Authors: Marin Thomas
Johnny giggled. “That sounds silly.”
He grinned. “You think? Just wait until I come after you.” His gaze swerved to Kit who'd climbed up on the deck ready to play. Ross had a devil of a time concentrating when he couldn't take his eyes off her.
“Come on, Johnny. Let's see if we can beat this big shark at his own game.” The way she'd said it heightened Ross's anticipation.
“Yeah!” Johnny got out of the water and walked over by her.
“Sharks and minnowsâ” Ross called out after coughing. The game was on. They must have played six rounds, but Ross beat them every time. Both she and Johnny came up laughing and spurting.
“How come you guys can't catch me?” Ross baited them. “I thought you said this was a silly game, Johnny.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Andy, who'd come out of the cabana in his suit and was watching.
Well, what do you know.
Nothing like a little healthy competition.
“Come on, Andy,” Johnny shouted when he saw him. “Help us win!”
Once again they lined up along the side, but this time Andy had joined them. “Sharks and minnowsâ” Ross called out. There was plenty of splashing as everyone dived into the pool. Ross went after the other two first so he would barely miss tagging Andy.
“Heyânow Andy's a shark!”
“He sure is, Johnny.” Ross smiled at Kit's son. “How did you learn to swim so fast?”
“I don't know.”
“You're good!” Ross climbed up next to Johnny and Kit. She thanked him with her eyes. While he was still staring into them Andy shouted, “Sharks and minnowsâ” The boy was a quick study.
By Ross losing his concentration, Andy tagged him and Kit with no problem. That made Johnny the winner.
“Bravo!” another voice called out.
“Mom!” Johnny cried. Tracy had just come out to the pool. “Uncle Ross taught us a new game and I won this time! Put your suit on and get in.”
“Honey, it's late. The pool is closed now. Time to get out.”
“Oh, heck.”
“Your mom's right, Johnny. But there's always tomorrow.”
He scrambled out of the pool to his mother who wrapped him in a towel. After kissing him, she said, “It looks like we have some new guests.”
“Yup. That's Andy and his mom, Kit. They're from Maine.”
Ross took over. “Kit Wentworth? Meet Carson's wife, Tracy.”
“It's so nice to meet you, Mrs. Lundgren. Andy and I are thrilled to be here.”
“We've all been looking forward to your arrival, haven't we, Johnny.”
“Yeah. Please, will you come riding with us in the morning?”
Andy shrugged. “I guess.”
“Goody! We'll let you pick out one of the ponies to ride, but I think you'll like Raindrop. She's a dappled gray. You're older than we are and she's a little bigger than the others. She likes apple nuggets for a treat.”
Ross chuckled. “She does love those.”
Kit smiled. “I can't wait to see her. With that settled, we'd better get out of the pool and change. After our long flight we're about ready for bed and will see all of you tomorrow. Come on, Andy.”
“Bye, Andy. See ya later.” Johnny walked away with his mother.
“Bye.”
Ross turned to his guests. “I'll meet you in the foyer in five minutes to drive you back to the cabin.”
“We'll hurry,” she assured him.
Before long the three of them met by the front desk where there were a few guests checking in. Ross was pleased to see their normal dude ranch business was continuing to grow.
Willy looked up. “Hey, RossâI see they found you.” But his eyes were so focused on Kit, Ross would have laughed if the situation weren't so precarious. Her dark hair still had natural curl when it was damp. She looked good. Too good. He had to remember they were honoring her husband's memory.
“We did,” Kit spoke up. She appeared oblivious to Willy's gawking. “Thank you.”
Ross walked them through the front door to the parking area on the side of the ranch house. “We'll go in the truck.” He opened the rear passenger door for them, and they climbed inside.
Once on their way, he heard Andy talking to his mother in the back. “That Johnny's funny.”
“He's very cute. I think it will be fun to go riding with him.”
“Ponies are for babies.”
“Johnny didn't look like a baby to me.”
Good for Kit.
When they reached the cabin, Ross shut off the engine and turned in the seat to expand on her comment. “When you're seven, a pony is a lot easier to handle. Johnny's adoptive father, Carson, is a champion rodeo rider who owns this ranch. He got him started on Goldie in June. You should see how he rides already.”
Ross could hear the boy mulling everything over in his mind. “What happened to his real father?”
Andy didn't miss much. “He was a brave marine like your dad who died in the war. Like you, we invited him and his mom to come to the ranch for a week. They ended up staying, and now they're married.”
“How wonderful for them,” Kit murmured.
