“Yeah, with a hot wife.”
“I try not to think of my sister-in-law that way.”
He chuckled. “If you change your mind or Randy backs out, the invite is open.”
Slapping him on the side of the arm, I said, “I appreciate it, Billy. Honestly, I do. Now I need to get home. Piper doesn’t like the storms.”
“Since when?”
Ignoring him, I opened the door and started out, calling over my shoulder, “Call me if there are any issues after the storm passes.” I jogged from the barn to my truck, started it, and headed home. I felt a sudden need to get back to my place to make sure Mallory was okay.
But as the rain came down harder, lightning streaking across the sky and thunder following close behind, I realized I wasn’t rushing because I wasworriedabout Mallory. I was rushing because I wanted to see her.
Less than a day of her being awake, and she had already gotten into my head. There wasn’t a chance I’d be forgetting a thing about her anytime soon.
CHAPTER NINE
Mallory
Boom!
My hand flew to my mouth to stifle the scream that nearly escaped. Piper was snuggled up on the sofa next to me as we sat in the nearly pitch-dark house.
“Goodness! Does it always storm like this?” I asked as I stroked the dog’s fur.
I’d heard one storm while I was in the basement, but it must have been muffled due to the fact I was underground, because it didn’t sound like this.
“I hope your dad doesn’t try to drive home in this.”
Another loud crack of thunder, and that time, Piper jumped, making me feel a little better about my fear of the storm.
The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the house had Piper leaping from the couch and looking out the nearest window, while I attempted to peek carefully. I was relieved to see Liam’s truck. Piper bolted for the front door and started to bark like crazy. She clearly loved her daddy.
I could barely see Liam’s outline as he ran from the truck and up the steps to the house. The door opened, and I smiled in relief when I saw him. The sight reminded me of the night he’d rescued me, when I opened my eyes just enough to see waterdripping off his cowboy hat and that reassuring smile. Which, I was now positive, made every woman who saw it swoon.
“Did the electricity go out?” Liam asked, taking off the hat and hanging it on a peg. Next, he took off the raincoat, shook it to remove the excess water, and hung it on the hook next to the hat.
“No, I just wasn’t sure if I should turn on any lights. I didn’t want anyone to see them and think someone was home.”
He laughed. “Trust me, no one is going to see them, and even if one of the ranch hands saw lights on, they wouldn’t think to question it.”
“Okay,” I said as I stood. “That’s good to know.”
Piper sat at his feet and stared up at her dad. “You hungry, girl?”
“I wasn’t sure when she ate.”
“That’s okay. She eats whenever I wake up, and then normally dinner is around four or five. But sometimes I’ll give her a little snack, like a quarter of a cup. Not every day.”
“Would you mind showing me where her food is?”
Liam hit his forehead. “Yes! Right. I need to give you a good tour of the house. I’m not used to anyone living here, sorry.”
I shrugged. “Totally okay. I peeked in a couple of the rooms, but stayed out of your bedroom. And even though you said I could use your office, I brought your laptop out here instead.” I nodded toward the kitchen table, where the laptop still sat.
He waved me off as he headed toward the kitchen. “I have nothing to hide. Snoop away.”
“Oh, I hope you don’t think I was snooping. I honestly wasn’t.”
