looks relieved. “Sure. Can we give him a call?”
I dial up Shane and give the phone to Lexi. When he answers and she hears his voice, she seems to relax. “Hey, Shane!” He says something that has her laughing and with my phone in her hand, she heads into the house. The screen door slams behind her.
“I suppose she’s forgiven you,” Miranda says with a smile.
“Looks like it. For now,” I say with a chuckle.
I sit on one of the rockers and tug her onto my lap. “This is a beautiful place here.”
We rock quietly, each lost in our own thoughts for a moment.
“You’ve never seen my real home,” I remind her.
“I haven’t. It’s hard to imagine that gorgeous suite at Vegas, Baby isn’t your real home.”
I smile. She’s so adorable. “Well, it’s one of them. But I have a pretty big house as well. Huge garage, guest houses. Really, lots and lots of room. You girls can stay anytime.”
She smiles at me. “My mom is right, Mr. Lord. You’re a very generous person, you know that?”
I shrug. “Generous with most things, baby.” I run my fingers through her hair and kiss her. I lean in and whisper in her ear. “But in others, I’m very, very selfish.”
She grins. “You know, given the right context, that sounds seriously hot.”
I give her a teasing smack to her ass and hold her tight.
I won’t ever let her go.
Chapter Twenty
Miranda
My desk, my computer, my phone are all working overtime with me to play catch up from another quick dash to Cali. I’m just making a plan of attack when Shane calls me to give me the great news.
“Miranda, I’ve found it.” It’s the most excited I’ve heard him.
Hope rises in me. “Really? Because the last two places we looked were just… not…”
He finishes my thought. “Perfect?”
I nod. “Perfect. Exactly. I know I’m asking a lot but she’s my mom and I just can’t picture her somewhere that isn’t right.”
He gives a low whistle. “Well, doll, I’ve found it. And when you see it, you are going to say, this place is—”
We say it at the same time. “Perfect.”
I snap my fingers, pointing as if he’s standing in front of me and not on the other end of the phone. “Jinx! You owe me a coke.”
“You can have a case of coke if you want. Just get down here and see the place.” He pauses and I know what he’s going to say next. “And bring that spitfire of a sister of yours with you.”
Totally could have jinxed him again. But I don’t drink Coke. And, I don’t want to tease him, even though I know he likes Lexi. “Okay, just text me that address and I’ll grab an Uber.”
He snorts. “Yeah right, little lady. That man of yours would kick my ass if I let you take an Uber. Gabe wanted to come get you himself but he’s wrapping up a shoot that went late. He’ll be here when you arrive. Just let me know where and when to pick you up and I’ll send the driver.”
I gaze over my loaded desk. I’m nowhere near done. Stacks of papers stare back at me. “I’ve got a few things to wrap up here, first. Can you send him to my office in an hour?”
“You got it.” I can hear the hope in his voice. “And is that car going to be for one or two passengers?”
“Sorry, Shane—I’m flying solo today. Lexi’s not coming in for a few more days.” I wanna say, Cool it, buddy. She’s suffering from a broken heart and in no way ready to date.
He unsuccessfully tries to mask the disappointment from his voice. “I thought she was coming back with you.”
“She decided to stay with Mom. She visits Mom at the care home during the day, and packs up Mom’s house at night.” I throw the poor guy a bone. “She told me to tell you she’ll be ready for help with the listing in a few days.”
He gives a muffled sigh. “Of course. Any way I can help you girls, let me know.”
Like helping my sister mend her broken heart? “Will do. Thank you. See you soon.” I hang up the phone and get back to work. I’m done with about half the stacks of emails and invoices and messages when a text from Lexi comes in.
Any word on a place for mom?
I shoot one back.
Going to look at a potential place in about an hour. Will call you