For His Daughter's Sake Page 6

  Shaking his head, he moved over to where she was standing and Callie realized this was the first time she’d ever seen him without Maeve. It seemed a little strange, as though part of him was missing.

  “It was the truth. When two people are in love, they want to be together. Listen, Callie, I’m a widower, but that doesn’t mean you have to weigh every word that comes out of your mouth. I don’t want you to be miserable around me.”

  She let out a breath of relief. “Thank you, Tyler, for being understanding about it. I’ve always been the girl who puts her foot in her mouth. If I start making a habit of it tonight, just put some tape over my lips.”

  His gaze fell to her lips and Callie felt her whole mouth begin to tingle with anticipation. How would it feel to have this man kiss her? Would she ever know? Or had he lost the desire to be emotionally involved with a woman?

  The questions were rolling around in her head when he moved a few steps away from her to stand near the small farm table and four chairs where she and Vanessa ate their meals.

  “I think you’d have a hard time trying to eat with tape over your lips.” He glanced curiously around the breakfast nook then out toward the living room. “Have you lived here long?”

  “A couple of years or something like that. Long before I started working for Evan at Bronco Ghost Tours. That was back in November of last year. And then at Christmas I—” She looked away and, for the second time already this evening, wished she’d kept her mouth shut.

  “You what?” he prompted.

  Forcing herself to turn her gaze back to him, she did her best to smile as though she wasn’t about to recount one of the most humiliating times of her life.

  “I broke up with my boyfriend, or he broke up with me. Doesn’t make much difference which one of us actually did the breaking. The end arrived—and right before Christmas. To make matters worse, my parents were out of town at the time. Evan felt so awful about me being alone at Christmas that he kindly invited me to spend the holiday with his family. Vanessa didn’t move in with me until this summer when she moved here from Billings.”

  His blue eyes narrowed with speculation. “What about your boyfriend? Is he still around?”

  “Ex-boyfriend,” she corrected. “And no, he left Bronco Valley and went off to Kalispell or somewhere. I don’t really know or care. We’re finished.”

  Leaning a hip against the edge of the table, he folded his arms against his chest as though they had all the time in the world.

  “What happened?” he asked. “Did the guy have a roving eye? Or is that question too personal?”

  Callie shrugged, thinking if she could open up to him, he might eventually want to share some of his past with her.

  “I was never aware of Zach having other women on the side. That wasn’t the problem. He was the possessive sort and when Bronco Ghost Tours got busier and busier, and I had to start putting in long hours on the job, he resented my job. Because I wasn’t spending enough time with him, he was insulted, indignant, infuriated. I’m sure you get the picture.”

  He chuckled. “I do. It took plenty of I words to describe the guy.”

  She laughed. “Right. But eventually, after I’d had time to think on it, I realized I was better off without him. Zach was a me, me, me person. And, anyway, I’m still young and I happen to believe that someday my prince will come along.”

  The smile on his face faded. “Is that what you want? A prince?”

  Her heart was suddenly pounding and she wasn’t sure why. Maybe because there wasn’t much space between the two of them and she could feel the heat radiating from his hard body. Or maybe it was the intensity of his blue eyes as they delved into hers. Whatever the reason, he was creating upheaval inside her.

  “That was only a figure of speech. I don’t want a prince. I want a normal guy who will love me and give me a family. That’s all.”

  “That’s all? That’s a lot,” he said as though she was asking for the moon and stars.

  “I suppose. So far, the boyfriends I’ve had were all determined to remain single.” She shrugged and did her best to smile. “Van says I’m a hopeless romantic. That I let infatuation blind me so that I don’t see a guy’s faults. She could be right. But sometimes you have to look around the flaws to see the good parts of a person. Don’t you think?”

  “We all have our faults. Some more than others.”

  Were those sad shadows she saw in his blue eyes? Or was it the kitchen lighting that caused his expression to suddenly sober? Whatever the case, she decided it was past time to move on from the subject of boyfriends and love, and her lack of both.

  “Come on,” she said. “I’ll show you the rest of the apartment.”

  He followed her past the dining table and into a larger room furnished with a brown couch, a pair of copper-colored stuffed armchairs, and a glass-and-wood coffee table. On the outer wall, a large picture window framed a view of a grassy courtyard surrounded on three sides by the apartment complex.

  “This is where we kick back and relax. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s comfortable,” she said as he made a slow perusal of the room.

  He walked over to the window. “Nice view. Far better than staring out at a busy street.”

  “The window is probably my favorite part of the apartment. I like looking out at the courtyard. On most days, kids are playing on the grass and there’s a park bench beneath the shade tree. Whenever I have time, I go out there with a handful of seeds and nuts to feed the squirrels and birds.”

  “You like the outdoors?”

  The doubt in his voice didn’t make sense. Did he think just because she lived in town that she preferred concrete beneath her feet and the comfort of being indoors? Could it be that his late wife hadn’t liked the outdoors? Callie could ask him, but she sensed he wouldn’t appreciate her raising the subject. Besides, she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear him talk about the woman he’d loved and cherished. Not tonight, anyway.

