The Rancher's Redemption

“I see you decided to take my advice.”

Mr. Lexus smiled up at him. “Yeah, thanks for that.”

“You haven’t been here before?” Adam inquired and Lizzie tensed.

“Well . . .” Mr. Lexus looked past Adam directly at Lizzie. “I might have dropped by yesterday.”

“So, why pretend you hadn’t?” Adam asked.

The other guy sighed. “Look, I’m just doing my job, okay? There’s no need for the interrogation.”

“As in what job? Spying?” Lizzie joined the conversation.

“I’m a private investigator.” He handed them both a card. “And, no, I can’t tell you anything more than that, and yeah, I’m leaving town soon so you probably won’t see me again.”

“You’re meeting Coretta Smith?” Lizzie asked.

“I can’t confirm that.” He turned toward the counter as Yvonne delivered his smoothie and breakfast muffin. “Thanks. I think I’ll take these to go.”

Before Lizzie could think of a polite way to stop him, he was off, the shop door closing behind him. Adam made as if to follow him and Lizzie grabbed hold of his arm.

“Don’t.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I just want to ask him what the hell is going on.”

“I think it’s obvious, don’t you? Coretta is trying to find evidence against me,” Lizzie said. “Although, why that guy approached you, I have no idea.”

“I do,” Adam said grimly. “She’s trying to make you look bad.”

“Which is probably why he flirted with me, just to see how easily I’d go out with anyone.” Lizzie shuddered. “That’s just gross.”

“Yeah.” Adam briefly squeezed her shoulder. “I have to take Leanne up to the ranch, but text me if anything happens, okay?”

“Will do.” Lizzie nodded. “I still don’t understand why Coretta is so obsessed with bringing me down. You’d think she’d be pleased that Roman is growing up in a great place surrounded by love. And the worse thing is that I can’t even talk to her about this. She just hates me.”

Even as she finished speaking, she found herself wrapped in Adam’s arms, her head resting just under his chin.

“It’s okay, Lizzie,” he murmured against her hair. “You’ve got this.”

He stepped back and looked down at her. “Call me, okay?”

She nodded as he went back to sit with his mother and she checked in on her customers. She had a bad feeling that whatever Adam believed, they hadn’t seen the end of Coretta’s obsession yet.

* * *

“You’re worried about Lizzie, aren’t you?”

Adam glanced sideways at Leanne as they traveled up toward the ranch. She’d put her sunglasses on so he couldn’t see much of her face.

“Yeah.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I doubt it, but thanks for asking.” Adam returned his attention to the road.

“I used to know Coretta Smith quite well. I could go talk to her.”

Adam considered that as they made the final turn up to the ranch. “You’d best speak to Lizzie.”

“Maybe I will.” Leanne picked up her purse and released her seat belt as Adam came to a stop. “Can we just sit here for a minute?”

“In the truck?” Adam focused on her fully for the first time.

She let out her breath. “I’m just trying to get my head around being here. Your father was adamant that I’d never set foot on his land again.”

It sounded like the kind of thing his dad would say, so Adam kept quiet.

“It’s changed quite a bit, but the house is basically the same,” Leanne added.

“You know Dad,” Adam said. “Ranch first, house last.”

“I know.” Her smile was rueful. “I remember when I needed a new washing machine to cope with the clothes for the eight of us, and he refused to buy one. For almost a year, I had to take everything to Ruth Morgan’s place, and do all the laundry there.”

“I don’t remember that,” Adam said slowly.

“I’d do it when you were all at school. Thank God for Ruth,” Leanne said. “She found me here one day crying my eyes out, trying to hand wash fifteen pairs of filthy Wranglers, and offered her help.”