Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (summer beach reads txt) 📕

to let you traipse off all by yourself? I wouldn’t let any woman do that.”

“The point is that you’re not in charge.”

“Once you’re safe,” he continued without missing a breath, “I’m hunting this fellow down. I didn’t see his face, but there was another man I caught a good look at. Talked to, even. A few visits to some unsavory places, and I’m thinking I’ll find my shooter and maybe even a crime to tie him to.”

“Besides shooting you?” Mary asked drily.

“Exactly.” Lou gave her a slow wink, obviously pleased with all his plans.

The cad. He both infuriated her and made her smile. This back-and-forth was exhausting, though.

“Tell me,” she said, aligning her knife with the edge of her napkin. “What will you do when I’m not at the ranch when you return?”

His ego appeared to trip along with his grin. “Why wouldn’t you be there?”

“I can think of a few reasons.”

“I’m not gone yet. The buyers have agreed to keep you on as housekeeper. This sale... It’s an offer, but that doesn’t mean it’s final. I wired Trevor the information yesterday, and he and Gracie are going to talk things through. He never needed the home he sold you, but Gracie’s partial to the ranch. In fact, they’ll be meeting me here tomorrow or the day after to talk things through.”

The fact that he was trying to look out for her should have comforted her, but it didn’t.

She let out an exasperated breath. “Do you not hear yourself? Why are you selling if Gracie and Trevor don’t want to? Why bother? Can you not travel as you’ve always done? And things may remain the same.”

The grin slid from his face. He leaned forward and pulled her hands toward him in a heated grip. His grasp was decidedly larger than hers, and she had to tear her eyes from their entwined palms to focus on his next words.

“Is that really what you want? To live out your days on secluded property?” His gaze probed her. The way his hands enveloped hers felt so right.... Her tongue tied within her mouth, and she could only look at him.

“I know you want more. You’re made for more, Mary.” He hesitated and then said quietly, “God has given you talents. Don’t hide them on a ranch. Don’t waste them on people who aren’t around to appreciate what you have to offer.”

He spoke of God. She blinked and pulled her hands free from his.

“I have never considered myself wasting away there. The meals I made, the clothes I darned and ironed, the prayers I prayed... It was healing. Not one second of my time there has been a waste.” She had to work hard to keep her voice from shaking. “I am sorry your perspective is so very different than mine.”

He started to speak and she held up a hand.

“Either way, what I do with my life is not up to you. Your plans for tomorrow are all well and good, but you have given no consideration to what I want. Did you plan to ask? Or do you plan to do whatever you want and then expect me to be there?”

His eyes widened. “I’m sorry—”

“Excuse me, miss. There’s a telephone call for you.” The waiter pointed to the lobby’s desk, visible through the restaurant’s entrance.

Lou’s gaze narrowed. Mary ignored him, though a trembling had taken up residence in her stomach. “Thank you. I shall be there in a moment.”

“Is there something you need to tell me?” Lou stood and walked around the table to her. “What did Langdon say to you?”

Sitting left her at a disadvantage and so she also stood, though it did little good with her small stature. Nevertheless, it must do for now. Lou and his authoritative ways must stop. She placed a hand on his chest and gave him a little nudge.

“This is a telephone call for me.”

“Mary.” His voice sharpened. “You’re playing with a criminal. If there’s something you need to say, say so now, because I’m not having my employee involved with the likes of him.”

“Don’t you think I know what he is?” She nudged him harder, but he refused to move. Well, she’d just go around him, then. But as she stepped to the side, he mirrored her. She hissed and glared up at him.

“Kindly move.”

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.” His eyes were blue steel.

Very well. A surprising burst of anger popped through her. She threw her head up and gave him the sternest look she could muster.

“I know criminals, Lou Riley. You forget, I spent a week with them. It might’ve been twelve years ago, but I haven’t lost my senses. My mind works just fine and I know exactly what I’m doing.” Maybe not exactly, but at this moment she thought things were quite clear. “Move yourself before I make a scene.”

The threat sent hotness to the back of her neck. She prayed he did not force her to do such a dreadful thing. His jaw worked, and his hands went to his narrow hips. He studied her, and she was torn between the irresistible urge to allow him to kiss her again or to scurry past and pick up the telephone.

He seemed to come to some internal decision. His jaw hardened. “Nope. No employee of mine is carousing with criminal types. I’ve said my piece. Now sit back down.”

“Why you...you overbearing oaf.” An unbelievable heat swept through her body and pooled in her belly. Her hands clenched. She ignored his raised eyebrows and sputtered, “F-fine, then. If you choose to be this way. Then. I. Quit.”

His hands slid off his hips. She took advantage of his slack jaw to skirt around him, hustling to the telephone as fast as she could and hoping he didn’t beat her to it.

This was the moment her life would change forever.

Chapter Twenty

Mary couldn’t quit.

Lou was tempted to follow her, but her last words had punched a hole in his steady breathing. He opted