Page 42 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

It was worth talking to Weston about.

Chapter

Fourteen

Thanks for your help today.” Nadine Kline turned from where she loaded the dishwasher with a smile on her face.

Eryn shifted from one foot to the other. “I shouldn’t leave while there’s still work to be done.” Also, she couldn’t believe Nadine had been doing this alone half the time.

Nadine laughed. “It’s never done, so don’t worry about it. You made the soup for lunch and prepped half of dinner plus made dessert. That apple cake smells amazing, by the way. I hope you have more recipes like that up your sleeve.”

Whew. “Thank you. I like to bake, so I’ll be happy to do more. And there are lots of apples.”

“I was thinking of pie with a sourdough crust.”

“I’ve never worked with sourdough. Never baked bread of any kind. Yours is delicious.”

“I can teach you.” Nadine poked her chin toward the warming oven near the industrial-size range. “Tomorrow’s dough is already fermenting.”

“I’d love to learn.” It was true. Even though Eryn didn’t love cooking, baking was something else. “Tell me when to be here.”

“There’s time enough for that next week.” Nadine’s gaze slipped past Eryn, and she smiled. “Hey, Maxwell.”

“Hi, Aunt Nadine.”

Eryn couldn’t keep from turning. Ack! How had she not heard him sneak up right behind her? She pressed her hand over her heart. “You startled me!”

“Sorry.” The grin revealed a dimple that did not look the tiniest bit repentant. “I heard you were off at one, and I was hoping you’d come to the stable with me.”

Eryn fingered the hem of her apron. “I’m not dressed for riding.”

Maxwell’s warm gaze slid to her toes and back to her face. “You look great to me, though you might want to leave the apron.”

Nadine coughed and turned away, waving her hand. “Don’t mind me.”

“There’s someone over there I want you to meet. Did you walk down this morning or drive? I’ve got one of the golf carts, so I’m happy to take you by Hummingbird Lane if you want to change before we go to the stable. Not that you need to.”

“Who do you want me to meet?” Eryn untied her apron and slipped the loop over her head. Whether she went with Maxwell or not, her shift was done.

“It’s a surprise.” He grinned.

That guy. Did he have any idea the power in those dimples? Eryn doubted it, or he wouldn’t flash them so regularly.

“Come on. You know you want to, right? Unless…” He studied her. “Unless you’re tired and need a break.”

Was he kidding her right now? She was an introvert and could always use a break from people if she’d spent five minutes with them, let alone four hours. On the other hand, this was Maxwell, and he didn’t add that sort of stress. He’d become a safe landing place, and the stable sounded quiet and welcoming.

She lifted her chin. “I’ll come, but I would like to change first, please.”

Was that relief on his face? Did he really think she had the capacity to turn him down?

A few minutes later, they pulled in front of the stable where Weston was working a young horse on a longe line. Since Maxwell stayed sitting on the cart, watching, Eryn did, too.

After a moment she asked, “What is he doing?”

“That’s Echo, Nutmeg’s two-year-old. She’s… skittish.”

Eryn watched for clues. The filly’s eyes grew wide when Weston, murmuring softly, stepped closer, his hand outstretched with something on it. Echo seemed more fearful than curious as she backed away, nostrils flaring. “Is that normal behavior?”

---