Orchard Valley Brides by Debbie Macomber Page B

and I do eventually want children, but I was toying with the idea of starting my own business.”
    â€œSoftware?” His dark eyes became sharp as steel. It went without saying that Valerie could be keen competition if she chose to be.
    â€œNo,” she said with amusement. “Consulting. I’ll help companies determine what they need—systems, software, whatever. I’ll set my own hours, and I’ll train others, so once the business expands—or I do—it won’t be unmanageable.” She grinned at Rowdy. “I’ll be able to combine work and a family in whatever way suits me best.”
    He nodded. “It makes sense.”
    Valerie smiled cheerfully. “That wasn’t so hard to admit, now was it?”
    â€œNo,” he agreed. His eyes softened as he studied Valerie. He seemed to have forgotten Norah was in the room. “I was a fool to ever let you leave Texas. We might’ve had something good between us. Something really good.”
    Valerie’s gaze met his, and in it Norah read so many things. Her sister greatly admired Rowdy Cassidy, but the respect she held for him could never compare to the love she shared with Colby.
    â€œI know, I know,” Rowdy said with a weak smile. “Too little, too late. Well, I want to wish you and Carlton the very best.”
    â€œColby,” Valerie and Norah reminded him, and all three burst out laughing.
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    â€œYou’re home earlier than I expected,” David Bloomfield said when Norah walked into the house an hour later. He was standing in the doorway of his den, dressed in flannel robe and slippers. A magazine lay on the arm of his favorite chair. “I was just going to make myself a cup of hot chocolate. Care to join me?”
    â€œSure.” She trailed her father into the kitchen. “Where’s Steffie?”
    â€œShe went out to dinner with Charles. I don’t think she’ll be home for a while.”
    It didn’t seem possible that Steffie and Charles would be married in two weeks’ time.
    â€œDid you enjoy yourself?” David asked in that deceptively casual way of his. Norah knew her father well enough to recognize his interest as more than idle curiosity. He was eager to hear the details. And tonight, Norah was just as eager to talk.
    â€œI had dinner with Rowdy this evening. He had the meal catered.” While she was talking, Norah took a saucepan from the cupboard and set it on the stove to heat milk for their cocoa.
    Her father leaned back in his chair, assuming a relaxed pose.
    â€œDad,” Norah said, holding the milk carton in her hand and gazing absently into space. “If you had the opportunity to travel for…a job, would you take it?”
    â€œThat depends. Where would I be traveling?”
    â€œA long way from home—but still in this country. Texas, actually. It wouldn’t be for pleasure—or not exactly. It’d be a job. Sort of.” Rowdy might claim he needed her, but Norah knew better. She’d end up twiddling her thumbs ninety percent of the time. Even if she did insist that Rowdy slow down his pace, he wasn’t likely to listen to her. As far as she could see, her presence would serve no useful purpose, other than entertainment. Hadn’t he said he enjoyed arguing with her?
    â€œAm I to understand Rowdy’s asked you to go with him when he leaves Orchard Valley?”
    â€œAs his private nurse,” Norah explained, pouring milk into the pan. “It’d only be for a few weeks.”
    â€œYou’re not sure what you want, are you? The temptation to go with him is there, but you don’t feel good about doing it. Am I right?”
    Norah was a little surprised at how easily her father had identified her dilemma, but she merely shrugged in reply.
    â€œYou like Rowdy Cassidy, don’t you?” her father asked.
    Norah added cocoa to the warm milk and stirred briskly. “He’s