Ross agreed, but the boy had gone quiet. Figuring he'd said enough for now, he climbed down from the truck and opened the rear door for Kit. They both got out the same side. Kit pulled the key card from her pocket to unlock the cabin door, drawing his gaze to the shape of womanly hips below her waist. As for the curves above...it was no wonder Willy couldn't keep his eyes to himself.
She turned to him. “Good night. Thank you for everything.”
To his surprise he didn't want to leave. “I'll come by for you at eight in the morning, and we'll have breakfast together before planning our day. Good night, you two.”
Ross got in the truck and took off for the ranch house. Before heading upstairs he made a detour to the kitchen for a sandwich and bumped into Buck stealing a donut on his way to bed.
These days his friend wore a continual smile. That's what being deeply in love did for you.
“Heyâ” He nudged Ross, then coughed. “Willy just told me about Mrs. Wentworth and her son. Apparently she's one gorgeous babe. His words, I swear.”
“If you like brunettes.”
“You don't?”
“I never said that.” The last word came out on a cough.
He studied him. “What's she like? Don't tell me she's
nice.
”
Ross bit into his ham sandwich. “What if she is?”
Buck chuckled. “And her son?”
“He's got problems.”
“But nothing you can't handle.”
“I don't know. It's early days yet.” The conversation Andy had had with his grandfather earlier still puzzled him. Until the phone call, the boy hadn't said two words. Then he'd switched to talking mode, but only after he'd been urged by his mother to come to the phone. Ross didn't know what to make of the tension.
“Are you all right?”
“Ask me in a week.” Ross couldn't take more of the interrogation. He finished off his sandwich, knowing sleep wouldn't come for a while. “Good night.”
The guys had warned Ross that lightning could strike three times in the same place, and they had the documented video to prove it. He'd laughed off their teasing, but for some reason he wasn't laughing now.
Chapter Three
After washing and blow drying her hair, Kit got ready for bed. When she peeked in their bedroom, she discovered that Andy had fallen asleep. Considering their long day, it didn't surprise her. Without waiting another minute, she went into the living room to phone her in-laws.
“Hello, Florence? Andy told me you wanted me to call before we went to bed.”
“We expected to hear from you before now.”
“I'm sorry, but we swam until late with the owner's son, Johnny Lundgren. He's two years younger than Andy, but a real joy and a lot of fun.”
Ross's suggestion that they all swim had turned out to be inspirational. By dreaming up that little competition, Ross had nudged Andy out of his mood. Andy hadn't been able to resist joining in and had won a round. The praise their host had given him had made a subtle difference in her son, increasing his confidence. Kit could have hugged Ross for it.
“Where's Andy?” Charles spoke up from another extension.
“In bed, sound asleep.”
“What are your plans for tomorrow?”
She frowned. “I don't know yet. Probably riding. Why?”
“I'm concerned about Andy. The weather can change on a dime out there. I don't want to hear you took my grandson up on the Grand Teton with all those lightning strikes. You shouldn't have gone to Wyoming.”
He's
my
son, Charles,
she wanted to shout at him. But she understood that after losing Winn, her in-laws were fearful of other losses. Instead she said, “There are too many other activities planned right here on the ranch for you to worry about that. It's supposed to be warm weather the whole time while we're here. We're going to concentrate on riding horses and fly-fishing on the Snake. This is a glorious place.” Like a piece of heaven.
“I was there years ago. The Snake River can be dangerous.”
She took a deep breath. “Charles? I promise our hosts aren't going to allow us to do any activity where we can get hurt. They're trying to make this an exciting adventure for Andy.” Kit had already been given proof of that at the pool with Ross.
“But you're there without Winn.”
“Andy and I have each other, Florence. Now if you'll forgive me, I'm exhausted and need to get to bed. It's late for you, too.”
“We'll talk tomorrow,” Charles announced in his imperious voice.
Oh, she knew that. Twice a day and every night like clockwork. “I'll have Andy call you after our ride tomorrow. He'll have lots to tell you, I'm sure. Good night.”
She hung up and hurried to bed. Moonlight kept the cabin room from being totally dark. Sleeping in the same room with her son was a brand-new experience. When Winn had been home, he'd never allowed Andy to get in bed with them, even when he was a small child.
And when he'd been away, he'd insisted Andy stay in his own bedroom on the next floor, and his parents had enforced his rule. She'd slept by him a few times over the years when he'd been sick and needed comfort, but this was different. While they were on vacation, she relished this time alone with him so they could really talk.
