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Heck, even if she found someone who loved her, she’d always have feelings for Luke. Deep down, she knew that without a doubt.
Pippa tilted her head, her eyes shining. At least she wasn’t pushing the issue. But what were friends for if not to play along and enable someone when they definitely didn’t need it. “Sure, okay. No Luke then. But we seriously need to figure out something because I feel like we go too long not hanging out and then we grow more and more apart. So what do you say? Come to the restaurant and do something fun with me?”
“Of course,” Allie sighed with a smile. “You always come up with such good ideas. I just want to make sure I’m not slammed at work so I won’t be a dud date. And I don’t want to have to cancel at the last minute.”
“So what about lunch? A girl’s gotta eat, right? You can come by for lunch.”
Allie peered at her friend, both hating and loving her for being so persistent. “What day?”
Pippa shrugged. “I’m there every day. You pop in and I’ll make sure we get lunch.”
“But you’ll be working.”
She placed both hands on Allie’s shoulders and looked her square in the face. “I own the place, Allie. I think I can take a lunch break on a whim.”
Allie laughed. “Okay, fine. Some day in October. That’s the best I can do. It will probably be a Saturday. And it might only be like thirty minutes long.”
“Deal.”
“Really?”
Pippa released her and shrugged. “Sure. Why not? We can do it in October if that will be best for you. There are four Saturdays this October. I’ve got a twenty-five percent chance you’ll show up randomly and be ready to dish on all the hilarious things the fourth graders are up to. And maybe by then one of us will have some real dirt to share.”
Allie lifted a brow. “What do you mean, real dirt?”
“You know. Boyfriends. Crushes. The stuff we used to talk about ad nauseam.”
This time Allie laughed. “Don’t count on much from my end. But if you have anything to share, I’m all ears.”
“It’s a date.”
“It’s a date,” Allie confirmed. “Now, let me get going so I can grade some papers.”
“Grade some papers?” Pippa spun around as Allie passed her. “It’s the second week in September. What kind of homework are you assigning those kids?”
“The kind that needs grading,” Allie called over her shoulder. She smiled as she headed for her car. Pippa always knew how to turn a gloomy situation into one that wasn’t. It had to be a Duncan thing. All of the Duncan children seemed to have a sunny disposition and a knack for brightening someone’s day. Perhaps that was one of the reasons she’d been so drawn to Luke in the first place.
He'd been perfect then.
And he was still perfect now.
She just wasn’t perfect for him.
CHAPTERTWO
Luke pulledup in front of his childhood home and immediately his daughter catapulted from the truck and sprinted toward the barn. The small cottage he’d had built for his family was about a hundred yards from the main house and closer to the side of the property where he ran most of the agricultural business.
He climbed out of the truck and watched his daughter disappear inside the barn, knowing full well she’d return smelling like her favorite horse. It was about time he handed over the reins figuratively and literally to Snowshoe. The Arabian was getting on in age, and as such, she was one of the gentler horses at Rolling Hills Ranch and Farms.
Molly had been begging for a horse of her own for so long. Perhaps Snowshoe would be a good fit. Luke leaned up against the side of his truck and crossed his arms, allowing himself to get lost in thought.
His life should have been so different. Shellie should have been alive and setting the example Molly needed in her life. She should have been present for all of the firsts. Molly, of course took it all in stride—as was her way.
But he couldn’t help wonder if he’d done everything he could for her. Had Molly been a boy, maybe this wouldn’t have been much of an issue. But that wasn’t the case.
He peered off into the distance toward the farming area of the ranch, an addition that had taken place just before Molly was born, and the guilt swept over him again. He’d been so focused on succeeding that he hadn’t taken nearly enough time making sure everything was stable at home.
And now everyone around him said he was doing the best he could, but what if that wasn’t good enough? His doubts had been speaking louder lately, exclaiming that he was missing something.
