Fortune's Texas Surprise, page 9
He chuckled. “So you’re not going to admit to them that I made these cookies?”
“Um, no. I’d never hear the end of it. For a lot of reasons.”
A few minutes later, Stephanie was placing the freshly baked cookies onto a cooling rack and Acton was reading over the cupcake instructions, when her three brothers sauntered into the kitchen.
Deep in conversation, they didn’t notice Acton and Stephanie at the work island. When they did finally spot them, they stopped in their tracks and stared at Acton as though he’d just stepped off a UFO.
“Stephanie! You’re baking?” Steven asked.
The shock on her brothers’ faces was almost comical.
“With a little help,” she admitted. Then she took Acton by the arm and urged him toward the three men.
“Acton, these are my brothers. The tall dark-haired one on the left is Callum. The one in the middle, who thinks I’m a disaster in the kitchen, is Steven. And on the right with the sandy blond hair, that’s Dillon. Most of the time he’s the quiet one of the three.”
Acton politely shook hands with each man. “It’s nice to meet you all,” he said.
Callum’s skeptical gaze vacillated between his sister and Acton. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Acton. We hope.”
Hope? Oh, Lord, Stephanie thought, this curt attitude from her brothers was the last thing she needed right now.
“Stephanie hasn’t mentioned you before. Are you a new boyfriend or something?”
The question came from Steven, who as the oldest of the siblings, had always considered himself the boss. He was frowning with disapproval. Which was ridiculous, Stephanie thought. He didn’t know Acton. And he certainly shouldn’t be judging him by his appearance.
“You’re jumping to conclusions, Steven. Acton is just a friend. You don’t need to start interrogating him.”
She glanced at Acton and was suddenly struck by a wounded look in his eyes. Had her brothers’ attitude offended him? Or had her comment about him being just a friend put the shadows in his eyes? Either way, she felt sick and helpless at the same time.
“I don’t think Acton is someone we need worry about,” Dillon said bluntly.
“Worry?” Acton repeated blankly as he studied the three men. “I don’t get this.”
“You’d get it if you knew all the losers that Stephanie has dated,” Steven told him. “None of whom deserved our beautiful little sister. So just make sure you don’t give us something to worry about.”
“Steven!” she practically shouted at him. “I don’t need this or deserve it! And neither does Acton! I’d appreciate it if all three of you would please get out of here and leave us alone.”
His face grim, Steven walked out of the kitchen with Dillon following after him.
Pausing, Callum said, “We’re just trying to protect you, Stephanie. That’s all. We don’t have anything against Acton.”
“No,” she drawled with sarcasm. “You just doubt my judgment. That’s all.”
Furious, she turned her back on her brother and waited until she’d heard the door close behind him before she turned a mortified look at Acton.
“I’m so sorry, Acton. I’m sorry for their behavior and sorry that I put you in this situation.”
Letting out a long breath, he sat down on a wooden stool at the island. “You should’ve warned me about your brothers. If a person is expecting to be insulted, then it’s not quite so bad when it does happen.”
“They weren’t insulting you. Not personally.”
His short laugh told her exactly what he thought about that. “You could’ve fooled me. Do they always behave like jerks to your friends?”
Wishing she could melt into the floor and disappear, she walked over to him. “They didn’t used to act like a trio of jackasses. But now...well, they’re very protective of me. Because I... like they said, I’ve had some real stinking boyfriends in my life. And they’re tired of seeing me end up on the losing end.”
He frowned and his head moved slightly back and forth. “So they don’t want you to date? Is that the problem?”
“Oh, they want me to date. They even want me to get married—eventually. But not before they make sure my man meets their expectations.”
“Hell, that’s like having three dads around trying to run your life. You’re twenty-seven, Stephanie. You’re old enough to choose your own man.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “You’re right. But so far I’ve been terrible at choosing. Or maybe I’m just not special enough to attract a good man.”
His forefinger suddenly slipped beneath her chin and she sniffed as he lifted her face up to his.
“You’re wrong, Stephanie. You’re a special woman. In so very many ways. You’ve just been unlucky in love, that’s all.”
She couldn’t stop her eyes from misting over. Not to mention the fact that the touch of his finger on her chin was making her tremble all over. “You really think so?”
His smile was so tender that it made her heart hurt with longing.
“I know so. Because I’ve been unlucky in love, too. I understand what you’ve gone through.”
Her lips parted with surprise. “You? That’s not possible. I’m sure you have all kinds of women knocking on your door. And I can’t imagine any one of them throwing you over for someone else.”
He dropped his hand from her face, then speared his fingers through the dark blond curls falling near one eye. “Oh, Stephanie, sometimes I think you are far younger than me. Finding someone who fits you just right, who won’t hurt you for any reason, who’ll stand beside you through thick and thin—that’s not an easy thing to do. I haven’t managed to get it done...yet. Each time I think I’m getting close to finding that kind of woman, I’ve been disappointed. Big-time disappointed.”
She placed her hand on his forearm, and as she did, their eyes met. The intimate clash caused her heart to skip a beat, and when she finally managed to speak, her voice sounded as if she’d just woken from a deep sleep.
