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Both of them had agreed that they didn’t like playing the waiting game, and that was about it.
Something was off about this relationship, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
Now there was something different brewing. Faye had never really shown any adverse reactions to him wanting to do something in the rodeo. All her terse judgment had been reserved for Dahlia way back when they’d first started working on her mother’s truck. What was different about it now?
Adam shrugged off the thoughts as soon as they appeared. He wasn’t about to go messing up a good thing. He cared about Faye deeply. There wasn’t a reason on earth for him to sabotage his relationship with her.
Besides, she’d been the one to take back what she’d said. How often had he done something similar? He could give her the benefit of the doubt. Faye was probably just having an off day.
* * *
It wasfunny how something as normal as pulling onto the Callahan property was enough to send his stomach into turmoil. It was probably due to the fact that he hadn’t really had a good sit-down with Faye’s father, and whenever he told people he was dating a Callahan, he got some pretty strange looks.
He’d heard the rumors. Zeke Callahan was a tough man whose only pride rested in his family and his family’s ranch.
The thing was, Adam didn’t understand how the man could have such a record with the town’s folk, but Adam had yet to see any evidence for himself. After a few months of being on the man’s property, both as a friend and as someone who was seeing Zeke’s daughter, Adam hadn’t bumped into the guy yet.
He pulled the keys from the ignition and climbed out of the truck. Usually, Faye was on the porch and they’d take off on a ride or a walk. This time she wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Adam headed toward the house, glancing toward the barn as he did so in case she materialized over there. Maybe their strange conversation affected her differently. She had said to come by at five-thirty. He was only a minute early.
He knocked on the door but only got one rap out before it swung inward. Adam jumped back with a yelp. His eyes trailed upward and landed on the very stern features of none other than Zeke Callahan.
The man’s eyes were the hardest Adam had ever seen. How had he gone his whole life and not crossed paths with Mr. Callahan in town? Adam cleared his throat and took another step backward that he hoped Zeke wouldn’t notice. “I’m here for Faye.”
Zeke grunted, his gaze sweeping over Adam much like he assumed a predator sizes up his prey. “You’re just in time for dinner.” He turned toward the house.
“Dinner? No. I’m here just to go for a ride or…” Zeke was already gone, the door left open. Faye hadn’t mentioned dinner. But maybe this was the step forward she was offering him.
Adam crossed the threshold then paused. Why did he get the distinct feeling that this was a trap? The storm door slammed shut behind him and he jumped again.
The house was quiet and he wasn’t quite sure which way to go—until a figure materialized around a corner.
Relief flooded his insides when Faye hurried toward him. “I’m so sorry. My dad sprang this on me like thirty minutes ago. I couldn’t just tell him no—”
He grasped her hands in his. “It’s fine. A little bit of a surprise—but fine.”
Her brows were knit together, worry making the lines a little deeper. “Are you sure? This is so new. We haven’t really discussed meeting our families—”
“Faye, it’sfine.” He grazed her cheek with his thumb and offered her a reassuring smile. “I’ve been thinking we needed to do something about this anyway. It’s about time we met each other’s family officially, don’t you think?”
Something flickered across her face, and she turned her head toward where he assumed the kitchen would be. “I should probably tell you—”
“Faye! You coming back?”
Adam tightened his hand around hers and tugged her forward. “I’m not scared of your family. Let’s get some dinner, and then we can take that ride you promised me.”
She mumbled something under her breath that he didn’t quite catch. He probably should have asked her about it, but it wasn’t important. Not right now. Based on what he’d heard of Zeke, he shouldn’t keep the man waiting.
Voices rose the closer they got to the kitchen. When he arrived in the doorway, he paused. He knew Faye had a big family. But based on what he was witnessing, he wouldn’t have classified it as large by any stretch of the imagination. Rather, the term was an understatement. Zeke stood at the head of an enormous table. There were six women and four other men seated before him like subjects of his kingdom.
Faye’s hand tightened around his and she murmured, “I said I was sorry, right?”
Out of habit, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “It’s just your family.”
“It’s never just anything with my family,” she muttered.
They headed toward the open seats at the table. Most of those already seated watched their approach. Adam let out a chuckle for lack of anything else he could say. “Sorry I’m late.” His focus flitted to Zeke, finding no trace of amusement in the man’s expression.
