Kendall nodded as Adam jumped into his work truck.
The beautiful woman, who must be Grace, sidled up slowly with a smile on her face. Her silky top draped softly over the hint of a rounded abdomen. Her cheeks were a little rosy, and Maya recognized the “guess what I’ve been up to” grin on her face and liked her instantly.
Kendall introduced her and Grace welcomed them inside. After the niceties were over with, Grace joined them at the large marble-topped breakfast bar.
They chatted about mundane things like how long Maya would be in town, where she lived, and about her having recently completed her nursing degree.
“My husband left me with a comfortable investment income, but I needed something for myself. Morgan knew I’d always been interested in pursuing my RN certification, and so he encouraged me to go back to school and obtain it.”
“Do you have a position lined up in San Marcos already?”
Maya shook her head. “No, I wanted to take time off and keep my options open.”
“I see,” Grace replied speculatively.
Kendall rested his chin in his palm and said, “Maya, you might be curious to know Grace is a published author.”
Maya turned expectant eyes to her, and Grace nodded. “It’s true. I write erotic romance.”
Maya and Grace talked nonstop for five solid minutes about that topic, hardly taking a breath. Kendall couldn’t get a word in with a wedge and finally held up both hands.
“Ladies, I gotta get to work. Maya, you want to stay and visit?”
Maya glanced at Grace and then looked longingly at Kendall.
Grace chuckled and said, “No, of course not, Kendall. Maya wants to see your ranch and spend her first day here with you. I’ll have her over another day, and we can chat to our hearts’ content.”
Maya’s questions for Grace had only multiplied since meeting her, but the stronger desire was to spend time with Kendall and maybe explore some of their ranch.
As they journeyed down the state highway meandering over rolling hills, Maya said, “Grace glows with happiness. I don’t know anyone else who has what she does.”
“You mean more than one husband? You will before the weekend is out,” Kendall said, chuckling as she turned a surprised look his way. “It sounds like you’ll meet them all this weekend.” Grace had filled them in on her plans for a barbecue Saturday evening.
“What? Like a cult?” Maya giggled. “Are you trying to induct me into a cult, Kendall Warner?”
“Hell, if there’s a cult, it’s the men who are the devotees. No, Maya. They have a different lifestyle and happen to have all made good friends with each other. In a small town it helps to stick together and watch out for each other. Not everybody in town is nice to Grace. Some people are very opinionated.”
“Well, she looks happy. It must not bother her much.”
“I’m looking forward to you meeting them. Plus the guys are really good cooks.”
“So where is the ranch?”
Kendall pointed to a fence lining the state highway. “Our property starts at that cross fence there.” Maya sighed as they passed a huge field of tall, pale, wheat-colored grass. She could make out the roof of a barn in the distance beyond a low hilltop.
“It’s wonderful, Kendall,” Maya said as he slowed the truck and turned into the entry. The truck rumbled over the cattle guard and down the long, white gravel drive. She looked around her and was struck by how right it felt. Wildflowers in shades of yellow and orange rippled and waved in the wind as they drove past.
Kendall smiled with pleasure and even appeared to blush a little at her heartfelt compliment. “Thank you.”
“You’ve put a lot of work into it, I’ll bet.”
“Every spare moment. We’re going to take a breather for a while before we begin work on the house.”
“Why a breather? I would think you’d be anxious to start the process.”
Kendall chuckled and said, “We’d like to devote our extra time to our house guest right now. You can even help us with the house design if you’d like.”
That statement seemed to hold more meaning for him than just the actual words. Maya decided to cut to the chase.
“Or we could cut all the bullshit and be honest with each other about what we want.”
Kendall removed his straw hat and ran his fingers back through his hair. “My suave and debonair charm must be failing me.”
Maya’s heart fluttered, and she had to take a deep breath. “Trust me, cowboy, your ‘suave and debonair charm’ is firing on all cylinders. Tell me what you’re trying to tell me without actually telling me. Please?”