Cowboy Come Home (5 page)

Griffin swallowed and took one look at the other end of the table. “Uh, Jake, I—”

“What’s a few more days, Griffin? It’ll give us all time to get to know each other.”

That’s what he was afraid of.

GRIFFIN STOOD on the back porch, one arm wrapped around the post that supported the roof, staring up at the night sky. The air was crisp, almost chilly, but no colder than it would be in Chicago. But the stars were incredible.

Nothing interfered with their brilliance out in Wyoming. Too bad he couldn’t say the same for life. Jake wanted him to stay a little longer.

Mixed feelings swirled inside him. He felt a kinship with Jake that almost frightened him. He didn’t have close friends in Chicago. Not buddies, not someone with whom he shared his deepest feelings. Yet Jake, he knew, could become that kind of friend.

One of the reasons he was anxious to leave the Randall ranch was because of his vulnerability. His mother had taught him to remain apart. To owe nothing. To love no one. The Randall ranch was a quagmire of love.

He snapped his head around as he heard the back door open. To his surprise, Camille drifted toward him in the moonlight.

“I owe you an apology,” she said softly.

“You do?”

“I shouldn’t have made the remark I did at dinner... about your being a stockbroker.” Her words were soft, her tone husky, making him even more aware of her body. She wasn’t little; her head topped his shoulders, but he knew she’d fit perfectly against him.

“That’s okay. According to Jake, you have some reason to hate stockbrokers.”

She didn’t answer, and he caught a hint of movement, as if she shrugged her shoulders.

“Did you report your broker to the stock exchange? They have special investigators who—”

“I reported him to the police.”

“Poor investments may indicate bad judgment, Camille, but I seriously doubt it’s a crime,” he protested.

She turned to face him. “He absconded with my fortune, Griffin. It wasn’t a case of poor investments.”

“You’ve got proof?”

“Yes.”

“Have they found him?”

“No.”

“You can’t trust strangers, Camille. You should’ve had some safeguards that would’ve prevented—”

“He was also my fiancé.”

Her words stopped him cold. She’d broken his cardinal rule. Never mix business with anything else. “That was a mistake.”

“Oh, really?”

Her response was heavily sarcastic, but he figured he owed her that, at least.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“Get on with my life. I’ll have to earn my way now.”

“How are you going to do that?”

This time she turned away from him and stared out across the dark countryside, the shadowy Rocky Mountains in the distance. “I don’t know yet. That’s why I’m here, to take time to figure out what to do. I think I’ll find a job, save some money so I can go back to college for an advanced degree. Maybe I’ll become a stockbroker.” She stared up at him, almost as if in challenge.

“If I can help in any way...” He wasn’t sure what he was offering, but he felt compelled to do so. He also felt compelled to touch her. With one hand, he traced her jawline.

Instead of jerking away, she laid her face against his hand, drawing a deep breath. “Thank you. There’s nothing you can do.”

Her breath feathered his arm, and he was the one to draw back. The moonlight shone on her blond hair and cast shadows over her fair skin. As if it couldn’t help itself, his hand reached out again to smooth away a wayward strand of silky hair.

She shifted a little closer as she leaned on the same pole. “Are you really going to stay?”

“Yeah.” His voice sounded rusty, hoarse. “For a few days.”

“Then you’ll leave?”

He couldn’t decide if she was relieved or upset about his departure.

He nodded. Then added, “I don’t belong here.”

She reached up as if to smooth down his collar, but she let her hand fall without touching him. “Why not?”

“I have my own life in Chicago.” His hand settled on her shoulder. For all her curves, she felt small, fragile. He moved a little closer.

“How can you be family if you don’t see each other? Will you be all alone in Chicago?” Her gaze remained fixed on his chest, just over his heart.

“I have friends.” Distant friends.

His other hand wrapped around her back, urging her closer. All along he’d known what he was doing, pulling her closer to him, luring her lips into the danger zone. Now he dipped his head, and his mouth covered hers. Electric shock ran through him as he realized how perfectly their mouths joined, how beautifully their bodies fit against each other.

