Стальные небеса. Ирина Котова

turned at the sound of the French doors opening. Elena stepped out with a cut-crystal glass filled with ice and what he hoped was unsweetened tea.

      “Lots of ice, just as you like.” The housekeeper placed the glass on the side table next to his chair. “Your lunch will be right out.”

      “No rush.” Winn lifted the hand holding the phone. “I have calls to return.”

      “You and your father.” Elena clucked her tongue. “Always working.”

      “What else is there?” he said automatically.

      Elena opened her mouth then closed it and only smiled.

      It was obvious she didn’t understand the drive he and his father shared. But then, not many did. Elena probably thought his emphasis should be on home and family rather than business. But that road could be a rocky one.

      He thought of the look in Hailey’s eyes when he told her he’d seen Josh with another woman. And the unmistakable pain on her face when she relayed how the creep had been using her to get close to Tripp.

      He thought of Vanessa, a woman he once thought he might love. She was a kindergarten teacher with a girl-next-door persona and zest for life. In some ways, she reminded him of Hailey. But just as Hailey had discovered that Josh couldn’t be trusted, he’d learned the bubbly Vanessa was a liar and a cheat.

      Winn raked his hand through his hair, forcing air past the sudden tightness in his chest. He hated that Josh’s cheating on Hailey had caused him to think about Vanessa and her fiancé. He preferred to keep thoughts of that time in the back of his mind, locked tight in a rarely opened file cabinet.

      Winn heard the doorbell chime and straightened. It appeared he wasn’t the only visitor his father stood up today.

      “Come in, Miss Hailey.” Elena’s voice radiated welcome. The women spoke in lowered tones for several seconds. Other than the initial greeting, he’s in the barn were the only words Winn made out.

      Curious as to who was the mysterious “he” Hailey had come to see, Winn pulled to his feet.

      He reached the foyer and found Elena trying to convince the pretty blonde, still wearing the hot-pink hoodie, to stay for lunch.

      “Thanks for the offer,” Hailey told the housekeeper, “but my parents are expecting me and—”

      Hailey’s eyes widened when she saw him. “Winn. I didn’t realize you were here.”

      He smiled quizzically. “My car is parked out front. Didn’t you see it?”

      “I saw a sedan in the driveway. I thought it was your father’s.”

      Winn winced. He loved the S550, but was going to have to see about exchanging it for a sportier model. Driving an old man’s car didn’t fit the image he wanted to project. After putting a new vehicle on his mental list for tomorrow, Winn refocused on Hailey.

      “Reconsider Elena’s offer and join me for lunch,” he said with an easy smile, leaning against the doorjamb. “Did she mention we’re having chicken escabeche? I bet she could also scare up a glass of sangria for you.”

      “I don’t think—”

      “Don’t tell me you’re full,” Winn said. “The scone you had this morning can’t be enough to hold you.”

      Winn ignored the gleam of speculation in Elena’s eyes. He could explain he and Hailey had shared coffee at Hill of Beans, but that was their business. Taking Hailey’s arm, Winn made an executive decision. He turned to Elena. “Miss Randall will join me for lunch on the terrace.”

      “Yes, sir.” Elena hurried off, ignoring Hailey’s faint murmur of protest.

      Two bright swaths of pink colored Hailey’s cheeks. “I didn’t come over expecting to be fed.”

      “You made Elena happy.” Winn kept his tone conversational as he took her arm and ushered her through the house to the terrace. “Now, tell me about this man hidden in the barn.”

      “Man?” Hailey stopped dead in her tracks, a frown furrowing her pretty brow. “What man?”

      “Elena told you he was in the barn.”

      Hailey dropped into a chair. The peel of laughter that burst from her lips both puzzled and delighted him. Try as he might to fight it, the gregariousness of the woman seated across the table had always appealed to him.

      “The he is a dog.”

      Winn blinked.

      “Barks. Four legs.” Hailey’s tone was serious, though she appeared to be struggling not to laugh again.

      Elena appeared with a glass of sangria and a tray of tapas, including mixed olives and cheese. The housekeeper’s smile appeared to widen at the ease between him and Hailey. Elena slipped back into the house to finish the salad preparation with a light step.

      “The dog is a stray.” Hailey took a sip of sangria. Pleasure sparked in her blue eyes. “This is good. Try it.”

      She thrust out the sangria. Winn obligingly drank and wondered what it’d be like if, instead of the glass, his lips closed over hers? Would her mouth taste as sweet as the sangria?

      Winn shoved the thought aside and handed the fruity drink back with an easy smile. “Very nice.”

      When she placed her lips on the glass, Winn experienced a hard punch of lust. It wasn’t the first time he’d felt this, but she was his neighbor and just coming off a difficult breakup. He leaned back in his chair and forced a composure he didn’t feel. “Tell me about the animal you came to see.”

      He listened as she explained the border collie mix had strayed onto his father’s property. No one had reported the dog missing. Apparently it had been hanging around for several weeks. The ranch hands hadn’t let him starve.

      “The shelter said, based on the information given, he’d probably been dumped.”

      “You came all the way out here just to catch a look at some stray?”

      “His name is Bandit.” Hailey spoke almost primly. “It was engraved on a tag hooked to his collar.”

      “Makes sense.” Winn lifted his glass of tea and frowned slightly. “I guess.”

      “When the dog was found, your father told Bobby to take him immediately to the shelter, but Bobby—and some of the other guys—wanted to try to find him a new home. The shelter was full and there was a chance he’d be put down. From what I gather, he’s a smart, sweet boy, young though, more puppy than—”

      Winn held up a hand, like a schoolboy waiting for the teacher to call on him.

      Hailey smiled. “Yes, Winn.”

      “Who’s Bobby?”

      “One of your father’s ranch hands.” Her tone implied it was something he should have known. “Bobby and I went to high school together.”

      “So a friend from high school—who now works for my father—called you.”

      “Actually, I ran into Bobby downtown. He told me about Bandit.”

      “The border collie.”

      “A+, Winn.” She unexpectedly grinned. “You’re paying attention.”

      “One major piece of the puzzle doesn’t fit. Why would someone put a dog’s name on a tag but not their contact information?”

      Hailey lifted her shoulders in a little shrug. “Why would someone dump a dog?”

      “I’m surprised your friend didn’t take him.” Winn grimaced. He wasn’t into wasting time. So why was he having a conversation about a stray?

      “Bobby’s place doesn’t allow pets.” Hailey paused to savor another sip of sangria. “I’ve been thinking about