Page 5 of Christmas with the Cowboy
“Reed.” She cleared her throat. “Long time.”
He nodded, his gaze traveling over her, making her wonder how much she’d changed since he’d last seen her. She’d lost the baby fat in her face and her hair was a touch lighter than the sun-kissed dark blonde she’d been blessed with naturally—mainly because her sun-kissed dark blonde was shifting to brown, and she liked being a blonde. And it was wavy now, bordering on curly, because she’d gotten tired of her hair and the flat iron battling for supremacy. One morning she’d simply tossed the device into the trash and never looked back.
“Yes.” The simple answer was delivered without a smile. She could live with that.
She turned back to Audrey, talking a little too fast as she said, “I was on my way to an appointment, which just got canceled.” She took a breath and slowed her words. “Since I was nearby, I thought we could discuss the project, look at time frames, and determine what could be accomplished in the short term.” She shot Reed a quick glance. “I, uh, wouldn’t have dropped by without calling if I’d suspected you had…”
Guests? Company? The prodigal son back in the fold?
“I’m early, too.” The corners of Reed’s gorgeous mouth curved up, as if he was forcing himself to act natural, the half smile causing her to flash on all kinds of things she’d be better off not remembering. “It’s good to see you, Trenna.”
He sounded like he meant it, which meant he had better control of this situation than she did. “Let me introduce you to my daughter, then you and Mom can get to work while I unload our stuff in the Little House.”
“Great. Excellent.”
She blew out a silent breath as the three of them started toward the house.Reed has a daughter.She knew that, but it was still kind of mind blowing.
She had several college degrees. Reed had a kid. They’d traveled different paths, thanks to her dad, and for the most part, she didn’t regret her life choices. Now she wondered if that was because she hadn’t allowed herself to think on the matter.
Audrey held the door open, and Trenna followed Reed inside the kitchen that had once been her home away from home. She’d forgotten how much she’d loved about the homey space. At the counter, a dark-haired girl was scraping the last of the batter out of a mixing bowl. She paused mid-swipe and gave Trenna a curious once-over.
“Trenna, this is my granddaughter, Reed’s daughter, Lexa.”
“Lex,” the girl said with a grin. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.” Trenna used her teaching voice, which made her feel more in control, even if it came off as a bit phony. Of course, the girl was the image of Reed. Angular face, cleft chin, a mouth that was fuller than her father’s, but the same basic shape. Trenna once again found her stomach knotting.
She shoved the sensation down as deep as she could and smiled at the girl. “Your dad and I are old friends.”
“I heard,” she said in a way that had Trenna shooting Reed a quick look, catching him mid–eye roll.What on earth had he said?
Trenna turned to Audrey, thinking the matter was best dropped until she had better mental footing. “If you don’t have time to meet today, what with family arriving and all—”
“Lex is finishing the cookies and Reed is hauling stuff, so yes, I have time. We can meet in my office—”
The words were barely out of her mouth when the sound of an old-school diesel engine brought everyone’s attention to the window. A dually Chevy pickup pulled to a stop next to Trenna’s car, and Daniel Keller, Reed’s dad, got out. Unlike Audrey, he had changed. He was still a strikingly handsome man, but his once dark hair was now silvery white, and despite his determined steps, he moved like a man recovering from an injury. Everyone in the kitchen held in place as he stomped up the steps and pushed open the door, rattling it in the process.
“You cannot believe what that asshole Hunt has done—” He stopped short as his gaze fell on Trenna, then he shot his wife a questioning look.
“It’s okay,” Trenna said in the most normal tone she’d managed since arriving. “I have no illusions about my father. Please…carry on.”
Chapter Two
It was obviousto Reed that Trenna wanted to know exactly what her dad had done to earn asshole status, and it was equally obvious that his mom wanted to hold off on the explanations until a more private time. Audrey cut a glance toward Lex whose shoulders drooped at the obvious inference.
“I know what an asshole is,” his daughter said wearily as she moved forward to hug her grandfather.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Daniel said as he enveloped Lex in one of his rare hugs. He stepped back and let out a breath that bordered on being a sigh. “I didn’t expect a crowd in here.”
“There are a lot of extra vehicles parked out there,” his wife pointed out.
“I was preoccupied.” He looked at Trenna. “Your dad is fencing off property that belongs to me. If you see him—”
“I won’t.”
“You don’t talk to your dad?” Lex blurted out the question that had shot through Reed’s brain. He sent his daughter a look, and she tightened her mouth. Not her business. It wasn’t his business either, but he was curious as to what had happened to bring this about. Trenna had been Carter Hunt’s princess, and now she didn’t talk to him?
“It’s complicated.” Trenna’s tone made it clear that she wasn’t going to launch into an explanation. She shifted uncomfortably and said to Audrey, “Given the circumstances, I understand if you don’t want me working on the ranch history project.”
