Page 7 of Montana Guardian

There's nothing to be nervous about.

Ryan and Gage enter the kitchen/dining room combo.

“Hey guys, I hope you like lemon herb chicken and pasta.” Ryan holds up the grocery bag in his hand. Boxes of ingredients and fresh greens stick out the top of the paper bag.

“Are you sure you want to cook for us? You don't have to.” When Gage proposed inviting his coach to dinner, I hadn’t expected Ryan to accept the invitation on the condition that he makes the meal.

He refused to let me dissuade him, and since no one’s ever cooked for me outside of my parents, I didn’t fight too hard to change his mind.

However, good manners are too ingrained in me to not offer one last out before letting him take over the kitchen.

“I'm positive. You do enough already with working a full-time job during the day, taking care of the boys, and organizing theteam banquet. The least I can do is provide dinner. Besides, I'll have help from my sous chefs.” His gaze bounces between Levi and Gage.

“Us?” Skepticism drips from Levi’s tone.

“Don't worry, bro, we got this.” Gage offers his fist for a bump with his little brother, and Levi hesitantly reciprocates.

“Why don't you go relax in front of the TV, take a quick nap, whatever you want to do, and we'll call you when the food is ready?” The groceries are set on the kitchen counter before Ryan carefully herds me toward the exit.

“Okay, okay. I get it. No need to guide me out of my own kitchen.” I lightly swat his hand away with a grin, a feeling of freedom adding buoyancy to my steps.

I like the feeling of being taken care of.

A lot.

Forty-five minutes later, food is on the table as the four of us take our seats, and there’s even a centerpiece of fresh flowers to complete the cozy, familial setting.

“This looks delicious,” I say, studying the pretty mix of yellow lemon slices and green herbs decorating the chicken and pasta. A delicious aroma perfumes the air, prompting my stomach to growl. “You guys did a great job.”

A round of thanks goes up as everyone digs in.

Well, almost everyone.

Ryan clears his throat, his fork still resting beside his plate. “I’ve got some exciting news.” Gage, Levi, and I pause a moment before resuming to eat, waiting for his announcement.

“After speaking with Mr. Littleton at the high school, who then directed me to the superintendent, an endowment for the school district has been accepted. The money will cover athletic and academic team costs, which means you,” he points at me, “don’t have to worry about fundraising anymore.”

“Seriously? How did this happen? Where’d the endowment come from?” A million questions flit through my mind.

Did Ryan do this for me? He told me he’d handle the fundraising issue, but I didn’t expect this. I thought he might recruit more parents to help, not personally fund something for the entire district.

You don’t know that it’s his money.

“The Foster heirs decided it was a worthy cause to support, so it’s sponsored by all of us: Addie, Derek, Hope, Brooke, and myself.”

While my head and heart swirl with gratitude and somethingmorefor Ryan, the boys pepper him with questions about the other heirs, curious about the newcomers to our town. Everyone knows the general story behind their inheritance, but they remain a mystery while living on Serenity Ranch.

After dinner, my brothers volunteer to clean up, leaving Ryan and I to chat on the back porch in the cool quiet evening. I should ask him more about the endowment, but the moment we’re alone, his gaze darts to the door before pulling me into his arms for a kiss.

This one is slower, deeper than our first impromptu one, but it's no less exciting.

“I couldn’t wait any longer. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since I got here, but with your brothers around as chaperones, there hasn’t been a moment to get you alone until now.”

A hot blush scorches my cheeks. I’ve never inspired unadulterated passion in someone, and to do so in a handsome man like Ryan is butterfly-inducing.

“I appreciate you waiting,” I murmur.

My brothers aren’t used to having men around the house. I don’t really have time to date, but even if I did, there would be a long test period before introducing Gage and Levi to someone.

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