“Yep. Go on. I’ll be fine. See you at noon.” She patted Cooper’s head and gave Davis a quick hug.
After he and Cooper went out the door, she released a breath and spun around. Yet it wasn’t the crowd surrounding the bar waiting for drinks that caused her gut to pinch. It was that Christian was still there, seated at the end of the bar, staring at her. He’d witnessed the entire disaster.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
DAVIS
Beingonly miles away from the mountain meant it was cold enough in Pineridge, Colorado to freeze your nuts off in October. People were lying if they said you’d acclimate to the weather if you lived there long enough. Davis dressed in layers in preparation to meet Kelsey and the kids at the pumpkin patch. A long-sleeved Henley, a flannel, followed by a jacket.
Besides the two years Davis lived in Denver and the year before he’d been in Hawaii, he’d lived in Pineridge his entire life. And if anything, he was getting less used to the cold. The reminder of Hawaii with its warm, sandy beaches was a kind of cruelty all on its own.
Davis parked his truck and climbed out, inhaling a much-needed breath of crisp, fall air. Cooper bounded out of the truck behind him before he slammed the door shut. His phone vibrated in his front pocket. Kelsey, telling him where she and the kids were.
As he trudged through the makeshift parking lot of farm terrain, panic throbbed in his chest. He’d been to his lawyer and had the legal offer drawn-up to pay off all back payments needed to be co-owner of O’Henry’s, and all that was left was to present it to Kelsey. The rolled-up papers awaiting her signature stuffed in the back pocket of his jeans felt like a ticking time bomb. He knew her well enough to understand she wouldn’t be thrilled at first. But what he was counting on, was the part that came after. The understanding and realization that he wasn’t only doing this to help her. This was his ticket out of renewing his contract.
This could be the answer both were looking for.
He just needed the perfect moment to present it to her.
Davis passed the kettle corn and candy apple stand and found Kelsey where she said she’d be. Waiting in line to buy tickets for the corn maze.
“Davis!” June shouted, jumping into his arms.
“Hey, kiddo.”
“We’ve been waiting for you,” Zach said, sounding annoyed but was quickly distracted by the sight of Cooper.
“You’re late,” Kelsey said, worry streaked in her expression. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, fine,” he half lied. The pumpkin patch with her kids wasn’t the right place to discuss his offer, or their relationship status, he realized in that moment.
“Can you give me a piggy-back ride?” June asked.
“Sure, hop on.” He knelt and June climbed on his back, tethering her arms around his neck.
At the front of the line, Kelsey bought their tickets and she handed Zach the map to lead the way. Charlotte was snug in a pack against Kelsey’s front. Davis and Kelsey followed behind Zach closely, an awkward silence between them.
Cooper ran ahead, heading up the lead with Zach.
“So, everything go okay with your mom yesterday?”
“Yeah, Mr. Hoffman got her home safe and sound. I saw her this morning at Sweet Cakes. She looked…” Her voice trailed.
Because he was pretty certain he knew what she looked like. She looked exactly like herself. Which meant she most likely started the day with a drink.
“She’s been doing so well lately. She told me this morning, before last night, she hadn’t had a drink in six days.”
The slump in her shoulders made his chest ache. “That’s good though. Sounds like she’s trying.”
“Yeah, I guess,” she mumbled, her fingers reaching out and grazing a corn stalk as they turned a corner in the maze. “Ya know, I think Howard might have a thing for Mama,” Kelsey said, changing the subject.
Davis quirked a brow. “Athing?”
“This is the second time he’s come to her rescue. And once for me.”
Davis shrugged. “That doesn’t mean anything. Mr. Hoffman is a nice guy.”
“He is but I’m telling you, I think it’s more than that. Did you know the two of them dated in high school? Before Mrs. Hoffman, before my daddy.”
