CHAPTER FOUR

 

Savannah lifted up her sunglasses as she passed the latest street sign. She was looking for Old Post road. It would’ve been easier to turn on the GPS to find her way to the Southern Comfort Ranch. She’d picked the wrong time to bet Wayne she could get around just fine without the use of a navigating device. The world was increasingly at the mercy of gadgets that told people where to go, what to do, and when to get it done. It was amazing how humans survived before it. History should be readjusted. The dark ages were officially any time period before the eighties.

She’d dressed comfortably today so she could keep up with Austin. She’d slipped on a pair of her favorite jeans, cowboy boots, and a purple shirt with white fringes that she wore when she went to the Lazy L Cantina with Barbra Jean.

Not to be outdone by her research subject, she got up at six, dropped Blue off to the sitter, and hit the road by six-thirty to get to the ranch. Austin’s ranch was technically on the outskirts of town, but it was still part of Harper’s Grove. Out here, the stretches of land were even more picturesque. Lush green pastures with animals grazing.

The article on the fire had been published, and she’d received compliments from her fellow reporters. She’d even managed to get a stiff nod of approval from Ralph. The patrons at the bakery praised her astute reporting when she went in for her Sunday bran muffin and coffee. Feeling encouraged, she knew she wanted to knock the next part of the series out of the park. Which meant doing a great job on her article about Austin.

After doing an Internet search on Austin, she still didn’t know much about him. Sure, she knew his bio. Son of Texas big-shot T.K. Holbrook, who was mostly known for his co-ownership of the Tomcats among other things. The Holbrook name carried more weight in the business sector where the family had their thumbs in many pies. T.K. Holbrook was also one of the top five billionaires in Texas.

Somehow this didn’t translate to Austin and his sharp turn into a military career. On the other hand, his brother Logan was very comfortable with their family’s legacy. There was a clear digital footprint of his escapades over the years until he’d settled down and became the figurehead of the Tomcats, along with the famous quarterback Seth Blake. It was as if Austin had disappeared for a decade. Or maybe he’d just disappeared from the very public lives of his family members.

She clapped when she finally saw the road. She put on her blinker, made a right turn and traveled down the road for a good mile before she saw any signs of life. A few minutes later she spotted the sign for the ranch. She made a left and drove down another road and that was when she saw it. The Southern Comfort Ranch sign was proudly mounted on an overhead attached to stone pillars on each side. She was surprised to see a guard shack at the entrance.

The security officer stepped out. “Good morning.”

“Good morning. I’m Savannah Brewster, I’m here to see Austin Holbrook.”

He looked at his clipboard. “Sure thing, ma’am. Take this main road down to Willow Lane, make a left and it will take you to the stable areas. You can park your car in the parking lot and someone can direct you to him from there. Just in case you lose your way, here’s a map. The phone number to the security office is on the back.” He pulled out a map and handed it to her.

“OK. Thanks.”

He went back into the guard shack and opened the gates.

As soon she drove through the gates, she felt like she was transported into another world. It was no mere ranch with a few horses. This was a striving mini city dedicated to equestrian undertakings. There was a slew of buildings and lots of activity going on. She parked her car and got out, mindful to clip on her visitor’s pass. People were bustling about, and Austin was nowhere in sight.

She’d seen barns before but not quite like this. This was a lair of exquisite, state-of-the-art buildings. She wandered into a building, hoping to talk to someone, but they all looked so busy and focused, she felt like she was intruding. She looked at the signs on the wall and saw one that said viewing room. Well, maybe someone in there would be less busy and could tell her where to go. She was surprised to see the room was a luxurious lounge with rich brown leather chairs, a full bar, dining area, fireplace, and big windows that overlooked an even larger room where people were putting their horses through their paces in an indoor arena.

She continued on her trek until she found the tack room, which was littered with saddles and other riding equipment. Next door to it were the locker rooms. She looked at her watch. The facilities were nice, but she really needed to find the man and get on with her interview.

Finally, she stopped a man who had a saddle in his hand.

“Excuse me.”

“Good morning, ma’am,” the man in a cowboy hat said.

“Good morning. I’m looking for Austin Holbrook.”

“He’s at the vetting building. You might want to take one of the golf carts. It’s a bit of a walk. The keys are in the ignition. Follow the path and you’ll see the signs.”

