Page 37 of In Love with a Ranger

“You’re safe,” she replied… and heard his muttered ‘Darn’ not a moment later, making her smile. It was only a few moments later that she heard a cell phone ringing and froze. “Is that me?”

“No,” Gideon began and sighed loudly. “It’s definitely me… Hey, Mom,” he said, answering the phone. “I guess you talked with Giselle?”

The small smile on Christina’s face faded as she listened intently, trying to interpret his tone as she eavesdropped.

“No ma’am. I promise, I’m not hiding things, Mom, I was going to tell you,” Gideon said in broken sentences, obviously being interrupted by the person on the other end of the line. “It just happened this morning and… Mom, I seriously love you – and I’m trying to tell you.”

He got quiet and sighed again.

“I promise I am not getting a tone, Mom,” he began again quietly. “Yes, I got married this morning to a friend, and she’s very nice. I think you’ll like Christina a lot and sure. I will.”

There was a long pause.

“Mom, I said I would – and I will,” Gideon repeated. “No, I’m doing good. My cast is driving me nuts and I seem to be all right. I haven’t noticed my foot acting up, and I’ve been trying to take it easy.”

Followed by another pause…

“Yes, ma’am,” he chuckled nervously. “I know it’s been a while and certainly under better conditions, but yes – I promise. But seeing how we just tied the knot this morning, I’d like to spend some time with my bride and…” he laughed again before speaking and sounding distinctly embarrassed as his voice was a hushed whisper.

“Mom, seriously? I’m thirty-five and… shhh! You are pressuring me,” he hissed in obvious frustration. “Oh my gosh, would you just call Gemma or Georgia and nag them about it? I’m not in any… Mom, I’m not being… Mom? Mom? No, you don’t have to put Dad on the phone – and if you did, he would agree with me if you weren’t standing there.”

Christina covered her mouth with her hands, listening to him.

“Yes, ma’am. I promise – and yes, you would be the first to know.”

Gideon sighed again.

“I love you too, Mom – and I promise I’ll text you one shortly. Tell Dad I love him, and tell my gossipy little sister to keep her trap shut in the nicest way possible, please?” he laughed softly. “All right. I love you both. Talk to you soon.”

Christina knew the moment he hung up the call because Gideon let out a loud frustrated groan of dismay.

“Is everything all right?”

“Are your parents pushy or nosy in the best ways possible?”

“They don’t call my side of the family the ‘Bradley Matchmakers’ for nothing,” she muttered, grimacing. “Yes. Pushy, but they mean well.”

“It’s the same on my side.”

“Yup. They believe everyone should be married and bouncing babies on their knees within record time.”

“Do our parents know each other?” Gideon chuckled, and Christina joined in, because it seemed like the two were very much alike – combined with the fact that they were having a very normal conversation from very abnormal locations. She was shoulder-deep in a bubble bath and had no clue as to his state of dress on the opposite side of the curtain after his dip in the snow.

“You said the tea is ready?”

“Yes, but no rush. I can warm it up in a bit.”

“I’m getting out, and maybe we can watch television for a bit together.”

“I’d like that.”

“It’s not too boring?” she asked in surprise, reaching for a towel.

“Christina, cuddling with you on the couch watching some bad re-runs sounds like an amazing evening,” he replied, not holding back… and she melted.

Oh yes, it was going to be so easy to fall in love with her ranger.

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