“I know.”
“He said… He said he wanted to do it because of the look on my face.”
“He probably saw the look I’m seeing right now.” Callie yawns.
“I’m sorry. I’m keeping you up, and you do have work tomorrow. And so do I. If I don’t teach those lessons…”
“New musicians aren’t made,” Callie finishes for me.
“You always have an answer for everything,” I say.
“It’s part of the beauty that makes me me.” She yawns again. “Now get the heck out of here so I can get some sleep.”
Chapter Sixteen
Brock
A couple cold showers later, I can finally walk.
My sleep is plagued with Rory Pike’s face. Specifically, that serene look when she thought about a recital.
I’m determined to make this happen for her.
I rise at five a.m., my normal time. Such is life on the ranch. I’m my dad’s right-hand man and I usually head to the main house to have breakfast with him and Mom.
To my surprise, only my mother is seated at the table, while our housekeeper, Patrice, is frying eggs and bacon.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask.
“Business in the city today,” Mom says. “He left about a half hour ago.”
“What kind of business in the city starts at six in the morning?”
“Got me, but he said it was important.”
My mother smiles. Her naturally blond hair is now an ashy white. Neither Brad nor I got her blond hair, but Brad did get her amazing green eyes.
My mom is a gentle soul. A published psychiatrist, she was instrumental—I found out from Dale—in Dale and Donny’s recovery when they came to the ranch.
She’s retired from private practice now, but she still helps the family when they need counseling, and she spends most of her time working on publications.
Melanie Carmichael Steel.
Sixty-five years young.
Hardly a wrinkle mars her gorgeous face. Only a few laugh lines and smile lines. She’s as beautiful as she was the day I came into the world. She was forty-two when she had me. She didn’t think she could have another baby. In fact, she and Dad were looking into adopting when I decided to make myself known.
She always called me her miracle baby. But I look at her now, and I know why she was able to have a baby so late in life. Her genetics are extraordinary. She doesn’t look a day over fifty.
“You have a pensive look on your face, honey,” she says to me.
“I think it’s just fatigue. I got in pretty late last night.”
“Oh?”
That’s Mom’s way of asking me where I was. She knows I’m twenty-four and a grown man, so she won’t come right out and ask, but she’s inviting me to tell her.
And she knows I always tell her.
She doesn’t always like to hear the answer, but I always tell her.
“Had a date. With Rory Pike.”
Mom raises her eyebrows. “She’s dating men now?”
“She’s bisexual.”
“I know that. Her last couple of relationships were with women, though.”
“So?”
“So… I don’t want you to get hurt, honey.”
“When have you known me to ever get hurt?”
“I’ve told you this before.” She smiles. “You will fall eventually, and when you do, it will be hard.”
“I’m still too young to fall,” I tell her.
“Are you?”
No.
The word pops into my head without me even having to think it. I’m not too young to fall. Not at all. Did I expect to fall for Rory Pike? No. I expected to fuck her and get her out of my system, like I do with everyone else.
I could have fucked her last night. Hell, she offered herself up on a gold platter and seemed very put out when I didn’t.
“I don’t know,” I finally say.
“Are you going to go out with her again?”
“If she accepts.”
Mom reaches across the table and pats the top of my hand. “She’ll accept.”
After last night, I’m not so sure. “I hope so.”
“She will.” A huge smile spreads over her face.
“What?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I was just thinking about what gorgeous kids the two of you would make. All that dark hair and those deep-brown eyes.”
“I think you’re getting ahead of us, Mom.”
“I’m not getting any younger, Brock. I’d love to have some grandchildren, and your brother doesn’t seem like he’s going to settle down anytime soon.”
“He’s been dating Marie forever.”
“I know. That’s the point. If they were going to get married and have children, they would’ve done it by now.”
“He’s still pretty young. Twenty-six.”
“I know. I figured he’d be the one to give me grandchildren before you. But you never know.”
“Mom, I know. There will not be any grandchildren anytime soon.”
That’s for sure. I want to get to know Rory Pike. I want to get her into my bed. I want to produce a recital for her.
But children? That is far into my future.
Patrice slides a plate of steaming eggs and bacon in front of me.
Mom points to the toast. “That’s sourdough from Ava’s bakery.”
I nod and take a bite. “I just had lunch there yesterday,” I say with my mouth full.
“For God’s sake, Brock, swallow first.”
I laugh as I swallow. “You’re such a mom.”
“And if you want to date someone seriously, whether it’s Rory Pike or anyone else, you need to stop talking with your mouth full.”
I nod again. “When you’re right, you’re right, Mom.”
“I’ve been waiting for you and David to grow up. It sure took Donny a while, and I’m glad you’re not going to wait until you’re thirty-two.”
“Who says I’m growing up?” I slather peach jam on my second slice of Ava’s toast.
“Trust me. A mother knows.” She smiles as she rises. “I’m heading to my office. I’ve got a deadline on my next book, and I need to get writing.”
“Got it. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, Brock.”
I sink my teeth into a thick slice of bacon, savoring the smoky meat.
Kids. Mom wants me to have kids.
That is so not going to happen.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I grab it.
It’s Dale.
“Saturday. The north property. Two p.m. Can you make it?”
Chapter Seventeen
Rory
Shocker of all shockers.
It’s Saturday, and I haven’t heard one word from Brock Steel since our date Monday evening.
I’ll call you, he said.
Sure. He’ll call me.
Christ, I practically threw myself at him, and he turned me down.
So much for what I thought had gone on. He was a guy who wanted to create a recital for me, who told me I was beautiful, who told me he wanted to see that look on my face forever, and then he refused to get into the sack with me.