“Thanks so much.”
They walked through the next room past the massive fireplace and into the dining room filled with the regular dude ranch guests, many in Western gear. One of the first things on her list was to buy them some fun cowboy stuff so they’d fit in around here.
Andy looked up. “They’ve got wagon wheels for lights!”
Her gaze went to the vaulted ceiling. “These are the kind of chandeliers I prefer any day. Pretty cool, don’t you think?” Red-and-white checkered cloths covered the tables. She liked the yellow-and-white daisy centerpieces that reminded her of their cabin’s colors.
“I guess.” Though he played it down, the fact that he’d noticed gave her hope he was starting to thaw a little at having to be here.
She found them an empty table over on one side of the room. They each took a menu and studied it. “What do you think you want, honey?”
“A hamburger?” Hamburgers weren’t on the menu at the Wentworth mansion. She had come to dread their five-course meals where the inevitable question-and-answer period lasted at least an hour. She knew Andy hated the length of time they had to stay at the table.
“That sounds good to me, too, with lots of French fries. Shall we splurge and get chocolate malts for dessert?”
“Can we?”
Why not? This was a night of celebration. “We can have anything we want here.” She eyed him with concern. “This dude ranch isn’t turning out to be such a bad place. Right?”
He looked away without answering, but when the friendly waitress came over, he gave her his order instead of just sitting there silently. This was the Andy she needed to see come back.
“How are you feeling by now? I know that medicine made you feel kind of strange.”
“I hate the way it makes me so sleepy.”
“I know, but at least it kept you from throwing up.”
Before long the waitress returned with their food. He swallowed his in no time. It was surprising to her, considering he hadn’t shown much appetite on the cruise. She was only halfway through her meal but could tell he was already restless. Who wouldn’t be after their long flights?
“While I finish eating, why don’t you go have a look around? The man at the desk mentioned a games room and swimming pool.”
“You mean you’ll let me?”
His grandparents had kept him on a short leash. “Sure.”
He eyed her in surprise. “Thanks.” Kit hadn’t heard that word from her son in a long, long time.
Kit watched him dart away with more energy than she’d noticed in ages. Relieved to see him behave like a normal boy for a few minutes, she ate some more French fries and kept an eye out for her host. Just when she decided something must have detained him, she saw him walk through the door from the kitchen.
His dark brown gaze panned the room. The male charisma oozing from him took her breath. Judging by the female guests in the room, they had the same reaction. Though there were quite a few men seated around, none of them affected her like Ross Livingston. Marine or cowboy, he seemed a breed apart.
He still hadn’t seen her and started walking through the tables. As he drew closer, she called to him. His head turned in her direction. The second their eyes met, it grew into one of those moments when the world stood still for her. It was happening again. That awareness...
Ross moved toward her. Without his cowboy hat, his head of wavy black hair and arresting male features pretty well dazed her. She wondered who the lucky woman was who’d captured this attractive man’s attention. There had to a woman, maybe a wife, even if he didn’t wear a ring, and she would be exceptional.
“I’m sorry I was too late to eat with you. Business detained me.” He sounded disappointed.
“Please don’t apologize for anything.” The pulse in her throat was throbbing so hard, she couldn’t finish the last bites of her meal.
“Where’s Andy?”
“When he was through eating, he went out exploring. I’m almost done and was about to look for him.”
“Then let’s go together.”
“What about your dinner?”
“I had a snack already and will eat later.”
* * *
ROSS WALKED HER out into the warm air. The sun wouldn’t be going down for a while. There were half a dozen people in the pool. He nodded to the lifeguard.
“Hey, Uncle Ross—over here!”
A dripping wet Johnny Lundgren stood by the diving board talking nonstop to none other than their latest guest. Johnny was a little short for his age. Andy seemed to be tall for a nine-year-old. But the difference in height and age didn’t mean a thing to Johnny. He was the friendliest kid on the planet. Ross smiled at the scene.
“That’s Carson Lundgren’s adopted son talking Andy’s ear off,” he said in an aside to Kit. “He’s already adopted me and Buck as his uncles.”
“How sweet,” she murmured with genuine tenderness. She’d just described Carson’s son. They walked to the end of the pool.
“Johnny? This is Andy’s mom, Kit. They’re from Maine.”
“Hi, Johnny,” she said with warmth.
“Hi! I just asked Andy if he wants to come riding with me and Jenny in the morning. He’s never ridden on a pony before.”
“I think that sounds fun, but we don’t know what Ross has planned for us yet.”
Johnny turned to Andy. “He’ll probably take you fishing, but I think riding is more fun. Do you want to get in the pool and swim with me?”
If anyone could make a dent in Andy’s armor, it was Johnny, who’d just given Ross an opening he’d take. “Why don’t we all swim? I’ll go inside and put on my suit. It’s the perfect temperature out here.”
“Hooray!” Johnny cried in excitement.
Andy turned to his mother. In a quiet voice he said, “I don’t want to.”
“Then you don’t have to, but after sitting on a plane for hours, I feel like a swim. I’m going to run to our cabin for my suit.”
“Mom—”
“I’ll be right back, honey.”
Ross could see and feel Andy’s frustration as she disappeared. The fact that she’d taken Ross up on the idea meant she wasn’t about to coddle her son. Again he gave her marks for expecting Andy to deal with this new situation despite his unhappiness.
“Don’t you guys have fun without me!” he said to the two of them.
Johnny laughed. “You’re funny, Uncle Ross.”
No sound came out of Andy. He just looked at him in bewilderment before Ross took off. At least that was a change from the scowl he’d worn during the drive from the airport.
Ross reached his room and changed into his black trunks. After grabbing a towel, he hurried back down and belly flopped next to Johnny on purpose, causing him to laugh. Ross noticed Andy sitting in a deck chair by himself.
“Come on, Johnny. Let’s go talk to him.” As he hoisted him on his shoulders, he saw Kit come out on the patio carrying a rolled-up towel.
“Hi, everybody!” In seconds she removed her