Their Ranch Reunion Page 7

  Shaking off the morbid thought, he turned off the noisy blowers the restoration company had kept going almost from the moment they arrived, then glanced at his watch before strolling into the dining room. Where was Carly?

  He’d told her that, since they were starting from scratch, she was free to do just about anything she wanted in terms of layout. Instead of sharing her thoughts, though, she’d paced the wooden floor virtually the entire weekend, tapping a finger to her pretty lips as she hemmed and hawed.

  Well, now he needed some decisions so he could get the ball rolling first thing tomorrow.

  Just when he was about to head next door to check on her, she strolled through the front door, looking much cuter than most of his clients.

  “Sorry I’m late.” Her blond curls bounced around her shoulders. “Someone called wanting to make reservations for this summer.”

  With Granger House Inn’s landline out, she’d been able to get calls forwarded to her mobile phone.

  Hands tucked in the pockets of her fleece jacket, she shrugged. “It felt good to book a reservation instead of canceling.” Reluctantly she’d contacted all of her upcoming clients, letting them know about the fire and offering them a discount on a future stay. Even though her insurance policy had coverage for business interruption, he knew she was worried about Granger House Inn’s reputation and felt the incentive might help smooth things over.

  “Well, then, I guess we’d better get going on things. Can’t have a bed-and-breakfast without a kitchen.” Besides, the faster he finished Carly’s house, the faster he could move on to his grandmother’s. Though he still might not complete it before heading back to Denver.

  Of course, that was assuming he and Carly could come to an agreement. But that was a discussion for another day.

  “Where’s Megan?” he tossed over his shoulder on his way into the kitchen.

  “At a friend’s.”

  Once inside the space that had been stripped to the studs, some of which were damaged by the fire and would have to be replaced, he clapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. “Okay, so what are we doing?”

  Carly opened her mouth as though she were ready to share her vision, then snapped it shut, her shoulders drooping. “I don’t know.”

  He tamped down his rising frustration. “Carly, you spend a lot of time in this room and do a lot of cooking. Haven’t you ever dreamed of having more counter space or better lighting? More storage?”

  “Yes. At one time, I was even saving to have the kitchen remodeled. Then I got the news from the lawyer about your grandmother’s house and my plans changed.” She met his gaze. “Still, I never had any really cohesive plans.”

  “But it’s a starting place.” He took a step closer. “Tell me what some of your thoughts were. Some of the things you were wanting.”

  “That’s just it. My thoughts are too jumbled together right now for me even to begin to sort them out. It’s like somebody just dumped a five-thousand-piece puzzle in front of me and told me to put the thing together without ever looking at the box cover. The only things I know for sure are that I want a kitchen that is efficient and looks like it belongs here. Nothing ultracontemporary or trendy.” Suddenly a bit more animated, she started to pace. “I want classic. And white. Something nice and bright.”

  Efficient and classic. Now they were getting somewhere. “Hmm... Megan’s going to be one disappointed little girl.”

  Carly turned to look at him.

  “She’s pretty stoked about the turquoise, you know?”

  That earned him a laugh. And hopefully lightened her mood.

  “Now let’s talk layout,” he continued. “Where would you like to put the sink?”

  Her brow puckered in confusion. “Right where it’s always been. I mean, you can’t just move a sink.”

  He couldn’t help smiling. “Yes, believe it not, you can. Especially in a situation like this, when you’re starting from scratch. All we have to do is move the plumbing.”

  “You can do that?”

  “With the help of a licensed plumber, yes.” He crossed the room, his work boots thudding against the floorboards. “What would you think about putting it here, under the window?” He stood in front of the currently boarded-up opening. “That way, instead of looking at a blank wall while you’re doing dishes, you can look outside.”

  Her nose scrunched. “That would be better. But then, what would I put where the sink used to be?”

  Good grief. Had she never watched HGTV?

  He moved back to where she stood. “Are you familiar with the kitchen work triangle?”

  “Sort of, yes. Sink, stove, fridge, right?”

  “Exactly. So rather than having your stove way over on the other side of the room—which was an obvious afterthought—what if we put it where the sink used to be?”

  Her blue eyes scanned the room. “What would you think about using some vintage and reclaimed pieces? Cabinets, perhaps?”

  He kept his groan to himself. The search for those items could take forever, leaving him no time to work on his own planned renovations. Watching Carly wander the kitchen, though, her thoughts finally taking flight, he couldn’t help being drawn in. The sparkle in her eyes made it impossible. Instead, he found himself wanting to make her dreams come true. Even if she wasn’t sure what those dreams were.

  “What would you think about adding a pantry? And a bigger island? One people could sit at.”

  Her expression unreadable, she simply blinked. “That would be amazing. But how?”

  “Carly, this is a big space.” He stretched his arms wide. “Don’t confine yourself to the way things used to be. You said you wanted to expand the B and B. Here’s your starting point.” Considering he still had no plans to budge on Grandma’s house, he probably should have phrased that differently. But the faster she moved, the faster he could get back to working on his own project.

