I grab my phone and snap the photo.
“Can I come in?” Seth asks from the doorway.
“Good timing, buddy. Come stand by your dad so I can take your picture.”
“She’s going to take pictures all the time, isn’t she?” he asks Zack as he joins him at my bedside.
“Yes, I am,” I reply and feel my heart expand at the picture before me. Two handsome guys grin at me over the heads of our babies. After I snap the photo, Seth gently takes our daughter from his dad’s arms, already a pro, and sits in the rocking chair in the corner, gazing down at her with awe.
“I guess that leaves me with my little guy,” I say and sigh with happiness as Zack lays our son in my arms. Zack kisses my forehead and gently pulls the tip of his finger down our son’s cheek. “They’re so small,” I whisper.
“They’ll grow.”
“Where are my grandbabies?” Nancy demands as she stalks into the room with a wide smile and tears in her eyes. “Oh, look how precious they are. Hello, sweet girl.” She kisses both of my cheeks and then my son’s head and looks at me with a hopeful smile.
“Here, you take him,” I offer. Nancy cradles him close and then walks over to sit next to Seth, cooing over both babies.
“They’re gorgeous, just like their mama,” Jeff says with a wink.
“Is this where the party is?” Josh asks from the doorway and saunters in with Cara, Ty, and Lo in tow.
Ty is carrying his daughter, Layla, in his arms.
“Hey, princess.” He kisses my cheek and smiles warmly. “You good?”
“I’m sleepy and happy and sore. And very, very good.”
“They are precious!” Cara exclaims, leaning over the babies before she rushes to me for hugs. Zack is pulled around the room in a flurry of hugs and claps on the back.
“Can I at least hold my niece?” I ask and hold my hands out for the sweet, tiny baby girl. Ty gives her to me, and I grin at the sweet pink flower pinned to her jet-black hair. I can’t wait to dress my daughter up.
“What have you named them?” Lo asks and settles into my brother’s side.
“Well, Mama King is holding Miles Jeffrey King,” I reply with a wide smile at Jeff, who immediately tears up and hugs Zack close.
“And your daughter?” Nancy asks with a rough voice.
“That one has been harder,” Zack replies and shares a glance with me. Harder, right. He just doesn’t know a good girl name when it smacks him in the ass.
“We can’t agree on one,” I reply dryly and nod at Cara when she asks if she can take Layla.
“I’ve always liked the name Sarah,” Seth says as he gazes down at his sister. He hasn’t been able to take his eyes off her. “Mom, can we call her Sarah?”
My heart stops as it always does when Seth calls me Mom. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.
I certainly hope not.
“I like Sarah,” I murmur to Zack, who is gazing at me with such fierce love it steals the breath from me.
“Me too.”
“I think it should be Sarah Hope,” Seth continues, “because of how it all started.”
“What do you mean, buddy?” Nancy asks and runs her hand over his hair.
“I hoped for a real family for a long time. That’s really what I wanted for Christmas.” He blushes and shrugs, but doesn’t look away from his baby sister. “Her middle name should be Hope.”
“I think Seth just named his sister,” I reply softly. “Sarah Hope King. Has a nice ring to it.”
Seth smiles proudly. “She’s pretty.”
“Oh! Speaking of pretty, here,” Cara says and hands me her phone. “Look at our wedding photos.”
“Ugh,” I mutter and page through the photos on her phone. It was a beautiful day for a wedding on the Lazy K Ranch. Josh and Cara chose to exchange vows by the big old tree that has all of our initials carved in the side. It’s where he proposed, and it’s their special place. “I look like a cow. At least Lo moved her wedding up so I wasn’t the size of a house in my dress. And I was kind enough to pay her the same respect.” I frown over at my friend as she smiles widely and leans on her husband. “You’re mean.”
“You looked beautiful that day, and every day. You were carrying precious cargo, sugar,” Zack says and kisses my head as he looks at the photos over my shoulder. He leans in and whispers in my ear, “And I can’t wait to see you round with my baby again.”
