Harlequin Love Inspired May 2017--Box Set 2 of 2 by Allie Pleiter

Author:Allie Pleiter
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488018404
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

When Rory made the turn into Casa Blanca that afternoon, Javi sighed out loud. “I just wuv this pwace so much.” His voice took on a dreamlike tone, which was partially because he did love the big grape farm, but also because he was a little boy who simply wanted to go home.

“I know, little man, and that’s why we’re here. Cruz is meeting us and I do believe he’s bringing fried chicken.”

“I don’t like bones!” Lily looked like she’d prefer death to bones, with little room for discussion.

“Me eever,” declared her little brother. “Mimi never makes us eat chicken wif bones. Not ever ever.”

She should have told Cruz to get nuggets. Didn’t most kids love chicken nuggets? Why didn’t she tell Cruz to get the boneless bites kids love?

He pulled into the drive as Regina Reichert came through the front door with Uncle Steve. The kids dashed up to see Regina, their nearest neighbor before Brian Gallagher’s farm up the road, and Rory intercepted Cruz as he stepped out of the car. “Please say you got nuggets.”

“What?” He stepped out, looking downright puzzled, then smiled when he understood the question. “I did, actually, because the gal at the window said most kids prefer nuggets and I’m all about making kids happy these days.”

She grabbed his arm. “I’m so glad! The kids were about to mutiny over the thought of eating bones.”

“How can there be anyone who doesn’t love fried chicken?”

“I can’t even.”

He laughed, and then he slung an arm around her shoulders as if it belonged there…or as if they were long-lost friends, which they weren’t. “I love the way you talk.”

She paused and made him pause, too. “As opposed to the way Manhattan women talk?”

He didn’t answer, and when he walked up the steps with her, he removed his arm from her shoulders to shake Regina’s hand. “Thank you for coming on board with this, Mrs. Reichert.”

“I was happy to do it, but call me Regina, okay?” she told him. “Since I lost my husband, life’s been a circle of I-don’t-know-whats, spinning here and there, so taking care of your mother will help ease me back into a workforce I left a long time ago. She’ll get the best care I can give, Cruz.”

“I have no doubt.” He raised the take-out bags. “There’s plenty of food. I’d love for you to stay.”

Steve bowed out. “I’ve got to get home to do premarital counseling for a betrothed couple, but I expect eating alone gets old, doesn’t it, Regina?”

“It does, and I’d love to stay. But only if you’re sure.”

“Positive and honored,” Cruz told her, and the sincerity in his words made the older woman smile.

He had a knack, maybe one that hadn’t been used too often in his line of work. Or maybe it had, and Rory was fooling herself about his sincerity. Certainly she felt somewhat naive in his company, but that could be the dollar signs shrieking from his designer clothes.

The kids wolfed their food down like starving pups, then begged to go to the creek.

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