4
Glory was almost relieved when a knock sounded on the door. Not quite, because the play of emotions over Kam’s features had
fascinated her. At first, he’d appeared annoyed by her doubt.
Here’s what we need to do.
Other than Callie, no one had ever offered her that kind of backup, as if they would tackle a difficult issue together. Mike
most definitely wasn’t his problem. She didn’t even want him to be her problem. Why she’d unloaded on him, she wasn’t sure,
except that she was used to sharing everything with Callie, and with her cousin out of the immediate picture, she felt adrift
in a big way.
That didn’t mean she should burden Kam, though. Hadn’t he already done enough?
Feigning relief, she stepped away from him and said, “Oh, what do you know? A surprise visitor.”
Kam kept pace with her until she stopped in the living room and looked at him over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“Going with you to get the door.”
“You’re not dressed.”
“Dressed enough.” He stepped around her. “Besides, it’s probably Ronna and her brother.”
Suffering some bizarre form of possessiveness, she all but jumped in front of Kam, barring him with her open arms. “At least
fasten your pants.”
“You’re hissing at me. This ferocious side of you is worth experiencing.”
“Decency isn’t ferocious,” she pointed out, while trying to erase all emotion from her face. Where was her cool detachment
when she needed it?
His sexy mouth did that little twitching thing again. “Coming from you, it is.”
With a long deliberate sigh, she gave up and dropped her arms. “Can you at least button up?”
“Yes, dear.” With great fanfare, he snugged up the zipper and fastened the button. “Better?”
Ho, boy. Her gaze couldn’t seem to move away from that tantalizing area around his fly. Seeing his hands right there, touching
that firm abdomen, did funny things to her. Kam wasn’t muscle bound, just very fit. Lean and hard. And she liked how that
happy trail of dark silky hair disappeared beneath the waistband . . .
Kam crossed his arms. “I feel like I should be hanging off a meat hook.”
Instead of acknowledging her faux pas, she spun away and raced to the door, aware of him chuckling behind her. The sexy jerk.
After pulling open the door, she said in a brisk and friendly tone, “Good morning.”
Clearly, Ronna was disappointed that Kam hadn’t answered, but it was Glory’s house after all. It was past time she got control of herself and her life.
And the sensible side of her knew, without a doubt, that Kam wasn’t in the equation.
Never before had she thought she’d enjoy feeding goats, but her cousin’s goats were special. Callie knew their names, not
that Glory could remember. Same with the chickens. Farm animals who were like beloved pets.
Her cousin had taken to country life easily. Glory had needed more time, but eventually the slower pace, the fresh air, and
the people had won her over.
It helped that she’d gotten a promotion in the company with Callie’s parents. No more nonstop flying from destination to destination.
Now she could mostly work remotely from home, with trips to the office twice monthly, or when special needs arose.
Getting the animals out of the pens was easy. They were ready to fill the yard. As she’d been taught, Glory double-checked
that the gates were all secure, then released them. Next, she refilled water reservoirs with fresh water and put out feed.
The chickens still worried her a little; she did not want to get pecked.
And the goats, with their creepy eyes and their eerie wailing spooked her.
Okay, so she’d never be good at this. She did well enough to give her cousin a break, and that’s what mattered.
Fortunately, Addie said she’d handle gathering the eggs.
“You’re getting good at that.” As if she’d been summoned, Addie stepped up behind her with a basket.
Praying she wouldn’t blush after everything that had happened with Kam, Glory smiled at her. “Good morning.”
“Morning yourself, Sunshine.”
Was Addie’s smile a little more knowing this morning? The bump of a goat kept Glory from wondering about it too long. With
a laugh, she awkwardly patted the goat’s head and, keeping a wary eye on it, stepped aside. “Any sign of the newlyweds?”
“Not a peep.” Glowing with happiness, Addie glanced at the house. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to have Callie for a
daughter.”
That’s how Addie looked at it, but then, she’d claimed Callie almost from the day she’d moved in. “Callie feels the same.”
“My Tanner deserves the best, but I’d almost given up on him ever settling down. He was always so driven, so determined to
make a difference in our town and to help others, that he never slowed down enough to really help himself.”
Glory had learned how dedicated Tanner was about helping underprivileged kids, especially those from neglectful or abusive
homes. “He’s amazing, but then he had you to help guide the way.”
“I’d like to think I loved him enough to show him a better way than he’d known, but even if I hadn’t, I think Tanner would
have found his path. From the day I saw him walking down the street with a broken arm . . .” Her voice faded beneath memories,
stealing her smile with it. “God gave me such a gift when He guided me to Tanner. Then to give me Kam, too? I’ve lived such
a blessed life.”
