Country Romance - Carolyne Aarsen Page 0,70

"I don't see her car here. I know she was here last night and then left early this morning. But I don't think she’s been here since. I try not to be too nosy about my guests."

Wyatt nodded, thinking. Wondering where else Adele could be.

"If you see her, can you tell her I need to talk to her?"

"Of course. I'll pass that on."

"Thanks." Wyatt turned and jogged down the steps toward the truck. He got in, fighting down his frustration.

Had Adele changed her mind about them?

The question slithered through his gut. He didn't want to think about it. Didn't want to contemplate it.

Then why wasn't she answering her phone?

"Did you find Adele?" Dean asked.

Wyatt heard the worry in his voice and reminded himself that Adele wouldn't leave without at least saying good-bye to Dean. So that was out of the question.

He fought down his worry as he drove back to the ranch.

When he got there, he saw a car parked by the ranch house. Relief flowed through him, but as he got closer, he realized it wasn't Adele's car. It belonged to the nanny.

With a sinking heart, he parked the truck and turned it off. As he got out, he forced a smile to his face. The kids didn't need to know his concern.

"Nanny is here," Maya called out, pointing past Wyatt. As he set his daughter on the ground, Wyatt glanced back in time to see Ruby coming down the steps.

Maya ran toward her, arms wide, as if greeting a long-lost friend.

Ruby swept her up in a big hug, then walked over to Maria, who was also running toward her.

It was a happy reunion, and any other time Wyatt would have been thrilled to see her again.

Just not right now.

Dean got out of the truck, looking uncertain.

"We have a new friend," Maya said, dragging Ruby toward Dean. "His name is Dean. And he is living with us."

Ruby shot Wyatt a puzzled look.

"I'll explain it to you later," he said.

"Well then, it's lovely to meet you, Dean," Ruby said, holding her hand out to him.

Dean glanced at Wyatt as if to make sure it was okay.

Wyatt crouched down in front of him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Nanny sometimes comes and takes care of the twins for me, so now she'll be taking care of you too sometimes."

"What about Adele?"

And wasn't that the question of the afternoon?

"I'm sure Adele will let us know soon what's happening." It was all he could give the little guy.

Together they walked up to the house. Before they stepped inside, Wyatt shot one more look over his shoulder, as if hoping by some small miracle Adele would show up.

And on the heels of that came another horrible thought. What if something happened to her?

He stepped into the house and his phone pinged.

He glanced at the screen and relief trickled through him. It was Adele.

Sorry I couldn't make it to the restaurant. Got things on my mind. Will text you more later.

And that was it.

Wyatt wanted to throw his phone across the porch, but he kept everything inside while he helped Ruby undress the kids.

"Do you mind watching the kids until suppertime?" Wyatt asked Ruby. "I need to do some office work."

He had nothing of the sort to do, but he needed some time alone.

Chapter Fifteen

"I'm sorry if I raised your hopes, but I don't think this is happening." Adele sat in her car, parked in a pullout off the highway. After she had left town, she had driven around for a couple hours. Thinking. Grieving.

Now she was talking to her partner.

"Explain this to me again?" Leah asked.

Adele rubbed her fingers across her forehead, wishing she could ease away the headache that had taken residence there.

"Wyatt's ex-wife is back. It's as simple as that. She wants to reconcile with Wyatt, and I have to get out of the way. Those girls need their mother and I need to give that family a chance, for the girls’ sake. And in order for that to happen, I have to leave.”

"Have you talked to Wyatt about this?"

"What am I supposed to say? I'm happy for you that your wife is back?"

"Or you could just find out if that's what's happening?"

Adele sighed. "I heard it myself. His wife bought a present for the girls, and she's taking it to the ranch. Her friend told the cashier who, apparently, they know quite well, that Theresa and Wyatt are getting back together again. Pretty straightforward as far as I'm concerned."

Leah's silence