Feeling the Heat (16 page)

* * *

Kalina glanced across the room at Micah before turning her attention back to the women surrounding her. All of them had gone out of their way to make her feel at home. She hadn’t known what to expect from this family dinner, but the one thing she hadn’t expected was to find a group of women who were so warm and friendly.

Even Bailey, who Micah had said had been standoffish to Patrice, was more than friendly, and Kalina felt the warm hospitality was genuine. She readily accepted the women’s invitation to go shopping with them later this week and to do other things like take in a couple of chick flicks, visit the spa and get their hair done. They wanted to have a “fun” week. Given Micah’s present mood, she figured spending time away from him wouldn’t be a bad idea.

After they’d returned to the ranch from riding, he had taken her on a quick tour of his home. Just like yesterday, she had been more than impressed with what she’d seen. His bedroom had left her speechless, and she couldn’t imagine him sleeping in that huge bed alone. She planned to remedy that. It made no sense for them to be sleeping in separate beds. He wouldn’t be happy about it, but he would just have to get over it.

“Um, I wonder what has Micah frowning,” Pam Westmoreland, Dillon’s wife, leaned over to whisper to her. “He keeps looking over this way, and I recognize that look. It’s one of those Westmoreland ‘you’re not doing as I say’ looks.”

Kalina couldn’t help smiling. The woman who was married to the oldest Westmoreland here had pegged her brother-in-law perfectly. “He’s stewing over something I did, but he’ll get over it.”

Pam chuckled. “Yes, eventually he will. Once in a while they like to have their way but don’t think we should have ours. There’s nothing wrong with showing them that ‘their way’ isn’t always the best way.”

Hours later, while sitting beside Micah as he drove them back to Micah’s Manor, Kalina recalled the conversation she’d had with Pam. Maybe continuing to defy his expectations—showing him that his way wasn’t the best way—was how she should continue to handle Micah.

“Did you enjoy yourself, Kalina?”

She glanced over at him. He hadn’t said much to her all evening, although the only time he’d left her side was when the women had come to claim her. If this was his way of letting her get to know him then he was way off the mark.

“Yes, I had a wonderful time. I enjoyed conversing with the women in your family. They’re all nice. I like them.”

“They like you, too. I could tell.”

“What about you, Micah? Do you like me?”

He seemed surprised by her question. “Yes, of course. Why do you ask?”

“Um, no reason.”

She looked straight ahead at the scenery flying by the car’s windshield, and felt a warm sensation ignite within her every time she was aware that he was looking at her.

She surprised him when she caught him staring one of those times. Just so he wouldn’t know she was onto what he was doing, she smiled and asked, “Was your grandfather Raphel really married to all those women? Bailey told me the story of how he became the black sheep of the family after running off in the early 1900s with the preacher’s wife and about all the other wives he supposedly collected along the way.”

Micah made a turn into Micah’s Manor. “That’s what everyone wants to find out. We need to know if there are any more Westmorelands out there that we don’t know about. That’s how we found out about our cousins living in Atlanta, Montana and Texas. Until a few years ago, we were unaware that Raphel had a twin by the name of Reginald Westmoreland. He’s the great-grandfather for those other Westmorelands. Megan is hiring a private detective to help solve the puzzle about Raphel’s other wives. We’ve eliminated two as having given birth to heirs, and now we have two more to check out.”

He paused a moment and said, “The investigator, a guy by the name of Rico Claiborne, was to start work on the case months ago, but his involvement in another case has delayed things for a while. We’re hoping he can start the search soon. Megan is determined to see how many more Westmorelands she can dig up.”

Kalina chuckled. “There are so many of you now. I can’t imagine there being others.”

Micah smiled. “Well, there are, trust me. You’ll get to meet them in a few weeks when they arrive for Gemma and Callum’s son’s christening.”

“Must be nice,” she said softly.

He glanced over at her. “What must be?”

“To be part of a big family where everyone is close and looks out for each other. I like that. I’ve never experienced anything like that before. Other than my grandparents, there has only been me and Dad…and well, you know how my relationship with him is most of the time.”

