Page 25 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
“We know a few people,” Zach admitted. “Same menu as downstairs. Since the kitchen at the ranch house isn’t operational right now, I’ll admit to eating here more often than I should.”
“He doesn’t like my mac and cheese,” Finn said.
“You don’t use blue box,” Zach complained.
A mocking gasp rose from Julia. “No. Does he also use no-name ketchup?”
Zach straightened and gestured firmly at Finn. “See?See? This is exactly what I’m talking about. Everyone knows from the first moment I mention it what a travesty your cooking habits are.”
It was all too amusing. Karen found herself grinning as she relaxed back in her seat. Zach kept teasing, and Finn dryly took it, a lot of grace and amusement in his tone with every response.
By the time their appetizers were devoured and she’d nearly finished a glass of wine, Karen was feeling pretty damn mellow.
Finn topped up her glass. “The day go differently than you expected?”
Jeez. “This day has been about five days long, considering everything that’s gone on.” Karen sipped the wine, watching as the sun slowly dipped toward the distant mountains.
Zach and Julia continued to talk across the length of the table. Zach was picking her brain for all the details she could remember from the ranch where she’d grown up.
In the middle, Karen and Finn sat in a bubble of quiet. It was a familiar feeling, reminiscent of the time she’d spent years ago with him. In the room with others around, yet feeling that sensation of being utterly alone and completely connected.
His leg bumped hers. An innocent act as he reached across the table. Karen took a steadying breath then faced him with a smile. “Sometimes surprises work out. Thanks for the job. I would’ve gone out of my mind with boredom working at the grocery store,” she admitted.
“Thanks for accepting it. I really am glad you’re helping us with this.” Utter truth in the sentence. His gaze fixed on hers as he lifted his glass in a salute.
Crystal clinked together softly.
“I’m not sure about the other matter,” she said quickly.
He dipped his chin. “It’s not tomorrow yet.”
Laughter rose again. “You’re right. Remember my previous comment about how this day has gone on forever.”
“Sleep on it,” he encouraged. “I find a good night’s sleep answers all sorts of questions. Sometimes in my dreams I come up with solutions. Thinking over old memories, good times from the past. That sort of thing.”
He was bad.
And good, because sweet dreamswerea part of their past. Good memories had been rushing in all day between the other busy parts of her adventure.
The steaks arrived and the conversation went wide again. Between the delicious food and the company, Karen got to put a hold on the last question she needed to answer.
Her dreams that night were far too dirty.
Finn madehimself scarce for the next couple of days and let Zach take Karen around the place. He figured it was the best way to make it clear he really did want her opinions.
It was also the easiest way to stop from fawning over her or groveling to be put out of his misery.
He had enough to keep himself busy. The to-do list had blown up by epic proportions. His previous casual contacts with people for work down the road required updates. A kind of “put me on your listnowbecause I need you as soon as humanly possible” update.
But he caught enough glimpses of Karen to mean she was constantly on his mind. She’d pulled her hair back into a familiar ponytail, and her grin flashed sharply whenever Zach was his usual amusing self.
She moved differently. Not only because she was no longer hampered by her full-length cast, but she seemed more at ease in her own skin.
Finn was pretty sure she’d put up with a lot of grief at the Whiskey Creek ranch over the years. Hell, he’d worked that long-ago summer with George Coleman and knew exactly the type of man Karen’s father was.
Old-school. Clueless and unintentionally unkind.
Karen had stayed soft.
