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.If Troy jumped off a bridge, would Casey take the leap, too?Annie shuddered to think about it.Casey was young and impressionable and directionless.Feelings Annie understood.She had once been obsessed with Jeremiah Ladd.Whether he was good for her or not, she had wanted him and nothing but him.But at least she had a job.At least she had the sense not to chase him to Atlanta.But that was a long time ago.She was different.Cal was different.Cal was a good man, a steady man.The kind of man you could rely on to be there.He’d proven as much since he’d been back in town.Every time she needed him, from financing the taxes, logging the property to collecting her daughter from Murfreesboro, he was there.Funny how different he was from the old days.Back in high school Cal had almost been as wild as his three brothers, Jack, Beau and Clint.Anticipation shimmied through her veins.Beau and Clint would undoubtedly be there today.What would they think about her and Cal? Would they accept her into the family? They’d never been over-friendly to her in high school.Would they be any different as grown men with families of their own? Cal had changed.Had they?Annie took the turn onto the Foster property with a slight measure of ambivalence.Making her way through the rolling hills of Misty Mountain Ranch—acres upon acres lined with traditional white fencing, grass as green as spring against a palette of fall, horses grazing, their gentle swish of tails—she was nervous.The day felt formal, like she was officially meeting the family.Which was strange.She’d known the Fosters for as long as she could remember.But today felt different.New.Nerve-wracking!Pulling up to a two-story brick home, an impressive estate with chimneys on either end, smoke curling up into a gray sky, Annie inhaled deeply, struggling against the wild thump of her pulse.It was huge, bigger than any home she’d ever been in before.From the front second-floor ceiling, an enormous black lantern hung above massive double wood doors.An open patio wrapped around the house, lined with rockers and bordered by a hedge of azalea.It was clean, pristine, the epitome of southern charm.Annie tensed as Cal rose from a rocker.He’d been waiting for her.He’d offered to pick her up, but expecting to drive Casey, Annie thought it better to drive herself.Now, with no Casey in tow, Annie blew out her breath.Would he be upset?Rounding the hood of her car, Cal opened her door.As he helped her from her seat, the scent of wood smoke greeted her.A smell that smacked of fall, cooler weather and leaves changing.Autumn was her favorite time of year.“My, but don’t you look beautiful.” Cal said easily.“That’s a mighty pretty color on you.”“Thank you.” The emerald green cashmere sweater was one of her favorites.Paired with an ankle length black skirt and boots, she deemed it simple, yet elegant.From her neck dropped a double-strand of faux gray pearls.Hopefully she’d blend in with the wealthy Fosters.Victoria Foster was a socialite type of woman.No doubt she’d be dressed to the hilt.Cal leaned over and pecked her cheek.The touch felt electric to her skin.“No Casey?”Annie shook her head, a shade embarrassed.Rubbing the spot on her cheek, she felt the sensation of his lips linger against her skin.“I’m sorry.She decided to go to Troy’s, last minute.”“I invited him to supper, but his family has first dibs.” Cal nodded.“I understand.”Cal invited Troy? Was he trying to put the two kids together?Escorting her to the front doors, he went on, “Troy is a nice boy.Excellent with the horses.”“He is?” Annie didn’t know much about Troy other than what Casey told her, which couldn’t be trusted.She thought everything he did was perfection.Annie’s heart pinched.Because she was in love.Troy could sink like a rock in a stream, yet she’d continue to swear he walked on water.“Troy helped me deliver a foal this week.Poor animal came out of its momma in distress, but he handled it like a pro.Even took to giving it mouth-to-mouth without being asked.”Annie balked [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]