Page 22 of The Texas Cowboy's Rescue

“You know, I’ve given a bit of thought to Miss Brooke’s apparent need to seek out the heights above the ground. And I think I might have a solution to help divert her into a safer environment while still allowing her the need to climb.”

“You’ve done thinking about that issue?” Kenzie tried to not appear too surprised after what he just said.

“What would you say to her having a tree house? Over there,” he nodded toward a sprawling oak tree in the yard. “That tree has good strong structure in its limbs that are closer to the ground, with room to add an area upward once she is older. I have one in mind that I’ve been wanting to build, but don’t have a good tree to try it with. You’d be doing me a favor by allowing me to take out my stress on such a project... not to mention the new circular saw I’d like to try out.” He finished with a broad grin, and it was contagious.

“I’m totally surprised by this. It sounds like quite a project.”

“Not really. And if it makes her happy and keeps her in controlled airspace, all the better. Who knows? You might want one for yourself. And I hear they are great places to lie and watch the clouds from and the stars too.”

“Now that would certainly be a first for me. But it would be nice to channel her daredevil side into a safer habitat.” She still was a bit hesitant. He easily read her mind.

“And the really big cherry on top... I’ve got plenty of lumber, more than I could ever use, from some of my previous projects, and my labor is cheap. You know my price... I work for food. Beat that deal.”

“I doubt I could ever beat that deal.” And it was clear he wasn’t about to let her change her mind, given how fast he moved to seal the agreement.

“Good. I’ll begin Saturday morning... early. And I suggest that Miss Brooke gets the news when I bring pizza over tomorrow afternoon and get her input in what she thinks is a must in her aboveground condo. Sound like a plan?”

Was he expecting her to decline? He was watching her as he took a sip from his glass.Okay, Jackie, here goes me going out on that limb...in more ways than one.

“You aren’t going to give me time to come up with a good enough excuse. Sounds like a plan. We accept, but with the caveat that any additional expense is discussed and I will cover that issue.” Somehow, she didn’t know which of them was the most surprised after the words came out. He stuck out his hand.

They shook on it, gaze upon gaze. His smile created a tingling in her middle. There was hunger, and then there washunger...and she took back possession of her hand. “Extra cheese on that pizza, please.”

Chapter Eleven

The best-laid plans.Those words crossed his mind a few times. Deke had wasted little time clearing files from his desk the next day. By the time the afternoon began, he was pleased that he had taken the bold step and broached his idea of the tree house and went a step further in suggesting he supply pizza after they had finished work. The fact she had accepted without putting up more roadblocks had caught him by surprise. Deke was prepared to argue the point when she turned him down, but she had said yes. And maybe that was a sign he was making headway in building that bridge of trust.

He wasn’t generally known to be patient, but he was having to practice it more and more. But today was going to be a good one. The sun was high in a bright-blue sky. The plan was that he and Brooke would have their lesson, then he would pick up the pizza and meet them at their house. Then the surprise of the tree house project would be unveiled.

The triple-digit temperature was going for the seventh day in a row. The rain earlier in the week didn’t make a dent in the drought conditions. Already he had loaned two of his chopper fleet out to counties in the northern corner of the Texas panhandle to help evacuate people from devastating grass fires caused by flash lightning. It was another rough Texas summer.

The pool was going to feel good. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt such a positive high... and it had a lot to do with Kenzie and Brooke Calhoun. There was a feeling that maybe the past was being replaced with a new present... one where a spark of trust had been lit, much to his surprise. And it wasn’t just in his case. He wanted to be the catalyst that could teach Kenzie that she could take that same step and let trust begin to build in her life again.

Then the phone call came. Beaudry was proposing they cook up some burgers, crank a couple of freezers of homemade ice cream, and turn it into a pool party... after the lesson, of course... and Jaxson and Laurel were on board. Sammi Jo and Lacy and baby Jeff were geared up. What did Deke think? It would be great to have the two Burkitt and Hawkes clans come together for the first time... and that certainly included Kenzie and Brooke.

What was the easiest way to tell him what he really thought of the idea? He had a nice evening planned for the three of them. But it would feel rude to throw that out there since it was Beaudry’s pool that was their lesson site. And it was a good cause for celebration, he had to admit. Brooke would enjoy the other kids to play around in the pool with. So, he smiled and asked what he could bring. Evidently, Sammi Jo had already brought Kenzie into the loop because she had texted him while he was packing the ice chest into the Jeep to let him know that it made sense for her and Brooke to go ahead and meet him at the pool. She was just finishing up the ice cream she had volunteered to bring. So she would see him there. She didn’t sound disappointed. Had he hoped she would? Would have been nice for his ego.

*

“This impromptu partywas not my idea,” Laurel spoke up to the woman beside her as Deke went to retrieve the ice cream maker from the back of Kenzie’s car an hour later and was out of earshot. “My husband has no sense of timing on some things. This should be your time today.”

“Please, don’t be silly. Deke and Brooke will still get in some diving lesson time. And it’s good that he has more time to socialize with his half brothers. They have some lost time to make up for. I don’t mind.”

“Then you’re crazy.” Laurel was not one to pull punches, but at least she did it with a grin on her face. “He’s one fine-looking man, and he is definitely interested... so you need to go for it. What’s stopping you?”

“One... I have a daughter to consider. I’m not going to throw a man into the mix just for the sake of it. Two... my last relationship taught me to be very cautious. I admit to trust issues. Three... probably the biggest hurdle for both of us is the fact he is my boss.”

“One...” Laurel countered, “Brooke adores him already. And they are good together. Two... that relationship wasn’t much of one at all and you didn’t know he was a bad apple. But there are a lot of good ones left on the tree. Three... the hospital is your boss in actuality. Deke is merely a supervisor. Did you sign an agreement to not have certain thoughts and interactions with a mere coworker? I say you didn’t, so put a big X on that one. What else?”

Kenzie shook her head, setting her things on one of the sun loungers. “You amaze me. You always did as we grew up... the strange twists and turns in your thought processes. Downright scary at times.”

“You sound a lot like my sister... and my husband, come to think of it. I’m going to go inside and find another bottle of sunscreen. But you’ll thank me one of these days if you follow my advice.”

She watched Laurel meet up with Deke and Brooke at the patio doors. Her cousin held one open for him and then threw a wink in Kenzie’s direction.Save me from matchmakers.

She was not going to complicate the day with all sorts of downer thoughts and relationship woes. It was time to just breathe and enjoy an afternoon of fun and food.

That fun turned out to be more than just a little. Between the kids in the shallow end of the pool and the three bigger ones—the so-called adult men—in the deeper end, she was surprised there was much water left in the pool a couple of hours later. The males had begun a good-natured game of the biggest splash, biggest cannonball, best dive, and then just biggest belly-whopper. The tables were set and the food was ready... if Sammi Jo could get her husband out of the pool to tend the grill.

---