Page 35 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

The others ordered, and Maxwell leaned toward her. “Don’t let Paisley hear you order herbal tea.”

Eryn widened her eyes. “Why’s that?”

“She thinks Earl Grey is the only beverage that matters. She takes it strong and black.”

“Oh.” She smiled a little. “I’ll be careful around her.”

“Hey, I was teasing. You can order whatever you like, whether she’s nearby or not. You do you.”

“Okay.” Of course, that’s what he’d meant. He hadn’t been making fun of her choice so much as making conversation. She opened the menu, aware of Dad chatting with Nadine and Bryce across the table. How did he do that so casually? But she could make an effort. “What’s good here?”

“Everything.” Maxwell chuckled. “Truly, you can’t go wrong. I’m going for a cheeseburger and fries today.”

Nadine elbowed him. “Where’s your veggie, young man?”

Maxwell gave his aunt a hangdog look. “I’ll eat extra at dinner?”

Nadine shook her head. “You boys. I’ll order you each a side salad, you hear me? And you’ll eat it, too.”

“Yes’m.” But Maxwell’s wink was for Eryn. “You heard the sergeant, Eryn. Make sure whatever you order has a vegetable. Apparently, a wisp of lettuce and a slice of tomato doesn’t count.”

Nadine mock-glared at Maxwell as she closed her menu. He laughed.

Eryn smiled. Even though the aunt and her nephews hadn’t known each other long, they seemed to have established a rapport.

The hostess returned with their drinks. “You must be new here.” She placed Dad’s coffee in front of him. “I’m Estelle. My husband and I own this diner.”

“Keith Ralston and my daughter, Eryn. We’ve recently moved from Kansas.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy Jewel Lake! It’s a great little town, and there’s always something going on.”

Across the table, Maxwell’s eyes danced with mirth, but he didn’t say anything other than give his order when Estelle produced an order pad and pencil.

Nadine nudged him again.

Why didn’t Eryn have an aunt like her? Wouldn’t her life have been easier if either of her parents had siblings who might have taken an interest in her and her twin? Though Amelia likely wouldn’t have cared. Or else, she’d have hogged the attention.

On the other hand, Eryn didn’t want relatives to suddenly appear the way Maxwell had explained the Klines’ arrival into the Sullivan clan. That would have been so unsettling.

A loud group of cowboys with women on their arms surrounded the long, makeshift table down the center of the café and took their seats.

“Be with you in a minute,” Estelle hollered. “The usual drinks?”

“Yes, ma’am!” one of the cowboys called back.

“Those are the Cavanagh brothers,” Maxwell said. “They run Rockstead Ranch just north of Sweet River.” He chuckled. “And they own the middle of the Golden Grill for Sunday lunch.”

Six men in jeans and plaid shirts hung their cowboy hats on a nearby coat tree and held chairs for their gorgeous women. The women looked casually elegant as they chatted amongst themselves even though they sat interspersed with their men.

What must it be like to marry into a ranching family like that? The Sullivans were different, since there were only three brothers plus their cousins.

A flush shot up Eryn’s cheeks. She had no business thinking about Maxwell’s family as though she had any connection to them. Sure, he hinted he wanted to date her, but that wouldn’t last, would it?

At least, this time Amelia wasn’t around to steal a potential boyfriend from under her nose. Eryn swallowed hard. Also, the potential boyfriend wasn’t pretending to like Eryn so he could get closer to Amelia. That had been incredibly humiliating, enough to call Eryn off dating forever.

Or until her sister died. But the scars ran deep.

Bryce excused himself and pulled up a chair at the end of the Cavanagh table, where he laughed along with the cowboys at who knew what.

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