Page 16 of Forever Finds Us (Wisper Dreams #7)

“She’s at the hospital. I imagine they’ll release her today or tomorrow if she’s doin’ well.

Bax said he talked to her dad and they’ve extended their stay at the cabin a couple days so she can rest, but they’re eager to get her home.

She broke her arm at volleyball camp last year, so they want the same surgeon to treat her ankle. ”

“We should buy them dinner or something before they leave. They’ve got to be exhausted.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll find out when they’re comin’ back to the cabin and set it up. The diner in town caters. I’ll give them a call after we’re done this mornin’.”

Tab drove into downtown Wisper, right past the diner in question, José’s, but we didn’t have time to stop, so I set a reminder in my calendar to call José later as Tab pulled up and parked across the street from the sheriff’s station.

“Why are we here?” I asked.

“I told you, we’re meeting Mrs. Brooks. This is the first property.” Tab nodded at an empty storefront across the street from the station, then looked at her phone, clicking the screen a few times. “She’s already inside. Come on.”

“Right.” But my attention wasn’t on the rental property. It was fixed on the station, and I was hoping for a glimpse of Roxanne.

I didn’t get one, and Mrs. Brooks met us in the open door of the Main Street building, shook our hands, and introduced herself. We walked through the space she wanted us to see, but it was small and not really the right floor plan for my purposes.

The community center next to the sheriff’s station was buzzing with activity when we were done, and I waved to Devo when I saw her trying to wrangle a couple little kids through the big, open front doors, but the sun was shining on the station’s windows next door.

If Roxanne was in there, I couldn’t see her.

The sharp pang of disappointment I felt surprised me.

Tab and I followed Mrs. Brooks to the next available property, but it was an old house ten miles south of town.

Technically, it could’ve worked. It was big enough, but it would need major renovations if it was going to be used as offices, and I figured if I wanted to go that route, I could just build the offices on my family’s land and make it exactly how I wanted it from the get-go.

That idea had me thinking and imagining family offices, where we could run the ranch, the rentals, and Lee Construction all from the same building.

I’d kept my business separate from my family for so long, but now I found myself wondering if things needed to change.

Maybe being hands-off wasn’t suiting me anymore.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about it though.

It was a bigger deal than just relocating Lee Construction.

The third property Mrs. Brooks showed us was another house, but it was north of town, closer to the highway and more accessible.

The size was right, and I could picture a big Lee Construction sign facing Highway 20, but I couldn’t muster any excitement about it now that the image of the family offices had invaded my mind.

I told Mrs. Brooks I’d think about it and we’d get back to her. In fact, I had a lot of thinking to do. She thanked us, gave us her business card, and then Tab drove over to José’s since we had to pass through town on our way back to Merv’s anyway.

The Monday lunch crowd was small but boisterous and loud when we walked in.

José himself greeted us at the counter. I hadn’t seen him in a long time.

I’d heard he’d gotten married a few years back, but he looked the same as he had when I was a teenager and he made my brothers, sister, and me milkshakes on the weekends.

I asked him about catering a dinner for the Manning family, explaining who they were, and he shook my hand and said, “It’s on the house, kid. Don’t you even dare pull out your credit card.”

He’d heard about Natalie already, of course.

The news of her ordeal had probably circulated through town like a stiff wind over the weekend, and José seemed glad for the opportunity to pitch in and help.

Since he had dinner covered, I put another reminder in my phone to talk to Bax and Rye about offering the Mannings an all-expenses-paid stay at the cabins next summer and guided Teton tours, and then added another reminder to call Carey’s wife, Frannie, over at the bakery to see if she had time to make dessert for the family.

I told José I’d call him later with a firmer time once I’d talked to Bax, and as Tab and I turned to leave, I got the glimpse of Roxanne I’d been craving like air.

She sat facing the door across a booth from Rye’s girlfriend, Aubrey, and my mouth watered when I pictured the gun most likely strapped to Roxanne’s thigh below the table.

The two women had their heads together over their table, whispering to each other as Roxanne looked at me. Had they been talking about me? I couldn’t help my smile, and I lifted my hand in a discreet wave.

Roxanne blushed. I would’ve seen it a mile away, her cheeks pinking like a sunset, and she smiled back. Aubrey turned in her seat, and as she looked me up and down, her smirk seemed way too knowing.

They had been talking about me! What had Roxanne told her friend? I hoped it was all good things, but a sudden rush of uncertainty pulsed through me. Had Roxanne enjoyed our time together as much as I had?

I decided I wanted to know the answer to that question, so when I pulled open the door for Tab and she walked through, I lifted my hand to my ear like a phone and mouthed to Roxanne, “Call me.”

She nodded and I found myself blushing now, too, and a new rush of anticipation burned through me as I followed Tab back to her car.