Page 24 of The Texas Cowboy's Rescue

“It’s possible. And thanks for being a good sport about the pool. Hope no ego was dented too much.”

“My ego is still intact. Thank you for being concerned about it.”

“I have other concerns, as well.”

“Such as?” He had grown serious.

“There’s a fine line often between work and play. Especially between boss and employee. I’m a firm believer in that. I think you are as well. I just don’t want to give off the wrong impressions... to anyone.”

Deke gave a half smile. It didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I hear that loud and clear. It’s obviously an area you feel strongly about. No need to worry. There aren’t any rules about friendship outside the office in our line of work. No need to add to stress levels. And I see that Brooke might have played herself out today. It might be better that we introduce the idea of the tree house plans Tuesday afternoon after the lesson. I’d still come over with pizza in hand.”

“Well, there’s tomorrow afternoon also. Unless you have plans.”

“I do. I promised to spend the day with a friend, and it’s been planned for a while.”

Kenzie nodded. “Of course, you do have a life and other plans. You’ve been generous enough as it is with your time for Brooke. And we haven’t mentioned the tree house idea to her yet, so we...”

He held up a palm. “No, that is still happening. It is a good idea and I’m looking forward to making it happen.”

“I won’t argue. I see the determination. Tuesday, it is.”

“Drive safe and sweet dreams.” He shut the door after she was seated.

His departing words had struck a memory chord, and she had to keep her mind on the task of backing out of the parking area and then keep her eyes from going to the rearview mirror as they drove away.Sweet dreams.If he only knew that for some reason, her dreams were anything but strictly sweet... especially since he’d begun starring in them.

Chapter Twelve

Monday morning wasa Monday morning in true fashion. The birds were busy transporting and running trauma calls. They had flown to New Mexico twice that morning. And a few hundred miles to the south for a rock climbing injury. The winds had picked up, and on their last run, she was surprised to see a thickening cloud of dust rising in the east, turning into a shield between them and the lowered sun.

When she made note of it, the response from Deke came over her headset inside her helmet.

“That’s smoke moving in from the big wildfires in upper New Mexico and Arizona. That’s what three hundred thousand acres of burning brush and houses will do in a high wind.”

“That is amazing,” she responded. “We wouldn’t fly in something like that, would we?”

“You’d be a fool to try. Inside it, you are blind and your engines don’t respond too well to soot and particles picked up like debris. Wildfires are nothing to mess with in the air.”

That was fine with Kenzie. Some of her hardest transports had been burn victims and firefighters. But she hadn’t had to see the actual fires to know that she wanted no part of them.

Tuesday was only a little less hectic. Deke left the office ahead of her, reminding her that he would meet them at the pool. The lesson went as usual. Kenzie did spend some time inside the house visiting with Sammi Jo and baby Jeff. It was nice and she was glad that her cousin was not like her sister. The conversation did not mention a certain pilot or involve any sort of matchmaking advice. But neither did she share that Deke was coming over afterward and bringing dinner. The less on that subject, the better.

“Mama, is Ranger coming to dinner with Mr. Deke tonight?”

Brooke had been watching the minutes tick by on the big clock on the kitchen wall since they walked through the back door thirty minutes before. She had left long enough to shower and throw on a sleeveless top and shorts, and then she was back in the kitchen. Kenzie had taken just about as long to change into the off-the-shoulder, ruffled yellow top and white jean shorts. She let her hair stay loose, as did Brooke. Only Brooke had to add the pink sparkly headband for her signature color splash.

“He is always invited, so we shall see if Mr. Deke has decided if Ranger can come or not. Since he is bringing pizza tonight, how about we get busy and whip up some cupcakes for dessert?”

“Ooh, yes! Can I put icing on them?”

Kenzie began collecting the items needed and setting them out on the counter. Brooke pulled up the smaller step stool she often used in order to help and be the cook’s helper. That included pulling an apron over her head that said just that.

“You are going to make themandice them. I will talk you through it. How does that sound?”

“I’m the cook now! Do we have sprinkles? We have to have those.”

Kenzie reached up in the cabinet and rummaged through spices and smaller bottles. She stepped back with the magic bottle of multicolored sprinkles.

“Yay!” Brooke grinned and took the bottle. In the next ten minutes, two pans of cupcakes were assembled and then placed in the oven.

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