“Using me to get close to Tripp was bad enough. Discovering he already had a girlfriend...” Hailey exhaled a heavy sigh.
Two lines of worry formed between Kathy’s brows. “I hope you won’t let your experience with him bias you against other men. There are still good guys out there.”
An image of Winn Ferris flashed before her. A good guy? Um, sure. Hailey was almost positive if Winn was a cowboy he’d wear a white hat. Then again, he looked really good in black.
“Is there anyone in Jackson Hole you might be interested in dating?”
Despite her mother’s casual tone, Hailey wasn’t fooled. This was a fishing expedition. She lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug. “I don’t think it’s wise to start a relationship with someone who lives here. Not until I decide if I’m going to remain in Jackson Hole permanently.”
Kathy opened her mouth, but appeared to think for a minute before she spoke. “Remaining here, of course, has to be your decision.”
While it might be Hailey’s decision, she knew her mother would continue to do everything in her power to entice her to stay. Kathy loved having her daughter back in Wyoming. The truth was, Hailey appreciated Jackson Hole far more than she had when she was young. Back then, she couldn’t get out of town quick enough. But her time away had taught her that big cities, while exciting, could also be lonely places.
“Just for the record, I don’t agree you should put your social life on hold.” Her mother removed the knife and potato from Hailey’s fingers then reached across the table and took her hands. “You’re a beautiful, intelligent, vibrant young woman. You should be going out and having fun.”
“I have fun,” Hailey protested. “Cassidy and I went to a movie last week.”
There was more Hailey could tell her. Lots more. She’d gone shopping for maternity clothes with Anna. She’d had dinner with an old friend from high-school days. But her mom wasn’t talking about fun with friends and family. She wanted Hailey to find someone special, like the man she’d found forty years earlier.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Winn.”
Ah, Hailey thought, now they’d reached the heart of the matter.
“I watch Cam during the day.” Hailey kept her tone offhand, wondering why she was being forced to point out the obvious. “I’m off at five and free every weekend.”
“Suzanne Duggan mentioned she saw you with Winn and his son at Perfect Pizza earlier this week,” Kathy said pointedly. “In the evening.”
Suzanne, mother of Dr. Tim Duggan, was Kathy’s good friend. She was also a woman known for having her finger on the community pulse.
“Winn was hungry for pizza and asked if I wanted to join them for dinner. Because I was also in the mood for pizza, I accepted his invitation. Do you or Suzanne have a problem with that?” There was a challenge in Hailey’s softly spoken words, one she was certain her mother caught.
Neither of her parents had seemed particularly happy when she told them she’d agreed to watch Cam for the summer. She wasn’t sure if they thought she’d shut the door on other options by taking this on. Or, perhaps, it was the increased contact with Winn that worried them.
“Cam seems like a wonderful child.” Her mother spoke slowly, appearing to choose her words carefully. “Your father certainly took right to him.”
Since Winn had a lengthy conference call planned for the afternoon and Hailey had errands to run, she and Cam left the condo right after lunch. Once the errands were completed, she’d decided to pay her parents a visit.
When they’d driven up, her dad had been getting into the rusty red pickup he’d purchased new when Bon Jovi topped the rock charts. After a few minutes of getting acquainted, he’d asked Cam if he wanted to help him check on the cattle.
When her dad had plopped his cowboy hat on the boy’s head, Cam had hopped into the truck with Bandit on his heels and grinned as if Santa had come down the chimney.
“That’s the best thing about watching a child that age.” Hailey spoke quickly, eager to make her mother understand that watching Cam was a pleasure, not a chore. “Cameron is a great kid. He’s content playing at home with his toy soldiers. But he also likes to hop in the car and go places. He was all for making the trip out here. Especially when I told him Bandit could come along.”
“I imagine Winn was relieved to have the place to himself.” Kathy’s voice cut precisely through the air.
