lived there as a child. Huge leafy oaks and maples spread their thick green branches over the buildings on Main Street, shops and restaurants and a small Dutch Reform church that had been built in the early 1700s and had been lovingly restored.
Unlike downtown areas of most small towns, in Leaning Tree, cars still filled the parking lots and pedestrians strolled on well-lit sidewalks. Outdoor cafés did a bustling business—they passed full tables under umbrellas with tiny white lights. The scene could have been a postcard or the cover of a travel brochure. In fact, he thought it probably was.
“It’s beautiful,” Lilly breathed. Her eyes glowed as she took in her first glimpse of the place where she’d be living for the next few months.
He couldn’t help himself; he grinned. After the flat, Texas landscape with its sparse trees, Leaning Tree looked like heaven.
“My family’s motel is on the other side of town,” he told her. “Part of it borders on New York State forest preserve land.”
And just like that, she shut down. He grimaced, aware that the mention of his family had made her nervous again.
In fact, once they’d driven through downtown and taken the turnoff, following more strategically placed signs to Wolf Hollow Motor Court, she withdrew even further.
Refusing to acknowledge her tension, he knew the only thing he could do was express his own anticipation at seeing his family again. But how? As a man unaccustomed to sharing his feelings, he wasn’t sure what to say.
In the end, he decided to go with the truth.
“Every time I come for a visit, my mother goes on a baking binge,” he confided. “She’s a great cook, and I can’t wait to see what she’s made. Her apple pie melts in your mouth and no one can make chocolate chip cookies the way she does.”
When Lilly turned to look at him, a reluctant gleam of interest flickered in her eyes. “Cookies?”
He nodded. “And pies, cakes and whatever else she feels like making. We usually have a huge family dinner. Since I haven’t been home in several years, I imagine she’s gone crazy with the cooking.”
At least Lilly’d stopped twisting her hands in her lap. “What’s your father like?”
“He’s like a big, gruff bear.” He smiled to take the sting off his words. “But a kindhearted bear.”
“I see.” Though she nodded, he could tell she had no idea what he meant.
“My sister and my brothers and their spouses will probably be there for a welcome-home dinner,” he told her, aware it would be better if she were prepared for a crowd. “They can be a bit...boisterous.”
She swallowed hard. “Do they have children?”
“Yes. I have three nephews and two nieces. They range in age from four to twelve.”
Her smile seemed less wobbly. “I like children.”
“Good.” The road changed from pavement to gravel. “Here we are. Right around this bend.”
They pulled up in front of the main house, a low-slung, stone-and-wood creation with lots of glass that his parents had designed and built over thirty years before. As he coasted to a stop and killed the ignition, the door opened and his family began to spill from inside.
As they surrounded the car, Lilly made a low sound. Seeing the terrified look in her eyes, he squeezed her shoulder before opening his door and climbing out. “I’ll fend them off and then we’ll introduce you, okay?”
He didn’t hear her answer in the chorus of glad cries that followed as he was engulfed by family. His mama wrapped her plump arms around him, squeezing happily while raining kisses on his cheeks. She still smelled the same, like gardenias. She wore her long, gray hair in the same neat braid.
His brothers chimed in, thumping him on the back in glad “guy hugs.” His dad, a bald giant of a man, stood back, watching with a happy grin as he waited for his turn. Kane had nearly made his way over to him when his sister, just emerging from inside, squealed and launched herself at him, hugging and laughing and babbling happy words of welcome.
Meanwhile, all the kids swarmed around, playing and yelling and doing the hundred loud and endearing and annoying things small children do. Finally, Kane’s father tired of waiting and moved toward him, enveloping him in a bear hug. The scent of pipe tobacco and spearmint tickled Kane’s nose. Home. Finally, he was home.
Turning, he took note of his guest. Through all this, Lilly sat quietly in the car, not moving, as if by being still, she hoped not to draw attention to herself. He could only imagine what she thought of the uncontrolled chaos outside the car.
Clearing his throat loudly, Kane gestured for silence. His family ignored him, too caught up in the joy of seeing him. Next he tried clapping his hands and asking them to calm down. Again, this had no result.
Finally, he put his fingers in his mouth and whistled as loudly and ear-piercingly as he could.
Everyone went silent.
“Thank you,” he said, pitching his voice so that everyone could hear him. “As I mentioned to Mom and Dad, I have a guest with me. She’s been through a lot.”
Jostling each other to get a look at the passenger side of the car, some of them starting talking. Kane glared at the offending teenagers, and they instantly stopped. “As I was saying, Lilly Gideon is here with me. She’s not used to the organized craziness of our family, so I need to ask you to give her a little bit of space. Can you do that?”
He thought his serious tone must have registered, because the younger family members looked at their feet. Of course his parents, siblings and their spouses all nodded solemnly.
“Thank you.” He felt all eyes on his back as she crossed to the passenger side of his car and opened the door.
Lilly’s wide blue eyes stared up at him.
“It’s okay,” he said, and held out his hand. “I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe with me.”
She barely hesitated before sliding her fingers into his.
Helping her out of the car as if she was royalty, he kept his body close to her side as they turned to face his assembled family.
“These heathens,” he said fondly. “Belong to me. Lilly, meet the McGraws.”
As she bravely attempted a smile, he watched in gratified amusement while his normally boisterous family mumbled subdued hellos.
Then, Lilly lifted her chin and murmured hello back.
The instant she spoke, his family’s tenuous grip on propriety shattered. Chattering all at once, the female members, young and old alike, surrounded Lilly, touching, patting, smoothing back her hair. Kane held on to her hand, and felt her suddenly go rigid. Still, he didn’t interfere—he wouldn’t unless she asked him. She’d have to get used to his family sooner or later. Might as well jump in the deep end and learn how to swim.
Of course, the gentle pressure of his fingers on hers let her knew he’d always be her life preserver. Always.
While the women made a fuss over Lilly, the masculine contingent regarded Kane with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
“She’s beautiful,” his brother Kyle said, cuffing him on the arm.
“Damn.” His other brother Kris breathed, barely taking his gray eyes off Lilly. “How’d you rate a woman like that?”
Kane’s father chuckled, rubbing his shiny bald head. “Boys, he already told you he brought her here to keep her safe. He’s her bodyguard, nothing more.”
As one, both of Kane’s younger brothers turned to look at their father, disbelief plain on their rugged faces. “You’re telling me you believe him?” they asked in unison.
The elder