“Dad, I’ve missed you!” she exclaimed, and reared back, peering up at him, the shock of his appearance evident in her blue eyes. “Are you all right? You look tired. Do you want to sit down?”
“You don’t need to baby me,” he said gruffly and ran a shaky hand over the top of her dark head. “Good to see you, kid.”
She smiled a brilliant, dimpled smile that reminded Aaron of his mother. He smiled, too, but it faded the moment he saw the man come up on the steps of the veranda.
Slowly, he turned his head, took the man in, from the tips of his steel-toed boots to the top of his sandy-brown hair. He was tall, an inch taller than himself, probably six feet two, maybe more. And a big man, muscular—Aaron would have guessed him a football player at some point in his life. He was also a good-looking fellow, there was no denying that. No wonder Robin had experienced such a tremendous lapse in judgment.
“Dad,” she said, her voice betraying her nerves, “this is Jake Manning. And his nephew, Cole.”
That was the first Aaron had even noticed the kid.
Manning stuck out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lear. I’ve heard an awful lot about you.”
Aaron’s eyes narrowed. “That right? Just what did you hear?”
Robin laughed nervously. “Well he heard about you from me—you don’t think he’s fool enough to tell you now, do you?”
Aaron slowly shook his head, despising the man already. “No. I don’t think he’s a fool at all.”
Manning was too smooth to let Aaron know what he thought about that. He was expressionless, just extended his hand again. Aaron reluctantly shook it, then gestured for Robin to step aside, away from his chair, so he could sit down again. He noticed the kid was staring at him, like he had two heads or something, and scowled at him to let him know he did have two heads.
“Robin?” Bonnie called as she came out the front door, Rebecca on her heels. She eagerly embraced her oldest daughter, kissed her on the cheek. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad to see you,” she exclaimed, then looked at Jake, and damn her if she didn’t smile broadly. Just as broadly as Rebecca. Women.
“Who have we here?” Bonnie trilled.
Jesus Christ, impressed with a pair of pecs.
“Mom, Rebecca, this is Jake Manning and his nephew, Cole.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Lear. Rebecca.” He grabbed the boy by the shoulder and pulled him around. “Cole, you want to say hello?”
The kid muttered something unintelligible, but that didn’t stop Bonnie and Bec from beaming ear to ear.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to have you and your nephew at the Blue Cross Ranch, Mr. Manning,” Bonnie said giddily.
“Please . . . call me Jake.”
Please call me Jake, Aaron mimicked behind his back.
“Well then, you must call me Bonnie!”
“So you’re the one who is redoing Robin’s house?” Rebecca asked.
“That’s me.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about it!” Bonnie exclaimed. “Why don’t we sit down? Would you like something to drink? Iced tea? What about you, Cole? Lupe!” she called as she simultaneously ushered everyone to seats around a large wicker table.
“Jake, tell them about the brick,” Robin said. Manning nodded like a good little puppy dog, Aaron thought, and began to tell them what he was doing to her house. Aaron sat off by himself, refusing to listen, miserably ill and even more miserably disillusioned. He watched his daughter’s face as the guy talked, the way it lit up with laughter when they talked about someone named Zaney, the way she hung on every word the handyman said.
And he watched Manning, the easy way he used his hands to talk, the easy way he laughed. Evan was right—the guy was too blue collar for Robbie. She could have her pick, dammit, so what in the hell had possessed her to pick up with this guy? More important, how long would it be before she saw what he and Evan saw, what Bonnie and Rebecca would surely see once they got through drooling? That every time this Manning fellow looked at Robin, he saw one big fat dollar sign?
Too disgusted and too sick to think, Aaron finally got up to go take a nap. He gave the kid a good hard glare in the process. He thought it strange that the kid sort of smiled.
All the misgivings, all the anticipation of doom he had had before coming here had been right on. Aaron Lear made Jake feel about as welcome as a snake.