His Unexpected Return--A Fresh-Start Family Romance by Jessica Keller

Author:Jessica Keller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-07-10T15:53:59+00:00

Chapter Seven

Cassidy heaved her backpack onto her kitchen counter and shoved a travel pack of wet wipes, two more small bags of Goldfish crackers and a tube of antiseptic cream inside. Most of the ranch staff, Cassidy and Piper included, had eaten a light supper of chipotle honey chicken skewers at the dining hall an hour ago but snacks were always a good idea.

Wade and Shannon hadn’t been at dinner. It was the second night in a row they had missed it after saying they might be there. First, the tacos last night to celebrate Piper’s cast-free status and then tonight. Should she text Wade—ask if he needed something to eat before they headed out? Cassidy pushed that thought away. Wade was a grown man who could take care of himself. He hardly needed her fussing over him. If he hadn’t eaten something before hiking, that was his problem.

With a growl, she tucked three protein bars into the bag not ten seconds later. They were the mint-chocolate-flavored bars, which she had learned a few days ago were his favorites. Simply so he didn’t pass out. She couldn’t exactly carry him if something happened. That’s the only reason she was letting those things take up space in her pack.

Maybe if she repeated it quickly three times, it would be true.

“Sunblock,” she mumbled and took off toward the bathroom to find a fresh tube. She came back with sunblock, lip balm, more Band-Aids and a hairbrush. “Who goes hiking in the heat of summer? Honestly.”

“I do, Mom! We’re going to have so much fun. I love to hike. Don’t I?” Piper danced around in the living room with a purple ribbon in her hand. Cloudstorm trailed her, pouncing and nipping at the end of the ribbon.

“You’ll love it, sweetheart.”

Cassidy halted her preparations to take in her daughter’s joy. Why had she held off on giving her a cat for so long? The responsibility was helping Piper thrive. Piper had started waking up earlier than normal to feed the cat and give him fresh water. She patiently brushed him every day and kept her room straight because she said Cloudstorm liked it better that way. She snuggled with him and talked to the cat as if he was a best friend.

Cassidy still stood by what she had told Wade—he couldn’t buy Piper’s love or favor. A beloved pet wouldn’t erase five years of his not being there. But having Cloudstorm wasn’t too bad. Especially when he curled up on Cassidy’s lap on the couch each night after she put Piper to bed, purring like a tiny lawn mower. A content little ball of fluff warming her during the time of day when loneliness usually struck the hardest.

Deep down Cassidy knew she would have probably never let Piper have a cat. Because pets had a special way of winding themselves around a person’s heart, but they didn’t live as long as their humans did. Loving a pet almost guaranteed a very hard goodbye down the road.

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