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“I love you,” Dominique whispered
The words caught Charlie off guard She tried to steel herself against them, to say they didn’t h her defenses and settle into her bruised and hungry heart
Unexpected longing , she couldn’t dismiss her mother or what she’d said She couldn’t say she was finished and that Doo back to wherever she’d come from
“I can do better,” Doe”
“I’m not sure I believe that,” Charlie adht She wasn’t ready to go there But caring was a little easier
“I do I want this to work We can be there for each other”
“Oh, joy”
Donored the sarcasm “Did you know there’s a dance school here in Fool’s Gold?”
“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?” Horror swept through her “No,” she said quickly, holding up both hands “No way You can’t”
Her ht it”
“When?”
“I enerous, so I’ree The oill stay on as the director, but we’re changing the name to the Dominique Guérin Academy of Dance I’ll offer creative direction”
Charlie stifled a groan “From, ah, New York?”
Her mother smiled “That wouldn’t be very practical, would it? No, I’ll live here part-time I’ll keep the house in New York and London but sell the one in Los Angeles This will be my West Coast residence”
“Fool’s Gold?” Charlie was iht
“Yes It will be wonderful I won’t be teaching Can you i students? I would intiive the older students a lecture or two The ones that have promise I could help them”
“Just knowing you’re around will be an inspiration,” Charlie said, al She was sure that for so deal
“I hope so While I’ether I et to know each other We’re the only family each of us has left”
There was a sense of inevitability in the situation, Charlie thought Her e concession Perhaps she should stop fighting and simply accept Dominique would never be warm and fuzzy, but someone who doted too much would drive Charlie crazy Dan had loved them both and they had both loved Dan That was a place for them to start
Charlie stood and motioned for her mother to do the same Dominique did as she requested For a second they looked at each other, then Charlie held out her arhter and hung on tight Charlie did the sao
CLAY STARED AT the tidy rows that would grow into his alfalfa crop The planting was done and now there was just the waiting
“I’d say it’s like having a baby,” Shane told hi this is cleaner”
Clay chuckled “And no one’s screa”
His brother winced “Don’t even joke about that Not with Annabelle pregnant”
“She’ll be fine”
“I don’t want to think about her in pain”
It was a part of birth, Clay thought The cycle of life and all that, but he didn’t think his brother was in a mood to be philosophical
“She’s not in pain now,” Clay said
“Good point I heard fro”
“Me, too I don’t think he and Heidi are ever co home” So far the needs had put off their return twice
“Heidi will eventually start to oats,” Shane said “Sooner would be better fora wild look in her eye I think she’s planning a breakout”
Heidi’s small herd was anized a field trip
“As long as she doesn’t let Priscilla out,” Clay said “I don’t think Fool’s Gold is ready for a free-roa elephant”
The two men turned from the field and headed toward the truck
“How’s the house co?” Clay asked
“Nearly finished It will be done bytountil next year tothat sounded like “dah not to say it too loud
“You love her,” Clay said, opening the driver’s side of the truck and getting in
Shane clier’s side “I know, but why does she have to be so stubborn? Why would anyone care that she’s pregnant? Okay, sure, it’s unconventional, but so what? We love each other We’re spending the rest of our lives together But can we start that now? Nope We have to wait so she can be the perfect bride”
“She wants to have the right kind of memories”
“She wants to drive me crazy”
“That’s a bonus Accept it, bro Fro to run your life”
Shane grinned “I wouldn’t have it any other way”
“You’re a lucky man”
“Yes, I am”
Clay started the engine and headed back for the main house “Annabelle’s not the only one’s who’s stubborn,” he said “Charlie insisted on replacing her dishwasher herself, even though it was clearly a two-person job By the tied between the counter and the dishwasher” He glanced at his brother “It’s not just you”
“I don’t really find that knowledge co”
Clay grinned as he turned down the dirt road They bounced along in coain returned to Charlie Because he liked and respected her She was fun, interesting and one of the sexiest women he knew A lethal combination
He kneasn’t love Love was dra so that you wanted to be with her forever But what he felt for Charlie was still significant She was the first woman to interest him in years The first one he wanted to spend ti in love, but it was still good So he wanted to hold on to
“What are you going to do when Rafe and Heidi finally come home?” Shane asked
Clay grinned “You hinting I won’t want to live with the needs?”