“A few minutes ago, I’d wished that my brothers had never walked in here. And I’m still darned annoyed with all three of them. But now I’m almost glad. Otherwise, you might never have shared this with me. And it... I guess what I’m trying to say is that it makes me feel much closer to you. I hope you think that’s a good thing.”
A soft light glowed in his blue eyes. “I think it’s good and great and every other stupendous adjective.”
Laughing lightly, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked while rubbing his cheek with the tips of his fingers.
“It’s my turn to thank you. Just for being Acton Donovan. And for not judging me by my brothers’ behavior.”
“You’re very welcome, Stephanie. Now what do you say we start on the cupcakes? The sooner we get them baked, the sooner we can do a taste test.”
“A taste test? Hmm. That’s probably a good idea. If we bomb with our baking efforts, then I’ll be forced to go to the bakery.”
His grin oozed confidence. “With the two of us working together, we can’t fail.”
Chapter Six
Nearly an hour and a half later, after the cupcakes were cooled and frosted and the cookies packed away in a plastic storage container, Stephanie made coffee, then filled a basket with a thermos and a few of the sweets.
With Acton carrying Linus, and Stephanie toting the basket of goodies, she guided him to a wide foyer that connected a separate wing to the main section of the house. As they walked along, he noticed most of the hallway was made of plate glass. Beyond it, he could see footlights outlining a path through a perfectly landscaped courtyard.
When they reached a carved wooden door, she opened it and gestured for him to enter. “This is my personal space,” she told him. “I guess you’d call it my home within a home.”
As she closed the door behind them, Acton gazed around the large, open area. The space was furnished as a sitting room, and though it was elaborate, it had a much homier feel than the monstrous kitchen they’d just left.
“Do you let the dogs in here?” Acton asked as he carried Linus to the middle of the room.
She walked over to him. “No. When I adopted Mack and Tallulah, they were both outdoor dogs. Mack is a terrier and a fierce digger. Tallulah is a dachshund and likes to show Mack she can dig even better than him. They’d be bored to tears if they were indoors. And, anyway, with two cats and the rabbit, it would be too crowded in here. Especially with Linus,” she explained. “The dogs stay in a large fenced-in area at the back of the house. I’m having a longer run built for them so that they can go all the way to the stables and still be safely inside the fence. They love being around the horses, so that should make them really happy.”
She gestured to an area where a round table was positioned near a floor-to-ceiling paned window. “I’ll put our snacks here. Linus is sound asleep so let’s put him in the bassinet.”
While she deposited the basket on the table, Acton looked around for the bassinet. He spotted the portable hooded bed sitting a few feet away from a small fireplace, where apparently someone had lit a fire earlier in the evening. Now the logs had mostly turned to a pile of glowing red embers.
With Stephanie following close on his heels, Acton carried Linus over to the bassinet.
“If you’ll give me the carrier,” she suggested, “I’ll hold it while you lift him out and put him to bed.”
“I think I can do that.” Careful to keep the baby’s head supported, he scooped up Linus from the padded seat and gently laid him on a sheet printed with bright yellow ducks.
The baby seemed to sense he was finally in his own bed and as he squirmed slightly against the soft mattress, Acton smiled with satisfaction.
“Aww, look at him. He’s looks comfortable now.”
“He should be,” Stephanie agreed. “His diaper is dry and his tummy is full. He’ll sleep for hours.”
She reached over and covered the baby with a pale blue blanket, and as she tucked the fabric around his tiny shoulders, Acton wondered how it would feel to have a baby son of his own. How would it feel to have a woman like Stephanie give him a child?
The thought had him rubbing a forefinger over Linus’s dark hair. It was fine and soft and curled slightly on the ends. The vulnerability of the baby awed him in a way that surprised him. He’d never thought of himself as a daddy. Yet this little guy put a whole set of ideas in his head.
Acton had always admired his parents. Not just because they’d been happily married for so many years, but because they were so devoted to their children. They’d raised Acton and his three siblings with firm discipline and a wealth of love. And even though his father hadn’t always been a perfect dad, Acton doubted he could ever fill his boots. As for his mother, Acton was pretty sure he could look to the ends of the earth and not find a woman with Faye Donovan’s patient and nurturing soul.
“What are you thinking, Acton?”
Stephanie’s soft question pulled Acton out of his thoughts and he glanced at her. The tender concern he saw on her features speared him right in the heart, and for a moment he was too struck by the feeling to even speak.
Finally, he said, “I, uh, was just thinking about my dad—wondering if I could ever be half the man that he is. He and Mom raised four of us. And just looking at little Linus makes me realize what an incredible task that must’ve been for them. I’m not sure I could do it, much less do it as well as they have.”
“Parenting is a scary prospect. Especially if you want to do it right.” She motioned toward the table, where their coffee, cupcakes and cookies were waiting. “Let’s go sit. I’d like to hear about your family.”
Once they were seated at the table, Stephanie poured two cups of coffee and passed out the desserts they’d baked.
