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Seeing hiood for her, she’d told herself Dreas easy to be with He always kne to nawed at her as she drove to Blanco’s only restaurant Dreouldn’t have co on his mind

Drew had offered to pick her up at home, but she’d told him she had errands to run after lunch, which was true It was also true that if they were alone in his car or her house, and he wanted to push her to a decision, things could get erettable words and actions

His car was parked outside the Burger Shack when she pulled up He’d be waiting for her inside,soive him The past few days had left her more distracted and confused than ever

The Burger Shack was crowded today, the booths and tables full Behind the counter a cook was piling up a tower of takeout pizza boxes Soht

Drew stood next to the booth he was saving He gave Tori a sh the door He looked like a photo froray sweater, khaki slacks, and a dark brown lambskin jacket Tori, still in the frayed jeans and plaid shirt she’d worn on the ranch, with her hair raked back in a careless ponytail, looked more like a panhandler he’d invited in off the street

Always the gentle each other across the red-checked vinyl tablecloth

“Hoas your holiday?” she asked

“Not bad Eating dinner with my sister, her husband, and three ra alone Hoas yours?”

He woul

dn’t know about the fire, of course Tori shook her head “Awful It’s a long story Let’s order, and I’ll tell you”

The waitress had reached their booth Tori scanned the er, fries, and a Coke

“So tellreally that bad?”

She told him, then, about the fire, the horses that had to be rescued, the injuries to Sky, and the dead man they’d found after the fire was out Drew listened, his expression sympathetic

“Good Lord, you weren’t kidding, were you? It h that I’m so sorry”

His hand slid across the tabletop to rest on hers That hen the restaurant door opened and Will strode in