Soul Food Read Free Page A

brother Hooper’s a great boss, a good foreman. I can’t believe the guy’s energy.”
    She perked up. “He’s a cancer survivor, did you know? Making up for time lost to chemo.”
    “I do know.” He gave up a silent marvel at Hooper Martin’s vitality. “That little girl of his sure is a cutie.” Jason’s voice thickened with guilt. He’d intentionally missed single dad Hooper’s wedding last month because marriage was the last thing he believed in. His folks had taught him well.
    “That she is. Ella’s stolen every heart in Colorado. You know, right? Hooper’s new wife is also a cancer survivor.” Her words came slow.
    “I do know,” Jason repeated, but neither spoke for a long minute. Wishful thinking to use the term for one with glioma.
    At a second four-way stop, Jason observed full well there wasn’t another vehicle in sight, but he was slow to pull ahead, eager to take full advantage of the beautiful sight. Rippling like a staircase down the hillcrests was Lomita Creek where he’d taken a trail ride along the arroyo not long ago. Fine-looking place. If he believed in God, or any god, this might be just the sort of place He’d likely choose to live.
    With some forty-five minutes left together before pulling up to the Hearts Crossing Ranch, he might as well get the conversation going with more talk of her siblings. Pretty safe topic. Lord knew she had enough of them. “You should have seen me and Pike last April. Helping a mama calve triplets during the last blizzard…”
    But instead of praise for her veterinarian brother, or a chuckle or guffaw or even compliment at Jason’s own brilliance pulling off birthing three baby cows, he heard a deep sigh. He sighed back in disappointment. Glancing at her as he footed the gas pedal, he found her sound asleep. Aw, he wished he had a blanket. And he sure wished he could kiss her cheek.
    But all he did was turn off the AC and roll down his window to let in the scents of Colorado.
     
     
     
     

2
     
    Kelley groaned as she plunked up the stairs, Bryce the Golden Retriever hard on her heels. Ned had given her the pup long ago, and she’d never held it against the dog. Truth was, she longed for the dog every day. Hearts Crossing was the best place for him, though. Her tiny apartment above the restaurant and twenty-three hour days would be downright animal cruelty. Right now, she bent to hug the dog close but didn’t feel a whole lot better.
    It was the faux- est of pas , falling asleep in a man’s company, a man you were interested in, that is. But the long nights of worry, of troubleshooting, of trying to invent new marketing techniques and concoct new recipes had taken their toll. Adding in the long days of food prep and Kelley wondered how she was surviving at all.
    “I fell asleep!” She wailed to Chelsea as her baby sister lugged her bag into the bedroom they shared. Not long ago, Ma had converted Kelley’s childhood domain into a guest room for the ranch tourists. “And he’s the hottest thing I’ve seen for months!”
    Chelsea snorted. “Glad you’ve gotten over Ned. I’d think Sunset Hills was chock full of cute cowpokes.”
    Kelley rolled her eyes, unwilling to admit she did get lonely although leaving Ned behind had been good all round. Four and a half years with a man who couldn’t stick around, who couldn’t commit, who couldn’t propose had been long enough. ”That’s probably true. But none of them bother to set foot in my restaurant. I just don’t have time for any sort of a social life anyway.” Jacking her boots, she curled onto a twin bed in a weary clump, entwined with the furry Golden. “Why didn’t you tell me Jason was such a hunk?”
    Chelsea shrugged. “I guess because he’s more like a big brother. He’s thirty-two, at least.
    With a sniff, Kelley ran her hands through her hair, weariness clamping her shoulders in tight fingers. At nineteen, of course Chelsea would think so. But even at almost thirty with