He reached for her. “It’s a very good?—”
“We’ll get carried away for sure and come out looking mussed and guilty.” She laid a restraining hand on his chest. “Keep your eye on the prize.”
He smiled. “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.”
“Aww. You’ve watchedCasablanca.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her green eyes darkened. “I could eat you up with a spoon.”
He pulled her closer. “Be my guest.”
“No.” She wiggled out of his arms. “We need to get out there and not show our hand by looking flushed. Which I probably already am.”
“You’re stunning.”
“You’re not helping.” She took a deep breath. “Tell you what. You go out first and I’ll wait a while. If anyone questions what you were doing in here, tell them you love libraries.”
“That I do. And bookshops. And the smell of old books. My brother and I have that in common.”
“I don’t know how you do it, but you just get sexier with every word that comes out of your mouth.”
“That’s good news.”
“Now vamoose.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a wink before he turned on his heel and walked out the door, his step light. She wanted him bad enough to go along with Rance’s elaborate plan. It might even work. It might even work tonight.
He needed coffee. Strong coffee.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The plan was in motion. Rance’s convincing story had worked and at this very moment Lucky and Oksana were giving Kieran and Rance a lift to Rance’s cabin. And getting an earful. Sara would have loved to listen in on that conversation.
Were they speculating on whether Lani would go along with the scheme? Sara wanted that answer, too, but she wouldn’t get it until she was tucked into the privacy of the bedroom they shared.
That might not happen for a while. Angie, Dallas, Brit and Trent had stayed on after the rest had left. So had Margaret, Brit’s mom. The whole Armstrong family hadn’t been together since February and Brit’s pregnancy gave them plenty to talk about.
Desiree and Andy served the Bailey’s Sara’s parents had brought as a house gift and everyone gathered around the fireplace. The evening was chilly enough for a modest fire and Dallas tended it, gently feeding the flames to provide atmosphere without overheating the room.
Under different circumstances, Sara would have relaxed into the moment. Dallas crouched near the hearth nursing a firereminded her of all the times her big brother had appropriated the job back home.
Trent’s happy smile had returned after years of misery, and that was wonderful to see. Her earlier fears that the situation with Brit would be a trainwreck had disappeared. He was head-over-heels and Brit clearly returned his love. They’d make great parents.
Everyone was so relaxed and happy that guilt pricked her. Sneaking around wasn’t her normal behavior, but this cozy setup with her parents and her sister in the kids’ wing of the ranch house created a virtual chastity belt.
It wasn’t like she and Kieran could take a rain check, either. It was now or never. Rance’s scheme was her only alternative for satisfying their longing for each other without creating a ruckus. Even one night of bliss was worth the risk.
Her dad had brought a mocktail version of Bailey’s for Brit, and Sara would have preferred that. But doing anything out of the ordinary wasn’t a good idea so she’d taken a small glass of the regular stuff and was drinking it slowly.
She’d need all her resources to drive that big black truck if by some miracle Lani bought into the plan. Rance must really believe this caper would win him points with Lani if he was willing to risk Midnight Thunder.
“By the way, Sara.” Desiree glanced at her. “I didn’t want to say anything while Kieran was here, but fixing that headstone won’t be as easy as I imagined. We’d be better off just getting a new one.”
“How long would that take?”
“Weeks. Maybe longer. It was probably the same time frame when I ordered the other one, but I was too busy with Rance and Lucky to notice. That’s been my only experience. Angie’s dad was buried in a family plot back East. I had no idea you couldn’t just get one in a few days.”
