Page 85 of The Lost Book of First Loves

“Nothing important.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that? I’m the one thinking about going out with him again.”

“You won’t like what I have to say,” Loretta predicted.

“How do we know that unless you tell me?”

Loretta rearranged the throw over her bathrobe and paused before she spoke.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, darling.”

In her experience, nothing good ever came after that sentence.

“I believe any man would be a fool not to be interested in you. You’re smart and funny and beautiful. And kind, too. But you also should remember that you are now the sole heir to your father’s estate, which includes a working ranch of more than two thousand acres. Even if you weren’t all those other things I said, I would imagine that makes you even more attractive to certain people.”

Yep. She was right. Nothing good ever came afterdon’t take this the wrong way.

“Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Loretta frowned. “You are an amazing person. Even if you had nothing, I believe any person you might be interested in should thank their lucky stars that he caught your eye. But the harsh reality is that Clint Maclean’s ranch is deeply in debt. Rumor is that he’s in danger of losing it if he doesn’t figure a way out of the mess his father left behind.”

Loretta gave her a sympathetic look. “And the fact is, marrying the sole heiress of the thriving neighboring ranch—an heiress who also happens to be a beautiful young woman—would be an extremely clever move on his part.”

She considered her grandmother’s words of caution with a touch of hurt and a great deal of wariness.

Loretta was right. Ali had never really thought about all the assets she would bring to any relationship.

Her dad had been frugal with his money and invested wisely. As a result, his estate was considerable. Not only the ranch, but the potential future earnings from his books, as well.

She would far rather be penniless and have her dad back, though.

She supposed it was a good thing she hadn’t been too attracted to Clint.

“I will keep that in mind, Grandma.”

Loretta rose and hugged her. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It just struck me as odd that Clint would ask you out now when he has never paid any attention to you before. It could be that he is genuinely interested in you, not the ranch. I only wanted you to be on guard. I would hate for any man to take advantage of your tender heart.”

Did she have a tender heart? Ali wasn’t sure. Her other relationships in college had been mostly casual. Fun while they lasted, but nothing that left a lasting bruise on her heart when things ended.

She had never been in love. Maybe she wasn’t capable of it.

“I’ll keep that in mind and be careful, Grandma. Thanks for looking out for me.”

“Always,” Loretta said.

Ali hugged her, kissing the top of her grandmother’s head.

“Thanks for waiting up, but with the flash sale you’re having at the bookstore tomorrow, we’re both in for a long day.”

“True enough.”

“And don’t forget that I’m leaving Sunday morning to head up to Hidden Lake with Xan.”

“That should be fun for both of you,” Loretta said as she started turning off the television and the various lamps around the room. “Maybe I’ll throw a wild party while you’re gone.”

“Sylvia and Lindsey are having a slumber party and doing their nails while they watch rom-coms. I’m sure they would be happy for one more.”

Loretta chuckled. “I might just do that. That sounds much more fun than sleeping in a tent and dealing with hordes of mosquitoes.”

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