Forever Wishes (Montana Brides, Book 4) Read online

  Jake frowned. He looked down at her as if she’d gone slightly mad.

  She giggled some more. “You might want to move your feet.”

  He stepped back and she breathed a sigh of relief. Hoisting her bodice up, she rearranged what nature had endowed her with. “I’m strapped inside this dress like tuna in a tin can. Don’t ever buy a strapless gown, Jake.”

  He grinned at her frowning face. “So you said last night.”

  Erin plucked at her bodice one last time before running her hands down the skirt. “There. Even Nicky couldn’t complain…” her mouth dropped open. “I’ll be back in a minute. I promised I’d call Nicky when I got home and I forgot.”

  She bunched the bottom of her dress in her hands and rushed toward the staircase, grabbing her purse from the floor of the pickup. She turned her cell phone on. Six messages, all from Nicky, lined up and waiting to fire poisoned darts at her for forgetting to call.

  Erin groaned at the groveling she’d need to do to apologize for her one track mind. Flicking a quick message back, she headed upstairs. Stopping in Jake’s room, she picked up her shawl and shoes. She took one last look at the scene of her reckless and frivolous night and grinned.

  Nicky was right. She hadn’t been disappointed.

  ***

  Jake turned from the kitchen window. The soft swish of satin coming down the hallway drifted toward him. He smiled at the sight of Erin decked out in her ballroom finery.

  She looked even more adorable than last night. She’d twisted her hair into a knot on the top of her head and wrapped her filmy shawl around her shoulders. Red painted toenails and bare feet peeked out from under the bottom of her dress and her high heels dangled from her fingers. All she needed was a crystal ball and she could start a business as a fortune teller. “All sorted?”

  Erin nodded. “As much as I can. I’ve left a message for Nicky, but I’m going to have to do some serious damage control.” She pulled out a kitchen stool and sat down. Her legs dangled in mid-air as she sipped her tea. “I’ve got to go into work this morning, so I’ve ordered a taxi to take me home.”

  “Trying to get away from me so quickly?”

  A blush warmed her cheeks. “Call it a defensive retreat, Mr. Williams. Anyway, I still have to think of a suitable payback activity. I saved you from the clutches of at least one deranged female last night.”

  “I could think of a few things I could do with my hands tied behind my back, Miss Reynolds.” He laughed at the saucy gleam in her eyes. It was just as well her sense of humor was as warped as his otherwise she’d probably be running a mile by now.

  With a quirk of her lips she said, “In your dreams.”

  “If necessary,” he winked. “By the way, I gave Stan a check for your bid last night so we’re officially signed, sealed and delivered.”

  “I’m sure the camp committee will appreciate your donation. It wasn’t too much money was it?”

  Jake shook his head. “You saved me from a fate worse than death, so I’ll be forever grateful to you.”

  Erin looked at him with mischief lurking in her eyes. “In that case I plan on making sure you work hard to pay for your night of bribery and corruption.”

  “I’m sure you will,” he laughed. A flash of movement outside the window caught his attention. He looked down into the driveway. “The taxi’s arrived.”

  Erin wiggled sideways on the stool. He pulled her into his arms as she jumped off. “Thank you for last night.”

  Red heat skimmed along her cheeks. “I enjoyed myself too.” Her eyes darted toward the window, looking everywhere except at him. “We’d better head downstairs before the taxi wakes up half the neighborhood with his horn.”

  He held her hand while they walked downstairs. Before she stepped into the taxi, he handed her a slip of paper. “I’ve scribbled my home number on here. Give me a call in the next few days so I can repay my debt to humanity.”

  Smiling, she gave him a mock salute, “Yes, Sir.” And in a softer voice added, “Have a good weekend.”

  He closed the taxi door and watched her disappear down the driveway. He stuck his hands in his pockets, breathing in the crisp morning air, remembering what had happened last night.

  He hadn’t expected to meet anyone at the ball, let alone bring them back to his place. Erin wasn’t like anyone he’d ever dated, but he’d thrown every lesson he’d ever learned out the window when she’d smiled at him. He felt like a teenager, not sure what to do next, or whether there would be a next time.

