Chapter Seven
I t was just before one on Sunday when Hayden stopped in front of his mom’s house. His siblings had arrived before him in Cooper’s truck and were already walking toward the front door.
As he got out of his truck, he glanced toward Laura’s house. He needed to talk to her, apologize again, and make sure she knew the kiss hadn’t meant anything.
Yeah, right. If it hadn’t meant anything, why was the lingering warmth of the vibrant floral scent surrounding her still with him? Why couldn’t he stop thinking about the softness of her mouth, the silkiness of her skin, the way her hair fell straight down to her shoulders…?
“Hayden?” Willow called out. “I have an idea in the next few minutes you’re going to be pleasantly surprised, whether you want to or not. Come on.”
Muttering under his breath, Hayden moved toward them. Luke had already joined his aunt and uncles on the porch of his mom’s house while he was still staring at Laura’s house.
Willow had an uncanny way of just knowing what was going to happen, but it was Sunday lunch at his mom’s. His mom was a great cook, so there would be no surprise there.
The front door opened, his mom appeared, and she opened her arms when Luke rushed forward. “Do I have a surprise for you, young man!” she said hugging him.
“What?” Luke asked.
“Not what, who?” His mom smiled, motioning for them to enter.
Hayden frowned. What was his mother talking about?
“This is going to be an interesting lunch.” Willow chuckled as she followed their mother into the house.
“Come on. We’re still pottering around in the kitchen. Hayden, will you open a bottle of wine for us? I like a sauvignon blanc with chicken, but open whatever else you guys like. There is also beer in the fridge, Cooper. And then you can tell me all about misbehaving in the Graff Hotel, Becket.”
“What have you heard?” Becket asked, shaking his head.
His mother turned and looked straight at Hayden. “Oh, everything.”
“She knows about the kiss too,” Willow whispered loudly to Hayden behind her hand.
“What kiss?” Luke asked as they all entered the kitchen.
“The one your dad gave—”
“Mom!” Hayden cut her short.
Her eyes brimming with mirth, she winked at him. “He’s going to hear about it eventually. You may as well tell him. Say hello to Laura!”
He looked up and there she was—looking so beautiful, his chest hurt. In a blue top the color of fields of lavender, a pair of jeans hugging her slender body in all the right places, she took his breath away.
Flustered, she put down the plates she’d been carrying. “Oh, Arlene, you should’ve told me it’s a family lunch…” she said, avoiding his eyes.
“Miss Anderson!” Luke cried out, obviously happy to see his teacher. He rushed forward and hugged her legs.
Smiling, Laura crouched down in front of him. “It’s so nice to see you,” she said, combing his hair from his face.
Hayden’s heart tightened at the sight of his son with his teacher. Luke was grinning from ear to ear, clearly happy just to be near her.
As Laura got up, Willow took her arm. “You’re mom’s neighbor and friend. That makes you also family. On Sundays we eat in the dining room. Come and sit with me while the boys get us wine. Tell me about the knitting-crochet-book club idea my mother can’t stop talking about.” And with a wink in Hayden’s direction, Willow steered Laura out of the kitchen.
*
With her head reeling, Laura tried her best to focus on what Willow was saying, but she only managed to catch a word here and there. Although she hadn’t been ready to see Hayden again, her body was very happy. The butterflies in her tummy were going berserk, her hands were clammy, her heart was doing joyous cartwheels, her breasts…oh, my goodness, her breasts were tingling in anticipation.
How was she going to survive the lunch if the mere sight of him rendered her just about speechless?
“You feel something for him?” Willow’s soft words penetrated her wild thoughts.
Fortunately, at that point, the others returned. Quickly, she jumped up. “I should help Arlene…”
“Everything is here,” Arlene called out.
Luke grabbed her hand. “Grandma says I can sit next to you!” He grinned as he led her to the table.
Focusing on Luke, she only realized Hayden was sitting on her other side once she’d sat down. He was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body. She inhaled shakily. Big mistake. Tones of his musky, earthy scent filled her lungs. Help.
“What can I get you, Laura?” Cooper asked. “Sauvignon blanc or a merlot? Both wines are from wineries in West Montana. You may know them?” he asked as he held one of the bottles for her to look at.
Unable to focus on anything, she smiled and nodded. “Anything, thanks.”
“Give her some of the sauvignon blanc, Coop.” Arlene smiled. “I think you’ll like it, Laura. So, how are you settling in?”
“It will take a while, but I love the house.”
“I’ve heard Lydia Gearing wants to sell, so I hope it doesn’t happen too quickly,” Arlene smiled.
