“Thanks,” he said, lightly cupping her arm to bring them both to their feet. “That was sweet of you.”
“I…” She cleared her dry throat and because Sadiewassure she liked the feel of his warm touch, she moved away to clean the dog’s food and water bowls. “Ranger would’ve been fine on his own last night, but I wasn’t fine with it.”
“I appreciate you looking out for him and my dad,” he said.
“No worries.” She lifted a shoulder as she pushed a strand of hair off her face. “I also ran to the ranch and fed and exercised his horses this morning.”
“Again, very sweet of you,” he said, his gaze full of warmth and appreciation before a knowing gleam appeared. “You’re the one who brought the balloons and Ranger’s photo to the hospital, aren’t you?”
Her mouth twitched. “Guilty. I whipped up the frame and snapped the photo yesterday before heading to see Sam. I craft when I get nervous, or when I’m happy, sad, anxious. Basically, when I’m breathing.”
Dale laughed and the surprise that swiftly flickered through his eyes told her he hadn’t laughed in a while. “Good to know.”
“You know what else is good to know?”
He narrowed his sexy brown gaze. “What?”
“Maybe next time, don’t sneak up on the person helping your dad. I almost threw a bottle of ketchup at you.”
His chuckle filled the space between them. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Warmth spread through her body, and because she refused to resume her former habit of crushing on him, she gestured to the table, where she’d neatly arranged yesterday and today’s mail. “I brought that in for your dad. Any idea when he’ll be home?”
She knew Sam had hoped it would be today, but Sadie doubted it, considering his injuries.
Dale shrugged, a cloud of concern dimming his gaze. “Not for another day or two, then he has rehab in his future.”
Dang.
“I thought as much.” She sighed. “Well, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to take him to his appointments.”
Sam Taylor had gone to school with her dad and had become like a second father to Sadie after her parents retired and moved to Florida four years ago. She suspected her dad had asked his friend to keep an eye on her, because Sam had commissioned her to do some decluttering and small redesigns around his ranch over the past few years, even allowing her to film them for her online channel.
So, when he told her he planned to retire and sell the ranch, she’d jumped at the chance to pay him back by putting him in touch with her friend Emily’s older sister’s husband. Josh was a retired rodeo legend, looking to buy good quality breeding bulls. A win/win for everyone.
Not long after that, the house next to her went on the market, and that was how Sam became her neighbor. He’d confided in her that his lucrative business, plus the selling of his livestock had made it possible for him to buy the house without first selling the ranch.
She was pretty sure he’d delayed putting it on the market, hoping that one of his sons would want it.
“Thanks for the offer, Sadie,” Dale said, bringing her mind back to the present. “But I’m here now. I’ll make sure he’s taken care of.”
She frowned. “Are you on some kind of leave?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m home to stay.”
To stay?
Sadie blinked, trying to digest his meaning. “As in no more Navy?”
“Affirmative,” he replied, and a flash of sadness flickered through his eyes but disappeared so fast she questioned her eyesight.
Hope brightened her outlook. “Does this mean you’ll take over your father’s ranch?”
“I don’t know.” He shoved a hand through his hair and exhaled. “I hate to see the Taylor property go to someone else, but ranching is not in my blood. I have no interest in it.”
Even though she wasn’t crazy about his answer, Sadie couldn’t fault the guy for being honest, or for not wanting to be forced to do something he didn’t love.
That would make her a hypocrite, since her parents had hoped she’d take over their small accounting firm, and she’d chosen to follow her passion for art and creativity instead. She had, however, taken over their house and was now the fourth generation of Quinns to own it.
