Laughing, she grabbed his hand and headed for the Jeep.
“So, how’d it go in there?” He dug into his pocket for the keys.
“It was just like you said. One of the Cooters is in property development. He’s in the middle of an ugly divorce. Ugh.” She tipped her head back. “That sounds terrible, doesn’t it? Me being excited when he’s going through hell?”
“No, it’s fine. So, what did he say?”
“They’re trying to sell off their holdings, but in the meantime, they’re renting the vacant ones out. Anyhow, they’ve got this fantastic warehouse in a strip mall right near where I bought my clothes. It actually used to be a furniture store, and he said he’d let me use it for the pop-up.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“It is, but now I have to get Lachlan to agree to do it.”
“I thought he already did.”
“Well, he grunted something that I chose to take as a yes.”
“Wait, you’re going to all this effort, and you don’t even know if he’s going to do it?”
“He needs to do it.” After climbing into the Jeep, she pulled out her phone. “Now, I just have to convince him that I can pull this off.”
* * *
After dinner, Declan set the last glass in the dishwasher and dried his hands on a kitchen towel. Beside him, Tina wiped down the counter. She’d seemed preoccupied all night. “How can I help with the festival tomorrow?”
“You just come and enjoy it.” Tina rinsed out the sponge. “I’ve got this thing running like a well-oiled machine.”
Something was on her mind, and as much as he wanted to find Phinny, it didn’t seem right to leave when Tina was troubled. “You miss him?”
She swung around to him, one hand going to her heart. “Oh.” Sadness tightened the skin around her mouth. “More than I can say. This place feels so empty without him. He might not have talked much, but his presence filled it up.” Reaching for a dish towel, she folded it in half, then in half again. “So…the contest’s coming up. You ready for it?”
“I am.” Three and a half weeks ago, he hadn’t questioned who’d win. But Phinny had come to care about this place, and she’d learned everything she could. He wasn’t so sure anymore.
What he didn’t know was what she’d do if she won.
She unfolded the towel, smoothing her palm on it like an iron. “Do you know what you might do with the ranch? It’s a full-time job. You can’t be doing hockey if you’re going to run this place.”
Now that he knew what worried her, he could do his part to ease her fears. “I won’t give up hockey, but I promise to keep this ranch going just as Kurt intended.”
She looked right at him. “And if Phinny wins?”
That’s the part I can’t control. “She’s got a business idea that’s based in Calamity.”
Tina looked hopeful.
“But I don’t know if she’ll keep this place. I think she cares enough about it at this point that she won’t sell to a developer, though. She’ll wait until she finds someone who wants to continue Kurt’s work.”
“She needs money.” Tina’s voice lowered to a hush. “She looks rich, but she doesn’t spend a dime. She tucks the money she makes at the farm stand into a jar in her room, and she never eats out or buys anything. Not even a T-shirt from Bazoo’s.”
She might be correct, but it wasn’t his place to discuss Phinny’s financial situation. “She’s got a big heart, and no matter what happens, I can’t see her putting everyone out of work and turning her family’s land into a subdivision.”
“I hope you’re right.” Shoulders tight with worry, Tina tossed the dish towel in the washing machine. “I’m heading out now. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Tina?”
The woman stopped with her hand on the doorknob.
“I stayed here for a reason. I gave up my job to make sure this ranch doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. If I have anything to say about it, your life won’t change.”
She gave him a sad smile. “Well, it’s changed all right. I didn’t want to come back here, didn’t want to be on the ranch without him. But I hear what you’re saying, and I appreciate it. Every one of us can get another job, but it’s Kurt we want to work for. It’s his vision and memory we want to honor. ‘Night.” She headed out the back door to make her way to her cottage.
As he turned out the lights and crossed the living room, Tina’s concerns weighed heavily on him. If he had any say, things would go exactly as she wanted. But certain things were out of his control. Like what Phinny would do when offered seven-hundred-million-dollars.
Just before he flicked off the lamp, he took in the row of framed photographs on the mantle. For the first time, he understood why Kurt didn’t have a photograph of his daughter on display. Every time he’d looked at her, it had to have cut him to the bone.
Because life without Phinny…damn. He never wanted to go back to the emotionally flat existence he’d had before he’d met her.
Heading up the stairs, he knew he could ask about her plans—pretty much thought about doing it every single day, just to put the problem to rest—but it wouldn’t be fair. It felt too…manipulative. He had to keep their relationship separate from the inheritance.
Would it impact him if she sold Kurt’s legacy? Hell, yeah. He’d have a hard time with it, no doubt. But he didn’t know if he could end things. He was too into her.
He just didn’t know.
Anticipation firing him up, he hurried down the hallway toward her open door. When he got there, he stood in the threshold just taking her in. Silver moonlight spilled across the bed, accentuating her breasts in the flimsy tank top. She was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen, and his heart couldn’t take it. It beat so forcefully it hurt.
She watched him, a little unsure. “You all right?”
As he came closer, he lost the ability to speak, to think. All he could do was stare.
She reached for his hand. Hers was so delicate, so gentle. “What’re you thinking?”
“That you’re perfect.” In every way.
And that’s when he had his answer. He laid down beside her, putting their joined hands over his heart where the truth beat into his bloodstream. Even if she decided to sell the ranch, he would still want to be with her. There was no other choice.
She rolled onto her side, placing her head on his chest. “You’re being weird.”
He couldn’t say anything, not when the muscle in his throat had tightened into a hard knot.
Reaching under his T-shirt, her warm hand glided up his stomach. Her fingernails made slow circles on his skin. “I’ve been thinking about the business, and I’m going to pitch it to Glori, see if she’ll back me. Since my products are local, my only real start-up costs will be furniture and a few months’ rent. I mean, given the response I get from just a table on the side of the road, I can’t imagine it’ll be long before I’m paying my own way. I just don’t think it’ll take long to pay her back.”