Rance just smiled.
“I’m telling you, she won’t. She loves that boutique publishing company she works for. Sure, she’s delighted to find out your mom is a bestselling author, but it only gives them something in common. It doesn’t change her career goals.”
He shrugged. “That’s a discussion for another day. What do you think of my plan? Should I ask Mom if Kieran can sleep in my guest room for the week he’s here?”
“Do you even have a guest room? I seem to remember you shoved your sofa into your spare room to make room for a pool table.”
“It so happens that’s a sleeper sofa, but it doesn’t matter because nobody’s gonna sleep in the guest room. You and Kieran can have my room, complete with fresh sheets and a supply of condoms.”
That thought made her shiver with anticipation. “How will we make the switch?”
“I’ll drive my truck over here and you’ll drive it back to my cabin.”
“You’d trust me to drive Midnight Thunder?” Uneasiness curled in her stomach.
“You’re up to it.”
She gulped. “Okay.” He had more confidence in that than she did. “How about Sam? Won’t he hear your truck and come to investigate?”
“Mom closes him in the bedroom with her and Andy, especially when she has house guests who might get up in the middle of the night. She doesn’t want Sam bothering them. Oh, and I’ll find a moment before I leave tonight to oil the hinges on the front door.”
She chuckled. “Methinks you’ve snuck out a few times in the past.”
“There’s an art to it.”
“And I can tell you’ve mastered that art. But it’s possible you’ll take Kieran to your cabin and Lani will nix the whole program.”
“In that case, I’ll have a chance to bond with Kieran. It’s not a terrible idea. By the way, I’ll also tell Lucky and Oksana the plan. I don’t want Lucky to think Kieran’s arrival got my undies in a bunch.”
“Good point. Oksana will be fine with the idea, but what about Lucky?”
“Are you kidding? After the big woolies he told so nobody would find out about his relationship with Oksana? He can’t say a word.”
“But with everybody here, you won’t have a chance to?—”
“Yes, I will. Lucky and Oksana will be giving me and Kieran a ride to my cabin.”
“So they will. I forgot they picked you up from the Buffalo. You must have hitched a ride in with Clint.”
“Serendipitously, I did. See how everything is falling into place?”
“I have to admit it’s elegant. But you still haven’t explained your motive. I’m guessing it has something to do with Lani, but I can’t make the connection. What do you get out of this?”
“It’s simple. If you rope Lani in, it means she’s part of a secret, outrageous, yet manageable plan to help you and Kieran enjoy some private time. Sharing in something like that brings people closer. It makes their time together more memorable.”
“Rance, please believe me, she won’t move out here.”
“Your folks are talking about it.”
“Doesn’t matter. She’s got the life she wants in Trenton.”
“So you say. Anyway, never mind about Lani. What about you? Think you’ll ever live in Wagon Train?”
“No. Besides, it won’t help me see Kieran more often. His visits here will likely be few and far between. It’s expensive and I guarantee he won’t let the McLintocks pay. I stand a better chance of seeing him if I stay where I am. Dublin to Newark is a cheaper flight.”
He just gazed at her with that same maddening smile.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m right about this, damn it.”
