A Family of Her Own (Dundee, Idaho #3)(53)
Author: Brenda Novak

“Mike and Katie?”

“Yes. They’ve been seen together all over town. And now that she lives on the ranch, who really knows what’s going on.”

Suddenly Booker thought he understood the intent of Mary’s visit. She was afraid she was losing Mike to another woman the way she’d lost Josh to Rebecca. She wanted to rile Booker, make him jealous so he’d get in the way, cause a problem, maybe even win Katie back. But Booker had already played all his cards—two years ago. Now he was stepping out of the way, not getting further involved. “I don’t like being manipulated,” he said. “So don’t bother trying.”

“What?” Her eyes widened in feigned surprise.

“Quit playing games,” he said. “I’m the last person who’d do anything to stop Mike and Katie from getting together. She’s loved him since she was a girl. Everyone knows that.”

“You don’t care?” she asked, sounding crestfallen.

Booker could no longer deny, at least to himself, that the exact opposite was true. Last night he would’ve walked through fire to reach Katie. He was still in love with her, and no amount of denial or logic could change that. But he also knew he cared enough about her to let her have the one man she’d always wanted. A man he knew would be good to her and the baby.

He’d recognized the truth the night he spent at Ashleigh’s. But he hadn’t completely released Katie, or he wouldn’t be planning to head back to the hospital tonight.

He had no business going back, he decided. He needed to stay away. And he needed to get a message to Mike Hill so Katie wouldn’t be alone in that hospital for long.

“No,” he said and added a manufactured shrug to make it convincing.

MIKE SAT IN O’RILEY’S, a trendy pub in downtown Austin, watching a basketball game on the TV in the corner and having some buffalo wings and beer with Josh and Rebecca. Patty’s Charm, the stallion they’d come to see, had turned out to be as beautiful an animal as they’d been told, and they’d decided to purchase him. For the past twenty minutes, they’d been tossing figures around, trying to come up with an offer. But for once, Mike’s mind wasn’t really on business. He’d tried calling Katie earlier in the day, right before dinner and again just a few minutes ago, and hadn’t been able to reach her.

He was beginning to find it strange that she was gone so long. Especially because she spent most of her time on her computer and didn’t generally leave the cabin.

“Hello? Are you going to answer me?” Josh nudged him with an elbow.

Mike quit staring blankly at the TV and focused on his brother. “What was the question?”

Josh scowled. “What’s wrong with you, man? You haven’t said more than two words all night.”

“What are you talking about?” Mike responded. “We’ve been putting together an offer.”

“Rebecca and I have been putting together an offer. Your contribution is an occasional grunt. And, for a while there, we lost you completely. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I just—” He glanced at Rebecca, knowing instinctively that she wouldn’t like what he had to say. She could sense that his interest in Katie was changing and, because she was so protective of Booker, she didn’t like it. But Mike couldn’t hold her preferences against her. Rebecca was fiercely loyal to everyone she loved, and Booker had been her friend long before Mike had become her brother-in-law. “I’m just wondering why I haven’t managed to reach Katie,” he admitted.

“Why have you been trying?” Rebecca immediately pounced on the statement, as he’d known she would.

“I just want to check up on her,” he responded, keeping his voice neutral.

“We’ve only been gone a day and a half.”

“So?”

He could see her eyes narrow even in the dim interior of the bar. “Are you two an item?”

“I wouldn’t say that, no.”

“But you’re interested?”

“Maybe.”

“I thought you regarded Katie as a little sister.” She raised her eyebrow. “You’ve said so time and time again.”

“That was before.”

“Before what?” Rebecca asked.

“Before she came back.”

Josh’s expression bore a noticeable amount of skepticism. “What’s changed?”

Mike couldn’t really say. “She’s matured,” he replied with a shrug.

“She’s pregnant,” Rebecca pointed out.

“That’s pretty tough to miss.”

“It doesn’t bother you?” Josh asked. “In case you’re confused, a pregnant woman isn’t a casual date. Pregnant women nest. They want to marry and settle down.”

Rebecca pushed her small plate away. “Usually the words ‘settle down’ are enough to send you running for cover. And with Katie, you’re talking about someone who’s had a crush on you for decades, so you know she’s going to want a ring.”

Mike took a sip of his beer. “I’m not sure she has a crush on me anymore. Like I said, she seems different. And I’m not afraid of commitment. How many times do I have to tell you that? I just haven’t met the right woman.”

“But you think Katie might be the right woman?” Rebecca asked.

Mike let his breath go in a long sigh. “I don’t know. She needs someone right now. That’s all. I’m trying to be her friend. If our relationship develops from there, then—” he wiped the condensation from his beer “—then we’ll make adjustments.”

Josh gave Rebecca a significant look. “What do you think? Is my big brother finally falling for someone?”

“I’m afraid he might be.” Rebecca propped her chin on her fist. “Poor Booker. Why does it have to be Katie?”

Mike stood and tossed some cash onto the bar. “I wouldn’t make any wedding plans yet,” he said. “I’m going to my room to check my messages.”

“Mike?” Rebecca called as he was walking away

He turned to look at her.

“Katie can’t go wrong with either one of you,” she said.

Tipping his hat, he grinned. When Josh had first said he was marrying Rebecca, Mike had thought he was making a terrible mistake. But he’d since come to appreciate Rebecca’s passion, determination, loyalty and, more than anything, the depth of her love for his brother.