Page 3 of Jonathan

Her smile flitted out and she felt her stomach steadying. For all of her bravado, the confidence in her work and her ability to make a ‘ruling’ on a meal in some fancy restaurant, this was fresh territory that she had been toying with for two years now.

The last year had pushed her to start putting it into place and she had acquired an agent and showed her the idea and a few sample pages. The woman’s enthusiasm had fueled her desire to get it finished.

“You’re biased.” She pointed out now, sipping her tart and sweet lemonade and eyeing him over the rim of the glass.

“Damn straight.” He acknowledged with a grin. He was often fascinated and taken aback by the stunning beauty of the two women in his life. He was a moderately attractive man in his early eighties, but he knew they had inherited their looks from his dearly departed wife who had been taken from him almost twenty years ago.

His granddaughter surpassed her mother in looks, and he was hankering for her to find someone to settle down with. He also knew that the man who was brave enough and strong enough to take her on would have to be able to stand firm when she locked horns with him which would be often.

Both his daughter and granddaughter were extraordinarily strong women and were not easy to live with. His daughter had been through one marriage and an endless strings of lovers that seemed to grow younger each year.

“When are you leaving?” Shaking away the depressing thoughts, he focused on her.

“Tomorrow.”

His eyebrows lifted at that. “So soon?”

“I wanted to leave sooner, but I had some obligations.” With hands flitting restlessly, she put down her glass and rose gracefully. He watched her wander over to the window to look out and sat there staring at the slender frame etched in profile. The sun streaming through the open curtains highlighted her complexion. “Mother is on a tear about Brian.”

“That spineless loser?” He tutted behind her and caused her to smile. “You deserve better.”

“He’s a very successful lawyer and that’s quite an accomplishment and necessary requirement as far as she’s concerned.” She turned and walked over to sit back down. “And you’re right, I deserve better.”

“Knowing my daughter, she’s not going to stop. Is that the reason you’re not saying where you’re heading?”

She nodded and reached out a hand to place over his. “I know how she can get around you gramps,” her impish smile revealed twin dimples that seemed to be carved into her cheeks.

“You would want to keep my secret, but she would not stop until she gets it out of you.” Her smile faded as she eased back and settled against the cushions. “I am burnt out. Words of my therapist.

And she’s right. I have been running around from one place to the next for years now and cannot seem to settle. I love my job of course, love savoring the food, taking in the ambiance of the different place, and making my observations, but I need a much-deserved break.”

“You do.” He acknowledged quietly as he continued to stare at her. “And who knows? Wherever you end up, you might just find the man of your dreams.”

Her laugh came, husky and full-bodied like an excellent vintage and had him smiling at her.

“I am not into anything as frivolous as that.”

“Perhaps that’s what’s missing from your life.” His expression turned sober. “What’s life without love and romance? You need a man who’s going to love you to distraction and make you want to do the same. I am wishing that for you.”

She waved that away impatiently. “Anyway, I leave first thing in the morning.”

“How long will you be gone for?”

“Three weeks. A month? We’ll see.” Shrugging, she reached for the pastry and took a measured bite.

“Now darling, kindly remember that you’re merely having lunch at your old grandfather’s place and not here on a job.”

“Delicious as usual,” she declared with a laugh. “And if it passes muster with you, then I know it can’t be anything less.”

*****

Leonie McCarthy bustled around the huge dining room checking on the settings. It was early yet, just an hour shy of six, but the ranch was already stirring. She knew her son had been up since before dawn.

A fond and exasperated smile touched her lips as she reflected on the man she had brought into the world. Jon was anything but a child now. She had cradled him as a baby in her arms and over the years, as she watched him tumble around and find his footing, but she had often wished and hoped for another to keep him company.

But God had different plans and now she was without her husband and had a son who was married to the ranch. These days, she was saying a different prayer.

One that involved him finding a good woman and starting a family. His last birthday was early August, and he had resisted her attempts of making a big deal out of him turning thirty-five.

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