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“So why didn’t you assume the same thing when I went to Stanford?”
Isaiah was quiet for a long while. “I guess because I didn’t understand why you wanted to leave.”
“I didn’t want to leave. You seemed to have the ranch running perfectly, and you weren’t interested in me getting involved in that. I guess at eighteen I thought you didn’t need me, and you didn’t think I was good enough.”
“I guess I screwed up, then.”
Caleb blinked at his dad. “Say that again?”
Isaiah shrugged. “I didn’t think you had anything to tell me when you were eighteen, and I let you know it.” He hesitated. “I felt like I wasn’t good enough for you anymore. I wasn’t educated like your new friends, and I wasn’t interested in changing that.”
“You made me feel . . . unnecessary,” Caleb said slowly. “That you didn’t care whether I came back or not because the ranch was all yours and had nothing to do with me.”
“And you did nothing to change my opinion of you, either.”
Caleb considered that home truth. “I went out of my way to make sure you knew I didn’t need you,orthe ranch to be successful.”
“Yeah.”
“What a pair of stubborn fools. If Mom was here, she’d be calling us both out.” Caleb took a deep breath and faced his father. I’m sorry, Dad.”
Isaiah slowly nodded. “I’m sorry, too, son.”
Caleb took an unsteady step forward and his dad held up his finger.
“Now, don’t you start with all that emotional touchy-feely bullshit.”
“Oh, shut up.” Caleb wrapped his arms around his dad and gave him a bear hug and a noogie for good measure. “Take it like a man.”
* * *
Lucy took a long bath, which gave her an excuse for the puffiness of her face, and put herself to bed. She loved the peacefulness of the ranch and the way she could almost taste the velvety darkness pressing in around her. Not that she felt very peaceful right now. Caleb was on target to bigger and better things than she’d ever accomplish, and he deserved every one of them. If anyone had told her a month previously that she’d get to spend the holidays with Caleb Erickson and make love with her dream crush, she wouldn’t have believed them. She should be grateful for having her wish come true rather than complaining that it would have to end. The thing with most dreams was that they never lived up to reality, whereas Caleb had been even better in the flesh than she could ever have imagined. She should be satisfied.
But she wanted more. Lucy opened her eyes. Whyshouldshe have to settle for smiling and waving goodbye? One thing she’d learned after defying her parents and taking on the B&B despite their doubts was that she was stronger than she looked. Sometimes she fussed over things and apologized too much, but she’d survived the worst summer and winter on record for the B&B, and she was still standing.Andshe’d taken the opportunity to live her dream with Caleb.
The door creaked open, and she heard the rustle of Caleb removing his clothing.
“You still awake?” he whispered.
“Kind of.” Lucy reminded herself that she was a strong, independent woman who took what she wanted.
He climbed into bed and took up almost all the room, his arm coming around her shoulders as naturally as if they slept together every night. She nestled close to his side, her cheek over his steadily beating heart.
“I talked to Dad.”
“How did it go?”
“Well, I ended up giving him a hug. I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me for that, but the rest of it? I think we’re coming to an understanding.”
“That’s wonderful.” Lucy smiled against his skin. He smelled like a cowboy again, which she kind of loved. “Chip and I told him a few home truths after you left the table.”
“Then I guess that’s something else I have to thank you for.”
He came up on one elbow and looked at her, his expression hard to read. “Can I kiss you?”
“In your father’s house?” Lucy went for full horror and outrage. “What kind of a girl do you think I am?”
“My kind?” He kissed her very thoroughly until she had no choice but to reciprocate. “The most annoying best friend’s little sister and hanger-on ever, kind?”