Acton held up one of the cupcakes frosted with pink buttercream frosting. “It’s a little lopsided, but who cares? I’m hoping the people who attend will have their mind on donations rather than the food.”
Stephanie bit into a cookie. “Oh, this is scrumptious, Acton! No need to go by the bakery. I pronounce you a good cookie-maker.”
“Thanks, but you helped, remember.” He looked at her and winked. “I’ll have to tell Grandma Hatti about this. She’ll be proud. Because she’s the one who taught me about cooking and baking. I might even manage to talk her into coming to the fund-raiser. That is, if her arthritis isn’t acting up.”
She finished the last of the cookie and reached for a cupcake. “You said there were four of you. I’ve met Gina, so who are the other two?”
He nodded. “My brothers. They’re both older than me. Shawn is after Gina and then Danny.”
“Do your brothers work on your family ranch?” she asked.
“They do. Shawn is like me—he works on the ranch full-time. He mostly deals with the cattle while I tend to the cattle and the horses. Danny helps out on the ranch, too, but not on a daily basis. He has an outside job as a sales manager at the Travis County livestock auction.”
“So your parents have always been together?”
Nodding, he said, “All these years and they’re still crazy about each other. Their long, happy marriage is great, but it’s also kind of daunting. It’s a lot to live up to. Could be that’s why me or my brothers have never tried it. None of us likes failing at anything.” He glanced at her. “What about you, Stephanie? Are your parents still together?”
She reached for her coffee. “Yes. But my father, David, wasn’t always married to my mother, Marci. He was first married to Penny. She’s Callum and Dillon’s mother. When Marci married Dad she already had two sons, Steven and Wiley. He adopted both of the boys and then he and Marci went on to have me and my triplet sisters. So you see, it’s sort of a convoluted family. But all eight of us siblings get along fairly well.”
“Hmm. So the brothers I met in the kitchen are actually two half-brothers and a stepbrother?”
“That’s right. All of the brothers are half or step to us girls. But that doesn’t stop them from being bossy,” she added with a tight grimace. “I’m still upset with them for the way they treated you.”
He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t figure I’ll be rubbing elbows with any of them, anyway. Besides, they could tell by looking at me that I’m not good enough to be your real boyfriend.”
A look of disappointment flashed across her face and Acton wondered what might have caused the reaction. Maybe it was lingering regret over her brothers’ behavior. In any case, he’d much rather see her smiling.
“I wished you hadn’t said that, Acton.”
“Why?”
“You make it sound like—” She paused and shook her head. “You’re putting me up on some kind of weird pedestal and cutting yourself down. It’s not that way at all.”
He made a mocking grunt. “You might think so, but I know better. Look around you, Stephanie. A guy like me in a place like this? No. I’m a rancher—a cowboy. I work in mud and manure. I’m like the guy who’s mucking out your stables, not the one who’s invited to come for a ride.”
She reached over and flicked something off his shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Do I have a piece of cookie dough on me?”
“No. I’m knocking that ridiculous chip off. It’s getting too big for me to ignore.”
She smiled at him and Acton had to smile back at her. No matter how hopeless this attraction for her seemed, he couldn’t make it go away, or even dim it to anything less. He was beginning to want this woman...very much. And right behind his wanting came the stark fear of losing his heart.
* * *
Stephanie was in the process of getting dressed the next evening when a knock sounded on the door.
Fearing it might be Acton, who’d promised to pick her up and drive her to the fund-raiser later tonight, she hurried to the door, only to find Becky standing on the threshold.
“Becky, what are you doing?”
Her sister-in-law laughed. “What do you think? I’m babysitting Linus tonight, remember?”
She pushed the door wider so that Becky could enter. “Well, yes, I remember. And I’m still feeling very guilty that you’re staying home with the kids while I’m out partying. On top of that, you and Callum are newlyweds and you should be celebrating Valentine’s night together.”
“You—partying? Ha! You’re working a fund-raiser for the clinic. As for me and Callum, we’re planning something special together for tomorrow night. Besides, I have two good reasons for spending the night at home. One, trying to corral the twins with a room full of dogs and cats would be disastrous. And two, Callum plans to use the gathering to talk business. That’s not my idea of a romantic evening.”
“Okay, I won’t feel guilty anymore. But you didn’t have to come for Linus. I was going to bring him and his things over to you.”
Shaking her head, Becky followed Stephanie across the living room and down a short hallway to her bedroom. An array of glittery cocktail dresses was spread across the king-size bed, while in the middle of the dresses, Linus was lying on his belly, doing his best to paddle his arms and legs.
“You have enough to do with getting yourself ready,” Becky told her. “By the way, the twins are excited to see Linus.”
“Really? They can talk well enough to tell you that?”
“They’re saying more words every day. I’ve taught them to say ‘Linus.’ Although it’s coming out more like ‘Nus’ with the ‘Li’ missing.”
Stephanie laughed. “How cute. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could grow up as true cousins?”
Becky walked over to the bed. “It would. And who knows, that could possibly happen. Do you have his diaper bag packed?”
