Page 64 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
“Say you’ll come. Pleeeze.”
She could scarcely refuse in front of Josh and in the face of such intent, adolescent pleading. “Okay, when would you like me to come?”
“How about Saturday, 6:00 p.m.”
“Make it 7:00, and I’ll be there.”
“You’re on. Thanks, Ms. Carson. Come hungry; I’ll make my specialty.” He turned to race off.
“I hesitate to ask what the specialty is.”
???
Saturday night, Josh watched from the living room as Will answered the doorbell. Sara stood on front stoop, a bottle of wine in one arm and one of root beer in the other.
“You came. You really came.” The boy spoke in his usual headlong rush. “I was afraid you’d chicken out. Or go out to the McKinley ranch instead. C’mon in.”
Sara laughed. “No, I got your note yesterday. You give excellent directions. Besides, how could I resist an offer of homemade spaghetti? My mouth’s been watering since the day you invited me.”
“Good, great, everything’s ready.” He waved at the furniture in the living room. “Have a seat. I’ll go dish stuff up, and we’ll eat.”
“Thanks, Will. Perhaps you could take these to the kitchen for me.”
“Okay.” He relieved her of the bottles.
“Hello, Josh.” Sara walked past him to the plate glass window and stared out at the breakers, seabirds, and sea oats bending in the breeze.
She looked fresh and sexy in a strappy white sundress. It clung and shifted in ways that drove his hormones into high gear. Her hair was down. The ends tickled her shoulders. Oh, to be a strand of Sara’s hair and always be able to touch that whipped-cream soft skin.
“Josh.”
The kid waved a wine bottle at him and whispered. “Can I have some?”
Josh reached out and took the wine. “Not tonight, champ. Stick with root beer. I’ll think about getting you a sample of wine soon. Meanwhile, I’ll open this. You go on and set dinner on the table.”
Will disappeared into the kitchen just as a phone rang. “That’s my cell. I’ll get it,” drifted through the door as it closed behind him.
Josh filled two wine goblets. He carried them into the living room and handed one to Sara over her shoulder. “Will told me the names of some of the kids involved in vandalizing your cars.”
“That’s great. What are you going to do?”
Josh watched her shoulders tense.
“Have a talk with social services and Judge Ryerson. See if we can’t set up some sort of mentored work program like we did for Will.”
“I don’t know if I can handle any more juvenile delinquents at Carson’s.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to do that. It’s best if the boys aren’t placed together, anyway.”
“That’s a relief.” She sipped her wine and rubbed at her nape. “Now, I can put the vandalism behind me and focus on Carson’s other problems.”
“Maybe not.” He hated to cause her more concern. “Will said someone hired the boys to damage Carson’s Cars.”
Sara whipped around. “Who?”
“He doesn’t know. One of the older boys was the contact man. Will’s not even certain that boy knows who hired them. Every Friday they’d stop by a mail drop. Will thinks that’s how the gang got its instructions.”
Sarah shivered and turned back to the window. “Why would someone want to sabotage the dealership? How can I protect it against an unidentified enemy?”