  There was only one way to shake off the brooding feeling in the pit of his stomach. He’d go to the ranch and see his sister, then brace himself for a visit with his mom. He might even stop by his favorite café for breakfast. Playing Santa with Ethan and devil’s advocate with his mother would take every scrap of energy he could find.

  CHAPTER THREE

  After Erin’s shift at the library, she’d called Nicky and met her at Sam’s apartment. There was nothing like a bit of bribery to make peace between friends, so she’d brought the biggest carrot cake she could find.

  Between mouthfuls of delicious cake, Nicky kept glaring at her. “What planet are you living on? You don’t stay overnight with a man you know next to nothing about.”

  Erin shrugged. “He needed someone to stay with him.” She stuffed another fork of cake into her mouth, hoping Nicky didn’t see her skin stretching to accommodate her lying nose.

  “So let me get this straight. He offered to pay for a taxi to take you home. But you decided to stay and play nursemaid to a perfectly capable male while he languished in bed with a headache? Of all the cheek. You were just darn lucky nothing happened.”

  Every drop of blood in Erin’s body rushed to her face. Busted.

  “What?” Nicky gasped. “You mean something did happen? Tell me you didn’t.”

  “Okay. I won’t.”

  Nicky raised her eyebrows.

  Leaning her elbows on the kitchen table, Erin sighed. This wasn’t going as well as she’d thought it would. She tried to look suitably embarrassed, but couldn’t hold back the grin slipping across her face. “And he didn’t really have a headache. It was a more like an achy body that needed some tender loving care.”

  “A what?”

  “We had sex. More than once. And it was incredible.”

  Nicky’s fork clattered against the table. “I knew it. No man has a goofy grin on his face if he’s going home with a migraine. Just wait until I see Sam. That man’s got a lot to answer for. It was supposed to be a double date, not a sex romp with my best friend.” She picked up her fork, stuffing another mouthful of cake into her mouth. Nicky’s jaw worked overtime, smashing the carrot and pineapple to shreds.

  Erin cleared her throat. “The thing is…I really enjoyed last night.” She bit her lip, trying to hold back another grin. “And I’m ready to give Sam a big kiss to thank him for introducing me to Jake.”

  “I need coffee,” Nicky groaned. “And not one of those frilly latte’s you like.” She pushed her chair away from the table and headed over to the kitchen counter. “Just promise me not to kiss Sam too soon. He needs to feel guilty before you tell him he’s your second favorite person.” Nicky poured hot, black coffee into her mug. “I’m just thankful you’re okay.”

  Before Nicky scooped another piece of cake off her plate, she asked a question that Erin wasn’t too thrilled about answering.

  “Why on earth did you pay four thousand dollars for a date with Jake?”

  “Umm.” Erin chewed her bottom lip. “If I tell you, you have to swear never to breathe a word of it to Sam.”

  “Oh, man. What have you been up to?”

  “It’s not that bad. Jake asked me to bid for him on his behalf, so it didn’t cost me anything.” A bubble of laughter escaped her lips. “I made him promise to do me a favor in return for bailing him out of the auction.”

  Nicky groaned. “Whoever said librarians were a dull and boring lot hasn’t met you. What dastardly
deed are you going to get him to do, or shouldn’t I ask?”

  “I don’t know yet.” She grinned. “But I’m sure I’ll come up with a suitably impressive job to keep him occupied for a few minutes.” Swallowing another mouthful of cake, she thought of a few jobs around her house that a six-foot-five male could easily handle.

  Thinking of Jake in a tool belt and hard hat sent her heart rate soaring. She knew one thing. He wouldn’t need his suit for what she had in mind.

  ***

  Jake stood on his sister’s front porch waiting for someone to answer the door. His arms were loaded with presents in all sorts of shapes and sizes for Ethan. He nudged the doorbell again, hoping like crazy Lucy had made it home from town.

  His brother-in-law had been killed in a car accident four years ago. Ever since then he’d kept a careful eye on his sister and nephew. The first year without Dan had been rough on everyone, but Lucy had managed to keep going, determined to make a new life for herself and her son.

