Dirk put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. He’ll get over it. He needs someone to push him to make some changes around here. Keep at him, and ignore his crankiness. He cools off fast.”
Gina followed Dirk to the door. “Thanks for picking us up. I’m looking forward to meeting your wife and children later.”
“You’ll love Chelsea. Of course I’m biased, but I think she’s great, and my kids are the icing on the cake.” He waved and went to the SUV.
She stood and watched until it was out of sight. How wonderful it would be to find a nice man like Dirk and have a family. Instead she found herself attracted more and more to his moody brother.
There were no sounds around her but a few chirps from birds and a rustle from the wind in the trees. This was the quietest place she’d ever been. Turning slowly, she crossed the porch and went back into the living room. Graham was not in sight. The room had two comfortable lounge chairs, one table in between, a small couch, and a large television set against the wall in front of the chairs. A huge fireplace covered most of another wall. The whole cabin desperately needed a remodeling job, mainly painting, pretty curtains, and knickknacks. She grinned. He’d hate it. But it would keep her busy.
She felt his stare before she turned and found him standing in the doorway to a room on the right. His expressionless face and blue eyes still caused a little zip inside her body.
“I think we need to talk.” He turned and went back into the room where he’d been.
Gina slowly followed. This room was obviously well used. Papers and books cluttered every surface and some of the floor. His computer sat on a wide desk. He had a desk chair, one straight chair, and one bookcase filled to the brim. A single large window let in sunlight.
She sat on the hard chair. It didn’t encourage anyone to linger. “I’m sorry if I upset you in the bedroom. I was making an observation.”
He ran a hand through his long hair and sat in his desk chair. “That’s how you women start. I’ve seen my mother and sister in action. First an observation, then some more talking, and finally shopping and the smell of paint, fabric all over the place, and my brothers and I would flee outside.”
“I’m surprised they haven’t tackled this place.”
“They know me. They wouldn’t dare. I like my private space. I agreed you could stay here until we’re notified it’s safe for you to return home.” He took a deep breath. “I did not agree for you to change anything in my cabin or bother me. I’m a writer, and I especially don’t like to be interrupted when I’m writing or editing.”
Gina glanced around the room again. “Sylvia mentioned that you were a very successful writer. She told me your pseudonym, and I read some of your books. You are very good.” She shook her head. “I should have known all that creativity could only be done in a cluttered room.” She stood and smiled. “Don’t worry, no one would want to tackle this mess.” She walked out, leaving him staring at her with a frightened look on his face. She had to fight to hold the giggles in.
Tonight was going to be fun. She couldn’t wait to meet his mother. She went back to her bedroom and unpacked. She’d shower and change and be ready whenever he was.
When she returned to the living room she hesitated for a minute, not sure what to do. She peeked in his room and saw him intently working on the computer. On the other side of the living room was the kitchen. Maybe he had something to eat and drink in there, but from the looks of the rest of the house, she doubted it.
In a cupboard she found an unopened box of tea bags and a slightly out-of-date box of graham crackers. The refrigerator had beer, as his brother said, but only one bottle was missing.
She’d make a cup of tea for them. As the water boiled she checked the crackers. They’d been sealed and weren’t too stale. She put several on a small plate.
Through the window she surveyed the open area in front of the woods. The tall trees apparently circled the whole cabin. The bubbly water got her attention, and she put one tea bag in each cup. She placed the cup of sugar she’d found on a small decorative tray. It had to be a gift from his sister or mother. She added the teacups and crackers to the tray. Carefully balancing it all, she headed to his office.
“Can you take a break?” She forced a cheerful note into her voice.
Graham whirled around and bumped her arm. The tray tipped and the teacups fell onto his desk, immediately drenching many of his papers. The graham crackers hit the floor, and his foot smashed them as he jumped up. “What the hell…”
Gina ran to the kitchen and grabbed a towel to start drying his papers. Graham still stood in the same spot. Anger and frustration were written plainly across his face.
