Montana Cherries (2 page)

Shooting a final glance at the shiny, new-looking SUV, Dani took the little girl’s hand and they headed for the back deck of the two-story log home. Her parents had built the house after her fifth and final brother had been born, but only guests and strangers approached by way of the wide-sweeping front porch. The back deck led directly into the family room and had become the main entrance years ago.

As she stepped inside the house, she released Jenna’s hand. Gabe was, indeed, in from work, and Michelle had even made it downstairs. She wore a flattering pair of designer jeans and a silk top that, if Dani remembered correctly, she’d picked up on a weekend anniversary trip to Seattle last fall.

The elder Wilde sat in his favorite recliner near the stone fireplace with Gloria perched in another chair close by. And on the sprawling leather sofa sat a little girl about Jenna’s age, back straight and looking scared.

Beside her was a man Dani hadn’t expected to ever see again. Outside of magazines.

Benjamin Browning Denton.

Dani’s pulse let her know that she was still very much a woman, and very much alive, as she took in the insanely gorgeous man who stood at the sight of her.

With slightly rumpled hair a shade darker than hers, and casual jeans with a white button-up, the man came from good stock and he wore it well. He’d rolled up his shirtsleeves to reveal toasty-warm skin, and both jeans and shirt looked made to fit.

Despite the testosterone practically waving like a flag, his smile was uncertain.

“Ben—”

“Dani—”

They spoke at the same time. He inclined his head in a half nod, fondness radiating from his green, green eyes. “It’s great to see you, Dani.”

It had been ten years since she’d seen him. Ten years since she’d lost her virginity.

“You too.” A short laugh came out of her, tight and higher pitched than normal. A fact she attributed to the embarrassment that suddenly flooded her. Good grief, she’d thrown herself at this man.

She shot a questioning look at her brother, who’d moved to her side and picked up Jenna. “What’s going on?” she muttered to Gabe.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want the others to hear the question, but she was confused. And she didn’t like being caught off guard. Ben had returned to Los Angeles after he and Gabe had graduated from Montana State, and as far as she knew, he hadn’t been back in Big Sky Country since.

He hadn’t even made it to Gabe and Michelle’s wedding. He’d been at a shoot on one of the Pacific islands.

Ben was a photographer to the stars, mostly models, and often showed up himself on the pages of national magazines. Usually with some of the same beauties he captured through his lenses. He’d even been romantically linked with a foreign princess at one point.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Gabe asked while Jenna giggled at his nuzzling kisses.

“Come home anytime he wants,” her father added from across the room. “I told him that years ago.”

Only, it had never been Ben’s home.

Though it had probably been closer to a home than anything else he’d ever had. He’d spent three summers and two Christmases there during his college years, due to his A-lister movie-star mother rarely being in one place for very long. And Ben wanting to be around her even less.

“So when he called,” Gabe continued, “I invited him to stay for a few weeks.”

A few weeks?

“No.” Dani gulped, trying her best not to look upset. She wasn’t. Merely shocked. And wishing she’d taken more time that morning with her appearance. “You did
not
mention it.”

Had a houseguest been mentioned, she would have prepared a room for him.

Or for
them
, she corrected herself as she took in the child not quite by Ben’s side. Clearly this was the daughter recent tabloids had rumored to exist. She looked just like him. But with such a gap between the two, both physically and what seemed like emotionally, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine they’d never met.

She pulled her gaze from the dark-haired, terrified-looking child and turned to Ben. He remained standing, an overly large, bright-pink stuffed bunny in his right hand. “So the rumors are true?” she couldn’t help but ask. The tabloids had recently claimed that a model he’d hooked up with years ago had shown up on his doorstep last month with quite the surprise.

“The rumors are true.” He tipped his head toward the girl, but didn’t look at her.

Dani glanced back at the child, and though she didn’t say it, all she could think was
Wow
. Ben Denton had a kid. That would surely put a damper on his globe-trotting-bachelor ways.

Jenna’s dog, Mike, chose that moment to come barreling down the stairs and race for his mistress, still high in her daddy’s arms. At the same time, Michelle pulled a photo album from the shelves between the two sets of floor-to-ceiling windows, and glided across the room. She set her sights on Ben and sidled in close.
Too close
, actually.

“Tell me about Hollywood,” Michelle purred, her eyelash extensions fluttering as she looked up at him. “What’s it like working with models every day?”

Gabe had met Michelle in LA when he’d gone home with Ben during spring break of their senior year. They’d dated long distance for a couple of years before he’d married her and moved her to Montana. She’d been whining about wanting to return to California ever since.

“Well,” Ben started. He glanced at Michelle’s French-tipped nails where they’d landed on his bicep. “It’s a job,” he added, sounding uncomfortable. “Lots of travel, long hours. But there are perks.”

