Page 78 of Steal My Heart (Prosperity Ranch 2)

“Three sweet peas—anyone else interested?”

Becca raised a hand while grinning.

Everyone laughed, and Evie’s gaze caught Carson’s. He winked at her, and if the room wasn’t filled with her family, she would have thrown herself into his arms. Instead, she mouthed, “Thank you.”

He tipped an imaginary hat, one that she missed him wearing.

“Evie, darlin’.” Holt set a hand on her shoulder. “I hope you know you can count on me for anything. And I’m sorry for any past hurts or misunderstandings.”

“I know,” Evie said in a quiet voice. “Thank you.”

“Me, too,” Cara said, joining them. “I haven’t been the most supportive sister ever.”

“You guys are going to make me cry some more.”

Cara leaned in for another hug. “You got yourself a persistent man,” she said with a smile. “He thinks you walk on water, and he would be right.”

“Did he bribe you all or something?” Evie teased.

“No, but he’s a straight shooter, in the best possible way,” Cara said.

Her mom clapped her hands together from a few tables over. “All right, everyone, the buffet is just for us, and we have this place reserved for the next hour.”

Evie stared at her mom, then swung her gaze to Carson.

He gave her a small satisfactory nod.

Evie crossed to him, no longer caring that every single member of her family was here. They wouldn’t be in this room without Carson. She approached, and when she stopped in front of him, she placed her hands on each side of his face.

“How did you do all of this?” she asked, meeting that dark brown gaze of his.

“Lots of texting.”

“I don’t even know what to say, Carson,” she said. “I can’t even come up with the words to thank you.”

Carson’s gaze was steady on hers. “The expression on your face is my thanks, sweetness.”

She kissed him then, lightly, but it sent her pulse zooming anyway. Slowly, she drew away from him, wondering how she got so lucky to meet Carson Hunt.

“I think someone wants to talk to you,” he said.

Evie turned to see Mr. Hunt standing there, his cowboy hat in hand. “Congratulations, little lady,” he said. “When Carson told me about your goal and how he felt about you, I couldn’t push him out of Prosper fast enough.”

Evie’s face warmed. “Are you sure about this? I mean, Carson was looking forward to working with you—”

Mr. Hunt’s rough hand rested on her arm. “Don’t even go there, missy. You stole his heart, that’s what. And a good woman is always the best part of any man’s life. My happiness comes from seeing my only grandson happy, and I have you to thank for that.”

Evie blinked back the tears in her eyes and stepped forward to hug his thin body. He patted her back, and it only made her smile.

When she drew away, she was pretty sure he had tears in his eyes as well.

“Let’s eat,” her dad announced, and they moved to the buffet on the other side of the restaurant.

Evie noticed employees at one end of the buffet, waiting to help if needed.

While everyone formed lines on both sides of the buffet, Evie was left alone with Carson for a few moments.

“I can’t believe your grandad is being so great,” she said.

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