asked.
“I'm sorry? Colby
had no idea where the conversation
had gone.
“I was just
telling Ian that you'd been interested in
Oak Hill for years.
“Oh. So you're
the one who bought it? It's a beautiful
farm, Ian.
66
GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS
“It is. Needs
some work, but I hope to get it in shape.
Virginia's a beautiful state. It's a
ful one-eighty from New
York City.
“I'm sure. What
are you planning to do with Oak
Hil ?
“Right now my
main objective is to get the place in
presentable condition. I'm afraid I
don't know very much
about farming.
“Oh, that's too
bad, she said, thinking it an injustice
for some New York City tycoon who
wouldn't know an
alfalfa field from a turnip patch to
get the farm she'd
dreamed about buying herself
someday.
“I need to check
on dinner, Phoebe said, getting up
and heading for the kitchen. “You
stay put and enjoy your
wine, Colby. I'l be right back.
Colby got up from her chair and
forced a smile at the
two men. “I'll go
give her a hand. She's far too thoughtful
to ask for help.
In the kitchen, Colby thumped her
glass down on the
counter. “Phoebe,
this may be grounds for breaking up.
Phoebe looked up from the vegetable
lasagna she was
removing from the oven. “Don't
tell me he's not drop-
dead gorgeous.
“I was too
embarrassed to notice.
“Why on earth are
you embarrassed?
“Because! she
said, throwing up her hands in
exasperation. “He
was in my office with his dog earlier this
week. He probably thinks I knew
about this then.
67
INGLATH COOPER
Phoebe lit up with delight.
“Haven't you always said
good guys love their dogs? What more
perfect way for you
two to meet.
“I don't want to
meet anyone!
“Wel , I know you
think you don't. . . .
“This is the last
time, Phoebe Walker! I'm not ever
coming to your house for dinner
again unless you sign a
legally binding statement that there
will be no potential
husbands sitting on the other side
of the table.
Phoebe placed the lasagna on the
stovetop with a
frustrated look on her face. “Once
the single women in this
county get wind of this man, they'll
be knocking the door
down. I was just trying to get you
in the starting gate a little
ahead of the others.
“Do I look that
desperate? Colby said, thinking of
Cindy Stoneway's flat tire.
“No, Phoebe
protested. “I hate to see you alone.
“I'm not alone. I
have my daughter.
“That's not the
same.
Frank appeared in the doorway,
interrupting them.
“Dinner ready?
“We were just
about to bring the food out, Phoebe
said with a bright smile.
Colby grabbed a couple of bowls and
fol owed Frank
out of the kitchen, feeling every
bit like an old racehorse.
68
10
olby ended up seated beside Ian at
dinner, with
CPhoebe and Frank directly across
from them.
Once they al fil ed their plates,
Phoebe dimmed the
chandelier above the dining room
table. Although the
ambience hinted a little too
strongly at romance, Colby was
grateful that she didn't have to
look directly at Ian for the
entire night.
By this point, she accepted the
humor in the situation.
It was kind of funny that she'd met
the man on Monday
without any idea that he would be
the main ingredient in
Phoebe's matchmaker soup.
Their seats were close enough that
they kept bumping
shoulders. Every time his jacket
sleeve brushed her bare
arm, she felt as though she'd
encountered a force field of
electricity. She ended up sitting
poker straight in her chair,
keeping her elbows tucked tightly at
her side.
Phoebe smiled at her every now and
then, imploring
her with her eyes to loosen up.
69
INGLATH COOPER
If it had been anyone else beside
her, maybe she would
have after a few sips of wine. But
there had been something
about meeting Ian McKinley the first
time that stayed with
her, brought up thoughts of Doug and
the past. Handsome
in the same
“I'm sorry? Colby
had no idea where the conversation
had gone.
“I was just
telling Ian that you'd been interested in
Oak Hill for years.
“Oh. So you're
the one who bought it? It's a beautiful
farm, Ian.
66
GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS
“It is. Needs
some work, but I hope to get it in shape.
Virginia's a beautiful state. It's a
ful one-eighty from New
York City.
“I'm sure. What
are you planning to do with Oak
Hil ?
“Right now my
main objective is to get the place in
presentable condition. I'm afraid I
don't know very much
about farming.
“Oh, that's too
bad, she said, thinking it an injustice
for some New York City tycoon who
wouldn't know an
alfalfa field from a turnip patch to
get the farm she'd
dreamed about buying herself
someday.
“I need to check
on dinner, Phoebe said, getting up
and heading for the kitchen. “You
stay put and enjoy your
wine, Colby. I'l be right back.
Colby got up from her chair and
forced a smile at the
two men. “I'll go
give her a hand. She's far too thoughtful
to ask for help.
In the kitchen, Colby thumped her
glass down on the
counter. “Phoebe,
this may be grounds for breaking up.
Phoebe looked up from the vegetable
lasagna she was
removing from the oven. “Don't
tell me he's not drop-
dead gorgeous.
“I was too
embarrassed to notice.
“Why on earth are
you embarrassed?
“Because! she
said, throwing up her hands in
exasperation. “He
was in my office with his dog earlier this
week. He probably thinks I knew
about this then.
67
INGLATH COOPER
Phoebe lit up with delight.
“Haven't you always said
good guys love their dogs? What more
perfect way for you
two to meet.
“I don't want to
meet anyone!
“Wel , I know you
think you don't. . . .
“This is the last
time, Phoebe Walker! I'm not ever
coming to your house for dinner
again unless you sign a
legally binding statement that there
will be no potential
husbands sitting on the other side
of the table.
Phoebe placed the lasagna on the
stovetop with a
frustrated look on her face. “Once
the single women in this
county get wind of this man, they'll
be knocking the door
down. I was just trying to get you
in the starting gate a little
ahead of the others.
“Do I look that
desperate? Colby said, thinking of
Cindy Stoneway's flat tire.
“No, Phoebe
protested. “I hate to see you alone.
“I'm not alone. I
have my daughter.
“That's not the
same.
Frank appeared in the doorway,
interrupting them.
“Dinner ready?
“We were just
about to bring the food out, Phoebe
said with a bright smile.
Colby grabbed a couple of bowls and
fol owed Frank
out of the kitchen, feeling every
bit like an old racehorse.
68
10
olby ended up seated beside Ian at
dinner, with
CPhoebe and Frank directly across
from them.
Once they al fil ed their plates,
Phoebe dimmed the
chandelier above the dining room
table. Although the
ambience hinted a little too
strongly at romance, Colby was
grateful that she didn't have to
look directly at Ian for the
entire night.
By this point, she accepted the
humor in the situation.
It was kind of funny that she'd met
the man on Monday
without any idea that he would be
the main ingredient in
Phoebe's matchmaker soup.
Their seats were close enough that
they kept bumping
shoulders. Every time his jacket
sleeve brushed her bare
arm, she felt as though she'd
encountered a force field of
electricity. She ended up sitting
poker straight in her chair,
keeping her elbows tucked tightly at
her side.
Phoebe smiled at her every now and
then, imploring
her with her eyes to loosen up.
69
INGLATH COOPER
If it had been anyone else beside
her, maybe she would
have after a few sips of wine. But
there had been something
about meeting Ian McKinley the first
time that stayed with
her, brought up thoughts of Doug and
the past. Handsome
in the same
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