Page 7 of The Wrangler Takes a Wife

“Neither would I.” Chase held up his hands in surrender, then promptly dug in. After the first bite, he complimented her.“Damn, you can cook.” Then he looked at her plate. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I better, the way you are eying my plate. I’m not sure it’s safe.”

“That’s wise.” Chase chuckled.

Unlike the night before, he engaged her in conversation while they ate. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”

“A combination of Granny, Momma, and culinary school.”

His head whipped up in surprise. Amara felt some kinda way about it. “Why do you look surprised that I went to culinary school?” She narrowed her eyes at him. What did he think she was some country bumpkin? Never leaving her small town? Although, being called small was generous to Willowridge, which was barely a town. It consisted of a main road and exactly eight other streets. Hell, they only had two stop signs.

“Well, you said you were running this place since you were eighteen. Just wondered where you found the time?”

Oh! Maybe he wasn’t being a dickhole. He actually listened.

“When I was twenty, I went to culinary school in Toronto for two years. My Granny and Momma kept this place running while I was away.”

“Was it always your plan to return here?”

“Yes.”

“The lights of the big city did not tempt you?”

Amara liked it better when he ate like a neanderthal instead of all this small talk. Rather than answer him right away, she tooka bite of the short rib. She really outdid herself. The entire time she chewed, he openly looked at her, waiting for her to answer.

“No. I’m not a big city person. I like knowing who my neighbours are. What about you? You decided to settle a long way from home.” When they had first met him, he had mentioned it was his first time in Canada, even though he had dual citizenship.

“I’ve lived in a lot of places. When I was younger, we lived in a few locations throughout the Midwest.” His jade-coloured eyes were clouded with sadness for just a moment before clearing. “Then I was in the army for a few years and was stationed at a few bases.” Even if he hadn’t told her he was in the military, she would have known. Chase, despite not being enlisted, still carried the air of being a part of the military, just as Rodney did.

“In all that time you never made it to Canada?”

“There never seemed to be a reason to. My Mom was Canadian, but she said her family disowned her.” Chase shrugged. “That is why it is so surprising my uncle left me Sagebrush Hills.”

Total bullshit.The thing that bothered her most is she genuinely liked his uncle, and thought he was a man of his word, a man with honour.

What did her brother Roddick tell her?“Come on Amara. Whatever he promised us, you can’t be mad he put his family before us.”Roddick was wrong. She could be mad. However, the Welch’s family mottowas if you don’t like it, do something about it.

Chase was offering her an opportunity to right a wrong. The more she sat and talked to him, the more she was inclined to take him up on his offer. “So, if we were to do the whole marriage thing…” Amara thought nothing would make Chase put downhis utensils when he still had food on his plate, but the direction of her conversation did it. “…how long would it be for?”

“How long would what be for?”

“The marriage arrangement. I mean, it wouldn’t be forever. Right?” There was no way she agreed to that.

“No.” Chase looked pensive. He picked up his utensils. “How about we agree to stay married for five years?”

Amara’s mom always told her,“if you don’t voice your opinion, your face certainly says it loud and clear.”She imagined this was one of those times. Chase burst out laughing. “Five years would go by in a flash.”

“I doubt it. How about two years?” she countered.

“How about we agree to discuss it in two years?”

Amara shrugged. She knew what her answer would be in two years. There was no need to argue that minor detail. “So, we tell everyone we are getting married. Then in like six months, we tie the knot?” It was her turn to wait for him to stop chewing. Although she had to wait for his response, she had a clue what his answer would be. He was already shaking his head.

While she waited for her answer, she took a bite of her meal. Even with the two rolls he ate, Chase was probably a bite away from clearing his plate. Whereas she had a third left. Compared to him, she was a slow eater.

“Two weeks, Scotcheroo,” he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Amara had no idea where to unpack this level of crazy. Not to mention what the fuck was a Scotcheroo?

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