Lydia's Twin Temptation(Divine Creek Ranch 8)(27)
They all shook hands or hugged, and Lydia bid her former employers a farewell. They were currently working the front of the café to allow the others a chance to say good-bye to Lydia privately. She’d thought that was very sweet of them.
It was time to leave before someone started crying again, so she allowed Chance to escort her to the back door. She lifted her purse from its hook for the last time. Her final paycheck and her money were tucked safe in her wallet. She waved good-bye, with tears still welling in her eyes as she parted with the truly decent people she’d worked with for the last several months. If it hadn’t been for them she wasn’t sure what she would’ve done.
Chance stopped at a bank so Lydia could cash her paycheck, and then they made the short trip to her motel room.
Next to the spot where Gunther had sat was a small U-Haul trailer. Chance pointed at it and said, “Gunther is all packed and ready to go.” Lydia chuckled, finding it funny that her little car had fit inside that itty-bitty trailer. “I took care of checking out for you at the office so all you have to do is pack up your things. I would’ve done that for you, too, but I didn’t want to invade your privacy.”
Lydia smiled and gave a weak chuckle. “It won’t take long to pack up if I still have those boxes. I appreciate your consideration.” She unlatched her seat belt and was about to climb out when he stopped her and came around. “Aren’t you going to get sick of hefting me up and down?”
“And miss the chance to have you up against me? No. I’m plying my charms every chance I get, pretty lady.” He kissed her quickly and added, “You don’t have to worry about living on a shoestring anymore, baby. Anything you need or want can be ordered online or purchased in town.” He seemed like he wanted to say more but left it at that and released her after kissing her forehead.
They walked up the stairs together, and she was taken back to just two nights before when she’d mounted these stairs and never felt more alone in her whole life. It was funny how fast things could change.
It was blazing hot outside, and she sighed in relief when they reached the cool room and closed the door. True to his word, Chance did not push her toward any further intimacy, even though the bed stood ready and waiting. He seemed as anxious as she was to start out on the road. A bittersweet pang entered her heart as she gathered everything from the bathroom and her dresser drawers and replaced it in the boxes she’d unpacked and left by the door the night before. All told, it took less than five minutes to be packed and ready to go. Five minutes to erase five lonely months of her living there. The only reminder would be her lavender scent, which would eventually fade as well. She reminded herself everything happened for a reason and if she hadn’t found herself stranded there, she never would’ve met Chance.
Chance carried the boxes downstairs, and she looked around the drab room that had been her home since March. In that time she’d learned she was stronger than she’d ever given herself credit for. She’d survived without help from anyone, despite trying circumstances. She was self-sufficient, and maybe that had been the important lesson she’d learned here.
The room was suddenly cast in shadows, and she turned to find Chance filling the doorway with his tall, masculine frame. Happiness for this new chapter in her life brought a smile to her face. Responding with a smile of his own, he held his arms out for her. Happily, she went into them and sighed as he drew the door closed on her old life and escorted her downstairs to the truck where the new one awaited.
Chapter Eight
Lydia finished the last of her sandwich as the landscape rolled by. Chance had been willing to stop somewhere and sit down to eat, but she’d wanted to get lunch “to go” so they could be on their way. He’d smiled and seemed pleased when she’d voiced that desire.
She leaned over the console and looked out his window at the gargantuan windmills that topped the mesa in the distance. Some were currently in operation, their sleek, white rotor blades slicing the air, stark against the palette of the brilliant blue sky.
“That’s Desert Sky Wind Farm,” he said, gesturing at the window.
“It was dark by the time I drove through here back in March. I’d heard there were wind farms out here but I never drove this far out to see for myself. I figured it was better to not tempt fate in the Texas heat and risk breaking down. I find them fascinating to watch.” Shifting her gaze to his handsome face, she asked, “How many are there?”
“I’ve heard over one hundred.”
She couldn’t see that many and wondered what it looked like from the air. Sitting back in the seat, she wiggled and got comfortable against the silky leather.