Mack walked to the window and pushed the curtains aside. “Well, that might happen unless this storm blows over us. The weatherman said there’s a chance we might notgethit.”
“What do you think?” Drewasked.
“I think we’d better startpraying.”
“It wouldn’t hurt,” Drew slid off the stool and stretched. “I’m going to head up to the house. If you see Madison, tell her I’ll forgive her as long as she doesn’t impersonate meagain.”
“Will do,” Mackgrinned.
Drew walked into the foyer and grabbed his favorite Stetson off the hat rack. After pushing it onto his head, he glanced toward the stairs. It didn’t matter how much his bear wanted to lick Sharon from head to toe, women weren’t worth the pain. He’d been down that trail before and never intended to put himself out thereagain.
Chapter3
Huge platters of eggs,bacon, toast, and hash browns covered the large dining room table. Cindy shifted to reach for the plate of bacon in the same moment that Drew leaned forward. When their fingers brushed, electric currents of heat sizzled up her arm. Shepulledaway.
“You first,”shesaid.
“How many pieces do you want?” Drewasked.
She glanced around the table at his brothers’ and their wives’ plates. Even as her stomach grumbled, she counted up the average number of pieces per person. She didn’t want to take more thananyoneelse.
“Four,”shesaid.
After using tongs to set the slices on her plate, he reached for the hash browns. He scooped a large clump onto her plate before taking an even larger portion for himself.Jeez, these people sure know howtoeat.
The tension in her back eased. When she’d first arrived at the table, she’d felt out of place. But Drew’s family had gone out of their way to make her feelathome.
Across the table, Hank, one of the brothers, leaned over to whisper something in his wife Carol’s ear. She giggled and blushed before leaning over to give him a quick kiss. They both had their hands under the table and their expressions gave away their friskyplayfulness.
Cindy sighed. She’d been in love like that once. Or at least she’d thought it was love. Who knew there could be such a fine line between love andobsession?
“Do you have any plans for today?” Abbyasked.
“Not yet,” Cindyreplied.
She tried to keep her gaze on Abby’s porcelain-perfect face instead of her hair. Cody’s fiancée sported a coifed hairstyle worthy of a movie star. An up-do like that took at least a quarter of a can ofhairspray.
Years ago when Cindy had first moved to Hollywood, she’d envied all the perfect-looking women. But as an obstetrician, she’d seen behind the curtain into their private lives. Even the most well-maintained façade cracked under the pressure of pregnancy. She’d seen more than her fair share of fights and should have been able to recognize the cracks in her marriage. If only she’d been payingattention.
She shoveled a spoonful of eggs into her mouth. If she ever found it in her heart to love again, she’d have to be much more cautious than she’d been the first time. But falling in love again was so far out of the realm of possibility that it wasn’t worthdwellingon.
“Hey Drew,” Hank said. “Maybe you should take Sharon horseback riding. It’s going to hit a high of thirty today. That’s warm enough for a ride. I doubt she wants to be cooped up in hereallday.”
Drew’s head snapped up. He shot a look at his brother before dropping his gaze back to his plate. He stabbed at a piece of bacon withhisfork.
“I have a lot to do today,”Drewsaid.
“The rest of us can take care of your chores,”Macksaid.
“It’s okay,” Cindy jumped in. “If you have things you need to do, I can find a way to entertain myself. I saw the library. I love to read, so that will keep meoccupied.”
Drew set his fork down. If looks could kill, Mack would have been gunned down in thatmoment.
“No. I’d behappyto take you horseback riding,” Drew said in a gruff tone. “As soon as we’re finished eating, we canheadout.”
“You could show her the hot tub later,”Codysaid.
“Seriously?” Drew arched a brow at hisbrother.