“OK, thanks.” She made her way to a golf cart and put her bag next to her. As she rode around, the magnitude of the operation hit her like a ton of bricks. Austin wasn’t a simple rancher; this was an enterprise.

She saw the vetting sign and continued in that direction. When she reached the right place, she hopped out and walked inside. That’s where she saw him. He was looking downright gorgeous in a pair of jeans and a blue plaid shirt. He was talking to a man. They were standing in a stall, caressing a horse’s head.

“I think we can get the repairs done by the end of the day.”

Austin nodded. “Thanks. I’ll see you out there shortly.”

“Ma’am.” The other guy touched the tip of his hat and headed outside.

Austin was watching her. “Good morning, Ms. Brewster. You certainly look festive.”

“Good morning.” She put her hands in her back pockets. “I wanted to fit in.”

He raised an eyebrow. “We won’t be line dancing today.”

“This is the extent of my country western motif.” She shot him a look, then looked at the horse. “Who’s this beautiful creature?”

“This is Sweet Sadie. She isn’t feeling well.” He caressed her head. “The vet’s been keeping an eye on her.”

“What’s wrong?” She wanted to reach out and touch the horse, but she was hesitant.

He sighed. “It looks like an infectious upper respiratory disease.”

“I hope she feels better.” She moved closer to the horse.

“You can touch her.”

“I’m uncomfortable around horses.” She moved back. “I had one bite me while trying to feed one when I was a little girl. I’m afraid it’s made me skittish around them ever since.”

“Let’s do something about that.”

Savannah blinked when Austin took her hand and placed it on the horse’s mane. He had big, strong hands, but they felt surprisingly soft. A jolt of energy between them sent a subtle charge through her body as their hands moved in a slow rhythm over the horse. She wasn’t sure if he was comforting her or Sweet Sadie. Either way, it was working. She didn’t feel like running out of the stall.

“See, when you touch a horse the right way, the last thing they want to do is bite you.”

“I’ll have to remember that.” She pulled her hand away.

He gave Sweet Sadie a good pat. “OK, girl. I’ll be back to visit you this afternoon.”

“Feel better, sweetie,” Savannah said.

“Let’s go.” He started for the door leading outside. “We’re burning daylight.”

She followed after him. “Where are we going?”

“We’re installing new water troughs for the horses around the ranch.” He stopped by a truck and opened the passenger door for her.

“Oh.” She climbed in. “You help with the maintenance work?”

“It is my ranch.” He rounded the front of the truck and got in. “I’ll give you the ten-cent tour while we ride.”

She pulled out her notepad. “OK. Let’s get started.”

He started the truck and turned onto one of the ranch roads. “This is the stable and vetting area. We have three stables. Two vetting facilities for breeding and veterinary care.”

“How many horses do you have on the premises?”

“We have anywhere from eighty to a hundred at any given time. A quarter of that number are boarders. The rest are my private horses and the thoroughbreds.”

“Do you just breed them?”

“Some of them. A few of mine are professional racehorses. I’m looking to branch out. One of my horses, God’s Thunder, placed at the Kentucky Derby.”

“It’s no surprise you love horses. You do come from horse country. What prompted the move from Texas?”

He paused for a second before answering. “I needed some space.”

“There’s nothing but space in Texas.”

“I needed some space from my father.”

“Oh?” She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t.

He pointed to his right. “The big building over there is the farm machinery garage. We store the tractors, horse trailers, and equipment in there.”

“It’s a big building.”

“There’s a lot of big equipment in there.” He pointed to another structure. “That brown building stores the hay and bedding. And the one a few feet away is for—”

“You don’t have to tell me.” She clamped her fingers over her nose. “Manure.”

He laughed. “Yep. We also have a couple of round pens for my boarders who compete professionally and use it to train and exercise their horses.”

She saw a house in the distance. “Is that your house?”

“No, it’s the living quarters. Guest accommodations, if you will.”

She took a few notes, then looked at him. “You want to go back to that comment about your dad? T.K. Holbrook must be an imposing father figure.”

“No. Do you want to know about me or my father?” His jaw ticked.

“You, of course. You were the one who rushed into a burning restaurant and saved a woman. I can’t imagine T.K. Holbrook doing anything like that, unless he was running into the burning home of one of his football players to save them.”

He laughed as he pulled up behind a truck and parked. “You’re probably right.” He glanced at her. “You might want to stay here.”

“I’m going to help.”

“I don’t see how this is going to help your interview.”

