“Ah. Sounds like love to me.” She took his cup and stood. “I don’t know about you, but it’s getting too cold to sit out here.”
The triumphant howl and bark of a lone coyote in the hills broke the vast silence to announce a successful hunt.
Dwayne grinned into the inky darkness. “I forgot how much I loved that sound.”
Still, a pervasive uneasiness sent a cold chill arrowing through him.
Chapter Twelve
When will you be back?” Marla demanded over the phone. He’d only been at his ranch a day, and already she was counting the hours until his return. She wasn’t sure what she missed the most—the way Dwayne looked at her, or their constant sparring. The construction office was much too quiet.
“Not before next Monday. I’ll leave here on Friday. Cluny filled me in on Francine showing up with a summons. Do you have anything to add?”
“Only that she seemed certain you’d be here. She acts confident that she’s got standing, and she’s obtained legal advice. Do you have a lawyer down here?”
“No. That’s something I need to take care of when I get back. The man who handled my divorce and custody settlement lives near the ranch, in Buffalo, but he’s retired. I’ll talk to him, see if he knows anybody in Ventura County.”
“Is that Amber I hear? What’s all the excitement?”
“Mom just told her we’re taking horses up to the hills to check on the cows that haven’t come down. She’s excited because she gets to ride her own horse and tag along with us.”
He laughed, and the sound buried itself deep in Marla’s chest. Shocked she’d missed his laugh after such a short time, she cleared her throat. “Do you have an attorney who handles legal matters for Big D Construction?”
“Yeah, but family law is outside his area.”
“I bet he can recommend a good lawyer here. Would you like me to call him?”
“Nah, I already asked Cluny to get on it.”
She responded with a weak, “Oh.” It wasn’t her place, but she wanted to help him.
As if he’d read her mind, he said, “I know you want to help, Red, but I’ll be back on the job in a few days. It’ll all get resolved.”
“I’m not worried about you being back on the job, you big jerk. I’m worried about your daughter and your ex-wife and what she’s up to.”
“Uh, okay. See you next Monday.”
Dog tired, Dwayne pulled into his driveway and turned off the ignition. He groaned and dropped his head on the headrest. Every muscle and bone in his body ached. He’d been on the road for over twelve hours. He should have spent more time sleeping in the noisy fleabag motel and not made the grueling drive to get home by Friday night.
But he’d promised Marla he’d be back on her jobsite by Monday. The sooner he finished her project and moved on to the next job the better. He needed to put some breathing room between them. They’d never be a couple, and he didn’t see any point prolonging the agony. His first priority had to be Amber. Once she was grown up and on her own, he’d consider a romance. In any case, it wouldn’t be Marla Danaher. Her micromanaging drove him nuts.
A light winked on in the neighbor’s house. Dwayne saw movement at the window. He waved and the man waved back then closed the blinds and turned off the lights. It was good to have neighbors who looked out for each other.
The house would be quiet, dark, and empty without Amber.
He couldn’t remember what he left in the refrigerator and he hadn’t stopped for dinner. He pulled open the door and the light came on to reveal a carton of milk and some black bananas. He sniffed the milk, grabbed a banana, and pulled a box of Cheerios from the cupboard.
Other than air-conditioning, the thing he missed most while in Iraq was Cheerios.
He polished off a medium mixing bowl full of cereal, dragged himself down the hall, and flopped on the bed fully clothed. Sleep came fast, and the sunlight of early morning even faster.
Showered, shaved, and wearing heavy, clean work pants and a denim shirt, Dwayne rolled up the sleeves and headed for the grocery store. He needed more Cheerios and milk, the staples of his bachelor diet. Perusing the frozen food section, he threw a half dozen frozen dinners in the basket then added a big can of coffee and a box of Entenmann’s doughnuts. It was a good thing he usually had a kid to take care of or he’d either have had a heart attack by now or be overweight and severely malnourished. He wouldn’t survive the summer at this rate.
Oh for the love of…
Marla pushed a shopping basket around the corner of the aisle and banged right into him.
“Oh, I’m sorry I…Dempsey?”
“Are you referring to the nearly departed Dempsey? Where did you learn to drive, Danaher? You’re dangerous.”
Clearly flustered, Marla huffed. “What are you doing here?”
“Shopping for groceries. My only reason for coming to a grocery store. Are you out sightseeing?” Her heaving chest presented an attractive picture, and he broke out a smile.
“What are you grinning about?”
“Just enjoying the view.” He heard a noise coming from her purse. “What have you got in there?”
Marla put a finger to her lips. “Shhh. It’s Skipper. He wasn’t feeling well, and I didn’t want to leave him home alone.”
“He’s in your purse? Are you planning to suffocate the little rat?”
“You’re an idiot. This isn’t my purse. It’s a dog carrier, and it’s well ventilated.” She smacked the leather strap resting