“This is what I’m talking about. What were you thinking?”
She’d had enough. Placing her hands on her hips, she bent her head back to glare at him. “I am not a toy you can set on the table and expect it not to move until you want it to. I thought you might like a cup of tea and a cracker. How foolish of me. You’re not human. You require nothing!” She waited, expecting him to yell and throw her out of his office and maybe the cabin. She didn’t expect him to grin and then laugh.
“I don’t see what’s funny,” she snapped at him, trying to keep her anger stirred up. She didn’t want to notice the warmth in her belly or the softness in her heart aroused by that boyish smile.
“You’re funny. What are you, five foot two and about a hundred pounds?”
“No.” She straightened to her full height. “I’m five foot three and a hundred and five pounds.” She jutted her chin at him.
“A tiny warrior,” he mumbled. He put his hands around her waist and easily lifted her to eye level. “No one less than six foot or my mother has ever been brave enough to yell at me.” He put her down and glanced at the clock. “I’d better change. We’re due at Mom’s in thirty minutes.”
Gina didn’t know what to say or do. She stood in his cluttered office with her heart pounding not from fear but from the strong attraction that kept growing. When she had to leave, she feared she would take a broken heart home with her. Kneeling down, she started to clear the mess.
* * * *
His mother was wonderful. She greeted Gina with a hug. “Come in, and join the group. Dirk and Chelsea just got here with the twins.”
The home he’d grown up in was such a contrast to his present cabin. It was warm and beautifully decorated. A lovely redheaded woman came across the room, and two babies crawled after her. Both had their father’s dark hair, but one had red strands glistening in the light. Dirk walked behind the babies, a sweet smile on his face as he watched his family in front of him.
“Hi. I’m Chelsea, and the baby to the left is our son, Dirk Matthew, but we all call him Matt, and the one winning the race to get to me is Kathleen Jane. We call her Katie. We named her after our moms.” Chelsea bent down and picked up her daughter. “As you can see they both have their daddy’s black hair, but Matt is beginning to show a hint of my red hair.” She kissed the baby girl’s cheek. This one is a clone of her daddy in looks and temperament,” she said and smiled at Graham’s mother.
“I wish Rand and Marian could have been here tonight, but maybe it’s best to meet a few of us at a time. My son Sam will join us in a few minutes. Meanwhile, have some hors d’oeuvres and wine. I’m sure there wasn’t much to eat at Graham’s.” She smiled at Graham and gave him a hug.
Graham hugged her back and kissed the top of her head. Gina was surprised at the affection this reclusive man showed his mother in front of everyone. No one else appeared to see his actions as strange, so he must be that way with his mother all the time. A tiny sprig of hope took root in her heart.
A man who loves his mom can love a woman.
She just had to find her way past his thorny exterior. If she was brave enough to try.
Graham watched the interaction between his family and Gina. She was laughing at one of Sam’s jokes. His younger brother had joined them just before they sat down to dinner. Graham was trying to decide whether to explain why Gina was staying with him. It would mean more people watching out for her, and they’d quit speculating that she was a woman he might be seriously interested in. He waited until the end of the meal when everyone had almost finished their dessert and coffee.
“I have something to tell you all,” Graham said. All attention turned to him, including Gina’s. “Gina will be staying with me for a few months, probably. Her sister Sylvia came to see me and asked if I’d get Gina and bring her here when she had someone contact me that it was time. Sylvia has a dangerous job, and some of the danger has spilled over onto Gina. I agreed to have her stay here until it’s safe for her to return home.”
There was a minute of silence. Then his mother spoke. “I’m glad she’s with us, and you’re protecting her. We’ll all keep an eye out for her.”
Dirk nodded. “Just call if you need help. We’ll treat her like family and protect her the same way.”
Tears came into Gina’s eyes. “Thank you. I’ve had such a small family, and they’ve lived so far from me for a long time. I’m overwhelmed by your generosity.” She’d looked around the table and up at Graham.
