The corners of her mouth slowly curved upward into a smile. “She’d really like it if you did.”
An hour and a half later, Caleb shook his head after losing badly. “Lily, I think you cheat.”
“No.” But there was mischief in her eyes.
“You make words up,” he accused.
“Maybe,” Mallory said smiling sweetly, “you’re better at grilling burgers than Scrabble.”
“You’re probably right.” He stood and headed for the front door. “I really need to get going. Work starts early on a ranch.”
“Could I help sometime?” Lily begged.
“That’s a conversation for another day,” her aunt interjected. “It’s time to get ready for bed. Say good-night to Caleb and get started, ladybug.”
“Okay.” She threw her arms around him in a hug, then looked up. “Good night. Thanks for coming to dinner.”
“Thanks for having me.”
After the little girl headed down the hall, Mallory opened the door and leaned against it. “That meant a lot to her, Caleb. It was nice of you.”
“I had a great time. In spite of the fact that your niece cheats.”
“Competitive and ruthless.” She laughed. “It was very sweet of you to humor her. Thanks, Caleb. Good night.”
“’Night.” He put his hat on, then stepped out onto the porch.
The door closed behind him and he had the strangest feeling. He’d been antsy to get going and now that he had it felt like being out in the cold. In the end he’d really enjoyed himself, except the part where he kept thinking about Mallory without her clothes on.
That was damned inconvenient.
* * *
Every other Friday after work, Mallory took Lily to Bee’s Beauty Parlor for a pedicure—special girl time. Sally Cameron, the operator who always did their toes, was somewhere in her twenties, a pretty brunette with big green eyes. She always knew the latest Rust Creek Falls gossip about what couple just broke up and who was going out with who. Although Mallory had told her sad story about getting dumped two years before, Sally never quite believed she wasn’t interested in dating.
She and Lily were lounging side by side in the big chairs, dangling their feet in warm, swirling water. Sitting on a low stool, Sally leaned over Lily’s foot. Apparently the signal for spilling news was when she lifted the little girl’s foot out of the water and started to remove the old polish.
“So what’s new with you, cutie?”
“I get to ride a horse,” she announced proudly.
“That’s not for sure,” Mallory reminded her.
“Almost for sure.” There was no raining on this child’s parade. “Travis said I could and he owns the ranch.”
“Travis Dalton?” Sally asked.
“Yes,” Lily said eagerly. “Aunt Mallory works for his dad and he invited us to dinner. We met everyone. Mary, his wife, and Lani and Lindsay and Anderson. He’s the oldest and always looks like this.” She sat up straight and folded her arms over her chest, then put on a very serious face.
Mallory laughed. “He’s awfully good-looking but does come across a little stern. I suppose it comes with the territory—being the oldest, responsible and in charge of ranch operations.”
“Think about it.” Sally was using nail clippers and didn’t look up. “He’s not only got to ride herd on horses, cattle and other ranch employees, but also Travis and Caleb.” She looked up for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong. Those two are really good at their jobs, but younger brothers are always going to challenge your authority. They look for any weakness, then take advantage.”
To get comfortable, Lily shifted in the big leather chair. “I met Caleb first at where Aunt Mallory works.”
Mallory was still trying to forget what her niece had said to him that day. “He was there to take his father out for a beer.”
“Then,” Lily went on, “at his dad’s house I met Travis.”
Sally was using the file to smooth rough edges. “He’s my personal favorite. What with all the women flocking here to Rust Creek, I keep waiting to hear someone has snatched him up. A shotgun wedding wouldn’t be a surprise. Or an elopement. So far, nothing.”
“He’s really nice,” Lily agreed. “But I’m not sure who I like best. Travis talked to Aunt Mallory a lot and then Caleb looked kind of mad. He took her outside to see Mr. and Mrs. Dalton’s backyard.”
“Really?” Sally looked up, the prospect of interesting gossip glittering in her eyes. “Alone?”
“We just talked.”
“About?”
“This and that.” Mallory had no intention of fueling the fire. The man was her boss’s son and there had to be boundaries. But he sure was easy on the eyes and comfortable to talk to.
“The next day,” Lily continued, “he came over to dinner at our house.”
“Oh?” Sally opened the bottle of cotton-candy polish, the bright pink shade the little girl loved. She started painting her toes. “How did that happen?”
“We saw him at the office again and I invited him.”
“Do you think it’s odd that you’ve been in town for six months and had never met him, then suddenly he’s there all the time?”
Mallory had thought about it but couldn’t come up with an explanation. “Just coincidence, I’m sure.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Sally glanced up. “Hey, did you see the flyer up front advertising a lecture by Winona Cobbs?”
“Who’s she?” Lily asked.
“A character, that’s for sure.” She laughed. “No one really has any idea how old she is, but my guess is somewhere in her nineties. And she knows things.”
“What things?” Lily’s eyes widened.
“Just things no one can explain. She says she’s psychic and that’s what the lecture is about. Everyone in town is going. You should come.”
“I’ll think about it.” Mallory was glad the other woman had changed the subject to something other than Caleb.
“So Caleb accepted your invitation to dinner.”
Somehow Mallory managed to hold in the groan. To react in any way was, in itself, fodder for town talk, so she remained neutral. “The poor man was trapped. He couldn’t say no.”
“Oh, he could have.” There was a knowing look in Sally’s eyes. “Trust me.”
“He cooked hamburgers and played a game with us after dinner,” Lily cut in.
“Sounds like he got pretty comfortable.” Sally finished putting the clear top coat on the little girl’s toes. She helped her get out of the chair without nicking the still-wet polish and said, “You know the drill, sweetie. Go to the station up front and stick your feet under the light. Let those little piggies dry.”
“I will. Thanks, Sally.”
“You’re welcome.” She pulled a clean set of pedicure tools from the little table beside her, then lifted Mallory’s left foot from the swirling water. “Now that little ears are occupied, I’m going to give you some advice.”
“Is it included in the cost of the pedicure?”