“Well…” Laura hesitated. She wasn’t used to discussing her business with people she hardly knew, but as she’d discovered yesterday, everyone did indeed know everything in this small town. “I’ve put in an offer to buy the house. I’m hoping to hear by Monday.”
“What splendid news!” Arlene smiled. “I’m so happy for you. You’re going to love living here. There is always something going on. Next weekend, for instance, is the Winter Ball…”
“You remember you’re my date, Mom?” Willow said.
“Yes, thanks, Willow, but won’t you rather—?”
“No, Mom,” she interrupted quickly. “I won’t.”
“What about you boys?” she asked her sons.
“Luke is my date,” Hayden said.
“I’m going on my own,” Becket grinned.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go with me, Laura?” Cooper asked.
Next to her, Hayden stiffened.
“I was going to text you…” Cooper smiled.
“Winter Ball?” she repeated, stalling, trying to think what to say. She liked Cooper. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was sitting right next to her—he was also going to be there.
“Yes.” Arlene nodded. “Everyone dresses up. There is a live band…”
“Mom.” Becket laughed. “Maybe you should explain the ‘band’ are people with other jobs who just like to make music together every now and again.”
“The last time I’ve been to a dance was as a student. I don’t—” Laura said.
“Everyone will be there,” Arlene interrupted.
“I don’t have anything to wear…” Laura tried again.
“Great,” said Arlene. “That means we can go shopping. Willow, what do you say? If we leave for Bozeman on Saturday morning early, we can be back before lunch.”
“Ooh, that sounds fabulous.” Willow grinned.
Cooper smiled. “If you don’t wanna go…”
“I’d love to go, thanks,” she heard herself saying. “What time Saturday morning?” she asked Arlene.
*
By the time Hayden got home, he was ready to punch his brother. The fact that Luke had been talking nonstop about his teacher during the drive home didn’t help, either.
Normally Cooper was the quiet one, the one who listened rather than talked. That hadn’t happened today. No, today he’d talked and flirted with Laura and made jokes, so unlike his usual self even Luke had asked him at some point if he was feeling okay.
As he and Luke walked toward the house, Cooper’s truck stopped behind them. Luke was racing toward an ecstatic Jessie.
“Is there a problem?” Hayden asked, irritated by his siblings’ grinning faces.
“If you have a thing for Laura, do something about it.” Coop grinned. “Don’t keep glaring at me.”
“I’m amazed he hadn’t slugged you.” Becket laughed. “There were several moments when he looked ready to put his fist in your face.”
“I don’t have a damn ‘thing’ for anyone,” Hayden growled.
Of course, Willow also had to chip in. “Oh, really? You can’t take your eyes off of her, yet you kept staring daggers at poor Cooper here, who only tried to keep the conversation going, seeing that you weren’t saying anything.”
“I’m happy to take Luke to the dance if you wanna swap dates,” Cooper teased.
With a short expletive, Hayden stomped away. He’d had it with his siblings, with this day, with all these crazy, unwanted feelings swirling inside of him, making him aware that he was a man, that he had needs.
Inside the house, he leaned against the first wall, trying to control his breathing. Yes, Laura was gorgeous. He noticed, but he couldn’t do anything about it, could he? Just for a moment, the possibility that he could phone Laura, that he could make a date with her, find out whether this craziness was something real, had his heart racing.
Damn it. He pushed away from the wall. How could he even think about a second chance at happiness? He didn’t deserve it, damn it. Walker hadn’t even had one chance to be happy, to fall in love, to raise a family. He’d died way too young. And he, Hayden, was to blame.
So it didn’t matter that he wanted Laura with every breath he took—he was ready to admit that to himself, at least—he could never do anything about it. Besides, it was probably lust, pure and simple. This craziness would disappear at some point. It had to.
“Dad?” Luke asked behind him and a small hand slipped into his.
Crouching down to look his son in the eye, the way he’d seen Laura do, he smiled. “Would you like some ice cream? And then I’d like it if you read something to me from one of your books.”
Luke’s eyes widened. “Do you have time for that?” he whispered.
Hayden swallowed. He hadn’t realized it before now, but he was always telling Luke he was busy, he didn’t have time. It was easier to avoid spending time with his son, who looked so much like his mom, than think about the pain of losing Madeline. “I’m making time.” Hayden grinned and, in one move, he got up and, swooping Luke up in his arms, he put him on his shoulders.
With Luke shrieking with delight and Jessie barking around their feet, Hayden walked toward the kitchen. “Let’s see what kind of ice cream Isabella has for us in the fridge.”
He had a son to look after. There was no time for lusting after a gorgeous blonde with blue eyes and soft skin and the most kissable mouth…
Damn, this wasn’t helping.