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RHEA KNEW SOMETHING had finally happened between Nate and Perci the instant they walked in the front door. The sun was already up, and Perci had that just-loved-look. Nate could barely take his eyes—or his hands—off the girl.
Rhea bit back a secret smile. She was a mother, and she didn’t like to even think about her sons’ love lives in that way, but she was damned glad Nate had finally done something about that girl. Slower than pond scum in a light breeze that boy was.
Anyone with two eyes could see that they belonged together. “Good morning. Did you get the place cleaned up?”
She would just pretend they’d been over there cleaning all night. The way any innocent mother her age would.
“I’ll get new windows installed today. After I head in to work for a while.” Nate watched the girl as she disappeared down the hall toward the guest room. There was such intensity in his eyes.
Such...love.
Rhea missed her husband more than she had in a long time right then and there. Having her man look at her the way her son was looking at Perci was something she would always miss.
She missed Daniel so much.
Sometimes it hurt to look at the sons they’d created together. Rhea masked her pain from her most perceptive child by hugging him quickly. “I’m glad no one was hurt. Did your brother say who it was yet?”
“Most likely some dumb kid shooting at cans on the outskirts of our property. He found fresh cans out that way. Or drunk and being a little shit. Just got out of hand and took off when they realized what they’d done.”
Rhea nodded. It wouldn’t have been the first time.
The Mastersons had long owned parts of the county that were extremely remote. Even her own sons had done such stupid stuff when they’d all been teens. Levi especially had given them fits. Daniel had thought that boy would never outgrow it. Then at nineteen Levi had gotten a job at a neighboring ranch, saved his money up, and bought five acres near where they were now. To raise beef cattle. After that, Daniel had taken their youngest son on as a full partner in the Masterson ranch holdings. Said Levi was going to put his brain to work for Mastersons and no one else. Which was exactly what Levi had always wanted. Without a single protest from his older brothers. Her boys had always known their ways in life. And gone after them. “I’m just thankful you and Perci are safe.”
His gaze immediately went toward the hallway. Like a magnet.
Rhea smiled to herself. Once her son finally made up his mind what he wanted to do about that girl that was when things would finally settle. Would finally be the way they were supposed to. In the meantime, she had some friends at CPS to talk with.
If Nate didn’t do something about that child needing a home, Rhea would take care of it herself. That little one was meant to be her granddaughter, and Rhea wasn’t about to let Ivy go, either.
Things were going to work out for Nate, Perci, and Ivy exactly the way they were supposed to. Rhea was going to make certain of it.