Seeing Cal’s Jeep arrive in the gift shop parking lot, Jules tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear that had come free from her single, low-maintenance ponytail. She collected the sweater she’d brought from the motel in case it got cool in the evening and opened the back door of the shop before Cal could knock.He’d already spotted the watermelon she’d set out by the door and hoisted it into his arms.
“I don’t know about this,” she said in lieu of a greeting and pressed her lips in a taut line.
Cal’s golden retriever expression didn’t dim. Instead, he chuckled a bit and tipped his head as he eyed her. “I’ve already told the family you’re coming, and they’re eager to meet you. Don’t disappoint them.”
“Why would they be eager to meet me? I’m no one.”
With a hitch of his chin, Cal moved toward his Jeep, and she followed.
“One, you’re not no one. Two, Wyatt told everyone we’d been spending time together, and now the family thinks we’re an item.”
She sputtered and stumbled to a stop. “What?”
He nudged her with his shoulder, propelling her forward again as he juggled the watermelon in order to open the Wrangler’s back door. “Don’t panic. No one’s expecting us to get married.”
She snorted. “I’d hope not. Good grief. Now I’m doubly nervous about meeting them all.”
He glanced past her, and his smile shifted. “I see your little friend is still hanging around.”
She turned and spotted Joy eating kibble from the bowl she’d set out. Jules’s spirits lifted. “Oh, good. I didn’t see her yesterday, and I was worried about her. I’ve been so busy, I keep forgetting to pick up the humane trap and get her to the local rescue.”
Cal closed the Jeep door behind her, and she watched Joy through the window, her heart melting as she studied the thin, dirty kitten.
“I can help with a humane trap. I’m sure the sheriff’s department or city police has one somewhere. Give me a day or so to round it up, and we’ll get the little hellion to safety.”
“She’s not a hellion,” Jules countered.
“Her hissing and claws say otherwise.”
Jules fastened her seat belt. “She’s just scared.”
Callum’s only answer was a knowing grin.
When they arrived at his father’s house, where Cal lived, too, it turned out, Jules gaped at the large yard and numerous people already gathered.
“I need to grab the watermelon out of the back seat. If you’ll wait a second, I’ll introduce you to the gang,” he said as he parked.
Their arrival was clearly noticed. Jules’s gut churned, and she took a deep breath to marshal her composure.
Pilot loped out to meet them, and Jules bent to give the Labrador a scratch behind the ears. Following Pilot was a stream of people with bright smiles and warm greetings.
Cal handed the watermelon off to Wyatt and said, “Since you’ve already met Jules, you can put this on the food table.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Oh, can I? Please?”
“Will you, please?” Jules asked with a tip of her head and a sweet smile.
Wyatt winked at her. “For you, yes.”
Cal handed off the melon. “And stop flirting with my date!”
Jules jerked a startled gaze toward him. “Your date? I never said—”
“Dad, Kelly, Dylan, this is Jules Bailey,” he said, cutting off her objection. He motioned to an older gentleman with graying brown hair and eyes the same dramatic shade of blue as Cal’s. In fact, as she glanced from face to face, she realized the sky-blue eyes were a common trait for the Coltons.
As she shook hands with one family member after another, she tried to remember names and the tidbits of introduction Cal gave. The youngest, Matilda, had messy curls, was a social worker and went by Matti. Kelly’s hair was longer, and she was an attorney. Dylan was a fireman, one of fraternal twins. No, wait. His twin, Aiden, was the fireman. Their father, Jonathon, was a physician, still practicing at the local hospital. How would she ever keep it all straight?
And then a man with blond hair and green eyes stepped forward and offered his hand and a smile.
