get up and return to the ranch before dawn.
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Chapter Eighteen
The following week, Juliana got a call from her cousin Allen. He
would be in Divine on official business and called to find out if she
wanted to meet him for an early lunch. She happily agreed to meet
him at Rudy’s. She and Allen had always been close growing up,
working together in the restaurant, doing the same jobs. He was the
one who’d taught her to dance, and she looked forward to introducing
him to Ash. He’d told her he was bringing a surprise with him.
Allen took one look at her and said, “Okay, spill your guts.”
Juliana sighed as she sat in the round corner booth at Rudy’s, and
Allen scooted in beside her. “I can’t hide anything from you, damn
it.”
“You look miserable. What’s eating you?”
“About six foot, three inches worth of big, handsome, blue-eyed
cowboy, that’s what.”
“Um, I think that might be a little too much information.”
Juliana suppressed a small smile and thumped him in the ribs.
“You know what I meant.”
“So there’s someone in your life again? That’s good news, if he’s
treating you well, that is.”
“Ash is great. He’s Jack, Ethan, and Adam’s foreman out at their
ranch. He’s hard-working and has good manners.”
“That’s great news. Somehow I could never picture you with that
other guy, the real estate agent. He seemed too…”
“Soft and smarmy? Yes, I agree. Lying, cock-sucking, cheating
bastard.” Juliana said it with a smile, realizing she hadn’t thought of
Lawrence at all in weeks.
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183
Allen grinned and chuckled. “Damn. Tell me how you really
feel.”
“Ash is awesome.”
“I’m sensing a ‘but’ in there somewhere.”
She nodded tensely. “I’ve gotten myself into a situation.”
The waiter approached to take their orders and bring their drinks.
Once he left, Allen turned to her, speaking quietly because the
restaurant was becoming more crowded.
“What’s up? You want to talk about it? You know you can tell me
anything.”
“Well, as you can probably tell, I’m head over heels in love with
him, but I haven’t told him.”
“Why?”
“Because the time never seems right, and when it’s right, we were
usually talking on the phone like when I was in Tillman. He told me
he loved me on Valentine’s Day but said he didn’t want me to say
those words until I was really sure. With our work schedules, we
haven’t been able to get together much, and when we are…I just
chicken out every time.”
“He’s giving you the chance to tell him without feeling prompted.
With all that red hair and Grandma Lila’s temper, I’ve never known
you to be a chickenshit before. That’s new.”
“Shut up!” She felt her cheeks heat up. That sounded exactly like
something Ash would say. “So what’s my surprise?” she asked
eagerly, changing the subject like the chickenshit that she was.
“Mom and Aunt Violet went through Grandma Lila’s jewelry
box.”
“Really?” she asked, her surprised exclamation drawing the
momentary attention of several diners. She lowered her voice. “And
everybody was okay with that?”
“It’s been a while since she and Grandpa passed. Everybody
agreed it was time. Before she passed away, Grandma Lila made a list
of things that she wanted to go to specific people. It’s a good thing,
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Heather Rainier
too. Otherwise, there’s no telling if these would’ve come to you,” he
said as he pulled her grandmother’s engagement ring and wedding
bands out of his pocket and held them out to her. She started crying
and he added “My gut tells me you’re going to need these soon.”
She held the rings in her fingers and looked at them before she
reached over to hug Allen. Of all the things that could’ve been passed
down to her, these rings were the most precious.
“Would you say yes if he asked?”
She nodded happily. “Yes! I would.” She felt her cheeks tingle
when several restaurant patrons looked over in curiosity.
“Grandma must’ve known that special things like this would be a
bone of contention. Personally, I think it’s pathetic that it took this
long for them to agree to deliver the items on the list to their rightful
inheritors. Grandpa must’ve made a list at the same time because they
gave me Grandpa’s wedding band.”