Page 14 of More Than Falling in Love

“I’ll be out in a second.Close the door.”Kent sounds calm, much calmer than I feel.

Thankfully, the man had jeans on.I think he had jeans on.Until I met his gaze, my focus was on his broad, manly chest.

What is wrong with me?

Mason runs into the living room.“Dad will get you one.”

“Thanks.”I sit on the sofa, and he climbs up next to me.

He cocks his head, one eye half closed.“I thought you’d be little and could play with me, but you’re still fun.”

“Am I?That’s good to know.”I brush his hair away from his eyes.“Thanks for showing me cool places on the ranch.”

“Later, Parker can show you the horses.And maybe you can swim with me.”

“Where do you swim?”

“At Mr.Beau’s house.And Miss Lilith.They’re married too.When we go to lunch, I’ll show you the pool.”He hops off the couch, bolts down the hall, and runs into his dad.“If Poppy brought a swimsuit, can we swim after lunch?”

Kent looks at me.I do have a suit in my bag, but my heart has done enough backflips for the day, so more time with a shirtless Kent would not be a good thing.

“Let me see if Miss Ava needs me for anything.The wedding is tomorrow, and I want to help her if there is anything I can do,” I say, proud of myself that my reason for not swimming sounds completely logical and there was no chin-wiping involved.

“Oh, right.The wedding.”Mason looks up at his dad.“What am I going to wear?”

“I have a shirt and tie for you.”

My roommate will go nuts for a picture of all those cowboys dressed up.Telling her about this trip will be a blast.But I might leave out a few parts.Not a few exactly.Just one part.Kent.

After watchingLilith assemble a floral pew marker to hang at the end of a row, I follow the steps and create another, then wrap the stems with floral tape.“These are so pretty.”

“Just a little something to decorate the chapel.”Joji unrolls ribbon on a long table, then cuts a length before repeating the same process.“I’m going to make bows to put on them.Thanks for helping us.”

“This is the only thing left, right?”Ava scans a list in front of her, tapping a pen on the page.“Dinner will be delivered in about an hour.Hopefully we’re done by then.”

Joji leans on the table next to Ava.“We will be.Don’t worry.And I’m glad you didn’t try to make your own rehearsal dinner.”

“Mad Dog made me promise.”Ava’s gaze snaps to mine.“I only meant that—”

“He’s looking out for you.Sounds like Dad.”I finish another pew marker and count what’s on the table.“I think that was the last one.”

“Told ya.”Joji is making magic with the ribbon, and Lilith is attaching them to the sprays.

“Poppy, the wedding plans have been a bit of a whirlwind, and we hadn’t met, so…” Ava squeezes my hand.“I hope you aren’t bothered that I didn’t ask you to be a bridesmaid.”

“Not at all.”I wrap my arms around this incredible woman who has put the twinkle back in my dad’s eyes.“I’m just happy to be here for this special day.Really.”

“Good.And I never want you to think I’m coming between you and your dad.You will always be welcome.”

Tears are threatening.I’ve been so excited about the wedding, but the idea of having a stepmom didn’t even pop into my head.Until now.

“Thank you.”

Joji hands Lilith another bow.“You can come to the ranch to see your dad, or us, or anyone else who might catch your fancy.”The implication isn’t the least bit subtle.

Lilith laughs.“She means Kent.”

Ava pats my arm.“Don’t mind those two.They try to pair people every chance they get.”

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