"On the pond?"
"What's so great about this pond?" He slapped his arm. "All it does is breed mosquitoes and attract snakes."
She glanced around nervously. "Snakes?"
He picked up a piece of straw and leaned his back against the tree, picking his teeth. "There are probably a half dozen of them waiting out there in the grass."
She leaned forward to examine his face, but his expression told her nothing. She sighed and drew her knees up against her chest. "I think you're trying to scare me."
He gazed off across the hills. "You like it here, don't you."
She nodded. "Yes. It's a beautiful ranch."
"You don't mind the loneliness?"
"Solitude," she corrected. "And no, I don't mind. I was raised on a farm, and being an only child, I learned not to depend on others for entertainment."
He stood and walked to the edge of the pond. "You don't miss your friends?"
"I see Mary once a week."
He stooped and selected several rocks. "No boyfriend?" One by one he tossed the rocks into the pond.
She stood and picked up the blanket. "No. I've dated some guys, but..." She paused, folding the blanket. How could she explain in a delicate manner, why she had virtually given up dating? He was watching her intently so she shrugged. "I got tired of being pawed."
He glanced away quickly, his features gaining a rosy color. "You're a nice looking woman. It's only natural that men want to touch you."
She stared at him. Was he including himself in that statement? Was that why he had kissed her that day? No, he said he did it because he was angry. He was merely trying to get her to go out more. Maybe he would like a few evenings to himself and she was always underfoot.
He glanced sharply in the direction of the drive and swore under his breath. Following his gaze, Cynthia saw the little green Ford coming up the drive. Why would he be upset with Mary for paying them a visit? Unless - Maybe he was upset at being caught picnicking with his housekeeper.
In the next few minutes she had reason to believe that wasn't his only cause for concern. Mary strode down the path toward them, a hand shielding the sun from her eyes. She smiled as she reached them.
"You must be feeling better, Cynthia. Russ said you were sick last night."
"Oh, it was nothing."
So Cade had visited Mary last night. Had that been the purpose for his trip to town? Why didn't he simply say he wanted to go see Mary? Cynthia blushed. Were her feelings for Cade so obvious that he had detected them? Was that what their conversation had been about today? He wanted her to look elsewhere for romantic attention. Now his girlfriend had caught them together. It didn't look good for him. She laughed nervously.