Montana Cherries Read Online Free Page A

out after she moves. See if she likes it as much as you two.”
    Gabe’s words brought Ben out of the past, and he let his mind replay what Max and Gloria had been saying. Something about a museum . . .
    In New York.
    He turned to Dani. “You’re moving to New York?”
    He remembered how badly she’d wanted to live there—to live in the middle of that kind of excitement. That’s why she’d worked so hard for her scholarship. She’d dreamed of it, just as her mom had.
    “Next month,” she answered. Her face lit with joy. “I have a job waiting on me.”
    Warm delight filled him. “Congratulations.”
    “Thanks.” When she bit her lip in a fashion similar to Haley, it had a completely different effect on him.
    Damn. He still wanted her.
    “What kind of job?” he asked, forcing his mind away from her mouth.
    “Marketing. I finished my degree a few years ago, and will be hiring on with one of my long-term clients in the city.”
    He was dumbfounded. “You have clients in New York City?” Of course she’d have clients in New York City. Probably all around the world. The woman didn’t do anything halfway.
    She glowed from her seat. “Several,” she announced proudly. “Though only one on a large scale. I targeted BA Advertising for the full-time job potential, and it paid off. They’ve been trying to get me out there for over a year now, but I didn’t want to leave until Jaden graduated college. He’s traveling right now, but will be home before harvest. He’ll take over the books when I go.”
    “You do the books for the farm?”
    She nodded. “That’s one of my jobs.”
    “She’s always got her nose stuck in her laptop,” Michelle butted in.
    Ben saw Gabe slide his hand under the table and put it on Michelle’s leg, and Michelle shot him a nasty look. But it did shut her up. Dani didn’t let herself be goaded by the other woman’s words, though her shoulders did tense. Ben had gotten the impression throughout the afternoon that Michelle didn’t care for her sister-in-law at all. He was thinking the feeling was mutual.
    “She’s right,” Dani said casually, not so much as granting Michelle a look. “If I’m not working on the books, I’m putting in hours for a paid client, or brainstorming new ideas for the farm or the store we opened a few years ago. Or playing Dora the Explorer games.” She winked at Jenna, and the young girl tittered happily on her seat. “Jenna loves to play games with me,” Dani added.
    Jenna nodded enthusiastically. “I’m good at them, too.”
    Dani finally glanced at her sister-in-law before returning her attention to Ben. “I spend a lot of time with my niece.”
    Michelle’s eyes narrowed. Then she rose from the table.
    “Come along, Jenna.” Her tone was sharp. “It’s time for your bath.”
    “Mo-om,” Jenna whined. She edged back into her chair. “But I didn’t get dessert yet.”
    “You don’t need dessert. It’ll make you fat.”
    Ben caught Dani stiffening once again, but she didn’t respond to Michelle’s words. Gabe went as still as his sister. However, the instant Michelle reached for Jenna’s hand, he spoke up.
    “Let her stay and have dessert.”
    The air in the room grew thick.
    “Excuse me?” Michelle’s tone iced over as she turned to her husband.
    “We have company,” Gabe explained. “She has a new friend. She’s staying for dessert.”
    “I don’t—”
    “I don’t care,” Gabe interrupted. His eyes were hard. “She’s having dessert with the rest of us.”
    Dani quietly rose and moved to the counter, her back to the group. She began slicing a pie and sliding individual pieces onto plates while Michelle and Gabe had a stare-off. The next instant, as if she realized they were arguing in front of a crowd, Michelle’s posture eased and a bright smile flashed across her face. Her chin tilted at a haughty angle.
    “Well, I, for one”—she shot Ben a look—“won’t let a silly dessert ruin my