Summer Days by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

leave a part of myself there. I want it to be better for what I’ve done.”
    He dropped into the club chair on the other side of the large coffee table and held in a groan. “Which means what?”
    Determination softened as her gaze seemed to shift to something beyond him.
    “I want to make a home here. Oh, Rafe, we had so many wonderful years here in Fool’s Gold. I know money was tight and we didn’t always have the newest of everything, but we were a family.”
    He ignored the fact that his memories of the past and hers had very little in common. “Buying the ranch isn’t going to give you a do-over, Mom. Your children aren’t going to be small again.”
    “I know, but I’ve been dreaming about the Castle Ranch since we had to leave, all those years ago.” She shifted her gaze to him and tears filled her eyes. “I know things were difficult for you here. I let you take care of me and of everyone else. You were just a little boy and you never got a chance to be a child.”
    “I was fine. You were a great parent.”
    “I hope so, but I’m not blind to my faults. You worried for me and about me. Maybe that’s why you can’t be happy today.”
    He thought longingly of a good legal battle with another corporation, or winning a contract against impossible odds. All things he enjoyed. Nearly anything would be better than talking about his feelings with his mother.
    “I’m plenty happy.”
    “No, you’re not. All you do is work. You don’t have anyone in your life.”
    “I have lots of people.”
    “Not someone special. You need to fall in love.”
    “I’ve been in love.” It wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
    He’d made what seemed like the intelligent choice—fallen for a young woman who should have been perfect. She’d been pretty, smart, caring and supportive. He’d been more interested in her than in anyone he’d ever met, and had been able to imagine growing old with her. If that wasn’t love, then
what was?
    Their brief, two-year marriage had ended when she’d suggested a divorce, and he’d felt little more than a vague sense of dissatisfaction and failure.
    “You weren’t in love,” his mother told him. “Love is powerful. Love sweeps you away. You were never swept away.”
    “Fine. But I’m going to find someone now. So I’m happy.”
    May wrinkled her nose. “You’re going to a matchmaker, Rafe. Who does that? What does this Nina person know about you, anyway? When the time is right, you’ll find the one. Just like I found your father.”
    “Mom,” he began.
    “No. You have to listen. I’m right about this. You need to find someone who you’re willing to risk it all for.”
    As if that was going to happen. “I’ll find the right woman,” he promised. “We’ll get married and have children.”
    If he hadn’t been so set on having kids, he would have never considered marrying again. But he was conventional enough to want a traditional family. Mother and father. He’d been unable to get it right himself, so he was hiring a professional. For him, hiring a matchmaker was no different than hiring a good travel agent or successful sales rep. When he wasn’t the best at something, he found someone who was. Nina had a nearly perfect track record.
    “I would love grandchildren,” his mother told him, her smile returning. “Just think, I’ll have the ranch and you can bring your family to visit.”
    There was a particular vision of hell, he thought grimly. “Ah, sure, Mom. That’ll be great.” He guided her back on topic. “You’re sure about the ranch? You want it?”
    “Yes. I want to live there permanently. Maybe have a few animals and a garden. I could grow my own fruits and vegetables.”
    “Not with the goats around.”
    “Heidi and I will work something out.”
    Rafe didn’t bother telling her that Heidi and her grandfather weren’t going to be an issue. Like Nina, Dante was the best at what he did. There was only going to be one winner at the end of