“Yes, until the restaurant is ready to open. The construction is going on at the River Walk. You could make it your last stop of the morning. Doesn’t matter what time they get delivered.”
“Oh, uh...sure. I’d love to.”
“Wanna start tomorrow?”
She gave it less than one second of thought. “Yes, I can manage that.”
“That’s great. I’ll get the info to you later today. Gotta take a shower now.”
“O-kay.” Instantly, she pictured him stripping off his workout clothes and soaping his body all up. Dang it. What was wrong with her? One minute she was sorry he’d landed on her doorstep, the next, she was imagining joining him in the shower.
He strode down the steps and off her property. Her heartbeat settled down finally and she closed the door. She wasn’t ungrateful for the work he offered, but it meant dealing closely with him again.
“Auntie?”
She swiveled around to find Ally in the hallway, her eyes half-lidded, her hair a curly mess of fluff. She stood there in her nightgown printed with tiny pink and white roses, her thumb in her mouth.
“Hi, Muffin.”
She giggled softly. “I’m not a muffin.”
“Oh, I forgot. You got up all by yourself this morning. Good girl.”
Beaming, Ally puffed out her chest.
“Are you ready for breakfast?”
Ally’s gaze darted around the living room. Every morning when she woke up, she seemed confused and unsure about all the changes in her life. At times, Susanna thought she was remembering her mother. At other times she seemed to be adjusting just fine. She didn’t pressure her. She gave the child all the space she needed. “Okay.”
“Great. We’ll have oatmeal with fruit and then you can help me put muffins in the oven. Would you like that?”
The next thing she knew, Ally was racing toward her with arms outstretched. Susanna seared the sight into her memory. She squatted to scoop Ally up and spin her around. Giggles burst from the child’s lips, revealing a mouthful of small, bright white teeth. Susanna was a sucker for that sweet smile.
It was the greatest feeling in the world. Having Ally’s trust—and hopefully love—one day was all she could ask for. She wasn’t Ally’s biological mother, but she felt like a mom right now, and the feeling seemed to be growing every day. She brushed her lips to Ally’s soft rosy cheek and then set her down. “Okay, my girl, it’s time to start our day together.”
* * *
“Hello, Austin,” Casey said, climbing down from his SUV. Plucking off his Ray-Ban sunglasses and stuffing them into his shirt pocket, he extended his hand to his mentor. “It’s good to see you.”
Big, burly, sweet-faced Austin Brown clasped his leathery hand around Casey’s. Austin’s was a work hand, the rough calluses and blisters a permanent testament to the man’s struggles and successes in life. He tugged Casey into a clumsy bear hug and gave him several forceful pats on the back. Then the former owner of Sentinel Construction pulled away and stared at him. “It’s about time you came out to Sentinel Ranch again. Elizabeth’s been asking for you.”
“I can’t wait to see her again.”
“Well, let’s head on inside. It’s hotter than hell today. Elizabeth has a great lunch waiting for you.”
Casey squinted to catch a quick glimpse of the sprawling two hundred-acre spread nestled in the heart of Crystal Canyon on the outskirts of Carson City. Austin had custom-built the mansion-sized ranch house twelve years ago; it was the envy of local landowners, Casey included. Constructed with flagstone, timber logs and brick, it was a visual masterpiece that earned a place on the pages of several architectural magazines. The publicity had done wonders for Sentinel Construction.
They approached the house and Austin turned to him. “You’re looking fit. How’s the back doing?”
“Most days I’m pretty good.”
“Glad to hear it. Can’t imagine anything worse than getting thrown ten feet in the air by a wild horse and landing smack on your back. Still makes me cringe thinking what you went through, boy.”
“My life’s different now, that’s for sure. Mostly, thanks to you.”
Austin Brown was a man to be feared, or so Casey had thought in those early years, when the older man had personally hired him in the rodeo off-season to work on a construction crew. Casey had been green around the ears and desperately in need of work to support Audrey. He’d learned a lot about construction during that time. Austin didn’t like mess ups and Casey proved himself a valuable worker. After Casey hit it big as a rodeo rider and made a fortune in endorsements, he invested in Sentinel Construction and through the years, shared in the profits. Less than eighteen months ago, Austin retired and Casey jumped at the chance to buy him out with only one condition: that he remain as his consultant and advisor.
“You’re the son he never had,” Elizabeth had told him once. “He wouldn’t want the company in anyone else’s hands.” Being parentless for most of his life, Casey was moved to tears by her comment and now he and Austin were as close as two people could be that weren’t blood-related.
“How about you, Austin? That arthritis still giving you fits?”
“Ahh, I’ve got nothing to complain about.” Austin’s palm landed on his beer belly. “I’ve put on a few pounds since I retired though. Elizabeth’s put me on some dang new-age regimen. Claims it’s a way of life and not so much a diet.”
Casey laughed. Austin on a diet? That he’d like to see. Austin loved food. Only his love for Elizabeth, his childhood sweetheart and wife of fifty some odd years, could get him to abide by new eating rules.
Casey removed his hat as they entered the home. The cool interior walls of natural stone and wood were just as he remembered them. Casey felt warmth and love every time he entered the Browns’ home. It wasn’t picture perfect. Elizabeth’s half-knitted blanket lay on the sofa in the great room, her spools of yarn cozy in a basket beside it and a few issues of Cowboys and Indians magazine lay open on chairs and on their signature rock and glass coffee table. Miss Caroline, their black and white tuxedo cat, lay stretched out on the window sill as if she owned the place. Missy, as they called her, was going on eleven years and was the apple of Elizabeth and Austin’s eyes. If it weren’t for Missy, Casey would’ve brought the pup out to the ranch.
Casey lifted his nose to heavenly scents of tangy sauce and garlic and onions coming from the kitchen. “Something smells mighty good.”
“That’ll be lunch.”
The housekeeper stepped out of the kitchen and approached him. “Hello, Mr. Thomas. Would you like me to take your hat?”
“Oh, sure.” Casey handed it to her. She took Austin’s hat as well. “How you doing, Bessie?”
She smiled. “Well, thank you. Miss Elizabeth wouldn’t let me touch a thing in the kitchen. She’s making you one of your favorites.”
“I told you,” Austin said.
“Well, now that’s incentive for me to come by more often.”
“Wish you would. C’mon now.”
Bessie moved on and Austin led him into the kitchen. Elizabeth was leaning over the oven, pulling out a roasting pan. She was dressed impeccably in a pair of beige slacks and a cream and brown printed blouse. Even working in the hot kitchen, not a hair on her silver-gray head was out of place.
The second she spotted him, she set her oven mitts down and lifted her arms to him. “Casey, it’s good to see you.”
He walked into her