Redeeming the CEO Cowboy by Charlene Sands

Author:Charlene Sands
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-07-10T16:00:00+00:00

Seven

“Okay, that’s the end of storytelling,” Susanna whispered, closing the Dr. Seuss book. Ally had fought against sleep, but she’d finally lost the battle. Her eyelids lowered gently and Susanna tucked her into her covers and kissed her on the forehead. “Good night, big girl. You had a busy day.”

“Uh...huh.” Her tiny breaths instantly became steady and her head fell to the side of her pillow.

Susanna smiled and rose quietly. Setting the switch of Ally’s Tinkerbell lamp to nightglow, an amber hue settled on the room and she tiptoed out, shutting the door partway.

As soon as her feet hit the hallway floorboards, her nerves rattled.

Would Casey actually come over tonight?

Susie walked into her bedroom, plopped down on the bed and picked up her cell phone to put in a quick call to her mom, something she liked to do several times a week. Her mother had called earlier to wish Ally a happy birthday and Susie promised to call her back tonight after the party. Things always seemed better after she spoke with her mother. Tonight especially, if even just for a minute or two, she needed to hear the soothing tone of her mother’s voice.

When Susanna got through, her mother said, “I’m sorry I had to miss Ally’s birthday party.”

“It’s okay, Mom. She loved the doll you sent her.”

“That makes me happy. So, all went well?”

“Mom, I think Ally had a great time.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful, honey.”

After a few minutes rehashing the games, the cupcakes, the guests in attendance, Susie said good-night to her mother and ended the call.

With a turn of her head, she caught her reflection in the mirror and cringed. The ghastly person staring back at her had a chalky complexion, smudged eyeliner and hair in a tangle. “Oh, no....”

Lifting the hem of her blouse, she counted four stains; at least two of them were identifiable as chocolate. Had she gone around looking like this all day?

Geesh.

She bounded up from the bed, stripped off her clothes and jumped into the shower. A warm refreshing spray hit her body and sank into her bones. She soaped up and scrubbed her hair and then after the shower, poured vanilla-scented lotion all over her skin. She picked out her clothes, but nothing too adventurous—a pair of snug-fitting black jeans and a clean Sweet Susie’s T-shirt that she decided to tuck into her waistband.

Ambling to the kitchen she did a double take, seeing the stainless steel appliance where her mother’s oven once sat. It was shocking, but in a good way. It definitely added contemporary style to the workspace. She couldn’t wait to try it out. Just as Casey promised, the installer had come an hour after the party ended and hooked it up.

Now glancing at the digital clocks on the microwave above and oven below, she had two reminders of the time. It was well after nine. Fear mingled with relief. What if he didn’t come? What if he did?

A sudden droning buzz from the tile counter made her jump.

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