The Fountain of Infinite Wishes (Dare River Book 5) (29 page)

“You haven’t met Mama,” she said, pasting a smile on her face and kissing her finger and tapping it to his lips. “For luck.”

“I’ll hold out for a better kiss later,” he said as they entered the hustle and bustle.

Rye was hovering over Tory at the kitchen island as she loaded up vegetables on top of what looked like pulled-pork nachos. “I don’t understand why you won’t let me or someone else assemble the nachos. It’s not like they’re difficult to make.”

She wiggled around him, her pregnant belly looking like a prize watermelon. “I’ve seen the way you dump fixings. You have no sense of presentation—despite how much you love food.”

“I love to eat,” he said, his mouth tight with worry. “I’ve never said I love to present. It all ends up in the same place anyway. Tory, honey, won’t you please sit down and let someone help you? You’ll only be tired later.”

“I’m tired at night because I’m carrying an extra fifteen pounds and your baby, Rye Crenshaw.” She stopped and put her hands out. “Will you please stop fussing over me? You’re driving me crazy!”

“I love you!” he said, taking her shoulders in his hands. Then he looked over his shoulder and spotted them. “Oh, hi. Sorry you had to hear our little tiff. My wife here is being stubborn. Like usual. Vander, it’s good to see you again, man.”

While the men shook hands, Shelby hustled over to hug Tory.

“He makes me want to smack him sometimes,” Tory whispered in her ear. “I’m pregnant, not dying. I swear.”

“He means well,” Shelby said, to which Tory gave an emphatic, “
Humph
. But I like the look of your man just fine.”

“Me too,” she whispered back before releasing her.

“It’s good to see you too, Rye,” Vander said. “Congratulations on the baby.”

“Thank you,” Rye said. “I’d like you to meet my wife. Tory, this is Vander Montgomery, one of the best private investigators in the South. Before I needed full-time support, he used to do some great work for me. Runs a top-notch firm here in Nashville.”

Shelby expected Rye had already told Tory that and a heck of a lot more, but he was just observing the pleasantries.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vander,” Tory said, shaking his hand. “We’re glad you could join us today.”

“Yes, we are,” Rye said, stroking his jaw. “I wish I’d known y’all were seeing each other earlier—not that anyone tells me anything around here.”

“I didn’t know either,” Tory said, handing him a chip. “Eat that. It might improve your disposition.”

Rye crunched happily on the chip. “Come with me, Vander. I’ll introduce you around. Shelby, maybe you can talk Tory into letting you help her?”

“I’d…rather go with Vander, Rye,” Shelby said. “If you don’t mind.”

“Oh, of course,” Rye answered with a knowing wink. “Your mama has been hot to meet him. I’ve never seen her fret about much of anything. Guess it’s different when it’s your own child. My kid’s not even born yet, and when I think about the baby being a girl and dating anyone, I want to puke my guts out—or take out my shotgun.”

Shelby swallowed thickly. “Aren’t you just making us both feel better, Rye? Come on, Vander.”

“Everyone is out back,” Tory said. “The weather isn’t too oppressive for once.”

Shelby nodded and led Vander through the massive house to the French doors that led to the deck. Sadie was the first to see them and jumped out of her chair to rush over.

“Hello, there,” she said, her smile as bright as her lime green dress. “Welcome, Vander.”

Shelby leaned in and hissed, “You’re supposed to pretend you don’t know him.” Apparently, Sadie had forgotten the chat she’d had with J.P. and the rest of them about their “cover.” Heavens, she hated the thought of it.

Sadie gave a pout. “I’m only being friendly.” She stuck out her hand. “Hello. I’m Sadie.”

Vander was fighting a smile. “Hello, Sadie.”

Amelia Ann bounded over with Clayton in tow.

“Good to see you again, Vander,” Clayton said before Shelby could make the introductions. “Been a while.”

