Orchard Valley Brides by Debbie Macomber

anything to do with my sister.”
    â€œThen why won’t you fly back to Texas with me? I’ve got a private jet coming in. You won’t lack for luxury, Norah, and if you’re worried about propriety, I’ll have Ms. Emerich move in with us.”
    â€œThat isn’t it.”
    â€œI should’ve guessed you’d be this stubborn. It runs in the family, doesn’t it?”
    â€œIt most certainly does.”
    Rowdy leaned over and flipped a switch that turned off the music. “I didn’t think this…dinner would work. Ms. Emerich was the one who suggested it.”
    Norah walked across the room and opened the blinds. “The evening’s too lovely to shut out.”
    Rowdy folded his arms and said something she couldn’t hear.
    There was a polite knock at the door.
    â€œCome in,” Rowdy barked.
    The door slowly opened and Valerie Bloomfield Winston stepped inside.

Six
    â€œI ’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Valerie asked. She remained on the threshold, oddly hesitant and unsure.
    â€œOf course you’re not.” Despite her embarrassment, Norah managed to speak first. She felt like a five-year-old caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
    Rowdy merely closed his eyes—in resignation, Norah supposed, at the prospect of facing another Bloomfield. “You might as well come in,” he said ungraciously.
    â€œIf you’d rather I stopped by another time…” Valerie suggested, glancing at them doubtfully. “It wouldn’t be any problem.” Her gaze met Norah’s, who was convinced her cheeks had flamed a fiery red.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Rowdy muttered, “you weren’t interrupting a thing.”
    â€œRowdy asked me to accompany him back to Texas…as his nurse,” Norah explained, her tongue stumbling over the words. She gestured weakly toward the elaborately set table and silver wine bucket.
    â€œAh…” Her sister was smart enough to figure out what had happened.
    â€œHave you decided to take the job?” Valerie asked, looking at Norah.
    â€œNo,” Norah said emphatically.
    Rowdy frowned—again. “I should’ve known she’d be as stubborn as you. Norah doesn’t want the job, even at ten times what she earns here.”
    â€œI should leave,” Norah said, picking up her purse. “I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”
    â€œDon’t go,” Valerie countered smoothly. “The fact is, I’d rather you stayed.” She pulled the wine bottle from the silver bucket and read the label. Apparently she was impressed, because her eyebrows arched. “I see you didn’t spare any expense.”
    â€œAre you here to gloat or do you want to talk?” Rowdy asked irritably.
    â€œHe gets feisty,” Valerie warned Norah under her breath, “when he can’t have his own way.”
    â€œQuit talking about me as if I wasn’t here,” Rowdy snapped. He used the triangular bar to straighten himself and shift positions. “You and I need to clear the air, Valerie Bloomfield.”
    â€œI suspect we do,” Valerie agreed. “And the name’s Winston now.”
    Norah wanted to leave, but she felt rooted to the spot. Her eyes strayed from Valerie to Rowdy, wondering how much of his feelings he’d reveal to her sister. He’d loved her enough to fly to Orchard Valley, but even now she wasn’t sure what his intentions had been.
    â€œDespite everything I told you, you went ahead and married Carlton, anyway,” he said in a low voice.
    â€œColby,” Valerie and Norah corrected simultaneously.
    â€œWhoever,” Rowdy returned irritably. “You married him!” In response, Valerie raised her left hand and wiggled her ring finger.
    â€œYou can kiss your career goodbye, but you already know that, don’t you?” Rowdy said. “I’ve seen it happen a thousand times,