Page 18 of The Texas Cowboy's Proposal

She had to laugh at the picture that conjured. “Beaudry Hawkes has a charming side? Now that is something I must see. So that gets you another dinner chance right there.” Since when did it come so easy to actually tease back with a member of the opposite sex? And Beaudry, at that?

She also discovered that the man had a really nice, deep-toned laugh that came easy, with enough charm to make it hard to not be forgiving of him. It was another facet of his that made her erect yet another caution flag in her brain. How often had she hoped her grandmother’s softer tones and gentler turns had signaled a better change in their relationship, only to have it all be dashed by stark coldness in the next moment? People could always disappoint in a heartbeat. That was a tough wall of hers to let anyone have access to the doorway too soon.

“Please tell Lacy I hope she feels better soon. And if you two need anything, just give me a call, and I’ll be glad to help out.”

There was a few seconds’ pause. “Thanks, I’ll tell her. And your offer is much appreciated.” His tone was warm and sincere. “Just know that I’m truly sorry we can’t make that dinner date together tonight. I was looking forward to it.”

Sammi Jo sat holding a silent phone in her hand for a while after he hung up. The disappointment only seemed to grow. And now, she was going to be faced with probably opening a can of soup or making a sandwich of some kind for herself. Probably much the same thing he would be doing in his kitchen later. And that’s when a thought hit her. Did she dare? It was spontaneous, and she wasn’t that great on that score. How often had spur of the moments failed, and she had slowly turned into a proactive planner to the extreme. But she feltinspired, and that was a first. Nothing ventured... what did she have to lose? Just being neighborly was a good enough reason. Right?

*

While Lacy wasupstairs, hopefully finishing out a nap with Beast beside her, Beaudry made some phone calls from his office in the barn, including one to Matt, his attorney, to touch base about his ex’s surprise visit. Matt was able to reassure him a bit; he would do some checking and find out more about why she had shown up back in Burkitt after professing loudly to everyone that she didn’t care to set foot on its dusty streets ever again. No matter what, Beaudry would stay on his guard until she left. And until that time, the front gate was staying shut, with visitors having to ring ahead to the house or barns for entrance. No more surprise drop-ins.

And that was why he stopped in his tracks as he came out of the barn and headed toward the ranch house.

The unexpected sight of the Aces High SUV parked in the driveway threw him off for a moment. As he began moving closer again, he could make out Jaxson’s low rumble through the screened door, speaking to someone inside the kitchen. Beaudry took the three steps onto the screened-in back porch area in one bound, then quickly pulled the dirty work boots off and placed them on the rack for cleaning later. In his stocking feet, he pushed open the door and stepped inside to be met by an amazing aroma of something cooking in a pot on the stove and the sight of his brother, a thick sandwich in hand, grinning at the other occupant, who was the biggest surprise of all.

“I hope you don’t mind uninvited guests dropping in without even a call first,” the woman in a blue-and-white gingham apron over blue jeans and a sky-blue tank top said with a somewhat tentative smile, a large stirring spoon in one hand, and a potholder in the other. She seemed to fit right in with her surroundings, even if she looked a little nervous.

“I’d say he’s already had quite a day of surprising drop-in guests.” Jaxson took another bite of the sandwich and reached for a canned soda from the refrigerator beside him. “This sandwich is amazing, but I am off to finish up for the day. Thanks again for the food, Sammi Jo. I meant what I said—if you ever want to give up ranching, you could open up your own restaurant, and I’d be a steady customer. See you later.” As he passed Beaudry, he gave him a cheeky wink that added much more to his leaving. Beaudry felt it prudent to ignore his message.

“I’m sorry,” Sammi Jo was saying. “You had other guests? Did I come at a bad time? I just wanted to bring over a pot of the homemade beef stew that always made me feel better when I was sick. And then I had to add some sourdough bread, which is about to come out of the oven. There’s also ham slices and cheddar cheese for sandwiches if you are that hungry. I could toast that for you if you like. Or I can just leave it all for you and Lacy and get out of your way.”

“No!” He was quick to end that idea.

She smiled. “You must be really hungry then.”

“I had no idea I was until I smelled that delicious stew as I came into the house. Did you or one of the cooks...?”

She stifled a laugh. Hey, he was trying to be diplomatic with his question.

“Yes, it ismystew. One of the things I learned to cook in high school and have improved upon over the years, I am pleased to say. Now the sourdough loaf is my fourth attempt, and I am still working on it, but seems your brother was either just starving and would eat the first loaf no matter what, or it might just be passable. I hope you don’t mind that I took this chance to show up and bring you and Lacy something so that you didn’t have to worry about cooking. You mentioned this was your housekeeper’s day off.”

Beaudry moved to stand closer to her stance at the stove, his gaze appreciative of the food in the stewpot and of the woman standing in front of him. Was the rise in color along her cheeks due to the heat from the stove or just maybe his presence? That could be a hopeful sign. Either way, the color looked nice.

“First of all, you would never be termed an unwanted drop-in,” he began, and then his smile broadened into a natural grin. “At least not any longer. You’re welcome here anytime. Anytime at all.” And that gave them both pause. The air was heavier to catch hold of and draw inside in.

“Daddy! I’m thirsty. Are you down there?” The small voice broke the impasse. Beaudry turned his attention to a cabinet beside him, drawing down a glass and heading toward the refrigerator.

“I’m here. On my way with the water,” his voice carried upstairs. At the doorway, he looked back at Sammi. “I’ll also deliver the good news to my child about our dinner and our guest.”

A few minutes later, with aromatic stew ladled in bowls and plates with sandwiches, the trio made their own version of a picnic in Lacy’s bedroom. With her ensconced against a mound of pillows and a bed tray across her lap, Sammi Jo and Beaudry sat in chairs on either side of the bed with their own lap trays. They had their meal and laughed their way through one of Lacey’s favorite comedy shows on television. She managed to last to the end of the show before it was clear she was having trouble keeping her eyes open.

Sammi Jo and Beaudry cleared up the leftovers of the picnic, and Sammi left him to tuck in his daughter. He rejoined her in the kitchen, where she had secured the leftovers in the refrigerator and cleared away any signs that the kitchen had been in use.

“Sammi Jo Burkitt’s list of surprises keeps growing.” Beaudry stepped in to dry the last of the pans and put them away in their proper places.

“I have a list? What’s on it?”

“Well, we can definitely say now that you are an accomplished cook. And we need to add that you know how to decorate a home and make it inviting to visitors. Your loft is the example of that. You have a way with you when it comes to charming and caring for children. My daughter would give you two thumbs-up and many gold stars. She has shared her opinion with me. All of that in addition to being a savvy businesswoman and one heck of a rancher, and you just might be deserving of that award you won back in high school.”

Sammi Jo shook her head. “You remember that?”

“Of course, I do. How often does one get to say that they know the Homemaker of Tomorrow? I sat behind you in that class for a semester, remember?”

There went that soft color across her cheeks again. “You made me nervous.” She looked like she wanted to take those words back as soon as they were out.

“Really? Now that is interesting. Tell me why I made you nervous.”

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