came out of the dressing room this time she was wearing a yellow gingham sundress. She twirled around and made the skirt spin. “I like this one, Daddy. What do you think?”
“I think you’ll be the prettiest girl at the party,” he said, earning a beaming smile from Val, who’d already paid for her own selection.
He told himself that his effort to say the right thing had been made on Annie’s behalf, but Val’s approval touched something deep inside him. It had been a long time since what anyone thought had mattered. Maybe he was going to survive Suzanne’s betrayal whether he wanted to or not.
Six
It never ceased to amaze Val how many members of the Adams family could be assembled at the drop of a hat. At the mention of a party, they swarmed to White Pines like ants getting word of a particularly tasty picnic. Even Luke and Jessie, who lived across the state, and their daughter Angela, who lived in Montana with her family, made it to White Pines for most events.
Harlan Adams was in his element presiding over this latest party. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren gravitated to him, not just because he was the family patriarch, but because of the love that flowed from him as tangibly as water splashing from a fountain.
It broke Val’s heart to see Annie standing on the fringes, looking left out. She knew if she’d been a little closer, she would have been able to detect the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes. Harlan, ever the thoughtful host, apparently spotted her about the same time.
“Well, there she is,” he said, smiling warmly and beckoning to her. “Annie, my girl, come over here and meet the rest of these hellions. This is your party. You can’t be standing on the sidelines.”
Annie’s expression brightened at once as she was introduced to various Adams cousins. Within minutes she and Jenny’s stepson had teamed up against Dani’s twin stepsons for a boisterous game of Marco Polo in the pool.
“She looks happy,” Slade observed, sneaking up beside Val.
She turned and caught his sober expression. “She does, doesn’t she?”
“Thank you for that.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Don’t be so modest,” he chided. “You dreamed up this party and badgered me into it. You planned the guest list. You saw to it that Annie had the right things to wear. You bought the groceries.”
“It’s just a party, Slade,” she said, reluctant to take too much credit for instigating such a simple thing.
He shook his head. “It’s more than that, and you know it. It’s a chance for Annie to make friends. You cared about her feelings, Val. I’m still not entirely certain why, but you did, and I’m grateful.”
For some reason she couldn’t explain, his thanks irked her. She told herself that he’d say the same if she’d been a hired caterer whose cheese puffs were especially tasty. “I don’t want your gratitude,” she said, though she was unable to explain just what she did want.
“A gracious woman would accept it, though.” He grinned knowingly. “Any particular reason you’re not? Are you holding out for something more?”
He had her pegged, she realized unhappily. Maybe what she wanted was as simple—or as monumental—as recognition that she could make a difference in his family, that she could fit in. She wanted him to see her in a new light, to realize what she could bring to his life.
Okay, she really wanted him to fall madly in love with her. And all because she’d helped him buy some clothes for his kid, and picked out some steaks. Was she crazy or what? Relationships didn’t blossom based on a grand gesture.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I’m glad you’re pleased with the way this turned out.”
“I’d be even more pleased if you’d come eat with me,” he said.
Val was astonished. It was rare for Slade to seek out her company. She usually had to throw herself at him. “Why?” she asked, regarding him warily.
“Why not?” he said, as if he uttered similar invitations all the time. “If you turn me down, I’ll just end up talking horses all afternoon with Cody or Harlan Patrick. I can do that anytime.”
She grinned. “I thought you liked nothing better than talking about horses.”
“No, darlin’, even I get tired of hearing my own voice on that topic sometimes. Besides, only a fool would rather talk to a bunch of cowboys instead of a beautiful woman.”
She gazed into his eyes and saw a glimmer of amusement that was as rare