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Ricky strolled toward the center of the apartment buildings where the pool was located, and Allie drove out to Ina’s wondering if he’d tired of pursuing her or was just taking a breather before changing tactics. She supposed she would know soon enough and let it go.
Typical of any given weekend day, Ina’s businesses were teeming with customers from the surrounding area. Almost everyone Allie knew from growing up in Eagle’s Nest preferred to do their weekly shopping at the Hendersons’ mercantile and grab lunch or dinner at their diner rather than going into Casper. She now enjoyed the best of both worlds, living closer to people her age and the social activities she enjoyed that the much smaller rural town didn’t offer, yet drew comfort from staying within a short distance to the familiar places and faces she’d grown up with.
One of those friendly, familiar faces greeted her with her usual beaming smile of welcome as soon as Allie entered the diner.
“How ya doin’ today, Allie?” Ina called out from behind the long counter. Behind her, her husband of over forty years waved from the kitchen.
“I’ll be doing better if you tell me you have a strawberry rhubarb pie with my name on it,” she replied, hitching onto a stool in front of Ina.
“Fresh out of the oven about fifteen minutes ago.” Ina nodded toward the tall pie rack next to the cash register, six pies sitting atop the round shelves.
“It’s as if you knew I was coming in today.” It never got old, the same lines they traded every Sunday afternoon when Allie showed up, usually to grab a pie to take to her parents’ for dinner. Even if she didn’t have shopping to do, she made time to come into the diner for a meal once a week.
Ina’s smile revealed the laugh lines in the corners of her eyes. “I know my goddaughter well. Tell me what I can get you, then you can tell me what you’ve been up to. Last weekend, you came in when we were getting slammed, and we didn’t get a chance to chitchat.”
Anyone who knew Ina, and most did, knew better than to tell her anything they didn’t want to spread like wildfire. She loved to gossip and made no apologies for that flaw. Her home cooking, always upbeat, friendly manner, and the genuine warmth and caring she felt for people were what made her so well loved and kept everyone coming back to do business with both her and Howard.
“I’ll have the chicken club sandwich and fries, and you can tell me what you’ve been up to with Mom and Dad gone again.” The Hendersons and her parents had been best friends since high school, and Allie cared as much for them as she did the rest of her family.
“Deal. Be right back.”
Allie went over her list, wondering if she should save time and take one of Ina’s pies out to Brett instead of going home and making brownies. That would give her longer to hang out if he didn’t dismiss her as fast as he had at Casey’s. She gave him credit for indulging her both nights, at least a little and more than he wanted to, she had to admit. The minor tolerant concessions that hinted at a softer side he’d tried not to reveal were enough incentive to approach him one more time. Failure never sat well with her, but she would have to give up on him if he continued to see her as too young and inexperienced for his tastes.
Only half of the checkered-clothed tables were occupied, and most diners already served their food, enabling Ina to return with her order in a few minutes. She placed the plate in front of her and braced her hands on the counter. “So, guess who was in here bright and early?”
Smiling, Allie shook her head. “Who?” she asked then took a bite of the warm deli chicken and bacon sandwich, unprepared for the jolt Ina’s answer gave her.
“Those hot Kincaid brothers.”
Allie choked and grabbed the glass of water Ina handed her, swallowing a large gulp to aid the bite of sandwich in going down her dry throat.Speak of the devil.When she could talk, she worked up a shrug of indifference and asked, “What’s your point? They live around here.”
Ina threw back her head and laughed loud enough to draw the interest of several guests. Leaning forward, she was still grinning when she said, “You forget I was here when you walked in last month and almost swallowed your tongue when you saw them. Question is, which one couldn’t you keep from ogling the whole time you were here?”
“Who says I was eyeing just one of them?” Her godmother saw way too much, either that or Allie’s face revealed too much. If that was the case, she would have to learn to school her expressions better in the future.
“I’m guessing Brett Kincaid. You always enjoy a challenge. What’s the big deal? All three have been turning heads since their teens.”
“I’m pleading the fifth,” Allie returned, munching on a fry and mentally denying her quick response to hearing Brett’s name.
“Since you’re staying closemouthed on the guy subject, I’ll get you a piece of pie. Want any to take home?” Ina asked, a twinkle in her blue eyes. “My blueberry crumb is Brett’s favorite.”
There was no way Ina got wind of her plans since she hadn’t told anyone about them, not even her closest friends, but she did know Allie well and dangled that temptation in front of her on purpose. “Fine. Add an extra piece or two of mine and a whole blueberry crumb. It’s a thank-you for a friend,” she tacked on, hoping Ina believed her and didn’t ask more questions she didn’t want to answer.
“There’s only one left, so I’ll set it aside.” Ina patted her hand. “You’re a good girl, and friend, but a lousy liar. Catch you later.”
Allie blew out a breath, opting to be amused instead of put out by Ina’s accurate assumption. No sense in getting upset over the truth. “Thanks, Ina.”
She ate the sandwich and fries, thinking about that time Ina mentioned when she’d come into the diner and spotted the Kincaids in the corner booth. The three of them together packed a wallop, there was no denying that, but once again, it was Brett who had captured and held her attention, hanging onto it the whole time she’d eaten dinner with Penny. Could she help it if the image of him as a sweaty cowboy on television was as irresistible and sexy as the businessman? Yeah, Reed and Slade Kincaid were hot with a capital H, but Brett’s maturity drew her like a magnet, leaving her itching to get him out of those dress slacks and shirt. His aloof expression challenged her to tease a smile out of him that would soften his hard, serious face.
By the time she ate and finished shopping, Allie was more than ready to visit Brett and, with luck, find a way past his reservations, appease her craving for the man then put him out of her mind. She’d never expended this much attention or energy on any guy, having never met one worth the time and effort. It remained to be seen whether Brett was or not.
Allie knew the general location of the Soaring Eagle Ranch and after checking the GPS for the best way to get there, she drove with the windows down, loving the ninety-degree summer breeze. Winters could get long and butt-numbing cold in Wyoming, and she never wasted a chance to get out during the warmer months and enjoy the greener scenery. Even though the highway bisected miles and miles of wide open, sparse rangeland covered in colorful wildflowers, the snowcapped mountain backdrop never failed to draw her eyes.
Her heartbeat kicked up a notch as she neared the turnoff for the Kincaid ranch just as a sporty car whizzed by headed in the opposite direction. She only caught a brief glimpse of the reckless female driver but enough to make out her angry scowl, striking a chord of familiarity. Unable to figure out where she’d seen her before, Allie shrugged off the question and turned into the drive leading to the tall, closed gates to the Soaring Eagle Ranch. She figured this would be the tricky part.
Pressing the speaker button, she held her breath, waiting for someone to answer. The deep, gruff voice coming through the box didn’t sound welcoming.
“Yeah?”
