The Maverick's Ready-Made Family

At one time, she’d thought he was proud of her. Since she got pregnant, she wasn’t so sure. And all she said now was, “I’m glad you enjoyed the pork.”

“You had a good meal? It’s important to eat right—” he cleared his throat “—for you and the baby.”

She thought again about her choice of fries rather than veggies but refused to feel guilty. Besides, she figured the glass of milk she’d had with her dinner helped balance out the indulgence.

“Lucinda craved the most unhealthy foods when she was pregnant,” her father told her now. “Especially when she was expecting you.”

Antonia’s breath caught in her throat at his mention of her mother. In the two years since Lucinda had been gone, she could count on one hand the number of times that he’d spoken his deceased wife’s name. The fact that he’d mentioned her now—maybe even in an effort to connect with his daughter?—was the most precious gift to Antonia.

“What kind of unhealthy foods?” she asked, mentally crossing her fingers that he would keep talking, that her question wouldn’t cause him to shut down.

“French fries, potato chips, ice cream.” He sent a pointed look in her direction, no doubt to let her know that he’d found her stash in the freezer.

“Ice cream is a dairy product,” she said, just a little defensively.

He smiled. “Just wait until your child uses that same line of logic on you.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“We’re never as ready as we think we are,” he told her.

A familiar sadness clouded his eyes, and she knew that he was thinking of his wife again, but this time, the memories weren’t nearly as happy.

“Life is so much easier when you have someone to share the ups and downs with,” he said. “I just wish you had someone by your side.”

“I don’t need anyone to hold my hand.”

“I know you don’t,” he agreed. “You’ve always been so strong and independent. But sometimes it’s nice to know there’s a hand there—just in case.”

She understood that he was only trying to be helpful, but she didn’t agree. Experience had taught her that the only person she could truly rely on was herself.

Clay and Bennett didn’t come to the dining room for breakfast the next morning.

It wasn’t a big deal, really. Breakfast and dinner were part of the package at Wright’s Way, but there was no obligation on anyone to eat in the dining room or announce their intentions to do so. But Antonia was surprised by their absence because Clay had made a point of saying that he was looking forward to her pancakes.

Still, she didn’t dwell on it while she finished cleaning up the kitchen. And when she sat at the table with a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, she certainly didn’t expect he would show up in the doorway. But he did, just as she was popping a spoonful of the frozen decadence into her mouth.

He raised his eyebrows when he saw what she was eating, but didn’t comment, gesturing instead to the half-full coffeepot. “Mind if I steal a cup?”

She swallowed quickly, then winced at the ice cream headache which burned across her forehead. “Help yourself.”

He found a mug in the cupboard and filled it with French roast.

“Sugar’s on the counter beside the pot, cream’s in the fridge.”

“Black is fine.”

He settled across from her at the table, and her heart started beating double-time. Damn hormones.

“Sorry we missed your pancakes, but my parents insisted on taking Bennett and me to the Mountain Bluebell Bakery for breakfast this morning.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” Antonia assured him. “If someone offered to take me there for breakfast, I’d go, too. Lizzie’s pastries are to die for.”

“Then I should take you sometime, if only to make sure you aren’t eating ice cream for your morning meal.”

“I had breakfast,” she told him. “This is a snack.” She scooped up another spoonful. “What did you have?”

“A breakfast sandwich—and then a sticky bun,” he admitted. “And somehow Bennett ended up stickier than me.”

She smiled at that. “Where is the little guy?”

“Still with my parents. My mom has been suffering from serious baby withdrawal since we came to Thunder Canyon, so she asked if she could keep him for the afternoon.”

“Lucky you.”

“Except that I’m so used to organizing my time around Bennett, I don’t have the first clue what to do without him,” he admitted.

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

“Well, when we were at the bakery this morning, someone mentioned there’s a movie theater in New Town.”

She nodded. “New Town Cinema, behind the mall. There are some pretty good movies playing now, too.”

“Anything you’d be interested in seeing?”

“Sure,” she said, scraping the bottom of the bowl. “But I rarely find the time—”

“Toni,” he interrupted.

She looked up.

“I’m asking you to go see a movie with me this afternoon.”

“Oh.” She honestly didn’t know what else to say. It was as if her mind had gone completely blank.

Amusement glinted in his deep brown eyes. “Is that a yes or a no?”

“Um … yes?”

He reached for The Thunder Canyon Nugget that was on the table, found the Arts & Entertainment page of the newspaper and offered it to her. “Check the listings and let me know what you want to see.”

Screen number one was showing a new romantic comedy that had been getting good reviews, but Antonia didn’t want to send Clay the wrong message by immediately choosing that one. Unfortunately, the only other option was a horror movie that she had less than zero interest in seeing.

She wrinkled her nose. “I really hate slasher films.”

“Then we’ll see something else,” he said agreeably.

“There’s nothing with car chases or nuclear explosions,” she warned.