Page 21 of Flippin' Cowboy
She glanced over at Nick’s son. “Hey, Kegan, do you want to see what the diner’s kitchen looks like? You can tell my sister what you want to eat. She’ll make you anything you like.”
Kegan glanced at Nick for permission. “Go ahead, and remember to say ‘thank you,’” Nick said.
Winnie offered her hand to Kegan. Surprising how sweet she was with his boy.
“Ms. Winnie, do you want to be my new mommy?” Kegan blurted as they headed towards the rear of the dining room.
Nick tore his gaze away from Winnie’s sweetly rounded ass and groaned softly. He braced himself for her reaction.
To his relief, she grinned down at Kegan. “Why don’t we try being friends first?”
“Okay.” Kegan nodded vigorously. “Do you like Spider-Man?”
“I love him,” Winnie replied. “I used to watch reruns of the cartoon series every Saturday morning when I was your age. And I’ve seen all the movies.”
Kegan brightened and launched into his review of the latest film.
As the two of them disappeared through the swinging door to the kitchen, Nick realized that Winnie Snowberry defied his expectations.
And, disturbingly, she was a lot hotter in person than she was on TV. He would have to work hard to hide his reaction to her.
The production crew, having swiftly dismantled and packed away their gear, trickled back into the diner and resumed their seats. The diner’s waitstaff appeared and started gathering plates with promises to reheat or remake the stuffed portobello mushrooms.
That was when Nick realized no one had offeredhimany dinner. He set his jaw in annoyance. Hecouldsay something, but he’d be damned if he asked Winnie Snowberry’s sister to feed him.
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. This was going to be an interesting partnership, for sure.
Chapter 8: Questions and Conundrums
Snowberry Springs Ranch
The next morning
“Is everything okay, sweetie?” Winnie’s mom asked as she delivered a heaping platter of scrambled eggs to the breakfast table. “You seem upset.”
Startled, Winnie looked up from her phone, then guiltily shoved it into the chest pocket of her sturdy work overalls. Her parents had always had a strict “no devices at mealtimes” rule.
She met her mom’s concerned gaze and heaved a sigh. “My lawyer, Andrew, just informed me that Geoff’s being an—” she censored her next words, and substituted “—I mean,difficultabout my settlement offer. My more thanreasonablesettlement offer,” she finished bitterly.
“Oh, no, that’s awful,” Mom exclaimed, with the right amount of sympathy. “The least he could do right now is be reasonable.”
“Amen,” Dad added. “Always thought there was something squirrely about that guy, baby girl.”
As business partners, Geoff and Winnie were both on the mortgage and title for the Tudor Revival “Dream House” she had renamed “the Nightmare House.”
Upon Andrew’s advice, Winnie had offered to sign over her rights to the house in return for sole title on another recently completed renovation project, a gorgeous mid-century modern property in Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood.
She had also reluctantly agreed to split the costs of the failed wedding. Though the HomeRenoTV network had covered many of the expenses, including the venue, Geoff and Winnie had still paid a hefty sum for flowers, reception caterers, and alcohol, as well as hotel stays and travel expenses for their families.
Winnie had initially resisted her lawyer’s suggestion. Why should she pay for somethinghe’druined? In the end, though, Andrew’s cooler head prevailed, and Winnie had signed off on the offer.
“Just more proof that he didn’t deserve you, Winnie,” her brother, Spring, commented, passing around a plate loaded with strips of crisp bacon and smoked sausages.
Autumn nodded agreement, slipping her own phone into her purse.
Phillip must be traveling again, thought Winnie. Otherwise, he would have insisted that his wife and son return to Bozeman. She didn’t like her brother-in-law very much, and she often wondered what her sister saw in him.
“I hate to be the bearer of more bad news,” Autumn said with an apologetic grimace, “but this morning’s headline on the Celebrity Lowdown website was, ‘Couldn’t keep living a lie: Restoring Seattle’s Geoff reveals his months-long struggle to find happiness with his true love.’”
