Free Already Home by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

dad? Where the hell is he?”
    She acted surprised that he had to ask. “Over at Lickity Split with my mother.”
    “Oh.” Then he thought about how she’d phrased her answer. It didn’t sound as if Ronald had simply stopped in for an ice cream cone, although he was fond of them. “What do you mean he’s with your mother?”
    “I mean he’s helping her behind the counter, like he’s been doing for the past few weeks, according to her. In fact, that’s the main reason I’m in Shoshone. I needed to assure Mom face-to-face that she has every right to find happiness with another…” She paused and caught her breath. “Uh-oh. You don’t know a thing about this, do you?”
    “A thing about what?”
    “My mother and your father are sweet on each other.”
    He stared at her. “No, they’re not.”
    “I beg your pardon, Hutch, but I’ve just left the ice cream parlor, and the winks and nudges were flying. I think he might have pinched her butt one time, but I can’t be absolutely sure about it.”
    Although he heard every word she’d said, none of it made sense. Surely if his father had a crush on Lucy Bledsoe, owner of the Lickity Split Ice Cream Parlor, he would have noticed.
    Trina groaned. “Listen, I’m sorry. You probably aren’t ready to hear that. It’s only been a year, and I’m sure you can’t imagine your dad being interested in anyone other than your mom. I know when my dad passed away I refused to think of Mom finding someone else. But that was seven years ago, and now I—”
    “It’s not that.” Hutch struggled to find his place in this bizarre conversation. “Okay, maybe it’s a little bit that. But I live with the guy! Sure, he’s on the ground floor of the house and I’m in my old room upstairs, but we spend lots of time together. I can’t believe that he has some hot romance going that I don’t know about.”
    “I’m not saying it’s consummated or anything.” Then she glanced at him in horror. “Forget I said that.”
    “Already forgotten. Erased, just like with Men in Black. ”
    “I mean, it’s not something you want to think about your parents doing . ”
    “No kidding. Let’s drop the subject, okay?”
    “Fine with me.” She surveyed the receipts on the counter. “How close are you to finishing up? I’d love to buy you a drink at the Spirits and Spurs.”
    “I’ll take care of this later.” Scooping everything into a pile, he found a manila envelope under the counter and shoved the receipts inside. Then he grabbed the front door key and came out from behind the counter. “Let’s go.”
    “Excellent! I admire a decisive man.”
    Hutch laughed as he walked with her to the door. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”
    “Judging from your vocabulary choices when I first came in and the bombshell I just dropped on you, I’ll bet you could. Are you finding time to film your videos? Nash has kept me semi-updated on your wild and crazy life, so I didn’t expect to see you behind the counter of the feed store tallying receipts.”
    “It’s a long story.” He opened the door for her. “And as for that drink, I’m buying.”
    “But I invited you.”
    Flipping the sign on the door from Open to Closed, he locked up and pocketed the key. “You’ve been back East too long, little lady. You’re in the West, now, and in these parts, the men do the buying.”
    “That’s ridiculous, but if it makes you feel like a macho cowboy, go for it.”
    “It does.” He’d always loved her sassy attitude. And her cute little ass. And her full mouth, which he’d never tasted. He’d thought about it, even dreamed about it, but he hadn’t been ready to settle down and Nash would have demanded a wedding if Hutch had slept with his sister.
    In Shoshone, Wyoming, a guy didn’t seduce his best friend’s sister and then leave her high and dry. Not if he wanted to keep his teeth. So he’d never acted on his attraction to Trina Bledsoe, but times had