“Actually, we could have stayed as long as we kept the noise down. Or, I could have taken Cam to my place.”
“It seems to me it’d be easier if Winn simply allowed you to watch the boy at your place.” A hint of censure laced her mother’s tone.
“We discussed that option.” Hailey turned the unpeeled potato in her hand. “But Winn wants Cam to become familiar with his condo, and to begin to think of it as home.”
Kathy raised a skeptical brow.
“I know you don’t like Winn—”
“Wherever did you get that idea?” Kathy gave a little laugh, refusing to meet Hailey’s gaze. She busied herself inspecting the potatoes.
“You haven’t liked him since he went after Anna while Tripp was on the fence.”
“Your brother was never on the fence.” Her mother’s voice rose. “Not when it came to Anna.”
Hailey had hit a nerve and they both knew it. Still, she said nothing. She began to peel the potato with slow, deliberate movements.
“Perhaps Tripp was slow to pursue Anna,” Kathy admitted after several long seconds had passed. “It wasn’t because he didn’t care. After what happened to Gayle, I think he was scared to love again.”
“Winn didn’t do anything wrong by flirting with Anna,” Hailey insisted.
“He knew Tripp liked Anna, yet he made a play for her.” Kathy’s lips thinned. “I’ve heard your Mr. Ferris considers a woman available unless she has a ring on her finger.”
“First off, he’s not my...anything.” Hailey waved a hand, ignoring the little pinch to her heart the words engendered. “Second, technically a woman is available unless there’s a ring on her finger. And last, it’s not fair to judge a man on such little evidence. Trust me. Winn’s a nice guy.”
“I suppose I can give him the benefit of the doubt,” was all her mother said and shifted the conversation to dinner.
Tonight her parents would feast on pot roast with new potatoes, carrots, cabbage and baking-powder biscuits. The savory combination was her father’s favorite meal.
Hailey’s stomach emitted a little growl as the delicious aroma of perfectly spiced beef wafted through the house.
Hearing the sound, Kathy smiled. “Would Winn mind if you and Cam stayed for dinner?”
Hailey thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. He likes to spend as much time with Cam as he can.”
“It seems odd he’s so concerned now, considering he hadn’t seen the child in years.”
“That was because of Cam’s mother, Vanessa. She—”
The back screen door swung open with a bang. Seconds later Hailey’s dad, along with Cam and Bandit, burst into the kitchen.
“Something smells good.” Frank bent over and gave his wife a quick kiss before he flashed a smile in his daughter’s direction.
“How’d it go?” Hailey kept her tone low, casting a glance at Cam, who stood intently watching Bandit drink from a large water bowl.
Frank clapped a hand on the child’s back, startling him. “The cattle were mighty glad to see us. Weren’t they, boy?”
Cam looked up. “Th-they came up t-to the truck. B-but I wasn’t scared.”
“Boy was a big help.”
Hailey heard the approval in her father’s voice and knew from the child’s flush of pleasure that Cam caught it, too.
“I need to make a couple quick calls about some supplies then
I’ll wash up for dinner.” Frank abruptly left the room, turning down the hall leading to his home office.
Cam scuffed the toe of his sneaker into the floor, looking forlorn now that the rangy man with the weathered face and salt-and-pepper hair had left.
Pushing back her chair, Hailey rose and gave Cam a conspiratorial smile. “I know it isn’t usually a good idea to eat sweets before a meal. But my mom made chocolate-chip cookies this morning. I’m dying to have one.”
Cam’s eyes brightened. “I like cookies.”
Though her mother had never been a fan of eating between meals, Kathy sighed and grabbed the jar from the counter.
“It’s a cookie pig,” her mother told Cam. “He loves cookies.”
The child studied the jar shaped like a fat pink pig for several seconds. When she removed the lid, Cam reached inside and grabbed one. “Thank you.”
Kathy smiled and tousled his hair. “You’re very welcome.”
