“Will I be staying with you or in the guest room?” she asks.
Forget what they tell you about how there’s no such thing as a dumb question. There is, and that one is a prime example. “In my room, of course.”
“Won’t it be a little confusing for Deacon? Or do you usually bring women home to sleep in your room?”
Hell, no. Even before Deacon moved into the ranch house, I had a policy that prevented the women I planned to fuck from coming home with me. We always went to their place. It was my number one rule.
“Well, no…” I tell her, unsure what that has to do with anything.
“His mom and dad are married, so it makes sense that they are in the same room. And Sophie and Jake are getting married soon, so that’s fine, too. But you and I are only together while I’m in Copper Creek.”
I get what she’s saying, but I really don’t believe it’ll make a difference. It’s not like our sharing a room will turn Deacon into a hooligan.
“You can stay in the guest room if it makes you feel better.” I turn around and pull her against me. “But don’t think for a second that you’re off-limits while we’re living together. Except you’ll have to come to my room because the guest room is next to Deacon’s.”
“I can do that. But are you really sure your brothers will be okay with me staying at the ranch?”
“If you want, I can ask them.”
She nods.
I send both TJ and Violet texts to double-check with them. I know whatever they say will be echoed by Jake and Sophie.
We don’t have to wait long for their replies. The text has barely left my phone before I get a pinged answer from Violet.
I show Kate the phone and she laughs at her friend’s message:Of course she’s staying here, dumbass. Where did you expect her to stay?
TJ’s text comes soon after:I take it you’ve had your question answered. You’re lucky you didn’t ask her in person. She might have cuffed your head for being an idiot.
“And if you had any doubts about if Violet considers you a friend…” I say after Kate reads the message.
We go upstairs, and I help her pack her suitcases.
I hold up a pair of red lacy panties and a matching bra from her suitcase. “I want to see you in my room tonight wearing these and only these. But if you want to add a tool belt, I’ll be supportive of that fantasy, too.” I wink at her.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She laughs and removes the dresses from the closet that look like they belong from another century. She slips them into garment bags and puts them on the bed.
“You’re bringing those with us?”
“Sure. They were important to Charlotte. I’ve decided to keep them, at least for now. Or until I can figure out what to do with them.” From the same closet, she pulls out the box holding the letters between Charlotte and her mystery man. That, too, goes on the bed.
“Did you ever figure out what happened to John?” I ask her, nodding at the engraved wooden box.
“Sadly, no. Their letters to each other suddenly stopped. The question is, how did she get back the ones she sent him? Maybe it’s one of those mysteries I’ll never solve.”
Have I read the letters? No. Kate’s just talked about them. All we know is that Charlotte and John were engaged while he was serving in the Korean War, they were in love, and they’d had wild sex in the Thunderbird before John was deployed.
“It’s just sad that I’ll never get to learn more about him,” Kate says. “From what I could tell, he was the love of her life, and she never fell in love again. Or I’m assuming she never fell in love again. According to Tilly and Meg, Charlotte did date, but she never had any long-term relationships.”
“You mean she was a player?”
Kate backhands my chest. “Women aren’t players. They’re testing their options.”
“So I’m just an option you’re testing?” I laugh at her flushed response.
We load the truck, and Charlie jumps onto the rear seat of the cab once we’re finished.
“You do realize I’m driving my car there,” Kate tells him.
