Intimate Illusions [The Callens 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody Snow Monroe Page B

made lunch?”
    The three plates would be a clue. “Ian and I missed lunch.”
    “That’s nice.”
    Ian came waltzing in and smiled. “Hey. Lunch. Nice.”
    He picked up a plate and carried it to the kitchen table. While she often ate with the models, it was rare to sit with regular people. Being with these two made her realize what she’d been missing—a family. Too bad Ian had no interest in settling down and Max wasn’t willing to open up enough to let anyone in.
     
    * * * *
     
    Max added more numbers into his spreadsheet and studied the bottom line. So far this year, the ranch was on schedule to do well. The sale of their exceptionally good beef had brought in a nice profit thanks to Ian.
    He checked his watch and figured he had time to start his next chore as Devonne wouldn’t need a ride for another few hours. Max had volunteered to drive Devonne back to the ranch after she showered because Ian had to make sure the new cattle were taken care of.
    The fashion show director had called and said she wanted to go over a few things with the ladies. Max supposed he could have let her drive his truck the mile to the ranch, but where would the fun be in that?
    He wasn’t certain when Devonne had begun to get under his skin. It was probably during the chess game. She was good, he’d hand her that, mostly because she was patient and analytical in her approach to the game. He never would have expected her to possess those talents given how she was always laughing when she was around Ian.
    In retrospect, if he’d been paying a bit more attention to her interactions with others, he would have seen her dual sides. When she was with her girlfriends, she seemed to hang back as if she was trying to stay away from their drama. He respected someone who wanted her own space. At lunch, she caught onto some of his double entendres, but she pretended as if she didn’t. Devonne was an illusion. She was flighty one minute and very shrewd the next. It was as if she didn’t want anyone to know her secrets.
    Hell, she’s just like me .
    His cell rang. “Hello?”
    “Max, it’s Devonne. Can you come pick me up?”
    He hadn’t expected to hear from her until after dinner. “Is everything okay?”
    “Yes. I just feel like coming back.”
    “Sure. Be right there.” He saved the document on his computer and headed out.
    He didn’t like the way her voice had wobbled. Perhaps one of the girls had said something hurtful, and Devonne needed some distance. His protective side flared up because she’d sounded upset.
    Whenever he needed to be free of all the negativity in the world, he took a hike up Cedar Rock in the national forest. Maybe Devonne would like a chance to see the world from a different perspective and clear her mind. He’d have to carry her gear since she seemed too fragile to handle a pack of her own.
    He pulled in front of the ranch where Devonne was waiting. There was no bright smile. Damn . He jumped out and opened her door a second before she reached for it. He wanted to judge her mood before suggesting the hike.
    “I thought you’d stay through dinner.”
    She shrugged. “It gets a bit hectic sometimes. Your house is peaceful.”
    “Can I interest you in a hike up a mountain?”
    Her eyes shone for a split second then her hand fisted. “How hard of a climb is it?”
    “It’s a slow incline, but we can take our time.”
    “Sure.”
    She didn’t sound completely enthusiastic, but maybe once he got her into the woods, she’d change her mind. “Do you have sneakers or something you can hike in, other than your boots?” They’d do in a pinch, but he wanted a shoe with some grip on the bottom.
    “I’ve got some sturdy sneakers.”
    “Perfect.” They reached his ranch. “How about you get ready, and I’ll gather some gear.”
    “Great.”
    He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake, but if she made it to the top, it could help her decide if she wanted to live in Wyoming, assuming she’d meant what