Page 29 of Just One Look

“You think?” A slight frown etched down his brow.

“Sorry. Iknow. I do feel better. This is just…” she waved her arm over the blanket covered with light snacks… “perfect.”

The frown slid away, and the tension in his shoulders she’d only just noticed fell away as well.

It hadn’t occurred to her that he might have been as nervous about today as she was, nor how much he must have worked to make this little ride and picnic special. “Thank you.”

Squeezing her hand, he sighed, blinked, and pulled his hand away. “You are most very welcome.”

What she was, was confused. But Devlin’s easy manner was going a long way to making all of this feel normal. What she didn’t know, had no clue about, was if it could ever feel normal enough.

Chapter Twelve

When Devlin realized that Liz’s odd behavior was because of the Baron money, he felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. The Baron money and connections had always been a blessing. Well, with the exception of finding people who cared about them and not their money. Today, for the first time ever, he wished that he’d come from an ordinary middle-class family with a two-story house and a fenced-in yard.

When she finally told him what had her behaving oddly, his heart sank. His money and family were as much a part of him as his fingers and toes, and there was little he could do to change any of that. After they’d stopped for Hazel’s snack and she’d smiled that it was perfect, he came within an inch of leaning in and kissing her. Of trying to convince her he was no different than any other man regardless of his bank accounts. As much as he hated it, good sense stepped in and he quickly retreated.

As they rode up to the barn, Devlin noticed she climbed off the horse as easily as she’d climbed on. “When did you say was the last time you’d gone riding?”

She patted the horse’s neck and handed Mack the reins. “I was ten or eleven. Spent the summer at a dude ranch that had expanded into a summer camp.”

“A woman full of surprises.”

“Not really.” She smiled.

That smile meant everything to him. He could only hope that in time, she’d be as comfortable around the Barons as her sister is. “Word of warning.”

Her back stiffened.

“Nothing bad, but my grandfather is a former Marine.”

Still apprehensive, tension obvious in her shoulders, she nodded.

“He may come off a bit gruff, but don’t let that phase you. He’s really a pussycat in his old age.”

The way her one brow shot up higher than the other, he doubted she believed him.

“Really. You’ll see. Watch how he is with the dogs.”

“Dogs?”

“My cousin Kyle gifted them a couple of border collie mix puppies from a shelter and now the two never leave Grams or the Governor’s side.” From the way the corners of her mouth tipped up, he suspected that meant she liked dogs. Maybe dinner wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

At the back door, Hazel greeted them by handing Liz a Boston crème tart fresh out of the oven.

Blowing on it before taking a bite, Liz’s eyes almost rolled back in her head. “Oh, my. This is amazing.”

Hazel beamed. “Traded recipes with a woman I met from Boston. Her family is enjoying sweet southern corn bread.”

“I think we got the better end of the deal.” Liz took another bite.

Devlin chuckled. “You may not say that once you’ve tasted Hazel’s cornbread.”

Her smile firmly planted across her face, Hazel shrugged. “I may have made some cornbread for tonight.”

“Oh. Everything tastes better with cornbread.” Dev rubbed his hands together enthusiastically.

“Are we having dinner in the kitchen tonight?” Porter came through the kitchen doorway carrying an ice bucket and stopped short in front of Liz and frowned. “New hairstyle?”

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