Dani almost snorted. She’d just bet there were perks.

Ben gave a subtle shrug of his shoulder, and Michelle’s hand slid from his upper arm . . . to his forearm. She goaded him to the couch, where she settled in beside him and opened her album.

“Let me show you pictures of when I lived there,” she cooed, “and you can tell me what’s changed.”

Pictures of
her
, no doubt. That was pretty much the only thing in that particular album.

Dani looked at Gabe, who was hunkered down now, he and Jenna both accepting Mike’s sloppy kisses while the dog’s tail slapped wildly against Dani’s legs. Gabe seemed oblivious to the fact that his wife was coming on to his friend.

Finally, Jenna looked up from Mike and the two of them marched determinedly across the room to stand in front of the other girl. The newcomer’s hair had fuzzed into a knot on one side, looking as if it hadn’t been combed in a couple of days, and her top didn’t match her shorts. Her gaze had silently followed every movement Jenna and Mike had made.

“My name is Jenna,” Dani’s niece announced. “And this is Mike.”

Uncertain eyes darted to her daddy. When she got no help, she finally whispered, “I’m Haley.” She bit down on her lip and dropped her gaze to her lap.

Poor kid.

Michelle didn’t pause from her story while the two kids introduced themselves to each other, but Dani did notice a wrinkle in her brow like she was annoyed with the distraction.

“Did you wanna play with me?” Jenna asked.

Mike nudged his nose into Haley’s lap, and she glanced at her daddy a second time. This time Ben looked back, but that’s all. No nod of encouragement. No pat on her shoulder to show a bit of support. He did wear a similar uncertainty in his own gaze, though. As if he had no idea what he was supposed to do when his daughter looked at him like that.

And he once again shifted the arm nearest Michelle, this time succeeding in easing her hand away from his body.

“How about all three of us go play,” Dani jumped in. She was unable to watch the fear on the little girl any longer without trying to help. Moving forward, she held a hand out for both children. “We’ll play in Jenna’s room while the grown-ups have silly grown-up talk,” she said. “And we’ll take this wild and crazy dog with us.”

Haley almost smiled at that, and slid off the couch to reach for one of Dani’s hands.

“I’ll fix the guest room for you,” she told Ben as she edged past him. Though there were three unused bedrooms upstairs, her remaining four brothers would soon return for the harvest.

All Wildes did their best to make it home every July, even their father’s sister—though she was now in her seventies. Aunt Sadie, who’d lived in Colorado since before Dani had been born, normally took the guest room on the main floor across from Dani’s bedroom,
but since she and her husband had recently taken a fiftieth-anniversary
trip, she’d decided to sit this year out.

As Dani and the girls moved toward the hallway, she looked back at the sound of a feminine laugh from the far side of the room. Her dad and Gloria were leaning in toward each other, talking softly, both wearing tender expressions of affection. It was sweet. She supposed.

She only wished her mother were still around so it could be her
mom
and dad cuddling like that.

Before turning back, Dani took one more peek at Ben. He was watching her.

Her pulse ratcheted up once again as she thought about the past. He may have been Gabe’s best friend, but something different had happened between them over those summers. Not romantic—

Well . . . no.

Though she did have sex with him that one time.

The bigger thing had been the friendship that had developed. Not buddy-buddy as he’d been with her brothers. And not simply looking for a good time the way he’d done with the other girls in town. What had been between them was more akin to him being able to see inside her head. Or maybe her heart. As though he’d been able to simply understand who she was.

Which was funny, because at that time in her life she’d had no idea
who
she was.

She’d just been sad. And missing her mom. And certain that everything that had ever gone wrong in her life had been her fault.

She turned back to the girls. Possibly what had been between her and Ben during those summers had simply been about her going through losing her mom while he’d been busy avoiding his. Whatever it had been, the two of them as friends had worked.

And that’s what she’d missed when he’d left that last time. Her friend.

chapter two

B
en watched Dani walk out of the room, a kid on either side of her, and wished he was trailing along behind her. She was the reason he’d come to Montana, he realized. He hadn’t thought about it when he’d called Gabe, but Dani was the person who’d shown him what a family could be.

The entire Wilde clan had.

But mostly Dani.

She’d been only twenty when he’d first met her, but she’d jumped into the role of surrogate mother to her brothers with an enthusiasm he hadn’t been able to understand at the time. At first glance she’d seemed riddled with anxiety and strung a bit too tight. But then he’d begun to watch her. She’d been good at it. She hadn’t been her brothers’ actual parent, yet no real mother could have taken any better care of them.

