Page 25 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

“But—”

Keith reached across the counter and shook Nadine’s hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

Wait, was Aunt Nadine blushing? Nah, couldn’t be.

“Please dish yourselves up and find a seat out there.” She fluttered a hand.

Maxwell nudged Eryn in front of him as they scooped pasta, sauce, and salad onto their plates then added garlic toast on the side. He glanced back at his aunt.

She was watching Keith but noticed Maxwell’s smirk. Her face pinked, and she turned back into the kitchen.

Maxwell shook his head and set his tray down on a vacant table. Soon the three of them were settled with their food.

“Have your aunt and uncle been here at the ranch long?” Keith dipped his garlic toast into the sauce.

“My aunt and unc—” Maxwell cut himself off and managed not to laugh. “There’s a whole story there, but the short answer is that Aunt Nadine’s husband passed away before I could meet him. He’s been gone several years.”

“I’m sorry.” But Keith’s contemplative glance back to the kitchen mocked his words.

“The longer version is that my grandfather had an affair with his secretary before he met and married my grandmother. His secretary left Chicago without a forwarding address, and it wasn’t so easy to track people back then. Anyway, Nadine had been searching for her father all her life, but her mother refused to divulge the man’s name. Enter twenty-first century DNA testing and genealogy websites, and Nadine pinned my grandfather down with the evidence he was her father.”

Eryn gaped at him as she lowered her laden fork to her plate. “That’s crazy.”

“It is, you’re right. That’s when Grandfather bought this ranch. He invited his daughter to work for him, and all us boys — my brothers, my cousin Graham, me — and Nadine’s sons, our newfound cousins. Jude is away in Chicago right now at flight school, and Weston will be your boss, Keith. He’s in charge of the stables and nominally oversees the farm operations as well.”

“So, she’s single?”

That’s what Keith Ralston got out of the story? “Yes, she is.”

“I see.” The man looked thoughtful as he ate a meatball. “She’s a good cook.”

“Most everything is from scratch. She even bakes all the bread we go through around here.” Maxwell smiled at Eryn. “She and her staff, of course.”

“I’ve never baked bread.” Eryn bit her lip and glanced toward the kitchen.

“I hear she’s a good mentor.” He touched Eryn’s hand. “She won’t expect you to know how to do everything the first day.”

“I hope I won’t disappoint her.”

“Not possible.” Okay, maybe he was coming on a little too much like Bryce, but Eryn’s self-esteem seemed exceptionally low. Was it her personality? Did her father put her down? Maxwell hadn’t seen any evidence of that, but he hadn’t spent a lot of time with either of them, let alone together.

He was going to remedy that.

“Keith Ralston?” Weston stood beside the table with a tray in his hand, Paisley beside him.

“Yes, sir.” Keith swallowed his bite, surged to his feet, and held out his hand.

“I’m Weston Kline, and this is my fiancée, Paisley Teele.” He glanced at Maxwell as he shook Keith’s hand. “I hear you’re taking over Joseph’s position. May we have a seat?”

Maxwell nodded and managed not to smile too wide. Weston was acting like a civilized human being for once in his life, not the sour grump everyone had grown used to since they’d met a year and a half ago. Paisley’s doing, for sure. Oh, and God’s.

“Paisley, this is Keith’s daughter, Eryn. She’ll be working with Nadine in the kitchen for now.”

“I’m so happy to meet you!” Paisley gushed. “You’re going to love it here. You’re from Kansas?”

“Yes.” Eryn offered a shy smile. “I’ve never been out west before.”

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