“I was. I’m sorry I missed you guys, too. I swiped some stew to take to the ranch. I forgot to bring back the containers.” Returning them hadn’t been a priority when she’d left Adam Sunday morning.
“No worries. We have plenty. It seems like forever since we’ve seen each other. This week at the clinic will be busy. Flu season. But we’ll be home this weekend. Any chance you could make it out for an overnight?”
“You know what? That sounds great. I’d love to.”
“We’re planning to go to the Valentine’s bash at the Raccoon Friday night. How about you?”
“Still haven’t decided. My week’s packed, too.” She glanced at the ceiling and hoped nothing in her voice sounded an alarm. “I might just stay home and veg that night. In any case, I’ll drive out Saturday morning, for sure.”
“Great. We’ll catch up.”
“We will. Thanks for the invite.”
“I hope you know you never need one.”
“I know. I’ve been meaning to get out there on a weekend you’d be around, but life keeps getting in the way.”
“Then I’m glad we have a plan. If I don’t see you at the Raccoon on Friday night, I’ll see you on Saturday.”
“Can’t wait. ’Bye, Mom.” She disconnected, an uncomfortable ache in her chest. How sad that her mom felt the need to call and specifically request a visit. Was she like Mila, wondering if she’d said or done something to cause her daughter to limit contact?
By Saturday, it would be all over, one way or the other. Would she confide in her mom?
Yeah, she would. She couldn’t spend all those hours and keep it to herself. She’d tell her in private and let her decide whether to mention anything to her dad.
They both thought a lot of Adam. She didn’t want that to change and it shouldn’t if she emphasized that she’d been the instigator.
Her morning went fast. Her first client needed help with a leasing contract. Easy-peasy. But her ten o’clock was thornier.Marv and Harry, co-owners of the barbershop Shear Thing, were locked in a battle over a clause in the contract they’d signed twenty years ago.
When the issue threatened to run into her lunch hour, she asked them to come back later in the week. Fitting them in became tricky as she worked around times she’d set aside for Adam.
She finally settled on five o’clock Friday afternoon and promised to stay until they’d reached an agreement. She’d blocked out two hours for Adam that afternoon since it would be their last meeting.
But she wouldn’t be celebrating Valentine’s Day at the Raccoon, although she hadn’t stated that to her mom. She might as well use her evening to settle the feud going on between Marv and Harry.
She left her office knowing she’d be a couple minutes late. Sure enough, Mila was already there waiting at a table for two near the empty dance floor. She’d started over when the familiar tilt of a guy’s head caught her eye. She glanced to her left and came to a screeching halt. Adam.
The cowboy who’d dominated her thoughts ever since she’d left him yesterday morning sat at a table not far from hers and Mila’s. He was having lunch with Angie, Kendall, Kieran and a curly-haired tot who must be Jodi, the budding construction genius.
Adam looked up and gave her a smile. Then he went back to the conversation he was having with the crew. Had she smiled back? She couldn’t be sure but she hoped so. Standing frozen in the middle of the restaurant wasn’t a good start to their subterfuge.
She hurried over toward Mila, who looked apologetic.
“Sorry. They came in after I did or I would have asked for a table farther away.”
“No worries. It’s busy today. They won’t be able to hear us even if they tried, which they won’t.”
“I know, but it’s gotta be awkward for you. Him, too. He probably didn’t know we were meeting for lunch.”
“He did know. I told him.”
“Huh. That’s interesting. Anyway, they all came over and said hello when they saw me here. That little Jodi is something else. She doesn’t say much but clearly there’s a lot going on under that cap of curls.”
“I hear she’s a little phenom. I’d better go say hi. If you’ll order me an egg salad sandwich and a cup of coffee, I’ll be right back.”
“Will do. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” She left her coat on the back of her chair, squared her shoulders and walked over to the table. “Fancy meeting you guys here!” She swept a glance over the entire table, resisting the urge to let it linger on the man who sent her pulse into overdrive.
