Lana dipped her head and smoothed her napkin, causing her hair to swing forward and hiding her expression. She was easy to read when he could see her face, and he wished she’d look up or say something more, so he’d have a clue what she was thinking.
Though he was sure it wasn’t good. He cleared his throat. “I should get back to the ranch, and you have things to do.”
He left Dani a big tip and walked out with Lana. As she moved toward her car, he touched her arm. “I haven’t given you Dani’s number. I’m sure she’ll want yours, too.” Between the lawsuit and the baby, she wanted to adopt, exploring their attraction seemed impossible. But Sly lost himself in her beautiful eyes. “So would I,” he added.
Lana hesitated, her expression regretful. “I want you to call me, Sly, but even if you do have a legitimate reason for suing my cousin, you aren’t sure that he did it. I have to support my family. Goodbye.”
She walked away.
Lana woke up Sunday morning thinking about Sly. After their conversation yesterday at Big Mama’s, she liked him more than ever. But she was also convinced they shouldn’t see each other again.
As she sipped her morning coffee and read the Sunday paper, sleeting rain battered the windows. The weather was supposed to clear by noon, but the dark gloom suited her mood. This wasa perfect day to stay home and work on the nursery. Because Sophie had to choose her.
If she didn’t... Lana refused to let herself go down that path.
A few hours later, she stood in the nursery and admired the freshly painted walls. The soft yellow color made the formerly chocolate-brown room appear bigger and cheerier. It would look even better when she painted the children’s mural next weekend.
After changing out of her paint clothes, she headed downstairs, flopped on the sofa and phoned Kate. “How was your blind date last night?” she asked when her friend picked up.
“As bad as I predicted. Henry had slippery hands and bad breath. He took me bowling, which I don’t mind, but on a first date? That’s the last time I let my mother set me up with anyone, ever. How was brunch with Sophie?”
“That didn’t go so well, either.” Lana filled her in. “Then Sly showed up.”
“Oh?” Kate sounded intrigued.
“As it turns out, his sister is Big Mama’s adopted daughter. Dani’s great. You’d like her.”
“I know Dani from when I eat there. She’s a sweetheart. I even remember she had a brother but didn’t realize he was Sly. Now there’s a guy I’d want someone to fix me up with—if you hadn’t snagged him first.”
“Snagged him? You’re funny. And now...” Lana blew out a heavy breath.
“That’s some sigh. Tell me what happened.”
“If you’ll just be patient, I will.”
“Okay, okay. Start from the beginning.”
“Sophie was getting restless, but as soon as Sly sat down with us, she totally changed.” One smile and she’d been as smitten as Lana. “He pretty much snowed her.”
“Well, yeah. He’s a gorgeous man. But get out! Sly sat at your table?”
“It was a booth, and he only joined us because all the other tables were taken.”
“Really,” Kate said, in a tone that reminded Lana of a cooing dove. “And how did that go?”
“Pretty well. After Sophie left, we?—”
“Sophie left? I thought she liked Sly.”
“She did but had to get home.”
“So, she left and you and Sly stayed. In a nice, cozy booth. This is starting to head in the right direction. Go on.”
Lana rolled her eyes. “We talked. I explained why I treated Sophie to breakfast. I also learned some interesting things about him.” She filled in her friend about his childhood and the lawsuit.
“You two sure made up for lost time in the talking department. I’ll bet he finally asked for your number, huh?”
“He did, but I didn’t give it to him.”
