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Present Day:
The late afternoon sun burned through her car window, heating the interior to an almost unbearable temperature. Still, Carly resisted getting out. She sucked in a breath. She really didn’t feel like attending this engagement party. Guilt rocked her. Today she was supposed to help her best friend celebrate her upcoming nuptials, but after a hellish day, she wanted nothing more than to go home and climb into her bed.
She was done. As her grandma used to say, baked in the cake. Toast. Stick a fork in her, she was done! The day had started poorly with Layla acting up on the way to Mike’s place. In typical three-year-old fashion her daughter seemed to know the worst possible times to throw a tantrum.
Over the past three years, Mike had turned his life around. Shortly after he’d showed up at her place drunk, demanding to see the baby, Mike had joined a rehab program and spent three months in a detox center. He’d stumbled once or twice in the first year, but he was clean and sober now and working hard to be a good father.
Today, he’d been great with Layla’s tantrum but had brought her home late because they’d been at the park. Then Carly nearly ran out of gas because she forgot to fill up yesterday after work. She had to double back into town and fill up.
She closed her eyes and flexed and unflexed her fingers to relax her tension. Time for a mental reset. She pressed her two baby fingers together. Holding them there, she pressed her ring fingers together. Then middle, then index, and finally thumbs. She released them in the same order. She ran the sequence three times. The repetitive motion was soothing. Today was supposed to be a celebration not a tension inducing problem.
Somewhat relaxed, she stared at her best friend’s parents’ enormous two-story house. Six years ago, when she first met Tanya, she’d been surprised by the large house. She’d been expecting something simpler. Tanya’s family, it seemed, had money to burn and Carly came from a much more modest background. Not poor, they had enough to live on, and her parents had managed a small retirement nest egg. But extras were just that. Extra. There were no yearly trips to Mexico or England. No Banff or Aspen ski trips. Her family had enough and were happy.
Tanya’s family, on the other hand, travelled freely and gave generously of their wealth. Despite their financially different backgrounds, they’d become good friends.
Now, Carly lived by a simple motto; it wasn’t your money or background that counted; it was who you were inside. Actions, not words, or money, were what mattered. Sometimes she still fretted over the disparity between her income and her bestie’s. Tanya was amazing, down to earth, and one hundred percent trustworthy. Occasionally, Carly was even able to forget how wealthy her friends were.
Carly glanced in her rearview mirror and shifted a few strands of her hair to the right. Driving with the window partially open had been a mistake. The late spring day had been hot, the car sweltering when they got in. She hated the mechanical smell of air conditioning and had opened the window instead.
She shifted a few more hairs. Oh well, her hair wasn’t perfect, but it was what it was. Nobody here cared what she looked like. Certainly not Birch. He didn’t even know she was alive. She wasn’t here to see him anyway. Okay, maybe she was, not that she’d ever admit it to him or anyone else.
Officially, she was here for Tanya and George’s celebratory dinner, and to meet George’s parents. If Birch was here, it was just a lucky coincidence. Lucky for her that is. She couldn’t wait to see his handsome face, and strong, sexy body. The fact that his mere presence left her speechless and somewhat uncoordinated was irrelevant. She could ogle him all day long ... it wasn’t like he’d notice.
She sighed. Notice? The infuriating man didn’t even know she was alive!
Maybe tonight, during this engagement dinner, he’d finally see her. Years ago, when Layla was an infant, she’d thought he might be interested, but he kept coming close and backing away. Since her divorce was final, he had become distant. He still hung around; he just didn’t initiate many conversations. Everything he did could be considered friendship, but sometimes when she looked at him, she almost swore she saw more in his eyes. But he never made a move.
As Layla grew, he kept his distance, and she was forced to conclude that everything he had done and was doing for her was simply a favor for his sister’s bestie. She sighed. She wished it were different.
She turned her attention back to the present. Tanya and George would be married in just two weeks after dating for only two months. Who got married that fast after knowing each other for such a short time? Nobody she knew. She shrugged. If her best friend was truly in love, she’d support her all the way to the altar.
She was Tanya’s maid of honor. Birch was going to be the best man. That meant they’d have to dance together at some point. She shivered in anticipation before stifling her happy grin. After knowing him for six years, she’d finally get to dance with him.
“Mama, are we going inside? I’m hot.”
She smiled over the seat at her daughter. Layla had perfectly straight blonde hair, like her father, but she had Carly’s brown eyes. Layla had already unbuckled and was bouncing on the back seat.
“Yes, baby girl, we’re going in. Are you ready? Remember, best manners. We’re meeting Auntie Tanya’s new family tonight.”
“Why does she need a new family? She has Uncle Birch, and Grandma Helen, and Grandpa Buck, and us.”
“Very true, munchkin. But sometimes people get married and get new families.” She opened her door and stepped out. A soft hay-scented breeze ruffled the hair she’d just straightened. She loved this ranch.
“Did you get a new family when you married Daddy?”
She took a deep breath before opening the rear door. There were days when she wished her advanced daughter wasn’t quite so smart. This was one of them. “Yes, I did.”
“You and Daddy don’t live together, is he still your family?” Layla’s brows pinched together, and she tilted her head in question, just the way her adopted uncle, Birch, did. Carly’s heart squeezed at the familiar gesture.
“Yes, he is. Not living together doesn’t change that, he’s still my family and your family too.” She did not want to have this conversation right now. “Just like we don’t live with Grandpa and Grandma Johnston but they’re still our family. Remember, no matter what, no matter where we live, Daddy and I both love you the most. Forever.”
“I love you more.” Layla hopped out of the car and threw her arms around Carly’s legs.
