She stuck her head out the window and shouted up, “I’m taking you to get your Range Rover.” She added “asshole” under her breath.
He went back inside and came down a few minutes later in a pair of worn jeans and T-shirt that stretched across his broad chest. His hair was damp, like maybe he’d just showered, and a few dark tendrils curled against his neck. He looked like a walking Super Bowl ad for Ram trucks or something equally testosterone-driven.
He got inside the passenger side of her car and pulled the seat back as far as it would go. “Where’s Aubrey?”
“She asked if I’d give you a ride because I was going to town anyway.” She backed out of his driveway and headed to Dry Creek Road. “Unless you want to come with me to the kitchen store first?”
“Tess’? What for?”
So we can hang out, stupid. “So you can carry my stuff to the car.”
He snorted, then glanced at his watch. “Buck said my car wouldn’t be ready until two, so I’ve got a little time to kill. But first let’s stop off at Beals Ranch. I want to talk to Randy about buying his stock trailer.”
“Will he recognize me?”
“I doubt it, but even if he did he isn’t the type to spread it around. Ranchers have a tendency to keep to themselves…shun the press.”
“Okay.” She had nothing else to do. “Tell me where to go.”
He gave her directions. About twenty minutes later, they passed a Century 21for salesign, boasting “cattle property” and drove through an elaborate gate. From the top of the gateposts swung a large iron cattle-brand emblem and the words Beals Ranch.
“Do they raise cows, too?”
“Yup, but the ranch is on the market.”
He guided her to a home that had been oversold by the impressiveness of the gate. It was a faded yellow farmhouse with a wraparound porch that had seen better days. And the cement walkway up to the front door could use a power washing. There were three pickup trucks and a Subaru Forester parked in front of a four-car garage, which seemed excessive given the size of the house.
A couple of kids played on a tire swing that hung from a big oak tree in the side yard. Sawyer waved as he got out of the car. A dog barked from the porch and someone yelled for it to be quiet. An attractive woman about Gina’s age came down the steps and gave Sawyer a hug.
“What a nice surprise.”
“I wanted to talk to your dad about his stock trailer.”
Sawyer introduced the woman—Jill—to Gina. There was something off between them; Gina could feel it right away. She wondered if maybe Jill and Sawyer had dated and the relationship had ended badly. Whatever it was, she sensed a gnawing discomfort between the two.
“Daddy’s on his way home. He should be here any minute.” Jill turned to the kids on the swing. “You guys go wash up. Your father’s coming to get you for lunch at the coffee shop.”
The kids ran up the steps and into the house.
“You want to come in…have something to drink while you wait?”
“Nah,” Sawyer said. “I don’t want to impose.”
“No imposition and it’s hot out here.” She ushered them through the front door.
The inside of the house was as worn as the outside but surprisingly cozy. Lots of family pictures and braided rugs. Someone had a penchant for cutesy inspirational signs because they were everywhere. Bless this house, life is better on the ranch, kiss a cowboy, and chasing cows will be your fate if you don’t shut the gate.
Jill led them to the kitchen, which hadn’t been updated since the eighties: Cream-tile countertops, oak cabinets, and white appliances. Still, the room exuded warmth. Gina could tell a lot of happy family meals had been prepared in here.
“You want a soda, juice, or lemonade?” Jill asked.
“Ice water is fine.” Sawyer was being polite but not friendly.
Gina planned to ask him about it when they left.
“Do you live around here, Gina?” Jill asked and Gina wanted to kick Sawyer for using her real name. The good news was Jill didn’t seem to recognize her, not in Gina’s hat and glasses.
“Just visiting for the day.” Gina waited for the inevitable follow-up questions—Oh yeah, what brings you to Dry Creek? Where you from? Aren’t you that bimbo celebrity chef who slept with Danny Clay?—but Jill just nodded. It struck Gina that maybe Jill thought she was Sawyer’s girlfriend.
