phone. It was Thunder Mountain Academy’s first Christmas, and although no students would arrive until January, he thought this holiday deserved to be commemorated.
Rosie pulled up beside him and rolled down the window. “Were you planning to get the mail or just stand around taking pictures?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Take pictures and get the mail.”
“Then I’ll wait here. We’ve been expecting word from the state as to whether students can use a semester at the academy for high school credit.”
Shoving his phone in his coat pocket, he walked the short distance to the main road and the mailbox. Sure enough, one of the envelopes had the state seal on it.
His boots crunched on the packed snow as he walked back to Rosie’s truck. “This might be it.” He handed her the envelope.
“Looks like it!” She ripped it open and unfolded the sheets of paper. “Woo-hoo! We’re approved!”
“Hey, that’s great!” He was happy for her and everyone connected with the project, but he suspected what was coming next and it could seriously mess with his plans.
“We need to celebrate!” Then she glanced at him. “Hey, I didn’t mean you. You have a date with Whitney tonight.”
“No problem. I’ll bring her out here.”
“Would you do that?”
“Sure. I’ll bet she’d want to celebrate with you. After all, she talked her boss into backing the project, so she’s invested in the success of it, too.” He had no idea if Whitney would embrace this change of plans. But she was an easygoing person so she probably would, even if she’d been eager to be alone with him. Hell, he’d been eager for that, too.
But this piece of paper was superimportant to his foster family. He couldn’t justify spending the entire evening at Whitney’s while everyone at Thunder Mountain was toasting their latest triumph. He’d ask her during dinner and see what her reaction was.
After handing over the rest of the mail, he got back into his truck and followed Rosie to the ranch. She parked around back in the garage, but he left his truck out front in the circular drive. He’d considered staying in town this afternoon and doing some Christmas shopping of his own, but in the end he’d decided to come back for a couple hours to be with Rosie and Herb.
If Rosie hadn’t been so enthusiastic about his connection with Whitney, he would have worried about stealing time from his foster parents to see her. But Rosie had insisted on shopping alone today, anyway. She’d also made it plain this morning that she’d rather have him find the love of his life than hang out with her.
He’d made a halfhearted attempt to talk her out of that love of his life business, but once she got that concept into her head, no one could dislodge it. Others more experienced than he was had tried and failed.
Herb was as excited about the news as Rosie had been. While Rosie figured out the menu, which would largely be Thanksgiving leftovers, Herb called everyone who might be able to show up for the festivities. Ty offered to run the vacuum and straighten up the house in preparation for another party. Every foster brother was a good hand with a vacuum cleaner and a dust rag. Rosie had demanded it.
By the time he left to meet Whitney at Rangeland Roasters, the house and the food were ready. Herb was setting up the bar while Rosie changed into a sparkly sweater and red jeans for the occasion. If Whitney chose not to come out here after the coffee shop closed at nine, then he’d drive back to the ranch after having dinner with her.
That would change the dynamic between them, and the potential for getting together tonight might disappear. He’d take that chance. Whitney made him smile and she turned him on more than any woman he’d dated in a long time. But for one thing, she lived nearly five hours away. For another, they’d barely scratched the surface when it came to getting acquainted. The geographical distance was going to make the
Rosie pulled up beside him and rolled down the window. “Were you planning to get the mail or just stand around taking pictures?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Take pictures and get the mail.”
“Then I’ll wait here. We’ve been expecting word from the state as to whether students can use a semester at the academy for high school credit.”
Shoving his phone in his coat pocket, he walked the short distance to the main road and the mailbox. Sure enough, one of the envelopes had the state seal on it.
His boots crunched on the packed snow as he walked back to Rosie’s truck. “This might be it.” He handed her the envelope.
“Looks like it!” She ripped it open and unfolded the sheets of paper. “Woo-hoo! We’re approved!”
“Hey, that’s great!” He was happy for her and everyone connected with the project, but he suspected what was coming next and it could seriously mess with his plans.
“We need to celebrate!” Then she glanced at him. “Hey, I didn’t mean you. You have a date with Whitney tonight.”
“No problem. I’ll bring her out here.”
“Would you do that?”
“Sure. I’ll bet she’d want to celebrate with you. After all, she talked her boss into backing the project, so she’s invested in the success of it, too.” He had no idea if Whitney would embrace this change of plans. But she was an easygoing person so she probably would, even if she’d been eager to be alone with him. Hell, he’d been eager for that, too.
But this piece of paper was superimportant to his foster family. He couldn’t justify spending the entire evening at Whitney’s while everyone at Thunder Mountain was toasting their latest triumph. He’d ask her during dinner and see what her reaction was.
After handing over the rest of the mail, he got back into his truck and followed Rosie to the ranch. She parked around back in the garage, but he left his truck out front in the circular drive. He’d considered staying in town this afternoon and doing some Christmas shopping of his own, but in the end he’d decided to come back for a couple hours to be with Rosie and Herb.
If Rosie hadn’t been so enthusiastic about his connection with Whitney, he would have worried about stealing time from his foster parents to see her. But Rosie had insisted on shopping alone today, anyway. She’d also made it plain this morning that she’d rather have him find the love of his life than hang out with her.
He’d made a halfhearted attempt to talk her out of that love of his life business, but once she got that concept into her head, no one could dislodge it. Others more experienced than he was had tried and failed.
Herb was as excited about the news as Rosie had been. While Rosie figured out the menu, which would largely be Thanksgiving leftovers, Herb called everyone who might be able to show up for the festivities. Ty offered to run the vacuum and straighten up the house in preparation for another party. Every foster brother was a good hand with a vacuum cleaner and a dust rag. Rosie had demanded it.
By the time he left to meet Whitney at Rangeland Roasters, the house and the food were ready. Herb was setting up the bar while Rosie changed into a sparkly sweater and red jeans for the occasion. If Whitney chose not to come out here after the coffee shop closed at nine, then he’d drive back to the ranch after having dinner with her.
That would change the dynamic between them, and the potential for getting together tonight might disappear. He’d take that chance. Whitney made him smile and she turned him on more than any woman he’d dated in a long time. But for one thing, she lived nearly five hours away. For another, they’d barely scratched the surface when it came to getting acquainted. The geographical distance was going to make the
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