“Jesus, how many kids do you plan on me popping out?”
“A few more.” He winks.
“Let’s enjoy the two I just popped out this morning for a while before we talk about more.”
Josh hops on the bed next to mine that’s currently empty. “What do you say, baby, wanna take advantage of this semiprivate room? I’ll pull the curtain and everything.”
He wiggles his eyebrows at Cara and we all laugh, but Cara suddenly hands Layla off to Zack and makes a run for the en suite bathroom. We can hear her hurling her guts out and Lo and I share a look of surprise.
“Good God, man. Is this your version of foreplay?” Ty asks with disgust. “You’re lucky she didn’t leave you at the altar.”
Josh shields his hand from Seth’s line of vision and flips Ty off, but Seth laughs and says, “It’s okay, Uncle Josh. I flip people the bird all the time.”
“Seth King,” I say sternly. “You do not.”
“I’m thirteen,” he says with a shrug, as if that explains everything.
“I don’t care if you’re thirty, you will not flip people the bird.”
“Right.” He rolls his eyes, but catches the look on my face and sobers immediately. “I mean, yes ma’am.”
I can’t help but smile over at him. He’s such a smart aleck, and he looks so sweet with Sarah nestled in his arms.
Cara comes stumbling out of the bathroom and looks . . . green.
“You okay?” I ask. “Mom?”
She bites her lip and glances at her husband, who is grinning smugly. “We didn’t want to hijack your special day, but yeah. I’m fine. And very pregnant.”
“More grandbabies, Jeff!” Nancy cries and laughs as he kisses her cheek. “Our babies are giving us more babies.”
“I love you, sugar,” Zack whispers in my ear as I gaze lovingly around the room at our big, beautiful family, that continues to grow at an alarming rate.
“I love you too,” I reply before kissing him softly. I search the room for my babies and hold my hands out. “Someone hand me one of my babies, please.”
“You’re so greedy,” Cara says with a frown and passes Miles over. My son nestles in close and sighs deeply, unaware of all of the love surrounding him.
“Yeah, I am,” I agree and smile at her. “But I have everything I ever wanted right here in this room.”
Keep reading to see how it all began for Cara and Josh in New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby’s first book in her Love Under the Big Sky series,
Loving Cara
On sale now!
CHAPTER
One
— EARLY SUMMER —
CARA
“Cara, do you have a minute?” My boss, Kyle Reardon, pokes his head in my open classroom door and offers me a warm smile.
“Sure, what’s up?”
He saunters in and takes a long look around my empty classroom. The breeze from the open windows ruffles his hair, and he runs his hand through it as he leans against my desk. “Looks like you’re ready to get out of here for a few months.” He gazes down at me warmly. “Remember last week when you mentioned that you’d be up for a tutoring job this summer?” I roll back in my chair and look up at him. He’s handsome, with short copper hair and blue eyes, a nice build.
He’s also married with four children.
“I do,” I confirm.
“Well, I have one for you.”
“Who?”
“You know the King family, right? They run that big ranch just outside of town.”
“Of course, I gre
w up here, Kyle,” I reply dryly. In a town the size of Cunningham Falls, Montana, we pretty much all know each other, especially those of us who grew up here, just as our parents did, and their parents before them.
“Zack’s boy, Seth, needs a tutor this summer.”
“Zack’s back in town?” I ask, my eyebrows raised in surprise.
“I don’t think so.” Kyle shakes his head and shrugs. “I can’t tell you their business, small town or not. Seth is staying with Jeff and Nancy, and Josh is helping too.”
“Oh,” I mutter, surprised. “So for whom would I be working, exactly?”
“So proper,” Kyle teases me, and grins. “You’ll be working for Josh. You can go straight to his place on Monday morning. They’d like you to come Monday through Friday, about nine until noon.”
“Geez, he must need a lot of tutoring.”
The laughter leaves Kyle’s eyes and he sighs. “He’s a really smart kid, but he’s stubborn and has a bit of an attitude. I’m warning you, he’s not an easy kid to work with. He’s only been here for three months. He refuses to do the work or hand it in.”