  “I love the outdoors. I used to be sort of a tomboy. I liked to climb trees and play baseball with the boys. And fishing with my dad. That’s something I still like to do. I was probably halfway through elementary school before I actually wanted to wear a dress.”

  He grinned and Callie wondered how one little expression on his face could cause her knees to feel like wet sponges.

  “And now?” he asked.

  Chuckling softly, she said, “Now the days of playing outside in the sun are over. I had to grow up and get a job to support myself.” She pointed down the hallway that continued past the living room. “There are two bedrooms down the hall, a main bathroom at the end of it, and a half bath in one of the bedrooms. That makes it nice for Van and me. We don’t have to fight for a bathroom. Especially when we’re in a hurry to get to work.”

  He took a quick look down the hallway as Callie picked up her handbag from the sofa.

  “Ready to go?” she asked.

  He glanced at his watch. “By the time we get there, it’ll be time for our reservation. And I don’t know about you, but I’m getting hungry. Are you?”

  “I’m always hungry,” she replied, wondering where he’d be taking her that would require reservations. All of Callie’s past boyfriends had been the pizza and fast-food sort. Once in a while, Zach had sprung for a chicken-fried steak, but that had been the height of her dining experiences with him. Reservations were for people like the Taylors or Daltons. Or the Abernathys. Not for folks like Callie.

  Callie did her best to ignore the uncomfortable thought as the two of them left the apartment. This was a special night for her. She wasn’t going to ruin it by analyzing the differences between her and Tyler.

  When they reached his truck, he helped her into the cab. After he’d seated himself behind the steering wheel, he glanced over at her. “In case you’re wondering, we’re going to DJ’s Deluxe and the reservation isn�
�t until eight. That’s why I wasn’t in a big rush to leave your apartment.”

  “DJ’s Deluxe! But I’ve heard you often have to wait a month to get reservations to that place. How did—”

  “I manage to get a table? You’re probably going to find this hard to believe, but I happened to call at the right time. They’d just had a cancellation.”

  Timing or luck, either way Callie was impressed he’d managed to get a table tonight. “I’ve heard the food is scrumptious. But I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been there.”

  If her admission surprised him, he didn’t show it. Probably out of politeness, she decided.

  “They have a long menu to choose from and everything on it is delicious. But if you’d feel more comfortable going somewhere else, it won’t bother me to cancel the reservation.”

  Before she could stop it, a soft laugh escaped her lips. “Tyler, you see that I live in the Valley. Anytime I have a chance to eat in the Heights it’s a real treat. But I never expected you to spend so much on our dinner. I can eat pizza or whatever you like.”

  His eyes wandered down the soft blue jersey dress that draped her curves and exposed the tiniest hint of cleavage. “I don’t know much about women’s fashions, but that doesn’t look like something you throw on to go eat pizza.”

  Oh Lord, had she overdone it? She’d wanted to look nice. But she hadn’t wanted him to think she was trying too hard. And she’d picked out the dress not knowing where they’d be eating.

  She turned her attention away from him and focused on fastening the seat belt across her lap. “I can eat anything in this dress. Even packaged sandwiches out of the convenience store.”

  For the first time since she’d met him, he laughed outright, and the sound was full of genuine amusement. It was a very nice sound, she decided. One that she hoped she heard again.

  “I think I can do a bit better than that.” He reached over and clasped his hand around hers. “But you’re sweet to offer, Callie. Very sweet.”

  His hand was work-worn tough, but it was warm and reassuring, while the look in his blue eyes melted her very bones. Going out with Tyler tonight was turning out to be far riskier to her heart than she’d first imagined.

  “And you’re very nice to give me such a special dinner, Tyler,” she told him. “Thank you.”

  He studied her face for a long moment before he released her hand and turned to start the engine.

  When he finally backed the truck onto the street and headed in the direction of Bronco Heights, Callie could only wonder why she’d ever had the foolish thought that Tyler Abernathy needed her.

  He was a man who had everything. Except his late wife. And Callie couldn’t replace her. She wouldn’t even want to try.

  Chapter Four

  There was something happening between him and Callie, Tyler decided. And it had nothing to do with the wine they were having with their dinner. No, it felt far more magical than anything manifested from a bit of alcohol. But how long would the feeling last? Would this connection between them end once they left the restaurant?

  Tyler had no idea what would happen when they walked out of DJ’s Deluxe and he took her home. But he did know one thing. He didn’t want this special feeling to end. At least, not for a while.

  “I’ve never tasted beef like this,” Callie said as she sliced off a piece of the prime rib on her plate. “It melts in my mouth. And the flavor is out of this world.”

  From the moment they’d entered the restaurant, he’d noticed Callie glancing appreciatively at the rich wood tables and bar, where a busy bartender was mixing cocktails. And even though she’d not commented on the burgundy wine Tyler had ordered with their meal, he’d observed how she was savoring each sip. The fact that she was enjoying herself made him feel happier than he’d felt in a long time.

