Sweet Joymaker (Indigo Bay Christmas Romances #3) - Jean Oram Page 0,6
on a Christmas wedding—no, a vow renewal and reception for Luke Cohen and Emma Carrington, if I recall correctly?”
“She was.” And had fallen in love with her boss, Cash Campbell, while doing so. It was lucky Maria wasn’t here for anything wedding-related, seeing as two of her family members had fallen in love here while doing so.
Someone joined the line behind Maria and Kit, and Caroline got down to business, “So what would you like for your first course? Have you decided?”
They settled on two specials, then selected a table near the window, Caroline promising to bring out their meals when they were ready.
“How was your afternoon?” Kit asked Maria.
“Good. I went as far as the Morrison Mansion B&B. My legs have that wonderful feeling you get when you’ve pushed them a little.”
“You seem pleased,” Kittim said, a small smile toying with her lips as though aware Maria was holding back a secret.
“And I bumped into someone from back home,” Maria blurted, wanting to talk about Clint. She would call Fiona, but worried that her friend might inadvertently start some gossip, or expect Maria to engage in something she wasn’t ready for. Namely a relationship.
“Really? Who?”
“Clint Walker. He’s my mechanic.” She felt a blush heat her cheeks and a wash of possessiveness by claiming him as hers. Technically, he was her mechanic, but several hundred other people’s, too.
“And he’s cute,” Kittim stated.
“You know him?”
“I can tell by your expression.”
Maria looked out the window, watching a woman walk down the sidewalk with purpose, her little white dog trotting alongside. “He seems different here. More relaxed. Youthful.” She gave her head a shake. A youthful fifty-nine-year-old was good, but not if he was being a daredevil.
But since when was boogie boarding classified as a daredevil activity? She used to take part in the rodeo circuit, and knew what risk-taking looked like. Watching a cowboy try to stay atop a fifteen-hundred-pound angry bull for eight seconds, for example. Was she looking for excuses to disregard Clint, or had she aged beyond her years?
Probably both.
“Are you interested?” Kit asked.
“I can’t imagine adding a man to my life at this stage. It’s too complicated. We’re almost sixty, and I have the boys and the ranch. Carmichael isn’t getting any younger, either.”
“Your father-in-law?”
She nodded. “He’s still out on the ranch.” She added with a half laugh, “Levi, Myles and Brant are home, too.” All the more reason it would be ridiculous to add a new man to her life.
“That’s too much testosterone for me.”
“Don’t forget the two hired hands who live on the next section of land and come by for some meals.”
Kittim just shook her head, then rested her chin on her hands.
“Clint was hinting we should do something tomorrow, and I basically said yes. But I don’t know… What if he wants more than I do?”
“So you don’t like him that much, then? Or just not romantically?”
Caroline came to their table with two plates. “No second chance for us older gals?” She gave them an apologetic look. “Sorry, I overheard the last bit. And I totally understand. I’ve been single for so long I figure what’s the use in trying?” She put down their meals. “Then again, if Tom Selleck came in here… Or that cowboy with that wonderful mustache and gravelly deep voice. What’s his name again?”
“Sam Elliott,” Kit and Maria said in unison.
The trio went silent for a moment, as though in contemplation about how their lives might change if the handsome silver fox walked in and asked them out.
“He might be worth upsetting my routines,” Caroline said with a wink.
“Maria got divorced this year. Her husband’s remarried.”
“Men move fast,” Maria said.
Caroline squeezed Maria’s shoulder in support. “I’m sorry, honey. Divorces are hard. Even harder at our age. I hope you’re doing all right. Financially and whatnot.”
“We both moved off the ranch, but I moved a tiny home onto the property and live there now. So all is as it should be.” Her smile didn’t feel convincing, and she couldn’t figure out why. She should be happy. She was right back where she’d started. And this time with one less person to please. She rarely even missed Roy, causing her to realize just how much they’d drifted apart over the years.
When she’d returned to the ranch, even Carmichael had been happy. The old cowboy had smiled and almost hugged her.
It felt right being home again.
“Good for you,” Caroline said. “Don’t let him kick you out of your own home and life.”
“I was