Page 26 of Just One Look

“The ranch?”

“My grandparents’ home.”

“Ah.”

He wished he knew what she was thinking. “Is that a great ideaah,or a how do I get out of thisah?”

There was a hesitation just long enough to make his palms sweat. For most of his life, asking a woman out wasn’t a challenge—after all, who didn’t want to date a Baron? Not till this moment did he realize how much he’d taken that for granted.

“Liz?”

“Sorry. Yes.” She chuckled softly. “I’d enjoy that. I think.”

“Wonderful.” He hadn’t really thought through much more than calling Liz to hear her voice. The invitation to the ranch just sort of slipped out. Now he was glad it had. “How about I pick you up around one o’clock?”

“I have some errands to run in the morning. How about I meet you at the ranch around two? Will that work?”

“Whatever the lady wants. Oh. Is your sister around?”

She hesitated before finally answering. “Yes. She’s right here.”

“Would Emily like to join us?” Having Emily along would allow him to see how she reacted to the two of them. Not that Liz and him were an item, but if Emily was okay with their budding friendship, maybe, just maybe, anything was possible.

Another long moment of hesitation. No doubt Liz had put her phone on mute and was now talking to her sister.

Finally, Liz’s voice popped back. “Can she play it by ear?”

“If I can play hooky from existing plans, I will,” Emily called out. “Fair enough?”

“Fair enough.” At least Liz had agreed. For the first time all week, his heart wasn’t heavy and he felt like smiling. Oh, heck was he in trouble.

Chapter Eleven

Why Devlin had bothered going to bed last night was beyond him. Ever since Liz had agreed to come to the ranch today, all he could think about was how to make the day special. Though, he did wonder what was he thinking subjecting her to his matchmaking grandparents. Punching his pillow every half hour or so, he’d considered changing the plans. Perhaps finding somewhere else to take her riding. Heaven knows he had plenty of friends with ranches with horses. Heck, if he called their neighbor Jared who’d married his cousin Eve, there was little doubt that Devlin would be able to take Liz out for the day without concerns for what his family would say.

Then again, over burgers, he’d promised her a family dinner after raving about Hazel their cook, who was as much a part of the family as housekeeper Alice on the Brady Bunch. No matter how he sliced it, his grandparents were going to meet Liz, so in the end, he decided to go with the flow and bite the bullet, so to speak. Especially if what he was feeling and thinking about Liz was more than a passing infatuation. Oh, how he hoped Emily was okay with the possibilities.

Tinkering with some numbers on his computer, he tried not to keep looking at the clock. Liz said she’d arrive at two. It was still only one forty-five and accepting that he had no idea what numbers he’d already looked at, he slammed his computer shut and slid it into the briefcase at this side. Pushing to his feet, he walked to the front window, careful to stand out of line of sight, he watched the empty drive that led to the main road.

Calling down to the barn, he wanted to double-check for the umpteenth time that the two horses were ready.

“How many times are you going to call and harass Mack about the horses?” Mitch’s tone was stern, but Devlin could hear the teasing in his voice.

“Sorry. I’m just crossing my Ts and dotting my Is.”

“Which is why you make the big bucks in real estate. So, who is this second horse for anyhow?”

“Emily’s sister is coming over. She hasn’t been on a horse since she was a kid.”

“Are we supposed to have three horses?”

“No. Emily has something else going on, she might join us for dinner.”

“Got it.” The hint of confusion in Mitch’s voice shifted to a humorous tone. “Don’t want to tick off Emily.”

Good grief. What kind of idiot was he? Here he was spending time with Emily’s sister and he still hadn’t said a word to Emily about how he was feeling. Heck, how could he, he wasn’t sure himself what he was feeling.

“Yoo hoo. Still with me?” Mitch’s voice shifted back to something that was neither concern nor humor.

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