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Oh, hell, no. She was not falling into that trap.
Except…he was also competent and strong. He was a good father, a good son. He was kind, generous…
Okay, fine.She could admit it. I really like him. And the way he looked at her—like he wanted to devour her?Whew.
No one had ever looked at her like that.
And now, after a few short hours with Jaime, how could she ever go back to another bland relationship?
“Okay,” her mom said. “You deserve some time off… As long as you’re coming home. You’d have to be bored on a ranch with no one to hang out with. Besides, it’s better to be with your family when you’re going through something like this. I didn’t tell you, but since you’re going to find out soon enough… Romeo punched Ian in the nose. I heard it crack.”
“He what?Mom.Why do you sound so happy?”
“Oh, come on. He had it coming. I loved that boy like a son, and hestolefrom me? It’s not okay. Now, I know we agreed not to tell anybody yet for the sake of his job—I mean, how else is he ever going to pay us back—but Romeo happened to come home right when Ian was apologizing, and he heard the whole thing. Stormed right over and clocked him. Got him good, too.”
“Oh, man.”I really don’t want to go home yet.She wanted to stay in this cozy little cabin and bake her heart out. “That’s awful.”
“And this is why I always say friends come and go, boyfriends break your heart, and the only people you can count on are family.”
“You just said Ian was like a son to you.”
“But he isn’t a son, is he? And he broke your trust. So, you come home and let us take care of you.”
Grace didn’t answer right away.
“You’re not going to get back with him, are you?” her mom asked, misunderstanding her hesitation.
“Not a chance. But that doesn’t mean I wish violence on him.” She glanced up at the morning sunlight filtering through the pine trees. “I should go. Let me look at the flights, and I’ll let you know as soon as I book something.”
“Sounds good. I can’t wait to see you, sweetheart.”
After disconnecting, Grace went back into the cabin, set the phone on the counter, and took in all the cookie sheets and racks of cooling pastries. She picked up a slice of opera cake, the mirror glaze perfectly shiny.
Clarity hit her in a rush.I can’t go home.
I don’t feel this kind of creativity there, and I need to do more of it.
Because this is my heart and soul, and I can’t ignore it anymore.
How do I make it work, though? Ian stole my money, so I can’t stay in a hotel. Well, I can’t cook in a hotel, either.And, after the way Jaime bolted, she couldn’t stay on the ranch.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have options here. But maybe it was enough that she’d had an experience that opened her eyes.
“This is really good.” The sweet voice came from behind her.
She whipped around to find a little girl sitting on her couch, munching on a chocolate éclair. “Oh. Um, thank you?”
“I love chocolate.” The girl had a smear of it on her lips.
With that blond hair and gray-blue eyes, she had to be Jaime’s daughter. “You must be Kinsley.”
“Yes.” She got off the couch and headed for the sink, where she raised both arms.
It took a moment to understand the girl needed to be lifted so she could wash her hands. Grace mobilized, got the water running until it warmed, and then helped her clean up. After she set the girl down, she handed her a clean towel.
“I have to go now.” Kinsley started for the door.
Jaime wasn’t home, so she didn’t know where the little girl was staying. “I’ll walk you.”