“I’ve got your number. You think you can scare me off with a little hard work, you’re wrong. Besides, I’m sure I can find out some things about you just by working side by side with you.”

“All right. I warned you.” He grinned and handed her a pair of work gloves.

“I’ll be fine.” She pulled on the gloves. “So what is a decorated Navy SEAL who’s the son of a prominent Texan businessman doing in Harper’s Grove?”

“That’s a story that’s better told over a cold beer and a good meal. If you’re lucky, maybe I’ll have dinner with you sometime.”

She watched as he walked toward the men, leaving her there with her thoughts. It was easy to get distracted by that easy, sexy smile and those dreamy eyes. But she wouldn’t get all goofy at the idea of going out on a date with him. Men like that weren’t interested in women like her. They preferred polished women like Lucinda who commanded attention everywhere she went.

He may have grown used to getting women to do whatever he wanted, but she would be different. She’d be the one woman on the planet who didn’t get mesmerized by those broad shoulders and the way his jeans clung to his corded thighs. There was a level of integrity she needed to maintain when interviewing someone. A personal opinion had the possibility of skewing her reporting.

Still, she was a woman with a pulse that happened to quicken every time she saw the man. It had happened last night and again when they were riding in the truck. She felt a stirring inside her she’d long believed was dead—a feeling that she thought had died when she’d decided to give up on men.

Who was she kidding? She was the only woman on the planet who wanted to resist him.

 

* * *

 

Austin had to admit Savannah was holding her own. He’d never thought she’d actually help him with his chores, but he was delighted to see she was just as tough as she was pretty. After they’d installed the new water troughs, it was on to mending fences and inspecting the shipment of feed and other supplies that he’d ordered that arrived. She was definitely a distraction to the ranch hands, who he had to remind to keep their eyes on the job and can the flirting.

The chores didn’t deter her from doing her job however. She asked questions about his life, and he answered as succinctly as possible. T.K. was brought into the conversation a little too often for his tastes. Despite the fact they’d tried to make peace the past year, it was still a sore spot to talk about the great T.K. Holbrook. Austin hated living in his shadow and the expectations that came along with it. He craved a sense of his own identity, and that soul-searching had led him to the military. He’d learned a lot in the Navy. Discipline. Focus. Hard work.

She might be intent on learning things about him, but he was learning a lot about her too, watching her work. She was tenacious but in a way that didn’t come off as obnoxious. She was a perfectionist, not content to have one bent nail or a tool out of place.

By one o’clock they’d gotten a lot done, and he was starved. He herded her to the truck.

“I’m hungry,” he told her. “I think you’ve earned a meal for your hard work. How about we grab a bite to eat?”

He tried to suppress a smile as he watched her consider his offer. She had very expressive eyes, and it was easy to see the wheels spinning. Right now she was mulling over his invitation. It was a no-brainer, getting lunch after moving around the ranch all morning. Still, it looked like she was conflicted somehow. Then he saw a sparkle in her eyes and a faint smile formed on her lips.

“I could go for a bite,” she finally replied. “But I have to warn you, I like to eat healthy.”

“I’m sure we can find something that will satisfy us both.” Austin pulled down the tailgate of the truck, then retrieved a blanket from the backseat and spread it out. He then opened the cooler and rubbed his hands together. “Let’s see, I have ham, tuna, and turkey.”

She looked in the cooler. “I’ll take the turkey.”

“OK. What’s your poison? Water or sparkling pomegranate juice?”

“Pomegranate juice.” She looked around at the scenery. “It’s beautiful here. The arrangement of the trees and sunlight, it’s almost magical.”

He nodded, glad she appreciated it.

“Back to the question I asked earlier. I know Harper’s Grove is picturesque, but what really brought you here?”

He took a deep breath. “I did a lot of traveling when I got out of the military. I think I went on a mission to see the country I’d been fighting for, to give me a sense of validation of what I was defending. A friend of mine I met in the Navy lived a few towns over and used to rave about this area. Harper’s Grove has a feeling of being removed from the everyday crap in the world. It’s just a town whose citizens do all they can to keep the peace with each other and enjoy living, a place with a small crime rate and lots of community spirit.”

“Tell me about it. There’s a celebration going on every week. You know how far I have to park from the newspaper when there’s an event on Main Street?”

“Yes, but you can catch the shuttle they provide when they block off parts of the town,” he countered. “What is it about this town that bothers you so much?”

“Who says anything bothers me?”

