The McClintock Proposal. Carol Ericson

      “We were living in California when it was time for me to go to college, so I ended up at UCLA for the in-state tuition and because they had a good fine arts department. I settled in L.A. by default. I don’t have any roots there. I don’t have any roots anywhere.”

      “Where’s your mother?”

      She curled her hands into fists. “She died of a drug overdose when I was in college.”

      He drew in a quick breath. “Sorry.”

      “The way she was going, it was bound to happen. She’d been skating on thin ice for a long time.”

      Rod drilled the road with a steely gaze, and Callie’s heart flipped. She didn’t want him to think she’d grow dependent on him or expect anything from him. He obviously didn’t like that idea.

      “Don’t worry.” She patted his muscled thigh. “With parents like I had, I’ve learned to depend on myself. That’s why the ranch is important.”

      “Are you talking about the money it could bring?”

      Callie clasped her hands between her knees and wiggled her toes in the new sandals. How could she explain her feelings to a man who had his own ranch somewhere? Probably had parents and extended family nearby. Probably had a life.

      “It’s more than just the money, although that will help my dad…and me. My grandparents built the ranch together, and my father never appreciated that. Grandfather Ennis left it to me on the condition of my marriage, hoping I’d establish my family there, put down some roots.”