Page 70 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

“Well, Ruby slept in, so I got all my orders finished early,” she said. Mundane stuff, but Holt always asked and was always interested. “We’ll head to the post office soon, then we’re going to San Antonio to check out an apartment complex.”

“So you decided on San Antonio, huh?”

“Possibly,” Macie said. “It’s a pretty place.”

“Yeah . . .” He let the word linger, and she knew he wasn’t saying what he wanted to. “I can drive you.”

The offer was sweet, and leading. She could only imagine how it would be spending the day with Holt, wrapping himself tighter and tighter around her heart. “Thanks, but I already figured out the busses. It will be an adventure for Ruby, too.”

Holt chuckled. “That it will be. But if you change your mind, darlin’—”

“I know, I know, I have your number,” Macie finished, unable to stop the smile from emerging.

“When you get back, I was thinking I could pick up you and Ruby,” Holt said. “Maybe get some dinner, and if you’re so inclined, we could join my mother for a small birthday celebration.”

Macie went quiet.

“My siblings are all coming in, and a few other miscellaneous Prosper relatives,” Holt continued. “They all want to meet Ruby. And of course, I’d love for them to get to know you, too.”

His words only veiled what he’d told her more than once. He wanted herin his life. He wanted the Prosper family to get used to Macie being with him.

“I don’t know,” she said at last. “I’m still figuring things out.”

“Maybe coming tonight will help you figure out some of those things.”

He was probably right, but she’d still had no communication with Heidi, and Macie didn’t want to belabor the point to Holt. He’d tell her he’d talk to his mom, but that wasn’t the right approach, either. Heidi shouldn’t feel pressured by Holt.

“Whatever happens,” she said, “I hope your mom has a wonderful birthday.”

“I’ll keep my phone on, and I’ll check it maybe a hundred times.”

Macie laughed, but she felt a pang in her heart, too, because she knew that although Holt might be teasing, she’d heard the affection in his tone. How did she get so lucky to have a man like Holt being so sweet on her? “You’re not going to get much work done if you do that, Mr. Ranch Manager.”

He chuckled. “I’m good at multitasking, darlin’.”

She missed him. She missed seeing his face. Hearing his laugh in person. Feeling his arms about her. Breathing him in.

After she hung up, Ruby asked, “Who was that, Mommy?”

“It was your Uncle Holt.”

Ruby bounced off the bed. “Can I ride Sammy today?”

“Not yet,” Macie said. “We’re going to look at that apartment with the swimming pool, remember?”

“Hooray!” Ruby clapped. “Then can I ride Sammy?”

The requests would never end, Macie knew. “We’ll see,” she said at last.

“If I’m a good girl?”

Macie held back a laugh. “That will certainly help.”

The bus ride to San Antonio was a wonder for Ruby, and Macie was pretty sure she’d never heard so many questions in her life. Everything from “why does a bus smell funny?” to “why is there gum on the floor?” were just the beginning.

As they toured the apartment complex, Macie decided she liked the place well enough. It would be a lot different than living at the ranch, of course, but it would be nice to have Ruby interacting with other kids on the playground or at the swimming pool.

“If you sign this week, we’re offering $250 off the security deposit,” the office assistant told them.

---