Page 51 of Wanting a Family Man

“I’ve watched Trystan’s show,” she said as an explanation for that. “It must be strange to have a son who is famous.”

“Is that what he told you?” She was so straight-faced and unimpressed, Cloe burst out laughing.

Pauline’s expression softened, revealing she was joking. She was actually proud of her son, Cloe could tell.

“Oh, I think I heard a ding.” Cloe pointed into the kitchen. “Do the jars have to come out? Can I help?”

By the time Trystan returned, Cloe had learned how to blanch peaches so the skin peeled away, then pare the fruit free of its stone before packing it into the jars.

“We had to go to the store for the lids,” Trystan said, setting a few boxes on the table. “Also,somebodywanted sour candies.” He tugged one of the black braids worn by the girl of nine or ten who had come in with him.

“Hi. I’m Kristen,” she said with a shy smile. “Would you like one?” She offered the bag of sugar-coated worm-shaped candies.

“I don’t actually like sour candies,” Cloe said with apology. “More for you.”

“Owen doesn’t, either. That’s why I buy them. So he doesn’t eat them on me.” She popped one in her mouth, then set them aside to wash her hands.

For the next hour, they all pitched in, bumping into each other as they processed the peaches. It was hot work, but it was made fun with chatting and jokes.

Cloe couldn’t help watching Trystan with his casual strength and economical movements. His black T-shirt slid against the contours of his chest and his well-worn cargo shorts hugged his buttocks with great affection.

“Wait, Cloe. Where are you going with that? It’s heavy,” Trystan said, coming up behind her. His arms caged her and his hands closed over hers.

Her hands were encased in oven mitts so she could grasp the handles of the canning tub full of boiling water. “I wasn’t going anywhere. I noticed it wasn’t centered on the burner.”

“Oh.” He stayed behind her and made the small adjustment, body brushing hers before he finally released her.

By then, she was breathless and damp from the steam coming off the tub, blushing because the fronts of his thighs had nudged against the backs of hers, bare skin to bare skin. Now she had an idea how it would feel to have his legs between hers and she really needed tostop.

“Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend?” Kristen asked.

“What? No.” Cloe snapped her gaze from Trystan’s tensing shoulders to Kristen. She found a smile to soften her sharp tone. “I work for Trystan on theStorm Ridge.”

“I know, but”—she ducked her head into her shrug—“he never brought anyone here before. I thought that meant—I’m really embarrassed.” She pressed her palms to her darkening cheeks.

“Don’t be embarrassed. He’s just being nice to me. We’re only friends.” Cloe’s words dried her throat. She looked for her glass of water and drained it.

She didn’t look at Trystan.

When the last of the peaches were in jars, Trystan made salmon sandwiches that they ate on the deck.

“Thank you for that,” Cloe said after Pauline left them at the wharf after lunch. Owen had called to say he was finished with his mowing so Pauline was taking him and Kristen to a favorite swimming hole. Trystan had checked in with Johnny and he said he could catch a lift to the wharf when his nephew went to work at the grocery store.

“Thankyou,” Trystan said. “I didn’t realize we’d be canning peaches, but I’m glad we were there to help or Mom would still be at it.”

Cloe had been agog when Pauline had taken her into the pantry where she stored all her preserves. It had been spotless and scrupulously organized, but the greater wonder was the amount of work it represented. She’d given Cloe a couple of jars to bring back to theStorm Ridgeand Cloe was unreasonably proud that she had helped pack and process them.

“It’s the sort of happy chaos I wish I had grown up with,” Cloe said. “I envy you.”

“I didn’t grow up here with them,” he reminded her. “They’re Andy’s kids with his first wife. But you’re right. They’re a great family. I’m lucky to have any part in it. They’ve been really good for Mom, too. After I interrupted her career ambitions, she never found the right time or partner to have more kids. That’s another reason she was okay with me living with Dad and Glenda. Logan and Reid were the only siblings I had.”

As they walked to theStorm Ridge, Cloe was struck by how quiet the wharf was. At least half the boats had departed and most of the rest were bobbing empty in their slips.

They walked into a quiet saloon where the air was close and overheated from having everything locked up.

While she opened a window and Trystan secured the door, it hit her that they were alone here. For how long?

“What time do people start coming back?” she asked, trying to keep her tone normal. Just curious.

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