Reese considered how dramatically her life had changed in a little over a month. She’d met Caleb after Thanksgiving, yet it seemed as though she’d known him forever. And were he to not be in her life… It would be a much emptier and darker place.
“You’re right,” she said to her friend. “I hear what you’re saying to me. I know what I want—it’s Caleb. So I have to weather whatever storm to make it work. Even if it means finding some sort of common ground with his family.” If only they were all like Caleb and Sam, that’d be helpful. But obviously the brothers were unique in this family dynamic.
“Just follow your heart, Reese. You can’t wrong if you do.”
Chapter Nine
Caleb paced the floor before the stairs and checked his watch again. “Reese, darlin’,” he called up to her. “Shake a leg, sweetheart. We should’ve left five minutes ago.”
“I’m coming. I’m just… Ugh. Caleb, this is too much.” She came out of her room and stepped into the light at the top of the staircase.
His breath caught. “Holy hell.” He took a few steps up, then came to an abrupt halt. “Jesus, Reese.” She was absolutely stunning. His heart nearly stopped. “Sorry I rushed you. I’
d wait all night for this if I’d have known.”
He took her in from head to toe, completely mind blown she could actually be more beautiful than what he’d already grown accustomed to.
With a smile, she asked, “Okay for the party?”
She had to know she was showstopper.
“Darlin’, if I let you out of my sight for two seconds at the party, I’ll lose you to every man there.”
“Right.” She descended the stairs, joining him on his step. “Liza lent me the clothes and jewelry. Lydia did my hair and makeup and Ginger picked out the lingerie to ‘work with the dress’.”
“I’ll be thanking them all tomorrow.” He fought back a groan. She truly was sensational. Her dark hair was swept back away from her sculpted face and held in place with sparkly clips. Her makeup was neutral-colored and understated enough to show off her crimson-colored lips. The dress she wore hugged her curves and was elegant, yet damn sexy. Everything about her made his heart thunder and his cock throb.
“Whoa, Reese.” This from Sam as he entered the living room. “That is you, right?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice soft and alluring. “Am I presentable?”
Sam checked her out, which would have put Caleb on edge were it any other man. Then again… He told himself he’d better get used to it. She’d be the belle at this evening’s ball.
“I have to apologize,” Sam said. “I gave you all that advice this morning, as though you didn’t have a clue as to what you were getting yourself into. But you have so much more intuition than I gave you credit for.”
Her gaze narrowed on him. “It’s just a dress and some diamonds.”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “It’s so much more than that.”
She slid a glance toward Caleb, then said, “One of the first things Liza told me when she heard you’d come to town is that you have money. That turned me off instantly. I don’t want to have anything to do with that. The fact neither of you do, either—with the exception of the very honorable business you’re interested in starting—is a huge relief to me. But I understand you still have family to contend with. Expectations placed on you. Aspirations for your future that are significantly different from what you want for yourselves.”
Caleb nodded.
She continued. “I don’t want to create strife for you. I suspect you have enough family issues to deal with and if I stand out like a sore thumb tonight, it’s only going to add to the pressure you’re already under. I know what you’re trying to do at the ranch and it makes me practically melt at your feet. So if I can keep from creating additional tension for you tonight, I am more than willing to play along. I’m still me. But maybe your parents will see past their idea of a B&B owner from Wilder and get to know me.”
Sam turned away. Caleb didn’t say a word.
The room fell deathly silent. Emotions stronger than anything he’d ever felt churned inside him.
Reese finally spoke again. “Okay… So I’m wrong.”
Sam whirled around, his handsome face a mask of hard angles. “No, you’re not.”
Caleb said, “He’s right.” Taking the hand not holding the black clutch, he added, “You understand appearance is everything when it comes to people like this. But when it comes to what lies beneath the surface… They won’t bother trying to get to the heart of who you are if they don’t deem you worthy of getting to know from the very start. That’s where everything falls apart. The first impression is crucial in this scenario.”
Sam nodded. “I hate to say it, but it’s a fact. We inadvertently steered you wrong initially. If you hadn’t pulled off this look…” He let out a long breath of air. “Christ, you were correct, Caleb. It would have been like leading her into the lion’s den. But looking like this,” he said with another nod, this one of approval, “Judith will see how much effort you put into impressing her. Even if that’s not your ultimate goal, Reese. Like you said, you’re playing along. But you’re still you.”
She stared up at Caleb. “So let me stand on my own two feet.”