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“I’m going to collect the pilot and crew. They’re staying over at Hayes Hotel until tomorrow when they’ll take me on to Boston.” Rio smiled at Ines. “I’ll call you tomorrow to see how Carlos is doing.”
“That would be lovely.” Ines came around the table to give Rio a big hug. She murmured something in Portuguese that made him blush.
Adam waited as Rio said his final good-byes before walking him to his truck, and shook his hand.
“Thanks for bringing Carlos home.”
Rio shrugged as he opened the driver’s door. “It was the least I could do. He’s dying, Adam. His last wish was to come back to the place he loved.”
Adam fought a sudden and completely unexpected wave of emotion. Opening himself up to his feelings was way harder than he had anticipated. “Yeah. I guessed as much. Did they say how much time he has left?”
“Days, weeks, not long. But both he and Ines have made their peace with it.”
Adam had never made his peace with Louisa’s death. He wondered if he ever would.
“They are still happy for me to buy the ranch.” Rio carried on talking. “The only question I have, Is that okay with you? Because technically, as Louisa’s husband, you could block the sale quite easily.”
Adam considered that. He was fairly certain that Rio would not only deal honorably with Carlos, but that he would provide Ines with enough capital to see her through to the end of her own life in great style and comfort. That was way more important than anything else.
“I think it’s up to Carlos and Ines,” Adam said finally. “It wouldn’t be easy trying to help out my dad and run this place. I’ve been doing that for the past few weeks, and it’s been a real stretch.”
“Ines is going to stay here with us,” Rio said. “Both Yvonne and I are very fond of her. I promise that we will treat her as part of our family.”
“That’s great.” Adam nodded as his feelings threatened to choke him again. “She deserves to be loved.”
“Then all is good.” Rio patted his arm. “I’ll speak to you soon, my friend.”
Adam stood for a long moment watching Rio’s truck drive away before he retraced his steps into the house.
Ines and Lizzie were chatting as they sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Adam paused in the doorway to study them, and to make sure Lizzie wouldn’t notice how emotional he was.
She glanced up and immediately came over to his side, taking his hand in hers. So much for fooling her.
“Would you like some coffee, Adam? Ines is going to put the lasagna I brought in the oven. She asked if we’d both like to stay and have dinner with her.”
He found a smile somewhere and gently disengaged his hand from hers. “That sounds great.”
* * *
He sat quietly, letting Ines and Lizzie do most of the talking, checked in on Carlos, and sent a text to Dr. Tio to let him know his patient was back in town. When the lasagna was ready, he ate a large portion of it, drank his iced tea, and managed to reply to every question Ines asked him about the ranch and his family without betraying any apparent interest in Lizzie.
Eventually, Lizzie checked the time and turned to Ines. “I’m going to have to go soon—unless you want me to stay the night and help out with Carlos?”
“I’d rather do that myself.” Ines hugged her. “You have been so kind and helpful.” She smiled at Adam. “Hasn’t she?”
“She’s a good person,” Adam confirmed.
Lizzie wasn’t looking at him as she searched for her purse and car keys and his gut knotted. He waited until Ines went to check on Carlos and stood up.
“You okay?”
“I’m good.” She gathered up her stuff. “I promised Ro I’d FaceTime with him tonight, so I’ve got to be home in half an hour.”
“Would you like me to come over after I’ve finished up here?” Adam asked.
“If it fits in with your plans, sure.”
He regarded her steadily. “Are you mad at me?”
She held his gaze. “I thought you said we were a couple?”
“We are.”
“Then why don’t you want Ines to know that? You’ve spent the whole afternoon avoiding talking about me or touching me.”
