Chris laughed and Lizzie absorbed the sound, so easy and, well, manly. Only minutes ago he’d been standing in her kitchen kissing her. Kissing!
So much for keeping this strictly business. And the worst part of it was, she’d liked it. Too much.
“Hey, squirt. Hang on a few minutes, okay?” He smiled down at Alex and looked at Julieta. “Hospital’s not much of a fun place for a boy, huh.”
Julieta’s eyes were troubled. “During the week he has school and then after-school care, and our housekeeper is always around. Usually the weekends aren’t an issue. Except...”
“Of course, you need to be here.”
Savannah came down the hall and into the waiting area. Lizzie was always a little envious of her sister. Her dark hair fell in a smooth bob and she had skin that Lizzie hadn’t seen since she was twelve. Even in her casual work-wear of jeans and a store T-shirt, Savannah had a natural beauty that shone.
“Oh, hey, Chris.” Savannah smiled and then looked to Julieta and Lizzie. “He’s awake and grouchy.”
Lizzie laughed, relieved. “In other words, he’s feeling his old self.”
“Yeah. Of course, my peaches and cream muffins helped soften him up a little. I’ve got to get back to open the store but I’ll come in after we close for the day, okay?”
“Of course.” Lizzie smiled at her. Savannah had such a nurturing streak, and had channeled that into a very successful business, running the ranch store where she sold their produce as well as all sorts of jams, jellies and baked goods. The one bone of contention seemed to be Brock, who insisted on maintaining ownership rather than handing off that whole side of the business to Savannah. “He’ll need to rest some anyway,” Lizzie assured her sister. “Don’t worry.”
Lizzie gave her sister a hug and watched as she walked down the white-tiled hall, stopping to talk to Carly for a moment as the younger sister brought back two cups of coffee and a bottle of juice for Alex.
Lizzie turned and saw Chris watching her curiously.
Kissing her in the kitchen...
Carly’s voice chided her. “I didn’t know you were coming so early. I didn’t get you coffee.”
“That’s okay. I don’t need it anyway.” She tried a smile, grateful to not b
e in the position to have to refuse. “Who’s next up? Do you mind if I sneak in to see Dad now? I’m driving Chris back to San Antonio and want to get an early start.”
“Sure, go ahead.” Carly nodded. “I could stand some caffeine before going a few rounds with him.” She offered a wry smile, and Lizzie reached back and gave Carly’s thick braid a tug.
“You are not to deliberately provoke him, okay?”
Carly grinned. “Most of the time I can’t help it.” But then Carly’s smile softened. “Don’t worry, Lizzie. He’s a stubborn pain in the neck but we’re all just thankful he’s okay. No arguments. I promise.”
Lizzie gripped her purse tighter, hoping that Brock was in his gruff but amenable mood this morning. Or that the painkillers were working. Beside her, Chris spoke to Alex. “Hey, partner, have you checked out the gift shop yet?”
Alex shook his head soberly.
“You want to?”
To his credit, Alex looked to his mother for permission. “Go ahead,” she said. “Chris—thanks. I know he’s a handful.”
“He’s a boy, that’s all. I’ll see if I can find out what Brock’s favorite junk food is and sneak in some contraband.”
Alex piped up right away. “He likes chips and beer.”
Lizzie choked out a laugh as Chris and Alex walked away, Chris explaining that beer might be a tough thing to get hold of in a hospital.
“He seems like a good guy, Lizzie. I’m happy for you.” Julieta’s voice was quiet by her side. Carly sat in a chair flipping through a magazine.
“It’s... Yeah.” Lizzie hesitated, not sure how to explain their relationship at all and yet hating lying about it. “I’d better get in there. If I’m not out in fifteen minutes, send Rangers in the direction of the shouting.”
“You’re going to talk work, aren’t you?” Julieta’s calm face switched to an expression of disapproval.
“Only as much as I have to. Enough so I know what’s going on when I walk into the office on Monday morning.”