“It’s the vibe you give off. It screams ‘this place is just a temporary stop in my life.’”

“You couldn’t be more wrong.”

He gave her a look.

“Fine. Maybe you have a point.” She bit her lip. “I am trying to figure some things out. My personal life imploded, and my career is going nowhere.”

“Does the personal implosion have something to do with the ex-boyfriend?”

“Yes.” She sighed. “Then a major online news outlet I freelanced for went up in smoke.”

“But you found work at the Harper’s Gazette.”

“Yes, but it’s not a major news outlet.”

“Excuse me, I’ll have you know that Mayor Grayson’s luau fundraiser to get a hot tub in city hall was pretty damn important news.”

She snorted, then covered her mouth. “I can’t believe he actually made his goal.”

He laughed too. “Grayson has a way of convincing people to do things.”

“Yeah. Mayor Grayson seems to have won Ralph over.”

“Ralph is community oriented. You’ll find that out the longer you work for him.” He took a bite out of his sandwich. “I read your article on the fire. It was good. Precise coverage. It was a nice touch mentioning some of the people’s names you interviewed and how much they love Angela. They will get a kick out of that.”

“Everyone is an open book around here except you.”

“I don’t find myself to be interesting.”

“Says the man who’s led a very interesting life. What made you want to be a Navy SEAL?”

“Besides being a world-renowned, badass branch of the military?”

“I don’t think you put yourself through rigorous training and in constant danger on secret missions just to show everyone how badass you were.”

He laughed. “Well, it did come with a free tattoo.”

“If you were a glory hound, I’d be OK with the typical testosterone-riddled answer you just gave. But a man who doesn’t want any attention for a good deed done in his community would not join an elite force for the glory.”

He was about to reply when two women on horses riding along the fence began waving at him. It was Aubrey and her friend Bethany.

“Hi Austin!” The two young ladies rode over to them and dismounted their horses.

“Ladies.” He stood. “How’s it going?”

“We heard what happened last night and wanted to make sure everything was OK,” Aubrey said. “We stopped by your office and they said you were out and about overseeing repairs.”

He gave Aubrey a stern, yet affectionate look. “I heard you called Parker and told her what happened. Logan chewed me out good for not calling him and giving him a firsthand account.”

“Sorry about that.” Aubrey gave him a shy smile. “Parker and I were on the phone planning Riley’s birthday party and I just had to tell her. She just happened to be at the ranch while we were talking. Thank heavens you’re OK. Do you forgive me?”

“Of course. How could I ever be mad with you?” He motioned to Savannah. “I’d like you to meet Savannah Brewster. She’s a reporter for the Gazette.”

“Hi, there.” Both ladies waved.

“Savannah, this is Aubrey and her roommate Bethany. They are college students.”

“Nice to meet you ladies.” Savannah smiled.

“I heard you were doing a story on Austin. Cool,” Aubrey said. “He’s the real deal.”

“I think what you did was really awesome and heroic,” Bethany gushed. “I can’t believe Mark will be doing things like that for a living. I hate that he wants to be a firefighter.”

“Mark will be just fine. He’ll have the training and the proper equipment and he won’t do something as foolhardy as I did.”

“I’m just happy you’re OK.” Aubrey gave him a hug.

“Me too.” Bethany slid between them and squeezed him.

“You two enjoy the rest of your ride,” he said. “Aubrey, I’ll see you at dinner next weekend.”

They watched as the ladies mounted their horses and went back to the trail. He could see the wheels in Savannah’s mind moving again, as if she were trying to figure out his relationship to the two young women. Her knitted brow said she thought something was suspicious, and that rubbed him the wrong way. How could she think he’d date someone so young? Was her opinion of him that low? He turned to her to call her out, but she spoke first.

“More members of your fan club?”

“I have gray hairs older than those girls. Not only is Aubrey my friend Alex’s occasional babysitter and his brother Theo’s girlfriend, but she’s also Riley Sloane’s sister. The quarterback for—”

“I know who Riley Sloane is; I don’t live in a cave.” She smiled. “Seems like you and Aubrey’s lives were meant to intersect.”

“She’s a sweet kid. I think of her as a little sister.”

“It shows.” Savannah’s face softened. “I apologize if I seemed to imply you have any nefarious intentions with every woman you know.”

“If you’re going to work on this article. You have to keep an open mind. I already have one woman complaining about me on the radio. I don’t need another hit piece.”