Micah didn’t say anything, and maybe it was just as well. It didn’t take much for Kalina to recall what had kept them apart for the past two years. Although he was probably hoping otherwise, by getting to know him better, all she’d seen so far was his moody side.

When he brought the car to a stop, she said, “You like having your way, don’t you, Micah?”

He didn’t say anything at first and then he pushed his Stetson back out of his face. “Is that what you think?”

“Yes. But maybe you should consider something?”

“What?”

“Whatever it is you’re trying to prove to me, there’s a possibility that your way isn’t the best way to prove it. You brought me here so I could get to know you better. It’s day two and already we’re at odds with each other, and only because I tempted you into doing something that I knew we both wanted to do anyway. But if you prefer that it not happen again, then it won’t. In other words, I will give you just what you want…which is practically nothing.”

Without saying anything else, she opened the door, got out of the truck and walked toward the house.

* * *

Be careful what you ask for
, Micah thought over his cup of coffee a few mornings later as he watched Kalina enter the kitchen. She’d been here for five days. Things between them weren’t bad, but they could be better. It wasn’t that they were mad at each other. In fact, they were always pleasant to each other. Too pleasant.

She had no idea that beneath all his pleasantry was a man who was horny as hell. A man whose body ached to make love to her, hold her at night. He wished she could sleep with him instead of sleeping alone in his guest bedroom. But his mind knew his decision that he and Kalina not make love for a while was the right one to make. It was his body wishing things could be different.

They would see each other in the mornings, and then usually, during the day, they went their separate ways. It wasn’t uncommon for one of his female cousins or cousins-in-laws to come pick her up. On those days, he wouldn’t see her till much later. So much for them spending time together.

“Good morning, Micah.”

He put down his cup and pushed the newspaper aside. “Good morning, Kalina. Did you enjoy going shopping yesterday?”

She sat down at the table across from him and smiled. “I didn’t go shopping yesterday. We did that two days ago. Yesterday, we went into town and watched a movie. One of those chick flicks.”

He nodded. She could have asked him, and he would have taken her to the movies, chick flick or not. He got up to pour himself another cup of coffee, trying not to notice what she was wearing. Most days she would be wearing jeans and a top. Today she had put on a simple dress. Seeing her in it reminded him once again of what a nice pair of legs she owned.

“Are you and the ladies going someplace again today?” he decided to ask her.

She shook her head. “No. I plan to hang around here today. But I promise not to get in your way.”

“You won’t get in my way.” He came back to the table and sat down. “Other than that day we went riding, I haven’t shown you the rest of my property.”

She lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “You mean there’s more?”

He chuckled. “Yes, there’s a part that I lease out to Ramsey for his sheep, and then another part I lease out to my brother Jason and my cousins Zane and Derringer for their horse-breeding business.”

He took a sip of his coffee. “So how about us spending the day together?”

She smiled brightly. “I’d love to.”

* * *

Hours later when Micah and Kalina returned to Micah’s Manor, she dropped down in the first chair she came to, which was a leather recliner in the living room. When Micah had suggested they spend time together, she hadn’t expected that they would be gone for most of the day.

First, after she had changed clothes, they had gone riding and he’d shown her the rest of his property. Then he had come back so they could change clothes, and they had taken the truck into town. He had driven to the nursing home to visit a man by the name of Henry Ryan. Henry, Micah had explained, had been the town’s doctor for years and had delivered every Westmoreland born in Denver, including his parents. The old man, who was in his late nineties, was suffering from a severe case of Alzheimer’s.

It had been obvious to Kalina from the first that the old man had been glad to see Micah and vice versa. Today, Henry’s mind appeared sharp, and he had shared a lot with her, including some stories from Micah’s childhood years. On the drive home, Micah had explained that things weren’t always that way. There would be days when he visited Henry and the old man hadn’t known who he was. Micah had credited Henry with being the one to influence him to go into the medical field.

