Rekindling the Widower's Heart by Glynna Kaye

Author:Glynna Kaye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

He’d overreacted. Big-time.

The kids had ridden home with him in silence as they stared out the window, their only communication a shake of their heads when he’d offered to pick up burgers and fries for lunch. He’d been rewarded with no more enthusiasm when he threw in a milk shake.

Now, on the following Saturday morning—Fourth of July weekend—he sat in his pickup, staring at the project house. With a new roof and a number of new windows, the yard neatly groomed and flowers brightening the border of the porch, even without a fresh coat of paint it looked like a whole different place than it had a few weeks ago.

Delaney’s was the sole car parked on the street in front of him. He’d left a message on her phone yesterday morning that testing had confirmed the house was free of asbestos contamination. She hadn’t returned the call, but he still needed to talk to her.

Figuring the Mason kid would be a no-show, he could have insisted that Anna and Travis come this morning, but Anna had already volunteered to help Rio and their cousin J.C. accompany several parties of horseback riders on trail rides. Travis, too, had committed to assisting his uncle Grady repair one of the wagons that would be used for a hay ride under the stars tomorrow evening. Hunter’s Hideaway wouldn’t be putting on a fireworks show, but at this altitude visitors would see a spectacular display of God’s handiwork.

The dashboard clock confirmed it was already nine o’clock. Two hours later than the previous workday start times. But even if kids weren’t boycotting the project due to Delaney’s invitation to Drake, it was likely the turnout would be slim on a holiday weekend. Nevertheless, he needed to get his feet moving in the direction of the house so he could talk to Delaney alone.

He opened the truck door, then paused to glance at Rags who tilted his head curiously. “What am I going to say to her, buddy?”

That he couldn’t stop thinking about her? How she made him feel alive in a way he hadn’t felt in years? That her smiling presence and gentle fingers plucking the pine needle from his hair had unnerved him?

Or the added unfortunate truth? That a laughing, sopping-wet Delaney attempting to wrestle the hose from Marty, didn’t look much older than Scottie, Anna and Sybil.

He stepped out of the vehicle and his dog leaped to the ground. “She looked and acted like one of the kids.”

Her mentioning that boys will be boys had uncomfortably reminded him of Packy’s warning to keep an eye on Travis. And her calling to his attention that he was an old fuddy-duddy drilled home what he’d known from the moment he’d met her. She was young. Too young for him. And he’d immaturely taken that out on her and the kids.

Rags raced ahead and Luke reluctantly followed, then opened the screen door when he reached the house. The wooden interior door stood open and he stuck his head inside.

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