“You’re right. I promised you responsible journalism, and you’ll get it with me.” She wiped her hand with her napkin and extended it for a shake. “You have my word.”

He shook her hand. “I’ll hold you to it.”

 

* * *

 

Savannah knew she should’ve probably finished the interview and taken off hours ago, but she was having such a good time at the ranch. After lunch, they arrived back at the main stable building and headed for his office. No surprise, it was a spacious suite with leather couches, a big desk with a connecting full bath and a kitchenette. He went over to the kitchenette area, opened a tin, and offered her a chocolate chip cookie.

“No, thanks.”

“You sure? They’re really good.” He broke one in half. “I’ll share it with you if you don’t want the whole thing.”

“Just one.” She took a bite of the gooey cookie.

A blonde-haired little girl dressed in a blazer, riding boots and helmet came running into the office with an envelope in her hand. “Austin!”

“Hi, Carly. You were looking good out there today in the arena. I see you worked out the issues with getting Comet to get his hind legs up for those taller jumps.”

“Yes. We’re getting much better at that.” The little girl blushed. “This is for you.”

“Thank you.” He opened the envelope. It was a five-dollar bill. “Hold on, let me get you a receipt.”

Savannah watched as Austin retrieved a big leather binder from his desk drawer. He quickly scribbled on a receipt, signed it, and handed it over to the girl.

She lunged at him and threw her arms around his neck. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt rescuing Angela from the fire.”

“I was extra careful because I didn’t want to be cooped up in some hospital for your big competition coming up.”

The girl smiled. “See you next week.”

“I’ll be here,” he replied.

Savannah watched the little girl scurry back out. As soon as she was out of earshot, she had to ask. “What’s the five dollars for?”

“Boarding fees.”

“Do you operate on a sliding scale fee?” She raised an eyebrow. “You charge according to your height?”

“Carly inherited Comet from her grandfather who passed away last year. Her family can’t afford the monthly boarding fees and upkeep, so they came to me asking if I could help them sell the horse. I couldn’t, in good conscience, help her sell off the one thing her grandpa wanted her to have. I offered to board and feed the horse for free but her parents thought it was important that she know responsibility. So five dollars a month seemed fair.”

“That was very nice.” She smiled and continued to munch on the fancy cookie.

“It was nothing.”

“No, it was definitely something. Especially to Carly. She gets to keep the last present her grandfather gave her thanks to you.”

He shrugged, as if not wanting to make a big deal about it. “You want to go check on Sweet Sadie with me?” He pointed at her face. “You have a little chocolate chip on your lip.”

“Oh my gosh.” She covered her mouth with her hand and picked up a napkin. “How long has it been there?”

He laughed. “Just a few minutes.”

“Jerk.” She dug into her purse for her compact.

Austin rounded the desk, sat on the edge, and took the napkin from her. “Let me get that for you.”

She stilled as Austin took his time gently wiping her face with the napkin. Her heart sped up as he made each slow, deliberate stroke to her face. She looked into his eyes through her long lashes and saw a flash that resembled lightning striking in the air. The air was thick and electric; his cologne was a mix of sandalwood and sex appeal.

“Am I interrupting something?” a cold voice said from the direction of the door.

She looked toward the door to discover the voice belonged to Lucinda. She was looking perfectly coiffed, with her face painted like her billboard photo. She looked too dressed up to be going for a ride. The scarlet blouse with the plunging neckline didn’t seem practical. The jeans she wore were so tight Savannah was pretty sure she couldn’t ride a horse comfortably in them. But by the way she was looking at Austin, it didn’t look like riding a horse was on her mind. And by the way Austin tensed, he didn’t look happy to see her. If he were such a heartless cad like Lucinda claimed, then why was she standing there with a gift in her hand?

“Lucinda.” Austin scratched at his temple. “What brings you by?”

“Hey, handsome.” Lucinda walked over and handed him the gift bag. “I stopped by to see how you were doing. I heard you were released from the hospital Friday night. Sorry I didn’t get here sooner, but I had a big station marketing event over in Talligan Falls. It got national coverage, so I couldn’t miss it.”

“Thanks for the concern, but there was no need. I’m fine.” He motioned to Savannah. “You know Savannah Brewster? She works at the Gazette.”

Lucinda gave her a once-over. “No, we’ve never met.”

“Yes, we have.”

