River Road (River's End Series, #4) (24 page)

But none of that mattered now; Cami was out of the house.

Kate wandered back into the kitchen. She glanced around the now quiet house and leaned on the counter, drinking some coffee. What the hell was she doing? Playing house with a man she had just started dating and his severely troubled daughter. They needed time together, lots and lots of time to figure each other out, and what to do with themselves and each other. Kate knew she didn’t fit into the scenario, and she shouldn’t have. She didn’t want to. Christ, she was signing up to become the future stepmother to a horrible teenager. Especially
here
, at her half-brother’s ranch.

Except… she stayed. It was a joke to say she was only there for her brother. Her brother and she surprisingly, despite the initial flare of drama, managed to settle in pretty well with each other. They got along swimmingly. It was an amicable relationship that built gradually, and their bond grew stronger each time they talked. It was good for Kate actually. If she visited them every few months, Kate predicted they’d develop some real feelings for each other. Jack was respectful, and she could see that improving. He was easy to like, and seemed to feel the same about her. They sat down together a few weeks back and he listened to her ideas about streamlining the resort. He even asked her to write it up as a formal proposal so he could meet with his brothers and discuss it. He told her they’d like to move forward with some of her suggestions. She could continue to build her relationship with Jack from Seattle via the phone, text, email, and visiting.

So what the hell was she doing living in his freaking house?

Because of AJ.

She finally knew she had to admit that to herself.

Was it real? She had no idea. Her heart was clearly aching still from the loss of her mother, whose memory felt tainted now at the realization she really did abandon her son. Jack Rydell was a good man, and Kate didn’t believe that as a boy, her mother had any justification for leaving him. So she didn’t want that life or the ranch, which was something fixable, but why would she abandon her child? Kate couldn’t make that right in her head no matter how many times she tried. It tainted her mother’s memory, along with her entire childhood, and the trusting relationship she had shared with her mother as an adult.

Suddenly, Seattle was not so attractive to her. She didn’t know why exactly. Or if she was running away from her pain, her mother, and her former beliefs about life. She couldn’t decide if AJ were just a distraction, or if she stayed on
because
of him
.
She honestly couldn’t say for sure, so she continued to stay there. 

And now there was a young girl involved. Kate’s stomach twisted. It wasn’t right anymore. To be here and so involved. What Kate did last night wasn’t the right thing to do, even though she’d done it knowingly.

Sighing, she returned to her work. Working from the ranch was actually turning out just fine. Her staff was stellar, and she got more tasks done in less time due to the fewer distractions.

Later, cracking her back as she stood up, Kate walked out of the office she commanded and entered the kitchen after hearing AJ’s voice. It surprised her when Cami responded.

AJ glanced up at Kate’s entrance. He smiled and her heart lifted. She was tired for no real reason, just a hard day’s work and crouching over her computer. The bills had to be paid as well as the other administrative tasks connected to her business. Seeing AJ’s smile, however, at the end of a long day, was something she never ceased to enjoy and look forward to. Shaking her head at the thought, she straightened up and smiled back. No. All that domestic stuff wasn’t her. Neither was taking on a man so different from her personality. AJ was so incongruent to
her
life, let alone that daughter of his.

But there they were. Cami didn’t smile at Kate. Her excessive makeup made her eyes resemble a raccoon’s and she blinked at Kate, but said nothing.

Kate didn’t care; at least Cami had ventured outside.

That was a huge accomplishment. Which hit her sharply in the gut how much she cared about what happened to Cami and AJ.

****

The day was too hot. The temperatures were already in the nineties by noon and heading even hotter as the blistering white heat baked everything.

The entire family picked Saturday to go to the beach, and had already arrived by the time Kate got there. This time, however, she wasn’t a guest, crashing their sanctuary. She understood why they refused to sacrifice the rare stretch of white, sandy beach and the deep, placid swimming hole. Otherwise, it was mostly a white-water river flowing beside a steep cliff with large river rocks and tiny patches of sand occasionally. Theirs might have been the best beach on the entire river.

