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“They flew out yesterday,” Tara replied. “I intended to leave later today myself, but then I heard the most amazing rumor that Trey is engaged. Is it true?”
“It is,” Cat confirmed and laughed at startled look on Tara’s face. “Don’t look so surprised.”
“I can’t help it. I talked to Laura on Saturday, and she never said a word about it.”
“That’s because she didn’t know yet. I don’t think Trey called her with the news until Sunday morning. There’s coffee in the kitchen. Would you like a cup?”
As an answer, Tara moved in that direction. “This engagement is a bit sudden, isn’t it? I wasn’t aware that Trey was even seeing anyone on a regular basis.”
“I suppose you could call it sudden, but you only have to see them together to know they are madly in love.” Cat led the way to the kitchen while Kelly trailed behind both.
“Who is she? A local girl?”
“She isn’t from around here. Her name’s Sloan Davis—”
Tara instantly seized on the name. “Don’t tell me she’s part of the Davis family from Phoenix.”
Cat laughed softly. “I don’t think so. In fact you probably won’t find her in any of your social registrars. She’s a professional photographer from Hawaii.”
“A photographer,” Tara repeated with just a trace of disdain.
Cat was quick to challenge it. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“Of course not.” With an elegant shrug of her shoulders, Tara dismissed the suggestion. “It’s simply that I had hoped Trey would marry someone who could further the interests of the Triple C. But as long as Trey is happy with her, that’s all that really matters.”
“I’m glad you see that.” The firmness in Cat’s voice was almost a warning. “Because he’s definitely happy. I swear, Trey has been walking on air ever since Sloan said ‘yes.’”
“Have they set a wedding date yet?”
“No, but it will be soon.” Cat crossed to the kitchen cabinets and removed two cups from the shelf.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Tara pulled out a chair, inspecting its seat before sitting down. “I’ve never known a Calder yet who believed in long engagements. Certainly if Ty had had his way, we would have eloped.” She sighed rather dramatically. “Now I have to start thinking about what I can get them for a wedding present. Any ideas?”
“Truthfully, I haven’t given it any thought.” Cat placed a steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of Tara and carried her own to another chair, taking a seat.
“Wait a minute.” Tara lifted a hand in sudden thought, an innate liquid grace in the gesture. “By any chance will they be occupying the master suite?”
“Probably. Why?”
“Because, knowing Jessy, nothing in those rooms has been changed for years. What could be a better present for them than to bring in a designer to redo the entire suite? At my expense, of course,” she added. “And I know just who to get.”
“That’s very generous of you,” Cat offered cautiously. “But that might be something Sloan would rather handle herself.”
“Don’t be silly. No woman in her right mind would refuse the chance to have a professional in charge. And naturally I’ll see that Trey and his fiancée have total approval over everything.”
“Still…” Cat began.
There was a bell-like quality to Tara’s soft laugh. “Don’t bother to say it. You simply aren’t going to talk me out of it, not when I know it is absolutely the ideal gift.”
“And I’m sure they w
ill appreciate it,” Cat said dryly, deciding there were worse things Tara might choose to meddle in, like the wedding plans, as she had done with Laura.
Chapter Eleven
Along, hard day spent in the hay field showed on Trey as he climbed the oak staircase to The Homestead’s second floor. His work shirt was streaked with drying sweat, and his skin was gritty with a day’s accumulation of chaff and dust. Each time his boot hit a stair tread, more bits of hay were dislodged from his clothes, leaving a trail behind him.
As he neared the top, his gaze lifted and his steps quickened in anticipation. It mattered little that his marriage to Sloan was less than a month old, time hadn’t lessened his desire for her. It ran as strong and hot as ever. The only difference was the new comfort he felt, knowing that Sloan would be here waiting for him at the end of the day. Her presence had given “home” a fresh meaning for him, one that was full of all the deep, good things.
