Page 52 of Back in the Saddle

Yolanda sighed. ‘It’s fine when she’s home. Sometimes I do stay alone, when she needs to be admitted. My uncle lives at the other side of the city, I can pop into his place if I want to, but I like being home.’

Caroline nodded sympathetically because she understood. She had been the same at her age.

‘You work here, right?’ Yolanda asked.

Caroline nodded.

Yolanda glanced at her. ‘Aren’t you heading out? You must’ve finished for the day.’

Caroline had forgotten all about her tiredness and her wish for a hot bath. The time had just run away from her. It happened all the time at hospital; the workday just flew past. Working in research involved a lot more clock watching.

‘I can stay until your mum is ready to go home. If you want me to.’

She caught Yolanda’s smile. It was barely there, but it reached her eyes and transformed her face considerably. ‘Thank you. I’d like that.’

Caroline put her bag next to her and settled more comfortably on the couch. ‘What would you like to talk about?’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Hunter

Meg knocked once on his office door and walked in without waiting for an invitation. ‘Hey, Hunt, can you give me a lift to the city? I need to get to Maya’s birthday party, but I don’t want to take the car.’

Hunter raised his eyes from the laptop screen. She was dressed in a pair of tight jeans and a silver sequin top. ‘No problem. When do you want to leave?’

‘Uh, like now?’ She pointed at her outfit with a flourish and grinned widely. ‘It’s already six.’

He frowned and glanced at the dusty grandfather clock in the corner. A wave of tiredness suddenly overtook him as he realised he had been working on the ranch’s accounts for the past four hours straight. Stretching his arms above his head, he let out a loud yawn.

Meg chuckled. ‘You’re still OK to drive? Looks like you could use some coffee. Or a nap.’

But he was already on his feet, keys to his truck in hand, and walking past her through the door.

‘Or not.’ She shrugged as she spun round to follow him.

They had just got onto the highway. Hunter was quiet, gripping the wheel with far more concentration than was necessary.

Meg turned a bit in the passenger seat and looked at him expectantly. She was probably the most observant member of their family. She had eyes and ears, and Hunter was certain that she had picked up on certain changes in his behaviour. Like the fact that he was smiling more. Or the fact that he stayed over for dinner more often, which made their mother very happy.

‘What?’ he finally asked, his knuckles blanching on the wheel as he tried to contain a smirk from spreading all over his face.

‘Oh, come on. You really won’t tell me?’

‘Tell you what?’

‘Who is she?’ Meg practically shouted, jumping up in her seat, seemingly unable to rein in her excitement. ‘It’s a woman, isn’t it? Mama says it’s got to be a woman for you to be so … perky,’ she finished.

Hunter laughed out loud. It was such a genial, light peal of laughter that it sounded almost foreign to him.

‘“Perky”, seriously Meg? First “chipper” now “perky”?’

She waved her hand impatiently. ‘Whatever. You know this isn’t the point. The point is, who isshe?’

He just laughed again and shook his head. As much as he loved Meg, he wasn’t going to tell her about Caroline. Mainly because there really wasn’t much to say. At least, not yet.

They agreed to have fun. No expectations, no pressure, and most of all, no strings. They would simply enjoy each other’s company.

And they decisively were not saying they were dating. It wasn’t a relationship. Logically, he knew all that.

---