Chapter Three
L aura was so stunned, she just stared at the faces in front of her. She hadn’t been expecting anyone, and she probably looked awful. Arlene was her neighbor, that she knew, but who were these other people and why were Hayden Weston and his son also on her porch? Grandma, Luke had said. So this…?
Arlene smiled. “Ah, so you’re the new teacher Luke can’t stop talking about? I should’ve made the connection.” She motioned to the other people. “My children, Laura. That’s Willow—she makes beautiful art, if I have to say so myself. And that one is Becket, a notorious womanizer. I’m sure you’ve already heard that, but he actually has a heart of gold, as you will see when he’s with his dogs, Harper, Jack, and Sadie. This is Connor, happier talking to animals than people. He has so many dogs, I can’t remember all the names. And the grumpy one here is Hayden, my oldest. His dear Madeline passed away two years ago. And you know Luke. We’re here to help and to hopefully persuade you to have dinner with us afterwards?”
Laura was deeply grateful that the older woman was talking, because, for a few moments, she couldn’t even think, let alone string logical words together. Every single brain cell she had had ceased to function.
Hayden Weston was here. On her porch. And within minutes, he’d be inside her house. She’d thought she had time before seeing him again. To prepare herself for those amber eyes, that penetrating look, the strange currents in the air when he was near. Here he was, though, whether she was ready or not.
By the time Arlene stopped talking, a few of her brain cells seemed to have recovered. Quickly pushing her feet into her shoes she’d left next to the door, she smiled and walked out on to the porch. “Thank you so much, but it’s not necessary. Except for the bed, most of the furniture has been placed where I want it. Thanks, really, but I—”
But that was as far as she got. In the nicest possible way, Arlene moved her to the side and motioned to her children to follow her. “Nonsense, dear. You work during the day. Besides, you’re such a slip of a thing, you’ll need a hand moving the bed. And here are three muscled boys who are willing to help. Let them help you with that, and Willow and I will unpack things in the kitchen.”
Boys. The three Weston brothers were tall, muscled, ridiculously attractive men. “Boys” was so not the word to describe them.
Luke tugged at her hand. Dazed, she looked down. She hadn’t realized Luke was still holding on to her.
“Grandma always gets her way,” he said, clearly mimicking one of the grown-ups. “So you may as well do as she says.”
Everyone chuckled.
“Um…I…you…” Laura stuttered, but by this time everyone had already moved inside her house.
Willow grinned. “Luke is so right. Let’s do this. What do you want where?”
Acutely conscious of Hayden’s gaze still on her, she tried to think. She’d thought she’d have to plan what she wanted to go where and then she’d figure out who she could ask to help her move the furniture.
“If I could make a suggestion?” Arlene smiled. “Which room are you going to make your bedroom? Let’s start with moving the bed to that room so that you can make it. I’m a firm believer if your bed is made, the rest will be easy. And if you can show Willow and me where the boxes are you want in the kitchen, we can start unpacking for you?”
Groaning out loud, Laura laughed. “Okay, thank you, but on one condition. I’ll use an hour of your time and not a minute more, okay? There really is no rush to unpack everything tonight.”
“You heard her, boys.” Arlene grinned. “Come on, Willow. Let’s see what you and I can accomplish in an hour.”
Luke tugged at her hand again and she crouched down. His eyes were shining, and he was smiling. “What can I do?” he asked shyly.
“Tell you what,” she smiled back. “Would you like to unpack some books for me?”
His grin widened. “Yes! Where?”
Jumping up, she steered him toward a bookcase and a box. “I can sort them out later, but if you can put them in here, it will be easier for me later. Think you can do that?”
“Yes, I’m eight,” he said proudly, and kneeled next to the box. His eyes widened when he saw the book lying at the top. “This is also one by Dr. Seuss?” he asked in awe and picked up the book.
“Yes, he wrote a number of books…”
“Where do you want the bed?” Hayden asked behind her, his voice anything but friendly.