“Oh right. You’re the junior cub reporter Ralph hired.” She put her hand on her hip. “You were the one who worked for that radical digital paper. The one that went bankrupt after that bad scandal?”

Wow. So much for not recognizing her. Little miss perfect had come out swinging.

“Yes.” Savannah’s jaw ticked. “And I’m just a reporter, no junior or cub on that title. We attended the tri-country journalism conference together three months ago.”

“I was on the panel as a special guest. I didn’t get a good look at everyone who attended.”

“I asked the question about the lack of coverage on the attempt to tear down the old movie theater, which is a historical monument, without a town vote. You said you didn’t think it was relevant.”

“It’s not. It wasn’t a national treasure at the time, and it was a bit of an eyesore.”

“It’s not relevant to the rich people in this town. But everyone else felt it was a big deal. It was part of history for the people who hadn’t flocked here the last fifteen years.”

“That space could’ve been a trendy eatery or a coffeehouse.”

“We have two coffeehouses already in this town. If you ask me, the nouveau riche drink too much caffeine.”

“It’s an atmosphere thing. I don’t suppose you’d get it.”

“I understand posturing,” Savannah fired back. “Lucky for us, Ralph wrote that rousing article that stirred up the public and caught the attention of the council members.”

“So Lucinda,” Austin said rather loudly. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to take you out to dinner. Or we could stay in.” Lucinda flashed a sexy smile.

“I’m afraid I’m busy. We were just going to check on one of my mares.”

“Don’t you have vets that tend to the sick ones?”

“Yes, but that’s not the point. I have an interest in all the animals on the ranch.”

“Was this the same mare that had you running out of my house?”

Savannah picked up her purse. “Wow. Look at the time. I had no idea it was so late. I have to go.”

Austin frowned. “No, don’t go.”

“I have to I told my sitter I’d be home by the afternoon.”

“Sitter?” Austin furrowed his eyebrows. “I didn’t know you had kids. I wouldn’t have kept you all day.”

“Kid.” She waved her hand. “It’s OK. It was my job to ask the questions today.”

“Since we’re not done, I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow then?”

“I’ll call and make an appointment. I wouldn’t want to just drop by and interrupt you.” She glanced over at Lucinda. “I hear that’s considered rude.”

“That’s very considerate of you,” he said gravely. “I tell you, good manners are a dying art form these days.”

“I know. Civilization is falling apart. We have all this technology but we humans still keep miscommunicating.”

“Let me be clear in my communications then,” Austin said with a smile. “You have a standing invitation. Drop by whenever you want.”

She wished she could take a photo of the look on Lucinda’s face. She looked like a toddler who’d just been told Santa wasn’t real. But the real photographic moment was that smile on Austin’s face.

“Thanks,” she said. “And I think I’ve learned a lot about you today.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. It’s not your cologne.” She walked out of the office.

Leaving Austin there with Lucinda felt like leaving a baby gazelle with a lion. But she was sure he could hold his own. He didn’t seem like the type of man who’d let anyone dominate him. He was the type that took the reins and did the driving, and the woman who was lucky enough to have him wouldn’t complain one bit.

Once she finally made it back to her car, she connected her phone via Blue Tooth and surfed through the songs on her music app through the car’s radio display for something high octane to get Lucinda’s bitchy tone out of her head. “Tighten Up” by the Black Keys blared as she headed home.

She tried to wrap her head around the day’s events and the work on the ranch. Austin was as simple as he was complex. A former Navy SEAL who was the son of a billionaire but was also a man who had rejected all the trappings of a rich, elite life. He’d made it on his own. She knew the feeling. Being Clare Brewster’s daughter sometimes seemed more like a curse than a blessing. She liked that the town had no idea who her mother was because, like Austin, she was forging her own identity.

A little while later, she pulled into her driveway and cut the engine, feeling like today had been a success. She unlocked her door, humming to herself as she headed for the kitchen. Not only had she learned something about Austin, but she’d learned more than she wanted to about Lucinda. Clearly the woman was poised to attack anyone she thought Austin may be interested in. Did Lucinda see her as competition? OK, she had walked in on what looked like an intimate moment, but there was no call to be jealous.

The doorbell rang. She went over and opened the door. It was her neighbor Enya with Savannah’s dog Blue.

“Blue! How’s my boy?” She scratched under his chin. “Did you have a good time today?”

The dog echoed her sentiments by jumping up on his hind legs and licking her face.

