Anywhere with You

“I believe so.” She hadn’t actually met the youngest McAllister brother, but no mistaking the resemblance to Cole and Jesse.

“Jesus. He was thirteen when I left. Tall and skinny as a rail.” Ben lifted his hand in acknowledgment, the fondness in his gaze kind of sweet. “The kid talked horses and trucks nonstop. And girls. He was worried his brothers and I weren’t going to leave him any.”

“Did you?”

His slow smile was ridiculously sexy. “A few.”

“They’re motioning for you to join them. Go ahead. I think they’re taking pictures.”

“Come with me.”

“No.” Grace shook her head, surprised he’d asked. “They’re your family. I’d feel awkward.”

He hesitated as if he wanted to argue the point, but then just nodded. “Don’t go anywhere. Okay?”

She simply smiled. She never made a promise she couldn’t keep.

3 (#u52eb26de-745a-52a4-bb6b-40e7da477beb)

BEN WASN’T IN a hurry to reach the group. He scanned the people surrounding Rachel and Matt, not keen on unexpectedly coming face-to-face with his mother. He’d see her soon, but not with everyone watching.

“Get over here, Carter.” Trace held a pair of longnecks in one hand and motioned with the other.

Ben hadn’t gone by Carter for a long time. His last name was Wolf now and had been for thirteen years, since he’d scraped together enough money to legally change it. Carter had never been his real name, anyway. Nor Hilda’s. She’d made it up after she’d run out on his father, whose name she refused to divulge.

Jesse was standing beside Trace. Cole was there, too, along with a couple of women Ben didn’t recognize. Rachel was trying in vain to get everyone’s attention while an older man set up a camera.

“Rachel got you in a tux, huh?” Ben extended his hand to Trace, who ignored it and gave him a hearty one-armed hug.

“Man, it’s good to see you,” Trace said, his voice deeper now.

“Yeah, it’s been a while,” Ben said casually, unprepared for the emotion washing over him. He’d been fairly tight with Cole and Jesse. They were close in age and shared many of the same interests. But with Trace, the bond was different.

He’d been a baby when Ben moved to the Sundance. Trace had grown up thinking of Ben as his older brother, often confiding in him instead of Cole or Jesse. The day Ben had told him he was leaving, Trace had punched a door and broken his hand.

Cole and Jesse joined them, only briefly. After the handshaking was done, the photographer asked them to move a few tables.

Trace left the task to his older brothers and nodded at Ben’s empty flute. “You don’t have to drink that champagne crap. Here.” With a grin, Trace offered him a longneck. “We saved the good stuff for immediate family.”

Ben accepted the beer, saw Trace’s jeans and cowboy boots, and laughed.

Trace tugged at the lapel of his tux jacket. “Rachel hasn’t noticed yet.” He looked guiltily over his shoulder. “I didn’t know she wanted more pictures so I went inside and changed. As long as that photographer dude shoots from the waist up, it shouldn’t matter.”

Ben shook his head. “She’s gonna kick your ass.”

“I know. If she doesn’t, Nikki will.”

“Your girlfriend?”

Trace shrugged. “In three months, we’ll be getting hitched, too, so she’s a little more than that, I guess.”

“Ya think?” Ben’s laughter turned a few heads.

“Nice. Get me in trouble,” Trace said, glancing around. “By the way, the Porsche...yours or a rental?”

“I bought it last year and got ticketed twice in three weeks.”

“Only twice?” Trace took a pull of his beer. “You gonna let me take it for a spin?”

“You finally learn how to use a clutch?”

Ben waited for Trace to remember the driving lessons. Teaching a twelve-year-old to drive hadn’t been one of his wiser ideas.

Trace winced. “Ah, man, that was humiliating.”

The second time he’d gotten behind the wheel of the ranch’s old Ford, Trace had clipped a tree and smashed the side mirror. Ben had taken the blame rather than admit his stupidity.

“You still owe me,” he said. “Your dad made me pay for the repair out of my salary.”

“Yep, I do. I’ll even tack on interest.”

Ben smiled. “I had no business letting you drive.” He flashed back to another day, another time, and took a gulp of beer. “I didn’t know about your dad,” he said quietly. “About the cancer, or that he’d passed away. I found out much later.”

“I know.” Trace clapped him on the back. “Everyone knew you would’ve come back if you’d heard in time.”

“My fault for not keeping in touch.” Ben surprised himself with the admission. He’d always felt his mom was to blame for everything that was wrong in his life. Her claim that she’d run from abuse didn’t completely add up. Why isolate herself and her kids from her own family? Ben didn’t know his grandparents. Or where he was born. Or if he had uncles, aunts and cousins.

It was one thing to lie to a couple of kids, but once they’d turned eighteen, he and Claudia had a right to know, even if the truth was messy. Hilda’s silence was a barrier he’d never been able to cross. The longer his mother continued to lie to them, the more convinced Ben became that she was hiding the truth not just about their father, but also about herself. Why else would she keep her silence? The man was dead.

“Ben?” Trace’s tone indicated it wasn’t the first time he’d tried to get Ben’s attention. “Rachel wants us. The photographer’s waiting.”

“She wants you, not me.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Benedicto,” Rachel’s voice carried over the murmurs of the bridal party who’d gathered near the stage. “Get over here.”

“See?” Trace grumbled. “Still bossy as hell.”

Ben had to smile. He gave Rachel a small shake of his head, and her glare turned pleading.

“For what it’s worth, your mom’s busy in the kitchen,” Trace said quietly, then strolled toward the waiting group.

Ben glanced at Katy and the other bridesmaids eyeing him as if he were a juicy steak. Normally, he’d already have decided on his companion for later. But he was restless, edgy.

And there was Grace to consider. Something about her quiet beauty and wit appealed to him. Add the fact that she was a refreshing challenge. She hadn’t flirted with him once. He turned to see if he should pick up another drink for her. She could probably tempt him into...

She wasn’t where he had left her.