Chapter Six #2
She noticed the one thing he hadn’t talked about was how things were going at the university.
Were his classes challenging this semester?
Were his professors more demanding than the ones he’d had in his first year?
If either of those things was an issue, would he tell her about it, or would he try to deal with it himself?
While on the walk, she’d studied his appearance. He had grown taller, and as he got older, he increasingly resembled his father. She’d even noticed the little mustache he was letting grow above his lips, which made him look older and even more like his dad.
“So, what’s this with you and Mr. Caulder, Mom?”
Iris blinked, bringing her thoughts back to the present and wondering where that question had come from. “What do you mean?”
“When I was walking up, I couldn’t help noticing how the two of you were looking at each other.”
If he had noticed it, had others? Did she care? Garlan had never questioned her relationship with Karlton or Warren. Had they not given each other similar looks? “There’s nothing between me and Matt, Garlan. We’re just friends.”
“Why can’t he be more than a friend? You’re no longer seeing that Warren dude.”
She studied her son. Karlton had come around plenty of times, and Warren had flown to LA to see her at least once or twice a month.
Although Garlan had never said anything, she’d had a feeling he never cared much for Warren, who could be rather arrogant at times.
“Are you trying to rush me into another relationship?” she asked him teasingly.
Instead of smiling back, a serious expression appeared on his face. “I just want you to be happy, Mom. You’ve been alone for a while. Although I never knew Dad, I believe he would want you to be happy, too.”
“I am happy, Garlan. I have you.”
“But you shouldn’t center your life around me, Mom. I’m older now.”
What was that supposed to mean? Of course, he was older.
“I know you’re getting older, Garlan.” She tried not to be a worrywart and never wanted to make him feel smothered, but she didn’t want to think of a time when he wouldn’t be a part of her life and she wouldn’t be a part of his.
She felt compelled to ask, “What is it, Garlan? Is there something you want to tell me?”
He didn’t say anything for a moment and then said, “I want to become the man I know Dad would want me to be. One who can think for himself and forge his own path in life.”
She nodded, wondering what had brought this on.
Was he thinking of moving away from California after law school?
If so, that was almost four to five years away.
Plenty of time for her to get prepared for such a move.
“Both your dad and I are proud of you, Garlan. In no time at all, you’ll be in law school and—”
“Mom, there’s Audrey,” he interrupted her to say. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Alright.” She watched him quickly move to where Audrey and one of her college girlfriends were. He had certainly rushed off quickly. Garlan and Audrey had been best buddies for years, and she wondered if perhaps he was interested in Audrey’s friend.
Iris glanced over to where Matt had been standing with Clint and saw he was now talking to several more Westmorelands and Outlaws. As if he felt her gaze on him, he looked at her, said something to the group, and began walking her way.
She inhaled deeply with every step he took as her gaze roamed over him.
From the top of his Stetson to those boots on his feet, to the Western shirt and jeans in between, Matthew Caulder looked every bit a rugged cowboy, one who was sexy as hell.
So sexy, Iris knew she had to gather herself before he reached her.
She even placed the punch cup aside, not wanting to risk the liquid sloshing on her due to her shaking hands.
Her body was stirring to life with a degree of hunger she hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever.
Never, and she meant never, had any man affected her so strongly. Not even Garlan.
The thought of that bothered her somewhat because she was convinced she had fallen in love with her husband when they had first met.
There was no doubt she’d been attracted to him, but she was discovering there were different levels of attraction.
With Garlan, she had experienced the romantic level, and with Matt, it was a purely sexual one.
When he came to a stop in front of her, he tipped his hat, and the curve of his lips when he smiled took his sexiness up a notch.
At that moment, with him being the spitting image of his father, she could just imagine how his mother felt when she had first laid eyes on Sid Roberts. The woman hadn’t stood a chance.
“Evening, ma’am,” he said, in a pretend Western drawl that sounded pretty close to the real thing. And why did the sound of his voice, deep and husky, seem to trail across her already sensitive skin as if targeting the nerves embedded there?
Finding her voice, she said, “Hello, cowboy. Don’t you look handsome.” She meant every word.
“And you look beautiful. I like your outfit. You look like a real cowgirl.”
