you looking for?”
She’d told Liza when she’d phoned earlier that she needed a dress for a Dallas society party. She said, “It’s black tie optional, but Caleb is wearing a tux, so I need formal.”
“Back wall,” she said with a gesture of her hand.
Reese’s gaze swept over the gowns. On her way to the far wall, she pulled out a stunning turquoise dress with a bejeweled collar.
Liza laughed at the selection. “I love that dress. The first time I wore it in town, though, Lydia called me a disco ball at a wake.”