Luke’s smile slipped and, ignoring the gruff voice behind her, she leaned closer to the boy. “If you want to, you can also just sit and read. I can put the books away later,” she said softly. A ghost of a smile returned.
Fed up with the big cowboy, she turned around and glared at him before she walked past him to the furniture in the middle of the room. Smiling at Cooper and Becket, she pointed toward the big double bed she’d bought just before she’d moved. “If we can move this to the last room down the hall? It has an en suite bathroom and doors leading to the back garden. I think that’s where I’ll make my bedroom.”
Hayden moved past her to help his brothers, leaving the whiff of musk she’d picked up on before in his wake. Oh, my goodness. What was up with her and the big cowboy?
Tonight, he was without a hat and wore black jeans and a T-shirt under a leather jacket. The jacket he’d removed as they’d entered the house. Tall, dark, sinfully handsome…Flustered, she turned away to find Arlene’s amused gaze on her.
She hastily picked up a box. A very heavy one, she discovered seconds later as she staggered forward.
A big hand cut in front of her and took the box from her as if it weighed next to nothing. “We’re here to help. Ask, damn it,” Hayden bit out.
“I had it,” she snapped.
Amber eyes rested on her for a mere second, but she could feel it down to her very soles. This was going to be the longest hour of her life.
*
It was nearly two hours later before they all finally sat down around his mother’s kitchen table. Everyone had a plate of food in front of them and the adults, a glass of wine. Luke had milk.
Hayden watched his mom as she lifted her glass. “To Laura. May your stay in Marietta be everything that you’ve hoped for.”
Laura smiled as she also lifted her glass. “Thanks to all you Westons, I’ll probably be able to finish unpacking by tomorrow. Thank you, thank you.” She smiled at everyone around the table, except at him.
Luke had made sure he sat right next to Laura. His eyes were drooping, and he’d probably fall asleep soon.
“Luke and I are just going to eat and leave, Mom,” Hayden said.
“Can’t I stay with Grandma?” Luke asked sulkily.
“You have school tomorrow, big guy,” his grandma said. “But we’ll arrange a visit soon.”
“’Kay,” Luke muttered. “Can I read when I visit, Grandma?”
His mother frowned. “Of course, you can read when you visit. And I sincerely hope you’re able to read anytime you want to.”
“Dad yells when I read.”
Laura glared at him and everyone else looked stunned.
Hayden swore under his breath. “That’s not what—” he tried.
“Hayden, please tell me you don’t do that?” his mom interrupted him, her eyebrows raised.
“He’s neglecting his chores,” Hayden said.
His mother smiled slowly. “I see. So, he’s reading instead of doing his chores?”
“That is not something to smile about,” Hayden snapped, ignoring the snickering coming from the direction of his brothers.
“Indeed,” said his mother, her eyes full of mirth. “I do recall, though, another time when another little boy was caught reading behind the barn instead of doing his chores.”
Luke’s eyes widened. “Who, Grandma?”
His mom patted Hayden’s shoulder. “This guy, Luke. Your dad. He loved reading—”
“That was a long time ago,” Hayden interrupted his mother. “Eat up, Luke. We have to leave soon.”
“Yes, Dad,” Luke muttered, casting his eyes down.
Laura leaned and murmured something to him. Luke flashed her a smile before he began to eat his food.
Ignoring him, Laura smiled in the direction of his brothers. “So, tell me about your ranch. As I drove here, I saw wide-open spaces on either side of the road. I assume the land belongs to ranchers?”
Becket grinned. “Yes, you’d be right. We’re, for instance, the fifth-generation Westons on this ranch. Hayden took over when Dad died and when Walker, Coop, and I finished our studies, we joined the family business.”
Hayden glared at Becket. Why the hell did Becket have to mention Walker?
Laura frowned. “Who is Walker?”
Becket’s smile slipped.
“He was my second oldest,” their mother said softly. “We lost him five years ago in an accident.”
