Page 9 of More Than Falling in Love

The answer is clear before he opens his mouth because he’s bouncing in his seat.“Can I hold it?”

“Yes.”Jasmine laughs.“Ours isn’t like the barn cats.”

Mason leans around me and pleads with his dad.“Can we go see their cat tonight?Pleeeeease.”

“Sure thing.”He leans back a bit and says to Tyler, “I’ll text you when I wrap up chores later.”

Mason slams his hands on the table.“Awesome.And Poppy can come too.Do you like cats?”

This is an unexpected invitation.“Love them.So fuzzy and cute.But I don’t want to intrude.”

Jasmine shakes her head.“You aren’t intruding.We’d love to have you.”

“Poppy, my dad is going to need your number.But you can give it to him after breakfast when he’s showing you around the ranch.”Mason grins.“Right, Dad?”

“Sure.”Kent likes giving one-word answers.

After sipping his coffee, he winces, then sets it down.He was just stirring butter into the cup, so I’m curious as to why he isn’t drinking it.

“Is that Bulletproof coffee?”

“It’s a mistake is what it is.”He shoves it to the side.

I’ve heard people rave about mixing butter into coffee, but I’ve never tried it.I tap his cup.“Do you mind?”

Staring at me, he shakes his head.

After taking a small sip, I say, “I see what you mean.”I like butter, and I like coffee.But I do not like them combined.

This man needs coffee, and I don’t blame him for not drinking that mess.

“I’ll grab you a fresh cup.”I use his shoulder to steady myself as I climb over the bench and try to ignore the well-defined large muscles under his shirt.

While I grab coffee, he focuses on his phone.

I’m excited about getting to see the ranch.Spending time with Mason will be fun.Having his dad around is an added bonus.The man is a bit of a riddle, and I’m hoping to solve it.Maybe not completely.I’ll only be here a few days.

Then I go home to New York.

But maybe I’ll come back soon for a visit.

Chapter 4

Kent

Glancing away from the road, I steal another glance while Poppy is turned around in her seat chatting with Mason.The way her ponytail brushes against her neck is distracting.Everything about her is vivacious.

Giving her a ranch tour is probably the worst idea I’ve ever agreed to.Okay, so maybe not the worst.But it’s up there.But only a few hours of togetherness, and then my normal quiet life—well, as quiet as it can be with a five-year-old—will return to normal.Besides, Mason is with us.He’s not exactly a chaperone, but he is a reminder of why I’ll never date again.

“Dad, after we show Poppy the cows, we should take her to the river.Oh, she needs to see the butterfly field.The one by where the creek meets the river.Poppy, do you like butterflies?”

“I love butterflies.”The sheer delight in her answer makes her all that more attractive.

It’s a good thing I know this road like the back of my hand because I’m spending as much time looking at Poppy as I am driving.

“One time, dad found a—Dad, what’s that thing called?”Mason meets my gaze in the rearview mirror.

“A chrysalis.”I’ve worked hard to satisfy his insatiable curiosity.

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