welcoming the diversion. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school, Mr. Middleton?”
He chuckled. “Even the principal needs a recess break. How about you? Are you working?”
“Sort of. I’ve been laying some groundwork for Will’s defense, in case he needs it.”
“Can’t he get himself another lawyer for that?”
“Not one who’ll work for free. Since he’s Erin’s father, and since she was a witness, I really do have to be involved. It’s family business.”
There was a beat of silence. “All right,” he said. “But I confess I’d feel more secure if you weren’t so chummy with your ex.”
“We’re not chummy. We have a daughter, who means the world to both of us. If it weren’t for Erin, I’d probably never speak to him again.”
“Ouch!” Drew’s laugh sounded forced. “Sorry, that’s not why I called. Just wondering if you were free for a movie tonight.”
She hesitated, checking her mental to-do list.
“I need to see you, Tori,” he said. “Besides, you could use a fun chick flick with popcorn and some good old-fashioned back-row snuggling.”
“Isn’t the back row where your students sit to make out?”
“At least they won’t be sitting behind us. Is that a yes?”
She relented. “Sure. My house, seven-thirty?”
“Let’s make it seven. We can get pizza before the movie.”
“Fine. Seven. See you then.” She ended the call. At least she’d have something to take her mind off Will’s troubles tonight. Drew had a way of relaxing her, making her laugh. He never confronted her or made unreasonable demands the way Will had done when they were married. And Will would never offer to watch a chick flick just because he thought she’d enjoy it.
Drew is a gem, Tori told herself. If she didn’t grab him fast, some other woman would.
As she started the truck, a gust blasted a shower of leaves onto the windshield. Tori turned on the wipers to clear them away. She’d planned to drive to the ranch tonight to brief Will on the case and check on Erin. But given her date with Drew and the chance of a storm moving in, it made more sense to spend the night in town—which brought up the question of what would happen when Drew drove her home.
He’d said he needed to see her. Did that mean he wanted to take their relationship to a new level? Was she ready for that? Tori wasn’t a prude. The one brief fling she’d had when she was still reeling from the divorce had been doomed from the start. And she’d never been one for casual sleeping around. She’d come to believe that love, or at least emotional intimacy, should be there before sex happened. Had she reached that point with Drew?
What would he do if she hadn’t?
During her musings she’d let the truck idle too low and killed the engine. Shifting down, she started it again and pulled out of the parking spot. Her station wagon was still waiting for the arrival of a new starter. Maybe it was time she began shopping for a new vehicle, something that wouldn’t strand her somewhere at night or break down in bad weather. The next time she saw Will, maybe she’d ask him for some suggestions.
Will again. Damn.
Muttering under her breath, Tori ground the pickup’s aging gears and roared out of the parking lot.
* * *
After lunch—a beef sandwich eaten off the kitchen counter—Will chose a sturdy paint gelding from the long barn, saddled it, and took the trail up to the back pastures. The windy weather wasn’t the best for riding, but he’d wanted to check the stock and the fences before the coming storm. At least that was his excuse.
He didn’t really need to go. He’d put Beau in charge of readying the pastures and the cattle for bad weather, and, much as Will was tempted, he’d learned better than to show up and try to supervise. Beau knew his job, and any interference from his big brother would only rile his temper. Will had resolved to keep his distance, but he wanted to get out of the house and see things for himself.
The events of the past few days had left him shaken and out of sorts. He felt the need to ride the ranch alone, to see the land and see himself as part of it. With so much uncertainty hanging over him, he needed a reminder of who he was, why he was here, and what he was fighting for.
Collar raised against the wind, Stetson jammed on and tied under his