“Thanks,” she said, glancing down at herself. She wore one of the many Western outfits she owned. This was one she hadn’t worn before. It was an above-the-knee dress complemented by her cowboy boots. Of course, she had a hat on her head, too.
Since meeting the Westmorelands, she had purchased several hats, as the family was known to host Western-themed parties from time to time.
Last year, Clint Westmoreland’s wife, Alyssa, had given him a birthday party with a Western theme.
The year before that, Zane Westmoreland’s wife, Channing, had given him a birthday party with a rodeo theme where several Westmoreland men had performed stunts.
Everybody knew of Zane’s love of horses.
Then there was the time their cousin, Cash Outlaw, had a grand opening at his dude ranch in Wyoming.
She loved the times she got to dress in Western wear.
Matt glanced around. “There are a lot of people here, and this place is perfect.”
She smiled, following his gaze. “Dillon and Pam knew what they were doing when they had it built a few years ago. It’s not just for the Denver Westmorelands but all the Westmorelands.
It’s become the perfect place to host weddings.
Jess Outlaw got married here, and so did his sister Charm.
And of course, Pam’s sister Nadia got married here, as well. You attended that ceremony.”
When others came toward the punch bowl, they moved away to stroll around the room. “That was my first time here, but it wasn’t the last,” he said.
They stopped talking when Pam took the mic to make an announcement that the food was buffet-style, to help yourself and eat all you wanted. After dinner, there would be plenty of dancing. Laughingly, she told everyone to get ready to put their boots on the ground.
“Sounds like it’s going to be a festive night.”
“It is,” Iris said. “Everyone is in here now, even the kids. After dinner, they will be ushered to the second floor, where several games are planned to keep them entertained for the rest of the night, while the adults party below.”
“I understand there’s an all-night poker game later,” he said.
“There always is whenever Westmoreland men get together. They like to play. What do you like to do in your spare time?”
“I like going to the races. In addition to car and horse races, I also enjoy swimming, track and field, motorsports and boat racing. While in college, Dominic and I participated in several bicycle races, including the Tour de France.”
She flashed a smile. “I’m impressed. Other than swimming and track and field, I’ve never been to any other kind of races.”
“Well, Ms. Michaels, hopefully, you’ll agree to attend one with me one of these days.”
Deciding not to agree to anything, she said, “Hmm, maybe, one day, I will, Mr. Caulder.”
* * *
A short while later, after numerous line dances, the band finally played the first slow song of the night. Matt glanced over to Iris and extended his hand to her. “Will you dance with me, Iris?”
She smiled. “Certainly.” Standing, they left the table where they’d been sitting with Pam and Dillon, Dare and Shelly, Garth and Regan Outlaw, and Bart and Claudia Outlaw. “The hoedown turned out nice, don’t you think?” she asked him when he eased her into his arms.
“It certainly did, but I can tell those Westmoreland and Outlaw men are getting restless. The only thing that can energize them is a game of poker.”
She grinned. “You’re right. It satisfies their competitive nature.”
He looked at her and thought that, under the lights, her eyes appeared less dark. In fact, they now had a bedroom-brown look. “So, are they having a boy or a girl?”
She blinked. “Who?”
“Aidan and Jillian.”
She laughed. “What makes you think I know?”
He chuckled. “You’ve been helping Pam out this week, so I figured she told you.”
“Not saying if she did, and even so, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“You won’t even give me a hint?”
“No, my lips are sealed.”
“What a pity.” And he meant that for more reasons than one.
He liked seeing her lips move. He also liked the feel of her in his arms. For that reason, he decided to keep her talking and dancing.
“I told you what I’ll be doing when I return to LA with that case I’m working on.
What about you? Got any plans? Personal or business? ”
“Nothing new on the business front. Just working with my regular clients. Shauna Barnes is one of them. She is definitely making a name for herself in Hollywood. She’s a rising star.
Literally. I am proud of her. She’s been Pam’s protégée since the age of six, when she was one of the first students to enroll in Pam’s acting school in Wyoming. ”
“I didn’t know that. I saw her last movie. It was very good,” he said. “Not only can she act, but she can also sing and dance. She showed all her talents in that movie.”
“Yes, she did,” Iris replied.