Dallas brought Piper to the couch, and the little girl held her hands out to him.
Without hesitation, he pulled her on his lap. “Not today, I came to see you at your house.”
Dallas sat silently while Cash held his own in a wandering, fanciful conversation with her daughter. How did the man do it without having experienced children of his own? He had some mad skills in the kid department. She inserted herself into the conversation. “Piper, how about a snack? Let’s go into the kitchen, and I’ll find some graham crackers and milk.”
When Dallas walked back into the living room, she grinned. “Well, you survived that onslaught of preschooler questions.”
“She’s a sweetheart. And what an imagination.”
Dallas gestured toward his glass. “More wine?”
“Sure. I’ll have one more. Thanks.”
After she refilled them both, she sat down next to him. “What do you usually do on Sundays, Cash?”
“Not much. Feed the barn stock, of course. Might go to dinner at my parents’ house. Rest, mostly. Sometimes I hang with a friend or two. It’s my one day off a week.”
“So, when you spend Saturday with us, does that mean you have to work Sunday?”
“Yep. Makes no difference to me, though. One day’s as good as the other. Except, once in a while, I go to church with my parents.”
“Really?”
“Sure. We always went when I was growing up, but since I took over the ranch, I kind of got out of the habit.”
Dallas looked down at her lap. “I keep saying I’m going to find a church for Piper and me, but somehow, I never get around to it. I’m tired on Sunday mornings after working at the club and then put it off.”
Cash reached out and squeezed her hand. “Look, you work two jobs and raise your daughter by yourself. And she’s amazing. Just don’t give up on it. You’ll find a way to do it at some point.”
When he finished his wine, Cash stood to go. “I’m so glad you suggested I come by, Dallas.”
Piper, who’d eaten her snack and returned to the living room, spoke up, “Don’t go, Mr. Cash.”
“I need to go feed my cows, punkin’.”
“Can I go? Ple-e-e-ase?”
Dallas laughed. “Not today, sweetheart. Tomorrow I have to work and you go to Mimi’s house.”
They both walked Cash to the front door where, after kissing Piper goodbye, he gave Dallas a chaste hug in light of the avid three-year-old gaze taking in every detail.
As the door shut, Dallas leaned against the wall. Her house suddenly felt empty. How could that be? This was her home and she enjoyed living here. But this afternoon, with Cash’s absence, it felt lonely.
Chapter Five
Dallas eased her head back on the headrest in Ethan’s Lexus and breathed a sigh of relief. Piper liked the nanny who’d arrived at their house right on time earlier in the evening. In her interview a few days before, the young woman had shown just the right mixture of professionalism and playfulness. Her daughter looked forward to going to McDonald’s to eat and play on the playscape.
Ethan took his eyes off the road and turned to Dallas. “I assume you’ve been to Lake Wichita before?”
“Sure. But not in a long while.”
“We’re going to a lovely spot where the sunsets are perfect. Our picnic dinner came from the 8th Street Coffee House. I hope you like it. And, of course, we have wine.”
She ran her hand across the butter-soft leather of the seat. The spotless, polished interior reflected the essence of the man. She couldn’t remember a time when Ethen appeared wrinkled. His short haircut didn’t allow for hair to be out of place, but even if it were longer, she couldn’t imagine a lock falling across his forehead. Always the epitome of perfection, Ethan was obsessive in his work, and his clients appreciated that they could depend on him. His excellent track record in court was due to his extreme preparedness. The man worked hard for his financial success.
Glancing toward her, he reached across and clasped her hand, smiling confidently.
She smiled back. How lucky was she that this man found her interesting?
Later, when he spread a blanket at the place he chose on the western end of the lake, Dallas could see the attraction. Just off the hiking trail, it had privacy yet a view of the water and the distant horizon. “You’re right. This is the perfect spot.” That was the thing about Ethan. He planned every detail. She settled on the blanket. The air had cooled some from the heat of the day.
Ethan nodded. “I found this place a few years ago, and I love it in the evenings.” He dipped his hand into the large picnic basket. “Here, let’s open this wine.” Soon, he poured them both a measure and sat down next to her, raising his glass. “To good company and beautiful sunsets.”
Ethan’s charming smile and the intense look in his eyes made her feel like she was the only other person on the planet. He had a way of listening, like he hung on every word. Though this skill was what drew clients to him and kept them loyal, it still made her feel important, like she really mattered. His shoulder brushed hers and she welcomed the contact. Touching her glass to his, she said, “To a lovely evening.”
He motioned to the horizon. “I’m guessing we have about thirty minutes to sunset. Then another half hour of light after that. How about I set out our dinner?”
As he rummaged through the basket, drawing out one item after another, Dallas asked, “Can you tell me more about yourself, Ethan? I know lots about your work, but so little of your private life. What about your family?”
He hesitated for a moment. “Well, here’s a story for you. I’m an only child. My father died suddenly of a heart attack while I attended college back east, leaving my mother devastated. Mother was unable to cope and withdrew into
