Summer Days by Susan Mallery Page B

groan. While Glen had taken her in and raised her, she knew the story was more about impressing May than recounting the past. Her grandfather had always had a way with the ladies. Unfortunately, he didn’t exactly have much of a track record when it came to long-term romantic relationships. She was going to have to remind him that he’d already stolen two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from May. Breaking her heart on top of that wouldn’t be helpful.
    He poured coffee. Heidi collected milk from the refrigerator and asked if anyone wanted sugar. Rafe, of course, drank his coffee black.
    “Is it goat milk?” May asked, picking up the small pitcher and pouring.
    “Yes.”
    “I can’t wait to try it.” She took a sip and smiled. “Perfect. In fact, everything is perfect. From what I can tell, there’s no reason why we can’t work out some kind of compromise.”
    “Mom,” Rafe began.
    His mother waved him into silence. “I want this, Rafe. I want to be a part of the ranch, and I don’t think there’s any reason Heidi and Glen can’t be a part of it, too. There’s room for all of us.”
    Heidi liked the sound of a compromise, but she would reserve judgment until she heard all the terms. Or had the money to pay May back. Although she had a feeling that the latter was going to take a little longer.
    “What did you have in mind?” Heidi asked.
    “I want to make a few improvements,” May said. “The barn needs to be fixed and the fence lines. This house…” She glanced at the aging appliances. “Those were old when I lived here. I hated that oven.”
    “Me, too,” Heidi admitted. “One side doesn’t heat.”
    “So you have to keep turning everything. I remember. There’s painting to be done and maybe new floors.”
    “Slow down,” Rafe told her. “Let’s take things one at a time.”
    May set her mouth. “I’m sorry, Rafe, but I’ve been waiting to get back to this ranch for twenty years. I’m here now. At my age, I can’t afford to slow down.”
    “At your age.” Glen shook his head. “You’re barely out of your teens and too young for me. More’s the pity.”
    May ducked her head. “I have four grown children.”
    “Even looking at Rafe here, I can barely believe it.”
    Rafe’s jaw twitched. “Maybe if you made a list.”
    Everyone stared at him.
    “Of what you’d like to do at the ranch,” he clarified.
    “Good idea,” his mother said.
    “Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn from time to time,” he muttered.
    Heidi hid her grin behind her mug and thought maybe she’d been a bit hasty in judging Rafe’s sense of humor. As much as she liked May, she could see that the older woman wouldn’t be all that easy to deal with. The combination of sweetness and determination could be daunting. Not that Glen was any less complicated.
    May put down her mug. “Rafe and I should be going. I want to get right on making that list. You know where we’re staying, right? At Ronan’s Lodge? Oh, let me give you my cell number, and I’ll take yours.”
    “You’re staying in town, then?” Heidi asked.
    Rafe answered. “Yes. Until this is settled, we’re not going anywhere.”
    More threat than promise.
    “Lucky us.” Glen took May’s hand in his. “I look forward to seeing you again, very soon.”
    “Me, too,” May whispered back, her gaze locking with his.
    Heidi didn’t know if she should leave the older couple alone or insist on being a chaperone. Either way, she was going to have a very long talk with her grandfather.
    Even as she wondered how she was going to convince him to see reason, she saw Rafe studying Glen. Because they weren’t in enough trouble already, she thought grimly, confident he would continue to protect what was his. She could only hope his matchmaker person found someone fast. With Rafe distracted, she might have a prayer of surviving the disaster that was her life.
    * * *
    H EIDI WAITED UNTIL R AFE and his mother had driven away, then walked into the