She watched him walk toward the house, her heart racing.Then she retreated to the garden to water the plants.She cranked the spigot and let the cool water flow from the hose.When he was no longer in sight, she drew in a calming breath, but her pulse didn’t slow down, not for a long time.
Chapter Nine
Wade didn’t leavethe ranch immediately after his chat with Mary.
He went to retrieve his cell phone, which was plugged into an outlet in the kitchen, and heard stirring down the hall.His mother was awake.He was familiar with the layout of the house, so he knew there were two bedrooms on the right.The door on the left side of the hall was open.As he headed that direction, he noted the empty gun rack on the wall.His footsteps sounded heavy on the hardwood floor.
Wynona was sitting at a desk inside her new office.Cardboard boxes were stacked neatly in one corner.Shelves that had once housed useless junk now held wicker baskets of block-shaped soaps.The random knickknacks she collected had been organized by theme, at least in this room.Wade spotted a dozen rodeo clown figurines in one section their homely faces polished to a dull shine.
His mother glanced over her shoulder at him.“You’re still here?”
“I’m on my way out,” he said, even as he ventured forward.There were business cards on her desk with a purple flower decal.The insignia was repeated on all of the products.Every soap bore an oval-shaped sticker with the design.
She wore a guarded expression, as if she expected him to criticize the design, or perhaps her appearance.Her usual glamour hadn’t been applied yet.He was annoyed by the fact that she looked pretty good, even without makeup.
“What’s with the clowns?”he asked.
“They’re antiques.People buy them.”
Wade squinted at the price tag on the nearest clown.“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
He couldn’t find any fault with the soaps.He’d been using the cedar-sage variety since he’d arrived, and it had a clean, woodsy fragrance.She counted out five lavender squares and put them in a small shipping box.The old-fashioned packaging, twine and plain brown paper, would appeal to nature lovers.
“There’s room for a small mattress in here,” she said.“Mary’s bed will fit if we move things around.”
“I don’t want to sleep in her bed,” Wade said.
His mother arched a dark brow at his wording.Wade felt his neck heat, and he stifled the urge to tug at his shirt collar.He wondered if Mary had talked to her about him this morning.Maybe she’d complained about the kiss he’d planted on her.The idea darkened his mood considerably.He reminded himself that Mary was his mother’s employee, her personal assistant and partner in crime.She couldn’t be trusted—and he shouldn’t be touching her, regardless.Something had come over him last night, temporary insanity mixed with a gut punch of lust.He couldn’t let it happen again.
“I wasn’t suggesting that you take her bed, Wade.I was suggesting that you take her room, and she’ll sleep here in the office.”
“The living room is fine.”
“It’s not fine,” Wynona said.“You need a private space.”
“Why?”
“You’re making Mary uncomfortable.”
“Did she say that?”
“She didn’t have to.I can tell.”
Wade removed his hat and brushed off some invisible dirt from the brim.He doubted his mother cared about Mary’s comfort, or anything else that didn’t involve her directly.Wynonawas uncomfortable with his presence.She didn’t want him hanging around, meddling in her life or reminding her of Billy.
“I don’t need Mary’s room,” he said.“I’ll bunk down to the basement.You won’t even know I’m here.”
She snorted her disbelief.
“I’m going to be working late most nights, anyway.I have a case to investigate.”
“Well, aren’t you important?”
Wade didn’t react to her sarcastic tone.She’d never been impressed by his athletic or academic feats.She clearly wasn’t impressed by his new position, even though he’d worked hard for the promotion.He picked up one of her business cards and read the company name:Wisteria Farms Natural Products.
“Wisteria Farms?”he asked.“Who thought of that?”
