“She is.But it’s all good.It’s not as though Harper—that’s her friend’s name—is hogging all her time.I took them both down to the park yesterday.Harper’s decided that she’s going to move here too.”He shrugged happily.“It all works out.”
When Trip was pulling up behind the house, Cash made a face as his phone rang.
“What’s up, Bear?”he answered as he climbed out of the SUV.
Trip let them into the kitchen and went to check the freezer.Cash ended the call a minute later.
“Looks like we have time if you want to make me more than a sandwich.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, Bear’s in town and the airport called him to say that there’s some issue and they won’t be able to refuel us for a couple hours.So, if you want me, you’re stuck with me for a while.”
“I’m happy to have you; you know that.I was planning on fixing you more than a sandwich anyway.I have one of Maisie’s lasagnas frozen and I know how much you love it.”
“I do, but how do you feel about grilling us a ribeye?”Cash grinned.“I can take the lasagna with me and bring you the dish back next time.”
“That works.Unless you want to head down to your place now that you have more time.”
“Nah.I should be back next weekend or the one after, I’ll spend some real time with them then.And besides, when was the last time the two of us got to hang out like this?”
“Not for years—not just the two of us.”
“Let’s make the most of it, why don’t we?I’d guess that next time I come, you’ll have Shelley living here with you, and who knows when we’ll get another chance like this?”
Trip went outside to start the grill and the two of them worked side by side to prep some veggies.Cash threw a couple of potatoes on the grill, and Trip brought out a couple of beers.
Cash took a slug of his drink.“What do you hear about Libby?”
“Not much these last few weeks.I try to give her a ride home when the women all go out together.”
“You took her and Shelley home last time, right?”
“That’s right.Why?”
“You know why.Mav’s all antsy about who might be taking her home.Especially since she started this new riding program at Trav’s place for the vets.”
Trip shook his head.“Is he any closer to being ready to come home?”
“I think so.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.Trav leaving us to come back here shook things up.”He smiled.“I bet you’re glad to have him back.”
“I am.”
“Things aren’t the same without him.You know what he’s like.He was the glue that held everything together.Without him there, I’m left to deal with Mav and Blane—Grumpy and Grumpier—by myself, and it’s no fun.The team’s great; we have some good guys working there, but …” He let out a breath.“I don’t want to keep missing out on life here just so I can spend my days working and looking at the Sunshine Twins’ miserable faces.”
“Are you saying that you’d come home?”
“I’m saying that it’s time we move the whole damn operation here.There’s no reason not to.There was a time when we had it all planned out.We were going to set up down at Mav’s place, but then everything went down with him and Libby and …” He took another slug of his drink.“He wouldn’t come home while she still had her horses there.Now, thanks to Trav, there’s no reason for him to stay away.”
“Wow.Are you talking about soon?”
“I am.If he doesn’t get his ass into gear, I’ve told him—I’ll move back myself and leave him to it.”
“You’d leave the company?”Trip asked incredulously.