A Thousand Sunsets (Band of Sisters) by Rice Marianne

Author:Rice, Marianne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marianne Rice
Published: 2021-06-15T16:00:00+00:00

LIKE HE’D SAID, AN hour later she heard the crunch of tires on the gravel and dirt parking lot from her cabin. If he’d taken any longer, she’d have had too much time to get riled up and pissed at him for his abrupt brush off and exit.

She could have used a hotter shower. And a shot of whiskey, but nonetheless she couldn’t wait for her date.

Unless this was a side of Owen she’d hadn’t seen before. The side that kept him single and unattached rather than with a steady girlfriend. No matter how much sex appeal dripped off him, if this was a sign of the kind of manners he had, Charlie wouldn’t have to worry about falling in love.

At the sound of the truck door closing, she pocketed her phone and credit card and headed out of the cabin and down the path to the lot. She caught a glimpse of Owen as he mounted the steps to the lodge.

“I’m over here.” She waved at him when he turned around.

He stood on the top step and stared at her for a beat before crossing the lot to meet her.

“Listen, Charlie.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for taking off so quickly. I... I’m sorry.”

So, he wasn’t going to tell her why he took off so quickly. She figured she had two options. Let it fester and possibly ruin their date, or call it an oddity and move on, hoping he didn’t ditch her in the middle of wherever they were going.

“Okay. Sure.” She tucked her hands in her pockets and rocked back on her heels. “I’m sure you had your reasons. I’m glad you came back.”

“I wouldn’t have canceled on our date.”

“Good to know.”

Technically he was still early. It was almost noon, which was when he’d originally said he’d be picking her up.

“Shall we then?” She headed toward his truck, and he followed by her side.

When they got in and were buckled up, Owen started the engine and drove slowly down the dirt roads.

“So where are we off to?” she asked. Surprises weren’t normally her thing. Well, maybe if she was planning them. She was the nosy type and liked to know what, when, where, and why.

In the days before Christmas, she’d peek at her gifts, so she’d know how to react when she tore through the paper. After Jonathan died, there weren’t any presents to open. The holidays were too much for her parents, so they stopped celebrating.

“Is there a station you like to listen to?” Owen fumbled with the radio and she shook her head.

“I listen to it all. Anything except heavy rap.”

“Okay.” He dialed into a classic rock station. “Do you have any ideas on what you’d like to do this afternoon?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t sure what you liked to do.” Gone was the confident Owen who’d kissed her with passion and tenderness an hour ago. In his place was an insecure, softly spoken stranger.

“I’m pretty easy to please. We can do lunch if you’re hungry.

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