When the world blurred before Glory, she realized tears had filled her eyes, and she had to quickly blink them away. Since
the wedding, she’d been far too emotional.
“I love how you talk about them.” It was something she’d never witnessed from her own parents, and never with such depth from Callie’s folks.
Catching herself, Addie gave a soft laugh and shook her head. “Listen to me, going on and on. Sorry about that. Guess I’m
just floating on a cloud these days seeing my boys so happy.” She went into the henhouse to get the eggs, leaving Glory alone
with her thoughts.
The hot sun baked down on her, and she inhaled the scents of the surrounding woods, with the richer scent of the animals.
It wasn’t unpleasant.
Leaning against a large oak tree, she let her thoughts wander. She knew a little about Tanner’s wretched home life, and that
he’d moved in with Addie when he was thirteen. Kam had joined them later, when he’d only been ten. In such a short time, Addie
had gone from lonely widow to single parent of two unruly, needy boys.
Glory never heard much about Kam’s background, about what might have sent him into Addie’s care, but she believed no one could
love him more than Addie. Few people could be as special as her.
As Addie stepped back out, she asked, “Where is Kam? I figured he’d be with you.”
Since she had Addie’s car, Glory automatically apologized. “I’m sorry. When we got to my house last night, we found a broken
window.” Willing herself not to blush, Glory told a simplified tale. “With the flat tires and then a rock through my window—”
“A rock?”
“Kam said he didn’t want to leave me alone.”
“Of course, he didn’t! Who would do such a thing, though?”
Unwilling to speculate about Mike, Glory shrugged. “Ronna and her brother came out to fix the window, so Kam stayed behind and here I am. I hope you don’t mind, but I was going to use your car to go back and get him when I’m done here, and then we’ll get our cars fixed.”
“Hard to believe Kam agreed to stay behind.”
Glory was still a little surprised by that, too. He’d been so friendly with the oh-so-helpful Ronna that Glory had only wanted
to escape. “My understanding is that Ronna did him a special favor by getting to the window repair so quickly.”
Waving that off, Addie said, “He’s friends with a lot of girls, but don’t let that bother you.”
The forced laugh came out a little louder than Glory meant it to. “Why would it bother me?” Just because he’d kissed her,
and teased her, and talked with her so earnestly over coffee . . .
He’d even gotten the boxes from her garage unloaded. She still didn’t know what to make of that. “We couldn’t be in two places
at once, and neither of us wanted Callie and Tanner to have to work today.”
Just then, the back door opened, and Callie strolled out, barefoot, in an oversized T-shirt and cutoffs. Her hair was in a
high ponytail, and she wore no makeup. Despite, this, she glowed.
“You were supposed to take the day off!” Glory smiled as she opened her arms.
“When I have a chance to see my two favorite women in the entire world? No way.” Stepping into the hug, she squeezed Glory
tightly.
“You’re in a good mood,” Glory teased. “Wonder why that is.”
“Because she loves my son, that’s why. Now you two behave. Mother’s don’t need details.”
“You summed it up anyway. I’m happy.” She turned to hug Addie, too. “Deliriously happy. With Tanner—who is the most amazing
man in the world—but also with my family.”
Glory and Addie glanced at each other.
“Oh, come on,” Callie said. “I have the most beautiful, spirited, trustworthy sister ever, and now I have a mother-in-law who blows me away with her kindness and generous spirit.”
Glory loved that Callie considered her a sister more than a cousin. Being mostly raised together had made them close.
“Such praise,” Addie teased. “But thank you.”
“I am so ready to embrace my new world.” Callie turned to Glory. “But first, you’re going to tell me what’s wrong.”
Startled by the demand, Glory opened her mouth to deny any problems.
Callie didn’t give her the chance. “No fudging because I know you too well.” With a nudge, she said, “I’m married, but still
interested in anything that concerns you, just as I know you would be with me.”
“But you have a new husband waiting on you.”
“No, I don’t.” Callie hooked one arm through Glory’s, the other through Addie’s. “Tanner just left.”
The day after his wedding? “To go where?”
“The reception hall. He’s going to pick up Kam, Liam will meet them there, and together, they’ll get the tires changed.”
Addie laughed while Glory sputtered.
Liam, too? She hated the idea of imposing on his day. “But how did you . . . Who told you . . .”
“We’re part of a small town now,” Callie said. “You should know that nothing stays secret for long.”