“I missed you too.” She turned to Enya. “Thanks so much for watching him. Did he behave at the dog park?”

“He was great.” Enya gave her the dog’s leash.

“Good. Thanks so much.” She went over to her purse and took out a couple of twenty dollar bills. “I have an assignment, so I may need you to walk him more often.”

“Not a problem. I will add him to my schedule. Just text me the dates and times.”

“Thanks.” She gave her the money and showed her out. Then she padded into the kitchen to get them both some water. She opened the bottled water and poured it into his dish. “Blue, this new assignment is going to be more of a challenge than I thought. So you will be seeing more of Enya. I’ll take that tail wagging as a sign you’d like that.”

The doorbell rang again. Enya must have forgotten to tell her something. She hurried through the house and opened the door. This time it was Levi.

“Levi.” Her tone was cold.

“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.” He stooped down when Blue jumped on him. “Hey, Blue. How’s my big boy? I see you’ve put on the weight your momma lost.”

“Really? You’re body shaming our dog?”

“No. I was just making an observation. Are you sure he hasn’t been depressed since I moved out?”

On the contrary, the golden retriever was as happy and spry as he’d ever been. The absence of Levi’s toxic, me-first energy had lightened the atmosphere of her house. “Animals, like children, bounce back fast. But if I ever have to send him to a dog whisperer, I’ll send you a bill.”

“Ha ha. Do we always have to argue like this?”

“You’re right. Come on in.” She stepped back to let him into the house. “Actually, I’m glad you stopped by. I did some tidying up last weekend and I found a few of your things.” She went over to the hall closet and retrieved a box. “Here’s your U Mass T-shirt, a pair of cargo pants, and your tennis racket.”

He looked around. “Thanks. I see you’ve done some decorating. Treadmill is new.”

“Yep.”

There was an awkward pause. “So how’s your mom? Are you going to be on her show?”

“What are you talking about?” He knew she didn’t get involved in her mother’s world.

“It occurred to me that maybe you were part of an upcoming makeover segment. I know she’s been hounding you for years to make an appearance.”

“She’s been hounding me to work behind the scenes, not trot me in front of her audience like a little showpiece.”

Levi shook his head. “I never got your abrasive attitude toward your mother or her life. She’s got clout and could easily get you in the door anywhere you want, but you insist on doing things on your own. Believe me, I would’ve taken full advantage of Clare Brewster being my mother.”

She suspected that’s why he’d dated her in the first place. But lately that thought seemed to be ringing true. She wondered if Levi missed her or the opportunity to get his face in front of the camera to fulfill his secret wish of being a celebrity doctor. “Well, you have, haven’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“My mom made calls to her high-profile friends to get you the interview at Serenity Springs.”

“She did. I am eternally grateful.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I was her future son-in-law.”

“We were nowhere near talk of marriage but I’m sure you let her believe it. She also talked to you about doing segments on her show as soon as you planted roots at the hospital.”

“That was the plan.”

“Well, I hope your career aspirations haven’t gone too far off the rails. I guess you didn’t anticipate fallout when you were cheating on me.” She folded her arms across her chest. This was getting her nowhere.

“This is why I got the roving eye. You’re so busy being self-righteous it pushed me away. Poor Savannah born into an awful life of privilege.”

“It comes with a price higher than you can imagine and it doesn’t exempt you from being a responsible person in the world. But you were so busy salivating over the limelight you couldn’t see what the moral implications are. Moral codes don’t bend with the wind. Either you have them or you don’t.”

“You can’t see what a good team we could have been.” Levi moved closer to her.

She moved away and picked up his box. “I’m thankful I got a good look before it was too late. It’s time for you to go.”

“Can I at least spend time with Blue?” Levi took the box then looked at the dog. “Blue, you want to go to the park with me?”

The dog circled Savannah then sat next to her. She opened the door and held it as Levi left. She closed it, put the locks on and set the alarm. She didn’t want to bicker with Levi. It just wasn’t worth the spent energy and was a great indicator that she didn’t love him anymore. Not in the way she used to, and it felt good. Too bad he wouldn’t let go gracefully. But he also hadn’t expected her to stay in Harper’s Grove.

Levi thought she’d leave town with her tail between her legs. But she stayed. It was one good thing he’d done, bringing her to Harper’s Grove. Austin was right. It was a simplicity that was comforting and made you feel at home. She felt like she belonged and felt good in her own skin. She hadn’t felt that way in a long time.