  Luanne had been miserable most of their married life. Dining at DJ’s Deluxe had meant nothing to her. She’d expected the best from him and when she hadn’t gotten it, she was quick to express her displeasure. Most men would’ve never put up with his late wife’s demands, but Tyler had felt guilty for keeping her in Montana, so he’d looked the other way. It hadn’t been until after her death that he’d begun to realize the mistakes he’d made as a husband.

  He’d made wrong choices in an effort to please Luanne. But as Callie’s date tonight, he felt sure he was doing something right. There was a gentle, warm smile on her face that radiated deep into his soul, waking parts of him laid dormant these past dark months.

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He gestured toward her plate. “What about your baked potato? You’ve hardly touched it.”

  She laughed. “Tyler, are you sure we’re not in Texas instead of Montana? Look at the size of that thing! I’ll do well to eat a fourth of it. And it’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious, too.”

  Taking a sip from his wineglass, he allowed his gaze to slip over her dark hair. A wave dipped near her right eye and each time she moved her head the shiny curtain swished against the top of her shoulders. Oddly, he’d never thought himself attracted to dark-haired women. Yet Callie’s hair was like soft brown silk and, when he stood close to her, he could smell the faint scent of flowers drifting from it.

  “You need to save room for dessert,” he told her. “A meal like this isn’t complete without something to satisfy your sweet tooth.”

  She pulled an impish face at him and Tyler realized it had been ages since he’d exchanged this sort of lighthearted banter with anyone.

  “Hmm. How do you know I have a sweet tooth?” she asked mischievously.

  “Just a guess. You look like a chocolate girl to me.”

  She shot him a playful frown. “Are you related to Winona Cobbs?”

  He chuckled. “Probably by marriage in some distant way. Why?”

  “Because you obviously have mystic powers. You knew I loved chocolate.”

  With another chuckle, he shook his head. “That’s not mystic powers, Callie. That’s a natural conclusion. Most women love chocolate.”

  “Aw, and here I thought I’d found another Bronco psychic,” she teased. Then she changed the subject. “How is little Maeve? Is she staying with a relative tonight?”

  The fact that she asked about his daughter pleased him more than she could possibly guess. The night of the shower when Maeve had burst out crying, Callie had looked so horrified, Tyler had thought she must surely have an aversion to kids. Now that he was getting to know her, he could see she was simply inexperienced with babies.

  “She’s at my parents’ house. Mom is watching her.”

  Callie dug into the mound of baked potato smothered in sour cream and chives. “I’ll bet your mother is great with kids. She’d have to be after having five sons.”

  Tyler nodded. “Growing up, all of us boys were rascals. I don’t know how our parents survived our younger years. But somehow we grew out of being pranksters and turned into responsible adults.”

  She looked at him. “Does working with your dad ever cause a problem? I love my daddy dearly, but the times that I’ve tried to help him with his carpentry work, we’d always end up in a big argument. I could never hold the board just right or drive the nail in the right place.”

  He couldn’t imagine Callie doing carpentry work. She was so soft and feminine. Sometimes when he looked at her, he found himself wondering if living on a ranch would be too rough for her.

  Damn it. He didn’t know why such a question would enter his brain. He didn’t want another wife. The hell he’d gone through with Luanne had slammed the door shut on his heart. He wasn’t sure he could ever love another woman deeply enough to want her to be his wife.

  Shaking that thought away, he said, “Working with family can get touchy. Especially when you’re as close as I am to my brothers and dad. More often than not, we speak our minds before we think. On the other hand, we’re all quick t
o forget and forgive. So everything works out.”

  “Must be nice,” she said wistfully. “I wish my sister lived closer to me. I miss having her company and sharing my ups and downs with her. The two of us aren’t really that much alike. She’s an RN and very brainy. But she understands me and I get what she’s all about.”

  “Do you ever go to Wyoming to visit her?”

  “I haven’t in a long while. Traveling is expensive. And I’m so tied up at Bronco Ghost Tours I do well to get my laundry done on the weekends. Much less drive over to Wyoming.”

  She’d already admitted that her boyfriend had skipped out on her because of the long hours she’d spent on the job. The situation she’d described was similar to what had taken place with him and Luanne. He’d buried himself in ranch work, staying out till late at night. Most of it had been legitimate chores. Yet there’d been times he’d created tasks just so he wouldn’t have to face his unhappy wife and crying baby. He was guilty of that and so much more, he thought glumly. But when he looked at Callie’s smiling face, he desperately wanted to believe he could push all that guilt away and look to the future.

  * * *

  Nearly an hour later, after they’d finished a dessert of rich turtle brownies topped with whipped cream and accompanied with cups of strong coffee, Tyler drove back to her apartment complex and parked in a slot designated for guests.

  When he shut off the motor, her heart thudded with anticipation. The evening had been so enchanting for Callie that she didn’t want it to end. But she could only guess as to whether Tyler felt the same way. Especially when he had yet to utter one word.

  Desperate to break the silence, Callie said, “I can’t remember the last time I ate so much. I’m stuffed.”

  “Me, too.”

  Callie unfastened her seat belt and glanced over at him. There was a distant expression on his face, as though he was somewhere other than sitting next to her. Even so, she decided not to let his preoccupation squash her desire to keep this time with him going. At least, for a few more minutes.