Page 13 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

At Mom’s request, no doubt. It’s not like Dominica acted on her own.

Eryn closed her eyes briefly before turning to Mom with a wan smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Sullivan. That’s lovely of you, but Dad and I have a full day planned. Maybe some other time.”

She meant when Maxwell wasn’t home. That kinda hurt.

Keith glanced between them, obviously confused. “Well, we need to eat, one way or the other, so what could it hurt? I say yes, we should go.”

“Excellent.” Mom nearly purred. “We’re at 110 Killion Place. You can follow us home or come on your own. And Eryn?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“That’s Maribel to you, not Mrs. Sullivan. Maxwell’s father and I have been divorced for many years, and the title of missus no longer suits.”

“Yes’m. I mean, Maribel. Thank you.” Eryn shot a glance at Maxwell.

He had nothing for her. Mom had been a stickler in that regard since she’d kicked workaholic Dad out 15 years back. Dad had cheerfully moved to Chicago, where he’d practically lived, anyway. With no distractions of wife and kids, he’d poured all his energy into Sullivan Enterprises as Grandfather’s right-hand man. When each of his boys graduated from high school, he’d welcomed them into the family business as adults.

Win, win for Dad. Not so much for Mom.

“See you in a few minutes.” Mom nodded to Keith and Eryn as she tucked her hand in the crook of Maxwell’s elbow. She acknowledged a few other parishioners with a smile and shook hands with the pastor as they exited the building.

Maxwell opened the car door for his mother then leaned in after her. “What are you trying to prove with that invitation?”

“You seem to need a little help.”

“I do not need help. You may have forgotten I live at Sweet River Ranch, and?—”

“Temporarily.” She waved a hand. “Walter will run out of projects one of these days, and?—”

“And then, like I already told you, I’ll make my home in Jewel Lake and hang out my shingle as a contractor. I’ll build houses and take on renovations.”

“Which you could do right here in Gilead.”

“Mom, I’m not moving back.”

“Not even for the right girl?”

He shook his head as he held her gaze. “This is not my home anymore.”

“But it could be again.”

Wow, she was stubborn. Maxwell might have gotten his workaholic tendencies from his father, but his doggedness? All from Mom. No wonder he’d left town the day after graduation. He and his mother had butted heads over nearly everything the last couple of years when he was the only remaining kid in the nest.

“I don’t know how to make this any more plain, but your plan isn’t going to work. I’m not rude enough to go over to Keith Ralston and tell him not to come for lunch, but you need to stop trying to manipulate me. Got it?”

Mom pursed her lips and shot daggers with her eyes. “Be careful how you talk to your mother.”

He closed the car door and rounded the vehicle. Across the parking lot, Keith and Erin clambered into an older gray truck. Maxwell lifted his hand in acknowledgment, but he was distracted. How was he going to get through to his mother?

Maybe he wasn’t. Maybe he’d have to put up with her machinations for two more days before she drove him to the Wichita airport. Eventually, she’d forget her idea when nothing happened between him and Eryn.

Besides, Mom wasn’t thinking straight. At the moment, she was desperate for Maxwell to meet someone. Anyone. But long term she was also too snooty to think a Ralston was good enough for a Sullivan.

He slid into the driver’s seat of her electric car, pressed the starter button, and shifted into gear. There wasn’t anything more to say, so he didn’t bother trying. Best just to let her figure it out for herself.

“Why did you take Maxwell’s business card?” Eryn had barely been able to hold the question until they were in the truck on the way back to the farm. “You sold the farm, so you don’t need any renovations done.” And the thought was still bitter.

“Why not? He seems a nice young man, and he likes you.” Dad winked. “You could do worse.”

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