He wanted to pick her up in his arms and reassure her. His hands clamped the arms of his chair.
But his mother had no such reserve. She came around and hugged Gina again. “You’ll be safe with Graham, and we’ll see you don’t get too bored.” She winked. “I know how small that cabin is and how reclusive my son can be. Tomorrow I’ll come get you. We’ll go grocery shopping and explore Frontier City.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Graham said.
“She can’t stay locked in that cabin for months, Graham. And if a stranger comes to town, we all know it within hours with the renowned gossip line,” his mother said.
“I agree,” Chelsea added.
“But I’d suggest you tell the sheriff so he can have his men watching, too,” Dirk added.
Graham put up his hands. “All right. I agree, but if anyone new comes to Frontier City, then she’s staying close to me until the new person is checked out.”
“Do you ride?” Sam asked from the other end of the table.
“Yes, but I haven’t been on a horse for a long time,” Gina said.
“Get Graham to bring you over anytime. You can get back into riding. It’s the best way to see the countryside.”
“Thank you, I will.” She glanced at Graham.
He wished now he’d kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want her out of his sight, but he knew that was being unreasonable. Still, he definitely didn’t want his mother involved.
“Mom, I agree with most of what was suggested, but I don’t want you going out with her. It might put you in danger.”
“I understand your concern, Graham, but I must disagree. I’ll be fine and so will Gina. I do know how to take care of myself after all this time of living out west.” She frowned at him.
“I’d like to join you and Gina tomorrow when you go shopping,” Chelsea said. All three men looked worried at her comment. “For goodness sakes, don’t go Neanderthal on us. I’m not going to take the twins. We’ll be fine.”
“Maybe I’d better stay at the cabin. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to any of you because of me,” Gina said. Tears ran down her cheeks.
“Damn,” Graham mumbled under his breath. This time he couldn’t stop himself. He picked her up and put her in his lap. She nuzzled into his shoulder and cried hard and loud. Her soft body felt so good close to his, and he rubbed her back trying to calm her. When he glanced up, everyone at the table was staring at him with a rather dazed expression.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Dirk said, fighting not to smile.
“It’s just that we seldom see your softer side,” Sam said with a glint of humor in his eyes.
Graham glared at him, but still held Gina tight.
In a few minutes she raised her head. Her pretty eyes were red and swollen.
“I’m sorry. I can’t remember the last time I cried so hard. I’m embarrassed.”
“Don’t be,” Graham’s mother said. “You’ve been yanked out of your familiar world, brought to a strange place to stay among strangers, and you fear for your life. I’m surprised you haven’t been hysterical or cried before now. Graham, I’m sure she’s tired. You’d better take her home.” She smiled at Gina. “I’ll pick you up at nine in the morning, and then we’ll stop at Chelsea’s to get her.”
“Sounds good to me,” Chelsea said. “I’ll ask my babysitter to come stay with Katie and Matt tomorrow morning.” Chelsea stood. “Come on, lover boy, get our babies, and let’s head home. I’m tired.” She grinned at Dirk.
“Hopefully not too tired.” He and the others laughed when she turned red. Dirk headed toward the small front bedroom where the twins were taking a nap.
Gina hopped off Graham’s lap. Her cheeks were pink, too. Graham pushed back their chairs. “We’ll see you in the morning, Mom.” He quickly ushered her out and into his truck.
He was silent the whole way home, but his thoughts were swirling. Her floral scent filled the small cab of the truck, and he couldn’t forget the feel of her delicate body clinging to him and touching the most sensitive parts of his body. He’d never sleep tonight with her right across the hall.
It didn’t take long to get to the cabin. He walked around and opened her door to help her down, but she’d already done it for herself and took a leap toward the ground. He caught her before she could fall. His control snapped, and he pulled her tight against his front before her feet hit the dirt.