“You two know each other?” Sadie asked. “Right, if you worked for Rye…”

“Goodness, the way people are connected sometimes,” Sadie said.

“We’re happy to have you join us,” Amelia Ann said. “You have friends here. I for one am pleased to make your acquaintance. Clayton sings your praises, and he’s a tough customer.”

“Shelby told me about your work at the legal clinic,” Vander said. “I’m always happy to meet someone committed to justice. Clayton is a lucky man from where I’m sitting.”

She linked her arm through his. “Oh, I like you already. Come, let me introduce you to my parents. Shelby, the rest of your clan is out in the gardens looking at how Tammy has transformed this place. The roses are pretty stunning.”

After meeting Hampton and Margaret Hollins, who only seemed to get happier with each other as each month of their reconciliation passed, Shelby took a deep breath and walked with Vander to the rose garden.

Sure enough, the rest of her family was there, exclaiming over the various colors and scents of roses. J.P. caught sight of them first and strode over.

“Welcome, Vander,” he said, shaking his hand. “It’s good to have you here.”

Vander put his hand to the center of Shelby’s back and rubbed the tension there, and she realized he was trying to comfort
her.
Oh, she was going to kiss that man senseless when they got home.
 

Everyone else wandered forward, and Shelby made the introductions, saving her mama, who was watching everyone like a hawk, for last.

“And this is my mama, Reverend Louisa,” Shelby said, giving her mama what she hoped was an easy smile despite the fact that her insides felt like sour cream.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Vander said, shaking her hand when she held it out. “What would you prefer I call you? Reverend? Louisa?”

“Louisa is fine,” she told him. “Rye speaks highly of you. So does Clayton.”

“It’s been fun to watch his career explode,” Vander said. “He was just getting hot when he and Clayton contracted my firm.”

“You own your own business, I hear,” Mama said, fingering a few white rose petals she was holding in her hand. “And Gail uses you still, I understand.”

“I don’t advertise my client list,” Vander said, “but I don’t think Gail would mind me saying I’ve done work for her. She’s a heck of a businesswoman.”

“Indeed,” Mama said, nodding. “She hired my daughter.”

“Gail might be a little eccentric,” Shelby’s stepfather, Dale, added, smiling at her, “but you can’t pull the wool over her head.”

Shelby refrained from mentioning her boss’ two ex-husbands. “Gail has taught me so much.” Oh, how much small talk were they going to suffer through before Mama relaxed her eager-beaver interest?

“Gail’s been good to you,” Mama said, nodding. “Are your people from here, Vander? Shelby didn’t say.”

That wasn’t entirely true. Mama wanted to see how Vander answered. “My mother moved out here from back east to go to Vanderbilt. It’s where she and my father met. He was from Nashville.”

“Was?” her mama asked. Susannah shot Shelby a compassionate glance. Yeah, she’d been through this too.

“Mama, I mentioned Vander had lost his daddy as a boy,” she said, reaching for his hand, peeved beyond belief.

“It’s okay, Shelby,” Vander said. “He was a local police detective, Louisa.”

“I see,” Mama said, gazing at him in that unflinching way she had. Growing up, they used to call it her way of playing chicken with folks. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Well, at least she’d said something nice. For a moment there, Shelby had worried Mama was growing horns.

“Dinner should be ready soon,” Susannah said, reaching for Jake’s hand. “We should head back to the house and finish up.”

Vander held her mama’s stare as the others started walking back to the house.

“Come on, Louisa,” Dale said, clearing his throat to get her attention. “Vander and Shelby don’t have a drink yet, and it’s hot out here.”

Shelby wished she could give Dale a kiss. Mama had met Dale Adams when he’d joined her church after moving to town. He’d just gotten divorced and had no children. A few years later, not long after Shelby turned twelve, he and Mama had gotten hitched.
 

He’d never stepped into the role of father, not wanting to step on J.P.’s toes. But he was a good man, and Mama was happy with him. He let her do all the talking and run the church, preferring to be the quiet one in the corner who set up chairs or broke down tables, whatever was required.