Halfway to the beach, Kate bumped into Jack and Erin, obviously surprising them. Jack had Erin pressed against the trunk of a large tree, shielding them from the rest of the crowd at the beach. His head was down and they were in a tight, long, lip-lock. Erin was perched up on her tiptoes, meeting his lips while her hands nearly clung to his neck. One of his hands was snarled in her hair and the other was down her back.

Kate didn’t expect such a demonstration of passion from her modest, composed, or so it seemed, always correct brother. She smiled to herself. They certainly never expected to see her either. She called out, “Afternoon, brother. Enjoying yourself?”

Jack immediately dropped Erin as they both whipped around. He grinned when he spotted her waving at them as she passed. She smiled and waggled her eyebrows at him. Erin groaned in mock embarrassment and hid her face in Jack’s chest. “Immensely. Do you mind, little sister? I’m kissing my wife.” He wrapped his arms around Erin’s neck, blocking her face from Kate and turned her away before kissing her again. Kate was grinning from ear to ear and a new levity lifted her heart. She didn’t know
her brother
could be so much fun and playful and teasing. She hadn’t foreseen that side of him.

Rounding the next corner was the beach. Shane and Allison were standing along the edge of the water, each holding the hands of their toddler as she splashed her little feet in the water and then laughed hysterically. Joey was floating on an inner tube. He raised a hand in greeting when he saw her, and she waved back. In that moment, Ben suddenly launched off the beach, taking advantage of Kate’s distraction as he flipped Joey into the water. Joey came up sputtering and coughing, the water dripping off his hair as he dove after Ben, who was already fleeing through the waist-deep water. That quick, they were wrestling in an all-out battle of youthful muscle and laughter. They were underwater, splashing and frolicking as Kate shook her head, laughing. On the beach, Ben’s fiancée, Marcy, clapped too, raising one hand over her eyes to block out the sun so she could watch them. Across the beach was Jocelyn. Kate glanced at her, surprised to see her there. She realized that all the people Jack employed were allowed free rein of the ranch as well as being treated like family. Jocelyn was watching the wrestling match as closely as Marcy. Kate followed her gaze, wondering whom Jocelyn was looking at, Joey or Ben? They were five years apart in age and great friends. Jocelyn’s age allowed either possibility. Interesting. The seemingly quiet, rural, placid ranch had all kinds of drama and quirky interactions going on.

Cami sat on a big gray rock, pulling her legs up towards her chin and wrapping her arms around her calves. She rested her chin on her knees. Dressed in black skinny jeans and big, black boots, no matter how coolly Cami tried to play it, beads of sweat appeared on her hairline. AJ sat on a log, amused by the frolicking boys too. Charlie was sedately sitting quite a way off from Cami, kind of staring at his feet. Interesting… Anytime Kate saw Charlie, he was always doing something. He was eternally active and fun. She was surprised to find him sitting there all glum and old-looking. Finally, he got up and entered the water, drawn in by his brother and uncle. Kate was nearly trampled, however, when Jack suddenly ran past her. Startled, she gasped, thinking something was wrong, only to see Jack grabbing Charlie before pushing him into the water along with his brother. Jack stood there laughing and eagerly joining in all the horseplay. It wasn’t long before Shane jumped in after his nephews begged him. Kate understood why: he was the only one who could take Jack on. Wearing cut-off jeans, Shane was instantly after Jack and everyone got all soaked in the fun and frolicking.

Erin walked up beside Kate. “Big boys, huh?” She nodded towards the water.

“They are. I didn’t gather that. I thought they were always as serious as you all first appeared.”

“Work hard, play hard.” Erin fanned herself. “It’s hot. No matter how many summers I spend here, I can’t ever get used to the heat.”

Kate nudged her shoulder. “Sure, that’s what’s got you so hot and bothered.”

Erin ducked her head, smiling as she passed by Kate and entered the water without hesitating. She was soon swimming off by herself toward the high side, avoiding where the uncles and brothers were creating their own tidal waves with cannonball splashes. AJ turned and noticed her before waving her over to him.

