Page 18 of Backed By You (Montgomery Brothers of Montana #3)

Callie

“I’ll take the lumberjack special,” Dad tells the waitress, his hands folded on the red checkered tablecloth. “Pancakes, eggs over easy, bacon, sausage, hash browns. The works.”

The waitress, a woman in her fifties with kind eyes and greying hair pulled back in a low ponytail, scribbles on her notepad. “And for you, honey?”

I glance at the menu one more time, though I haven’t been reading it. My mind keeps drifting to the way Beau reacted when I called him my landlord, the deliberate distance he put between us afterward. “I’ll have the same, please.”

“Two lumberjacks coming right up.” She collects our menus with practiced efficiency. “Coffee’s fresh if you want a refill.”

“Please,” Dad says, sliding his mug toward the edge of the table.

She tops off our cups and heads toward the kitchen, leaving us alone in the corner booth of Murphy’s Diner.

The morning rush has died down, and only a few patrons occupy the scattered tables.

Somewhere behind the counter, bacon sizzles on the grill, mingling with the scent of coffee and maple syrup.

I wrap my hands around my mug, using the warmth to steady myself. Dad studies me across the table, taking in details I wish he wouldn’t. Like the fact I clearly wasn’t expecting company this morning. And how Beau was there.

“Hulk seems to be handling his injury well,” he says, dumping another cream into his coffee.

“The pain meds are helping.”

Dad nods. “And you? I notice there isn’t any swelling around your stitches and you’re faring well enough with the walking boot.”

Is that why he’s here? “I appreciate your concern, but you didn’t need to come all the way out here to check on me. I’m fine, Dad.”

He takes a sip of his coffee, eyeing me over the rim. “I’m glad to see it for myself,” he says. “Though I admit, I was also interested to finally see this town you ran off to.”

There it is. The subtle dig about me ‘running away’ from California when things got too hard. I bite back my knee-jerk response and force myself to stay calm. “I didn’t run off anywhere. I made a choice.”

He doesn’t argue, but his demeanor speaks volumes. “Well, regardless of why you’re here, you seem healthy. Relaxed.”

The waitress appears with our plates, setting down heaping portions of breakfast staples. The pancakes are the size of dinner plates, stacked three high, with eggs, bacon, and sausage crowding the rest of the space. Hash browns spill over onto a separate plate.

“Anything else I can get you folks?” she asks.

A doggy bag, for sure.

“We’re set. Thank you,” Dad says, reaching for the syrup.

We eat in relative silence for a while, the comfortable kind that comes from years of shared meals. Dad eats with methodical efficiency while I pick at mine.

When he’s about halfway through, he sets his fork down. “So, about the premiere.”

My stomach drops. “What about it?”

“Well, with Hulk being laid up and all, I’ve arranged for someone to escort you,” he says casually, like we’re discussing the weather.

“You’ve arranged…” I set down my fork and sigh. “Dad, I don’t need an escort.” I do, but it certainly won’t be anyone my father chooses. Or god forbid, works with.

“You’re not fooling anyone, Cal. You can’t go alone.

And I understand how important this premiere is to you.

Not that I’ve ever understood the draw of horror films, what with the everyday horrors one can simply witness on the street.

” He takes another bite of pancakes as if he didn’t just insult my career path.

It wouldn’t be the first time. “Deputy White is a good choice. Nice boy who can handle any security concerns.”

Justin White. Of course, it’s him. The overeager deputy who my father’s become ‘buddy-buddy’ with that he’s been sending out to ‘check in’ on me whenever he deems necessary. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“He’s responsible, respectful. He can protect you if needed.” Dad’s voice takes on that no-nonsense tone I remember from childhood. “And let’s face it, Cal. Hulk isn’t going to be around forever.”

The casual way he says it hits me like a slap. I gape at him. “How can you say that?”

“It’s the truth. Hulk’s getting older—”

“He’s five .”

“—you can’t rely on him for everything.” He leans back in the booth, crossing his arms. “It’s time you started thinking about finding someone who can be there for you long-term.”

I stare at him, appalled. “Are you seriously trying to set me up right now?” Of all the people in my life—the very few of them—my father is the last person I would expect to pull something like this.

Shea? Oh, she’s tried.

My dad ? If pigs could fly!

“I’m trying to look out for you.” His expression softens, but his words still sting. “Look, honey, I know this move to Montana wasn’t what you wanted, but finding someone decent to settle down with could be the one good thing that comes out of it.”

The one good thing . As if everything else about my life here doesn’t matter. As if the only thing that could possibly make my ‘running away’ worthwhile would be landing a man.

“Dad. I didn’t move here to find a husband. I moved here to get my life back.”

He sighs, the sound heavy with frustration. “And you have. But you can’t hide out forever, appearing only when it’s convenient. You’re twenty-eight years old. Most girls your age—”

“Most girls my age aren’t paranoid, living in fear of being stalked.” The words come out louder than I mean them to, and I glance around to make sure no one’s listening. “Most girls my age haven’t accomplished half the things I have, Dad.”

He huffs. “You know what I mean.”

“Do I? Because it sounds like you don’t approve of how I’m living my life,” I sneer. “How many times do we need to have this discussion before you’ll leave it alone?”

His expression hardens. “You need someone stable who can protect you.”

I fall back in my seat, my appetite gone. “And let me guess, your pet deputy is that someone.”

“I’ve been told Justin is single and finds you very attractive.”

I cringe at the salesman’s pitch he’s giving on this guy. “Jesus, Dad.” I’m going to have nightmares after this, I know it. “That doesn’t mean I want to date him.”

“So, what, you’re just going to be alone forever?”

The dismissive way he talks about my life choices makes my chest tight. Would he even be saying any of this if he knew I plan to ask Beau to come with me? “What if I am? What’s wrong with being alone if that’s what makes me feel safe?” I demand.

“Is that what you really want?” he counters, leaning forward. “Or are you just scared?”

The question hits too close to home, especially after this morning and the way I panicked when he showed up. How I couldn’t bring myself to introduce Beau as anything more than my landlord.

He’s so much more than that.

I sit up straight, my mind set. “This entire argument is pointless,” I say, voice steady.

“I already have someone attending the premiere and all the subsequent events and interviews with me. He won’t be leaving my side.

And—I’ll have you know—he’ll do a far better job at keeping me safe than Justin ever could. ”

His brow furrows, gaze searching mine. “Who?”

“Beau Montgomery.”