members whoâd converged upon the house for Beckyâs first communion. Heâd been surrounded by his nieces and nephews, who had spread their sleeping bags all over the floor.
The kids had gotten up at the crack of dawn, so heâd merely put his pillow over his head to block out the noise and the morning light.
He had no idea what time it was nowâor wheretheyâd goneâbut thankfully they were all up and at âem.
Years ago, heâd thought that the old sofa was pretty comfortable, but heâd awakened with a crick in his neck this morning, which left him ready to snap at anyone or anything that crossed his path.
Okay, so it was more than a few aches and pains that had him out of sorts. He was flat-out disappointed that he hadnât been invited to stay with Jillian last night, although he had no one to blame but himself.
Sheâd struggled with the decision to send him on his way. Heâd seen it in her eyes, heard it in her passion-laced voice.
If thereâd ever been a couple whoâd been sexually compatible, it was the two of them. So it wouldnât have taken much effort on his part to convince her to change her mind.
But the truth of the matter was that she was coming off a recent divorce, which meant that she was vulnerableâmaybe even more than most women might be. She hadnât had to come out and say that, either. Heâd seen that in her eyes, as well.
Only a jerk would have taken advantage of her, which was what heâd told himself last night while his conscience had warred with his libido.
âIâm on the rebound,â sheâd said. âAnd you might be, too.â
That hadnât been entirely true. Shane had gotten over his divorce a long time ago.
Still, heâd been tempted to suggest that they put another temporary balm on two grieving hearts, althoughheâd decided against it. Why jump into anything when the future was so questionable?
Besides, if she ever came out to Brighton Valley, which was becoming home to him, sheâd probably go into culture shock.
Of course, heâd been more than a little surprised to find her living in a modest apartment, instead of something ritzy. Especially since her jewelry and designer clothes suggested that she belonged in a much nicer placeâand in a better part of town.
So what was with that?
He supposed it made sense that she would move closer to the university she planned to attend, but wouldnât she be happier in an upscale neighborhood?
Or had she entered El Jardin that day primed and looking for a man who had money?
Shane didnât like that particular train of thought. Had he been wrong about her?
Before he could give it any real consideration, Jackâs six-year-old son ran up to him. âHey, Uncle Shane. Can I come out to your ranch someday and ride a horse? My dad said heâd take me out there, if itâs okay with you.â
Shane didnât mind having Jack and his family come to Brighton Valley. It might even be fun to show them around and make a day of it. âItâs not my ranch, Evan. But I can arrange a visit and a horseback ride.â
âCool! Iâll tell my dad you said it was all right. Woohoo!â
With that, the boy dashed off, whooping it up.
Shane liked kids; he really did. But sometimes it was tough being around his nieces and nephews, especiallywhen he couldnât help thinking that Joey would be four now and running around with them.
Using his fingers, he kneaded the stiff and sore muscles in his neck.
Once heâd attended that first communion and given his niece the charm bracelet heâd bought, heâd be historyâand headed back to Brighton Valley.
In the meantime, after folding up the blanket heâd used last night, he went into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. There, he found his mom alone, standing over the stove and flipping hotcakes.
âWhy are you doing all the work?â he asked
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