Witnessing her make this house a home had forced him to understand what he’d been missing all his life. Or most of his life. He’d spent his first seven years living a couple hundred miles from here on a small cattle ranch with his uncle and grandparents. He’d had a normal life then. He’d seen his mother a few times a year when she’d come to visit, and that had worked for them. Sure, he’d occasionally wondered why he didn’t live with her, but she hadn’t ever lived on the ranch so it made a weird kind of sense. But his uncle had left when Ben was seven, and the next thing Ben knew, he was on a plane to LA. To live with his mother.

His priorities had been forced to change then. As was his mother’s norm, everything became about being seen and auditioning for high-profile parts, even for him. Parts he’d never wanted, nor asked for. In front of the camera never interested him. He’d desired to be behind it. And not films, but stills.

When he’d finally convinced his mother of his interest in photography, she’d bought him his first SLR at the age of ten. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Dani’s footsteps disappeared up the stairs, her murmured voice slipping down to the main floor, followed by his daughter’s soft giggle. The sound lifted the hair on his arms as he realized it was the first time he’d heard Haley laugh.

Her mother had dropped her at his apartment three weeks ago, and he’d been doing nothing but floundering since. Most likely only making things worse. From what he could tell Haley hated him and would prefer to be anywhere else. Even with the mother who hadn’t wanted her.

Nothing he’d done had made it any better, and he’d run out of ideas. So he’d come here.

Which had been the right decision. He was certain of it.

The Wildes were good people. Montana was good living. And if he did nothing else right as a parent, he’d introduce her to a different lifestyle. He didn’t want Haley growing up in LA the way he had. It was no life for a kid. But he had no idea if he should stay here, either.

It
was
a great town, though. If nothing had changed, there was a closeness among the residents that he’d often craved as a child. He hoped Haley might like it, too.

An additional question that had haunted him over the past three weeks was what in the world would he do with himself? His job involved traveling the world. Without a kid. And he loved it. He was like his mother in that way.

He liked the notoriety that came with the job, the doors the position opened.

He liked the income. And he liked the perks.

When he wasn’t shooting for a paid contract, he spent his time capturing the world for himself. Could he give that up? Recording the way he saw places and people had pretty much been his only ambition in life.

He
could
take Haley with him. He’d traveled with his mother; Haley wouldn’t be the first kid to do so. And he had loved discovering new places.

Only . . .

He’d hated it more.

The nannies, the loneliness.

Having no real roots.

Another giggle hit his ears, matched by a second child’s laughter, and he knew what he
needed
to do. He needed to give it up. All of it. He had Haley now.

He clenched a fist around the pricey stuffed animal he’d bought that she had yet to pay attention to, and wondered if he could really make this work. Three weeks ago he hadn’t known he had a daughter, and now he’d canceled contracts, traded in his expensive sports car, and traveled from the Pacific coast to near the Canadian border.

Yet, his daughter still hated him.

Could he learn
how
to be a father? Or was he too much like his mother?

Whatever the answer, he had to accomplish at least one thing. He had to erase the fear he saw in Haley’s eyes every day. He couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t do that.

“Amazing meal, Dani girl. As always.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Dani didn’t look directly at the man, but gave a small smile to the table as a whole. “I enjoyed cooking it for everyone.”

“Yes,” Gabe added. He leaned back and patted his stomach proudly. “Terrific as always.”

Dani gave another tight smile as Ben took everything in. She’d been mostly quiet through dinner. But then, Michelle had done the majority of the talking.

Jenna leaned back, mimicking her father’s actions by patting her own stomach, and piped up with a thanks of her own, and Haley even squeaked out a shy “Thank you” herself. The latter touched Ben’s heart. Jenna and Haley had gotten along like long-lost friends all afternoon. She’d even smiled a couple of times throughout dinner. And she’d eaten most of the food on her plate.

This
was apparently what he’d needed the last few weeks. Another child for his daughter to feel comfortable around. Hopefully by being around Jenna, Haley would eventually feel more at ease with him.

“As far as I can tell,” Ben started, glancing at his daughter as he spoke and going for a teasing tone, same as he’d heard earlier from Dani, “she’s some kind of meat loaf whisperer.”

Jenna laughed at his words. Haley merely blinked.

Damn.

“What’s a meat loaf whisperer?” Jenna asked.

Ben pretended his daughter was as interested in his answer as her friend was, and included them both in his explanation. “It’s someone who can take a pound of beef”—he lifted both hands and moved them like he was molding and shaping a block of clay—“and work it, and coax it into this magical”—he wiggled his fingers and waggled his eyebrows—“amazing meal we just ate.”

Jenna laughed again, her chuckle lighthearted and fun, and Haley
almost
lifted one corner of her mouth. He let the air out of his chest. It would have to do.

He snagged Dani’s gaze over Jenna’s head as her blue eyes locked in on him. He’d caught her watching him several times throughout the meal, and he couldn’t help but wonder what was going through that brain of hers. Had she picked up on just how much his daughter hated him?

