The Rancher's Redemption

She grabbed the napkins out of his hands. “I’d better be getting back.”

He still didn’t budge. Unless she wanted to run out the back door, rush around the building, and reenter at the front, he was blocking her exit. For a moment she seriously considered it, but she was done being the one who backed down.

“Excuse me.” She attempted to get past and deliberately elbowed him in the side, which hurt her elbow, and did absolutely nothing to make him move.

“Lizzie . . .”

His deep voice did something to her; it always had—something she’d had to hide when he’d taken one look at her best friend when they were all sixteen, and instantly fallen in love. Up until then, he’d been her friend. She’d built some silly adolescent dreams around him that had all come crashing down. Luckily, she’d never told him any of it. Seeing him with Louisa had shown her the difference between like and love. And, as she’d loved them both, she’d learned to be happy for them.

“I know you’re busy right now, but could I possibly come and see you after work one night?” Adam asked.

“What?” Shock made her stop and stare right up into his eyes. “Why?”

He shrugged. “I’d like to talk to you.”

“Really.” She didn’t know how to process that, how to deal with his sudden reversal. It made no sense and he was making her feel way too many things all at once. “Maybe I don’t want to talk to you.”

He stepped back and she breathed more easily.

He held out a card. “This is my cell number. I don’t have yours. If you ever do want to talk, call me, okay?”

“Fine.” She took the card. “I’ve got to go.”

She practically sprinted through the kitchen, glad that Roman was too busy to notice her weird behavior. What was up with Adam Miller? She slowed down as she went through into the coffee shop. She didn’t want the customers to think the place was on fire. Daisy beckoned her over and Lizzie reluctantly complied.

“Is everything okay?” Daisy asked. “I think Adam was mad at me for suggesting he wanted to talk to you.”

“You think?” Lizzie sighed. “I know you want us to get along, Daisy, but—”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Daisy bit her lip. “I was just so pleased when he was concerned about you. It’s the first time he’s ever been like that about someone outside the family since Louisa died.”

“It’s all good.” Lizzie took a quick glance behind her, but there was no sign of Adam emerging from the kitchen. Perhaps he’d left.

She went back to the counter and served another couple of customers, and then, unable to resist any longer, took a sneaky look into the kitchen, and discovered Adam sitting with Maria and Roman apparently making dinosaurs. She still wasn’t sure what was going on, but he was definitely behaving oddly. She poured him a fresh cup of coffee and took it through, setting it at his elbow as far away from Roman as she could manage.

“Here you go.”

He looked up at her, his work-roughened fingers now streaked with green food coloring. “Thanks.”

She lingered for another second and came to a decision. “If you like, you can come and see me tonight at seven after Roman’s gone to bed.”

“That would be great.” He nodded slowly, the surprise in his gray eyes a mirror of hers. “I’ll be there.”

She scribbled her cell phone number down on a piece of paper Roman had drawn a picture on, and slid it over to Adam.

“My cell number. Let me know if you change your mind.”

He took the paper, put it in his pocket. She went back into the café. If Daisy wanted to know where her brother was, Lizzie would direct her to the kitchen.

Chapter Four

Lizzie checked on Roman for about the fortieth time, but he was sleeping soundly. She’d almost have welcomed him deciding to stay up and chat so that she wouldn’t have to spend time fretting about exactly why she’d caved and invited Adam Miller to her apartment. Seeing him sitting there, patiently making dinosaurs with her son, had done something to her resolve.

She’d changed out of her day dress into sweats and a T-shirt, and had not bothered to reapply her makeup. He’d have to take her just as she was. She had coffee brewing and cookies from Yvonne’s if he was hungry. Thinking of her boss, Lizzie smiled. Yvonne and Rio had looked at the Cortez ranch and two other vacant properties within Morgan Valley. They’d still been amicably arguing things through while they helped Lizzie close the shop for the night.