Their Ranch Reunion. Mindy Obenhaus

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      After a moment, Carly tore her gaze away from him and started into the front room.

      Andrew set his cup on the counter and followed.

      Rounding the corner into the home’s only living space, he saw Megan pointing at the small stack of baseboards he’d begun to remove this morning. Before his plans were rerouted by Carly.

      “I was doing a little work.”

      Carly lifted a brow. “I’m not sure what kind of work it was, but you need to put those back.”

      Irritation sparked. Who was she to start giving him orders?

      “Whose is this?” Now on the other side of the room, Megan rocked back and forth in his grandmother’s glider, pointing to the duffel he’d left by the front door. He wouldn’t go so far as to call the kid nosy, but she was definitely curious. Not to mention observant.

      “That would be mine.” He turned to find Carly watching him.

      Both brows were up in the air this time. “Planning to stay a while?”

      This was ridiculous. He should not be interrogated in his own house. “As a matter of fact, I am. For several weeks. Which reminds me—” he crossed his arms over chest “—I think we need to set up a time to talk.” Glancing at Megan, he lowered his voice. “Privately.”

      Mirroring his stance, Carly said, “I was thinking the same thing.”

      “At least we’re in agreement about something.”

      “I’m going upstairs.” A sigh accompanied Megan’s announcement, quickly followed by the clomping of boots on the wooden steps.

      Andrew knew just how she felt.

      With Megan gone, Carly addressed him. “I’m curious. Before you learned that you were not the sole owner of this house, what were your intentions for it? I mean, were you planning to move in?”

      “Temporarily, yes. I’m going to update the place and use it for rental income.”

      Seemingly confused, she said, “Where will you be?”

      “Denver, of course.”

      Lines appeared on her forehead. “Let me get this straight.” She perched both hands on her hips. “You don’t want me to use Livie’s house for my bed-and-breakfast, yet you want to turn it into rental property?”

      “In a nutshell, yes.”

      “Why not just rent your half to me?”

      It wasn’t that he didn’t like Carly. He wasn’t purposely trying to thwart her plans. But this house was supposed to be his and his alone.

      He dared a step closer. “Because, should I come back to Ouray, I want to be able to stay here. Without having to share it with someone else.”

      She shook her head. “So you’d rather pay me half of the rent money you get? That makes no sense.”

      “Pay you? Why would I—?”

      “Mommy?” Megan hopped down the stairs, one loud thud at a time.

      Carly seemed to compose herself before shifting her attention to her daughter. “What is it, sweetie?”

      The girl tugged on Carly’s sleeve, urging her closer, then cupped a hand over her mother’s ear. “We should invite him for dinner.” For all her implied secrecy, Megan had failed to lower her voice.

      A look that could only be described as sheer horror flitted across Carly’s face. Her eyes widened. “Oh, I’m sure Andrew already has plans for—”

      “Nope. No plans at all.” Fully aware of her discomfort, he simply shook his head, awaiting her response.

      Clearing her throat, Carly straightened, looking none too happy. “In that case, would you care to join us for dinner?” She practically ground out the words.

      He couldn’t help smiling. “Sure. Why not?”

      Watching them leave a short time later, he knew good and well that Carly was no more excited about having him for dinner than he was about sharing his grandmother’s house. But as Grandma was fond of saying, it is what it is.

      Who knew? Maybe they’d have an opportunity to talk. And if all went well, by the time this evening was over, Grandma’s house would belong to him and him alone.

       Chapter Three

      Carly removed the meat loaf from the oven and put in the apple pie she’d tossed together at the last minute. Throw in some mashed potatoes and green beans and it was comfort food all the way. She’d need all the comfort she could get if she hoped to make it through an evening with the man who had once been able to read her every thought.

      Using a pot holder, she picked up the pan of meat and headed for the island. Nope. No plans at all. She all but flung the pan on the counter, sending spatters of tomato sauce across the butcher-block top.

      She grabbed a rag and wiped up the mess, knowing good and well that Andrew was simply trying to get her goat. And enjoying every minute of it, no doubt. Just like he did back in high school. Only she was no longer the timid girl who was afraid to stand up for herself.

      After throwing the rag into the sink, she returned to the stove to check the potatoes. Fork in hand, she lifted the lid on the large pot.

      It irked her that Andrew was planning to use Livie’s house as a rental. Why wouldn’t he just let—Wait a minute.

      Steam billowed in front of her.

      She was half owner. That meant she had a say in what went on next door. He couldn’t use it as a rental without her permission.

      Smiling, she poked at the vegetables. Yep, they were done.

      She replaced the lid and carried the pot to the sink. This whole dispute would be over if Andrew would simply agree to sell. Unfortunately, for as eager as she was to discuss purchasing his half of the house so she could move forward with her expansion plans, she wasn’t at liberty to talk business with Megan in the room. Which meant this whole evening was a waste of time.

      That is, unless her idea of plying Andrew with food actually worked.

      Holding the lid slightly off-center so as not to lose any of the potatoes, she drained the water from the pot. Maybe he’d be in such a state of gastronomic euphoria by the end of this evening that it would be impossible for him to say no when she again extended her offer.

      Dream on, girl.

      “Can I help?” Megan emerged from the adjoining family room at the back of the house, directly off the kitchen. Carly’s parents had built the addition when she was young as a private space for the family. Now Carly appreciated it more than ever, because it allowed her to keep an eye on her daughter while she worked in the kitchen.

      “Of СКАЧАТЬ