  “We can do this, Carly. Together.” He took a step closer. “So what do you say? Shall we take a chance on something new and fresh?”

  Chapter Seven

  Thanks to the wonderful people at the local internet provider, Carly no longer had to tote Phil’s laptop to the local coffee shop for access. Instead, she could remain at Livie’s and surf the web to her heart’s content. And ever since her meeting with Andrew last night, she’d done just that. However, her heart was anything but content. On the contrary, the countless hours spent staring at the computer screen, looking at Victorian-era kitchens, trying to decide what she wanted, had only confused her more. Sure, she’d seen a lot of things that looked great, but how would they work for her?

  Having Andrew breathing down her neck wasn’t helping any, either. She knew she needed to make a decision, but a kitchen was a long-term commitment. One she had no intention of rushing into, regardless of how hard he pushed. A well-thought-out kitchen took a lot of careful planning. After all, it wasn’t simply a room. It was an extension of her. And if past experience was any indication, it’s where she’d be spending most of her time. So she was determined to get it right.

  If only she were able to envision what the finished product would look like. The images she’d seen online gave her some clue, but she had yet to find a kitchen the size of hers. And that only added to her frustration.

  In the meantime, Andrew was awaiting her decision. “Cabinets alone can take up to six weeks to come in,” he’d said.

  Did he think she was purposely dragging her feet? That she wasn’t eager to get back into her house?

  Pushing away from Livie’s kitchen table, she went to the counter and poured herself another cup of tea. God, I could really use a heaping helping of clarity here.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  Cup in hand, she made her way to the front door and tugged it open to find a smiling
Andrew. As if she needed any more pressure.

  “What are you doing?” He followed her back into the kitchen.

  Tucking her irritation aside, she pointed to the laptop. “Same thing I’ve been doing for two days.”

  “Any progress?”

  She set her mug on the table and glared at him. “No. And I’d appreciate it if you would stop bugging me about it. When I make a decision—”

  “Get your coat. We’re going to get you some help.”

  Her gaze narrowed on him. “What? You’re taking me to a shrink?”

  “No. I’m taking you someplace where they will help you visualize your new kitchen.”

  He was taking her. Did he think she was incapable of making a decision on her own? Not that she didn’t appreciate all of his hard work and persistence. Without his take-charge attitude, her kitchen would still be in shambles.

  Still, she’d learned the hard way that the only one she could truly count on was herself. She was the one who had to live with her choice, not Andrew. Besides, all of this togetherness was getting a bit unnerving.

  What are you afraid of? Andrew is nothing more than an old friend.

  Yeah, a really cute old friend.

  You wanted to know what your new kitchen was going to look like.

  She huffed out a breath. “Okay, let’s go.”

  Forty-five minutes later, he pulled his truck up to a kitchen design showroom in Montrose.

  Inside, there were kitchen vignettes, all in different styles. Some were sleek and contemporary, while others were rustic. Still others leaned more toward the classic look.

  “Welcome to Kitchen and Bath Showcase.” A petite saleswoman Carly guessed to be not much older than her thirty-six years approached, her high-heeled pumps tap, tap, tapping against the gleaming tile floor. “I’m Marianne.”

  “Hi, Marianne.” Andrew extended his hand. “Andrew Stephens. We spoke earlier this morning.”

  “Yes.” Her gaze moved to Carly. “Andrew tells me you’re having some problems visualizing your new kitchen.”

  “I’m a bit overwhelmed, yes.”

  “That’s entirely understandable. And exactly why we’re here.” Marianne gestured toward the kitchen displays to their left. “Let’s take a stroll over here.” She led them into the maze of sample kitchens. “I understand you have a Victorian home.”

  “That’s correct. So I don’t want anything contemporary.”

  “Oh, no. A Victorian demands something timeless.”

  Timeless? That would work.

  Marianne led them past a vignette with knotty wood cabinets, black countertops and a rustic wood floor. “Are you thinking stained or painted cabinetry?”

  “Painted. I want light and airy.”

  “Something like this?” Marianne motioned to an all-white kitchen with a dark wood floor that warmed the whole space.

  “Wow.” Carly stepped onto the hardwood. Smoothed a hand across the beautiful island topped with Carrara marble. The cupboards were simple. Classic. And she liked the white subway tile backsplash.

  “Marianne, did you receive the pictures and dimensions that I emailed you?” Andrew was beside Carly now.

  “I did, and I already have them plugged into my computer. Once we settle on a few things, we can get to work.”

  “What do you think, Carly?”

  She tried to ignore the feel of his hand against the small of her back and concentrated on the kitchen. “It’s exactly what I want. But I still can’t envision the layout.”

  “Come with me.” Marianne motioned for them to follow.

  On the opposite end of the showroom, Carly and Andrew settled in on one side of a long desk while Marianne pecked away at her computer on the other side until she’d pulled up a screen with the outline of Carly’s kitchen. Everything from windows to doors was marked out.

