A Weaver Proposal

“Is that so?”

Derek didn’t like the sudden glint of amusement in his father’s eyes. “She doesn’t belong here in Weaver.”

“Better be careful, son,” he warned. “I once thought that about your mother.”

Derek snorted. “There’s a big difference between Mom and Sydney.”

“Well,” Matthew considered, “your mother is a beautiful redhead. Still. And Sydney is a beautiful brunette.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“You don’t think Sydney’s beautiful? Had your eyes tested lately?”

“Hell.” Derek tossed his hands up. “Of course she’s beautiful.” She was a gut-wrenching sexy version of grown-up Snow White from the blue-black hair that hugged her ivory face to that leather number that hugged her long-legged, deadly curves. “I know Jake wants his sister to stay in Weaver. But she’s not going to.”

“She tell you that herself?”

“She doesn’t have to. Look at her.”

Matthew smiled outright. “I did, but your mom noticed and then I had the pleasure of her kicking me under the table.”

Derek groaned. “Jesus, Dad.”

“I’m married, not blind.” He closed his hand over Derek’s shoulder and his smile died. “She’s Jake’s sister and that makes her family by extension. Blaming her for getting under your skin is about as useful as blaming a compass for pointing north. And blaming her for something she hasn’t done—and might never do—just because that’s what Renée did, is just as pointless.”

Derek’s shoulders stiffened. “This isn’t about Renée.” He hadn’t mentioned his ex-fiancée’s name in a long while, and didn’t want to now, either.

He still couldn’t think about her and what she’d done without wanting to break something.

His father just looked at him. “Isn’t it?”

“Come on, Sydney! You can do it!”

Sydney stared at the snowbank in front of her.

After dessert, it had been young Megan and Eli who’d volunteered to show her around the Double-C. Sydney had been so relieved that it wasn’t going to be Derek who’d be saddled with the chore, that she’d happily agreed to exchange her boots and dress for some borrowed clothes and snow boots. It was only after she’d done so that she’d realized that Derek was still coming along.

By then, it was too late to back out. Particularly when she suspected that’s exactly what he wanted her to do.

Despite her misgivings, though, Derek had fallen easily enough into the role of tour guide as they’d tromped around. He’d even refrained from any remotely personal comments, sticking to the topic of the cattle ranch that had been in his family for generations.

As for Sydney, she had little breath left over for comments of her own. Not when they were busy keeping up with the boundless energy Derek’s niece and nephew possessed. By the time they’d walked through all of the outbuildings and then all the way out to the nearly frozen swimming hole that had to have been a couple miles away, her chest hurt and the muscles in her thighs were stinging. Despite the hours she spent with her personal trainer, trudging through a few feet of snow for a few hours was a heck of a lot worse than anything that Janine had ever put her through.

But now, if she could ascend the solid-looking snowbank that rose twice as high as her head, it would cut at least a half mile from their trek back.

“You’ll never know if you can make it unless you try. But if you’re afraid, I’ll go back and bring a truck,” Derek said beside her.

She gave him a thin glare. He was the other reason she felt determined to get up that snowbank. “And here I thought you were going to manage not to say something insulting. I am not afraid.”

He lifted his hands innocently, but the devilish curl on his lips was anything but. “It was just an offer.”

“An offer implying I can’t climb up that snowbank,” she muttered.

“You want me to come down and give you a push from behind?” Eli seemed enthusiastic about the prospect as he looked down at her. He and Megan were already standing at the top.

Megan snorted. “I ought to give you a push,” she warned.

Sydney managed not to laugh. Over the past few hours, it had become increasingly obvious to her that Eli found her attractive.

“I think I can manage,” she told him. Derek’s muffled laugh beside her wasn’t so easy to ignore. “You’re not giving me a push, either,” she told him under her breath.

“Didn’t offer, cupcake. But if you want my hands on your butt, say the word. We don’t have to like each other to want each other.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she snapped, but had to stare hard at the sloping snowbank to battle her own imagination. Contemplating the mountain of white was much more comfortable than entertaining any sort of notion involving Derek’s hands.

She pulled in another deep breath, then planted the toe of one borrowed boot into the steep bank. Once she got started, the task was less daunting than she’d feared, but she still had snow clinging to her legs and coat by the time she managed to scramble to the top. Eli and Megan lent their aid, grabbing her beneath the arms to help her up the last foot. Even then, Derek still managed to get to the top before she did.

But her annoyance over that fell away when she straightened and dusted off the sticking snow. She couldn’t help but catch her breath all over again at the postcard-perfect sight.

Megan clearly understood. “It’s pretty, huh?”

“Yes.” White-capped mountains loomed in the distance. Spiky winter-bare trees lined a narrow creek bravely winding free of the pristine snow that glistened like diamonds in the dwindling light. In the distance, she could see downward to the back side of the big house where smoke curled from one of the chimneys and golden light spilled from the windows.

She’d traveled the world but had always thought that Forrest’s Crossing—despite her love-hate relationship with the place—was one of the most beautiful spots on earth.

But this was just as beautiful in an entirely different way.

Forrest’s Crossing was all genteel, Southern charm from its steepled horse barns and white-fenced paddocks to its perfectly manicured grounds.

This looked like nothing but nearly untouched nature.

Nearly, because there were several tall very modern-looking windmills on the crest of the sharp hill where they stood. They weren’t the only modern touch she’d noticed around the ranch, either. Several of the barns and outbuildings they’d toured had obviously been outfitted with solar panels.

“Not exactly the Swiss Alps or wherever you like to while away your winters.”

Sydney eyed Derek. He was standing several yards away, but she’d heard him easily, as if even sound traveled more quickly in this pristine land. “No, it isn’t. But if you can’t see the beauty around you right here, then I feel sorry for you.”

His frown was quick and surprised, but fortunately, whatever he would have said went unspoken when Eli piped up. “It’s nothin’ like where I came from in California, that’s for sure,” the boy said. Instead of standing there to admire the view, though, he started off in the direction of the house.

After a moment, Derek looked away from her and followed his nephew.

It was, mercifully, all downhill from there.

Sydney looked down at Megan, who was hanging back with her. “You and your brother lived in California?” For some reason, she’d assumed they’d been born and raised in Weaver, though she didn’t really know why. Except that they seemed to possess that “we belong here” quality that everyone around here had.

Everyone except for Sydney, of course.

Megan started walking, too, and Sydney fell in step with her. “Eli came from California. I came from Virginia. We’re both adopted, ‘cept Eli was with Dad since he was a baby.”