Page 39 of A Match Made in Montana

Pressing his lips together, Craig took the tray with casseroles Annie had given him to the table. Damn it to hell—there was never a moment without hordes of family surrounding them.

*

By the timeAnnie had finally finished cleaning the kitchen, it was after eleven. Thousands of thoughts were racing through her head; there was no way she was going to fall asleep.

Without knowing why, she was upset and wanted to cry. She and Craig had a deal, if she could call it that. They’d have fun for a few days. That was it. There was no reason to be upset because he hadn’t told her about his parents visiting Marietta. It wasn’t as if they were planning on sharing their life together.

Switching off the lights, she headed toward her room. At the front door, she stopped. A walk would maybe clear her head. Grabbing a jacket from the cupboard next to the door, she opened it and slipped outside. Vivian, Aiden, and Mitch had helped with the cleaning up, but she’d sent them away at some point.

She’d hoped having silence around her would help to calm her mind, but there were serious size beetles jumping around in there.

The air was crisp and cold and huddling in her jacket, she inhaled deeply. As she stepped down the last stairs, a lone figure approached her. Even before she could see his face clearly, her body recognized Craig. And reacted.Oh, my goodness.

“We should stop meeting like this.” She smiled.

“You’ve been quiet tonight.”

“It’s not as if I’m ever the belle of the ball.”

He’d reached her and took her hand. “Yeah, but I know you. I’m sorry for not telling you…”

“It’s totally fine…”

“No, it’s not. Can we talk?”

“Of course. Come on in. The others have gone to their rooms. What about a nightcap?”

“Nothing for me, thanks.”

She took him to her office and closed the door behind them. Hopefully, Mitch wouldn’t feel he had to barge in here to save her honor or something.

Instead of sitting down next to her on the couch, Craig began pacing. “There isn’t really that much to tell. The bottom line is, I don’t have any sort of relationship with my parents. I’ve told you I’ve lived with my dad’s brother, Uncle Sean and his wife Cara, Aiden and Riley’s parents since I was ten. My parents did visit, they’d come back for short periods during which time I’d stay with them, but…”

Annie didn’t take her eyes off of Craig as he talked. Stunned, she listened as he tried to rationalize why his parents had left him with family, but damn it, he’d been ten—there was no rationalizing leaving your ten-year-old boy for months at a time with someone else even if they were family.

“And now they’re back for good.” Craig stopped. “They want to see me. They’re arriving in Marietta tomorrow. My father sent another message. They want to see me tomorrow. And I… I don’t know if I have anything to say to them.”

“Have you ever told them how you feel about having been left behind?”

“It’s not… I don’t…” Rubbing his face, he dropped down next to her on the couch. “Talking about feelings isn’t something I do.”

“Then maybe it’s time. It’s probably also time to realize the fact that you were left behind wasn’t because of anything you’d done.”

Surprised, he looked at her. “I’ve only just realized that subconsciously I’ve always thought that and you put your finger right on it in moments. I was mostly angry and hurt.”

Annie took his hand. “I’m no psychologist, but any child who has been in your position would probably think he must have done something very wrong. Why else would his parents just simply leave him? On top of that, you’re probably also feeling guilty because you’re angry. Your parents are saving lives, doing good, after all.”

For long minutes, he sat staring in front of him. “They hadn’t wanted me around. That was the one thing that kept going around in my mind. It still does, if I’m honest. But I’ve never acknowledged, never put into words the fact that I also thought their leaving me behind was my fault. And that I am feeling guilty about being angry.” Turning to her, he cupped her face. “You’re a wise woman, Annie Miller. I’m lucky to know you. May I now please kiss you? All the talk about feelings is not my thing, but I do know what I feel when I’m with you.”

“You ma—” She didn’t get to finish the word.

Craig’s lips were hot and urgent and desperate and within minutes she was burning up, just about climbing on to his lap.

Gasping, he lifted his head, his eyes nearly black with desire. “I want to see you.” Impatiently, he tugged at the bow at the back of her neck. “How the hell do I open this thing?”

Breathlessly, she laughed. “Untie it.”

Cussing under his breath, he tried.

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