Last Chance Cowboy by Leigh Riker

Author:Leigh Riker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

SHADOW SHUT HERSELF in her office at Mother Comfort to make the calls she’d mentioned to her mother. The day after she’d gone to Grey’s ranch, she was still heavy-lidded and hoarse from crying—not her usual way of dealing with a crisis. She was glad her mother had gone home after dinner; Shadow had spent the night on her living room sofa, head buried in her pillow so Ava wouldn’t hear her, listening to the refrigerator motor click on and off in the stillness.

I’ll be in touch, Grey had said. Shadow couldn’t guess what his next move might be, but she suspected things were about to get even worse. Would Grey try to get full custody of Ava?

The door to her agency opened, the bell above it jingling and pulling Shadow from her ruminations. To her surprise, Jack Hancock walked in.

“I’ve been trying to reach you,” she said, schooling her features into a pleasant smile. “I called Bertie’s place earlier but you weren’t there. I think I have some good news.”

“Me, too.” Jack took the chair in front of her desk. “I was just over at the café. Did you know they’re planning to offer a dinner service there? Breakfast and lunch don’t bring in enough money. They’re hoping for bigger checks later in the day. Six nights a week.”

“I didn’t know. That will be a nice option for people.”

He grinned. “I got hired. For the time being, I’ll be a sous chef, but if all goes well I could end up as executive chef—head chef, whatever they want to call it—in command of my own kitchen.”

Shadow studied him. She couldn’t get used to the change from weeks ago, when he’d gone to work as Sam Hunter’s temporary caregiver and the ranch cook. Which hadn’t ended well. “I know you weren’t comfortable at the Circle H—”

“They weren’t ready for haute cuisine,” he murmured, although Shadow knew he’d actually quit after a fistfight with several of Logan’s hired hands. She wondered what he’d done since then with his white chef’s tunic and hat. Maybe he would wear them again in this new job.

With Jack’s visit to the office, her spirits lifted a notch. Earlier, she’d found a caregiver for Ned Sutherland, who’d finally been released from rehab and gone back to his ranch. Maybe if she focused on Mother Comfort, and only that for now, she could get through this thing with Grey. Whatever happened. “I’m happy you got this job, Jack. And it’s one you seem excited about.”

His smile faded. “I’m still worried about Bertie, though. That’s why I’m here. I mean, we need the money, but he can’t be left on his own too long. You have a new applicant, maybe, since we talked before? It wouldn’t be a live-in situation, ’cause Bertie and I don’t have room for someone overnight. I won’t be working full time yet, either...”

“All of my people currently have placements.” Shadow straightened. Maybe she could help Bertie as she had Ned. “But, Jack, maybe I do have someone.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.