really, thanks. Although—”
What was causing his hesitation? Amber got right to the point. “What else would you like us to do?”
His gaze moved this time to land on her. He didn’t look away immediately, and in fact appeared to center his attention right on Amber.
A strange current of confusion and interest swept through her. Not good. A new employee was supposed to be just that: someone to perform the job he was hired for, and that was all.
But Amber found herself highly curious about Evan Colluro. Highly interested in him.
In more ways than one.
“I’d like some additional information about the Chance K-9 Ranch and how training has been conducted in the past. I looked it up on the internet but I’d like to know more before I start conducting classes. Could we all go out to dinner tonight to discuss it?”
A frisson of some kind of emotion tickled Amber, but she sloughed it off. It wasn’t like he was asking her on a date—even chaperoned by her mother.
But what was it about this man that strummed at her sensations so much?
In a completely businesslike tone she said, “Of course. Sounds like a good idea.”
Only then did she glance at her mom—and couldn’t read her expression. Sonya remained an attractive woman at her age, yet since her husband’s death her facial features had seemed to go slack a bit, and there were more lines—definitely not laugh lines—at the corners of eyes, which were brown, like Amber’s. Right now, her pink lips were drawn up on one side as if in wryness, or pain.
“Sorry, dear,” she said in a low voice. “I think it’s a good idea that the two of you get together and talk more before the class tomorrow, but I won’t be able to join you.”
“Really? Why not?” Amber prepared herself to convince her mom that this was simply a business get-together. She needed to ensure she wouldn’t be alone with Evan on this outing. Not that she’d ever consider it a date, but she also didn’t want her mother, or anyone in town who happened to see them together, to think it was.
She was floored a bit by her mother’s response. “I’ve agreed to join Nathan for dinner tonight.” She glanced toward Evan. “That’s our neighbor, who owns the resort next door.” She returned her attention to Amber. “He’s been so—so kind since we lost your father. It’s just a nice gesture on his part, not a date or anything like that. You know I’d never do such a thing. But, well, he invited me, and—”
“I understand, Mom,” Amber interrupted, lying somewhat but not wanting her mother to suffer any further because of anything she did or said. “It’s probably a good thing for us to go out with friends right now.” But was this, unlike her prospective dinner with Evan, actually a date with their next-door neighbor, Nathan Treggory? Unlikely, especially since her mom recognized how it could look and rejected the idea.
But Amber still would want to hear more about it after the fact.
“Thanks for understanding, dear. And, Evan, I’d be glad to talk to you nearly anytime, answer questions and all. Just not tonight.”
“I get it,” Evan said. “Let’s talk some other time.”
So, date or not, Amber found herself committed to going out for dinner with Evan tonight to discuss the ranch and business and whatever else came up in the conversation.
About him, though. She had no intention of talking about herself.
And yet... The idea made Amber’s insides churn even more. What was it about this man that made her get all mushy and weird? The fact that he appeared to be sad and needy?
The fact that he clearly was a damn good dog trainer?
She’d have to keep in mind that she’d just broken up with the guy she’d thought was the love of her life and had no interest in getting involved with another man.
“All right,” she said brusquely, heading for the front door. Her mother was at her side with Lola. Evan and Bear were behind them. She turned. “It’s four o’clock now. Come over to the main house at six and we’ll decide where to go downtown—somewhere without our dogs?”
Why did Evan’s look seem as uncomfortable as she felt? And then he glanced up, briefly met her gaze and nodded. “Fine with me.”
And Amber, despite feeling trapped, felt herself smile.
* * *
Evan followed the women outside along with the dogs. Dinner with just Amber? Should he call it off? Tell her he’d forgotten other plans? Tell them he’d wait for a time when Sonya could join them?
But heck, some of what he wanted to discuss would be helpful at that first class he would apparently teach tomorrow.
Besides, being with Amber—lovely, in-charge Amber—might be one more step toward his forcing himself to leave old issues behind, plant himself firmly in this new life with all its promise.
“See you at six,” he said to her, then noticed a man walking up to the small house next to his along this row. He nodded toward him. “Who’s that?” he asked.
Both Sonya and Amber turned. “Oh, that’s our ranch hand, Orrin Daker,” Sonya said. “Come on. We’ll introduce you to him.”
Another new acquaintance? The idea felt unsettling to Evan, yet meeting someone else he should know as long as he lived here would be another step into his new existence.
“Thanks.” With Bear at his side, he followed the two women and their dog past the nearest houses to where Orrin, who’d apparently seen them, waited.
“Hi, Orrin,” Sonya said. “I’d like you to meet our new dog trainer, Evan Colluro. Evan, this is Orrin.”
“Hi, man,” Orrin said. Probably in his early twenties, the guy had a tall head of light brown hair and a matching beard and mustache. He wore a red Chance, California, T-shirt over scruffy-looking jeans. He stared—no, glared—at Evan as if he was an interloper out to steal his job and his home.
Which made Evan highly uncomfortable, yet he stared right back at the guy despite the effort it took—at least for a few seconds.
“Hi. Good to meet you. Make sure you let me know what you’re up to if you think it’ll affect my training here, and I’ll do the same with you.”
“Yeah. Right.” Orrin then slipped into his house.
“He’s really a nice guy,” Amber said unconvincingly. “He does a good job for us, and my dad even used him sometimes when he was all dressed up in a protective outfit as the guy the K-9s he was training attacked. His family has lived in Chance forever but his being right here on the ranch makes it easier for us to let him know what we need to have done.”
“Makes sense,” Evan said. It also made sense, judging only by this first, uncomfortable meeting, that they might want to fire the guy and get someone more personable and accommodating.
Did Orrin really like being an agitator during training sessions, or did he