  The big wooden front door banged open. A bundle of multicolor fur ran out to plaster his knees with buckets of doggy slobber.

  A second hurricane came hurtling through the door. “Uncle Jake.” Ethan flew toward him, grabbing hold of his knees just above doggy slobber line.

  “Hi, big guy. Help me get this lot into the house.”

  Handing Ethan one of the presents, they traipsed into the house with Mad Max yapping at their heels. A hopeful look crossed Ethan’s little face. “Who are the presents for?”

  “For you. I brought them back from Los Angeles.”

  Excitement filled Ethan’s face. He yelled for his mom to come and join them as he led Jake through to the living room.

  Lucy found them hunched over a pile of shredded wrapping paper and discarded boxes. “You’re opening those presents fast. I should have run from the garden.” She laughed as his hands tore into another parcel. Whoops of delight filled the house.

  Fifteen minutes later, Ethan disappeared into his bedroom to find a special spot for each of his new toys. Mad Max jumped around the living room, playing hide-and-seek inside the empty boxes.

  Lucy bundled up a pile of paper. “I’ll make you a cup of coffee before lunch. Come into the kitchen.”

  Water gushed out of the kitchen faucet as Lucy filled the kettle. Jake watched his sister take a carton of milk out of the fridge and put two mugs on the counter. “How’s Scott holding out?”

  “Same as usual,” she sighed. “Mom keeps hovering over him like he’s a piece of fragile china and Scott keeps getting more and more frustrated.”

  “Why can’t mom see that he’s a grown man and not a helpless boy anymore?”

  With a tight smile, Lucy glanced at him. “I don’t think there’s ever been a helpless bone in his body. Do you remember the time he did some of the neighbor’s chores? He earned twice as much as he would have at home. He saved so hard for the school camp.” The smile faded from her face as she remembered what had come next. “And mom still refused to let him go. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry so much.” Lucy pushed a mug of coffee toward her brother and sat down beside him. “What a mess.”

  Jake sipped his drink as they silently contemplated their childhood demons. At least Lucy had been at home to look after Scott. He’d disappeared from Bozeman as soon as he could drive. He’d been too wrapped up in his own life. Too sure of everything he didn’t want, to spend another minute with his family.

  “I don’t know what to do about Scott,” he said. “Something’s going to happen if mom doesn’t back off and give him some space.”

  “I’ll go and see her tomorrow.”

  “You could talk to her all you want, but I don’t think it’s going to make any difference.” He’d thought moving back to Montana would help his family. But so far, all he’d managed to do was get in the middle of the bickering between his mom and brother.

  Jake listened to Ethan squealing. It sounded like Mad Max was sick of the empty boxes and had found his pint-sized friend, creating havoc with him in his bedroom.

  Lucy glanced toward the hallway. “I know you didn’t get a chance to spend much time with Scott after you left for college, but he’s worked really hard to get where he is today. He’s not unlike you in a lot of ways. You’re both opinionated, stubborn males.” With a small smile she asked, “How was the charity ball last night?”

  Jake’s head jerked in her direction. His sister cradled her mug, gazing at him with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. He cleared his throat and scowled. “I sold.”

  “Oh dear. That bad?”

  “No. Not that bad, but I wish you wouldn’t put my name forward for another auction. This is the last time I stand there like a bull at the market being sold to the highest bidder.”

  He squirmed in his seat as Lucy’s eyes widened a fraction. He knew what she was thinking. At last year’s ball, he’d taken the auction in his stride. It wasn’t like him to get fazed by a fundraising date, but he’d had enough. Three years of auctions were enough for any sane man. It was time someone else put their body on the line for a good cause.

  “I’m sure the ladies thought you were more like cotton candy than a bull. So how much did a date with the illustrious Jake Williams, lawyer extraordinaire, go for?”

  “Four thousand dollars.” He couldn’t help the smug note that crept into his voice. He wasn’t going to mention the deal he’d struck with Erin to bid on his behalf. That would ruin the dumbfounded expression on his sister’s face. He crossed his arms across his chest, daring her to laugh.