“I’m so sorry,” Laura said, her eyes bright. “That must have been hard for all of you.”
For a few minutes it was silent around the table.
Laura cleared her throat, trying to think of something to say to change the atmosphere. “Five generations of Westons. How extraordinary. I’ve read quite a bit about Marietta’s earlier years, but would love to know more about the history of the surrounding ranches as well.”
“If you let me take you to dinner, we can talk history.” Becket’s grin was back.
Laura chuckled. “What did your mom call you? A notorious womanizer? I can see why. But seeing that I’m forewarned, I should be safe. Dinner sounds nice, thanks.”
Before Hayden’s stunned eyes, his brother exchanged telephone numbers with his son’s gorgeous teacher.
Laura leaned forward. “Cooper, what is your role on the ranch?”
Becket smiled and slapped Cooper on the back. “Coop is our horse whisperer. As if he doesn’t have enough to do, he also works with abused horses on the ranch, and all stray animals seem to find their way to him.”
“Sounds wonderful.” Laura sighed. “I had a dog as a little girl and would love to get one again. We should talk. So, what else do you do?”
“Hayden here is actually the mastermind behind the way we do things on the ranch. You should talk to him,” Willow said.
Blue eyes turned in his direction.
Hayden was happy to see Luke had finished his dinner, but he wasn’t sure how to feel about the fact that his son was comfortable enough to lean against Laura, his eyes drooping. She had an arm around him. It was all too much. He had to get out of here.
He put down his knife and fork. His mom was an amazing cook, but he had no idea what he’d eaten tonight or what it tasted like. He was furious. About what exactly, he wasn’t sure, but he needed to get away before he said or did something he’d regret.
Wiping his mouth with his napkin, he got up. “Thanks, Mom. I think Luke and I will be going. Laura…” He nodded in her direction. “Luke…” But Luke was now fast asleep, leaning against Laura.
“Luke, buddy,” he called out.
“He’s sleeping.” Laura glared at him. “I’ll carry him to the car.” Before Hayden could move, she was up and had Luke in her arms.
“He’s too big for you to carry. I’ll take him.” He stepped forward, but Laura was already walking toward the front door.
Muttering softly, he grabbed his car keys, his coat, and her coat before following her outside. It didn’t help his mood that his family burst out laughing the minute he’d left the kitchen.
Laura was waiting next to his truck. He put her coat around her shoulders before he bent to take Luke from her.
“I’ve got him,” she murmured, pulling Luke closer.
He opened the door of his truck so that she could set Luke into his booster seat. She stroked her fingers lightly down his son’s cheek once before she stepped back so that he could strap the boy safely in for the drive home.
The top of her T-shirt had been pushed down while she’d carried Luke and he caught a glimpse of a milky-white curve of a breast before she straightened her clothes.
“Thank you.” His throat was strangely tight.
She slipped her arms into her coat. “He’s only eight. If he falls asleep, you should carry him, not wake him up to walk on his own,” she scolded.
“Is it part of your job as a teacher to tell parents how to raise their children?” he snapped as he closed the door.
She sighed as she stepped back. “I’m not…” Her foot caught on something, and the next moment, she was falling forward.
He grabbed her and her soft, curvy body ended up plastered against him.
“I’m sorry,” she said, sounding out of breath. “I tripped.” She pushed against his chest as she steadied herself. They both froze again like they had the previous two times they’d touched.
“This is the third time you’ve put your hands on me,” he said, combing her hair out of her face. “You think you can keep doing that and I won’t respond?”
Gasping indignantly, she pulled away quickly. “Don’t be ridiculous. The previous two times, you walked into me, and just now, I stumbled—”
“Really? You keep telling yourself that.” Without looking in her direction again, he got into his truck. What the hell had gotten into him? Muttering, he stepped on the pedal, forcing himself not to look in the rearview mirror.
He should stay the hell away from Luke’s teacher.