Page 96 of Lost Trust

Her gaze tracks across the room.

A stable hand walks past in a sweat-darkened T-shirt and dusty boots.

Her eyes follow him.

“Mom.”

Her gaze comes back to me.

“Don’t start.”

“I’m just looking at the scenery,” she says.

“You’re staring at his ass.”

“Hmm … it is a very nice ass.”

I groan.

She leans closer. “Honestly, Marina, I was worried about you being stuck out here in the middle of nowhere,” she says. Then her eyes sweep the room. “But now that I’m here, I can’t exactly blame you for staying, with all these sexy cowboys walking around.”

“Jeez, Mom.”

“What?” She looks at me innocently. “There’s nothing like a man in a tight pair of Wranglers.”

The guys at the nearest table hear her loud and clear. One by one, their heads turn in our direction, wide grins spreading across their faces.

“Please stop talking.”

“I’m just saying, you could do worse.”

“In case you forgot, I have a four-year-old, and I’m not interested in dating anyone at the moment. Especially one of these cowboys.”

“Nobody said anything about dating, Marina. And having a child doesn’t mean you suddenly stop being a woman with needs. You’re still allowed to have a life. You’re allowed to have fun, flirt a little, and enjoy yourself.”

Matty, Harleigh, and Jovie are sitting at one of the long tables near the windows. When she notices us, Matty waves us over.

“Well, hello,” Matty says.

“Hi, darling,” Ginger says.

I point at her. “Everyone, this is my mother, Ginger Kincade,” I introduce. “Mom, this is Matty, Harleigh, and Jovie. Matty manages the ranch, Harleigh is her younger sister, and Jovie is a doctor at the school’s clinic.”

Matty smiles. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kincade.”

“Oh jeez, that makes me feel old,” Mom says. “And I haven’t been Mrs. Kincade in a long time. I just kept the name because of Marina. You girls can call me Ginger.”

Matty’s smile grows. “Okay, Ginger.”

“Excellent.” Mom squeezes into a seat between Matty and Jovie. “I like you already.”

Harleigh laughs.

“Sit down,” Mom says, and I drop into a seat across from her.

“What are you three working on?” Mom asks as she scans the papers spread across the table.

“We’ve been meeting with Jovie’s father,” Matty says. “He’s handling some of the construction work for Harleigh’s guest ranch.”