Rounding the end of an aisle, she nearly bumped into Rush, who was pushing a cart with Clara inside. This morning she was wearing her princess costume.
“Hi, Tracy!” Clara gave her a grin. Rush greeted her with a smile and a strangely sexy twitch of his eyebrow.
“Hello, Your Highness.” Tracy gave the little girl a deep curtsy.
“We’ve got a Christmas tree,” Clara said. “We’re going to buy some decorations.”
“She wanted to wear her princess dress so people would recognize her,” Rush said.
“I’m sure they will,” Tracy said. “We’ve never had royalty in Branding Iron before.”
“I’ve been telling people about the kittens,” Clara said. “But remember your promise. You mustn’t give Snowflake away.”
“I’ll remember,” Tracy said. “So, for now, we just need homes for Tiger and Midnight, right?”
“Right.” Clara gave the royal wave to a passing shopper, who smiled and waved back.
“Maggie says you’re coming to dinner today,” Rush said.
“That’s right. It was nice of her to ask me.”
“And it was nice of you to accept. We’ll all be glad to have you there, especially the princess. You’ve become her favorite person.”
“Daddy,” Clara said, “after we shop, can I go to Tracy’s house and play with the kittens?”
Rush met Tracy’s eyes and gave a slight shake of his head. “Maybe another time. Tracy probably has things to do. And this morning we need to go home and decorate your tree.”
“But the kittens are getting big. Soon it’ll be time for their new homes.”
“Tomorrow would be a good day for me,” Tracy said. “But you’ll have to ask your dad first.”
“Please, Daddy!” Clara’s pleading expression was irresistible.
Rush frowned, then nodded. “I’ve got some appointments tomorrow morning. Barring an emergency, I should be able to pick her up around noon. Would that be too long?”
“It would be fine,” Tracy said. “As long as she doesn’t get bored.”
“I won’t get bored.” Clara tugged at her father’s sleeve. “Please, Daddy!”
“We’ll see. You’ll have to promise to behave yourself and not pester Tracy for things you can’t have.”
Like the white kitten. Tracy knew what he meant. “I was just about to get in the checkout line,” she said. “I’ll see you later, for dinner, okay?”
“Okay. Let’s get shopping, princess.”
Tracy watched him walk away with Clara waving and smiling in the cart. Sooner or later, Rush would find the right person and marry her. Whoever she was, she would be one lucky woman. Tracy sighed. Too bad that woman wasn’t going to be her.
At this early hour, the checkout line was short. Tracy made it to the register in a few minutes and paid for her purchases.
The bagger was a young man she recognized. Daniel, nice looking with dark eyes and hair, had Down syndrome. Last year, when his family was new in town, he and Katy had discovered each other. Now they were sweethearts. There’d been talk of a wedding, but for now they lived with their families and spent as much time together as possible.
“Can I help you to your car?” he asked Tracy as he put her bags in the cart.
“Thanks, Daniel, but I can manage fine,” Tracy said.
“Please let me help you,” he said. “I need to ask you something.”
“Of course.” Tracy let him lead the way to her car, pushing the cart. What could this nice young man possibly want to ask her?