Page 50 of Rancher's Return

“Did you have fun?”

“I had a great time. He invited me to come out to his grandparents’ house this weekend.”

“Well, I hope you don’t think it’s weird, but I got an invitation also.”

“It’s not weird.”

“Great. That sounds just great.”

Chapter Eleven

Buck kept scanning the pandemonium of the yard, waiting to see if she was going to arrive. It was an unseasonably warm September, and they had set up tables outside for their barbecue dinner. His brothers were talking and laughing, and occasionally, even Boone almost smiled at him.

There were kids. So many kids. Toddlers and teenagers scampering around the place.

But he was waiting for Marigold to get there. And suddenly, her car rounded the corner, and both him and Colton stood up. Wow. He was acting like a teenager. Because he looked just like his son.

“Lily’s here,” he said.

“Yeah,” Buck said, rubbing his chest. He had missed Marigold so much over the last few days. All he had wanted was to go to her house, get in bed with her. Take them both to the places they’d gone when they’d made love that afternoon.

He needed her again. So badly, it made his jaw ache.

But there just hadn’t been a chance. Yeah, the kids were in school all day, but they both had inconvenient things like jobs.

He was getting the logistics worked out for the ranch. And the build for her new facility. And she was continuing to do the job she had already been doing.

When Marigold got out of the car, he couldn’t say it was only his body that was affected by the sight of her. It was everything. She made his heart beat faster; she made everything in him feel like it was on red alert. That woman. Good God, that woman.

Colton was halfway to them before they finished getting out of the car entirely. He didn’t have any of the self-possession that Buck did. Buck knew how to play it cool. Buck...was walking toward them too, and he hadn’t even fully realized it.

“Can I help carry anything?” Buck asked, as Marigold got out and opened up the back of the car, taking out a basket.

“If you really want to,” she said.

“I live to serve.”

Her cheeks turned pink, and he knew exactly what she was thinking of.

“You know I do,” he said.

She elbowed him in the stomach. And he laughed.

Then realized that Colton and Lily were watching them.

“You know, sheismy best friend’s younger sister,” he said. Like that explained the familiarity. And not that he’d hooked up with her.

It felt good to say it like that. Like she was still Jason’s sister, instead of it just being in the past. And Jason was still his friend. Like he had never lost the right to call him that.

They walked back over to where his family was, and he made introductions: Lily as Colton’s friend, and Marigold as Lily’s mother and his business partner. He had already told his family all about them, and about the fact that he was investing in the business.

Obviously, he had not told them that she was his friend with benefits. Because that was just between them.

Marigold had brought a basket filled with rolls and a couple of different cakes to put on the table for dessert. They paired beautifully with the barbecued brisket, hamburgers and sausages that his father had grilled up.

And even though Buck had been back now for a little while and had experienced family gatherings like this before, this felt different. Significant. Complete in a way that nothing else had.

He looked to his right, at Marigold, and wondered how much of it had to do with her.

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