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Maisie held her smile, but inside, she wanted to wilt. The man looked so frail and bent he must have been ancient when Drew was born. “Nice to meet you, Mr.—”
Fuck. What was their last name again? Maisie was so rattled she could barely remember her own.
“You can call me Andy.” The man looked to Drew then back to Maisie. “Would you like some coffee?”
It wasn’t exactly spoken with warmth, but from the relief in Drew’s eyes, Maisie gathered she hadn’t completely failed the test. This gruff manner was his way of sayingwelcome to our home.
“I’d love some, but only if you let me make it.” Maisie moved toward the coffee maker, questioning Drew with a look.
“I’ll help. Dad, why don’t you sit out in the front room, and we’ll fix a fresh pot and a snack?”
“I’m not—”
“No one’s implying anything,” Drew interrupted, speaking to him more like a parent than a child. “Scoot.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, “but only because we have company, and it’s rude to fight in front of others.”
When the coast was clear, Maisie whispered, “Is he okay?”
The long, lanky body posted in front of the cream counters stiffened. “No. He’s not.” Drew turned her face away, and Maisie suspected it was because she didn’t want any misty eyes to be witnessed. “I probably should’ve explained earlier, but that’s why I left. That morning in Las Vegas. You were still sleeping when I found out he’d had a heart attack.”
Oh, Drew.
That was something Maisie could relate to on the deepest level. Her own dad’s illness and subsequent death had broken her heart and upended her life. There might be harder things to face, but Maisie couldn’t think of many, and her heart hurt to imagine how the past few months had been for this stoic woman, who probably didn’t have many people she was willing to rely on for comfort.
Maisie lifted her hand, wanting to put it on Drew’s arm. She thought better of it, doubting the gesture would be appreciated. Instead, she lowered her hand, swallowed hard, and gathered all the kindness and understanding that had been in short supply for most of their time together.
“I think you and I need to have a heart-to-heart,” Maisie said, “and come clean about what we’re both dealing with.”
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
The dripof the coffee maker was the only sound in the kitchen as Drew considered what Maisie had suggested. Talk. Was there ever a time in human history when the wordswe need to talkled to something good? Not in Drew’s experience. But considering the circumstances, it was a necessary evil.
She let out an almost inaudible sigh. “Are you up for a little adventure?”
“I thought you said we don’t have time for fun.”
“We don’t, but I need to ensure the fencing on the eastern side is holding up before I move the cows there in the morning.”
“What about your dad?” Maisie waved to the coffee.
“He’s probably asleep. We’ll hop in the Gator and be back before he knows we were gone.”
“What the hell?” Maisie demanded, displaying a sudden fearfulness that made absolutely no sense to Drew. “If I’d known I would be dealing with gators, I might as well have gone to Florida after all.”
Drew chuckled as the woman’s mistake became clear. “A Gator is an all-terrain vehicle, kind of a cross between a Jeep and a golf cart. We use it to get around quickly.”
“Not horses?”
“I feel like I’m repeatedly bursting your fantasy ranch bubble. There are plenty of parts of the property best reached on horseback, but I spend a lot more time on the Gator or a four-wheeler for simple stuff.”
“Oh.” Maisie actually did sound like her bubble had been burst, and Drew was surprised to feel bad about that.
“We can do horses another time. Or if you’re tired, I can manage the fence on my own. I just thought it might be best to talk in private.”
“From what I gather, I slept through two entire states, so after a cup of that coffee you keep promising, I’m good.” Maisie grimaced as she shifted position, one hand going to the small of her back. “Aside from something going on back here. Any chance this place has a hot tub?”
This time, Drew let out a sigh that was loud and clear. “I’ve got a heating pad. If you’re good, I may let you borrow it.”
