Page 24 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

“You can have the loft, if you don’t mind. I don’t have that much stuff, and that will give you room for your sewing machine and such. Is that okay?”

“Sure. We won’t be here that long, so I probably don’t need it out, but it’s fine, either way.”

Maxwell clapped his hands at the others. “Start hauling, boys.”

“Yes, boss.” Bryce saluted as he winked at Eryn. “I don’t know if you have any brothers, but in my experience, they’re all like this.”

“Bryce.” Maxwell’s voice held warning.

“I have no brothers.” Why she felt she needed to even respond, she couldn’t have said.

“This one is marked kitchen.” Jordan set a box on the small Formica table. “I assume we can figure much of this out.”

“Thank you.” And she heaved a sigh of relief as Bryce followed Jordan back outside.

Dad disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Maxwell beside her.

“Sorry about my brother. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”

Eryn suppressed her shudder. “Well, I might disagree.”

“Good.” Maxwell grinned, his gaze meeting and holding hers. “I’d hate to have to take him out. But I would, if I had to.”

“Oh?” Her voice seemed devoid of breath.

“I want to get to know you better, like I said in Kansas.”

“Me?”

Maxwell made a show of looking around the room. “I don’t see anyone else I might be talking to.”

“But we’re here because you offered my father a job. A fresh start.”

“And that offer was made because of you. Oh, he definitely qualifies for it. Don’t get me wrong. But you’re the real reason.”

Maxwell was just as forward as his brother. Only, he was a whole lot more palatable.

And Eryn was mighty glad to be here to see where this might lead.

Chapter

Nine

Maxwell loved the more intimate feeling of the dining hall in the offseason. Sure, he loved the buzz and activity of tourists over the summer, but this was more like extended family. He’d forged his own path for eight years, only tapping into the family dynamic when he had time, whatever that was, but reconnecting with his brothers and cousins had been more satisfying than he’d thought possible. Even Bryce.

He’d nearly said no to Grandfather’s request, but the photos of neglected and half-finished guest cottages had lured him in. Good thing, too.

“Aunt Nadine, I’d like you to meet your new helper, Eryn Ralston, and her dad, Keith.”

Nadine smiled over the dinner counter. “I’m happy to meet you, Eryn. It’s not super busy this time of year, but I’ll be glad to have an assistant, nonetheless.”

Eryn offered a shy smile. “Do you want me to start tonight?”

“Heavens, no, child! Take a few days to settle in. Monday is soon enough.”

“But—” Eryn’s wide eyes appealed to Maxwell.

He touched her back. “What she says. If she needed you earlier, she’d say so.”

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