Page 59 of Zone Protection

She shakes her head. “Oh, nothing. You just seem excited.”

“I am excited. He’s nice to look at.” I giggle.

“Ah! Emma Grace!” she scolds with a laugh.

I rush over to the door and pull it open.

Archie is wearing a freaking cowboy hat and cowboy boots. Scoop me off the floor. To make it even better, he’s wearing a distressed pair of Wranglers and a plaid shirt with pearled buttons. He looks like he just stepped out ofYellowstone. Or the ranch he grew up on, but whatever. I like theYellowstonethought better.

He’s watching me with a smile on his face. “Hey, darlin’.”

If we didn’t have to go inside and talk to my parents right now, I’d probably pull him in and rip those clothes off. Except for the hat. He could leave the hat on. While I ride him again. Save a horse and all that.

“Hi,” I finally say. “Come on in. We’re just pulling the food out, so your timing is perfect.”

When he steps in, he tilts his hat back on his head and bends down, lifting me in his arms. We’re face-to-face now, and he leans in and kisses me.

“There. That’s better,” he whispers against my lips.

With my arms wrapped around him, I bury my face in his neck, breathing him in. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too. Should we go in so I can meet your parents?” He sets me down. “Can I put my hat somewhere?” He looks around, eyes landing on the bench near the door.

“Oh, yeah. I’ll just drop it here on the bench, if that’s okay.” I take it from him and place it on the bench. Then I grab his hand. “Come on. Let’s go meet the parents.” I smile.

We walk into the kitchen first, and my mom has her back turned to us. She is bent over, looking in the oven.

“Mom, Archie is here.”

She stands with a casserole in her hands. Dad strolls in, tight smile on his face.

“Hey, Dad. So, this is Archie.”

Archie reaches out his hand to my dad first. “A pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for inviting me here to spend the day with you and your family.”

Dad takes his hand and shakes it. “We’re glad to have you. You can call me Van.”

Mom puts the dish on the counter and walks around it. “Hi, Archie. Welcome to our home.”

“Mrs. Tucker, thank you for having me.”

He holds his hand out to her, but she leans in and hugs him instead. I’m slightly shocked by the gesture, and I look over at my dad, who looks equally surprised.

“Archie, it’s so nice to meet you. But please call me Stacy.” She pulls back and gives him a warm smile.

“It’s nice to meet you both as well. Is there anything I can help with?” he asks.

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. Emma and I got most of it done last night and this morning, so you made it justin time. The food is coming out of the oven, and it’s time for Van to carve the turkey.”

“Okay. Well, it smells delicious in here. I can’t wait to try it all.”

I step into him and wrap my arm around his waist, tugging him into me. His arm wraps around my shoulders, and he leans down and kisses the top of my head.

My mom is watching us, eyes getting glassy.

“Let’s eat, so we can be done when the game starts. Archie, you a Cowboys fan?” Dad asks him.

“That I am. Grew up a few hours south of Dallas.”

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