Kit turned on her side to face him. As she drifted off, her mind relived those moments in the swimming pool with Ross. She wished she didn't find him so appealing. She hadn't come here with the idea of meeting a man. Anything but.
Unfortunately, Ross was the first person on her mind when she woke up the next morning. The knowledge that he'd be coming for them in a few minutes gave her stomach flutters.
Andy had already gotten out of bed and was watching TV. She called to him to come and get ready.
“How did you sleep?”
“Good.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Yeah.”
She mulled over his answers while they put on their shoes. “Good” and “yeah” were signs his mood had improved. If only he would stay this way...
“Mom? Did you call Grandfather last night?”
He'd been her little worrier for years. “I did, but let me ask you something. What would you think if I hadn't phoned him?”
Andy swung his head toward her. She saw that nervous look he often got. “You know,” he muttered.
She'd finished doing her hair and put the brush down. “You mean he'd get mad. You can say it, honey.”
His eyes slid away.
“It's not much fun to be around someone grumpy, is it?”
He didn't respond.
“He and your grandmother get mad at me, too.” She applied some lipstick.
“I know.”
Her son understood a lot, but she still had to probe to get at the truth of how he truly felt about his life.
“That's why it's nice you and I can be on vacation by ourselves. We all need a break, don't you think?”
His faint nod gave her the sign she'd been hoping for, but they both heard a horn honk out front. She would have to continue this conversation with him later.
“Let's go.” She put the card key in her pocket. With a happier heart, she followed him out the door into another day filled with sunshine, sage and Ross Livingston as she lived and breathed. He'd dressed in a brown-and-white plaid Western shirt and a pair of jeans that molded powerful thighs.
She felt his eyes on her as they filed out to the truck. Then they flicked to her son.
“Hey, Andyâhow's it going?”
“Good.”
“If you want, hop up in the back of the truck. You can ride on one of those bales of hay.”
“Sure.” Kit watched him heave himself up without Ross trying to help. Their host was the opposite of Charles who micromanaged him every second of his life.
“One of these days Johnny will be able to do that,” he confided to Andy.
Thank you, Ross.
His way with Andy, combined with his goodness, wrapped itself around Kit's insides, warming her through to the empty spaces in her heart.
“On the way to breakfast we'll pick up Johnny. Between him and Buck's new stepdaughter, Jenny, you'll be among friends. I know they're two years younger than you, but they'll like being with you. You've lived in Maine and know a lot of neat stuff they don't. And one more thing. They're fun.”
“Johnny makes me laugh.”
“He makes me laugh, too.”
Keep this up, Ross. You're a genius.
His grin was infectious. Kit felt it radiate until her toenails curled. When Ross turned around, she was caught staring at him. “What about you? You want the joy of sitting on a hay bale, as well?”
She chuckled. He could have no idea what she was feeling at the moment, but now wasn't the time to try and put it into words. “I think I'll ride in the cab.” In a minute she climbed in the passenger side of the truck and shut the door. Once settled, she turned to him, trying not to be distracted by his male charisma.
While they drove, she said, “When I accepted the invitation to come to the ranch, I didn't expect to receive such personalized service. Since you mentioned your partners' children, I assume you're married, too. I don't want any of you to feel you have to give us your attention round the clock.”
“This is my job. But to clear up any misunderstanding, I'm still single.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest. “Even so, you must have other calls on your time.”
“That's true.”
He might not be married, but he'd just let her know he had his own love life. While she was immersed in contemplating that fact, she barely noticed they'd driven up in front of a fabulous glass and wood house beyond some pines. It overlooked the Snake River, and behind it she saw the majesty of the Grant Teton. The sight never ceased to thrill her.
He pulled to a stop. “I'll see if Johnny wants to come and have breakfast with us.” Ross levered himself from the driver's seat with that swift male grace particular to him. He called to Andy who jumped down from the back of the truck, and the two of them walked through the grass to the front porch.
Tracy, dressed in a robe, opened the door. A cute black-and-white Boston terrier ran circles around Ross and Andy, causing laughter before Tracy invited them in.
Several minutes later they came back out with Johnny, who was talking a blue streak. He'd dressed in a black cowboy hat and cowboy boots. Kit thought she'd never seen a cuter sight in her life. The dog followed him to the truck and then hurried into the house again.
While Andy climbed in the back, Ross helped Johnny, then he joined her in the cab, pinning her with his dark brown gaze. “Tracy wanted to say hi but it will have to be later, after she's dressed. Carson has already left to do chores.” He backed the truck around, and they headed for the ranch house.