He shifted and refit his lips to hers, urging hers to open to him, teasing her with his tongue, inviting her to join him. And she did. With a matching urgency that flared in him to meet her. With a heat more intense than the sun. With a fear that forced him away.

“No!” he swore hoarsely.

She almost fell against him, barely catching herself as he pulled back. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

Backing away, she tilted her chin and stared at him. “The wrong idea?”

“Don’t confuse me with my cousins. They may all believe in happily-ever-after, but I don’t. We shared a kiss, but that’s all it was.”

He tried to dismiss the fanciful picture of a flower wilting, but she reminded him of one as she withdrew even more.

Stiltedly, she said, “Don’t worry, I won’t confuse you with those four. You may look like a Randall, but you’re not one.”

He was surprised at how much her words hurt. He’d only been a part of the Randall family for four days, and it shouldn’t have mattered if he didn’t fit in. But it did.

“What do you mean?” he demanded, his throat tight.

“I mean you may look like them, but you don’t have the most important thing they possess.” Her jaw hardened and her eyes narrowed. “You don’t have a Randall heart, Mr. Griffin Randall. And that’s why I’ll never confuse you with your cousins.”

She didn’t wait for a protest from him, if he’d been able to make one. No, she turned her back on him and went inside.

But he had no intention of protesting. How could he? He knew he was different from those four. And he’d counted himself fortunate.

And he still did.

Didn’t he?

Chapter Four

C
amille stood on the bottom rail of the corral, her arms crossed on the top rail. She’d missed her riding lessons again. Chad, at Megan’s request, had promised to turn her into a cowgirl, but ranch duties had canceled most of her lessons.

Not that she was complaining. How could she when the Randalls had taken her in, made her feel a part of their loving circle...given her time to think?

Only Griffin had been less than welcoming. And she couldn’t hold him against the Randalls.

Maybe she’d even asked for his behavior. She still couldn’t believe she’d melted into his arms last night on the porch. She’d told herself she wasn’t even interested in a man, any man. After Clay had betrayed her so thoroughly, she’d vowed to keep her distance from the whole gender.

Until Griffin.

Was it because he looked like the other Randalls? He’d warned her not to confuse him with Jake and his brothers. She didn’t know what had caused the magic, good or bad, that had taken over.

What did it matter? The man wasn’t interested. He’d made that clear.

Jake didn’t believe he’d leave. B.J. had relayed what Jake had told her. He expected to convince his new cousin to stay. But Camille had her doubts. For all the sizzle Griff’s touch brought, his gaze didn’t get any warmer. The man had a hot body and a frozen heart.

Not that she cared.

Right.

“Hey, Camille,” Chad called from the back of his favorite horse, Smoky, as he rode toward the barns. When he got closer, he explained, “Sorry. I started back on time, but I found a mama and her baby in trouble.”

She smiled. Chad, and all the Randalls, worked hard, in spite of the family’s wealth. “Don’t worry about it, Chad. I understand.”

“I know, but Megan wants you to learn to ride.”

“But she wouldn’t want you to abandon a cow in distress, either, would she?” Camille smiled even wider at him. “So, we won’t worry about it.”

“You’re a good sport—Hey! There’s Jake and Griff.”

She turned to look over her shoulder. The pair had gone on a tour of the county, leaving the ranch shorthanded, one of the reasons Chad had gotten back late.

Chad called to them, then spurred his horse toward the vehicle.

Camille held on to the rails of the corral, though she wanted to move closer. She was going to have to learn better control. At least until Griff returned to Chicago.

“Camille!” Jake called. “Come on over. How was your riding lesson?”

She turned loose of the rail and began to walk toward them, hoping she’d have her composure when she reached them. “We had to give it a miss today,” she said, smiling.

“Too bad. Hey, look, Griff bought a new vehicle. What do you think?”

Grateful for a topic she could handle, Camille turned her attention to the vehicle. “A Range Rover? Very nice.”
And very expensive.
She avoided the tall man standing beside the driver’s side of the vehicle. “Interesting choice for Chicago.”

His cool stare challenged her. “Actually, it’s perfect for Chicago. We get a lot of snow.”

“Yes, I’ve heard.” She gave an awkward bob of her head. “I’d better go help with dinner.”

