Page 2 of Curvy Girl and the Ex-Military Cowboy

And despite the nerves, despite the doubts swirling in my mind, there's something else there too. Hope. A quiet, cautious hope that maybe, just maybe, this crazy plan might work. That Elena and I might find in each other what Vincent and Charlotte found unexpectedly.

But I can't tell my brothers the truth. No way. Not yet. First, I need to know if Elena and I are truly a match, if this arrangement has any chance of becoming something real. Then I'll find a way to confess to my brothers that I essentially ordered a wife online like a package from Amazon.

I tuck my shirt in one final time, take a steadying breath, and head downstairs to face the firing squad.

The kitchen is as it always is—loud, chaotic, and smelling of whatever Ethan's decided to whip up today. As the youngest of us, Ethan somehow turned out to be the one with actual culinary skills. The rest of us can grill a steak, do some pasta or rice, and not much else.

"Well, look who finally decided to join the land of the living," Cole drawls from his perch at the counter, stealing what appears to be a carrot from Ethan's cutting board.

Ethan swats his hand away. "Touch my mise en place again and you're eating leftovers."

"Your what now?" Jackson asks, leaning against the refrigerator with his perpetual cup of coffee. As the oldest, he's somehow perfected the art of looking both amused and disapproving at all times.

"His fancy chef setup," Vincent translates, walking in from the back door with Lily on his shoulders. "Where's Charlotte?"

"She had to run into town for more art supplies," Ethan says. "Lily used all the glitter on what was supposed to be my weekly menu board."

Lily giggles proudly from her perch. "I made it pretty!"

I force myself to act normal, pouring a cup of coffee like it's any other Sunday. Like I don't have a woman arriving any minute who's expecting to be my future wife.

"You're dressed up," Jackson notes, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Going somewhere?"

"Just felt like it," I mutter, taking a sip of coffee that's strong enough to peel paint.

Ethan makes it that way on purpose; says it's the only way to keep a ranch running.

Cole smirks. "Hot date in town?"

If only they knew how close to the truth that was.

"Leave him alone," Vincent says, setting Lily down. "Maybe he's just tired of looking like he's auditioning for Yellowstone all the time."

"Says the man wearing what appears to be an actual bolo tie," I retort, grateful for the distraction.

Vincent adjusts said tie defensively. "Charlotte likes it."

"Charlotte likes you, there's a difference," Ethan says, stirring something that smells like heaven. "She'd probably like you in a clown costume."

The conversation dissolves into the usual brotherly ribbing, and I start to relax. Maybe this won't be so bad. Maybe I can slip away when Elena arrives and—

The distinct sound of tires on gravel cuts through my thoughts.

"Someone coming?" Jackson asks, immediately on alert. He's always been protective of our property, more so since taking over as head of the ranch after Dad passed.

I try to sound casual. “It might be a friend of mine stopping by.”

All four brothers turn to look at me simultaneously.

"A friend," Cole repeats slowly. "Of yours."

"Yes, I have friends," I snap, more defensive than I intended.

"Name three," Ethan challenges.

Before I can respond with the handful of Army buddies I keep in touch with, the doorbell rings. My heart lodges firmly in my throat.

"I'll get it," I say quickly, but Lily is already racing toward the door.

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