“That little boy is adorable.”
“You have a great son, too, but it's clear he's passed the adorable stage.”
She couldn't hold back a chuckle. “You can say that again. But I heard him laugh a second ago. Yesterday I feared that sound had become extinct.”
“After losing his father, I'm not surprised. We'll see what we can do to get him to do it more often.”
Kit decided that if anyone could perform that miracle, Ross could. She marveled over his dedication. There wasn't anything about him she didn't like...and the thought made her increasingly worried.
In a few minutes they reached the side parking of the ranch house. She got out so he wouldn't walk around to help her. Andy jumped down. Johnny tried to copy him, but Ross, ever alert, was there to make sure he didn't hurt himself. “Come on, everybody. Let's find a table and chow down.”
* * *
B
UCK
WAVED
TO
their group from one of the tables. The dining room was full of guests, great news for business. “Over here. Jenny and I have been waiting for you guys.”
Ross could always count on his partners and introduced Andy to the two of them before they sat down. “Buck Summerhayes? Jenny Forrester? Meet Andy and his mother, Kit Wentworth. They've come all the way from Bar Harbor, Maine, to be our guests.”
“Andy and I are very pleased to meet all of you. Thank you for making us feel so welcome. We're the luckiest people in the world to have been invited here.” When she smiled like that, she lit up the place.
Jenny looked up. She was a charming seven-year-old blonde girl who'd grow up to be as beautiful as her grandmother, Alex, one day. This morning she was wearing her white cowboy hat, ready to ride.
She looked at Andy with curiosity. “Did you fly here?”
“Yes.”
“Did you like it?”
“No. I got airsick and had to take medicine.”
“I got sick when I flew here, too. There was a big storm.”
“I didn't get sick,” Johnny piped up, “but it was sure scary. I thought we were going to crash.”
Ross handed Andy a menu. “What do you like for breakfast?”
“I don't like breakfast that much.”
“What do you eat?” Johnny asked. Now that they were seated, Ross could count on Carson's son to carry the conversation from here on out. “I like Froot Loops.”
“I've never had those.”
“How come?”
“We always have to eat poached eggs and toast. My grandmother makes me eat grapefruit so I won't get fat.”
“Ew!” the two children said in a collective voice.
Jenny looked at Andy. “Does your grandmother live with you?”
“We live with both my grandparents.”
Andy had just dropped a bombshell on Ross. Until this second he didn't know Kit and her son lived in the famous Wentworth mansion, too. Had this been since her husband's death? He remembered Andy's surprise when Kit had told him they would sleep in the same bedroom at the cabin.
“After my mommy died, I lived with my nana, but she lets me eat what I want.”
Johnny made a face. “If my mom gave me grapefruit, I'd feed it to Blackie.”
Ross's chuckle brought on a cough. “I don't think your dog would like it either.”
Jenny's blue eyes had widened. “You've never had cereal?”
“We had oatmeal sometimes,” Kit explained, “but not many choices for uncooked cereal.”
“That's
mean.
”
“That's really mean,” Johnny concurred.
Ross thought he was going to crack up with laughter and noticed Kit was trying hard not to laugh, too.
“Do you want to try Boo Berry?” Jenny asked. “It's my favorite.”
“Okay.”
“It makes your teeth blue,” Johnny informed him. “Will your mom get mad if you eat it?”
“Of course I won't,” Kit supplied with spirit. “When I lived with my grandmother, we ate a lot of cereal.”
Andy stared at his mother in surprise. “You did?”
“Yes. Lucky Charms were my favorite, along with eggs and fruit. Maybe Boo Berry will turn out to be yours.”
As Buck flashed Ross a private glance that sent a message of masculine approval, the waitress came over to take their orders. He heard Kit tell Andy that since they were on vacation, he could get whatever he wanted. After listening to the other kids, her son asked for Boo Berry and hot chocolate. Pure sugar. What else?
“When does your school start?”
The question caught Kit's attention. “Since we're here on this wonderful trip, we're not worrying about that yet, Johnny.”
“You're lucky. We have Back To School Night on Wednesday.”
Jenny nodded. “Our classes start on Thursday. I hope our teacher isn't mean.”
Buck grinned. “What's all this
mean
business, Red?” It was his nickname for her because she loved the color red so much. “When I was in school, I liked my teachers.”
“All of them?”
“Well, maybe one or two of them weren't exactly my favorite people.”
Johnny giggled.
“My grandparents are sending me away to a private school,” Andy interjected.