Or was she thinking about the past? About them?

Whatever had been running through her mind, he was appreciative of the warm welcome from everyone. Being included brought him back to good times. He’d always enjoyed being here. It felt like family.

And he’d always enjoyed the pleasant scenery that was Dani. That hadn’t changed.

Her dark hair, piled on top of her head, formed a soft halo around her features, and her soft gray shirt had a way of accenting her eyes. He hadn’t thought about her too much over the years. He hadn’t let himself. But sitting here, sharing a meal with her tonight, had flooded him with memories. She’d always done the cooking. She’d always done the cleaning. And she’d never once complained.

Dani Wilde was a sweet, hardworking, amazingly capable woman.

Whose innocence he’d taken the last time he’d been here.

Guilt closed his throat as he glanced away from her. That night had crossed his mind about a thousand times over the last week. He’d known, if he planned to come back here, he would have to face what he’d done.

Not that she’d been innocent in all of it.

She’d come on to him first. Then she’d showed up at his room later that night and practically stripped naked just inside his door. But he should have at least called after he left. Or something. Sent a thank-you card? An “I’m sorry” card?

Made sure she didn’t leave his room that night?

Or . . .

He glanced down at his plate. He could have not slept with her at all.

Heaviness sat in his chest as Max began telling a story about a trip he and Gloria had recently taken to the East Coast. Ben tried to focus on the words, but his mind wasn’t through playing with the past.

Dani had been a virgin. At twenty-two.

He never would have imagined that.

On the other hand, he should have known. Hadn’t she told him during one of their many talks that she hadn’t really dated in high school? She’d been too focused on getting a scholarship. Then her mother had been killed in a car accident and after only two months at college, Dani had come home to help her dad finish raising her brothers. When would she have had time to sleep with anyone?

And what right had he to take that from her even though she
had
offered it? After all her family had done for him. He’d felt like a heel.

And he
hadn’t known
she’d been a virgin.

“Dani will have to check it out after she moves. See if she likes it as much as you two.”

Gabe’s words brought Ben out of the past, and he let his mind replay what Max and Gloria had been saying. Something about a museum . . .

In New York.

He turned to Dani. “You’re moving to New York?”

He remembered how badly she’d wanted to live there—to live in the middle of that kind of excitement. That’s why she’d worked so hard for her scholarship. She’d dreamed of it, just as her mom had.

“Next month,” she answered. Her face lit with joy. “I have a job waiting on me.”

Warm delight filled him. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” When she bit her lip in a fashion similar to Haley, it had a completely different effect on him.

Damn. He still wanted her.

“What kind of job?” he asked, forcing his mind away from her mouth.

“Marketing. I finished my degree a few years ago, and will be hiring on with one of my long-term clients in the city.”

He was dumbfounded. “You have clients in New York City?” Of course she’d have clients in New York City. Probably all around the world. The woman didn’t do anything halfway.

She glowed from her seat. “Several,” she announced proudly. “Though only one on a large scale. I targeted BA Advertising for the full-time job potential, and it paid off. They’ve been trying to get me out there for over a year now, but I didn’t want to leave until Jaden graduated college. He’s traveling right now, but will be home before harvest. He’ll take over the books when I go.”

“You do the books for the farm?”

She nodded. “That’s one of my jobs.”

“She’s always got her nose stuck in her laptop,” Michelle butted in.

Ben saw Gabe slide his hand under the table and put it on Michelle’s leg, and Michelle shot him a nasty look.
But it did shut her up. Dani didn’t let herself be goaded by the other woman’s words, though her shoulders did tense. Ben had gotten the impression throughout the afternoon that Michelle didn’t care for her sister-in-law at all. He was thinking the feeling was mutual.

“She’s right,” Dani said casually, not so much as granting Michelle a look. “If I’m not working on the books, I’m putting in hours for a paid client, or brainstorming new ideas for the farm or the store we opened a few years ago. Or playing Dora the Explorer games.” She winked at Jenna, and the young girl tittered happily on her seat. “Jenna loves to play games with me,” Dani added.

Jenna nodded enthusiastically. “I’m good at them, too.”

Dani finally glanced at her sister-in-law before returning her attention to Ben. “I spend a lot of time with my niece.”

Michelle’s eyes narrowed. Then she rose from the table.

“Come along, Jenna.” Her tone was sharp. “It’s time for your bath.”

“Mo-om,” Jenna whined. She edged back into her chair. “But I didn’t get dessert yet.”

“You don’t need dessert. It’ll make you fat.”

Ben caught Dani stiffening once again, but she didn’t respond to Michelle’s words. Gabe went as still as his sister. However, the instant Michelle reached for Jenna’s hand, he spoke up.