While her mother was still in the giving spirit—and before she put the pig’s head back on—Hailey snatched one.
“Oh, what the heck.” Kathy took one for herself before turning to the refrigerator to get Cam a glass of milk.
Cam gazed down at the cookie. “Grandma Jan made cookies with M&M’s.”
Hailey paused, curious. Grandma Jan?
Once Cam had his milk and they were all seated at the table, Hailey broke off a piece of cookie and spoke in a conversational tone. “Where does Grandma Jan live?”
“With Grandpa Larry.” Cam chomped into the cookie.
Kathy stifled a laugh behind a cough. “I believe Hailey was asking what town they lived in.”
“In Dunwoody. On Meadowcreek Drive. I know the phone number,” the boy said eagerly. “Want me to tell you?”
Hailey shook her head. As she’d had a sorority sister who’d grown up there, she recognized the name of the affluent suburb north of Atlanta. Were these the same grandparents who’d cared for Cam after his mother’s death? The ones who’d been so reluctant to turn the boy over to Winn?
“Grandpa Larry used to take me fishing.” Cam’s expression grew wistful. “Grandma Jan was teaching me how to play the piano.”
This was the most the boy had spoken—and without hesitation—since Hailey had met him. “Are Larry and Jan your mommy’s mom and dad?”
“No.”
Hailey’s blood froze at the sharp response. Recognizing Winn’s voice, she turned slowly. She’d been so engrossed in the conversation that she hadn’t heard a knock at the door or the sound of a single footstep in the hall.
She glanced at her father. He must have let Winn inside. Hailey resisted the urge to shoot him a chiding look. The least he could have done was given some kind of warning that they had company.
Winn followed her father into the room, looking mouthwateringly good in navy pants and a thinly striped cotton shirt.
Hailey’s cheeks burned. Dear God, she hoped Winn wouldn’t think she’d been pumping Cam for information. What was he doing here, anyway? He’d told her the conference call would go right up to five o’clock.
Glancing at the clock, Hailey winced. Nearly six. She pulled to her feet. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time. But you didn’t need to drive all the way out here. I’d have brought him home.”
“I was in the area.”
It was a lie. It had to be. What business could Winn have way out here? And why hadn’t he simply called or texted her?
Winn turned to Cam. “Ready to go, sport?”
The boy shook his head. “I haven’t finished my cookie.”
“Cookie?”
Hailey stifled a groan.
The boy held up half of the cookie he had left for his father’s inspection. “It’s l-like the ones Grandma Jan makes. It’s real g-good.”
A muscle in Winn’s jaw jumped.
Hailey opened her mouth to tell Winn that she’d been the one to offer the treat so close to suppertime. If he was going to be angry at anyone, it should be her.
Winn offered his son an easy smile. “Chocolate-chip cookies are my favorite.”
It wasn’t at all what Hailey expected him to say.
Cam turned to Hailey’s mom. “My daddy likes cookies. C-can he have one, too?”
Winn stilled, a light flaring in those hazel eyes.
Hailey’s heart thumped unevenly. As far as she knew, this was the first time since arriving in Jackson Hole that Cam had referred to Winn as his “daddy.”
“I—I—” This time it was the normally loquacious Winn Ferris who stuttered.
“Of course he can have a cookie.” Hailey hurriedly retrieved the pig from the counter.
Cam had moved to his father’s side and was tugging on his sleeve.
“It’s a cookie pig.” The boy spoke in a loud whisper. “He loves to eat cookies. Just like you and me.”
Hailey held out the jar and tried not to smile.
“Thanks.” Winn absently took a cookie then glanced around the room as if taking everything in: the bowl of peeled potatoes on the table, the slow cooker on the counter and the pie cooling on a rack.
Hailey saw the kitchen through his eyes. The room radiated warmth, home and love.
A half smile lifted Winn’s lips before he placed a hand on Cam’s shoulder. “Time we get going.”