She shook her head and tilted it toward the lost-looking waif, still sweating to death on the rock. AJ nodded, shrugging. He didn’t know how to engage Cami either.

Kate set her towel down. She was wearing her bikini and she sat next to Cami, who barely even nodded at Kate. “Looks like they’re having fun, huh?”

Cami didn’t lift her head off her knees and her shoulders barely moved. “Whatevs.”

Her favorite response to any question they asked. “You can’t swim, can you?”

Cami’s head shifted just a tad Kate’s way, and she looked surprised. Kate smiled. “It’s okay, you could still wade, or just float on one of the inner tubes. I’m sure AJ would be happy to tie it to the shore. And we’ll all be here too, so if anything were to happen…”

Nothing. No answer. Kate sighed. “Cami, you have the skin of a ghost. You’re burning up and now all that makeup is running down your face. It’s too damn hot to keep trying to be so cool. Do you have a swimsuit?”

“No,” she finally mumbled.

“Erin’s as small as you are, I’m sure you could borrow a pair of shorts and a shirt to swim in. We could get you a swimsuit, you know? It’s no big deal.”

“What—”

“Evs? I know. Seriously, at least, put some of this lotion on.” Kate held the tube of sunscreen out to her. Cami finally took it, ducking her head down, and finally applying the lotion.

“Okay.”

Kate’s heart leapt with joy.
Okay?
That was better than a glowing review. “Let’s go find you some summer clothes and we’ll ask AJ to set you up to just float close to shore, okay?”

She shrugged. Kate took that
whatevs
as a yes.

“AJ!” she called out. He turned, leaping to his feet at her exclamation and racing over to her. He was so attentive, something she found flattering to the nth degree. Anytime she wanted something, needed something, or asked for something, he was all over it.

His shorts ended at his knees, a sedate dark color, no shirt and… and yes, the hat. It made her smile when she saw him. Then she almost wished the crowded beach would disappear as she stared at his chest. She wanted to rub herself against the hard planks of his muscles, and his hat with the shorts combination only further endeared her. It made her want to freaking cuddle up to him. Sure, he looked like such a dork, but the hottest dork cowboy that ever existed.

The boys’ laughter and men’s smack-talk, combined with the murmur of women’s voices, was pretty awesome too, much to Kate’s surprise. Raised an only child in a formal, mediocre family, there was never an afternoon like this in Seattle.

“I’m going to find Cami some beachwear. Could you dig up a rope and tie off that inner tube? Maybe get a life jacket too?”

AJ nodded eagerly. “Sure. ‘Course.” He turned and was instantly off up the trails. Kate watched his quick steps. And his broad back. He was so obedient. Kate glanced at Cami. Did she realize that? Could she comprehend the power factor she held over AJ? He could cherish this girl and father her as no one else could. Kate just hoped Cami didn’t abuse that.

She asked Erin for swimsuit help. Floating on the river, her hair slicked back, Erin waved at Kate, replying, “Go right ahead. You’ll see my dresser. Pick out whatever fits.”

“Thank you.”

Cami got onto her feet, staring down, but she followed Kate without a word. They walked up the trail in silence until they entered the house Jack and Erin built. 

“Will that work?” Kate asked as she handed her a bundle.

Cami took the garments with her into the bathroom. Kate waited, calmly staring out the window. The views were different from the main house. Pine trees crowded the landscapes and the river flashed silver through the red-barked tree trunks and green pine boughs. Far to the right, she glimpsed a pasture and some horses grazing.

Cami came out after clicking the bathroom door shut softly. Kate’s heart was weary, but hopeful. It floored her that Cami would even come with her, or show any interest in trying to accept them. Maybe… no, she dared not get hopeful yet.

The black cotton shorts and dark tank top were garments that Erin probably wore under her clothes. The top hung a bit too loosely, but she was a tiny girl. She had to be if Erin’s clothes looked big on her. But without all the layers and sloppy gangster attire, Cami looked fragile, needy, sad, and lost. Kate’s heart swelled, and she wanted desperately to help her. But… no. So no. Not her place. Still, the girl needed to cool off in the river before she melted like hot wax.