“Like you, I don’t have a dad, either. He dumped us when he found out I had cancer. I’m better now—one year cancer-free. And, well, me and Bonnie were talking about moms—you know, hers is gone, but she has a step-mom, Tasha. They’re close, and Bonnie really loves her.”
“I’ve seen them together. That’s a very good thing,” Trace said.
“It is. Her dad, and his best friend Gord, they married Tasha and became a family, all six of them. So her dad is never alone when crap happens. Like when Bonnie had to have her appendix out. But my mom…”
Libby was really struggling to get her words out. Embarrassment was likely a factor, but the raw emotions Trace saw there could be heavy to deal with. This young woman loved deeply and likely treasured the connection with her mother, because of the trials they’d been through together. Rachel had stayed, she’d stuck, and Libby appeared to understand that.
Trace changed his mind. He would let her know he understood her.
“Libby, are you thinking about trying to find a way to set your mom and me—and Brandon—up?”
“Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?” She looked like she was really beating herself up. No way he could stand for that.
“Well, that depends on whether or not you believe in fate.”
Libby met his gaze. She seemed to understand that he wasn’t reacting the way she maybe thought he would. She nodded. “I do. I think things always happen for a reason even if we don’t always know what that reason is.”
“Me, too. You see, one of the things I needed to do today was to meet you and spend some time with you. Not just to see how you were with the horses as your supervisor. But also, to get a chance to know you and let you get to know me. I’m going to be perfectly honest with you.
“Grandma Kate introduced Brandon and me to your mom at the restaurant a couple weeks ago. It was a moment for all three of us.
“So, see? Not such a stupid idea. We asked Rachel if she was interested in a romantic relationship, if we could see where this would lead. It is very early days for us, yet, and we promised her one day at a time. So what do you say, Libby? You open to that? To all four of us seeing if we can build something, together?”
“One day at a time?” Her look was inscrutable enough he wondered if she played poker. But since her body language was defensive, he understood.
“Your mom’s one condition. Brandon and I both understand why she’s leery.”
“Yeah.” Her expression told him all he needed to know about her feelings for her father. “Okay, I can work with that.” Then she shook her head, and her chuckle sounded rueful. “I haven’t even met Brandon, yet.”
“You will. In about twenty minutes or so.”
“Okay. I’ll give you my answer after I’ve met him.”
Trace grinned. Then he gave her words back to her. “I can work with that.”
Chapter Ten
Rachel stood at the kitchen window, her attention fixed on her backyard and on the three people setting up a brand-new badminton net. Watching Libby with Brandon and Trace, it almost seemed as if they’d known each other longer than just barely a full day.
Rachel had walked to work that morning, taking advantage while she could of the tolerable temperatures. Soon enough, she’d want her car with its air conditioning. February, so far, had been astonishingly cooperative.
Often on a Saturday, Libby would come to Lusty Appetites around four thirty, and they’d have supper together. That had been the plan this morning, that Libby would join her, but then her daughter engineered a surprise. She’d brought Brandon and Trace along with her. The four of them had enjoyed supper together, and then the guys had asked permission—when Libby had gone to the bathroom—to take her daughter into Waco with them. They wanted to pick up badminton equipment.
Rachel didn’t have anything in the backyard for recreation, so she’d agreed. The three had been back in time to pick her up from work when the restaurant had closed. The lights in the backyard were bright enough that they were able to not only set up the net but they were going to play what Brandon and Libby called the inaugural game.
Trace came toward the house. Rachel turned her head and met his gaze as he closed the patio door behind him. “Brandon and Libby were talking smack to each other about who was going to win and who was ‘going down.’” He grinned. “It was funny as hell.”
“The tea should be ready to drink soon.” She’d just made a fresh jug. It was likely ready now, but she’d gotten caught up watching her daughter interact with the guys.
Brandon and Trace had also picked up a round patio table, chairs, and a shade umbrella, giving them a comfortable place to spend time together, outside.
“Are you doing all right?” Trace slipped his arms around her then turned her to look out the window. The way he rested his chin on her shoulder told her he was watching the pair, too, as they began to play.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because what had been an intellectual concept for you this morning has quickly morphed into a real scene in front of your very eyes. You’ve had Libby all to yourself for a long time. I wondered how you were feeling about the fact that we’re horning in on your time with her.”
There were depths to Trace Langley that truly astounded her. Anyone who just looked at the outside package might think they could sum up the man with two words—buff and beautiful.
The Trace Langley she was coming to know was one of the most insightful men she’d ever met.
“I had no idea how she would feel about my dating someone, because until I met the two of you, that simply hadn’t been on my radar. I figured the concept of my seeing