“If you don’t have plans for dinner—” Kathy spoke hurriedly as Cam’s face took on a mulish expression “—we’d love for you to join us. It’s nothing fancy—”
“Just the best pot roast west of the Mississippi,” Frank interjected, speaking for the first time since he and Winn had entered the kitchen. “Stay. Try it. You’ll agree I’m right.”
Whether it was the simple fact that it was dinnertime, or the pleading look on Cam’s face that made Winn agree, Hailey didn’t know.
She only knew she was glad Winn had decided to stay. Hailey had a burning need to get to know him better. And no one—other than perhaps Suzanne Duggan—beat her mother for ferreting out information.
Especially when it came to someone she worried was becoming an important part of her daughter’s life.
Chapter Nine
If Winn would have been the kind of man to lean back in a chair and rub his belly, this would have been the time.
Frank had been right. Winn had enjoyed many meals at five-star restaurants. This one ranked up there with the best of them.
As if he could read Winn’s mind, Frank grinned. “I told you.”
Winn shifted his gaze to Kathy. “Excellent meal, Mrs. Randall.”
“Coming from someone who frequents nice restaurants, that’s high praise.” Kathy’s cheeks pinked. “And please, call me Kathy.”
During the meal Kathy had attempted several times to steer the conversation around to Winn’s personal life, but her husband had blocked her efforts. Frank, a former board of trustees member, had a keen interest in land development and ecosystems. He’d found an expert on those topics in Winn.
Frank kept a spirited discussion going for most of the meal. They were almost finished eating when Frank lifted his wineglass and ceded the conversational ball to his wife.
“So, Winn.” Kathy’s eyes were assessing. “You’re about Tripp’s age, I think.”
Though it was more statement than question, it seemed to require a response. Winn lifted his own glass of wine, catching an apologetic gleam in Frank’s eyes.
Let the inquisition begin....
“I believe so,” Winn said in an amiable tone that he didn’t need to force. After such a delicious meal, it was hard to get too worked up about anything, especially such a basic question.
“Most men, when they reach your age, have married or been involved in one or two serious relationships.”
There was a quest
ion in there somewhere. Winn leaned back in his chair. He’d wondered how much Hailey had shared with her family about his relationship with Vanessa. Apparently nothing at all.
He smiled and shot a warm smile in Hailey’s direction.
“Have you ever been married, Winn?” Frank asked.
Before Winn had a chance to respond, Bandit growled low in his throat. There was a distant sound of the front door opening.
Bandit barked just as a masculine voice called out, “It’s just us.”
Cam looked up from the biscuit he’d been crumbling on his plate, his eyes alert and curious. “Who’s here?”
“My brother,” Hailey said with a smile. “And his wife.”
Kathy pushed back from the table and hurried from the room.
“We’re in the dining room,” Frank called out.
Kathy returned with Tripp and her daughter-in-law, Anna.
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful women in Jackson Hole, Anna glided into the room on three-inch heels. Her green dress draped her figure in such a way that if Winn hadn’t known she was pregnant he’d never have guessed.
When he’d first arrived in town, Winn had been mesmerized by her sultry good looks. But his taste had changed. He found he now preferred blondes who radiated an abundance of girl-next-door charm.
“We knew we’d interrupt your supper,” Anna was saying to Kathy as she entered the kitchen, “but we were so excited and—”
She stopped suddenly as she caught sight of Winn and Cam seated with the family around the large oval table.
Winn rose to his feet. “Hello, Anna. Tripp.”
“Nice to see you, Ferris.” Tripp stepped over to shake his hand then shot a curious glance at the boy. “And this is...?”
“My son, Cameron.” Winn performed brief introductions.
Hailey rose to give her sister-in-law a quick hug. “You look fabulous. I can’t wait to hear what has the two of you so excited.”
“It can wait.” Anna paused, a legal-size manila envelope clutched in her hand. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
Ready, Set, I Do! (Rx for Love) Page 9