“Will do.” Chuck wagon stew night was a weekly ritual he used to love, but he’d begun to dread it. When Kate had come after their fight, it had been torture. Then she’d stopped coming and he missed her like crazy.
He took the back road to the visitor center. Supervising the construction had been Jake’s full-time job for the past couple of months and Rafe hadn’t seen much of him.
Jake’s suggestion to build a replica of a rustic log ranch house—porch, rocking chairs and all—was pure genius. The center looked as if it had been there forever. Raptors Rise Sanctuary was carved into a wooden sign hanging above the porch steps.
The lights were on and Jake’s truck was backed up to the wide steps, the tailgate down. Rafe shut off the engine and climbed out to survey the situation. A massive desk sat in the truck bed, dollies underneath the carved legs at either end. Hauling that thing from Great Falls must have been tough on the shocks.
Jake walked out of the building and grinned. “Whatcha waiting for? I thought you’d have it out of there by now.”
“I would have, but I didn’t want to show you up.” He gazed at the desk. “How much does that thing weigh?”
“You don’t want to know. Once it’s in the visitor center, it’s not leaving.”
“Where’d you get it?”
“Came out of an old bank building. I guess the president of the bank liked the idea of sitting behind it.”
“Looks like you could dance on it and it wouldn’t move.”
“Once we get it in there, you can test that theory.”
“Nah, I need to get back to a cutthroat checkers tournament in progress. Garrett said to tell you the market didn’t have your chili powder and we’re out. You need to bring some tomorrow night.”
“Duly noted. Which reminds me of something. Kate has a plan for getting herself a husband and it’ll probably work.”
The dinner Rafe had just eaten threatened to come up. He swallowed hard. “None of my business.”
“Maybe not, but you’re the one who gave her the idea.”
“The hell I did.”
“Millie talked to her this afternoon. Tomorrow she’s putting an ad in the Apple Grove Gazette.”
“And you believe that? She just said it knowing it would get back to me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. She and Millie nailed down the wording during their tea break. It’s aimed at single guys who either hate to cook or don’t know how.”
“Damn it.” He began to pace. “I did give her that idea but I never thought—” He spun toward Jake. “Is she gonna put in the husband part?”
“No. That’ll be discussed during the personal interview.”
Personal interview? Any minute his head would explode. “Where’s she planning to do that?”
“At Gertie’s.”
Panic messed with his breathing. “If she strikes a deal, would he come to the house for meals? I can’t believe she’d—”
“It’s more elegant than that. She’ll handle his food budget, shop for him and deliver several home-cooked meals a week—one hot and the rest frozen and ready to heat up.”
“That’s a terrible idea. She doesn’t have time for that nonsense.”
“Of course she does. She’s efficient. It’ll eat up most of her spare hours, but it’s doable. I can already think of half-a-dozen guys who would take that setup in a heartbeat.”
He could, too. “I can’t let her do this.”
“I knew you wouldn’t like it, but—”
“I hate it. She’ll run herself ragged shopping and preparing nice meals for some idiot, when all he has to do in return is stand up with her and sign a piece of paper.”
“And spend four years legally married to her, which means if he falls in love with someone else, he’s—”
“What if he falls in love with her?”
Jake gazed at him, his expression infuriatingly calm. “I suppose that’s always a possibility.”
“You know it is, bro. A very good possibility. She’s beautiful, funny, and an amazing cook, which he’ll figure out real fast once he starts eating what she brings. What guy wouldn’t fall for someone like that?”
“You tell me.”
“I can’t let her go through with it.”
“So you said.”
He blew out a breath. “Let’s get this desk inside. I have things to do.”
“You don’t have to move it.”
“Hey, I said I’d help you and I—”
“Matt’s on standby, waiting for my call. You’re free to go see Kate.”
“Who said I was going to see Kate?”
“You’re not?”
“Okay, I am, but what do you mean, Matt’s on standby?” The light dawned. “You got me over here so you could tell me about the ad.”
“Yep. Found out about it during dinner with Millie. Matt was planning to help me until I told him to hold off and let me ask you, first.”
“You didn’t have to make it so complicated. You could have explained it to me over the phone.”
Jake grinned. “Yeah, but this was more fun. Now get the hell out of here.”
Rafe started toward his truck. Then he turned back. “Thanks, bro.”
Jake looked up from his phone. “Don’t mention it.”
“And thank Millie for me.”
“I will. Now go.”
“Right.” Rafe lengthened his stride and was in his truck with the motor going in no time. Picking up his phone, he called Leo and tucked the phone into its holder on the dash.
“Hey, Rafe, you’re late.”
“I’m headed over to Kate’s.” He backed around and pulled away from the visitor center.
“I thought you never wanted to set foot in that house again.”
“Things changed. I’ll give you an update when I get back. I won’t be long.”
“Stay as late as you want, but don’t expect cookies when you get here.”
“Just so there’s hard cider in the fridge.”
“Always. Good luck, bro.”
“Thanks.” He disconnected the call and checked the time. She might not be home from the dining hall yet. Hadn’t figured on that, but it didn’t matter. He’d wait.
Sure enough, her truck wasn’t parked in front of the cottage and no lights were on inside. He shut off the motor, got out and leaned against the fender.
The scent of burning cedar drifted from Henri’s house, but smoke wasn’t coming from the chimney. Paper lanterns glowed in the backyard and Ben’s truck sat in the front. She must be using the cast-iron fire pit Ben had given her.
Ben had been spending less time at the Moose and more evenings at Henri’s. Looked like a courtship was in progress. Was a wedding in their future? Henri wasn’t talking.
Rafe returned his attention to the cottage. So peaceful. Had it only been twenty-four hours since he’d barreled out of there, filled with rage?
Driving around for an hour after leaving her house had helped some. Talking it through with Leo and Garrett had helped some more. He’d had a heart-to-heart with Nick while they’d mucked out stalls this morning.