He wasn’t about to explain that he’d dozed off. “Nope, I’m sitting here, relaxing.” He was also alert now—every part of him. “You must have talked to Sophie,” he said.
“We just hung up, and guess what? She’s coming over to see the nursery on Saturday!” She made asqueesound.
Sly imagined the sparkle in her green eyes and the excited flush on her cheeks. “That’s great,” he said with a grin.
“Isn’t it? And she absolutely expects you to be there, if you wouldn’t mind.” She rushed on. “Coincidentally, the furniture store in the mall called this afternoon. The rocking chair, baby lamp, crib, and changing table I ordered will be delivered tomorrow. I’ll have to assemble the crib and changing table, but I can take care of that tomorrow night. When Sophie arrives, the nursery will be perfect.”
“Putting furniture together can be tricky. If you need help, I’m your man.”
Herman? Had he really just said that? Then again, it was just a figure of speech.
“Thanks, but I’ll have the whole evening to tackle the job. It’ll be fun.”
Some women would jump all over his offer. Not Lana. She was every bit as independent as Dani. He admired that. He really liked Lana. Only the more reason to stay away.
“What time should I be there on Saturday, then?” he asked, half regretting his offer to come over. The kisses the other day had only strengthened his feelings for her. Bad idea when she wanted marriage and kids. No, thanks. Safer to steer clear of her.
“Shoot, I just realized I offered to feed Sophie lunch,” she mumbled as if to herself. “I’ll have to run to the grocery on my way home from work tomorrow night. You’re invited to eat with us—if it’s possible for you to leave the ranch in the middle of Saturday.”
Her tone had grown somber, as if she expected him to back out. This Saturday happened to be his day to work, but he wasn’t about to renege. And not only because he was a man who kept his word. Lana needed him, and he wasn’t about to let her down. He’d talk to Ace tomorrow. Knowing the foreman, Ace wouldn’t mind if they traded Saturdays.
“I’ll make time,” he said. “Barring emergencies, I’ll stay for as long as you need me.” But he’d keep his distance from Lana even after Sophie left. That’d work.
“Can you come a little before noon?”
Sly nodded, but Lana couldn’t see him. “I’ll be there.”
Chapter
Eleven
Sophie’s textcame in just after eight o’clock Friday night.Have 2 postpone 1 week. K?
Lana glanced at the parts of the crib scattered across the rug—screws and springs and things she had no idea what to do with. She’d been struggling to make sense of it all for what seemed like hours and wanted to cry. What kind of idiots had written these stupid assembly directions anyway?
Frustrated, she did cry. Over impossible instructions and a silly one-week delay. Lately she’d been so emotional, a combination of nerves and PMS.
Sniffling, she replied to Sophie’s text.Okay. See you a week from tomorrow at my house.
4 sure, Sophie responded.
Lana needed a break and a glass of wine. No, not wine. Since her big hangover the night she’d met Sly, she’d lost her taste for alcohol. Hot chocolate, then, because she wanted something warm, sweet, and comforting. But hot chocolate reminded her of the day she and Sophie had each ordered a mug at Big Mama’s. A day that hadn’t gone especially well.
Great, now she was crying again.
Clutching her cell phone, she left the mess in the nursery and headed for her bedroom and flopped on the bed. She wasn’t in the best shape to make a call right now, but she had to talk to someone. Kate was going out with friends tonight, but it was early yet. Maybe she was still at home, getting ready. When her friend’s voice mail clicked on, Lana disconnected.
Her next thought was to call Sly to let him know about the change in plans. She’d keep the conversation short, then sign off. His phone rang four times, and she guessed he was out, too, maybe on a date.
Her disappointment was almost as keen as it’d been when she’d read Sophie’s text. Lana didn’t understand herself at all. Her being stuck at home didn’t mean he should be. The man had a right to go out. She was gearing herself up to leave a cheerful-sounding voice message when he picked up.
“Hey, Lana,” he said. His low, intimate tone vibrated through her.
Her heart let out a sigh of relief, and suddenly she felt much better. She sat up and propped herself against the pillows and the headboard. “Hi. How are you?”
“Not bad. This has been a day and a half crammed into about nine hours. I spent most of it separating the yearling heifers from the rest of the herd and inoculating them with hormones to more or less synchronize their heat cycles.”
“Why in the world would you do that?”
