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to see
this side to her.”
    “ It’s ironic, isn’t
it?”
    “ What’s ironic, Trixi?”
Katy asked.
    “ If she had taken a good
look at Gran’s house, she’d have found the perfect place to impress
all her friends. But she didn’t seem to notice it.”
    “ It was dark when we
arrived.”
    Katy started to laugh. “If she wanted
an estate, Gran’s is the perfect one. There aren’t many like it.
Not even this house is as massive.”
    “ This one is plenty big
enough, thank you.”
    “ I hadn’t thought about
appeasing her by stating I’m in line to inherit a larger place than
this. Yet another reason why buying a third money-drain makes no
sense.”
    Laughter bubbled up and she finally
stopped fighting it. Her dad and Katy both soon joined
in.
    Between bursts of hilarity, Katy
finally managed, “Oh I’d love to see Chrissy’s face when she
realizes Dad is set to inherit the Wintermyer estate.”
    Her sputtered statement set off
another round of laughter. Anyone who knew the area recognized the
Wintermyer estate as the old, stately, and gorgeous landmark it
was. Their great-something-grandmother or thereabouts had been a
Wintermyer and as the only remaining child, she inherited it since
her brothers were killed in war. The estate therefore passed down
her line, of which her father was a direct descendant.
    “ Chrissy is going to go
ballistic.” Trixi giggled.
    “ No, she isn’t.” Her father
shook his head.
    Katy hiccuped. “Why not?”
    “ Because I don’t plan to
tell her.”
    His bald statement set off another
round of laughter.
    “ Thanks, ladies, I needed
that.”
    “ So did I.” Trixi agreed as
their chuckles pushed the encroaching loneliness away.
    Wiping away tears and still suffering
from the stray hiccup, Katy nodded. “Me, too.”
    They did the dishes together and then
set up a rousing game to while away the evening. Her father didn’t
get his paperwork done, and didn’t seem in the least bit upset by
it. They talked, laughed, and had a great time. Before they knew
it, the time was nearing ten, so they squeezed Katy goodbye, upon
which she thanked them for supper and their company, and then
hurried to her car.
    Trixi and her dad locked up before
parting for bed. As she lay gazing up at her ceiling, she was
thankful for the modicum of peace that settled over her. At least
if her father saw through Chrissy, it meant he probably wouldn’t
marry her. It was such a great feeling she finally fell
asleep.
    She dreamed about a man she had begun
weaving fantasies about, wishing for things that could never be. As
her father said, neurosurgeons didn’t notice the staff.
    When she awoke, a feeling of
melancholy woke with her, but in the rush of the day, she managed
to shove it away.

Chapter 9
     
    “ No, I’d like to see
you right after work,” Rylan stated. He needed to get this over
with as soon as possible. As usual, Chrissy wanted things her own
way, but he didn’t give in to her this time. Thankful that after
tonight, he would never have to again. He hadn’t even seen the
pattern until just now.
    She hadn’t fully brushed against his
will before either. He did not intend to buy the house she insisted
on. Thankfully, he had seen her true nature before it was too late.
His mood lightened as snippets of last night’s silly moments with
Trixi and Katy replayed through his mind. Chrissy would go
ballistic if she discovered he was the Wintermyer heir. He was
doubly grateful his last name was different so he wasn’t the target
of more women like Chrissy.
    He was calm as he pulled into
Chrissy’s driveway. How he had been taken in by her remained a
mystery.
    Shoving the car door open, he hurried
up her front walk. She stood in the open doorway, still dressed in
the suit required for her sales job, in her ridiculously high
heels, while her makeup was perfect. She was gorgeous. Despite what
he knew, his heart expanded at the sight of her.
    “ I’m surprised you wanted
to see me this