Good Husband Material. Susan Mallery

the event would certainly qualify as “significant.” But that wasn’t something he wanted to share with his mother.

      “You heard from Quinn lately?” he asked, changing the subject.

      “Not since that one letter a month ago.” She sighed. “I worry about that boy.”

      Gage didn’t think there was any point in mentioning that Quinn was thirty and a trained military operative. “Boy” hadn’t described him in years.

      “He should be getting leave in the next few months.”

      “I’m hoping he’ll make time to come to the wedding. I don’t know if he will, though.”

      Gage wasn’t sure, either. He and Quinn had once been close, but time and circumstances had changed things. They’d both headed into the military after high school, but unlike Gage, Quinn had stayed in. He’d gone into Special Forces, then joined a secret group that worked around the world wherever there was trouble.

      Despite being from the same family as Gage, Quinn had never fit in. Mostly because their father had made his life a living hell.

      As always, the thought made Gage uncomfortable. He’d never understood why he’d been the golden boy of the family and Quinn had been the unwelcome stranger. He also didn’t know why he was thinking so much about the past lately.

      Maybe it was Kari returning and stirring it up. Maybe now was a good time to ask a question that should have been asked long ago.

      “Why didn’t Daddy like Quinn?”

      Edie stiffened slightly. “What are you saying, Gage? Your father loved you two boys equally. He was a good father.”

      Gage stared at her, wondering why she was lying. Why avoid the obvious?

      “The old farmer’s market opened last week. I’m going to head over there this weekend and see if I can get some berries. Maybe I’ll bake a pie for next time.”

      The change of subject was both obvious and awkward. Gage hesitated a second before giving in and saying that he always enjoyed her pies.

      But as they chatted about the summer heat and who was vacationing where, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there were secrets hiding just below the surface. Had they always been there and he had never noticed?

      Twenty minutes later, he hugged his mother goodbye, then picked up the trash bag from the kitchen and carried it out as he did every time he left. He put it in the large container by the garage and waved before stepping into his truck.

      His mother waved back, then returned to the house.

      Gage watched the closed back door for a while before starting the truck and heading home. What had happened tonight? Was something different, or was he making something out of nothing?

      He slowly drove the familiar streets of Possum Landing. The signal by the railroad tracks had already started its slow flashing for the night. Those downtown would stay on until midnight, but on the outskirts of town they went to flashing at eight.

      Unease settled at the base of his spine, making him want to turn around and demand answers from his mother. The problem was, he wasn’t sure what the questions were supposed to be.

      Maybe instead of answers, he needed a woman. It had been a long time and his need hadn’t gone away. There were, he supposed, several women he could call on. They would invite him inside for dessert…and breakfast. He paused at the stop sign. No doubt Daisy would do the happy dance if he turned his attention in her direction. Of course, she would want a whole lot more than breakfast. Daisy was a woman in search of a happy ending. Gage was sure it was possible—just not with him.

      He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, then swore and headed home. None of those welcoming beds appealed to him tonight. They hadn’t in a long time. He’d reached that place in his life where the idea of variety only made him tired. He wanted the familiar. He wanted to settle down, get married and have a half-dozen kids. So why couldn’t he make it happen? Why hadn’t he fallen in love and popped the question? Why hadn’t he—

      He turned into his driveway, his headlights sweeping the front of the house next door. Someone sat on the top step, shielding her eyes from the flash of light. A familiar someone who made parts of him stand up at attention without even trying.

      Been there, done that, he told himself as he killed the engine and stepped out into the quiet of the night. But that didn’t stop him from heading toward her, crossing his lawn and then hers.

      Anticipation filled him. He wondered how she liked her eggs.

      Chapter Four

      Kari watched as Gage approached. He moved with the liquid grace of a man comfortable in his own skin. He was what people called “a man’s man,” which made the most female part of her flutter. How ironic. She’d spent nearly eight years surrounded by some of the most handsome, appealing male models New York had to offer—a good percentage of whom had not been gay—and she’d never once felt herself melt just by watching them move. What was it about Gage that got to her? Was she just a sucker for a man in uniform, or was it something specific about him?

      “So, how was your date?” she asked to distract herself from the liquid heat easing through her belly. “You’re back early, so I’m going to guess the ever-delightful Daisy is playing hard to get.”

      She thought about mentioning her surprise that Daisy would let Gage leave without visiting the promised land, but was afraid the comment would come out sounding catty.

      He settled next to her on the front step and rested his forearms on his knees. “You always were a nosy thing back when you were in high school. I see that hasn’t changed.”

      “Not for a second.” She grinned.

      He glanced at her and gave her an answering smile that made her heart do a triple flip.

      “I had dinner with my mother,” he said. “I do it every week.”

      “Oh.”

      She tried to think of a witty comeback but couldn’t. The admission didn’t surprise her. Gage had always been good to the women in his life…his mother, her grandmother. She remembered reading an article somewhere, something about paying attention to how a man treats his mother because it’s a good indication of how he’ll treat his wife. Not that she was planning on marrying Gage Reynolds. Still, it was nice to reconfirm that he was one of the good guys.

      “How is your mom?” she asked.

      “Good. She had a rough time after my dad died. They’d been together for so long, I’m not sure she thought she could make it without him. Eventually she got it together. Last year she started dating again. She met a guy named John. They’re engaged.”

      Kari straightened. “Wow. That’s great.” Then she remembered how close Gage had been to his father. “Are you okay with it?”

      He nodded. “Sure. John is one of the good guys.”

      Takes one to know one, Kari thought. “When’s the wedding?”

      “This fall. He’s a retired contractor. He has a lot of family up in Dallas. That’s where he is this week. One of his granddaughters is having a birthday, and he wanted to be there for the party.”

      “They say people who have one successful marriage can have another.”

      Gage stared up at the night. “I believe that’s true. My folks loved each other. There were plenty of fights and difficult times, but on the whole, they were in love. From what John has said about his late wife, they had a strong marriage, too. I figure the two of them are going to do just fine.”

      “I’d like to see your mother again. I always liked her.”

      “She’s working up at the hardware store. It’s a part-time job to get her out of the house. You should head on up and say hi.”

      “I