“We’re excited,” Ivy said. “And having a blended family doesn’t worry me—it’s all I ever knew.”
That’s right. Ivy and her three sisters had all been adopted.
“Well, remember Auntie Ginny is always available to help.” She shook a finger at Walker, who looked as if he was about to turn down her offer. “I spent six months helping Dare take care of her kids. Loved every minute of it—no, that’s a lie. I didn’t like the poopie diapers. But since you will have older kids, and poopie diapers should not be a part of it, I am very much looking forward to helping you as well. I love you. Both of you, and your future kids.”
Ivy’s eyes were a little watery. “You’re a wonderful little sister.”
Sisters. Ginny nearly gasped. “Your sisters must be over the moon. And your parents. And your grandma.”
Walker and Ivy laughed. “Yes, there are a whole lot of people who will be very excited. We’ve just begun the journey though. In the meantime, we dream.”
It seemed an appropriate moment for a change in focus. Ginny swung her legs to the floor so she could lean forward. “So. Living arrangements. What’s the master plan? Renovations on this place, or are you moving?”
The conversation shifted into Walker and Ivy’s more immediate needs for upgraded space to accommodate a bigger family. As the afternoon passed, Ginny offered suggestions and gloried in the reflected happiness of her brother and his wife.
Coming home to this new future was important. Ginny was so glad to be a part of the excitement and hope filling their home.
Tucker enjoyed a late lunch with his uncle, getting caught up on recent changes at the ranch. It was late afternoon when he excused himself to head back to the trailer to deal with everything involved in switching jobs.
Contacting his current boss offered another surprise.
“You just saved me from breaking bad news,” the older man shared. “Inspector went through the buildings and threw us for a loop. To meet code, we’ve got to rewire the entire system, which means the only thing we can legally board are a dozen horses in the one new barn. Which means, we don’t need any workers for the next while.”
“You mean you were about to fire me?” Tucker asked with a laugh.
“You’ve got every positive reference I can offer,” Raymond promised. “The only thing I can’t give you is a job. I’m glad you got something new lined up. I’ve appreciated having you around.”
Forward motion was always great. “I will need to come back for my stuff. Any timeline on that?”
“The sooner the better,” his now ex-boss said quickly. “When I said the entire system, that also means the lodging. I could use help getting all the animals moved into the temporary quarters or shifted to new boarding situations.”
Well, damn. Tucker need to take a road trip. “Let me check the weather for the next couple of days. If there’s an open window, I’ll come back and get started on that right away.”
“That would be a hell of a lot of help. While you’re here, we can finish up your final paperwork.”
After hanging up, Tucker sat at the table and took a deep breath. Seems he was now officially unemployed. Temporarily, but still. Nothing official had been signed yet with Silver Stone.
How unlike him to just roll forward without stopping to get everything lined up first. Ginny’s impulsive ways were finally wearing off on him.
Her mischievous expression flashed to mind.
Shit. Tucker glanced at his watch. Four thirty, on Boxing Day. What were the chances that he could still make it to a store in time to buy condoms?
He had to try. He scrambled to his feet and pulled on his coat, shoving open the door and nearly knocking Ginny off the steps.
“Whoa there, cowboy. You chasin’ down some doggies?”
He automatically accepted the bag she handed him, backing out of the way as she crowded forward. “I would say I needed to hit the store, except you’ve probably been brilliant, haven’t you?”
By the time she peeled off her coat, he’d peeked in the bag, sighing happily as he pulled out the extra-large box of condoms.
She stole it from his fingers. “Those are mine.”
Dear God. This woman. “Okay. I want to see you put them on.”
The heat that flashed in her eyes scalded him. “Oh, you can totally watch.”
This conversation just went five hundred degrees hotter and a completely different direction than it needed to. “Hold that thought.”
She hesitated. “Really?”
“Trust me, we will put your purchase to good use soon enough, but there’s something I need to tell you.”
By now she had her boots off. She grabbed him by his belt buckle and hauled him into the living space. “Something serious enough you’re putting a pause on sex, even though it’s been years? Okay, I’m all yours.”
Which was pretty much everything that he’d ever hoped for. Now to start working on making it true.
“You said you wanted to fool around for the two weeks I’m here on vacation.” When she nodded but didn’t say anything, Tucker went for it. “Other than going back to Winnipeg to pack, I’ll be staying at Silver Stone for longer. In fact, I’m pretty much staying for good.”
He could all but see the gears turning in her quick brain as she put two and two together. “If you’re not going home, that means you have a job here, yes?” Her eyes got big. “I bet it’s Ashton. Holy crap, is he actually retiring?”
“I’m really kind of complimented that you jumped to me taking over for him that fast,” Tucker admitted.
Ginny waved a hand. “Hell, yes. I mean, yeah, there’ll be things you need to learn, but you’ve spent more time at our ranch than most of the workers on the current payroll. Is Ashton sticking around to mentor you?”
“That’s the plan.” The fact she wasn’t freaking out about him staying in the area—that was a hopeful sign, wasn’t it?
She collapsed back on the couch, totally relaxed. “Congratulations. That’s gotta be really exciting.”
He linked his fingers through hers. Jumping in a little farther. “Thanks. Now I need to prove that I can actually do it.”
He rubbed his thumb against the back of her wrist. Her eyes widened slightly as she lifted her gaze to his. But instead of something about extending their two-week sexing relationship, something totally different came out of her mouth. “Me too. The prove it thing.”
It was such a change of direction from being about to ask her to date him that Tucker stalled. He pulled it together fast enough he hadn’t sat there silent for too long.
“What do you want to prove?” he asked.
She stared into space. “The whole time I was away I kept picturing what I would do when I got home that would make a difference. From stuff to grow to make money, to making sure everybody had the fresh fruits and vegetables they wanted—and now Caleb says some of that’s not needed anymore.”
“But some of it is still hugely valuable,” Tucker pointed out. “There’s a reason why people go to the farmers market. There’s a reason why people buy organic. If that’s something that you want to do, that’s valuable.”