“Does he start trouble?” I steeple my fingers in front of me, thinking.
“No, he just keeps to himself. Doesn’t say much to anyone.”
I’ll have to work with Josh King, which won’t be difficult. He was always nice to me in high school, smiles at me in passing when I see him around town. He and his brother are nice guys.
Rumor has it he’s a womanizer, but nice nonetheless.
And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t had a crush on him for as long as I can remember.
But I can be professional and teach Josh’s nephew. I didn’t really want to paint my entire house this summer, anyway.
“Okay, I’ll give it a go.”
“Great, thanks, Cara.” Kyle stands and turns to leave my classroom. “Have a good summer!”
“You too!” I call after him as he goes whistling down the dark, deserted hallway.
Cool, I have a summer job.
I love my town. Like, wholeheartedly, never want to move away, love it. I don’t understand how Jillian, my best friend since kindergarten, can stand living so far away in California. Our town is small, only about six thousand full-time residents, but the population doubles in the peak of summer and the heart of winter with tourists here for skiing, hiking, swimming, and all the other fun outdoor activities that the brochures brag about.
We sit in a valley surrounded by tall mountains, and when it’s sunny, the sky is so big and blue it almost hurts the eyes.
I pull into the long gravel driveway off the highway just outside town and follow it past the large, white main house to the back of the property where Josh’s house sits. It’s not as big as the main house, but it’s still large, bigger than my house in town, and is surrounded by tall evergreen trees and long lines of white wooden fences.
I do not envy the poor sap who has to paint the fences every few years.
The butterflies I’ve kept at bay come back with a vengeance, fluttering in my belly as I come to a stop in front of his house. Josh and his brother are twins, and until Zack broke his nose in football their senior year, it was almost impossible to tell them apart. They’re both big guys, tall and broad shouldered. Zack always had a more intense look in his face, while Josh is more laid-back, quick to smile or tease—especially me, it seemed. In high school I was invisible to most people, having been a little too round, a lot too plain, but Josh noticed me.
He used to pull on my horrible curls as he’d walk past me at school, and of course because he was two years ahead of me, and a football star, I was crazy about him. My hair naturally falls in tight ringlets, but I’ve since straightened it, thank God.
I haven’t seen much of Josh over the years. Each of us went away to college, and since we’ve both returned, I may catch a glimpse of him at the grocery store or in a restaurant, but never long enough to talk to him. I wonder if the rumors of his womanizing are true.
They were in high school.
I just hope he hasn’t turned into one of those cowboys who wear tight Wrangler jeans and straw cowboy hats.
My lips twitch at the thought as I pull myself out of my compact Toyota. The front door swings open, and there he is, all six foot three of him. Only with great effort does my jaw not drop.
Jesus, we breed hot men in Montana.
Josh’s hair is dark, dark brown and he has chocolate-colored eyes to match. His olive skin has acquired a deep tan, and when he smiles, he has a dimple in his left cheek that can melt panties at twenty paces.
Dark stubble is on his chin this morning, and he flashes that cocky smile as he steps onto the porch. His jeans—Levi’s, not Wranglers—ride low on his hips, and a plain white T-shirt hugs his muscular chest and arms. I can’t help but wonder what he smells like.
Down, girl.
Following directly behind Josh is a tall, blond woman I don’t recognize, laughing at something he must have said just before he sauntered through the door. They stop on the covered front porch long enough for him to smile sweetly down at her. He pulls his large hand down her arm and murmurs, “Have a good day, and good luck.”
“Thanks, Josh,” she responds, and bounces down the steps of the front porch, nods at me, and hops into her Jeep.
“Carolina Donovan,” Josh murmurs, and stuffs his hands in his pockets.
“You know I hate it when you call me Carolina.” I roll my eyes. “My parents should have been brought up on child-abuse charges for that name.”
Josh laughs and shakes his head. “It’s a beautiful name.” He frowns and rocks back on his heels. “You look great, Cara.”
