"Do I havesomething on my face?" She licked her lips and wiped her hand over herchin.
"Tory didn't tellme you had grown up so…um well…stunning."
"Yeah well, thatjust kind of happened." She shrugged her shoulders and continued to fillher mouth, chewing slowly as she watched him. "So, what have you been upto? Still playing doctor to all those rich folks?"
He laughed as shewinked his way. "No, never been that type of guy, which I’m sure you knowanyway." He smiled at her before he spoke. "You may as well bothknow, I signed my divorce papers a couple of days ago. I’m a free managain." The thought gutted him.
"Fuck, Russ, I'mso sorry." Kate wiped the back of her hand over her mouth and took a steptoward him. "I didn't know, Tory never said anything." She lay herhand over his and squeezed. "Anything I can do?"
"No but hey,thanks. I'll get over it in time. Probably for the better anyway as thingsworked out with this place."
Kate looked over atEssie and chewed on her lip before glancing back at Russ. "Yeah, aboutthat…I hope you don't think I did anything to coerce your father to keep myjob. It came as much of a surprise to me as it did to you."
"You know mebetter than that, Kate. Father would have given you the job because youdeserved it, not because you were after his money. He wasn't that stupid, andneither is Tory."
"Yeah well, when Iheard about it, I wondered how you guys would take it." She laughed."I should have guessed you’d be good with it. Um, what about Cade? Did hesay anything?"
Russ ran his handthrough his hair and grimaced. How the hell am I going to answer that?
"Okay, I getit." Her mouth thinned into a tight line. "I’ll just have to dealwith it, I guess. It's good to have you back, Russ, even if your brother isstill an arsehole. I have things to do. Later." She turned on her heel andstormed out, grabbing her hat as she went.
Essie clucked hertongue. "Damn shame that boy hasn't had a chance to see how good Kate isdoing before he gets snippy with her."
"Yeah, well he’lljust have to face her himself and sort it out. I tried and got the rough edgeof his attitude for it. I'm sure Kate can deal with him. She seems prettycapable now she’s all grown up and not chasing him like a love-sickpuppy."
"I'm sure she canbut that's not the point, Russ. She shouldn't have to. Poor girl has had herwork cut out for her the last few years. Manages those farm hands pretty good butthey respect her as a boss, bit different to how Cade treated her."
"Yes, but won't itbe interesting to sit back and watch to see if it works on Cade?"
Essie slapped her palmon the island counter between them, her rare snappy attitude rearing its head."If he hurts her, Russ, so help me, I'll give him what I should have donewhen he was younger."
Chapter Five
"Rooney, it's goodto see you again," Tory kissed her cheek before he led her into his officeand guided her to a chair. He sat on the edge of his desk in front of her."I'm sorry, honey, I know you were hoping to sort things out before hedied."
"Yeah well, Ishouldn't have left it so long." She gave a shaky laugh. "So, want totell me what we do now?"
"Sure. Can I getyou a coffee before we start?" He watched as her striking blue eyesfilled. She wiped a trembling hand over the already tidy hair, not a blondestrand out of place. The tears spilled over her dark lashes and trickledsilently down her cheeks. Tory wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his armsand take away the pain. Sadly, she probably wouldn't accept his help, not thathe would stop offering. He had adored her from the time she had made it hermission in life to tag around after her brothers and him.
"Got a sparetissue?"
He reached behind him,grabbed the box and placed it in her hands. "Let me order coffee and wecan talk about the will. See where you want to go with it, okay?"
Rooney nodded her headand blew her nose while Tory reached for the phone.
By the time theircoffee was brought in, Rooney had composed herself. "Sorry aboutthat."
"We grew uptogether, Rooney. I’m the person you’ve turned to in the last eight years. Ifyou can't cry in front of me, where can you cry? Heck, I remember you cryingwhen your poddy calves were sold off and you weren't embarrassed for me to seeyour tears then." He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "It's nodifferent now we're adults. A few tears won't make me like you any less."
"I know but still,sometimes I think I take you for granted. I'm sorry if I do but you make iteasy for me. I don't mean to." She smiled and reached for her coffee,blowing across the top of the hot liquid before taking a sip. "Oh, Ineeded that."
"You don't takeadvantage and besides, what are friends for?"
"Thanks, Tory. Imean it. You’re probably my best friend and the only one I can talk to aboutfamily problems. I don't know what I would have done without you."
I never want to findout either. Tory cleared his throat before speaking."Right, now the will. I don't know if you’re ready to read this, but hereit is." He handed her the document and sat back sipping his coffee whileshe read the will.
Rooney tapped a fingernail on her lip as she read. A frown appeared on her forehead as she scannedthe page and she tilted her head as though thinking about what was written.Tory watched her turn to the next page and continued reading. She chewed on herlip, small sniffling sounds coming from her mouth moments before tears trickleddown her cheeks.
When she finished, shelooked up. The faraway glaze in her eyes startled Tory. Concern raced throughhis blood and his heart skipped a beat. What was wrong? "Rooney, are youokay?"
She blinked and looked athim
