“Is Vin going to be a problem?” Chase asked.

“Problem for who? My sister?” Rodney shook his head. “Nah, he’ll watch what he says from now on. Vin is a good hand.”

It was true the man was a hard worker, and skilled at what he did. However, he earned himself a ride to the top of Chase’s shit list.

“Alright. I’m off this afternoon.” Chase reminded Rodney who was in charge when he wasn’t around.

Forty minutes later, he was leaving the ranch after a shower. Chase was running early. His intent was to drive straight to the lawyer’s office, but he remembered Amara was on the Welch Ridge. Before he could talk himself out of it, he headed out there.

Was it normal to be delighted when the woman who answered the door became furious when she realised it was you?

“Wrangler, what are you doing here?”

“Afternoon, Sweet Darling.” Chase noticed Amara hadn’t objected last night when he called her that. Nor did she now.She placed her hands on her hips, cocked her head, and stared at him.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“Why would I? I didn’t ask you to come to my house. Weren't we supposed to meet at Jo’s office?”

“We were, but I thought I’d stop by and give you a ride.” Chase became distracted when the smells inside her home reached him. He sniffed the air. “What’s that you’re cooking?”

“Part of it was my lunch, and I also made a treat for my cousin.”

“Did you make anything for your future fiancé?” He found the glare she sent him sexy as fuck. Chase used his knuckles to brush her cheek. “Are you going to let me in and feed me?”

“Seriously? You act like you are starving.” Amara’s gaze swept him from head to toe. “Like you’ve missed a damn meal.” Shaking her head, she stepped aside so he could enter. “Come in.”

Amara’s place was warm. Despite the earth tones, it still managed to be soft and feminine. She was an avid reader. Chase was immediately drawn to the two bookshelves. Like a magnet, he headed straight for them.

“Hey, I thought you came in to eat. Come sit.”

Reluctantly, he walked away after giving the shelves a cursory glance. He spied cookbooks, and tons of fiction books. It sparked his curiosity. What types of books did she read?

Proving he was easily distracted when she was around, he soon forgot all about the books. Instead, all his attention was focused on her. He got a good look at what she was wearing. Insteadof her regular hip-hugging jeans, she wore a jean dress that stopped just at her knees. The material wasn’t stiff but swayed as she moved around. He had a side view of her and was mesmerized by the buttons going all the way from the hem up to the collar. There were more than a few buttons left undone, exposing the plump swell of her abundant breast. Surprisingly, the diner’s t-shirts she normally wore had been minimizing exactly how full her breasts really was. His mouth watered as he tried to figure out the puzzle.

“You’re staring. It’s rude. Stop it.” Amara bristled. He chuckled at her tone. She had a fair point.

“What are you making me?”

“I’m not making you anything. I’m giving you some leftovers,” she informed him, adding some lettuce to a bun.

“What leftovers?” Chase didn’t really care.

“Chicken salad on a bun. Is that all right with you?” Her tone issued a challenge, which he couldn’t help but answer.

“We’ll see.” He shrugged.

Her eyes rounded at his response, and it was all he could do not to laugh. It was quiet in the room. No music or television. Was she in her kitchen with no background noise? It was strange to him. So, he asked about it.

“Before I was rudely interrupted, I was listening to an audio book.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Well, don’t let me stop you. You can put it back on.” There was something about all those books on the shelf that drew his attention.

“No. It’s fine.”

Amara walked over and placed a plate in front of him. Were those homemade chips? Well, damn. The bun was overflowing with chicken salad.

She walked away. “Would you like some Apple Cider?”