She turned her back on the three men and hurried to the house. So what if they realized she was retreating? At least she’d live to enjoy another day. Without Griffin.

“I gotta find my kids,” she heard Jake say. Then footsteps sounded behind her.

“Toby’s not home from school yet,” she told him over her shoulder.

“Great. I’ll get Caroline and pick him up at the bus stop,” Jake said, a big grin on his face.

Camille’s smile faded as Jake passed her, but she hurried after him. If she didn’t, Griffin and Chad would overtake her. She reached the kitchen just as the phone rang.

Red, occupied at the stove, asked, “Camille, can you answer that?”

“Sure.” She reached for the phone. “Hello?”

“Just checking in,” B.J. said cheerily.

“Everything’s fine. We’re starting dinner.”

“Are Jake and Griff back?”

“They just came in.”

“Well, I’m on my way,” B.J. said before hanging up.

B.J. sounded as though she hadn’t seen her husband in days. That was the kind of marriage Camille wanted, one like any of the Randalls had. She heard Chad and Griff on the back porch and beat a hasty retreat.

She’d already been warned that the new Randall wasn’t a family man.

GRIFFIN TOOK HIS PLACE at the table, but his gaze was fixed on the door leading to the rest of the house. Where was Camille? Was she going to take her place beside him, or ask everyone to move again?

And why did it matter?

“So, you’re really going to stay?” Brett asked as he sat down.

“I promised Jake I’d stay a few days, that’s all. Then I’ll go back to work in Chicago.”

Anna, settling Victoria in a playpen, looked surprised. “I thought you said you retired.”

“I manage a few accounts, and my own investments, of course, so I didn’t really retire.” A change of subject seemed a good idea. “Uh, Jake talked to me about looking at the family investments.” Griffin hesitated. As he’d hesitated when Jake first brought up that subject. “I’m going to look at them, but I don’t think I should handle them.”

“Why not?” Anna asked.

He was distracted from his answer by Camille’s entrance. She had refused to look at him earlier today. Which told him she hadn’t forgiven him his rejection on the porch.

He should be glad. He hadn’t come here to complicate his life with a woman.

“Uh, I don’t think I should make financial decisions for family. Emotions and business don’t mix well.”

He shifted slightly as Camille slid into her place beside him.

“So are we still going to look at old man Haney’s place?” Chad asked.

Jake, entering the room, his arms locked with B.J.’s, answered the question. “We’ll look.”

“I don’t remember meeting him at Mother’s service. Was he here?” Griffin asked.

Pete, already at the table after putting the twins in the playpens, said, “Naw. He doesn’t socialize much. Keeps to himself. Used to be a good rancher, but I think he’s lost heart. His wife died thirty years ago, and they never had children.” His gaze shifted to the twins, a smile on his face. “Thanks to Jake, we don’t have that problem.”

Janie groaned. “Let’s don’t get carried away. Jake tried to match you up with Megan. Besides, the twins were already on the way when he got his matchmaking idea.”

“Hey, I’ve always been ahead of the game,” Pete replied, a big grin on his face.

Janie slapped his arm and settled in beside him. “Quit bragging. I had to drag you to the altar.”

“Not true. I dragged you. And I’ve never regretted it for a minute,” he assured her, his gaze fixed on Janie’s rosy cheeks.

“Look at Pete. He couldn’t stand up to Janie if he tried,” Brett teased.

Anna came to rest a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “You mean you would go against me?”

“Aw, sugar, never.”

The room erupted into laughter.

“Guess I’m not alone,” Pete suggested.

No, he wasn’t alone in adoring his wife and kids. All four Randalls seemed happy. But Griffin wondered what would happen if one of these women walked out. Or rejected her man, like his father had rejected his mother. Margaret’s decision never to risk her heart again had been drilled into him all his life.

As soon as thanks were given, they passed the platters of food around. Everyone was eating and sharing the events of the day, when Chad suddenly snapped his fingers. “Hey, Griff, have you figured out how you’re going to spend your days?”

“You mean I have to work the few days I’m here?” he teased, surprising even himself. He guessed the Randalls were rubbing off on him. “I . thought I’d just look around. Nothing more specific than that.”