She had changed to cutoffs and a red T-shirt and his gaze swept over her as he reached the top of the steps. “Hi,” he said in a throaty voice that set her nerves tingling. “Red’s a good color for you.”
“I was just going to round up the boys for dinner.”
“I’ll do it if you’ll wait a minute.” He caught her arm. “Come here and let me show you something.”
Curious, she followed him into his room. He closed the door and pulled her to him.
“You tricked me!” she protested lightly.
“Yeah, I did,” he admitted, wrapping his arms around her to pull her close and kiss her. Her heart thudded as she slipped her arms around his neck and responded until the kiss escalated.
“We have a whole family and servants downstairs,” she said breathlessly.
“I don’t care.”
“I do. And I could get used to this kind of homecoming fast,” she said solemnly. “Now, let me show you some- thing,” she said, pulling on his arm and moving him away from the door. “Goodbye,” she said, reaching for the door.
Cal gave her fanny a playful swat and she glared at him before rushing out and closing the door, hearing his soft chuckle. She went to her room and closed the door, head- ing to the mirror to look at herself because Mimi would give her an inspection and she didn’t want her grandmother gloating over the fact that Cal had kissed her soundly the instant he arrived home.
All through dinner she was intensely aware of him, con- scious any time his fingers brushed hers. He had changed to jeans and a navy T-shirt that revealed the smooth bulge of muscles in his arms and chest.
Halfway through dinner, Cal glanced around the table. “Guys, I’ve discussed something with Juliana and she says it’s okay. I’m getting you a horse.”
The boys erupted into cheers until Stoddard thrust his head into the room from the hall and gave each of them a look.
“One at a time,” Juliana said as they all began shouting questions at Cal. She noticed that Quin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“When do we get him?” Josh asked.
“Him is her,” Cal said, grinning at them. “And first, you three have to help me build a corral.”
“Yeah!” Josh yelled and glanced toward the door as if expecting Stoddard to reappear. He lowered his voice. “I’ll help.”
“So will I!” Chris echoed. “When do we get it—her?”
“As soon as we get the corral built. Are you going to help, Quin?”
“Yes, sir,” he said, smiling. “What color is the horse?”
“Black, so you can think of a name.”
“I like Midnight,” Quin said quietly.
“That’s a good name,” Chris said, and Josh nodded.
“That’s settled,” Cal said. “If only we could settle everything that quickly and easily,” he added, glancing at Ju- liana.
“I think a horse will be lovely for the boys,” Mimi said. “Of course, they have to learn how to take care of her and how to ride.”
“I’ll teach them,” Cal said, winking at Juliana.
She sat in silence, her emotions in turmoil. Don’t be so good to the boys. Don’t be a father they can’t bear to lose. They’ve already lost one. His wink seemed to wrap the two of them in their own separate world and she didn’t want that happening, either. He was storming all her defenses too fast, too completely.
The boys spent the rest of the meal chattering about the new horse and the moment dinner was over, they left with Cal to look for a spot for the corral. She looked out the window to see Stoddard walking beside Cal.
“He’s very good for all of you,” Mimi said, patting Ju- liana’s arm. “I knew he would be. Elnora did the right thing.”
“I don’t know,” Juliana said, wondering how much they would be hurt when Cal went out of their lives.
Mimi went home about eight, Gladys and Stoddard left, and the boys finally came inside for the night, while Cal sat in the family room and pored over notes about a case. Thunder rumbled in the distance and the wind died, leav- ing the air muggy and still.
“Juliana! Juliana!” Quin shouted from somewhere in the house.
His cry was filled with alarm, sending a chill through her as she raised her head. She came to her feet, running to- ward the hall, dimly aware of Cal heading toward the door at the same time.
Nine
Quin stood at the head of the stairs, his face white and eyes huge. Her heart lurched as the other boys came running.
“Snookums is gone!”
“Well, damn,” Cal mumbled beneath his breath. “He’s probably here somewhere,” he said, but Chris shook his head.
“There’s a screen missing from a window in my room and the window was open.”
“He wouldn’t jump out of a second-story window,” Cal said as he and Juliana climbed the stairs.
“He didn’t have to. There’s an oak right outside my win- dow.”
“He’s outside and no one’s with him,” Quin said, his voice quavering. “I want to go find him. He’s never been outside alone before. He won’t know what to do.”
“Yes, he will,” Cal said calmly. “He’s a cat and it’s his nature to prowl, he’ll know what to do instinctively.”
Thunder rumbled and Quin shivered. “He’ll be out in a storm and he doesn’t like storms.”
“Let me get some cat food—he usually comes when he hears the can opener,” Juliana said. “And let’s look through the house and make sure he’s really gone before we search for him outside. Chris and Quin, you look upstairs. Cal, Josh, and I will check downstairs.” She patted Quin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about him, he knows this is his home. He won’t wander away.”
“Suppose someone takes him?”
“No one—” Cal bit off his words at a look from Ju- liana. “No one will get him. He’d run away from a stranger if anyone