“I’ll look forward to hearing more about you, Vander,” Mama said, finally breaking their staring match.

“I’m going to show Vander the garden,” Shelby called out. “We’ll be right in.”

Her mama cast one narrowed look over her shoulder before increasing her speed to the house.

“Ready to run yet, honey?” she asked Vander.

“That wasn’t bad,” he responded.

“I’m not sure she’s done with you yet.”

Bless the man. All he did was shrug and give her a crooked smile.

Chapter 26

Vander was at ease in groups. Always had been. After his dad had been murdered, he’d felt more comfortable talking to adults than kids his own age. What normal child knew what it was like to experience that kind of tragedy? But most adults had lost someone, whether or not it was from violence. They were willing to listen to him when his mother posted her No Talking sign up on her heart.

Catching up with Rye and Clayton was fun, and it felt good to shoot the shit with J.P. and Jake. They were all the kind of men he gravitated toward: strong and comfortable in their own skin. Vander dealt with enough assholes in his profession. He didn’t put up with them in his personal life.

Rory and Annabelle were entertaining. Only a girl with a delightful sense of humor could name her dog Barbie.

Then there was Shelby. She was never too far away from him. He sensed she felt protective of him here among her family, and for a man who never felt the need to be protected, it gave him a warm feeling. He couldn’t wait to get her home.

Louisa watched him all through a dinner fit for any five-star restaurant in Nashville. He was stuffed by the time he pushed back from the table with the rest of the family.

“Vander?” Louisa called. “I’d like to walk you down to the river.”

Shelby put her hand on him, going on full alert. He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“It will be fine,” he whispered in her ear. “Save a piece of pie for me.”

She nodded, and he set off to join her mother. They walked out back and headed through the gardens until they reached an open field, which led to Dare River. She kept quiet, walking with her hands folded behind her back. Vander kept his own counsel, knowing she would speak as soon as she was ready.

When they reached the river’s edge, she gestured to the bench situated there, one that held a magnificent view. Water rushed over moss-covered rocks as dragonflies raced across the surface. A trio of turtles sunned themselves on an exposed log under a blue sky filled with puffy clouds resembling cotton balls.

He sat down, and she sat beside him, pushing her gray hair behind her ear. Shelby had her hair, the kind that curled of its own volition. Louisa’s was shorter though, barely cresting past her jawline.

“Out of all my daughters, Shelby has always been in the greatest hurry,” Louisa began.

Vander smiled, and their eyes met for a moment. He realized hers were green.

“Perhaps it’s a mother’s intuition, but she seems to be in a hurry with you,” Louisa said. “It’s got me worrying some.”

Vander studied the river and took a moment before replying. “We’ve both been surprised by the pace of our relationship, but we also know our own minds. If you’re wanting to know if this is normal for me, I can assure you it isn’t. Your daughter is one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met, and it’s because she’s so amazing that I want to spend every moment with her. Usually all I want to do is work. I love what I do, and it requires a lot of social time with clients and the community. Shelby makes me forget about all that in a good way.”

She nodded, folding her hands prayer style in her lap. “That eases my mind some.”

“Good,” Vander said, deciding to be plainspoken too. “What else will?”

Her chest rose, and he could tell she was having trouble getting a breath. “I don’t know what she’s told you about her daddy, but your profession is giving me some discomfort. Not that it’s not an honorable one. That’s not what I’m suggesting.”

He could see the writing on the wall and braced himself for what was to come. “Go on.”

“Shelby has never known anyone with the skills to find a person,” Louisa said. “Until now.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

“I don’t want you to encourage her to find her daddy,” Louisa said, giving him a sudden case of heartburn. “Even if she asks you straight out, which I fear she will.”

“Why are you afraid she’ll ask?” Vander asked, meeting her gaze. “Moreover, why are you afraid to have her find him if it’s what she wants?”