  “What I was thinking—” Andrew pointed at the large monitor “—was that we put the sink under the window on this wall, the stove over here—” he pointed again “—and then in this corner, a nice walk-in pantry.”

  “Were you wanting an island?” Marianne addressed Carly.

  “Definitely. Granger House is also a bed-and-breakfast, so I need lots of counter space for prep work.”

  “I was thinking a large one about here.” Andrew circled his finger in the open space across from the sink. “Perhaps with some seating.”

  “I have an idea.” Marianne moved her mouse to direct the cursor on the computer screen. “Where does this door lead?”

  “To the dining room,” said Carly.

  “If we put the sink on that wall under the window, your guests will be able to see the dirty dishes.”

  Carly leaned in closer. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought about that.” Not exactly something she wanted her guests to see.

  “So what if, instead of putting the sink here—” the woman made a few clicks on her mouse “—we leave that as a long counter you can use as a staging area?”

  Carly straightened. “That would be amazing. But what about—?”

  “The sink?” Marianne smiled. “You’ve definitely got enough room for an oversize island.” She drew that out on the screen. “You could have seating on the far side. Over here, across from the stove, you could have your sink and dishwasher, and you’d still have plenty of countertop between the two for prepping food, rolling out dough, whatever.”

  Carly was getting more excited by the minute. But never had she been more thrilled than when Marianne typed everything into her computer and showed her an image of her new kitchen. No more guesswork or wondering. She could see everything for herself.

  “That’s amazing. I never would have thought I could have something like that. I won’t know what to do with all that storage.”

  “Believe me, you’ll figure it out.” Marianne pushed away from her desk. “Let’s go look at some door samples and colors.”

  On the drive back to Ouray, Carly felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. “I’m so glad you took me there, Andrew. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Hands on the steering wheel, he stared straight ahead.

  Watching him, Carly realized he’d been the answer to her prayer. This trip had given her the clarity she’d asked God for this morning. She pressed against the leather seat of his truck, wondering again where she would be without him. He’d been her rock this past week, supporting her, guiding her through all the chaos. Something she never would have expected. Even from her husband.

  Suddenly sullen, she turned away and looked out the window at the mountains that loomed in the distance. By their fifth wedding anniversary, Dennis had lost interest in their marriage. In her. Even with Megan in the picture, his work at a local internet technology firm took a higher priority than family. Customers demanded his time and got it. Leaving little to nothing for her and Megan.

  Never again would she take second place in someone’s life. If she ever fell in love again—which she had no intention of doing—she’d take first place or nothing at all.

  * * *

  Andrew awoke Tuesday morning, ready to get to work on Carly’s kitchen. He was glad he’d taken her to the design showroom. He understood that some people had trouble visualizing things. And when talking about something as expensive as a kitchen, you wanted to get it right. But thanks to Marianne, Carly now knew exactly how her new kitchen was going to look.

  He’d need to stop by the hardware store before he could get started, though. At first he thought that would require another trip to Montrose. Then his brother Noah reminded him there was now one in Ouray.

  Armed with electrical wire and boxes, he exited the store, feeling more invigorated than he had in a long time. Probably because he’d spent far more time in the boardroom than on the
job site this past year.

  The cool morning air swirled around him as he eyed the snow-covered peaks that enveloped the town and the rows of historic buildings up and down Main Street. For the most part, Ouray looked the same as it always had. Growing up, he’d felt as though Ouray held him back. There was a lot he wanted to achieve. But the tiny town had so little to offer that he couldn’t wait to break free. Yet something about the town now felt...different. Less constricting.

  Shrugging off the weird vibe, he loaded the supplies into his truck and headed for Granger House.

  Aided by the floodlights, he spent the rest of his morning swapping out the damaged studs and marking off the layout of the new kitchen. Since Marianne had flagged their cabinet order as expedited, he hoped they’d be able to shave some time off the six-week turnaround. Before cabinets, though, the kitchen’s original hardwoods would need to be sanded, stained and sealed. Something that would prevent anyone from working in the kitchen for as much as a week while things dried.

  However, there was plenty to do before then.

  With the studs in place, he began drilling holes for the new wiring. He sure hoped Carly showed up soon. He was starving. But also grateful that she’d volunteered to feed him. Otherwise he’d have to make a run somewhere to grab something, and that would only take more time.

  Since he’d turned off the blowers, he was able to hear when the front door opened.

  “Get it while it’s hot.” Carly entered the kitchen carrying a brown paper bag in one hand and a thermos in the other.

  He stopped what he was doing and set his drill on the floor. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

  “Good.” Looking particularly pretty in a soft purple sweater that brought out her eyes, she set the items atop his makeshift worktable that consisted of two sawhorses and a sheet of plywood. “I’ve got grilled cheese on rye and some homemade tomato soup.”

  “Perfect.” Especially since the house was still without heat.

  She pulled two foil-wrapped sandwiches from the bag. “I didn’t know how hungry you’d be, so I made you a second if you want it.”