  “Four thousand bucks? What did you do? Strip naked?”

  Jake hoped Lucy missed the heat he could feel racing up his neck. There’d been a lot of nakedness last night and he’d do it again if he got half the chance.

  “Your problem, little sister, is that you don’t know quality when you see it. When was the last time you went out to play with the male species?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “And a trip to Kids Zone with Ethan doesn’t count.” If that didn’t get her off the charity auction track, nothing else would.

  Lifting her nose in the air, she said, “For your information, single moms don’t get a chance to get out much. And I’m not that interested in dating anyone.” She paused, smiling at him. “Besides, they’d have to go a long way to top the special men in my life.”

  ***

  Hot, dry, heat hit Erin’s face as she opened the oven door. For the last hour and a half, she’d been mixing, cutting, and cooking gingerbread men for tomorrow’s preschool program at the library. They usually had about twenty-six kids turn up with their moms or dads for half an hour of stories and songs.

  Tomorrow would be an extra special event. The kids would be meeting Carolyn, the new children’s librarian, for the first time. Decorating gingerbread seemed like a great way for the kids to get to know her and a great way for Carolyn to meet the adults. Knowing the staff at the library, Erin wouldn’t get through the front door without taking extra cookies for everyone. So another few batches had been added to the chaos surrounding her.

  With a sigh of relief, she slid the last tray into the oven and looked at her once tidy kitchen. It needed to be rezoned a disaster area. Flour, sugar, mixing bowls, and cookies hot from the oven covered every available inch of counter space.

  Her clothes looked just as messy. Using the back of her hand, she wiped a strand of hair away from her face and tried to brush some of the flour off her t-shirt.

  The doorbell chimed. With a frown on her face, she glanced across at the oven, then walked down the hallway.

  “Jake?” Her hand gripped the open door and her pulse bounced out of control.

  He took his sunglasses off and an uncertain smile slid across his face. “I stayed at my sister’s house last night and thought I’d say hello on my way home. Sam gave me your address this morning. I hope that’s all right?”

  “Of course it’s okay.” Erin felt a blush warm her cheeks. “Come in. I’ve just put the last batch of gingerbread
men in the oven for the library tomorrow.”

  His gaze traveled down her t-shirt and jeans. “You look like you’ve had a good time.”

  “Wait until you see the kitchen. There’s flour from one end of the room to the other. It’s not a pretty sight.”

  Jake rubbed a finger along her cheek and down to her chin. “If the cookies taste as good as you look, no one’s going to care about what your kitchen looks like.”

  Erin blew the stray strand of hair off her face again and tried to cool her overheated cheeks. “You say that now, but in the next few minutes you might be shocked.” She walked down the hallway and showed him gingerbread city.

  It was worse than she remembered, and she’d only been gone a few minutes. “Welcome to my work in progress.” Taking a quick look in the oven, she scowled at the timer. “I managed to burn one batch, so I’m a bit paranoid about leaving them in the oven for too long.” Wiping her hands down the sides of her jeans, she headed over to the sink.

  Grabbing a few dirty bowls, she stacked them out of the way. “Would you like a drink of lemonade?”

  “Sure, that’d be great.” He moved across to the counter and sat down on a kitchen stool. “If the cookies taste as good as they smell you’re onto a winner.” His gaze locked on the plates of gingerbread men. “How many people were you expecting?”

  She laughed at amazement on his face. “To be safe I cooked forty for the preschool program and another twenty for the big kids at the library. If I don’t keep the staff happy they start growling, especially when there’s food involved. Help yourself. I’ve got double what I need.” She handed Jake a glass of cold lemonade and watched him crunch into a cookie.

  “These are good.”

  “Thanks. My nana taught me how to bake gingerbread when I was about six-years-old.” Erin poured herself a drink and leaned against the counter. Jake looked even better than he had last night. More relaxed and less stressed. Maybe the thought of not being a hunted man had put color in his cheeks and a spring in his step.