Carly’s heart swelled. Because she left Mike before Layla was born, there was no transition to separated parents for her to deal with, she’d only known the reality of having two families. Carly was immensely grateful that Mike had sobered up and was a fabulous father to their daughter. She just wished his drinking hadn’t cost them their marriage. Yeah well, if wishes were horses... Speaking of horses. Birch stood on the porch in clean pressed jeans and a button-down shirt. He looked every inch the horseman. The only thing missing was his ever-present cowboy hat.
“Mama, look,” Layla squealed. “There’s Uncle Birch. On the porch.” Without waiting for permission, her daughter raced toward him. Layla loved Tanya’s family, especially the man she called Uncle Birch, and Carly completely understood the attraction.
He scooped her up and swung her in a circle. “Hey there, little princess, you look beautiful.”
She pecked him on the cheek and wiggled out of his arms. Layla was a hugger, but nobody held her for long. She swirled in a circle. “Do you like my dress?”
He looked at the airy confection that matched Carly’s outfit. “You and your mother both look beautiful.”
Heat rose in Carly’s face. Did Birch have to be so kind and handsome? He was devastating to her sanity. Never mind what he did to her libido.
“Thanks, Uncle Birch. Can I go see Grandma Helen?”
“Sure thing, munchkin.”
Layla laughed. “I don’t squeak.” She tore past him into the house, the old-fashioned wooden screen door slamming behind her.
Carly and Birch laughed at her exuberance. Carly closed both car doors and popped open the trunk of her Kia sedan. Birch immediately jogged down the steps toward her. She watched him from the corner of her eye. Dang, he was handsome.
“What can I carry?”
“Oh. Thanks, I just have a couple of pies. I know I wasn’t supposed to bring anything, but I can’t come to dinner without bringing something.” Her innate pride always urged her to contribute, sometimes even where it wasn’t requested or needed. She baked for every school fundraising sale. The school had asked the diner for donations once, and she’d been pitching in ever since.
“Pie? Mm. Any apple? Cherry? Maybe lemon meringue?” He asked hopefully.
“Yes, to all three.” Birch loved pie. She’d made all his favorites.
“Will you marry me, Carly Johnston?” He dropped to one knee and put his hands together in a prayer position.
Despite knowing he was joking, her heart sped up and her pulse raced. Heat flooded her cheeks. He was always goofing around and had no idea that she thought he was special.
“Don’t be a goofball. Get up and grab some pies.”
He clutched his chest. “You wound me, fair maiden. You wound me. I shall perish without your love.” He popped up like a jack-in-the-box and reached into the trunk. He scooped up one cookie sheet with two pies on it and passed it to her before grabbing the second pair of pies and gently closing the empty trunk. “Is that peach I smell?”
“It is. My grandmother’s recipe.”
“I’m drooling already.”
He waited for her to proceed him to the house and followed a few steps behind. For a fraction of a second, she almost swore she felt his gaze linger on her exposed legs.
Suddenly, she was way too hot, and not just from the weather. At thirty-five, she wasn’t a stranger to men looking at her. She knew she was pretty. But there was something about Birch’s mere presence that heated her up beyond all reason. But him looking at her, that way, was a crazy thought and figment of her imagination.
He joked with her like a sibling, and she knew he didn’t see her as anything beyond his annoying little sister’s best friend. It was a shame because she could really go for a guy like Birch.
♥♥♥
BIRCH FOLLOWED CARLY up the stairs. Lord, she was exquisite with her beautiful, dark-blonde waves. and long legs. He’d never get tired of looking at her. She was average height and a little on the curvy side, but dang, she had the best legs he’d seen ... ever. She was more amazing now than she was when he fell for her six years ago.
For six years he’d drooled after her, treating her like a pesky sister rather than the object of his fantasies. They had developed a sibling-like friendship. When her husband descended into drinking, she’d been devastated, but she’d stuck by Mike. He was proud of her for that. It was just a few months before Layla was born that she’d had enough and left Mike. He admired her courage for striking out on her own.
Something had shifted inside Birch when she started swelling with pregnancy. The first time he’d noticed her gently rounded tummy he felt like he’d tumbled down a cliff. He was breathless. Soon, he’d started dreaming that the baby was his.
Once Layla arrived, Carly became subdued around Birch. It was as if a wall went up between them. The joking and teasing stopped, and he’d learned to keep his distance because she seemed uncomfortable around him. Even now, two years after her divorce was final, he hadn’t figured out where their mostly comfortable friendship had gone, or why it vanished. Nor had he worked up the courage to ask her out. He was terrified she might turn him down. Better to dream than to have those dreams shattered. And Lord, did he dream.
They’d reached some sort of weird impasse and she didn’t seem to know Birch was alive, despite all the time he hung around his parents’ house when he should have been out working his horses.
She drew him like flowers drew a bee.
“These pies smell delicious,” he broke the long silence between them before it became even more uncomfortable.
“Thanks. I love baking. I hate cooking, but I love making sweets.”
“And I’m eternally grateful that you do. I can’t wait to dig in.” He reached around her and opened the screen door. “In you go.” He inhaled her fresh lemony-vanilla scent and arousal washed over him. Being near her was torture and bliss. “I’d marry you for your apple pies alone.”
She looked at him over her shoulder, something unidentifiable danced in her eyes.
His two younger brothers greeted them with excitement, probably more for the pies than anything else. Carly hugged Tanya, making Birch jealous of their closeness. She should be hugging him, not his sister.
“Carly, let me introduce you around.” She tugged Carly forward. “This is Mr. and Mrs. Romero, George’s parents.”
Birch stifled a frown at their superior smiles. They stared at Carly like she was beneath them and lacking somehow. They were snobs through and through and their son was no better. Frankly, he couldn’t see why his sister was attracted to her fiancé. He was stuffy and condescending. Perhaps she was blinded by his good looks. Birch adored his sister, and based on his first impressions, she deserved better than these pompous people.
