Summer Days (Fool's Gold #7)(57)
When she drove onto the property, she saw a large delivery truck parked outside the house. The big lettering and appliance pictures made it clear May hadn’t ordered another set of llamas. Had the old stove finally died? Was May getting it repaired?
Heidi walked in through the mudroom and found May hovering as two guys hooked up a brand-new, stainless-steel stove. There were six gleaming burners and an oven big enough to roast a thirty-pound turkey.
May saw her and clapped her hands together. “You’re back. I was hoping they’d be gone before your lunch was over. I guess it’s still a surprise, though, right?”
May looked both guilty and pleased. “I couldn’t bear the thought of cooking in that old oven again, and Glen told me that pie is his favorite. I hope you don’t mind me going ahead with this. I should have asked first. I’m sorry.”
Heidi studied the other woman—the hope and worry in her dark eyes, the slight quiver at the corner of her mouth. There was no way May knew what Rafe was up to. Heidi refused to believe that. May was open and giving and generous. Traits her son could learn, but hadn’t.
“The stove is beautiful,” Heidi told her. “I’m thrilled.”
“Are you?” May hurried forward and hugged her. “That’s a relief. I was worried you’d be annoyed. But when I went to look at appliances, I couldn’t help myself.”
She led Heidi to the range and pointed out the features. The guys finished the installation. May signed the paperwork, and they left.
May reverently touched the handles. “Think about what we can cook with this. I’m going to make fresh strawberry pie first. Did you see the strawberries they have at that farm stand on the way to town? They’re huge and so delicious. I need to bake the crust, so it can cool.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “There’s just enough time.”
The back door opened and Rafe walked in.
“Mom, you’ve got to stop surprising us like this.” He walked into the kitchen. “New stove, huh?”
“Isn’t it wonderful?”
Heidi did her best to control her breathing. If she focused on inhaling and exhaling, she might not be so aware of Rafe standing next to her. Of the size of him and how, despite everything, she found herself longing to touch him.
Images from the previous night filled her brain. Sense memories tricked her fingers into recalling the feel of his skin. She could inhale the scent of him, feel the sensual kisses that had weakened her.
Without meaning to, she glanced at him. He winked and gave her a knowing smile. One that implied intimacy and connection. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to scream or weep. Pain battled with anger, but before either won, another large truck drove by the house.
“What else did you order?” Rafe asked, stepping through the mudroom on his way out back.
“Nothing.” May followed him. “Just the stove. I don’t have any other animals coming this week.”
Meaning there were more coming next week? Heidi didn’t bother asking. She honestly didn’t want to know.
She went out after them and saw a man walking around his truck to the horse trailer he had pulled behind. The trailer looked fancy, with a heating and air-conditioning unit on top and plenty of ventilation.
The man himself seemed familiar. Tall, with dark hair and a build very similar to Rafe’s. In the time it took May to shriek and run toward him, Heidi recognized his features from the pictures all around the living room. Shane Stryker had decided to join his family in Fool’s Gold. Lucky her.
* * *
“MOM TOLD ME TO COME,” Shane said from his place in the living room.
“When did you start listening to her?” Rafe wanted to know. Not that he wasn’t pleased to see his brother. He and Shane had always gotten along.
“It’s time for me to make my move,” Shane told him. “I’ve been working for other people long enough. I’m going to start my own bloodline. I’m already working on it. I bought a new stallion and he’s perfect.” Shane took another swallow from his bottle of beer, then shrugged. “Except for his damned temper. But I’ll get him to come around.”
Rafe glanced toward the kitchen, where May was happily cooking dinner for her middle son. “Did Mom mention we don’t technically own the ranch yet? In theory, the judge could rule in Heidi’s favor.”
“In theory.” Shane grinned. “Come on. You’re not going to let that happen.”
“True, but until we’re sure, you shouldn’t be making any plans.”
“I have faith in you, big brother. You’ll end up winning everything, like you always do.”
Rafe glanced toward the ceiling, a little uncomfortable with the conversation. While he did plan to end up victorious, he wasn’t ready for Heidi to know that. Especially after last night.
Just thinking about what had happened between them made him want to grin like a fool. Being with Heidi had been better than he’d imagined, and he’d imagined a whole hell of a lot. Just thinking about her in his bed had his blood heating. Not anything he wanted to experience with his brother in the room, so he shifted his attention to the horses Shane had unloaded.
“You drove here from Tennessee?” he asked. “With six racehorses?”
“The airlines don’t let me buy them seats, so there wasn’t much choice. They did fine. Now they can settle in while I finish up my business back east.”