Part 21 (2/2)
He grunted. ”You had no clue who or what you were. You kept trying to fade into the background, to disappear completely, which was very silly because a woman like you is always noticed.”
Her eyebrow lifted this time. ”A woman like me?”
”Smart, s.e.xy, warm and sincere. Men have built-in homing devices for women like you. You can't be in the vicinity without males perking up a and I don't just mean their attention.” He bobbed his eyebrows so she wouldn't misunderstand. ”You're around, and men know it.”
That had her laughing. ”You are so absurd sometimes.”
”No more absurd than you. Forget the past, doll. Forget the girl you used to be and the boy you always thought he was. Just take it day by day and see what happens. If Casey Hudson possesses even half the sterling qualities you always attributed to him, I'll be shocked if he doesn't fall madly in love with you.” In fact, Damon thought the poor guy was already halfway there. He looked at Emma as if he wanted to eat her up, and he didn't even try to hide it.
”Now-” Damon stood to stare down at her ”-it's time to hit the sack. I'm seeing Ceily again tomorrow.”
”You are?”
”Indeed. She's a charming little minx, I'll say that for her.”
”If you say that to her, she's liable to clobber you.”
Damon grinned. ”I can handle her, don't worry. But she suggested I be ready early, and I'm beginning to realize that, around here, that means crawling out of bed before the sun comes up.”
Emma gave him a long look, no doubt wondering how involved he planned to get with Ceily. He could understand her surprise. h.e.l.l, he was still reeling himself. Of all the women in Buckhorn, she was probably the last woman he should be spending extra time with, all things considered.
But as usual, Emma didn't pry except to ask, ”So you're going to be staying too?”
He sauntered toward his own room, but when he reached the doorway, he looked back at her with a smile. ”The infamous Casey Hudson sees me as compet.i.tion, despite my a.s.surances to the contrary, and I'm finding that amuses me a lot. So, yes, doll, I'm staying. In fact, wild horses couldn't drag me away.” Damon couldn't wait to see how the town's golden boy worked this one out.
In the meantime, he'd be working on buying some land a and seducing Miss Ceily. Things looked promising.
And here he'd feared Buckhorn, Kentucky, might be boring. It was anything but.
MORGAN STOOD at the grill, turning burgers, rolling wieners and brats, and seasoning pork ribs. As the official cook for the day, he'd opted for a wide variety to please all the family who'd turned out for the impromptu get-together. All around him, the kids were playing and the animals were running about up on the porch, he could hear the wives chatting and laughing. Life was good.
He glanced over to where Casey and Emma sat beneath a tall elm tree, practically glued together. It was just like old times, except that two of Gabe's fair-haired daughters were with them, watching as Emma taught them how to weave clover buds together for ankle bracelets. The girls loved them, and when Casey made a larger one and placed it on Emma's head like a tiara, they giggled.
Sawyer walked up to him. It was his day off so he wore jeans and a tan T-s.h.i.+rt. ”Out of the ten days she's been in town, this is the fifth time Case has had her over for dinner.”
Morgan raised an eyebrow. ”I knew they were getting tight. But that's sounding pretty serious considering he doesn't usually bring his dates around that often.”
”h.e.l.l, the days he hasn't brought her here, he's spent with her somewhere else. Everyone in town and on the lake has noticed, which I think might have been his intent I've never seen him chase a woman like this.”
Shrugging, Morgan said, ”Usually they're chasing him.” He expertly flipped a burger, then stepped back as flames shot upward from the grease. ”Misty told me that the gossip among the young ladies is getting kinda nasty. With Emma around, they're all out of the running, and apparently they're not too happy about that.”
”What kind of gossip?”
”Oh, that Case feels sorry for her. That he's using her. That she's using him.” He shrugged. ”Typical catty stuff. Misty was fit to be tied when she got home.”
Sawyer smiled. ”I take it she straightened them out?”
”That she did. But stop grinning, cuz your wife was right there with her and just as adamant about stopping rumors.”
”You're on fire,” Sawyer told him, then waited while Morgan retrieved a slightly charred hot dog and moved it to another part of the grill. ”You know Honey dotes on him. If Emma makes him happy, then she's all for it.”
”She does appear to keep him smiling.”
”True. And if she's around, he's by her. Or watching her. Or watching that no one else is watching her. It's bound to cause talk.”
Grinning, Morgan said, ”Reminds me a bit of me back in my day.”
”Reminds me a bit of any guy in love.”
Nodding thoughtfully, Morgan said, ”Yep. That's about it, I suppose.”
Jordan strolled up with three frosty colas, one already opened and half gone, the other two for his brothers. Gabe followed along behind him. ”What has you two over here gossiping like old women?”
Shoeless and in a sleeveless s.h.i.+rt, Gabe leaned against a tree. ”We could see your frowns from the porch.”
Accepting his drink and taking a healthy swig, Morgan nodded toward Casey. ”Think he's in love with her?”
Gabe snorted. ”That's what has you all puckered up? Well, let me set you straight a yes. He loves her.”
Jordan used his wrist to wipe the sweat from his forehead. ”Hear, hear.”
Sawyer said, ”Hmm.”
”You like her, don't you?” Gabe glanced over toward Emma in time to see his youngest daughter climb into her lap and give her a hug. ”Because I like her fine. She's a pretty little thing. And she's d.a.m.n good with cars. Almost as good as me.” He shook his head. ”Gotta admire that.”
”She's d.a.m.n good at neck rubs too.”
Gabe squinted his eyes. ”Do tell.”
Grinning, Sawyer said, ”Morgan helped Howard dig out a tree stump. And by 'helped,' I mean he did it himself. He seems to forget he's an old man now.”
”I'm in my prime, d.a.m.n it.” Then Morgan raised his nose. ”Just ask Misty.”
”Yeah, well, prime or not, he pulled more than a few muscles showing off. Emma happened to be here when he started complaining and within minutes she had him blissfully relaxed and half-asleep.”
Gabe stared over toward Emma. ”Wonder if I could get her to show me how to do that.”
”She showed Misty.”
”And Honey.” The two brothers grinned at each other.
”Needing help with Elizabeth, are you?” Jordan taunted Gabe.
”Naw, but the woman is insatiable. I figured if I could get her to sleep a little more...”
After everyone stopped chuckling, Gabe said, ”You're fretting for nothing. Because if I know women a and you know I do a Emma is as much stung as Casey is. It's almost embarra.s.sing, the way she looks at him.”
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