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He tucked her hair behind her ear again, his gaze following his fingers then returning to her face. “So, then, are you all right?”
She drew in a long, deep breath before she answered him, “Maybe not right now, but I will be.”
“Now that’s much more a Harper answer.” He smiled.
Apparently, he did not need to hear more, since he opened the door for her to return to the party. She strode in with him hot on her heels. Now, if only she could convince herself that everything was going to be okay.
Chapter 9
The next morning, Chase’s mood was tense when he arrived at the ranch to a clear blue sky greeting him. The sun hit the mountains at just the right angle, making them and the ground below look lush and green. Though even the beautiful day could not improve his mood. Especially since Todd was already in the cabins inspecting his work.
When Chase exited his truck, with Houdini in his arms, his mother gave him a wave from the kitchen window. He waved back, and she vanished from the window, obviously gone to get ready for her day.
Chase moved to the big shade tree in the front yard, his chest weighted. Something had shifted last night with Harper. He felt that shift right down to his bones. The clock ticking in his mind was growing louder each day, reminding him that soon Harper would leave. And Shep’s warning replayed in his thoughts.
He placed Houdini down on the grass, then sat beneath the tree, leaning against the trunk, waiting for Todd to finish. A small stick lay next to his legs. He picked it up, tossing it gently in front of him. Houdini barked, then pounced, missing the stick completely. Chase chuckled when the pup finally latched onto the stick, growling, shaking his head. Though his smile faded almost as fast. His cravings for Harper weren’t subsiding; they were only growing stronger. Spending those extra minutes buried inside her this morning had been more important to him than being on time for Todd. Harper had become more of a priority than the one thing he valued the most—his new company.
And that was a problem.
Chase did not really know how much time went by while he played fetch with Houdini, when tires crunched gravel. He glanced sideways, finding Nash’s truck driving toward the house.
Nash parked next to Chase, and the door opened a second later, with Gus charging toward them, his ears flopping in the wind. Houdini bolted to Chase, hopping onto his lap. Chase gave Houdini a gentle nudge off his legs to teach the pup to be brave, and rose. Houdini stayed close to Chase’s legs when Gus came over and gave the puppy a sniff.
A second later Gus took off, his nose to the ground, with Houdini trotting behind him, his little tail wagging.
Dressed in Levi’s and a wrinkly T-shirt, Nash looked like his usual disheveled shelf. “Any word about the bastard who left him in the dumpster?” he asked when he reached Chase, gesturing at Houdini.
Chase suddenly realized that with all that had been going on, the last thing he’d thought about was checking in with Darryl. He needed to change that. “Not yet,” he explained. “Which I take to mean Darryl hasn’t caught the sonuvabitch.”
“Shame.” Nash smiled when Gus turned around, noticed the pup behind him, then dropped down onto his belly. Obviously wanting to play, Gus took off running and Houdini followed. “It almost makes me want to get another one.”
Chase parted his lips.
Nash interjected with narrowed eyes, “I said almost. There’s no goddamn way I can raise another Lab, no matter that he seems calm now. Maybe the pup’s still not feeling well. Lab puppies are insane. And Gus has never grown out of that insanity.”
Not Houdini, Chase wanted to say. There was something steady in Houdini’s personality. Calm and wise, even. Instead of saying so, he shrugged. “Can’t blame me for trying.” Because finding Houdini a home was still on the list of things he needed to do.
With the dogs running past the cabins, Nash shoved his hands into his pockets and asked, “I take it the inspector hasn’t finished yet?”
Chase shook his head and moved to his truck, leaning against the front bumper. “He went into the last cabin a few minutes ago. I’d think he’s probably wrapping things up soon.”
Right as his mouth shut, Todd exited the cabin, stopping to measure the stairs.
“What’s he doing now?” asked Nash. “I thought he just needed to check the things that failed the inspection before?”
Chase frowned. “You and me both.” Not wanting to get too far ahead of himself, Chase turned to Nash, focusing on other things. Once the guest ranch opened, the show would then belong to Nash. “How’s the planning going with Emma?”
“So far, so good,” Nash said, watching the dogs play off in the distance before glancing Chase’s way again. “While she’s got some amazing ideas about what marketing we should do going forward, we’ve been brainstorming the hell out of how a day will look at the ranch for the guests and all those little things.”
Weight pressed against Chase’s chest, heavy enough to catch his breath. He had been so wrapped up in himself and Harper and the build of the project, he hadn’t taken the time to talk to Nash about anything. “Such as?”
“Who we need to begin hiring as staff.” Nash whistled at Gus when he was getting closer to the driveway. Gus and Houdini came running back, with Gus way up ahead. “Shep is interviewing people now for the handful of positions. I’m heading over to the tack shop later to pick up all the tack and stuff we need for the cattle runs.”
Christ, they were so close to the grand opening Chase could taste the sweetness on his tongue. Now all they needed was this damn inspector to pass the build. “Wrapping things up, huh?”
“Yup.” Nash squatted down, petting Gus then extending his affection to Houdini once he caught up. “We’ve got a good solid group of ten horses in the herd for the guests.”
“And things are still good for you to head things up once we open?” He gave Nash the out if he had changed his mind. They could still hire someone to fill that role.
