Since the days were stretching ahead of her like a blank slate, a favor for Bess Delgado sounded pretty good. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m taking a little vacation to San Antonio to visit some friends. Ethan is going to be home, though, and I just hate the thought of him all alone.”
Robin took the cordless phone and started pacing the living room. Oh, no. Surely Bess didn’t expect a stranger to keep her nephew company! Robin sure didn’t want to give the man the wrong idea by spending personal time with him.
“Robin?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“I know you’re just in town for a short time, but I feel as though I’ve known you for most of your life. Your Great-aunt Sylvia was always telling me about your latest triumphs and tribulations. That’s why I’d like you to spend some time with Ethan. Like most bachelors, he’ll probably spend hours sitting in front of the television unless he has something to do.”
She should tell Bess “no.” All she had to do was think of some really good excuse, something that rang true, yet would let her great-aunt’s sweet friend down lightly.
Instead, she heard herself say, “What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, nothing major, dear. Just sharing a meal. You might suggest he take you around to see some of the sights. There’s a very scenic drive near Wimberley.”
Robin paused at the side window, looking out at the pecan trees and remembering the late-night ruckus that had brought Ethan to her house that first night. Recalling the way he’d held her so firmly and listened so compassionately to her explanation of everything from growing up in the city to running away from her wedding. “Bess, I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I’m sure Ethan has other things to do.”
“Oh, he works hard, but most of his friends around here are married couples, and busy with their own lives in the evenings. And he’s not dating anyone, so that wouldn’t be a problem.”
Robin scrambled for another excuse, this one closer to the real reason she needed to decline. “He might get the wrong idea.”
“You just tell him you’re new in town and you’d like a little company. I can’t imagine him turning you down.”
“I don’t want him to think I’m imposing on him.” Or worse yet, asking him out on a date.
“He won’t, dear. Ethan’s very nice. If he’s told me once, he’s told me a dozen times that he’s not looking for a steady girl.”
A steady girl. Robin had to smile as she strolled across the room. Had she ever heard that expression used? Probably when she’d been flipping through the old-movie channel and caught one of those Doris Day films from the fifties.
“I’d have such a better time with my friends if I knew Ethan wasn’t sitting home alone every night.”
Bess really knew how to pour on the guilt, Robin silently acknowledged. She sighed as she picked up a very good reproduction porcelain St. Charles spaniel on the mantel, then said, “I suppose I could give him a call, just to be friendly. I’m not so sure about suggesting anything as time-consuming as a drive through the country.”
“Whatever you’re comfortable with, dear.” Bess paused, giving Robin the impression the older lady was weighing her next words. “Perhaps the two of you could share a meal at Ethan’s house. I’ve fixed a variety of food. It’s all in the freezer.”
That sounded simple enough, but again, Robin wasn’t entirely comfortable with asking herself into Ethan’s personal world. Going to his house and rummaging through his freezer seemed so…intimate. Interacting with him in his professional capacity, or even seeing him in public was a different matter.
“I’ll think about it, Bess. That’s all I can promise. I just don’t want him to feel uncomfortable.”
“I’m sure Ethan will be glad to hear from you. I just know he’ll get lonely while I’m gone,” Bess added with a sigh.
Robin wondered if she’d have the nerve to pick up the phone and give the good-looking police chief a nice, friendly call. For the second time that week, she felt as though she’d slipped back into high school. Only this time, a member of the older generation was encouraging her to ask a boy out for a date instead of telling her that good girls simply didn’t do that sort of thing.
Robin placed the white-and-brown china dog back on the mantel. Oh, for the good old days.
Chapter Four
Ethan had almost banished Robin Cummings from his mind the day after his aunt left for San Antonio, basically because he’d been busy meeting with the Fourth of July planning committee. Since several streets had to be blocked and traffic stopped on Main Street, his officers were crucial to a successful parade. But as soon as he’d pulled into his drive and cut the engine of his Bronco the following evening, his thoughts returned to the woman he’d already sworn he’d never date.
He hadn’t had a chance when Sylvia had called him from Houston. She’d wanted to talk to Bess, but seemed more than happy to chat with him, instead. And then she’d pulled out the big guns—her fear that her poor, lonely great-niece would languish in the big family home where she was house-sitting, so far from Houston. Hundreds of miles from her friends and family. All alone, with only memories to keep her company….
He would have seemed a total cad if he’d said “no” to the very nice lady who was one of Bess’s best friends. He would have seemed petty if he’d come up with an excuse why he couldn’t possibly share a friendly evening meal with an attractive, single woman. A friend of the family. In the end, he couldn’t avoid a promise to Sylvia that he’d ask her niece out on a “neighborly” date.
After all, he couldn’t have the citizens of Ranger Springs—even the temporary ones—languishing from loneliness, he thought with a chuckle and a shake of his head.
So now he stood in front of the white wall phone in the kitchen, Robin’s number at the Franklin home written on a grocery receipt, his mouth as dry as the Texas prairie in August.
“I promised,” he reminded himself, his voice rusty. What he needed was an icy-cold longneck to help him through this, but even if he used the excuse of a dry throat, drinking didn’t seem right. He didn’t want his brain to be fuddled by alcohol when he called Robin.
With no excuses left, he picked up the phone and dialed her number.
“POLICE CHIEF PARKER?” Had Robin’s thoughts of him conjured up the call? All afternoon she’d been debating how to approach him, and now he’d landed in her lap, so to speak.
“Please, call me Ethan.”
Even better. So this wasn’t an official call. “How are you, Ethan?”
“Fine.” He seemed to be moving around. She heard footsteps, then the rustle of paper. “My aunt’s out of town.”
Should she admit she knew? Somehow, telling Ethan about Bess’s phone call and request seemed disloyal to the older lady. So Robin settled on the very neutral “Really?”
“Yes, she’s gone to San Antonio for a few days to visit friends.” Another pause, this one silent. “I was wondering how you were doing. Settling in okay?”
“I’m fine. No more scary critters,” she said with a chuckle. She settled on the arm of the taupe-and-cream damask sofa, wondering if he knew why he’d called…or if he planned to let her in on the secret.
“Good.” He was moving around again. She heard the pop of a cap, then the sound of him drinking. She didn’t know what beverage he was consuming, but she could almost see the strong column of his neck as he swallowed. The image made her own throat