“Uh, you’ve seen me around town over the years, Josh,” I remind him with a half smile. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything?” I grimace inside, regretting the question immediately. Mom always said, never ask a question you don’t want the answer to.
He shrugs one shoulder and offers me that cocky grin. God, he’s such a charmer. “Nah, we were finished.”
I frown at him. What does that mean?
“So, where is Seth?” I ask, changing the subject.
Josh frowns in turn and looks toward the big house. “He should be on his way in a few minutes. I have to warn you, Cara, working with Seth may not be a day at the beach. He’s a good kid, but he’s having a rough time of it.” Josh rubs his hand over his face and sighs.
“Why is he here and not with his mom?”
“Because the bitch dropped him off here so she can be footloose and fancy-free. She’s filed for divorce. Good riddance. I wish she’d brought him to us years ago.”
“Oh.” I don’t know what else to say. I never liked Kensie King. She was a bitch in high school, but she was pretty and popular, and I’m quite sure Zack never planned on knocking her up.
But none of that is Seth’s fault.
“What areas does he need help in?” I ask, and pull my tote bag out of the passenger seat. When I turn around, Josh’s eyes are on my ass and he’s chewing on his lower lip. I frown and stand up straight, self-conscious of my round behind.
“Josh?”
“I’m sorry, what?” He shakes his head and narrows his eyes on my face.
“What areas does Seth need the most help in?”
“All of them. He failed every class this spring.”
“Every class?” I ask incredulously.
“Yeah. He’s a smart kid, I don’t know what his problem is.”
“I don’t need a tutor!” a young male voice calls out. I turn to see Seth riding a BMX bike from the big house down the driveway.
“Seth, don’t start.” Josh’s eyes narrow and he folds his arms over his chest. “Ms. Donovan is here to help. You will be nice.”
Seth rolls his eyes and hops off the bike, laying it on its side, and mirrors his uncle’s stance, arms crossed over his chest.
God, he looks just like his dad and his uncle. He could be their younger brother. He’s going to inherit t
heir height and has the same dark hair, but his eyes are hazel.
He’s going to be a knockout someday.
And right now he’s scowling at me.
“Hi, Seth. I’m Cara.”
“What is it, Cara or Ms. Donovan?” he asks defiantly.
“Seth!” Josh begins, but I interrupt him. Seth isn’t the first difficult child I’ve come across.
“Since it’s summer, and I’m in your home, it’s Cara. But if you see me at school, it’s Ms. Donovan. Sound fair?”
Seth shrugs his slim shoulders and twists his lips as if he wants to say something smart but doesn’t dare in his uncle’s company.
Smart kid.
“Where do you want us?” I ask Josh, who is still glaring at Seth. They’re clearly frustrated with each other.
“You can sit at the kitchen table. The house is empty during the day since I’m out working, so you shouldn’t be interrupted.” Josh motions for us to go in ahead of him, and as I walk past, he reaches out to pull my hair. “What happened to your curls?”
“I voted them off the island,” I reply dryly, then almost trip as he laughs, sending shivers down my spine.
He leans in and whispers, “I liked them.”
I shrug and follow Seth to the kitchen. “I didn’t.”
Josh’s home is spacious; the floor plan is open from the living area right inside the front door through to the eat-in kitchen with its maple cabinets the color of honey and smooth, light granite countertops. The windows are wide and I can see all over the property from inside the main room.
I immediately feel at home here, despite the obvious bachelor-pad feel to it. Large, brown leather couches face a floor-to-ceiling river-rock fireplace with a flat-screen TV mounted above it. Fishing, hunting, and men’s-health magazines are scattered on the coffee table, along with an empty coffee mug. Not a throw pillow or knickknack to be found anywhere.
Typical guy.
Seth pulls a chair away from the table and plops down in it, resting his head on his folded arms.
“Seth, sit up.” Josh is exasperated and Seth just sinks deeper into his slouch.
“I think we’re good to go.” I grin at Josh but he scowls.