The Delivery of Decor (Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers #7) - Liz Isaacson Page 0,103

for you.”

Ward’s heartbeat kicked into an extra gear. “Where is she?” he asked.

“Standing in front of me,” Ranger said. “She said she texted and called you when she didn’t find you at Bull House.”

“I’ll call her,” Ward said, his hands starting to shake a little bit. “Thanks, Ranger.”

“I’ll tell her,” he said.

Ward ended the call, almost simultaneously with Ida. “I came down to talk to Dot,” he said. “She wasn’t home, so I came to you.”

“I needed you more for a few minutes.” Ida stepped into him and hugged him tight. “Thank you, Ward. You saved me.”

He held her tight. “I love you, Ida. I love those babies. I’ll come any time.” He stepped back and held onto his sister’s shoulders. “Etta will too. You’re probably hurting her feelings by not letting her come.”

Ida’s chin shook, and she nodded. “I told her I’d call her right back.” She half-laughed and half-cried. “Now that the kitchen is clean, I’m going to tell her she can come.”

Ward leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Okay, I’ve got to go talk to Dot.” He couldn’t believe she was up at the ranch. She hadn’t called or texted until she was there, but he reminded himself that he hadn’t either.

He hadn’t wanted her to tell him not to come.

He dialed her as he stepped out onto the front porch.

“Ward,” she said. “Did you get any of my messages?”

“I didn’t look,” he said, smiling into the night. “I guess you’re up at the ranch?”

“Yeah, where are you?”

“At your house, sweetheart.” He started to laugh, and Dot did too. Everything tight inside Ward released, and he said, “Tell me where to meet you, Dot, and I’ll be there.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Dot pulled into the grocery store, her chest expanding and collapsing at a rate that made her light-headed. She wanted to check her blood sugar, but she had twenty minutes ago when she’d left Shiloh Ridge Ranch.

She was trying so hard to be the woman Ward deserved. She took care of herself, so he wouldn’t have to. She’d driven away from him, the same way she’d driven away from her business and life in Albuquerque, and she’d been miserable.

So she’d gotten in her car and driven back toward him, something Dot had never really done in her life before.

The double doors ahead of her slid open, and Ward exited. Dot sucked in a breath and stalled, the sight of him so glorious it was as if heaven itself had opened the clouds and let a little divine light shine down on him.

She grinned and broke into a run, laughing as he opened his arms to her.

“Oh, I missed you,” he said, gripping her tightly and turning her around. She could only breathe in the scent of his clothes, his hair, his skin. He pulled away and kissed her right there in the parking lot. Dot normally hated public displays of affection, but right now, she didn’t care. This was the man she loved, and she didn’t care who saw them in this moment.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered against his lips. “I should’ve called you last night, but I didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you?” he asked.

“There you go again, asking the hard questions.” She grinned up at him. She drew in a breath and blew it out. “My house felt so…dead. So lonely. I went to my parents’, and I was there for a long time talking. When I got home, Tyson was there, and he met someone he wanted help talking to. So more talking.” She rolled her eyes, but Ward just grinned at her.

“You don’t like talking that much,” he said.

“Not for hours,” she said.

“So I should get straight to the point.”

“It’s advisable.” She swallowed as she stepped back and took his hand. “I have some things to say too.”

“But you want your own private New Year’s Eve party.” He turned with her, and they went into Wilde & Organic. It was almost a question, but Dot didn’t think it really was.

“Yes,” Dot said. “I want to go to your family party for a little bit. I want to get to know the people who live up there with you. I know they’re important to you, and honestly, I could use some friends.”

“You have friends at work,” he said. “I’ve seen them.”

“I suppose I do.” Dot steered him over toward the fresh produce side. “After we go to your family party, I do want my own private party at Bull House. Just me, and you, and the stars.”