Page 69 of A Sunny Sweetheart for the Cowboy

“Hey, Tate. I hate to bother you at home about work stuff.”

Especially since his cousin stood in the doorway of his home in khaki shorts and bare feet, a casual look Weston would never have thought Tate would attempt to pull off.

Jamie ran into the room. “Hi Wes! See jumping like bunny.” He gave a series of little hops on both feet.

“Good job.”

The kid was clearly excited about his new skill. How old was he now? Two and a half? “Play cars?”

“I came to see your daddy.”

“Play cars later?”

“Maybe.” Weston glanced at Tate. At one time, Tate had tried to keep Jamie from calling him Daddy. After all, Tate was the boy’s uncle and had accepted guardianship after the boy’s parents died in a helicopter crash.

Did Jude know how dangerous aircraft could be?

“Come on in. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t bother me on a Sunday afternoon if you didn’t think it was necessary. What’s up?”

Weston pulled his attention back to Tate. “Have you heard from Paisley?”

Tate shook his head as he led the way to his home office. “Have you?”

Not what Weston was hoping to hear. “Thanks for forwarding the emails. That helped. She’s contracted the Delgados for live music and the barn dance.”

“Right, she did say that.” Tate pointed at a comfy chair. “Have a seat. Man, I don’t know what we’re going to do if she isn’t at tomorrow morning’s staff meeting. Her weekend is her own, of course. She doesn’t have to ask permission for going off the ranch or even to Arizona, but if she’s late for work — or worse, doesn’t show at all — then my hands are tied.”

Weston let out a long breath. “Even if I can handle the celebration and Cindy and Sabrina have the activities covered?”

“I can’t pay Paisley for work she didn’t do.”

“What if she was on the ranch but missed the meeting? If you didn’t know she was away, you wouldn’t assume the worst, right?”

Tate steepled his hands and studied him.

Weston squirmed in his seat.

“It’s not that long ago when you tried everything you could to get out of going on a four-day trail ride with Paisley Teele. Something has changed.”

“True. On both counts.”

“Care to enlighten me?” Was that a glimmer of humor showing in Tate’s eyes? That had to be a good sign, right?

“I think I might be in love with her.”

“I wondered.” Tate’s grin widened. “Any idea if she feels the same? I guess what I’m asking is… is her mother actually sick, or is she running away from something? Like maybe you”

Weston met his cousin’s gaze steadily. “Her mother is in the hospital.”

“You’re sure she just doesn’t know what to do with you now that she’s caught you?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Weston’s patience was wearing thin. “We’re on the same page.” Paisley hadn’t really responded to his kisses the way he’d hoped, but that was from worry about her mother. He shouldn’t have pushed her that night, but he was certain she hadn’t manufactured the whole scenario to get away from him.

No, that was Rayna’s mode of operation, though money talked. Weston might not have been worth Rayna sticking around for a several years ago, but that’s when he’d been a poor cowboy without a ranch. Now that he had money, Rayna figured he might be worth her attention. Too bad she’d already shown her colors.

Rayna had nothing on Paisley. Paisley knew Weston was a Sullivan, but that wasn’t why she liked him, was it? No, that didn’t make sense.

She’d seen something in Weston that intrigued her. Why? No clue. He wasn’t usually that interesting to people, but he’d finally responded to her persistent attention.

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