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And now she was blushing like a teenager. She took a sip of coffee and sighed with bliss.
“Thanks, I needed that. What’s the weather doing?”
“So far, so good, today. But there’s a storm due in late tonight. I called Denise and everything’s okay at the B&B.”
“Is the generator fixed?”
“The repair guy left a message saying the earliest he can get to you is December twenty-sixth.”
“That’s not good.”
“You could stay at the ranch over Christmas,” Caleb suggested. “I mean you’re already here, and we’re glad to have you.”
“I’m not sure that would be a good idea.” Lucy stared down at her mug.
“Why not?”
Darn it, she’d forgotten Caleb had no problem being all direct and confrontational. Didn’t he understand that she was trying to walk away before she embarrassed them both and begged him to stay?
“I feel like I should be at the B&B,” Lucy said carefully. “I mean, what if someone turns up unexpectedly and there’s no one there?”
His brows drew together. “Denise will explain the generator’s down and find them somewhere else to stay?”
“She wouldn’t have that kind of information.”
He studied her while she avoided his gaze and sipped her coffee.
“What’s wrong?” he asked gently.
“Nothing!” She gulped too much coffee and it almost went up her nose. “You and your dad have a lot to talk about. You don’t need me hanging around so you have to be polite and talk to me instead.”
He stayed quiet for a while before finally speaking.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Have you ever”—he hesitated—“thought about moving back to Seattle?”
She set the mug back on the bedside table so firmly coffee slopped over the side. “I told you how hard it was to get away from my parents and take on the B&B. Do you think I’d stroll back there, tell them I’d made a mistake, and ask them to let me come back?”
“I guess not.”
She pushed the covers down and got out of bed. If he was about to mention thathelived in Seattle, she was going to either scream or weep. “Excuse me, I need to shower.”
“Does that guy you spoke to on the phone live around here?”
“What guy?”
“The one you told to clean up his act.”
“Do you really think I’d sleep with you if I was involved with someone else?” Lucy was half ashamed at using Colin the cat as an excuse to get out of a difficult situation, and half relieved to have an excuse at all.
Caleb shoved a hand through his hair. “Jeez, maybe I should stop talking. Everything I say is making things worse.”
“Yes, it is.” She raised her chin. “Now, please excuse me.”
He grimaced. “Okay. I told Dad I’d help with unloading the hay. I’ll see you back here for lunch.” He got out of her way, his expression thoughtful, which wasn’t reassuring at all.