Today, Kalina had seen another side of Micah. She’d known he was a dedicated doctor, but she’d seen him interact with people on a personal level. Not only had he visited with Henry, but he had dropped by the rooms of others at the nursing home that he’d gotten to know over the years. He remembered them, and they remembered him. Before arriving at the home, he had stopped by a market and purchased fresh fruit for everyone, which they all seemed to enjoy.

Seeing them, especially the older men, made her realize that her father would one day get old and she would be his caretaker. He was in the best of health now, but he wasn’t getting any younger. It also made her realize, more so than ever, just what a caring person Micah was.

She turned to Micah, who’d come to sit on the sofa across from her. “I’ll prepare dinner tonight.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You can cook?”

Kalina laughed. “Yes. I lived on my grandparents’ farm in Alabama for a while, remember. They were big cooks and taught me my way around any kitchen. I just don’t usually have a lot of time to do it when I’m working.”

She glanced at her watch. “I think I’ll cook a pot of spaghetti with a salad. Mind if I borrow the truck and go to that Walmart we passed on the way back to get some fresh ingredients?”

“No, I don’t mind,” he said, standing and pulling the truck keys from his pocket. His cousins had stocked his kitchen, but only with non-perishables. “Although you might want to check with Chloe or Pam. They probably have what you’ll need since they like to cook.”

“I’m sure they do, but I need to get a prescription filled anyway. I didn’t think about it earlier while we were out.”

“No problem. Do you want me to drive you?”

“No, I’ll be fine.” She stood. “And I won’t be gone long.”

* * *

“Glad to see that you’re out of your foul mood, Micah,” Derringer Westmoreland said with a grin as he fed one of the horses he kept in Micah’s barn.

Micah shot him a dirty look, which any other man would have known meant he should zip it, but Derringer wasn’t worried. He knew his cousin was not the hostile type. “I don’t know what brought it on, but you need to chill. Save your frown for those contagious diseases.”

Micah folded his arms across his chest. “And when did you become an expert on domestic matters, Derringer?”

Derringer chuckled. “On the day I married Lucia. I tell you, my life hasn’t been the same since. Being married is good. You ought to try it.”

Micah dropped his hands to his sides and shrugged. “I plan on it. I just have to get Kalina to trust me. She’s got to get to know me better.”

Derringer frowned, which didn’t surprise Micah. Whereas Zane hadn’t seen anything strange by that comment, Derringer would. “Doesn’t she know you already?”

“Not the way I want her to. She thinks I betrayed her a couple of years ago, and I believe that once she gets to know me she’ll see I’m not capable of doing anything like that.”

Now it was Derringer who crossed his arms over his chest. “Wouldn’t it be easier just to tell her that you didn’t do it?”

“I tried that. It’s her father’s word against mine, and she chose to believe her father.”

Derringer rubbed his chin in a thoughtful way. “You can always confront her old man and beat the truth out of him.” He then glanced around. “And speaking of Kalina, where is she? I know the ladies decided not to do anything today since both Lucia and Chloe had to take the babies in for their regular pediatric visits.”

“She’s preparing dinner and needed to pick up a few items from the store.” Micah checked his watch. “She’s been gone longer than I figured she would be.”

Concern touched Derringer’s features. “You think she’s gotten lost?”

“She shouldn’t be lost since she was only going to that Walmart a few miles away. If she’s not back in a few more minutes, I’ll call her on her cell phone to make sure she’s okay.”

The two men had walked out of the barn when Micah’s phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number. “Yes?”

“Mr. Westmoreland, this is Nurse Nelson at Denver Memorial. There was a car accident involving Kalina Daniels, and she was brought into the emergency room. Your number was listed in her phone directory as one of those to call in case of an emergency. Since you’re local we thought we would call you first.”

Micah’s heart stopped beating. “She was in an accident?”

“Yes.”

“How is she?” he asked in a frantic tone.

“Not sure. The doctor is checking her out now.”

Absently, Micah ended the call and looked at Derringer. “Kalina was in an accident, and she’s been taken to Denver Memorial.”

Derringer quickly tied the horse to the nearest post. “Come on. Let’s go.”

* * *

“Do you know an E.R. doctor’s biggest nightmare?”