“That eating right business won’t be easy.” Thomas chuckled. “He loves his food and has a sweet tooth that a candy factory couldn’t satisfy.”
Knox gently squeezed Lottie’s hand. “Does this mean we don’t have to be separated for the summer?”
“Maybe,” she whispered. “But we still need…”
Jack butted in before Lottie could finish what she was saying. “You are right about Walter and his sugar, but it looks like he’s going to have to curb that a lot. The second is that the project out in El Paso has gone under because several of their investors have pulled out. With the economy what it is, I can’t blame them. They have already built the rec hall, but asenior citizens’ group has offered to buy it. That means there will be no Hamptons in Texas. I hate to tell y’all this when I know you were depending on that job, but I wanted you to know as soon as possible.”
Thomas raised a fist in the air. “Yes! That is great news. My family wants to start up our own business, and this means we can do it earlier than fall. And any of y’all who are here and want a job, come talk to me. We will be located out in western Oklahoma and will try to keep our projects close enough that we can go home at night.”
“I’ll talk to you when we finish the last cabin,” Vincent said.
“What about you, Lottie?” Thomas asked.
“I don’t think so,” she answered. “That’s too far from right here. I want to be close to my parents and other relatives.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll always have a place for you,” Thomas said.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
“That’s all,” Jack said. “I’ve got some calls to make to the teams that have already left. Thanks for all the help unloading the truck, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Eddie shook his head. “Mandy might not say as much, but you should be in the cabin helping her. We’ve got that last cabin covered. And thanks for telling us the news as soon as you heard. We’ll all be calling home to let our families know there’s been a change in plans.”
“Oh, one other thing,” Jack said. “Lottie’s parents, Zeke and Darlene, will arrive Friday morning. If you have thatlast cabin finished, would you stick around and pitch in and help them like you did for me and Mandy before you leave the grounds?”
“You got it, Boss,” Gabe said.
With the news, Lottie seemed to be in limbo as she picked up their tote bags carrying clean clothing for the shower. She needed to be ready if Knox asked her to live with him. Her mind said,Go for it, but her heart said,Don’t rush.
“I’m going to stick around down here until my folks leave for their cruise,” she blurted out and immediately wished she had given the idea some more thought before she said anything.
Knox led the way to the bathroom. “That’s better than the whole summer. I can live with that.”
Lottie was on the verge of being offended. If he truly felt that they belonged together, shouldn’t he fight for her to go to Spanish Fort with him as soon as the job was finished? “I wasn’t expecting that answer,” she said with a crisp edge to her tone.
He closed the door and adjusted the water in the shower. “Hey, I will never, ever stand in your way if you want to spend time with your family. I only wish I could have a week with my parents at this time in my life. Like I told you before, I want you to come to Spanish Fort. I even want you to live in the house with me, but all that is your decision to make. I will not pressure you into anything. Now strip out of those clothes and I’ll massage your back.”
She dropped her jeans and shirt on the floor, and heunfastened her bra. “Why do you have to be so sweet about everything?”
“It’s just the way I am.” He grinned. “Icanget all riled up, but it would be selfish of me to try to talk you out of spending time with your family. You will make memories you will cherish forever after they are gone. That said, I will miss you something fierce when we are apart, no matter how long it is.”
“I bet I miss you even more.”
“Not possible,” he said as he stripped out of his clothing and led her into the shower stall.
Chapter 25
“Are you out of your mind? Why are you still here?” Darlene asked Lottie the morning after they had arrived at Swan Song Estates. “We’ve got everything unpacked and arranged, and we’re leaving in a couple of days.”
“I’m going to spend the time with you and Daddy,” Lottie answered. “How does that make me out of my mind?”
“Your dad and I are doing a road trip rather than fly. We’re going to go through Las Vegas, then on out to California and play a day or two before we get on our cruise,” Darlene said, “and even if we weren’t, you should be hitching up your trailer and going with Knox. That’s where your heart is. I saw the expression on your face when he drove away.”
Lottie turned away and wiped a tear from her eye. “I’ll miss him, but I want to be here with you and Daddy.”
“Darlin’, you cannot ride two horses with one ass. It just ain’t possible,” Darlene told her. “You want two things, and you are torn. Your dad and I will be here for the rest of our lives, and we’re only two hours away from Spanish Fort. We can drive up there for a Sunday afternoon, or we can meet in Wichita Falls for dinner some evening. Right now, though, you need to go be with Knox. So, give me a hug, and get going.”
“Are you sure?” Lottie asked.
