As the closing credits rolled across on the screen, Cal leaned closer to Sue. âFunny how things worked out, huh?â
âItâs hard to believe, thatâs what it is.â When Cal had called her on Friday night, heâd suggested a trip to the drive-in. It seemed innocent enough. But now here they were. Alone in the dark. She didnât expect the effect it would have on her pulse.
âIâve been thinking about this date all day,â Cal whispered, just inches from her lips. âIs this what you had in mind when you agreed to go to the drive-in?â
âActually, no â¦â Sue smiled.
âNo?â he drawled. His lips brushed her jaw, his tongue flicked at a spot under her ear. âThen what were you thinking about?â
Susan could only sigh for an answer. Cal chuckled softly.
âSo what do you say, Susan? Want to go parking?â
Dear Reader,
Is there someone in your family or circle of friends whoâs the go-to person? You know, the person who can be counted on to get things done? For me, itâs always been my older brother Gary. In the Riddell family, itâs Cal.
Calâor Junior, as heâs known by mostâhas never dodged a responsibility in his life. He sits at his fatherâs bedside at the hospital. He makes sure the bills are paid, checks on his brothers and listens to people complain. In short, Juniorâs the type of man Iâve always admired. Heâs solid and dependable and smart. Of course, it doesnât hurt that heâs six-foot-three, with black hair and gray eyes ⦠and has that kind of slow Texas drawl that curls a girlâs toes.
I knew heâd have to find a special woman, and I think Susan Young fits the bill. Sheâs an Ohio transplant raising a son who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Sheâs gorgeous and smart and more than a little stressed. And just independent enough to not be in any hurry to be âmanagedâ by Junior.
Their relationship pulled at my heart, made me smile and made me cheer a bit, too. Iâve always been a sucker for a happy ending. I hope you enjoy their romance, as well.
And, I hope youâll return back to the Riddell Ranch for Trentâs story in My Christmas Cowboy. His romance takes everyone by surprise!
Happy reading!
Shelley Galloway
Cal Riddell Jr. hated hospitals. He hated how he didnât have a single ounce of control in the way they were run. Take how Electra Community was set up, for exampleâthe place was designed like a ratâs maze. It took forever to get anywhere, and half the time he got lost.
He hated the constant noise of the building, too. Metal carts squeaked and clanked as they rolled along the sterile linoleum floors. Doctors and nurses rushing down the halls. And the persistent hum and beeping of various monitors and machines. All of it pressed on his nerves something fierce.
The smell was bad. Without a doubt, the whole place reeked like gas station bathrooms and disease, all covered up with a hefty dose of disinfectant. It was a far cry from his preferred place to workâa converted tack room in the main barn back at the Riddell Ranch.
But most of all, Cal hated that his dad was in the hospital and there wasnât one thing he could do about it.
âIâm fine, Junior,â his father snapped. âDo not go get me another glass of water.â With an impatient glare, he added, âI told you, Iâm not thirsty. Something wrong with your hearing?â
âNo, sir.â Cal strived for patience, but he was losing ground, fast. From the moment Cal had arrived four hours ago, his father had been especially cranky and bullheaded. Though this behavior wasnât all that new, Cal wasnât used to being the main recipient of his fatherâs temper. He had always prided himself on being the son who was responsible and courteous.
Until very recently, it had gotten him pretty far in life. âThe nurses said you needed to drink more liquids.â
âDammit, Cal. Iâm sixty-two years old, not ninety-two. If I want to sip some water, I can get it myself. Without your help. But I donât want it. So stop sticking that cup in my face.â
Cal put the pitcher of water aside and wished one of his brothers would appear at the door and take his place. The old coot could get him riled up like nobodyâs business in two seconds flat. âFine.â
Faded blue eyes flashed. âDamn right itâs fine. Now, stop fussing. Youâre acting like an old woman. Fact is, I donât even know why youâre here. You should be back at the ranch, making sure everythingâs running right.â
âEverything is.â Cal knew for a fact it was. Heâd been at his desk at four-thirty that morning, checking on the latest financial holdings and making sure nothing had blown up overnight. After that, heâd joined two of the hands in the barn and helped load up the truck with supplies to take out to the north pasture.
At the moment, his BlackBerry was in his pocket, collecting emails and voice messages. Heâd check in and take care of business the second he had a spare moment. Really, nothing was going to happen that he didnât know about.