The Husband Show. Kristine Rolofson

doing it again. That smile.”

      Jake sighed. “You are a lot of work, you know that?”

      She had the gall to look affronted. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

      “Never mind. I just wanted to thank you again for helping Winter this morning.

      She looked doubtful, so he continued.

      “She told me you thought she was in some kind of trouble, that you’d offered to call the police and protect her from me. I appreciate that.”

      She almost smiled. “It could have caused you a lot of trouble.’

      “It could have caused you to miss the wedding.”

      They both went silent for a long moment.

      “Your daughter has been through a lot, am I right?”

      “Yes.”

      “Is any of it your fault?”

      He thought about that. “Technically, no. I didn’t know anything about her,” he said. “But I keep thinking I should have.”

      “Maybe,” she said. “But you’re with her now, so don’t screw it up.”

      “All right.”

      “I meant what I said, about proving yourself. Being a father. You won’t know if you did a good job for a long, long time.”

      “Do you have children?”

      He caught a flash of pain in those blue eyes. “No,” she said. “But I was eleven once.”

      “And you remember how hard it was?”

      “It wasn’t hard at all. I was a pampered and adored only child, but I was a natural worrier. Just like your daughter.”

      “She’s had a lot to worry about,” he said with a sigh. “Would you like to dance?”

      “No.”

      “Aw, come on.” He gestured toward his daughter, laughing as she learned to two-step with her uncle Sam. “I promised Winter I’d meet her on the dance floor.”

      He held out his hand and she hesitated before taking it. “You’re going to scandalize the entire town,” she said. “Dancing with Aurora Jones just isn’t done.”

      “Why not?” He led her through the dancers and stopped close to Sam and Winter. “Is it against the law?”

      “No, but I tend to scare people. We had dancing lessons at my bar last fall. To prepare for the television show.” She went into his arms, but reluctantly. “I didn’t dance. I should have taken lessons, but I hid behind the bar.”

      “You are a little scary,” he teased. “Beautiful women can be.”

      “You’re flirting again?”

      “Sorry.” He watched his daughter and his brother dance to “San Antonio Rose.” Sam had lost that permanently haunted and exhausted expression he’d carried around ten years ago. Jake had blamed his brother’s weariness on his jungle life, but now he realized that Sam had been lonely. And now he wasn’t.

      “Tell me about Lucia,” he said to his dancing partner.

      “She’s the nicest woman I’ve ever known,” Aurora replied. “Your brother is very lucky.”

      “They’re good together?”

      “Yes.”

      Jake believed her, and the relief that swept through him made the whole trip worthwhile.

      * * *

      “ARE YOU THINKING what I’m thinking?”

      “What are you thinking, Jerry?” Meg took a break from dancing and stood next to the mayor. They’d become friends, he realized. Together they’d managed to put the town on the map. Together they’d turned a group of scruffy bachelors into television stars.

      “Check it out,” he said, pointing to Aurora dancing with the newest arrival in town. “She almost looks human.”

      “She’s a good person,” Meg said. “The two of you really should stop bickering.”

      He snorted. “That’ll be the day. The woman was put on earth to annoy me. Look who she’s dancing with.”

      “Sam’s brother? He seems nice enough. Do you think they look—”

      “For heaven’s sake, Meg. That’s Jake Hove. Jake Hove. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize the name when Sam got here. Hove isn’t exactly a common name.”

      “He’s a singer, I heard.”

      “I looked him up on Google. He hasn’t had a hit in six years, but he did all right before that. When he was younger.”

      “And your point is?” She waved at her husband, who was bouncing around the room with Loralee, his mother-in-law. Jerry shuddered. Owen MacGregor was a brave man.

      “We’re attracting celebrities now, Meg. Sam Hove, adventurer and filmmaker. Your husband, descendant of ranching royalty. He doesn’t really count, though, because he lived here before the show. But now we have Jake Hove, Nashville star. Look at him! He’s making Aurora smile!”

      “She smiles sometimes,” Meg said, but Jerry noticed she stared at the dancing couple with new intensity. “When she feels like it.”

      “Oops, guess I spoke too soon.” Jerry sighed. “We have to find him a nicer woman.”

      “Why?”

      “So he’ll stay,” Jerry said. “He’ll attract other famous people.”

      “I don’t think—”

      “And,” Jerry announced, the thought coming to him in a flash of inspiration, “he can write the town a theme song!”

      “Have you been drinking? We specifically told everyone that there would be no alcohol except for the toast—”

      “No, no.” He waved off her frown. “Who would be a good match? Patsy? She’s outgoing enough. Or Iris. He could stay at the B-and-B and they could get to know each other.”

      “Maybe,” Meg said, obviously unconvinced. “Iris is seeing a teacher from Lewiston, I think. I don’t know about Patsy, but if she’s interested she’ll make it known.”

      “We do need a theme song. Do you think he’d do it for free?”

      “I’m not asking him. And you shouldn’t, either.”

      “All he can say is no.”

      “You’ll embarrass Sam. And Lucia.”

      Jerry considered that for a long moment. “Sam and I get along just fine. Next time we’re having breakfast at the café, I’ll casually bring up the subject and see what he says. No pressure. Just a man-to-man conversation.”