All thought of pulling away from Callum fled Madison’s mind the moment he kissed her. This might not be a good idea, but it sure felt good—skin–tingling wonderful, to be exact.
He lifted his hand and placed it against her cheek, so gently her heart swelled. She wondered if he would be a tender lover or wild enough to make her totally lose her mind.
The sound of the door opening caused common sense to come rushing back into her brain, and she jerked away from him, turned toward the materials on the table. But the silence that followed told her that whoever had come in wasn’t fooled. She glanced toward the door and saw Jason and Elly. Her friend was trying to hide a smile, but Jason looked confused. Before she could speak, he turned wordlessly down the hallway. At least he didn’t slam his bedroom door this time.
Elly strolled toward the refrigerator. “I was coming in to see if anyone wanted dinner, but looks like some people skipped right to dessert.”
“Elly!” Madison’s face flamed in embarrassment. “This isn’t funny.”
“I agree,” Callum said.
Madison looked at him, and what she saw in his expression wasn’t amusement. It was desire. And she wasn’t at all sure he couldn’t see it on her face, too.
But he also must have seen the concern for what Jason would think, the worry that she was doing the wrong thing, because he gave her an understanding smile and stood.
“See you all tomorrow. I’ve got a lot of neglected paperwork waiting for me at home. We’ll take that walk some other night.”
As she watched him walk out the door, Madison pictured herself glued to the chair so she wouldn’t run after him and finish what they’d started.
…
Callum noticed Jason was even quieter than normal the next day, and not just on the ride over to the ranch when he was still half-asleep. He kept it up all day, even when he was out by the practice arena watching his and Harry’s every move with the horses. But despite the silent treatment Callum figured was a result of Jason walking in on him kissing Madison, he was beginning to see something else in the boy’s eyes. Interest. If Callum wasn’t mistaken, the boy was at the earliest stages of catching the rodeo bug.
Toward the end of the day, he was on the phone in his office arranging for the sale of three of his best bucking horses to a rodeo stock contractor when he noticed Jason hanging around outside the door. He motioned for him to come in and have a seat while he finished up the call. When he hung up, he leaned back in his leather chair.
“What’s on your mind?”
Jason bit his lip for a minute before answering. “Can I learn how to ride the horses?”
“You mean Tulip Sue?” Callum asked, referring to the oldest, slowest mare on the place, the one used to teach toddlers how to ride.
“No, the bucking horses.”
“You ever been around animals much? And I don’t mean cats and dogs.”
Jason shook his head.
“Well, then, Tulip Sue it is.”
Jason looked about to argue when Callum raised his hand. “Listen, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. I don’t think your sister would take kindly if you break your neck under my watch.”
“Do you like her?”
“Yes, I do.” Callum didn’t believe in beating around the bush with the kid.
“Are you going to ask her out?”
“I have, twice. She said no both times.”
Jason’s brows furrowed. “But…I thought maybe she liked you, too.”
“I’d say she does.” If the way she’d responded to his kiss was any indication.
“Then…” Jason shook his head. “I don’t understand girls.”
Callum laughed. “You and every other male on the planet.” He sat up and leaned his forearms on his desk. “I’m going to be straight with you and hope she doesn’t skin me for it.”
“Okay.”
“Your sister is mighty afraid of doing anything that’s going to hurt you any more than you’ve already been hurt.”
“How would her going on a date hurt me?”
“She’s got it in her head that she has to focus solely on you, to help you get past whatever has been happening with you the past few months.”
“She’s not my mom.” Jason’s voice held a thickness that conveyed clearer than words how much he missed his mother.
“No, but she’s been put in that role now, as unfair as that is to both of you. She doesn’t have the luxury of being just your big sister anymore.”
Jason stared down past his knees to the floor. “I guess I’ve been horrible lately.”
“Don’t think there’s any guessing about it, bud.”
The silence stretched for a few beats before Jason met Callum’s eyes. “It’s okay with me if you take Madison out.”
“I’m not the one you need to tell.”
…
Madison spent the entire day talking with J.W. and Anne about their family tree, all the stories they could remember being told about their ancestors. Before she knew it, it was past time for Callum to bring home Jason.
“I’m sorry I’ve taken up so much of your time,” she said as she rose from the overstuffed chair in the Codys’ living room.
“No need to apologize, dear,” Anne said. “We’re excited to have you doing this. Elly has had nothing but wonderful things to say about your work.”
“I hope I can live up to your expectations.” And she hoped they’d understand if somewhere along the way she found some scoundrel or scandal in the Cody past and was obligated to include that as well.
By the time she reached the homestead house, Callum’s truck was already parked outside, but there was no sign of him or her brother. She stepped inside to find Callum waiting for her, dressed in clean jeans, boots that weren’t scuffed and a white shirt with black embroidered scrollwork near the shoulders.
“Little dressy for dropping off the help, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but not for taking a pretty woman out to dinner.”
Her heart jumped at the thought, but she reined it in. “Callum, I…”
“I told him it was okay.”
Madison turned toward where her brother stood at the entrance to the hallway. “You did?”
He nodded.
“You heard the man,” Callum said. “I’m afraid you’re not going to be rid of me until you say yes.”
Madison stared first at her brother, then Callum—two against one. She guessed she was going out with Callum Cody.
