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“W hat might you be doing here today, little lady?”

Jenny jerked her head around to see Dr. Sherman. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of one of the cabinets with cleaning spray, rags, and supplies all around her on the floor.

“I’m cleaning.”

He tipped his head to the side and studied her.

He didn’t have any children. Unfortunately, his wife, the love of his life, had died a few years after they were married, and he just didn’t have it in him to try to find someone else who would hold a candle to her.

So, he concentrated on his practice and spent time with old friends.

He had no other relatives alive and had taken to Jenny quickly.

She reminded him of his late wife in some ways.

He also knew if he could have chosen a daughter, it would have been Jenny.

“What happened?”

She shook her head and looked away. “Nothing.”

He pulled a rolling stool over to her and sat. “We could sit here all day if you want, but you won’t leave here without telling me.”

He smiled when she looked at him in frustration, which made her snort.

“I don’t think we should talk about it. I don’t want to cause friction between you and your friends.”

“Ahhh, are we talking about Mac?” he guessed.

She sighed and nodded.

“What did he do?” Charles asked.

He watched her start to put things back in the cabinet. He couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, anyone had organized them.

“Tell me, Jenny.”

“He doesn’t like me. It didn’t really bother me, but he also doesn’t trust me with his animals, and that’s his prerogative. I know that, but he acts like I killed one of his animals. I try to stay away from him, but he always seems to be where I’m at, or he’ll come to the house to yell at me.”

His eyebrows shot up. Mac didn’t go off his ranch if he didn’t absolutely have to. That told Charles quite a bit.

“What does he say?”

“This morning, he told me to stay away from him and his ranch, but he...”

“He what?” he asked when she paused.

“He kissed me first. He’s confusing the hell out of me. I really do try to ignore him, but he pokes at me until I can’t anymore.”

Charles coughed to hide his chuckle at her evident frustration and confusion. “Can I tell you a story?”

She sighed, nodded, and turned on her butt to face him.

“Kaden was married several years back.”

Her eyes widened. “He was married. Like with a woman?” she asked, stunned.

Charles threw his head back and laughed. “He didn’t used to be so hard. His ex-wife, Carly, is a horrible person. She was only after his money, and if she didn’t get what she wanted, she’d have affairs.”

He saw her take it all in and waited.

“I can’t believe she’d be so stupid as to want another man.”

She said it so softly, Charles wondered if she knew he could hear?

He cleared his throat. “It hit him hard. Hell, he’s still having problems with her.”

“How?” she exclaimed.

“She demands more money and will try to embarrass him if she catches him in town.”

“What a bitch,” she hissed, making Charles chuckle. This could turn into something if he played his cards right.

Like himself, Mac didn’t have any family, and Jenny had her parents, but they weren’t involved in her life and had never really been.

Both of her parents were doctors who specialized in different areas of the body, which occupied most of their time.

Both were respected and well known, from what Charles could gather.

The fact that they’d left Jenny on her own most of her life made him want to shake them.

Did they not know what they were missing?

Since she was basically on her own, he figured if he could get her and Mac together, they’d be the kids he’d always wanted and give him the grandkids he dreamed about. He’d have to get Mac to agree.

“Yes, I agree with you. He acts all gruff, but I think if Carly hadn't hurt him so badly, he’d be a lot more approachable.”

She looked down and studied her fingers.

“Why don’t you go home? You looked tired.”

She nodded. “I will, after I put everything away.”

He patted his knee. “Well, okay.”

“Hey, Charles, have you eaten lunch yet?”

“No, I have not.”

“Do you want to go to the diner with me? Kind of like a date,” she said and wiggled her eyebrows.

He snorted and then grinned. “I would love to. I’ll be in my office. Come get me when you’re ready to go.”

He closed his office door, walked behind his desk, and sat before making his call.

“Mac,” the voice on the other end barked, making Charles roll his eyes.

“It’s me, Charles. Will you be around this afternoon?”

“Sure. Why?”

“I’d like to stop and talk. We really haven’t had a chance lately, and I’ll be out that way anyway.”

“Sure. I’ll be in one of the barns. Honk when you get here.”

“You got it.”